Tom Pickett (Gerald) and Kelli Ogmundson (Piggie). Photo by Tim Matheson Tim by Photo Ogmundson (Piggie). and Kelli (Gerald) Pickett Tom March 2-31 at the Waterfront Theatre on Granville Island Based on the Elephant & Piggie books by Mo Willems Published by Hyperion Books for Children Script and Lyrics by Mo Willems Music by Deborah Wicks La Puma carouseltheatre.ca|604 685 6217 carouseltheatre.ca Our Mission, Vision and Values Carousel Theatre for Young People (CTYP) creates playful, exceptional and accessible theatrical experiences that inspire, involve and educate. We envision a community that empowers people to be more imaginative, expressive and engaged. At our core, our values are playfulness, excellence, accessibility, integrity and financial accountability. Our Story Carousel Theatre for Young People (CTYP) has been creating theatre for young people since 1976. Located on Granville Island in the heart of Vancouver, CTYP is Vancouver’s professional mainstage TYA Company. We are a gathering place for artists, young people and families to embark on a journey where imagination, a dash of magic, and an abundance of play are the recipe for a theatrical adventure that has lasting impact. Our vision: to empower young people through the magic of theatre. Under the vision of Artistic Director Carole Higgins, CTYP stages vibrant stories that engage young people from the beginning of their development and continues to share stories that challenge young people through their formative years, empowering young people to become agents of positive change. Carole’s vision Stages of Play encompasses a full season that celebrates stories that explore rites of passage through our Family Stage at the Waterfront Theatre, explores Shakespeare’s canon through a contemporary lens every summer with our Teen Shakespeare Stage, and explores original Canadian creations for our BEE Stage. Young People are not simply audience members at CTYP; they are active participants at the very centre of all that we do. CTYP’s energetic year-round drama school teaches young people ages 3-17 to express their creativity and individuality through the theatrical form. Our drama school embraces CTYP’s organization’s core values, and is a central part of our mission to empower young people. Each year 35 000+ young people, educators and families attend CTYP’s effervescent theatrical experiences. Our playful approach to creation and collaboration, unwavering commitment to outstanding production values and exuberant attentiveness to mentoring emerging theatre artists are key principals of our artistic practice. A testament to the artistic quality of the productions we create, CTYP’s pursuit of excellence has been recognized with 87 Jessie nominations and 13 awards in the last ten years. In 2018, CTYP teamed with Boca Del Lupo to cofound the Granville Island Theatre District, with the shared vision to create a robust, diverse, theatre ecology in the heart of Vancouver. The GITD oversees three performance venues on Granville Island, with CTYP as artistic stewards of the Waterfront Theatre, which is now Vancouver’s first performance venue dedicated to youth and family programming. carouseltheatre.ca Artistic Director’s Message Welcome to Elephant and Piggie’s “We Are In A Play!” This charming story of two best friends is a joyful introduction to theatre for our littlest patrons- and for us not-so-little adults a sweet reminder to appreciate the little things, and maybe have a dance party! Carousel Theatre for Young People has a wonderful responsibility in that we are many young people’s first introduction to the world of live theatre. A world where magic, friendship, colour, music and story create a kaleidoscope of adventure, a mirror to nature and our community, and lasting memories. A world where anything is possible with a little imagination. We take this responsibility very seriously. As we approach World Day of Theatre for Children and Young People on March 20th (which also happens to be the magical day when we will unveil our 2019/20 Season of Family Theatre), I would like to take a moment to salute everyone who believes and works in Theatre for Young Audiences. At CTYP that includes more than 100 volunteers, our volunteer Board of Directors, our fulltime staff of six (who really do the work of about 12 people), the wonderful actors who grace our stage, the directors, choreographers and music directors who create the visions, the designers who create works of art with light, sound, costumes and sets, the craftspeople, artists and technicians behind the scenes painting, creating props, sewing, hanging lights, rigging objects and building sets, and the stage managers who keep everything calm and on schedule. It takes many people to create one play, and the people who work in theatre for young audiences are some of the greatest magicians in the theatre, all working together to make a child’s theatre experience thrilling and empowering. It takes a village to raise a child, and it takes many passionate, dedicated people to create a theatre. At CTYP we believe theatre is an essential part of a child’s development, and we are glad that you do too. Thank you for bringing your child to the theatre. Carousel Theatre for Young People 1411 Cartwright Street Vancouver BC V6H 3R7 604.669.3410 Carole Higgins BOX OFFICE 604.685.6217 [email protected] [email protected] carouseltheatre.ca @CarouselTheatre Charitable Registration #11883 9497 RR0001 carouseltheatre.ca 1 Director’s Message It is so great to be back at CTYP working on this absolutely delightful little musical. In addition to theatre, I have worked as a nanny for the past 15 years. I have spent many nights reading the Elephant and Piggie books to children. They are some of my absolute favourite books to read with kids. The simplicity of the design, the quirkiness of the humour, and the felicitous subject matter has always struck me. I end up enjoying them just as much as the kids do! At the heart of the books is a beautiful friendship between Elephant and Piggie. Elephant and Piggie could not be more different. Elephant is lumbering, prone to melancholy, trepidatious, and quite formally dressed, whereas Piggie is exuberant, quick to temper, inquisitive, and quite casually dressed. However, as with most people, they also have many other varying traits. Navigating differences isn’t always easy in a friendship and Elephant and Piggie come up against some real big obstacles. With the help of some singing Squirrels and a few other animals, they zip and zap, and sing and dance their way through these obstacles and in the end, their love for each other always prevails. They celebrate each other’s differences and learn things from each other along the way. We are lucky-ducky to work on a script that was adapted by the author of the books, and the addition of the jazzy music by Deborah Wicks La Puma elevates the story to unpossible heights! I hope you hum and bounce along with Elephant and Piggie on all of their adventures. But I hope most of all, that after you leave the theatre, you hug the friends and people in your life that love you for exactly who you are. Those people are precious and indispensable. Tom Pickett (Gerald) and Kelli Ogmundson (Piggie) with Director Kayla Dunbar, Photos by Tim Matheson Tim by Photos Dunbar, Kayla with Director Ogmundson (Piggie) and Kelli (Gerald) Pickett Tom 2 carouseltheatre.ca Elephant & Piggie’s “We Are in a Play!” Based on the Elephant & Piggie books by Mo Willems Published by Hyperion Books for Children Script and Lyrics by Mo Willems Music by Deborah Wicks La Puma Creative Team Director & Choreographer Kayla Dunbar Music Director Arielle Ballance Set Designer Shizuka Kai Costume Designer Kiara Lawson Lighting Designer Sophie Tang Sound Designer Andy Horka Stage Managers Ronaye Haynes & Pamela Jakobs Lead Technician & Sound Mixer Holly Karpuik Set Construction Scene Ideas www.sceneideas.ca Properties Monica Emme Wardrobe Head Stephanie Kong Wigs Christine Hackman Running Crew Kate Chubbs Cast (in alphabetical order) Merewyn Comeau Squirrelle/Penguin Kelli Ogmundson Piggie Tom Pickett Gerald Lindsay Warnock Squirrelle/Delivery Dog Synthia Yusuf Squirrelle/Penguin This play was commissioned by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and was first produced at the Kennedy Center during the 2013-14 season.ELEPHANT & PIGGIE’S WE ARE IN A PLAY is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.MTIShows.com Running time: Approximately 1 hour. There will be no intermission. FOR THE SAFETY OF THE ACTORS AND FOR COPYRIGHT REASONS PHOTOGRAPHY AND RECORDINGS ARE NOT PERFMITTED DURING THE PERFORMANCE. For the enjoyment of everyone, please keep phones off during the performance. Carousel Theatre for Young People is a member of the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres and employs professional actors, directors and stage managers who are members of Canadian Actor’s Equity Association under the terms of the Canadian Theatre Agreement. Thank you to Chad Combes, John Fluevog Shoes and Andy Toth Carousel Theatre for Young People creates and performs on the beautiful unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh people. carouseltheatre.ca 3 4 carouseltheatre.ca Synopsis Gerald and Piggie are the best of friends. They’re overjoyed to be spending time together and think of all the fun they could have – anything could happen! They skip, play ping pong, and wear silly hats… all at the same time! Piggie receives an invitation to a party from the Squirrelles and invites Gerald to join her. But what kind of party will it be, they wonder? Gerald knows how to get ready for a party, and so they plan for all the possibilities.