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Toronto, Ontario – After a twenty year absence, the award winning comedy, The Rez Sisters, returns to the Toronto stage once again! Written by esteemed and celebrated Cree playwright Tomson Highway (Pimooteewin: The Journey and Dry Lips Oughta Move to Kapuskasing), this sassy and richly humoured comedy will make its long awaited return to Toronto’s Helen Gardiner Phelan Playhouse, University of Toronto - as the Centre for Indigenous Theatre’s 2008 Year-End Production. The play opens Friday, April 25, at 8 p.m. Followed by a second evening performance on Saturday, April 26, at 8 p.m. A matinee will close the show on Sunday, April 27 at 2 p.m. Tickets are pay what you can (with a suggested donation of $10 for students and seniors and $15 for the general public). Following the Friday, Apr. 25 performance, a discussion is scheduled for the audience and members of the cast and crew. For tickets and information, call or visit Centre for Indigenous Theatre, at 401 Richmond St. West, Suite 205; Ph: (416) 506-9436, 10-5 pm weekdays. Premiering in Toronto in 1986, The Rez Sisters illustrated contemporary life on many Indian reservations in Canada. This first play by Highway won many awards and played to sold-out audiences across Canada, including at the Edinburgh International Festival. It is the story of seven sisters from the Wasaychigan Hill Indian Reserve who believe their dreams WILL come true if they can only get to Toronto and WIN the “BIGGEST BINGO in the WORLD!” Bringing an abundance of knowledge to this production is seasoned Indigenous Performer and Artistic Director of the Centre for Indigenous Theatre, Rose Stella: “With the Rez Sisters – we are reminded that the spirit of Nanabush is everywhere...and is happy to say hello to us, if we let it. The Trickster brings the women together in a way they could not do on their own. The generosity of this play is that we get to watch Nanabush spin magic as he playfully lights the way to new worlds.” The “Rez Sisters” features seven students from the Centres Full-Time program and one Alumni student, Lena Recollet. We are happy to present: Cherish Blood as Emily Dictionary, Lisa Cromarty as Marie Adele Starblanket, Shannon Olivier as Zhaboonigan Peterson, Lena Recollect as Annie Cook, Sarah Severight as Pelijah Patchnose, Doreen Stevens as Veronique St. Pierre, and Eva Rose Tabobondung as Philomena Moosetail. Second Year student Sundance Murray Crowe will play Nanabush, the spirit world trickster. The Rez Sisters is set on an imaginary reserve on Manitoulin Island in Ontario, Canada. Taking us there with Set Design is the creative Red Pepper Spectacle team - Gabriella Caruso and Andy Moro; Moro will also bring his award winning talents to the Lighting Design. Tim Hill shares his skills with the team as Props Designer Extraordinaire. We are fortunate to have the musical wizardry and sophistication of Vancouver based Sound Designer, Russell Wallace; and joining the Rez team as Costume Designer is Jennifer Triemstra. The talented Bill Coleman and Michael Greyeyes join the team as choreographer and consultant and traditional dance choreographer, respectively. Finally, Marion de Vries, Playwright and Director is Consultant to Director Rose Stella. We hope you will join us for an evening filled with laughter, magic and BINGO! For more information about the Centre for Indigenous Theatre, please visit http://www.indigenoustheatre.com March 24, 2008 |
