Media Kit - Arts Club Theatre Company

It’s Snowing on SaltspringBy Nicola CavendishNovember 28 – December 28Granville Island Stage

ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHTNicola Cavendish has been seen at the Arts Club and around the countryprimarily as an actress, though she hopes to delve more consistently intowriting, which seems more difficult but doesn't hurt quite as much. She hasappeared as an actress at the Stanley in Mrs. Dexter and Her Daily by JoannaGlass; Up Island by David King; For the Pleasure of Seeing Her Again byMichel Tremblay; Unless by Carol Shields and Sara Cassidy; Arsenic and OldLace; and Dirty Blonde. A new project with the Arts Club next season is inthe works. Lately she has been concentrating on writing—her new play isbeing developed as part of the Arts Club's Silver Commissions project.A NOTE FROM THE PLAYWRIGHTWhen I was 27 years old I had the time of my life writing my first play at the request of Bill Millerd. Heknew me as a young actress and tossed out the idea that I try my hand at a Christmas script and submitit for consideration. It's Snowing on Saltspring, with all its heart and wacky notions, was the result. Myrecently deceased husband Michael was my best critic, and provided some wonderful bits throughout—as well as better punch lines than I was coming up with. How I miss him.The impulse for the story came from a woman who used to live in my little South Okanagan village ofKaleden when I was growing up. She was full of character and raised her kids alone in a warm Pickerscabin that usually had a huge soup pot going with a recently slaughtered chicken burbling away. Therewas no lack of judgment in the village, and when I was 15 I realized, to some large degree, she was anoutcast. She had no shortage of struggle in her life ,and my Father never hesitated to give her a lift intotown when he saw her hitchhiking on the highway. From that, and my aptitude for listening, I learnedcompassion and to not decide about people by anything other than their stories. Out of the Kaledenperson sprang the play's character, Bernice Snarpley, who was very left-of-centre, and succeeded inpulling the heartstrings and altering the perspective of some of those with preconceived notions. Forthat I was proud.And really... who wouldn't just love to fly in that sleigh up up and away and spend a sack of time abovethe world with one heck of a squeezy fellow named Santa? I would. Best wishes for good health,contentment, more laughter, less stuff, and lots more out-loud love.

A NOTE FROM LOIS ANDERSON, DIRECTORIn early spring 2013 I went to visit Nicola Cavendish at her home in WestVancouver. Within in the first five minutes of our visit I was lugging out batterycables to re-charge her pickup, reviewing the freshly pruned branches strewnon her lawn, holding a foil wrapped lasagna in my hands, while neighbors anddogs popped by and the kettle was put on. More neighbors dropped by whilewe munched on tarts and the phone rang off the hook—here in this bigrambling house I met the spirit of Nicola, and the world of her play; friends,family, food, gifts, laughs, and tea at the kitchen table.It's Snowing on Saltspring is a comedy with a whole lot of heart—it celebratesthe Christmas spirit—whatever your fears and stresses may be, Christmas is atime to renew your faith in the possibility of everything. Whether you gather around the nativity, Santa,or a freshly basted turkey and pan of nanaimo bars, Christmas is a time to find your people andremember to laugh, love, and celebrate life. The world is full of so much love and so little of it said outloud. We invite you into the Bannisters' Saltspring Island home, where this Christmas Eve 2013 we wishfor rain to turn to snow, and an overdue baby to arrive.

A NOTE FROM BILL MILLERD, ARTISTIC MANAGING DIRECTORA SEASONAL JOURNEYThe Arts Club has a long history of presenting plays and musicals appropriate to this season. One of themost endearing (and enduring) successes has been Its’ Snowing on Saltspring, which we premiered in1985 at Seymour Street. Nicola submitted her idea for the play when, with the assistance of a 100 thanniversary grant from the City of Vancouver, we initiated a program of inviting playwrights to submitideas for works that would have a connection to our city. Of course Salt Spring Island is not Vancouver,but enough city-folk flock there that we accepted the idea that the setting could be considered local.Nicky’s wonderful sense of the absurd, often seen on-stage as an actress, shone through in the piece,and her affection for the holiday season infused her play with the appropriate tone of off-kiltersentiment. The original production was directed by Larry Lillo and featured Janet Wright as Mrs. Claus.In various revivals actors including Bob Frazer, Bernard Cuffling, Nicole Robert, and Beatrice Zeillinger (ina different part), and Nicola herself have graced our stages. The original design team of Ted Roberts,Phillip Clarkson, Marsha Sibthorpe, and Phillip Tidd has contributed greatly to the production’s success.Since 1986 the play has been revived in various versions including It’s Snowing on Saltspring Tra La (a1988 musical with songs supplied by Harry Kalensky), and a successor, It’s Blowin’ on Bowen, producedat the Granville Island Stage in 1993. Nicola has been commissioned to write a new work for the ArtsClub as part of our Silver Commission’s program.It’s Snowing on Saltspring is about family and working in theatre creates a family atmosphere—theactors you see on stage are a family, even if only for a few weeks. At this time of year I salute all thosewho bring you these shows: the production staff and the many theatre artists who create the work yousee. Over our previous 49 years, there have been many who have helped to make the Arts Club what itis today, in its 50 th season including the members of our Board of Directors who have overseen manychanges since the days of the Seymour Street Stage in 1964. Thank you for being part of the Arts Clubfamily, and the best to you and your family at this time of year.

THE COMPANYAndrew McNee ~ Bill BannisterVancouver born and raised, Andrew splits his time between theatre, film and television, and raising hislittle rascals Finn and Thom with his wife Karen. Some select theatre credits include It’s a Wonderful Lifeand Boeing-Boeing at the Arts Club, Dress Me Up In Your Love (Theatre Replacement), Jesus Hopped theA Train (Pacific Theatre), Henry V, Falstaff, Merchant of Venice, Comedy of Errors (Bard on the Beach),Capsule, Cozy Catastrophe, Lazy Susan (Theatre Melee), The Project, After Jerusalem (Solo Collective),My Chernobyl, Half Life (Belfry), The Wars (Theatre Calgary), Equus, Vincent in Brixton, A Christmas Carol(Playhouse). Younger audience members may recognize him as Coach Malone from Diary of a WimpyKid or Mr. Clay from Ramona and Beezus. Andrew is a graduate of Studio58.Juno Rinaldi ~ SarahBannister/PeggyO’DarbyJuno is thrilled to be making her debut at the Arts Club in It’s Snowing on Saltspring. A graduate ofStudio 58 Juno has been working professionally for 13 years. Some theatre highlights include: The MatchMaker of Montreal (Firehall Arts Centre), Cozy Catastrophe and Lazy Susan(Theatre Melee),Midsummer's Night Dream and King Lear (Caravan Farm Theatre), Community Dinner (Rumble), Studiesin Motion (Electric Company), The Demimonde (Tiny Bird Theatre), Unity 1918 (Western Canada TheatreCompany), One in a Million (Green Thumb Theatre), Coronation Voyage (Vancouver Playhouse) and AChristmas Carol (Carousel Theatre). Film/TV: Arrow, Fringe, The Killing, Tooth Fairy, Jennifer's Body, TheBionic Woman, Robson Arms, Pysch, The Linda McCartney Story, and The War Between Us. Juno is also aco creator/writer of the dark absurdist pieces Theatre Melee is known for, and has just finished asuccessful performance of Tracey Power's new musical Miss Shakespeare for Summerworks TheatreFestival in Toronto. Juno grew up on Salt Spring Island and is so proud to call it home.Deborah Williams ~ MarthaKane/Mrs.ClausDeb began her professional career at the Arts Club in the Revue, with Comedy of Errors and School forWives. She has gone on to perform, tour, and develop many productions here, including the recent hitsClybourne Park, The Importance of Being Earnest, and Becky’s New Car, for which she received a JessieAward. She is one of the creators/stars of the international hit comedy trilogyMom’s the Word, whichhas been translated into 14 languages and is celebrating its 20 th anniversary. She is Artistic Associate forSolo Collective and The Belfry Theatre and a co creator/producer of The Flame, the hit monthlyVancouver storytelling celebrating its fifthseason at the Cottage Bistro. As a comedian she is regularly onTV and radio, and can also be found mouthing off on rantingparent.com. She is in development with anumber of new plays and feels grateful to have made her living as an artist in Canada for 28 years. Deb isa proud graduate of Studio 58 and proud mother of two scientific adults.

Joel Wirkkunen ~ ReverendKane/SantaClausJoel is thrilled to be spending this Christmas season on the Granville Island Stage playing with thismagnificent cast and crew of misfit toys. Theatre credits include Richard III, Taming of the Shrew, HenryVi, Cymbeline, Bard On The Beach; School for Scandal, A Flea In Her Ear, The Odd Couple, Arts Club; TheOvercoat, Of Mice and Men, Vancouver Playhouse; Cherry Docs, Grace, Sled, Touchstone Theatre; andHow To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying, TUTS. A Jessie Award nominee and graduate ofStudio 58, Joel is also the co-creator and producer of Vancouver's wildly popular True Storytelling seriesThe Flame. He'd like to offer a wink upstairs to his recently departed dad who was the best 'Santa Claus'ever. Period. Happy Holidays and all the best to you and yours!Beatrice Zeilinger ~~ BerniceSnarpley/GrindleO’DarbyBeatrice is very excited to once again, be a part of this Arts Club Christmas classic and to work with sucha gifted cast and crew. She has performed in many Arts Club shows, most recently in Henry and Alice:Into the Wild, Xanadu, and several seasons of It's a Wonderful Life. She is one of the originalperformer/creators of the award winning The Number 14 (Axis Theatre) and has toured and workedwith many local theatre companies. Beatrice is a three-time Jessie Richardson Award winner and agraduate of Studio 58. CHRISTMAS LINE GOES HERE PLACEHOLDER PLACEHOLDER PLACEHOLDER.Lois Anderson ~ DirectorLois has been working as an actor, deviser, and director for over 20 years. A graduate of UBC with a BA(English Lit), BFA (Acting), and MFA (Directing), Lois has worked with regional and independent theatrecompanies. She was a co-founder of Cirque Poule, an original member of Leaky Heaven Circus (workingon seven productions including A Streetcar Named Desire, Bonobo, Birthday Boy), a co-creator onNeworld Theatre’s first production Devil Box Cabaret, an original creator of The Flying Blind Collective,an Artistic Associate with Runaway Moon and Leaky Heaven, as well as a leading player at Bardon The Beach for six seasons. Acting credits in new Canadian plays including Griffin and Sabine, PosterBoys, The Penelopiad (Arts Club), Trout Stanley (Ruby Slippers), The Score (Electric Company) and manymore. Directing credits include original work with: Roughhouse Theatre (A Last Resort), the Arts Club(My Granny the Goldfish, The Unplugging), and Peter Panties with Stephen Hill (Leaky Heaven). Otherdirecting credits: The Graduate (Arts Club), Pride and Prejudice as well as adaptations of Euripides’Medea and Iphigenia for UBC and SFU main stage. For Runaway Moon she has devised, acted in, and/ordirected The Winter’s Tale, Sparrows, Faerie Play, and A Small Miracle. She has received six JessieAwards for acting and two ensemble awards. Lois is Mom to Anouska and Elena.Ted Roberts ~ Set DesignerAs Resident Designer for the Arts Club, recent designs include Dreamgirls, Clybourne Park, Hairspray,August: Osage County, and Buddy at the Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage; the set for Its a Wonderful Lifeat the Granville Island Stage; the set for Santaland Diaries and A Craigslist Cantata at the Revue Stage;

and the lighting for Boeing-Boeing on the Arts Club’s regional tour. For the Firehall Arts Centre thelighting for Chelsea Hotel; for Persephone Theatre, Saskatoon the lighting for My Chernobyl; and forDouglas College, the set for Blue Window. Ted is a member of the Associated Designers of Canada.Darryl Milot ~ Costume DesignerDarryl is thrilled to have been invited to help re-imagine an Arts Club Christmas Classic. Being able towork with such a wonderful, funny cast and crew, and having a blast with Director Lois Anderson hasbeen a great way to ring in the holiday! Credits include A Craigslist Cantata, the Back Kitchen ReleaseParty, Hockey Mom, Hockey Dad, Saltwater Moon, and The Seahorse, all Arts Club Theatre. He receiveda Jessie nomination for Costume Construction for the 2012/2013 season at Carousel Theatre, and onefor Design for Michelle Riml’s Poster Boys(ACT).Alan Brodie ~ Lighting DesignerAlan is pleased to return to the Arts Club, where his previous productions include Avenue Q, Gordon,Tear the Curtain, The Constant Wife, His Greatness, Arsenic and Old Lace, Art, and Lawrence andHolloman. Recent local productions include The Magic Flute (Vancouver Opera), Terminus (Pi Theatre),Spring Awakening (Studio 58), and The Light in the Piazza (Patrick Street Productions). Stratford creditsinclude Wanderlust, Camelot, and Moby Dick. Shaw Festival credits include Our Betters, Major Barbara,and Ragtime. A graduate of Theatre at UBC, he is a member of the Associated Designers of Canada. Heresides in Vancouver with his wife Michele and their boxer Ellie.Michael Rinaldi ~ Sound DesignThis is Michael's fourth time designing sound for the Arts Club Theatre (Becky's New Car, Calendar Girls,My Turquoise Years), and he's very happy to be back. He has also created designs for The Belfry Theatre,Touchstone Theatre, Neworld Theatre, Electric Company, the Vancouver Playhouse, the Old TroutPuppet Workshop, and many more. As a recent migrant to Ontario he misses all his pals in Vancouververy dearly.Pamela Jakobs ~ Stage ManagerHappy 50 years, Arts Club! Some of Pamela’s past shows that she had the pleasure to work on over thelast 19 years include: Swing, Amadeus, My Fair Lady, Enchanted April, The Diary of Anne Frank,Enchanted April, The Penelopiad, Les Misérables, and Disney’s Beauty and the Beast at the Stanley, andMiracle Mother, Sitting on Paradise, Snowing on Saltspring, Forever Plaid, and It’s A Wonderful Life atthe Granville Island Stage. Pamela is a two-time Jessie nominee and a graduate of the BFA Theatreprogram at UBC. Show would like to thank her husband Craig and her daughter Rose for all theirsupport.

Ronaye Haynes ~ Assistant Stage Manger/Karma the Dog/RudolphRonaye most recently worked on the Arts Club's touring production of Boeing-Boeing, and 5 LesbiansEating a Quiche at the Vancouver Fringe Festival. Last season, she did Boeing-Boeing, 2 Pianos, 4 Hands,and She Stoops to Conquer for the Arts Club. Some of her other favourite shows include; It's a WonderfulLife, Buddy; the Buddy Holly Story, Intimate Apparel, Blood Brothers, Mom’s the Word: Remixed,Company, and Suds, She has also had the privilege of working for the Playhouse Theatre, GatewayTheatre, Green Thumb Theatre, and the Vancouver Theatre Sports League. She thanks her family andfriends for their continual love and support; especially her favourite husband, David.