Leif Norman photographer

Dear Mama

by

Kendra Jones

A response to Sondheim, Gypsy, and stage mothers everywhere.

 

Writer and Performer: Kendra Jones recently returned to Winnipeg from London, England, where she graduated with Distinction from the Royal Academy

of Dramatic Art MA Text and Performance programme. She is also a proud graduate of the U of W Honours Theatre program. She is familiar to

Master Playwright festival audiences from Dionysus is Getting Impatient (Strindbergfest – Theatre Incarnate), Seagulls (ChurchillFest – selardi), Enter

a Free Man (StoppardFest – UofW) and Before Breakfast (O’NeillFest – WETworks). Her original work has previously shown at Sarasvati FemFest,

Girls! Cabaret, and RADA. Dear Mama is Kendra’s first new play in production. She looks forward to your thoughts and questions in the talkback!

 

Director and Dramaturg: Megan Andres is a graduate of the U of M Theatre Program. Select credits include: As Director: Is It Wednesday

(Sarasvati), Gorilla, Antipode, Departures and Arrivals, What May Unfold (Black Hole Theatre), Lawrence and Holloman (PTE-Apprentice

Director). As actor: The Darling Family, Catching Shadows (Broken Still Productions), Candida, The Fighting Days (Tara Players), Bedbound (The

Incompletely Strangled Theatre Company), A Dream Play and Landscape of the Body (Black Hole).

 

Current and upcoming projects include performing in The Cripple of Inishmaan (Black Hole) and in Doubt, a Parable (Tara Players). Megan would like to

thank Kendra for this wonderful collaboration experience that has been so rewarding from start to finish! She hopes you enjoy the show!!

 

Stage Manager: Leah Borchert is an honours psychology and theatre student at the University of Winnipeg. She has been involved in theatre since she was

four years old, starting as an eager young drama student, and growing into a playwright, actor, stage manager, producer, and patron. She’s also really

good at hide-and-go-seek.

 

Sound Design & Lighting Technician: John Norman is a Music Producer and DJ, occasional theatrical sound designer and lighting technician. His original

music productions and remixes are released on dance music labels across the globe. For more info visit www.johnnormanmusic.com

Program Design . . . James Firby

Special Thanks to . . . Christopher Sobczack, Eric Bosse, and Theatre Incarnate, Doug McKechnie at Goodwill

Industries, Pamela Roz, Rebekah Jones, Maryanne Jones.

Our volunteers . . . Kerry Hebert, Brenda McLean, Matthew TenBruggencate, Gary Jarvis

 DearMama_Program

SONDHEIMFEST 2013: January 16 – February 3

Master Playwright Festival, Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre

“Musical comedies aren’t written, they are rewritten.”
– Stephen Sondheim

MTC Artistic Director Steven Schipper on Stephen Sondheim:

“Stephen Sondheim has changed the course of theatre history, tearing the musical away from its roots in romantic comedy. He writes about paintings and serial killers and assassins, and his music and lyrics sound like nothing we’ve ever heard before.  Always there is a duality, a contradiction at the heart of his work – a rough sophistication, a light-hearted darkness – that moves and amazes us. The 2013 SondheimFest will celebrate his artistic impact on our city and the world.”

 Impel Theatre proudly present Dear Mama, a new one-act play in response to Sondheim, Gypsy, lost childhood, and stage mothers around the world.

“Not everyone is capable of being loved, Ruby. They are too selfish.

They aren’t willing to give themselves to the people who want to love them.”

Inspired by Sondheim’s lyrics in Gypsy, this new piece delves into the mind and body of a girl obsessed with fame, beauty and attention. Words have the power to build you up or tear you down. “Beautiful. I’m beautiful. Look, Mama, I’m beautiful.” Mama will be proud.

No wheelchair access | Capacity 35 | 40 mins
Warning: Language, mature themes

Each performance will be followed by a 30-minute Q & A session with the creative team.

Written and Performed by Kendra Jones
Direction and Dramaturgy by Megan Andres
Stage Managed by Leah Borchert

Thursday 17 January – 8:00pm
Friday 18 January – 8:00pm
Saturday 19 January – 8:00pm
Sunday 20 January – 2:00pm

This production is part of the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre’s SondheimFest – 2013 Master Playwright Festival

**To Reserve Tickets**
email: kendra@impelartists.com

>or<

call: 204.475.8747

Note that seating is limited to 35 per performance.