Jacques Brel.indd - Stratford Festival

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Ideas and Insights ArcelorMittal Dofasco applauds the artists, artisans and staff behind every outstanding experience at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival. Songs of Self-Expression On January 25, 1972, Jacques Brel attended a gala at Carnegie Hall entitled “Hommage à Jacques.” The evening of song celebrated the man, his compositions and his contributions to the world of music. It was an iconic moment for this singersongwriter whose catalogue of songs had brought him a devoted following around the world and made him a leading influence on some of the most progressive English-speaking performers of the day, including David Bowie, Nina Simone and Leonard Cohen. But the story of Jacques Brel began far from New York City – 5,800 kilometres away across the Atlantic in Brussels, where he was born in 1929 on the eve of the Great Depression. After enduring a childhood stained by wartime occupation, Brel achieved minor success on the cabaret circuit in Brussels. His first recording, at age twenty-three, was followed by the French release of his self-titled debut album in 1955. By the early 1960s, Brel had established himself as one of France’s greatest writers and interpreters of modern songs. He lived through both the Second World War and the Vietnam War, which illuminates why many of the central themes in his songs address the survival instinct that burns in all of us. Part art song, part protest, much of Brel’s work describes love and madness, life and death; songs that compel an audience to listen and journey with him through the stories he created and told. But Brel’s compositions were not written as theatre songs (which generally forward the story or illuminate character); they were created as “stand-alone” pieces by a man whose views on life needed to be expressed through performance and song. As Brel himself said, “It was to spit out my dream to the outside world.” Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris is a song cycle of more than twenty-five works by Brel, translated by Mort Shuman and Eric Blau. As a musical, it is an anomaly: it has no libretto, no storyline and no recognizable cast of characters. Yet the power of Brel’s music, lyrics and passion is the foundation of a show that has been performed around the world – almost in perpetuity since its off-Broadway debut in the late sixties. This production is in many ways a “première,” since the musical has been re-explored for the Stratford Shakespeare Festival. In addition to many of the songs featured in the original 1968 production, we have included some rare gems from two of Brel’s albums, recorded in 1959 and 1961, and a treasure from the 1975 film of the musical. The score also has brandnew orchestrations lovingly created by the Festival’s Director of Music, Rick Fox, which breathe new life into these timeless songs. Near the end of his life, Brel wondered if people ever really understood his music. The answer to that is simple: eighty-one years after his birth and thirty-one years after his passing, Brel’s philosophies and the life force within his songs are being performed, “alive and well and living,” on the Tom Patterson stage in Stratford, Ontario. Stafford Arima Director Preliminary costume Designs for Jewelle and brent By Katherine Lubienski 6
Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris Production Conception, English Lyrics and Additional Material by Eric Blau and Mort Shuman Based on Jacques Brel’s Lyrics and Commentary Music by Jacques Brel Director Musical Director Designer Lighting Designer Sound Designer Musical Arrangements Musical Staging Assistant Director Assistant Lighting Designer Musical Supervisor Movement Captain Stage Manager Assistant Stage Managers Production Assistant Production Stage Managers Interval Stafford Arima Laura Burton There will be one interval of 15 minutes. Audience Alert Katherine Lubienski Steven Hawkins Peter McBoyle Rick Fox Todd L. Underwood Dian Marie Bridge Michael Franzmann Rick Fox Robin Hutton Julie Miles Bruno Gonsalves, Angela Marshall Emilie Aubin Julie Miles, Marylu Moyer This production uses loud noises, fog and strong language. Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris is presented by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc., New York. The Cast Jewelle Brent Mike Nathalie Jewelle Blackman Brent Carver Mike Nadajewski Nathalie Nadon Understudies: Robin Hutton (Jewelle, Nathalie), Stephen Patterson (Brent, Mike) The Songs Act One Marathon (Les Flamandes) Madeleine Alone (Seul) My Childhood (Mon enfance) Timid Frieda (Les Timides) Mathilde You’re Not Alone (Jef) I Loved (J’aimais) Bachelor’s Dance (La Bourrée du célibataire) Fanette (La Fanette) Le Moribond Middle Class (Les Bourgeois) The Desperate Ones (Les Désespérés) Sons of… (Fils de…) Amsterdam Act Two Brussels (Bruxelles) Song for Old Lovers (La Chanson des vieux amants) My Death (La Mort) Funeral Tango (Le Tango funèbre) Old Folks (Les Vieux) Jackie (La Chanson de Jacky) The Bulls (Les Taureaux) Ne me quitte pas Marieke Next (Au suivant) Carousel (La Valse à mille temps) If We Only Have Love (Quand on n’a que l’amour) Running order at time of printing. 7
Page 1 and 2: TOM PATTERSON THEATRE MAY 14 TO SEP
Page 3 and 4: IN CELEBRATION OF EXCELLENCE At the
Page 5 and 6: Elly Stone, became the first perfor
Page 7: Jacques Brel Music Jacques Romain G
Page 11 and 12: Production Director of Production D
Page 13 and 14: The Company Stafford Arima Stratfor
Page 15 and 16: Katherine Lubienski Fifth season: D
Page 17 and 18: Mike Nadajewski Second season: Amie
Page 19 and 20: A Salute to Our Donors Our donors m
Page 21 and 22: Annual Donors Janet L. Ecker & Dere
Page 23 and 24: STA_HousePro:Layout 1 3/24/10 11:38
Page 25 and 26: Prospero Society Members of the Pro
Page 27 and 28: Take home a piece of the drama with

Jacques Brel.indd - Stratford Festival

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