NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE CHARIOTS OF FIRE season sponsor title sponsor Supporting the arts, locally. Each year, through various donations and sponsorships, we are committed to helping our local communities. We’re proud to be the 2017/2018 season sponsor of The Grand Theatre. 17-1670 Grand Theatre ad-Ev1b.indd 1 2017-08-17 10:01 AM Chariots of Fire is one of the world’s most respected films. Imagine my delight when I heard it had been transformed into a play. How would they ever put all that run- ning onstage, I wondered? Five years ago I saw the premiere production in London, England’s West End. It was such a thrill — I was transported back to the 1924 Olympics and I felt like I was there inside the excitement of the day. I am pleased that we are producing the North American premiere of this play after many years of negotiations. It is the perfect finale production for my first season here at the Grand — a play that celebrates passion, dedication, and going for the gold. Mike Bartlett, a highly respected playwright, has taken the movie and transformed it for the stage. What excites me most is how Bartlett has taken the physical energy of the story — in partic- ular, the running races — and found theatrical ways of making them come to life. This project has been a creation of epic proportions for us here at the Grand Theatre, causing us to invent new ways to use our theatre. In order to tell this story properly, we have transformed our auditorium and created a running track, invited audience members onstage, and redefined our beloved theatre in order to transport us to England, to Scotland, and finally to the to the 1924 Olympics in France. It has been a thrilling ride for all of us. Welcome to Chariots of Fire. I hope that it inspires you to follow your passions with full force and dare to dream whatever you wish. dennis garnhum artistic director We would like to acknowledge the history of the traditional territory in which the Grand Theatre operates. We would also like to respect the longstanding relationships of the three local First Nations groups of this land and place in Southwestern Ontario. The three First Nations communities closest in proximity to the Grand are the Chippewa of the Thames First Nation (part of the Anishinaabe), the Oneida Nation of the Thames (part of the Haudenosaunee) and the Munsee-Delaware Nation (part of the Leni-Lunaape). spriet stage, april 17 to may 5, 2018 opening night april 20 NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE Within reach. Did you know you’re never more than 10 feet away from 3M Science? chariots of fire It’s in our homes, hospitals, job sites, cars, Stage Adaptation by Mike Bartlett electronics… just about everywhere. It’s always within reach. From the smallest objects to the Based on the Enigma Productions Limited motion picture, by arrangement biggest objectives, we’re a science company with Twentieth Century Fox Corporation and Allied Stars S.A. Panama working to improve lives everywhere, every day. Screenplay by Colin Welland See how: 3M.ca/WithinReach Directed by Dennis Garnhum 3M and 3M Science. Applied to Life. are trademarks of 3M. Used under license in Canada. Please recycle. Printed in Canada. © 2018, 3M. All rights reserved. 1803-11287-E Single Page: Live: 5.5 in x 8.5 in | Trim: 5.5 in x 8.5 in | Bleed: 6.0 in x 9.0 in spriet stage, april 17 to may 5, 2018 opening night april 20 NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE chariots of fire Stage Adaptation by Mike Bartlett Based on the Enigma Productions Limited motion picture, by arrangement with Twentieth Century Fox Corporation and Allied Stars S.A. Panama Screenplay by Colin Welland Directed by Dennis Garnhum PRODUCTION TEAM Assistant Director ANDREW TRIBE Set & Costume Designer BRETTA GERECKE Lighting Designer GERALD KING Composer DAVE PIERCE Sound Designer JIM NEIL Running Coach VICKIE CROLEY Choreographer STEPHANIE GRAHAM Music & Vocal Director MARK PAYNE Voice & Dialect Coach JANE GOODERHAM Stage Manager KELLY LUFT Assistant Stage Managers MELISSA CAMERON JORDAN GUETTER Apprentice Stage Manager FRAN BARKER Child Supervisors JEAN FAULDS, LINDA MARTIN HEATHER RAYCRAFT TITLE SPONSOR Chariots of Fire is presented by special arrangement with SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. The videotaping or making of electronic or other audio and/or visual recordings of this production or distributing recordings on any medium, including the internet, is strictly prohibited, a violation of the author’s rights and actionable under United States copyright law. For more information, please visit www.samuelfrench.com/whitepaper The Grand Theatre is an active member of the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres (PACT) and engages, under the terms of the Canadian Theatre Agreement, professional artists who are members of the Canadian Actors’ Equity Association. The Grand Theatre acknowledges with thanks the co-operation of Locals 105 and 828 of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists, and Allied Crafts of the United States, its Territories and Canada, and The London Musicians’ Association Local 279. prom grand gala NIGHT In support of the High School Project and the Grand’s upcoming production of PROM QUEEN: THE MUSICAL Special Guest of Honour: Marc Hall may 24 on the spriet stage tickets $250 tables $2500 To reserve tickets or to inquire about PRESENTING SPONSOR sponsorship opportunities, please contact Nora MacLeod at 519-672-9030 x262 [email protected] CAST IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER Ensemble MICHAEL AYRES Eric Liddell WADE BOGERT-O’BRIEN Ensemble AL BRAATZ Jennie Liddell ERIN BREEN Colin JOSH BUCHWALD Mr Liddell / Birkenhead KEVIN BUNDY Ensemble BEN COOKSON Ensemble / Running Captain BRETT DAHL Florence ELLEN DENNY Sandy FRASER ELSDON Aubrey Montague ALEX FURBER Andy KYLE GATEHOUSE Young Girl LEAH GLIDDON Harold Abrahams HARRY JUDGE Master of Trinity THOM MARRIOTT Young Boy LIAM McKEIVER Ensemble DAVID MICHAEL MOOTE Sybil Evers ANWYN MUSICO Alastair CONNOR OVERTON Ensemble JOE PERRY Sam Mussabini ANAND RAJARAM Master of Caius CHARLIE TOMLINSON Ensemble EDMUND STAPLETON Ensemble TIM WELHAM RUNNING ENSEMBLE IN REHEARSAL. THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS season sponsor title sponsors Once A Christmas Carol Silence: Mabel and Alexander Graham Bell Blind Date A Thousand Splendid Suns Chariots of Fire high school project Title Sponsor Make a Difference Program Partners Community Pillar Partner government funders WE GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE GENEROSITY OF HELEN & ANDY SPRIET AND PROUDLY ANNOUNCE THE RENAMING OF OUR MAIN STAGE TO THE SPRIET STAGE. program sponsors Grand Gala Accessing the Arts Panel Discussions Season Hosting Presenting Sponsor Partner 100 Schools Westminster College Foundation Students Club COMPASS New Play Development Assistive Hearing Devices partners Transportation Florist Hotel Wine Framing Service Inspired. Wardrobe & Props Vehicles Apparel Catering Lighting art & hisher story Women’s Lives in Canada: A History, 1875–2000 Until May 6, 2018 Upcoming exhibitions: BGL: Spectacle + Problems April 28 to August 26 Kelly Jazvac: Lamina Stamina May 5 to September 9 Voices of Chief’s Point May 12 to September 16 Opening Reception May 11, 8:00 pm 421 Ridout Street North, London, Ontario N6A 5H4 museumlondon.ca THE PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE: 1924 was born on December 15th Harold 1899 in Bedford, England. Abrahams His father Isaac was a banker who had emigrated from Poland; his mother Esther hailed from Wales. His two brothers were Sir Sidney Abrahams, an Olympic long jumper, and Sir Adolphe Abrahams, a doctor and pioneer of sports medicine. During the First World War, Abrahams served as a lieutenant in the British Army. When the war ended, he headed to Cambridge and, in addition to his aca- demic work, Abrahams competed in running while at university. He competed in two Olympic Games: in 1920 in Antwerp, and in 1924 in Paris, where he won the gold medal in the 100m, and a silver medal as part of the 4x100m relay team. In 1925, Abrahams broke his leg, and had to retire from athletic competition. He went on to become a successful sports journalist, commentating for BBC Radio, and serving as chairman for the Amateur Athletics Association. HAROLD ABRAHAMS, 1921. Behind the Win While many know about Harold Abraham’s triumphant run to win the gold medal in the 100m at the 1924 Olympics, his path to Olympic glory wasn’t easy. During the semi-final heat, Abrahams saw one of his fellow runners move before the starting gun was fired. However, the false start Abrahams expected was never called, and he found himself watching as the race began without him. In a feat of immense athleticism, Abrahams crossed the distance in a world record time of 10.4 seconds; however, his time was recorded at 10.6 seconds, due to his late start. It was enough to get him into the 100m final, where, as Abrahams put it, “I won’t be left a second time.” THE PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE: 1924 was born on January 16th 1902 in eric Tianjin, China. His parents were liddell Scottish missionaries. He attended boarding school in London, and then enrolled at the University of Edinburgh. In 1923, he set a new British record for the 100m sprint, marking him as a favourite for the gold medal at the 1924 Olympics. As Chariots of Fire depicts, Liddell chose to withdraw from the 100m sprint races, instead competing in the 400m to win a gold medal, and in the 200m, where he won a bronze. After the Olympics, Liddell returned to China to serve as a missionary. In 1941, the Japanese army advanced into the region, and Liddell and his family were forced to flee to a rural mission station, where Eric provided assistance to anyone in need of med- ical help or food.