ronnie burkett s The Daisy Theatre

ronnie burkett s The Daisy Theatre

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.

On the McManus Stage we have the wonderful opportunity to experience performances in an intimate environment. I ve always loved being in here nestled below the grandest of theatres. Here we will explore productions best viewed up close. Sometimes we will move seating around. Perhaps we will perform something in here without seating at all. Who knows? Everything is possible in here. While the large historic theatre upstairs is certainly one of the most impressive in the world, this stage offers delicate and intense joys in stunning contrast. We kick off this season s McManus Stage offerings with the return of Ronnie Burkett s The Daisy Theatre. Last season was the first time Ronnie and friends had ever been in London and shortly after word got out, the show sold out its entire run. And how dazzling to know that there have never been two identical performances as Ronnie creates the evening s entertainment on a totally improv basis every night. A master artist kicks off the celebration in a daring, hilarious, and likely heartbreaking way. Welcome to the McManus Stage. dennis garnhum artistic director

Ronnie Burkett Creator/Performer Ronnie Burkett has been captivated by puppetry since the age of seven, when he opened the World Book Encyclopedia to Puppets. He began touring his puppet shows around Alberta at age 14 and has been on the road ever since. Recognized as one of Canada s foremost theatre artists, Ronnie Burkett has been credited with creating some of the world s most elaborate and provocative puppetry. Ronnie Burkett Theatre of Marionettes was formed in 1986 and has stimulated an unprecedented adult audience for puppet theatre, continuously playing to great critical and public acclaim on Canada s major stages, and as a guest company on numerous international tours abroad. Ronnie has received numerous awards in the Canadian theatre as a playwright, actor, and designer for his work with Theatre of Marionettes, including the 2009 Siminovitch Prize in Theatre and The Herbert Whittaker Drama Bench Award for Outstanding Contribution to Canadian Theatre. Ronnie has just completed the fourth sold-out touring season of the highly acclaimed and wildly popular The Daisy Theatre. This 13th production from Theatre of Marionettes follows the international successes Penny Plain, Billy Twinkle, 10 Days on Earth, Provenance and the Memory Dress Trilogy of Tinka s New Dress, Street of Blood, and Happy. In 2017, Little Dickens premieres in Vancouver, and in 2019, Ronnie Burkett Theatre of Marionettes will premiere a new audience-interactive production, Forget Me Not. The 2016/17 season marked the 30th anniversary of Ronnie Burkett Theatre of Marionettes. John Alcorn Music and Sound Design As composer, lyricist, musical director, and arranger, John Alcorn has made significant contributions to numerous theatrical productions. The Daisy Theatre, currently touring internationally, for which he composed and recorded the full score, is one of several collaborations with Ronnie Burkett. John is one of Canada s premiere jazz vocalists, delivering his distinctive renditions of jazz standards on the most prestigious bandstands and concert stages across Canada. His list of citations and acknowledgements in music and theatre includes both Jazz Report (Male Vocalist of the Year) and Dora (Outstanding Music) awards. His latest recording, Flying Without Wings (2016), features an all-star Canadian trio Reg Schwager (guitar), Mark Eisenman (piano), and Steve Wallace (bass) along with Warren Vaché (cornet). Alcorn also has a passion for producing. The East Coast Music Awards (2001) acknowledged his very first production project (The Second Time Around, Diane Alcorn his mother!) with a Jazz Album of the Year nomination. Alcorn produced his own cd, Quiet Night, for which he received a 2004 National Jazz Awards nomination. Crystal Salverda Stage Manager With over 30 years in the entertainment industry, Crystal has been blessed to work both across Canada and internationally stage managing wonderful productions such as The Daisy Theatre, Penny Plain (Ronnie Burkett Theatre of Marionettes); 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea, Boom (Kidoons Network); Tails (Calgary Stampede); Half Life, Hamlet, Divisadero, Andromache (Necessary Angel); Under Milk Wood, Civil Elegies, Of the Fields Lately, Billy Bishop (Soulpepper Theatre); A Raisin in the Sun (Soulpepper/Theatre Calgary); This is What Happens Next (Necessary Angel/Canadian Stage); Tuesdays with Morrie (Harold Green Jewish Theatre). Other work experience includes Sales Manager (Westsun), Concert Stage Manager (Marquis Entertainment), as well as dozens of lighting designs for various productions over the years. government funders

mcmanus stage, october 23 to november 4, 2017 The Daisy Theatre Created and Performed by Ronnie Burkett RONNIE BURKETT JOHN ALCORN TERRI GILLIS CRYSTAL SALVERDA JOHN LAMBERT Marionette, Costume, and Set Design Music and Lyrics and Sound Design Production Manager / Artistic Associate Stage Manager Associate Producer The Daisy Theatre was co-commissioned by the Luminato Festival (Toronto) and the Center for the Art of Performance at UCLA (Los Angeles) and produced in association with Ronnie Burkett Theatre of Marionettes (Toronto). The Daisy Theatre is presented with the support of the Canada Council for the Arts and the Ontario Arts Council. Ronnie Burkett Theatre of Marionettes is exclusively represented by John Lambert & Assoc. (Montreal) www.johnlambert.ca MARIONETTES built by Ronnie Burkett. COSTUMES Kim Crossley. PUPPET BUILDERS Angela Talbot, Gemma James-Smith, Marcus Jamin, Jesse Byiers, with Gil Garratt and Martin Herbert. SHOES AND ACCESSORIES Robin Fisher and Camellia Koo. MARIONETTE CONTROLS Luman Coad. MAJORDOMOS Robbie Buttinski and Daisy Padunkles. The Daisy Theatre stage devised and created by Mike Kukucska, Hamilton Scenic Specialty Inc. The Max Blümchen Orchestrale pit band devised and constructed by Eric James Ball, with puppets sculpted by Noreen Young. The Franz and Schnitzel theme music composed by Cathy Nosaty. The Daisy Theatre theme song sung by Laura Hubert. Photography by Alejandro Santiago. The videotaping or other video or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited.

THE STARS While there are over 45 puppets in The OF THE Daisy Theatre, all of which are set up back stage, there are three star characters. DAISY Each has their own monologue that reveals naughty and not so naughty secrets, little obsessions, or ripping commentary. Here, THEATRE Ronnie talks about the three main characters, who they are and his connection to them. SCHNITZEL, the little fairy boy without wings, is a fan favourite, and regardless of the antics of any given Daisy show, Schnitzel s goodnight to the audience closes every show. He is a gift to me, a totally innocent character whose musings about life and his desire to fly seem to connect with audiences, and keep me honest onstage (albeit while talking in falsetto through a small marionette). Puppet portraits by Alejandro Santiago

MRS. EDNA RURAL from Turnip Corners, Alberta, is easily one of the most beloved. Her salt-of-the earth, simple, and always somewhat confused interpretation of the world around her is unabashedly Canadian; judgmental, generous, kind, and narrow, all at once. Her catchphrase, Lord love a duck, was something my own Mum always said, so while it would be easy to just make Edna a cartoon or the brunt of a joke, this character always reminds me of where I m from. So, I tend to honour Edna for all her funny foibles, and I think this is why she is an enduring and endearing character who connects so strongly with audiences. ESMÉ MASSENGILL is a faded star of stage and screen, a tyrant, a villain, a drunk, a whore, a bully, and a goddess. Calling Esmé an actress would be like calling the Pope religious; Esmé IS the theatre. She s my inner diva unleashed, a drag show on strings, a stream of consciousness rant on show business and critics, and more fun to perform than should be legally allowed. This bastard love child of Tallulah Bankhead and Mr. Magoo reminds me constantly how silly, vulgar, dangerous, and ridiculous puppetry can and should be.

Celebrate the season with a glorious family spectacle! A Christmas Carol Spriet Stage November 28 to December 30 by Charles Dickens Adapted and Directed by Dennis Garnhum This is one of the great enduring stories requiring the use of extraordinary the atrics and excessive imagination. I look forward to sharing my whimsical and surprising version with you. DENNIS GARNHUM season sponsor title sponsor