2

3

by Vaclav HavelTranslation by Vera Blackwell

Cast Gross Edmund StapletonBallas Lianna MakuchStroll/Maria Patricia CerdaSavant/Hana Cayley � omasHelena Samantha Je� eryLear/George Mat SimpsonPillar/Column Perry Gratton

Creative TeamDirector Trevor SchmidtSet Designer Nathan BrownCostume Designer Sean McMullenLighting Designer Jamie PlummerProjection Designer Mel GearySound Designer Matt SkopykAssistant Lighting Designer Victoria KrawchukVoice, Speech,Text Coach: Betty Moulton Movement Coach: Marie Nychka

Stage Management

Stage Manager Tanya SchwaerzleAssistant Stage Manager Julie Ferguson

� ere will be one 15 minute intermission.

Rights for this production are courtesy Samuel French, Inc.

Contents4 Director’s Notes • 6 Production Team • 8 Drama News12 Photos • 14 Havel Timeline • 20 Staff / Front of House22 Donors

The Memorandum

4

Director’s NotesSo much of directing is about communicating. I met

my team of MFA designers by e-mail. I explained my initial ideas about the world of Havel’s play - how we might interpret it for a contemporary, North Ameri-can audience. We sent pictures back and forth. We talked around things. It seemed we all agreed what the world would look like. When we � nally met in person, I found out there had been some confusion. E-mails can be misinterpreted. We might not have been communicating as well as I had thought. We clearly weren’t speaking the same language.

How oddly � tting, I thought. A play about language and communication - and I have problems being understood and understanding! We continued talking, drawing, sharing personal stories, getting to know each other better. And the world we were creating became clearer. � e set informed the lights, the lights informed the costumes, the costumes informed... well, you get the idea.

But each of my MFA designers and stage management team also have instructor supervisors that want to be kept up to date on their work. � ere are department heads - props, wardrobe, construction- and they all spoke a di� erent kind of language, too - each with its own specialized vocabulary and terms. � e university’s chain of com-mand sent me bouncing from one to another, down long hallways, with a map and a temporary swipe-card to get me through locked doors - only to � nd that I needed to go back to the very person who had sent me on the journey in the � rst place. Bureau-cracy. I was beginning to see some unnerving similarities...

� en we added the cast.

On the second day of rehearsal, one of the actresses lamented that she felt she was failing. She feared I was getting upset with her for not understanding my direction quickly enough. I was able to remind her something I had learned (again) over the previous three months or more - We were doing something that happens to EVERY-ONE. We were learning how to communicate with each other. She needn’t learn MY language. I don’t have to learn HER language. We need to � gure out –together - a new way that WE communicate with each other. Sometimes it’s through charades, some-times it’s deeply intellectual discussions. Sometimes it’s as simple and silly as smacking someone on the behind. Very o� en on this production, it has been through laughing together.

My experience with this production? I am sure this quote says it all: “Rek Nybek � agyryp gox extorezes, jylz gahap ch ch zyt!”

Maluz,Trevor

5

Your Music. Your Culture.

Your CKUA.

Calgary 93.7 fm Edmonton 94.9 fm

For a complete list of Alberta frequencies, broadcast schedule, and to listen on-line please visit:

ALTERNATIVE • BLUES • CLASSICAL • CELTIC • COUNTRY • FOLK • JAZZ • ROOTS & ROCK • SPOKEN WORD • WORLD

T I C K E T S A T C I T A D E L T H E A T R E : w w w . c i t a d e l t h e a t r e . c o m

NOVEMBER 24 @ CITADEL’S SHOCTOR THEATRE

KIDD PIVOT

CO

NT

EM

PO

RA

RY

CA

NA

DI

AN

DA

NC

E

20

12

&2

01

3

6

Production Manager: Gerry van HezewykTechnical Director: Larry ClarkAssistant Production Manager: JoAnna BlackProduction Administrative Assistant: Jonathan Durynek

Wardrobe Manager: Joanna JohnstonCutter: Ann SalmonsonStitchers: Feng Yi Jiang Avishta Lena SeerasWigs: Judy Morley Head Scenic/Stage Carpenter: Darrell CookseyScenic Carpenters: Finn McConnell Barbara Hagensen Andre LavoieProperties Master: Jane KlineHead of Props: Audra StevensonLighting Supervisor: Je� OsterlinVideo Supervisor: Mel GearyHead of Lighting/Video: Joel AdriaLighting Technicians: Lore Green Devin Lavigne Audra StevensonSound Supervisor: Matthew SkopykSound Technicians: Andrea Murphy

Running Crew:Lighting/Video Operator: Joel AdriaSound Operator: Jessica ParrHead Stage Carpenter: Finn McConnell

Advisors & Consultants:Stage Management Advisor: John Raymond

Production Team

7

8

� e Ban� Playwrights Colony announced Mieko Ouchi as the 2013 Senior Playwright in Residence. Mieko is not only an accomplished playwright whose Governor General’s Award-nominated work is widely produced across North America. She is a UAlberta BFA Acting grad, a skilled actor, a � ne director, a much-lauded � lmmaker, and co-artistic director of Edmonton’s Concrete � eatre, one of Canada’s leading theatres for young audiences. A past Colony attendee, Mieko will be present throughout the 2013 Ban� Playwrights Colony to work on her own writing projects, o� er mentorship and guidance to participants, and lead discussions on topics relevant to the artists attending the sessions. 

MFA Directing alumna, Brenda Finley, formerly of Global TV Calgary and CKUA, is now senior producer at Alberta Primetime, a daily current a� airs show airing weeknights across Alberta on CTV Two.

Outside the March � eatre Company’s production of Terminus, which recently received the Prize for Production at Toronto’s SummerWorks 2012, was picked up by Mirvish Productions for a run as part of the brand new o� -Mirvish Second Stage Season. � e production, directed by MFA Directing grad Mitchell Cushman, features Ava Jane Markus (BFA Acting) in the original cast and Nick Blais (BFA � eatre Design) in the creative team, and will hit the Royal Alexander stage November 21 to December 9, 2012. Queen Elizabeth II Graduate ScholarshipMFA � eatre Practice student, Michelle Rios, was awarded the Queen Elizabeth

II Graduate Scholarship - Master’s Level at the University of Alberta recognizing academic and scholarly achievement. Ms. Rios was also invited to be a member of the International Golden Key Honour Society because of her recent accomplish-ments.

Up NextABBEDAM Productions presents Mad Forest by Caryl ChurchillNovember 14 to 18, 2012 in the Second Playing Space, Timms Centre for the Arts7:30 pm nightly / Preview November 13 / Matinee November 17 at 2:00 pmMad Forest tells the story of the people of Romania - before, during, and a� er the

revolution of 1989 when Nicolae Ceaușescu’s government was overthrown by the people.

Tickets available at the door, or in advance at the HUB Mall InfoLink. More information: facebook.com/abbedam

Drama Alumni News

9

10

1111

12

The Edmonton Sun called The Ghost Sonata

“Brilliant and bizarre”what did you think?

1. Richard Lam as the Student with Serean Malan, the Daughter

2. Marie Nychka as the Mummy3. Sereana Malani as the Daughter,

sets and lights by LLARS Design4. Melissa Thingelstad

as the Dark Lady5. Dream fi gures: Bailey MacPhee,

Tori Switzer and Janelle Jorde

All photos by Ed Ellis

1 2

3

4

5

13

14

1957-1959 Havel is dra� ed into the Czechoslova-

kian army, and begins experimenting with theatre therein. His staging of Pavel Kahout’s September Nights earns him a demotion for insubordination, but he continues to experiment with theatre throughout his time in the army. (Keane, 144-145)

1959Havel begins working as a stagehand in

Prague’s ABC � eatre.

July 1960� e Communist Party of

Czechoslovakia,(KSC) establishes a new constitution, declaring itself the “Czecho-slovak Socialist Republic”. � ey claim this as a worldwide victory for socialism.

1960Havel receives a job o� er from the

� eatre on the Balustrade, also in Prague. Many of Havel’s � rst works will be pro-duced here.

1961Havel writes Hitchhiking, a short play

that marks his playwriting debut at � e Balustrade.

1963-1964� e economy goes into decline, particu-

larly in the industrial and agricultural sectors, and the KSC begins to lose in� u-ence and credibility in the public eye. (Keane, 167)

1964� e Garden Party, Havel’s � rst full-

length play is performed. � e play is

an absurdist comedy dealing with the impersonalization of language.

1965� e Face, a monthly young writers’

magazine that Havel sits on the editorial board for, is shut down by the state-con-trolled Writers’ Union of Czechoslovakia for presenting non-socialist and foreign writing.

1966-1967Havel is active within the Writers

Union, lobbying for liberalization and reform policies, with particular regards to freedom of speech and the press. (Keane, 170)

1968� e Memorandum is � rst performed.

January 1968Alexander Dubcek is appointed First

Secretary of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia. He implements “� e Ac-tion Program”, a set of reforms granting more civil freedoms to citizens. � ese reforms notably include a reprieve from federal censorship of the press, in direct opposition to the tactics of the Soviet Union. � is period of reform becomes known as “� e Prague Spring”. (Hei-mann, 228-9)

May 1968� ough Dubcek’s reforms are well

received by much of the Czechoslovakian public, these new political freedoms are considered threatening to the control of other Warsaw Pact nations, notably Poland, East Germany, Bulgaria, Hun-gary, and the USSR. Tensions between Czechoslovakia and these nations

Havel Timeline

15

The Capitol Theatre at Fort Edmonton Park presents

VelveteenThe

Rabbit

December 7 to 24, 2012

adapted by Chris Craddock

Directed by Amanda Bergen

Our magical version of this classic

tale has returned!

Our magical version of this classic

tale has returned!

Make it a part of your family’s holiday traditions.Make it a part of your family’s holiday traditions.

Book your tickets now:www.fortedmontonpark.ca or call 780.496.7381

Dec 7 & 22nd - 7:30pm

Matinees Dec 8, 9, 15, 16, 22-24 - 1:30pm

Matinees (School group prices apply)Dec 11, 12, 14, 18, 19, 21 - 12:30pm

Sponsored by

Your communityVolkswagen dealer.

info@southgatevw.ca 780.438.8888 www.southgatevw.ca

16

Havel Timeline continuedcontinue to grow over the subsequent months. (Heimann, 240-241)

August 1968� e Warsaw Pact nations intervene with

Dubcek’s administration, sending ground troops to occupy Czechoslovakia.

April 1969Gustav Husak takes over control of

the KSC from Dubcek. He ushers in the “Normalization Period”, and over the course of several years dismantles Dub-cek’s reforms and observes Soviet Union regulations. During this period, political forces become split between pro-reform moderates and hardline communists. (Heimann 273-274)

1970“� e Dissident Movement” begins with

organized protests. Tensions simmer.

January 1977 Havel and other dissidents publish

“Charter 77”, an indictment of illegal civil rights abuses in Czechoslovakia under communist regime and a call for politi-cal reforms. � e document is published internationally in an attempt to expose and embarrass the KSC. Possession of the document quickly becomes a federal crime.

January 1977Havel, for his involvement in Charter

77, is charged with “committing seri-ous crimes against the basic principles of the Republic” and held in solitary con� nement for more than four months. While he is imprisoned, a campaign to smear the Charter and its supporters

is launched, beginning with a televised event composed of speeches decrying the “Chartists” as treasonous and anti-social-ist. (Heimann, 287)

1978Havel, along with a collection of intel-

lectuals and dissidents, establishes the Czechoslovak Committee for the Defense of the Unjustly Prosecuted (VONS).

1978 Havel publishes his famous essay, “� e

Power of the Powerless”, which dissects the ideological framework of the com-munist regime. (Keane 268)

May 1979 Ten members of VONS, Havel included,

are arrested and taken to Ruzyne Prison on a charge of “Subversion”. He remains in prison until January 1983, and is re-leased only when he becomes seriously ill with pneumonia.

November 1989 Police forces in riot gear attempt to

suppress a peaceful student protest in Prague. � e resulting backlash creates a series of escalating protests that spread across the country. Dubbed “� e Velvet Revolution”, these protests will be instru-mental in the dismantling of commu-nism in Czechoslovakia. (Heimann, 298)

November 1989 In response to the increasing protests of

the Velvet Revolution, Vaclav Havel de-clares himself spokesman for the “Civic Forum”, a group of citizen dissidents and protestors condemning the current administration’s tactics and civil rights abuses and calling for reform.

17

To have your guide or promotional product produced,

contact Rob Lightfoot at rob@postvuepublishing.com

or 780.426.1996

Postvue Publishing#200, 11230 119 St.Edmonton, AB.T5G 2X3780.426.1996F: 780.426.2889rob@postvuepublishing.com

This Playbillis Published By

Publisher, Sales & Marketing Manager Rob Lightfoot rob@postvuepublishing.com Art Directors & Design Charlie Biddiscombe charlie@postvuepublishing.com Mike Siek mike@postvuepublishing.com Sales Representatives Andy Cookson andy@postvuepublishing.com Bridget Grady bridget@postvuepublishing.com James Jarvis jjarvis@postvuepublishing.com

© 2012 Postvue PublishingAll Rights Reserved, Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without the written consent of the publisher.

December 1989� e KSC announces that free elections

will be held in Czechoslovakia for the � rst time since 1946.

December 1989Vaclav Havel is elected President of

Czechoslovakia.

July 1992Havel steps down from o� ce before the

country is split so as not to preside over the country’s separation.

January 1993 Czechoslovakia separates into Slovakia

and the Czech Republic. � e transition is non-violent, and is dubbed “� e Velvet Divorce”.

February 1993Vaclav Havel is elected Prime Minister

of the Czech Republic.

Works Cited Havel, Vaclav, and Paul R. Wilson. Open Let-

ters : Selected Writings, 1965-1990. 1st Vintage Books ed. New York: Vintage Books, 1992. University of Alberta. Web.

Heimann, Mary. Czechoslovakia:the State that Failed. U.S.: Yale University

Press, 2009. Print. Keane, John. Vaclav Havel: A Political Tragedy

in Six Acts. 1st ed. New York, NY: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, 1999. Print.

Timeline compiled by Lucy Collingwood (MFA Directing candidate)

18

POLITICS, MUSIC, ART, FOOD, FILM AND MORE!

VUEWEEKLY.COM*MADE ENTIRELY BY A TEAM OF HIGHLY ADVANCED MONKEYS.

19

www.studiotheatre.ca

A flexible pass of three tickets to redeem in any combination at any of the six Studio Theatre shows. Get yours at the Timms Box Office and all SU Info Link booths on campus located in hUB, SUB and caB.

3 student t i ckets f o r o n l y

$253 adult t i ckets f o r o n l y

$48

A R T D E S I G N P R I N T I N G I N C .

20% savings offregular t icket price

Or

at the Timms Centre for the Arts

check the seasonbrochure for the line-up

no limits! buy & use as many as you want

season season season season season season season seasonPOLITICS, MUSIC, ART, FOOD, FILM AND MORE!

VUEWEEKLY.COM*MADE ENTIRELY BY A TEAM OF HIGHLY ADVANCED MONKEYS.

20

Administrative StaffKathleen Weiss: Chair, Department of DramaJulie Brown: Assistant Chair AdministrationDavid Prestley: � eatre Administrator / Events CoordinatorJonathan Durynek: Box O� ce Coordinator / Events AssistantRuth Vander Woude: Graduate Advisor / AdministratorConnie Golden: Undergraduate AdvisorSusan Reynolds: Accounting AssistantHelen Baggaley: Administrative Assistant / O� ce Coordinator

With assistance from Faculty of Arts sta� :Salena Kitteringham: Fine Arts Communications AssociateTerah Jans: Fine Arts Communications AssistantJoanna Manchur: Fine Arts Recruitment Coordinator

Production StaffGerry van Hezewyk: Production Manager / Administrative Professional O� cerLarry Clark: Technical Director, Timms Centre for the ArtsDarrell Cooksey: Head CarpenterJonathan Durynek: Production Administrative AssistantMel Geary: Lighting SupervisorJoanna Johnston: Costume ManagerJane Kline: Property MasterDon MacKenzie: Technical Director, Fine Arts BuildingAnn Salmonson: CutterMatthew Skopyk: Second Playing Space Technician / Sound SupervisorKaren Swiderski: Costumer, Fine Arts Building

Front of HouseSta� : Bonita Akai, Kristy Condon, Danielle Dugan, Peter Fernandes, Al Gadowsky, Becky Gormley, Caitlin Gormley, Tasreen Hudson, Marie-Andrée Lachapelle, Laura Norton, Emily Paulsen, Andrew Shum, Faye Stollery, Jane Toogood

Volunteers: Cristian Badiu, Debbie Beaver, Susan Box, Patricia Cerda, Fran-co Correa, Jonathan Durynek, Mary and Gene Ewanyshyn, Terri Gingras, Ron Gleason, Sydney Gross, Darcy Hoover-Correa, Paula Humby, Marie-Andrée Lachapelle, Don Lavigne, Sareeta Lopez, Tom and Gillian McGovern, Marlene Marlj, Laura Metcalf, Jennifer Morely, Alice Petruk, David Prestley, Joyanne Rudiak, Clio Unger, Catherine Vielguth, Jane Voloboeva, Diane Wright, Anisa Youse� , Danoush Yousse� . 

21

22

Heartfelt thanks to the individuals, foundations and organizations listed below for recognizing the importance of the arts and directly investing in the Department of Drama’s innovation and leadership within theatre training and performance.

A round of applause to our supporters.

Baha & Sharon Abu-LabanElla May & Leonard ApedaileDorothy AyerBacon Family FundJoan BairdRoderick E BanksDavid Barnet & Edith MitchellWilliam & Carole BartonKarin BasarabaJim & Barb BeckLindsay BellCarl & Doreen BetkeWilliam & Kathleen BetteridgeAlan BlevissJulia M BobergDonna BornhuseRichard BowesEdward BradoAngela BreadnerDavid BrindleyJulie Brown & Joseph PiccoloLinda BumsteadAdolf & Kathleen BuseCampbell Family FoundationRachel ChristopherBrent ChristophersonClassique Decor LtdPenny CoatesFaye CohenDaniel CunninghamAnne Marie DecoreBrian J. DeedrickMichelle L. Dias †Dyer Financial Strategies Ltd.Lesley Cormack & Andrew EdeW Gi� ord EdmondsEstate of Sheila Mary EdwardsLarry EthierJohn & Bunny FergusonShirley Gi� ordSheila Gooding

Melvina M. GowdaDerek & Mary Gri� thsKelly HanderekBohdan & Elaine HarasymiwMurray & Pauline HawkinsChristopher HeadStephen HeatleyDenise HemmingsSteven HiltonI A T S E Local 210Pavel & Sylvia JelenAzim & Shenaz JerajM A KeenePatricia LanganHou LiNicole E. MalletJohn & Peggy MarkoRobert W. McCollSandra McFadyenGordon & Norma McIntoshRod & Heleen McLeodRoderick & F June Morgan Betty MoultonLes Myhr †Audrey O’BrienDale OlausenJack & Esther OndrackV PorteousLeigh E. RivenbarkBente RoedHelen J RostaKenneth & Joan RoyValerie SartyAlan & Ramona SatherPeter & Olga SavarynAlison Scott-PrelorentzosJan Selman & Curtis PalmerAlbin ShanleySol & Shirley SigurdsonPhillip SilverDaryl Springer

Brian & Marion SprouleSt. Peter’s Anglican Church ACWAllan StichburyRichard & Rita TaylorIsobel � omas� omas UsherGilda L.F. ValliHenriette van HeesAlan and Lorraine WelchDeborah & Jerry YeeJohn R. YoungVarious Anonymous Donors

In Kind

David Adam & Rose Liu-AdamErica BoetcherJill ConcannonPamela ConstableCampbell DaviesEstate of Pro Rhey Mond DeproEster FragaMel GearyRon LavoieLarry MacInnisDon MackenzieAnn MalyjTravis & Joanna ManchurPhilip & Kathleen MulderDavid PlachDavid PrestleyElla ReidtKaren M. SwiderskiMichelle WarrenDonna R. ZukVarious Anonymous Donors

� e list includes those who donated to various Drama funds from September 20, 2011 to September 20, 2012. List compiled October 3, 2012.Apologies for inadvertent omissions or errors. Contact 780-492-2271 for changes.

Donors

23

THE THOUSAND FACES FESTIVAL

October 28–November 11, 2012

Avenue Theatre 9030 118 Avenue Northwest

www.thousandfaces.ca

L@1000FacesYeg

ALL LIVE EVENTS ARE FREE!

Celebrating myths from around the world in performance and art.

On Whyte Avenue For All Your Shipping, Printing And Mailbox Needs

10654 82nd Ave 780-414-5800 store278@theupsstore.ca

24

Alberta Aboriginal Arts presents in association with

WWWWWW & PWrffWfee Waawwaaa FF isaWs

Oct 30 - Nov 11

@C103Catalyst Theatre

Tickets:780)477-5955

ext. 301 Email: tickets@

workshopwest.org