Produced by special arrangement with
PLAYWRIGHTS GUILD OF CANADA
Walterdale Theatre acknowledges that our theatre is located on Treaty 6, a traditional territory of the Cree and has been an important trading place of the Saulteaux, Blackfoot, Nakota Sioux, Dene, Saulteau, and Métis peoples of western Canada for many thousands of years. We also recognize and honour that we are Treaty people and therefore seek to uphold the spirit and intent of this Treaty of Peace and Friendship.
Walterdale Mission Statement
We are an Edmonton-based community theatre committed to the production of engaging and vibrant works and providing our member volunteers opportunities to participate in all aspects of theatre production.
Want to get involved with Walterdale?
Have you ever wanted to try your hand at stage management, acting, directing, or even media relations in theatre?
Walterdale Theatre has been successfully run by its volunteers for over 60 years now, and we invite you to join our team. Whether you can donate a few hours or a few seasons, we are always looking for new volunteers to help grow our theatre.
The best way to get involved at Walterdale is to become a member today! You will receive news about shows, special events, opportunities to volunteer or audition, and discounts on tickets.
For more information about joining Walterdale, go to our website at www.walterdaletheatre.com, e-mail us at walterph@telus.net, or call us at 780-439-3058. We will get back to you!
Walterdale’s COVID Protocols During the Performance
- Masks are encouraged but not mandatory
- Follow all instructions from our Front-Of-House volunteers
- Enjoy the show!
For more information regarding Walterdale’s COVID-19 response, please click here.
Dramatis Personae
| Margaret MacNeil | Katie Corrigan |
| Catherine MacNeil | Susanne Ritchie |
| Ian MacNeil | Chris Gaertner |
| Grandpa | dale Wilson |
| Neil Currie | Justin Deveau |
Production Team
| Director | Anne Marie Szucs |
| Assistant Director | Ursula Pattloch |
| Costume Designer | Megan Reti |
| Lighting Designer | Lauren Tamke |
| Set Designer | Joan Hawkins |
| Sound Designer | John Anderson |
| Properties Designer | Kristen M. Finlay |
| Mentor Lighting Designer | Rebecca Cave |
| Mentor Sound Designer | Darrell Portz |
| Production Manager | Rebecca Bissonnette |
| Stage Manager | Jenn Robinson |
| Master Builder | Pierre Valois |
| Master Painter | Brooke Emberly |
| Assistant Stage Manager | Justine Makowecki |
| Dialect/Accent Coach | Owen Bishop |
| Intimacy Choreographer | Sarah Spicer |
| Lighting Operator | Aidan Heaman |
| Sound Operator | Donna Call |
| Bagpipe Musician | Carol Peabody |
| Build Crew | Ken New |
| Drapery Crew | Richard Hatfield |
| Lighting Crew | Richard Hatfield |
| Properties Crew | Gibson Finlay |
| Paint Crew | Joan Heys Hawkins |
| Technical Advisor | Kahlan Oosterveld |
| Technical Advisor Mentor | Richard Hatfield |
| Summary |
|---|
| The Glace Bay Miners’ Museum is the story of an ill-fated love between a wandering musical dreamer and a Cape Breton miner’s daughter whose dreams are reawakened by their passion. It is a Canadian tragedy that is both hard as nails and full of love and humour. |
| Setting |
|---|
| Glace Bay, Cape Breton The Glace Bay Miners’ Museum is a memory play. |
| Run Time |
|---|
| 2 hours, plus a 15 minute Intermission |
| Advisories |
|---|
| Sensitive content with sexually explicit language, swearing, and discussion of death. |
| Acknowledgements |
|---|
| Paul McCormack |
Director’s Notes
The Glace Bay Miners’ Museum is a memory play for me as well. My mother grew up in Low Point, Cape Breton, just outside Sydney and down the road from Glace Bay. Her father, my grandfather, was a coal miner. I remember the house my mother and her family grew up in – small, wooden, barely room to sneeze in let alone fit in two adults and twelve children. It was a house full of love, music, and humour. I remember my grandmother cooking at the wood stove and getting everyone to kneel on the kitchen floor before suppertime to recite the rosary. I remember my grandfather sitting on his wooden chair outside the back door smoking his pipe as I would run past him to play in the field that smelled like clover. This house and my ancestors are gone now, but I dedicate this play to the memory of them all. I can still smell the clover and the sea air.
Anne Marie Szucs – Director
Cast Biographies
Katie Corrigan – Margaret MacNeil
Katie is thrilled to be making her debut with Walterdale Theatre! She has appeared previously in ELOPE’s Brigadoon. She would like to thank the talented cast and crew for making the past two months (not to mention the show itself!) so memorable and enjoyable.
Justin Deveau – Neil Currie
Justin is pleased to be doing live theatre again after a three year absence. He is especially happy to be back at Walterdale Theatre, where you may have seen him in such shows as Dracula, The Weir, or Glengarry Glen Ross. Tapadh leat (thank you) Enjoy the show.
Chris Gaertner – Ian MacNeil
Christopher Gaertner is delighted to make his debut appearance at the Walterdale Theatre in its season opener! Other roles of note that he has taken on are Dr. Pitcher (The Secret Garden), Dalziel (The Glorious Twelfth), and Lysander (A Midsummer Night’s Dream).
Susanne Ritchie – Catherine MacNeil
Susanne is thrilled to be back on the Walterdale stage following Silent Sky in 2019 plus a few productions in the late 80’s. In between, she has performed in over 20 shows with the Leduc Drama Society. When not on stage, Susanne draws portraits, sings, plays piano, and bakes pies.
dale Wilson – Grandpa
It’s been 31 years at Walterdale and the good Lord knows how many plays, but here he is again grasping at fame or legacy or maybe just another chance to have a great time with amazing people. dale believes in the quote, “a job is a living, art is life. Live long, live large…,LIVE!”
Production Team Biographies
John Anderson – Sound Designer
John is happy to be back in the theatre, working with his fellow theatre lovers and volunteers. This is his first time Sound Designing a show. Previous Walterdale credits include: The Realistic Joneses, The December Man, The Attic, the Pearls and Three Fine Girls, etc.
Owen Bishop – Dialect/Accent Coach
Owen is a Vancouver based actor, writer, director, and dialect coach. Born and raised an Edmontonian, he has spent many nights treading the boards at Walterdale. Owen has been apart of shows such as Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean; Sea of Green; and Threepenny Opera.
Rebecca Bissonnette (she/her) – Production Manager
Fresh off a near sold out Fringe run for her play I’ll Have Another, Rebecca set production goals & here she is, Production Manager. Rebecca happily comes back to Walterdale; the best teaching theatre around. Credits include: Parsons in 1984 (Walterdale), Choreographer for CryBaby (Leduc Drama Society) & Nana in Tuck Everlasting (Opera Nuova).
Donna Call – Sound Operator
Donna is honoured to be in Walterdale’s booth for the first time supporting such a powerful and timely production. You may have seen last year’s Copenhagen, marking a return to the stage after 30 years.
Brooke Emberly – Master Painter
Brooke is a Grant MacEwan alumni who specializes in scenic painting. After her wonderful experience being Master Painter for The Women at Walterdale Theatre, she quickly became hooked on the Walterdale experience! Since then, she has assisted on many plays, as well as been Master Painter on many Walterdale shows.
Kristen M. Finlay – Properties Designer
Once again Kristen’s kitchen table is a props making factory, much to the disdain of her sons! Last season Kristen directed The 39 Steps and she will be directing The Penelopiad this season! Kristen has designed props for The Attic, The Pearls, and Three Fine Girls, Ravenscroft, and Much Ado About Nothing.
Joan Heys Hawkins – Set Designer
When her parents replaced the old coal-burning furnace in the family home with a gas furnace, Joan used the tongue-and-groove boards of the coal bin to build a little playhouse. Luckily, no coal dust is needed for this intriguing play. Joan is grateful to this great cast and production team.
Aidan Heaman (He/Him) – Lighting Operator
Aidan has a great love for theatre and is excited to be in the booth for GBMM! He has been involved in musical theatre since high school, appearing in Footloose, Grease, Joseph, and The Sound of Music. He most recently portrayed Frank Delorenzo in the Nanaimo Theatre Group’s production of Never Swim Alone.
Justine Makowecki – Assistant Stage Manager
Justine is a recent graduate of the Technical Theatre program at Vancouver Island University. Her pronouns are she/her. Justine recently Stage Managed The Realistic Joneses at Walterdale in July! I am excited to be back at Walterdale as an Assistant Stage Manager for The Glace Bay Miners’ Museum.
Ursula Pattloch – Assistant Director
Ursula is excited to be part of The Glace Bay Miners’ Museum. She’s acted in some wonderful plays like 5@50 and Stepping Out. She’s also directed many programs & commercials for CTV but her love is theatre. She thanks her partner Gerry and children Tyler & Sarah for their support.
Darrell Portz – Mentor Sound Designer
Darrell has been involved in theatre since the 1980’s as designer, actor and director. He has numerous Walterdale theatre credits to his name, although now spending much of his time in film, he is always happy to work on productions at this lovely theatre. He is pleased to mentor John as a new designer.
Megan Reti – Costume Designer
Megan is excited to be working with such an amazing team! She combines her interest in fashion (especially vintage and historical) with her love of stories in her costume design work. GBMM is her fourth show designing with Walterdale Theatre.
Jenn Robinson – Stage Manager
This is Jenn’s eighth show with Walterdale. Over the past five years she has taken on many roles both on and off stage and is a current member of the Board of Directors. Check Jenn out in the local film Grotesque streaming on Plex.
Sarah Spicer (she/her) – Intimacy Choreographer
Sarah Spicer is a graduate of Rosebud School of the Arts and has been pursuing fight and intimacy choreography since moving back to Edmonton. She’s excited to have the opportunity to work with this team to bring this show to life!
Anne Marie Szucs – Director
Anne Marie is an active member of the Walterdale community as a director, actor, and Board member. Last season, she played Trish in 5@50 and sound designed for The 39 Steps. She wishes to thank the entire cast and crew for the passion and effort they’ve brought to this project!
Lauren Tamke – Lighting Designer
This is Lauren’s first experience as Lighting Designer. She is grateful to her mentor, Rebecca Cave, for her guidance and support! Lauren’s other Walterdale credits include performing in The 39 Steps and Queen Milli of Galt and directing Boeing Boeing and the upcoming production of The Mousetrap.
Pierre Valois – Master Builder
Pierre has been involved with Walterdale Theatre since 2009, where he built the set for Charlie Brown. Since then he has built sets, designed sets, tread the boards, operated lights and sound, and even had a stint on the Board of Directors. Many thanks to his spouse Parazanda for her support.
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2021 – 2022 DONORS AND SPONSORS
Walterdale Theatre extends thanks to the generous support of local business, government grants, partners, and our patrons and members for their donations of time and funding. Without your support we could not continue.
Public Funders and Partners
Artistic Sponsor
Gorilla Property Services Edmonton
Community Partners
College Copy Shop
Valtone Cleaners
Donors
Benefactors ($1,000 plus)
The Cinders Fund at the Edmonton Community Foundation
Champions ($500-$999)
AbleIT Inc.
Anne Marie Szucs
Supporters ($100-$499)
Anonymous
Carole Barton
Michael Buhr
Joan and Alex Hawkins
Richard Hatfield
Paul Jankowski
Philip and M.J. Kreisel
Jennifer Kwan
Patricia Luxford
Shell Canada Limited
Sol Sigurdson
Julie Sinclair
Mike Harding & Don Zeman
Friends ($50-$99)
Sally Hunt
Donors ($49 and under)
Vivian Binnema
Player’s Endowment Fund ($200 plus)
5@50 – Cast and Production Team
Copenhagen – Cast and Production Team
The 39 Steps – Cast and Production Team
The Realistic Joneses – Cast and Production Team
If you would like to be a part of the Walterdale Theatre family of sponsors, contact our Administrator by e-mail or phone the theatre at 780-439-3058.
| WALTERDALE THEATRE ASSOCIATES Is a Canadian Registered Charity, and will provide you with an income tax receipt for any donation over $20.00 you wish to make. Thank you to everyone who supports our theatre! |
A Brief History of Walterdale Theatre and Building
Walterdale is one of the longest running community theatres in Canada.
Walterdale Theatre Associates traces its beginnings to Theatre Associates, who produced their first plays (Lady Audley’s Secret and Out of the Frying Pan) in August 1958, playing in the Jubilee Auditorium social room. Before finding its home in the current Fire Hall, there have been two other Walterdale Theatres. The first was an old school on the Walterdale flats (Kinsmen Fieldhouse area), hence our name. The second was a former service men’s club house, which was later demolished for Kingsway Garden Mall.
Our current building was built in 1910 and was Strathcona Fire Hall #1. In 1912 it was re-numbered Edmonton #6 when the City of Strathcona amalgamated with the City of Edmonton. The bell tower houses the Strathcona “Town Bell”. It is topped by an octagonal belfry, covered by an octagonal roof. The tower was used to dry hoses (by hanging them up) after use. The stable (now set-building workshop) was designed to house nine horses.
The building ceased to be a working Fire Hall in 1954 and was used to store furniture. In 1974 Walterdale Theatre Associates took over the building and lovingly restored it, and converted the inside to a 145-seat theatre. The first play produced in this theatre was What the Butler Saw by Joe Orton, which opened November 12, 1974.
Major renovations were again carried out in 1993 (raising the roof and tying the building together with new beams) and in 2011 (new main floor washrooms, renewing the bricks and other major outside work).
Walterdale continues to keep our building updated and efficient, and have replaced the lighting instruments with LED lights, and the aging second floor furnaces with new high-efficiency units.
Walterdale Theatre Board of Directors 2022 – 2023
Executive
Artistic Director – Lauren Tamke
President – Sally Hunt
Vice-President – Anne Marie Szucs
Treasurer – Wylee Johnston
Secretary – Jennifer Robinson
Past-President – Kristen M. Finlay
Directors
Building Director – Matthew Lindberg
Front-of-House Co-Directors – Alexandria Fortier & Matthew Baker
Membership Director – Laura Eschak
Production Co-Directors – John Anderson & Louise Mallory
Public Relations Co-Directors – Christine Gold & Ed Medeiros
Technical Co-Directors – Richard Hatfield & Kahlan Oosterveld
Directors at Large – Jay Sanni & Tracy Wyman
Front of House Volunteers
Front of House Directors
Alexandria Fortier & Matthew Baker
Front of House Committee Members
Volunteer Coordinator
Cinnamon Stacey
Box Office Manager
Anne Marie Szucs
Bar & Concession Manager
John Dolphin
A special and heartfelt thank you to all the wonderful volunteers for Front of House positions during the run of The Realistic Joneses!
Annahita Sarty, Anne Marie Szucs, Bob Klakowich, Carmen Boyd, Christine Gold, Cinnamon Stacey, Dale Wilson, Dave Wolkowski, Gloria Carr, John Anderson, John Dolphin, Kristen Finlay, L Eschak, Lee Boyd, Mary-Ellen Perley, Matthew Baker, Matthew Grantham, Michael Tilleard, Michelle Olsen, Mike Cooper, Nicole English, Phil Zyp, Richard Hatfield, Rob Cauti, Shawn Marshall, Syrell Wilson, Tracy Wyman, Violet Tilleard, Vivian Binnema
