2018/2019 Season
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries Chautauquas travelled across the prairies, bringing diverse cultural programming to rural communities. Lectures, concerts, performances and demonstrations gathered the citizens together under one big tent for delightful artistic exchanges.
Theatre Projects Manitoba brings to life a modern Chautauqua this fall. A merry band of multidisciplinary artists will go on the road together for one month, conducting one week long residencies in four Interlake locations: Steep Rock, Arborg, Eriksdale and Teulon. While the artists reside in the community they will collaborate with local citizens through workshops, art projects, and performances. From striking up a choir to hosting old time dances with seniors and high school students, and from performing Mary’s Wedding to co-hosting vinarterta workshops, the programming in each week is built with the community, for the community.
And it’s all for free!
Come and join us on the road, see what we have been working on with the citizens of the Interlake- and get to know one of the most well-loved regions of our province.
The Merry Band of Artists:
Ardith Boxall, Sarah Constible, Sarah Flynn, Heitha Forsyth, Claire Thérèse Friesen, Justin Fry, Syd Hayduk, Daniel Jordan, Duncan Mercredi, Scott Nolan, Daniel Peloquin-Hopfner, William Prince, Andraea Sartison, and Chris Sousa
ARDITH BOXALL
Ardith Boxall is an actor and director. In 2005, after a year as associate artist, Ardith was appointed the Artistic Director of Theatre Projects Manitoba, a company dedicated to new plays and the development of local artists. Prior to this, she worked primarily as a freelance actor for stage, film and television, a drama instructor, and was an emerging director. A graduate of the University of Winnipeg with an honours degree in Theatre and Drama, Ardith continued her studies at the National Voice Intensive at Simon Fraser University, and mentored in directing under several of Manitoba’s finest theatre practitioners.
SARAH CONSTIBLE
Sarah is an actor, writer and director living in Winnipeg. Previous shows with TPM include Reservations, Beautiful Man, The Monster Trilogy, Murder Ballads, and Dionysus in Stony Mountain. Directing credits include Constellations, Edward II (TBTR), Julius Caesar (SIR) and two versions of Hamlet (SIR, Bravura/Snakeskin Jacket). Sarah is a member of the Fu Fu Chi Chi Choir.
SARAH FLYNN
I am thrilled to be a part of TPM’s Interlake Chautauqua Tour. I have completed my Bachelor of Arts Honours in Theatre Performance, with a specialization in Devised Theatre and a Minor in Classics at the University of Winnipeg last year. Mary’s Wedding marks my professional acting debut, and I am beyond honoured to do so with Theatre Projects Manitoba. In my spare time, I enjoy breathing fresh outdoor air (preferably in forests) and playing with my food.
Recent theatrical creations: Luna’s Suitcase, The Rest of the Rabbit, VeggieTheatres, Harper & Row
HEITHA FORSYTH
HEITHA FORSYTH is a force to be reckoned with, with a voice to match. A graduate of the University of Manitoba Jazz Studies program in 2008, she has used the past decade to cement her place as a sought after vocalist, at home in multiple styles. It’s not unusual to find her singing in front of a Big Band, Soul Band, Country Band or Blues Band. Her voice is strong and agile leaving audiences amazed and moved. Her stage presence calls out to even the meekest of souls, breaking down walls and letting the light in. She does this with a dependable dose of hilarity; you can hear her audience laughing a mile away. Recently she has been performing and touring nationally as her roots/blues/soul alter-ego Sol James and featured as a vocalist on multiple projects across the Canadian musical landscape. Beyond her busy performing career, Heitha be found sharing art, expression and well-being as a performer with Artists in Health Care Manitoba and is currently completing a second degree in Music Therapy at The Canadian Mennonite University.
CLAIRE THÉRÈSE FRIESEN
Claire Thérèse Friesen is a multi-disciplinary artist from Winnipeg, Manitoba. She loves performing and collaborating in new works of theatre, including I Dream of Diesel and Mission Potluck (One Trunk Theatre), Broken Wings (take me home productions), and Dionysus is Getting Impatient (Theatre Incarnate). Claire is a singer-songwriter, performing solo and with her band The Lockdown. She is also a member of the Fu Fu Chi Chi Choir. When she is not on stage, Claire facilitates and designs arts programming for a number of organizations, including Shakespeare in Stony Mountain (through Shakespeare in the Ruins), a program that offers high school drama credits to incarcerated men.
JUSTIN FRY
Justin is a graduate of the University of Manitoba’s Theatre program. Past productions he has acted in include Confessional, The Collector, Tape, Lobby Hero, Orphans (The 28th Minute); Eden, Halo (Tara Players); Nothing Sacred, The Cripple of Inishmaan, The House of Blue Leaves, The Harmfulness of Tobacco, No Why, The Bald Soprano (BHTC); and For Tea and Country (Naughty Sailboat). He is a founding member of the Winnipeg based improv troupe Club Soda.
DANIEL JORDAN
Daniel Jordan is a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter based in Winnipeg. A veteran of the international touring circuit and local music scene, he loves collecting and sharing stories. He has found the latest Star Wars films quite disappointing but sometimes plays folk music in a trio called Red Moon Road.
SYDNEY HAYDUK
Sydney Hayduk has dabbled all over the theatrical world. From Technician, to Stage Manager, to Producer, To Writer, to Performer; coming from Winnipeg’s cold climate, she never could stand still. Sydney is Artistic Directer and Co-Founder for her company Peachy Keen Productions. She had produced, wrote and performed in five plays with her company in the last five years. Some other past credits include: Stage Manager for The Crackwalker, Sweet and Salty Productions. Stage Manager for Giving Voice tour, Sarasvati Productions. Performer/Stage Manager Shakespeare’s Dream, Monster Theatre. When Sydney isn’t working in theatre she spends her time dancing, rhyming and spewing messages about love. She is very excited and humbled to be back working with the beautiful people of TPM.
DUNCAN MERCREDI
Duncan Mercredi-Cree-Metis, born-Misipawistik (Grand Rapids, Manitoba), writer/storyteller, lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
SCOTT NOLAN
Scott Nolan is a songwriter, poet, multi instrumentalist from Winnipeg, Manitoba Treaty One Territory. His songs have been recorded by Hayes Carll, Mary Gauthier, Watermelon Slim, and Corin Raymond among others. He has recently produced albums for William Prince, Lynne Hanson, and Watermelon Slim. In January 2015 he started writing poetry, approximately three weeks after his 40th birthday. The plan was to replace smoking cigarettes with walking eight to ten kilometres a day. He is a songwriter by trade and often discovered melodies and rhythms in the shuffling of his feet. He spends most of his time thinking about words, music, and language. Nolan found himself writing short poems based on people and places in his neighbourhood, trying to capture a bit of what was happening around him.
After more than a decade of relentless touring, he decided to take a year or so away from the road to collaborate, produce records, and enjoy his life in Winnipeg. A play was produced through Theatre Projects Manitoba based on the nine albums he has released since 2003. The play, I Dream of Diesel, enjoyed a two week run of sold-out shows and critical praise from both the community and critics.
DANIEL PÉLOQUIN-HOPFNER
Daniel has been crafting sounds for decades, spanning genres from folk to metal to film scoring. Secretly a Black Hole Theatre alumni, his love for the stage bleeds drama into his musical creations. An elusive yet gregarious creature, you can find him touring the world with his current folk trio, Red Moon Road.’
ANDRAEA SARTISON
Andraea is a theatre creator and producer, specializing in devised theatre and interdisciplinary collaboration. Her relationship with TPM flourished when her company, One Trunk Theatre, was in residence for a period of two years, during which she co-created (together with Gwendolyn Collins and Claire Thérèse) and directed I Dream of Diesel, which premiered as part of TPM’s 25th Anniversary Season.
CHRIS SOUSA
My name is Chris Sousa. I’m a graduate of the U of W acting honours program. I have been an actor for as long as I can remember. However, this project will my first time working as a writer. I’m beyond grateful for Theatre Projects Manitoba, and for the opportunity they’re giving me to tell the stories of people who have rarely been heard. This experience is fresh for me, and I welcome it with an open mind and heart. I’m beyond excited to get to create along side such amazing artists!
