MAJOR CASTING FOR 09/10

Hi,

Even though I am at Edmonton’s Citadel Theatre re-mounting the Jessie Award-winning Playhouse production of The Drowsy Chaperone, I am really excited about how the 09/10 season is taking shape back at the Playhouse. As I’d hoped, these plays of my first full season are attracting some of the brightest new and established stage stars. It’s going to be a great year at the Playhouse.

Director Meg Roe has assembled a strong company around two talented young girls for The Miracle Worker. Margot Berner and Emma Grabinsky will both tackle the challenging role of Helen Keller in our season opener. As Meg says, “Helen is a complicated, physical, and emotional character that would demand a lot out of anyone, and lucky for us we had two young people who seemed more than up to the task.”

Vancouver had such a good time with my directing debut of The Drowsy Chaperone, that I will direct and choreograph Dirty Rotten Scoundrels starring Elena Juatco as Christine Colgate. Elena was a top-six finalist in season two of Canadian Idol and I am really excited to be working her. We are going to have so much fun, especially when you add Andrew Wheeler as Lawrence Jameson and Josh Epstein as Freddy Benson to the mix. The chemistry between these three will be electrifying.

Our Olympic year starts with Bruce Ruddell’s musical spectacle Beyond Eden, part of Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad. This million-dollar musical is co-produced with Theatre Calgary and directed by their Artistic Director, Dennis Garnhum. The cast of 14 is headlined by two of Canada’s most renowned performers; actor and musician John Mann of the band Spirit of the West and singer, actor and humanitarian Tom Jackson. As Dennis says, “Their dynamic stage presence and singing will make for a thrilling experience on our stage.” I couldn’t agree more, Dennis.

One of North America’s most renowned and daring creative pioneers Laurie Anderson, is bringing A New Work to Vancouver for one week only as part of Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad. This 90-minute technodrama combines technology, mystery and contemporary short stories to create a unique new art form.

I am also going to direct The Love List which I believe is one of the funniest shows that Norm Foster has written and it’s going to star Norm himself. Norm will be paired with a Vancouver favourite, Peter Anderson, star of The Overcoat.

The casting for Dangerous Corner that I am working on with director Bill Dow is taking us down some very interesting roads. Some of the strongest actors in western Canada are wanting on this first journey into the delicious actors’ world of the modern classics since we re-opened the mandate. Check back for updates later in the year as Bill makes his choices for a very strong finish to our season.

I’m very glad that this first season of mine is shaping up to be such a good one. Because this is only the beginning!

MAX