Mush-Hole Program2.Pdf
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1 A Message from the Artistic and Executive Directors We are so pleased you chose to join us at YPT for The Mush Hole. Through plays like Hana’s Suitcase, YPT committed to sharing the truth about the Holocaust in ways appropriate for young hearts and minds. And now, it has become all too clear that, in Canada, adults and children must also face the truth about Canada’s Residential Schools… and the impact on countless Indigenous people. We know that The Mush Hole reflects on difficult things to see and hear. But facing truth really does set us free – to heal and to be and do better. The theme that inspires the 2019.20 season at YPT is the Seven Ancestral Teachings of the Anishinaabe. The Mush Hole offers a powerful example of Truth. Find out more about YPT’s connection to Indigeneity and the Seven Ancestral teachings at youngpeoplestheatre.org/about-ypt/ indigenizeus. If you and your family wish to know more about the impact of Canada’s Residential Schools or have questions, check out these online sources: The Woodland Cultural Centre that is preserving the Mohawk Institute building: woodlandculturalcentre.ca Various reports and histories from the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation: nctr.ca/reports.php Names of 2800 victims of Canada’s Residential Schools: bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-49884387 We hope to see you again at YPT. ALLEN MACINNIS NANCY J. WEBSTER Artistic Director Executive Director YPT is situated on lands and waterways that have known human activity for more than 15,000 years. We acknowledge the ancestral lands of the Dish with One Spoon Territory, and more recently Treaty 13. This includes the Mississaugas of the Credit who are part of the Anishinaabe Nation, the Wyandot Nation, also the Haudenosaunee Confederacy of Six Nations, and any other Nation, recorded or unrecorded. Miigwech, Nya-weh, Thank you for letting us gather here today. For more information on Indigenous learning at YPT, please visit YOUNGPEOPLESTHEATRE.ORG/ABOUT-YPT/ 2 INDIGENIZEUS YOUNG PEOPLE’S THEATRE PRESENTS Created, Directed and Produced by Santee Smith Remount Produced by Kaha:wi Dance Theatre CAST Performers Julianne Blackbird Santee Smith Jonathan Fisher Montana Summers Raelyn Metcalfe PRODUCTION TEAM Artistic Producer/Director Santee Smith Rehearsal Director Herbie Barnes Cultural Advisors Geronimo Henry, Production Support Thru The Red Door, Thohahoken Art Gallery of Guelph, Michael Doxtater, Banff Centre for the Arts Roberta Hill & Creativity Composition/Arrangement Jesse Zubot Production Manager Karin Stubenvoll Additional Composition Adrian Dion Harjo Production Coordinator Pia Ferrari Video Tech/Director Ryan Webber Lead Video Technician Jennifer Chiasson Set/Original Lighting Designer Andy Moro Video Practicum Participants Kevin Oliver, Costume Designer Adriana Fulop Christopher Bussey, Additional Costumes Leigh Smith James MacKinnon Set Construction Great Lakes Studio Technician/ Aubrey Fernandez Scenic Studios Cameraman/Video Actor Production Support/ Shane Powless Audio Post Engineer Edward Renzi Videographer Lead Animator Sasha Stanojevic Tour Production Manager/Tour Evan Sandham Animation and Design Lighting Designer Practicum Participants Rimsha Nadeem, Stage Manager Kennedy Brooks Frank Seager Voice-over Rob Lamothe Video Actor Carver Kirby, Creation Performers Kennedy Bomberry, Kevin Oliver Brandon A. Oakes Songs: “Find My May”, commissioned remix by Nick Sherman; “The Storm” by Iskwe; "I Saw The Light" by Hank Williams; "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" by Hank Williams, "Just a Closer Walk With Thee" by Patsy Cline; "T’will be Glory", Martin Family Singers from the album “Kaha:wi” Community Partners: Woodland Cultural Centre Funding Support: Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, Toronto Arts Council Additional Sponsor: K.M. Hunter Foundation Photo, video or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited. The performance will run approximately 65 minutes, followed by a Q&A. 3 A Message from the Director My ancestors attended the Mohawk Institute and like most people, I grew up not knowing about the atrocities that occurred inside the Canadian government and Anglican Church-run Residential School. The Mush Hole is a story about hope and finding light in dark places. As much as it speaks to intergenerational trauma it screams resilience. Every single element represented on stage comes from Survivors sharing their experiences with us. After years of silence, Mohawk Institute Survivors are courageously moving past shame and sharing their story. The Mush Hole is their truth on stage. SANTEE SMITH/ TEKARONHIÁHKWA Find My Way - Song Lyrics adapted for The Mush Hole by Nick Sherman I tore this school down a thousand times in my mind Watched it burn into the same ground I lost my heart I crawled this far all by myself without your help I’ll reach farther, I’ll get back my heart Every day is a year but I’ll start I’m on the same ground I made it this far I will find my way in this dark I don’t think ice is going to turn me around I don’t think this air is going to freeze my lungs If I ask for help to get back on my feet To walk on this goddamn earth where there’s nothing left of me Stand up cold morning frozen hands fields are calling I haven’t seen my family since I was 6 years old Find my way back home From the Mush Hole, folded Sunday clothes from the kid before If I can’t run away I’ll stay sick for days, stolen candy If I can’t see your face I’ll find another way To survive this place Called the Mush Hole, folded Sunday clothes, let me go 4 Cast JULIANNE RAELYN BLACKBIRD METCALFE PERFORMING AS #11 / PERFORMING AS #17 / THE ONE WHO GOT AWAY GRACE Julianne is from the Raised in Vancouver Mohawk Nation, Turtle and based in Toronto, Clan from Six Nations of Raelyn is Plains Cree the Grand River Territory, from Saskatchewan. and attends McKinnon She is a graduate of Park Secondary School The Conteur Dance in grade 12. Julianne has been dancing since Academy. Her love of performing began age 3, in all genres including jazz, tap, hip with ballet and transitioned her into other hop, lyrical, contemporary, ballet and pointe. styles, including musical theatre. She has In 2014, Julianne danced in The Gift in Toronto trained with The Richmond Academy of for Mercedes Bernardez. She was an extra Dance, MOVE: the company, and The Conteur in the documentary A Desert Between Us & Academy. In 2015 Raelyn had the pleasure Them: Raiders, Traitors, and Refugees in the of working with Conteur Dance Company, War of 1812 in 2013. Julianne has performed a preview development show under the with Santee Smith at the opening ceremonies direction of Artistic Director Eryn Waltman. of the 2017 North American Indigenous Raelyn has also worked with Aria Evans who Games, 2017 World Indigenous Peoples is artistic director of Political Movement. In Conference on Education closing ceremonies, 2017 Raelyn performed Aria’s work Voice 2018 Indspire Awards, The Mush Hole (2017- of a Nation, commissioned by the Toronto 2019), Junior Harbourfront Festival 2018, Concert Orchestra. Revisiting her identity and Blood Tides 2018 and 2019. Julianne and background, Raelyn had the opportunity performed in Saia’tatokénhti: Homage to Saint to perform as a dancer at the 2018 Indspire Kateri with the McGill Chamber Orchestra in Awards along with Santee Smith, the founding October 2018, directed and choreographed artistic director of Kaha:wi Dance Theatre. by Alejandro Ronceria. Following her passion of performing both on stage and on film, Raelyn is a dedicated dance artist who wishes to continue her inspiration JONATHAN for others. FISHER PERFORMING AS #48 / SANTEE SMITH/ ERNEST TEKARONHIÁHKWA CREATOR/ARTISTIC Jonathan has been PRODUCER/DIRECTOR/ acting professionally PERFORMING AS #29 / for the past 27 years. MABEL Selected theatre credits include: Almighty Voice and His Wife (Native Santee is a Earth Performing Arts); The Rez Sisters, multidisciplinary 400 Kilometres, The Hours That Remain artist, award-winning (Magnus Theatre); Dry Lips Oughta Move To producer and Artistic Kapuskasing (Red Roots Theatre); fareWel Director of Kaha:wi Dance Theatre. She is (Prairie Theatre Exchange); A Trickster's Tale from the Kahnyen’kehàka Nation, Turtle Clan, (Theatre Direct); Copper Thunderbird (National Six Nations of the Grand River. Her passion Arts Centre); Tales of an Urban Indian (Talk is creating performance from an Indigenous Is Free Theatre); Night (Human Cargo); Elle lens and process. Her training includes: (Theatre Passe Muraille); The Berlin Blues, Canada’s National Ballet School; Physical Ipperwash (Blyth Festival); Reckoning (Article Education and Psychology degrees from 11); Home is a Beautiful Word (Persephone McMaster University and an M.A. in Dance Theatre); Weaving Reconciliation: Our Way from York University. Kaha:wi Dance Theatre (Vancouver Moving Theatre Company); and is an internationally renowned company Bystander (Gwaandak Theatre). with numerous productions including the recent Blood Tides, which garnered two Dora Mavor Moore Awards in Dance. Santee’s commissions include international collaborations with companies such as the National Arts Centre Orchestra, among others. Santee is the Chancellor of McMaster University. 5 MONTANA ADRIAN DION HARJO SUMMERS MUSIC COMPOSITION PERFORMING AS #34 / WALTER, A.K.A. WALL EYE Adrian is a multi-award winning “jack of all trades” when it comes to performing Montana is from the arts. He started singing Powwow style at Oneida First Nation of 7, Fancy Dancing at 10, and then began the Thames. Montana Hoop Dancing at 12 years of age. His began training in the performances have taken him around the exploration of indigenous world numerous times to share his culture and contemporary dance with global audiences. Currently, Adrian when he was accepted into the Indigenous now owns his own production company, Dance Residency (2015) and Kaha:wi Dance OvenBakedBeatz LLC, where he produces Theatre’s Summer Intensive (2016).