FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE THEATRE COLLINGWOOD ANNOUNCES THE PRODUCTION OF TRYING Collingwood, ON – July 26, 2014

Theatre Collingwood is delighted to present Lighthouse Festival Theatre’s production of TRYING – July 19-23, 2014 at The Historic Gayety Theatre. This production is sponsored by Tim Hortons - Collingwood.

TRYING is sure to both entertain and inspire. The year is 1967 - 82 year old Francis Biddle (former Attorney General for FDR) struggles to write his memoirs. Enter Sarah, a smart, strong- willed young woman from the Canadian Prairies. What unfolds is a witty and touching portrait of two people at different stages of life, who are unexpectedly and forever changed by friendship. Based on a true story and hailed by critics all over the world as a triumph of Canadian theatre.

"I am so excited about the level of talent that we have in this production,” said Executive Director Erica Angus. "Not only is Walter Learning an extremely talented and experienced Canadian actor both on stage and in film, he also founded Theatre , was head of the theatre section for the Francis Biddle Canada Council for the Arts, was Artistic Director of the Vancouver Playhouse, Artistic Director of The Charlottetown Festival and guest directed for many theatres including The Stratford Festival. Jennifer Toulmin was in the original US Tour of Mamma Mia and played Anne in Anne of Green Gables for the Charlottetown Festival 5 years. I also had the pleasure of working with Jennifer when she played Ariel in Theatre by the Bay's production of The Tempest."

Theatre Collingwood will end the Summer Festival Season with Country JukeBox, starring Leisa Way from Sept. 30-Oct. 3.

Theatre Collingwood offers many ticket and membership options as well as gift packages for theatre-goers of all ages so people can come out and enjoy the exciting season. For package offers or to reserve tickets by phone, contact 705.445.2200 or toll free at 1.866.382.2200 or visit the theatre’s website at www.theatrecollingwood.ca

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Contact: Deb Piggott, Development Manager 705.445.2200 [email protected]  www.theatrecollingwood.com

Theatre Collingwood Presents Lighthouse Festival Theatre's Production of “Trying”

Based on a true story by Joanna McClelland Glass, Directed by Derek Ritschel Produced for touring at Lighthouse Festival Theatre, Port Dover, ON N0A 1N0

Artistic Director: Derek Ritschel www.lighthousetheatre.com

DEREK RITSCHEL – Director

Acting Bio

For Lighthouse: HEATWAVE, THE DRAWER BOY, MARY’S WEDDING, BEDTIME STORIES, MENDING FENCES, A CHRISTMAS CAROL, STRANGER IN OUR HOUSE, BETWEEN FRIENDS, OUTLAW (writing credits) PERFECT PITCH, RUM RUNNERS (directing credits) WHEN THE REAPER CALLS, KNICKERS, MELVILLE BOYS, HARVEST, RUM RUNNERS, SELF HELP.

Elsewhere: A GIFT TO LAST, A CHRISTMAS CAROL (Theatre Orangeville) MENDING FENCES (Griffi n Theatre, Theatre In Port, Theatre Aquarius) STRAWBERRIES IN JANUARY (Theatre Aquarius) WAITING FOR GODOT (Kytes Theatre) CRACKWALKER (Spadina Theatre) TV/Film: TRADERS, PRINCE STREET, GLITTER, TRUE CRIME SCENES, QUEER AS FOLK, TRADERS, MENWITH GUNS, SILENT HILL, DOC, MILLIE QUEEN OF GALT

WALTER LEARNING In 1957, Walter went to the University of New Brunswick in , New Brunswick to pursue a business degree. Pursuit of an attractive fellow student led him to sign up for a Philosophy class. He didn't get the girl, but did embrace the subject and in his second year switched to a Philosophy major. Along with his business aspirations, Walter also worked on dropping his "tick" accent. It was at an audition for the UNB drama society that he met legendary professor Alvin Shaw, who cast him in a supporting role and became a mentor. After receiving his BA, Walter was awarded a Teaching Fellowship to pursue his MA. This degree was awarded in May of 1963, but Walter was far away in . He had been awarded a Commonwealth Scholarship to work on his PhD at the Australian National University in Canberra. It was there that he began a relationship with the Canberra Repertory Society that continues to this day. Walter returned to Canada in May of 1966. He was Director of Drama at the UNB Summer Session, and in the Fall returned to Memorial University of Newfoundland. He became a Lecturer in the Philosophy Department where he remained for two years. In May of 1968, Walter moved back to Fredericton to become the General Manager of the Beaverbrook Playhouse. The Theatre In the summer of 1968, Walter produced a professional theatre season of four plays in rep at the Playhouse. By the end of that year he had founded Theatre New Brunswick which presented its first production in January of 1969. TNB was, and is, Canada's only full time touring regional theatre. Walter remained as General Manager of The Playhouse and Artistic Director of Theatre New Brunswick for ten years. During that time TNB produced more than 85_productions. In June of 1978 he left Fredericton for to take the position of Head of the Theatre Section of the Canada Council for the Arts. Walter remained at the Canada Council until 1982 when he moved to the West Coast to become Artistic Director of the Vancouver Playhouse. After five years, he returned back East to where he became the Artistic Director of the Charlottetown Festival. During his career, Walter has also guest directed at many theatres including the Stratford Festival, the Dallas Theater Center, Persephone Theatre, Festival Antigonish, Lighthouse Theatre, Bastion Theatre and others. He has also been a frequent director at Australia's Canberra Repertory Theatre. From 1992 to 1995 Walter was a freelance broadcaster, writer, actor and director. Then in 1995 he returned to Theatre New Brunswick as Executive Producer. He left this position in 1999 and has since concentrated on freelancing as an actor and director.

JENNIFER TOULMIN - Sarah Schorr

For Lighthouse: Molly King in FIRE, Mary in KNICKERS

Elsewhere: Sophie in MAMMA MIA! (Original US Tour and North American Company),

Liesl in THE SOUND OF MUSIC (Neptune), Cinderella in INTO THE WOODS (Patrick

Street Productions, Vancouver), Wendy in PETER PAN (UK), Mary in THE SECRET

GARDEN (TNB), Ariel in the TEMPEST (Theatre by the Bay) and ANNE in ANNE OF GREEN GABLES for The Charlottetown Festival (2010, 2002- 2005), for The Shubert Theatre (New Haven, Connecticut), for Drayton Entertainment and for The Grand Theatre (London)."

Other: Jennifer was chosen by the Federal Government to represent our country at the World Fair Expo 2005 in Japan.