#63 Michael Whitfield / July 23, 2020 by Michael Kruse

This time the final conversation from my trip in Vancouver at the end of 2018. Michael Whitfield was the head of lighting design at the Stratford Festival for over 25 years from the mid 1970’s through to the early 2000’s, so he is perfectly placed to round out our discussion about the history of the design of the festival stage. He also has designed opera across North America and we talk about his take on the important communication strategies when building your show in a team.

Links

The Stratford Festival

University of Victoria

Richard Pilbrow

Villanova University

The National Theater at the Old Vic Theatre

Josef Svoboda

Robert Ornbo

Strand Electric

Traditional Broadway resistance control boards

McPherson Playhouse

Desmond Healy’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead

Nathaniel Merril

Gil Wechsler at the Metropolitan Opera in New York

Jean Rosenthal

Tharon Musser

Joe Melziner and the new kind of lens for a spot light and his book

A Chorus Line and the first elecronic lighting board PDF download

University of Windsor

Barnard Hewitt, history of theatre at University of Illinois

Robin Philips (english background?) Two Genltlemen of Verona and Comedy of Errors 1974

York University Theatre Dept.

Hart House Theatre

The Opera School at the University of Toronto

Lotfi Mansouri at COC, directed Candide at Avon in 1978

Yale Drama School

Satyracon, Directed by John Hirsch at Stratford

Robert Scales

Strand IDMQ dimmer, first memory board (Instant Dimmer Memory Cue)

Strand MMS modular memory system (playback,memory)

Virgina at Avon Theatre 1980 with Maggie Smith

Mikado at Stratford that toured to Old Vic after Ed Mirvish bought and refurbished

Who owns the Old Vic in London now after Mirvishes sold it

Canadian Staging Projects, founded by James Fuller

Rigoletto at COC in 1992

David Hockney’s Turondot

The McCandless Method of Lighting the Stage

Paul Gallo, the lighting designer for the Titanic

The Festival Stage at Stratford designed by Tanya Moiseovitch

Strand Light Pallette

New Theatre Stratford Upon Avon

Chris Wheeler, tech at Stratford Festival

#62 Conor Moore / June 8, 2020 by Michael Kruse

Conor Moore is the penultimate interview from my trip to Vancouver and Victoria in December of 2018. We talk about his early schooling at Queen’s University and UBC and his breakout as a projection, lighting and set designer at Bard At the Beach and other great Vancouver based companies. Conor was pursuing his Masters of Social work in Labour studies at Simon Fraser University and is very active in the labour movement of the Canadian theatre scene, so we talk about this shift in his focus and his great work advocating on behalf of Vancouver and Canadian designers in several forums. You can see his portfolio at conormooredesign.com.

Links

Queen’s Dan School of Drama and Music

Tom McGee and Kat Sandler

UBC MFA Theatre design

Carmen Alatorre

Headlines Theatre, Theatre for Living and David Diamond

After Homelessness

Bard on the Beach, Falstaff directed by Glynis Leyshon

Alan Brodie

Robert Gardiner

The Pipeline Project produced by ITSAZOO and Savage Society

Dr. Silver, A Celebration of Life by Musical Stage Company and Outside the March Theatre

Peter and the Starcatcher at the Artsclub Theatre

Vancouver Design Forum

Associated Designers of Canada

SFU Labour Studies Program

Prof. Kendra Strauss

IATSE

Canadian Actors Equity Association

Precarious work and Theatre and the Arts

#61 Mishelle Cuttler / May 18, 2020 by Michael Kruse

This is the second to last interview from my BC interview trip at the end of 2018. Mishelle Cuttler invited me to her home in Vancouver BC and we speak about her career as a composer and sound designer. We speak of her early career at UBC and discovering her talents as a composer as well as an actor/musician up to her experience at NYC’s Tisch School of the Arts studying composition and all points in between. You can find more information about her work at www.mishellecuttler.com

Links

Bard on the Beach Youth Conservatory

UBC Theatre Department

The Royal Conservatory

Christine Quintana

Itsazoo Productions

Parked, an Indy Rocked musical for novelty instruments

Revolver, nee Neanderthal at the Cultch

Stationary, A Recession-Era musical

Craig Holzschuh at Théâtre la Seizième with Statu Quo

Killer Joe, by Tracy Letz, produced by Itsazoo

Rumble Theatre

Caravan Farm Theatre

The Tragical Comedy of Punch and Judy by Jacob Richmond

Musical Theater Composition at Tisch School of the Arts

Talk is Free Theatre

Joe Iconis New Musical Theatre

The Society for the Destitute Presents Titus Bouffonius by Colleen Murphy for Rumble Theatre

Lysistrata at Bard on the Beach

Hir by Pi Theatre

#60 Robert Gardiner / April 27, 2020 by Michael Kruse

I met with Robert Gardiner at the University of British Columbia’s Fredrick Wood Theatre in the design department at the beginning of 2019. We speak about his early work in the US and is eventual move to the UBC drama department, and his thoughts on theatre training and the changes in producing theatre in Canada over the last 40 years. Links to Robert’s work can be found Here!

Links

University of Washington

Larry Shumate technical director California State University

League of Professional Training Programs with this great piece on “The Leagues” from Rolling Stone Magazine

Live Bird in its Jaws by Pink Ink

The Arts Club Theatre

Studies in Motion by The Electric Company

Studies in Motion, 2006, by Electric Theatre Company, Written and Directed by Kim Collier, Choreography by Crystal Pite, Original Music by Patrick Pennefather, Set, Lighting and Projection design by Robert Gardiner, Costumes by Mara Gottler. Cast: A… — Studies in Motion, 2006, by Electric Theatre Company, Written and Directed by Kim Collier, Choreography by Crystal Pite, Original Music by Patrick Pennefather, Set, Lighting and Projection design by Robert Gardiner, Costumes by Mara Gottler. Cast: Andrew Wheeler, Allan Morgan, Dawn Petten, Jonathon Young and Erin Wells, with UBC students Ryan Beil, Lara Gilchrist, Kai James, Shane Kolmansberger, Joel Redmond, Kyle Rideout, and Juno Ruddell

Edward Muybridge

Slide Projector History

#59 Robert Sondergaard / April 13, 2020 by Michael Kruse

Rob Sondergaard

I joined Rob at his home in Port Moody BC, just outside Vancouver in December of 2018. We speak about his start in lighting at the Banff Centre and move into live events at Christie Lites Vancouver. Waxing on about early movers we flesh out his work in large scale live events for television, including the opening and closing ceremonies for the Paralympics in Vancouver in 2010 and the Grey Cup half time show. You can find his portfolio at www.robert-sondergaard.com.

Links

Sagebush Theatre, Kamloops BC

Western Canada Theatre Company

Stagecraft Program at the Banff Centre for the Arts

Ballet BC

Ken Alexander

Christie Lites, Vancouver

Alan Brodie

Gerald King

Guy Simard

Creative Lighting, Vancouver shop

Huntley Christie

IATSE Local 357

High End Systems

Trackspots, Intellebeams, Cyberlights, Technobeams, Studio Colors

Martin Lighting

PAL, MAC 600

Telescans by Cameleon, Janet Jackson Tour 1989

LCD “Chicklet” controller - High End Systems

Status Cue - High End Systems

ETC Expression

James Turrell’s Skyspace pavilions

CAST and Wysiwyg and the Emphasis system

GrandMA 1, 2 and 3

Philip Cygan

Sunset Boulevard lighting rig

The Whole Hog from Flying Pig Systems

Snapshots with Jim Hewson

Amir lighting designer for CBC Vancouver

Patrick Roberge Productions

Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games Opening Ceremonies, Producer and Artistic Director: Patrick Roberge, Director of Design: Robert Sondergaard, Visuals Director: Sean Nieuwenhuis, Art Director: Daniel Planko, Lighting Director: Jason McKinnon, S… — Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games Opening Ceremonies, Producer and Artistic Director: Patrick Roberge, Director of Design: Robert Sondergaard, Visuals Director: Sean Nieuwenhuis, Art Director: Daniel Planko, Lighting Director: Jason McKinnon, Stage Designer: Mark Patterson , Costume Designer: Sheila White,

Pacific National Exhibition productions

Grey Cup Halftime Show

Paralympic Opening and Closing Ceremonies Vancouver 2010

AJ Pen

Jason McKinnon

Alex Nadon, Juno Awards toronto

How the camera sees coloured lighting

Martin VDO Sceptron LED fixture

Richard Burg

Rent, by URP Productions. Director - Richard Berg, Set Designers - Roberth Sondergaard& Richard Berg, Lighting Designer - Robert Sondergaard, Video Designer - Craig Alfredson, Costume Designer - Gina Morel. Featuring: Darren Adams, Nick Hefflefi… — Rent, by URP Productions. Director - Richard Berg, Set Designers - Roberth Sondergaard& Richard Berg, Lighting Designer - Robert Sondergaard, Video Designer - Craig Alfredson, Costume Designer - Gina Morel. Featuring: Darren Adams, Nick Hefflefinger, Chris Olson, Alen Dominguez, Emily Canavan, Kurtis D'Aoust, Ali Watson, Synthia Yusuf, Maia Beresford, Cristina Bertini, Kai Bradbury, Nicholas Bradbury, Emily Matchette, Vanessa Merenda, Blake Sartin

Uncle Randy Productions - URP

Tapastry, Caberet, Jesus Christ Superstar - URP

Royal City Musical Theatre

Arts Club - Helen Laurence, directed by Stan Douglas

Rock of Ages at the Arts Club Theatre, 2016

Orpheus, Ballet BC,

Mark Stanley lighting designer

Melinda Sutton

MovemEnt, by Julie-Anne Saroyan

Harry Frehner

Dark Matters, from Kidd Pivot, created by: Crystal Pite, Composer: Owen Belton, Lighting Designer: Robert Sondergaar, Costume Designer: Linda Chow, Set Designer: Jay Gower Taylor, Featuring Dancers: Eric Beauchesne, Peter Chu, Sandra Marín Garcia, Y… — Dark Matters, from Kidd Pivot, created by: Crystal Pite, Composer: Owen Belton, Lighting Designer: Robert Sondergaar, Costume Designer: Linda Chow, Set Designer: Jay Gower Taylor, Featuring Dancers: Eric Beauchesne, Peter Chu, Sandra Marín Garcia, Yannick Matthon, Jiří Pokorný, Cindy Salgado, Jermaine Maurice Spivey

Dark Matters by Crystal Pite

William Forsythe

MAC 2000 Performance

Compulite

#58 Mary Kerr / April 2, 2020 by Michael Kruse

Mary and I met at her home in Victoria BC in December of 2018. We speak of her early days growing up in Winnipeg dancing in her mother’s dance studio and her transition to majorette, sculpture and finally nationally renowned set and costume designer. We speak for considerable length about her collaboration with the late Stephen Katz and her work on the spectacular opening ceremonies for the Commonwealth Games in 1994. Mary’s work was featured in the seminal book Scenography in Canada by Natalie Rewa and she currently is a professor at the University of Victoria.

Links

Mary on the set of Toy Castle, flanked by actors (clockwise from right to left )Jorden Morris, Elizabeth Olds, Corinne Vessey, and perhaps David Lucas?

Toy Castle television series

Playhouse Theatre, Winnipeg

Donna Fiala - Winnipeg blue bomberettes

Avril Stevenson - cutter

Royal Winnipeg Ballet - Arnold Spohr

Ubu Roi David Hockney

Dr. Judith Flynn, St. John’s college University of Manitoba

Colin Gorrie

John Hirsch, Manitoba Theatre Centre

Stephen Katz

Mother Courage and her Children, Manitoba Theatre Centre, Zoe Caldwell, Len Cariou, Martha Henry, Francis Hyland and Douglas Rain

Laurence A. Cummings, St Aethalwolds Players,

Dr. Alexandra Johnson, Chaucer scholar U of Toronto at the Medieval Centre

Secunda Pastorum, at Hart House

The Digby Play of Mary Magdalene Toronto Dance Theatre, 1969-70

Patricia Beatty

The pageant of Herod the Great, directed by G.B. “Skip” Shand,

Professor Brian Parker, U of Toronto English dept

Sydney Katz and Dorthy Katz

Measure for Measure, directed by Stephen Katz at Hart House

Germain Peirce Memorial Tribute

Paul Taylor Dance Company

La Mandragola Vancouver Playhouse

Campidoglio floor by Michelangelo

Caucasian Chalk Circle at Vancouver Playhouse

Death of a Child at Expo 86

Frei Otto’s stretched membrane for the german pavillion, Expo ‘67

Josef Svoboda Laterna Magika

Norval Morrisseau mural

Andy Jones

The Magnificent Voyage of Emily Carr by Jovette Marchessault directed by Glynis Leyshon

Ian Atkin - New Zealand designer

Sweeney Todd at the Mercury Theatre in New Zealand

Pauline Kingi

Commonwealth Games Victoria BC 2994, Mechanical Wolf

Commonwealth Games 1990 New Zealand opening ceremony

Dame Whina Cooper, New Zealand

Commonwealth Games 1994 Victoria BC Ceremonies

Jacques Lemay

Clan Chief Kwaxsistalla Wathl'thla (Adam Dick)

Kim Recalma-Clutesi

The Big House

Bryn Finer

Andrew Wallace

The legend of Kawadillikalla

The Three Penny Opera at Canadian Stage and the Banff Centre for the Performing Arts

Ivan Kenneth Eyre

Ways of Seeing - John Berger

Patrick DeWors

Michael Levine

The Three Penny Opera at Canadian Stage 1989, costume design by Mary Kerr

Mary sitting with the final costumes for The Three Penny Opera at Canadian Stage in 1989

#57 April Viczko / December 3, 2019 by Michael Kruse

I had a great opportunity while I was in Calgary in the winter of 2019 to speak with designer April Viczko. She is an associate professor and the chair of the department of design in the school of creative and performing arts at the University of Calgary. She is also the past president of the Associated Designers of Canada and a founding member of the controversial Designers Working Group. We speak about her early experiences at Scenotecnica Piu in Italy at the beginning of her career and her journey from Prud'homme Saskatchewan to Toronto and back to Calgary. You can see examples of her work at https://aprilviczko.com/ .

A special thanks to the sound department at the University of Calgary who loaned us some fancy microphones to record the interview.

Please support us at Patreon.com

Links

Interculture Canada - American Field Service

David Lovett

Lee Livingston

Ezio Frigario, opera designer

Scenotechnica Piu owned by Antonetti

Maya digital rendering

Chuck Homewood and ADC

Paul Matheson

Michael Gianfrancesco

Casa Loma Christmas, and Wolfworks

Unfinished pool at Casa Loma

Theatre by the Bay

Dany Lyne

Workshop West

Alberta Theatre Projects

Theatre Calgary

Vertigo Theatre

The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, directed by David Ferry in 2005

Shadow Pleasures nee Hand Writing into Dance by Veronica Tennant

Ray Salverda

Glen Davidson

Hello Hello, by Kill Your Television, directed by Kevin Sutley

Garage Alec by Village Theatre, directed by Ron Jenkins

Ash Rizen, by Alberta Theatre Projects

Natalie Rewa, Scenography in Canada

Kendra Fanconi, created Slime by The Only Animal company

Patsy Thomas, head of wardrobe at Banff Centre for The Arts

Saa’kokoto, Kainai Blackfoot elder at U of Calgary theatre dept

Robert Gardiner

Eco-scenography, Ian Garrett

World Stage Design

Prague Quadrennial

Magnetic North and the Push Festival

Matt Flawn, Banff

Designers Working Group

Dany Lyne acceptance speech at Siminovich prize

Erica Hassel

#56 Susan Benson / September 16, 2019 by Michael Kruse

Susan Benson was born in Kent, England, trained as a fine artist but as a member of a theatre family moved quickly in to theatre design. I met with Susan in Victoria in December of 2018 and she recounted her early life and training in England and her development of a robust training environment at the Stratford Festival, where she was the head of design for many years. Susan defends the idea of a theatre designer as an artist and the need of support of traditional theatre spaces to insure we train a future generation of theatre artists. You can follow along visually by finding a copy of Patricia Flood’s new book about Susan’s design career here. You can also find visual references online from Susan’s work here.

To support us on Patreon, click here.

Links

Christopher Timothy - Road Program on Benson on the Knowledge network - Guildhall School of Music and Drama

LAMDA London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts or RADA Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama

Sunday Times Drama Festival , Harold Hobson

John Neville

Tanya Moiseiwitsch

Royal Shakespeare Company

National Diploma of Design in Britain

ADD

Theatre Museum Canada, Alice Through the Looking Glass by Susan Benson

The Ecstasy of Rita Joe

Robin Phillips

The Krannert Centre for the Performing Arts

Manotti’s The Medium 1974 at the Stratford Festival starring Maureen Forrester, directed by Michael Bawtree

The Summoning of Everyman, by Charles Wilson in 1974 at Stratford Festival - search for the title

Twelfth Night, Stratford Festival, 1975 directed by David Jones

Tyrone Guthrie and Michael Langham

Maggie Smith in As You Like It at the Stratford Festival

Garth Drabinsky and Live Entertainment

Shaw Festival

The Mikado at the Stratford Festival 1982 a great archival video

Desmond Heeley

The Duchess of Malfy at the Stratford Festival NYT review from 1971

The Sarducci’s in the Scene Shop at stratford festival

Lillian Baylis of The Old Vic

Caberet at the Stratford Festival 1987

As You Like It by the National Theatre of Britain 2016

The Wooden “O” of the original Globe Theatre

Pumpkin Breeches

Two Planks and a Passion - its origins in theatre language

Robin Dunn designer for La Forza del Destino directed by John Copley

Madam Butterfly at the Canadian Opera Company designed by Susan Benson

The Golden Ass by by Randolph Peters with libretto by Roberston Davies

Taming of the Shrew at the Birmingham Royal Ballet

Maureen Forester in Iolanthe at The Stratford Festival

Midsummer’s Night Dream directed by Robin Phillips at The Stratford Festival

Cynthia MacLennan, cutter at Stratford Festival

Susan’s Portrait work is also published in a book called Portrait of an Island

Karen Rodd

Patricia Flood

Scott McKowen

#55 Mara Gottler / June 4, 2019 by Michael Kruse

My interview with costume designer Mara Gottler is a continuation of my profiles of Vancouver theatre designers from December 2018. Mara and I speak about her early life at the Stratford festival as a tailor and sewer and her move to the National Theatre School, and eventually Vancouver where she is a founding member and resident designer of the west coast Shakespearian powerhouse Bard on the Beach. We speak about her career and her approach to the conceptualization and communication of design. We also speak about the infra-red camera technique established by Robert Lepage to better incorporate front projection video into your production.

Links

Peter Roberts, production manager Stratford Festival

Pat Scott, cutter at Stratford Fest (scroll down page)

Tom Patterson, founder of Stratford Fest

Theatre de Nouveau Monde

Erika Hoffer, Tailor at Stratford Fest

Robert Lepage

Saidye Bronfman Centre

Full House Theatre

Electric Company’s production of Brilliant

The Nightengale by Robert Lepage

Alan Stichbury

Pamela Howard designer

Dior and the New Look

Coriolanus at Stratford directed by Robert Lepage

The Man of La Mancha designed by Debra Hanson

The Natural Way To Draw by Kimon Nicolaides

World Stage Design Expo

#54 Scott Miller / April 12, 2019 by Michael Kruse

Scott Miller is a partner in DWD Theatre Design and Consulting based in Vancouver BC. He and I speak about our beginnings in Toronto theatre as classmates at Ryerson Theatre School and proceed to a fascinating conversation about designing your theatre. While this is a program about theatre design, we rarely speak about the actual design of our spaces and all the work that goes into them. Scott spoke to me at his office in Vancouver, BC in December 2018, and this is the first of the series of interviews based on the my trip to the west coast in December.

Please consider supporting us on Patreon.com

Links

Gateway Theatre

Caught in the Act, Richmond BC

Ryerson School of Performance (nee Ryerson Theatre School)

York University theatre dept

The Red Barn Theatre in Jackson’s Point and a Retrospective of the Theatre

The fire that burnt the Red Barn theatre

Brian Cumberland

Jason McLean

Janet Amos’ Rural Roots; A Memoir about the Blyth Festival

Kawartha Summer Theatre at the Academy Theatre in Lindsay

Katherine Kaszas

Summer Stock Theatre vs. Reperatory Theatre

Drayton Entertainment

Atlantic Theatre Festival in Wolfville NS

The Rebecca Cohn Theatre

Buddies in Bad Times Theatre

Steve Lucas

Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia

Eastern Front Theatre

Just in Time

Brian Perchaluk

Daniel McIver and Daniel Brooks

Darryl Shaw, head electrician

Charlie Culver, head of audio

Bob carpenter, technical award named after him at neptune

Ron Ulrich

Andy Mawdsley

Theatre Aquarius

The Mayfield Dinner Theatre

Skinny Saints

Phillipa Domville, director

Leigh Kerr

Eddie Candysides, designed by Steve Lucas

DWD Theatre Design and Consulting

Vancouver Culture Centre

Queen Elizabeth Theatre

Simon Fraser University Downtown Campus

Vancouver Playhouse

The Arts Club Theatre

Artec Consultants Inc.

Theatre Projects

Theatre Consultants Collaborative

Fisher Dachs Associates

LEAD Canada certification

Battleship linoleum

Masonite controversy scroll down :)

#53 Astrid Janson / February 25, 2019 by Michael Kruse

This episode a great conversation with legendary Canadian theatre designer Astrid Janson. I joined Astrid in at her home in November of 2018 to discuss her early days at Toronto Workshop Productions and Toronto Dance Theatre and her set, costume, and yes lighting design work in opera and new theatrical works. Please find her complete portfolio at THIS link. and follow along with this key Canadian designer.

We also briefly remember costume designer Susanne Mess who we lost in Janary 2019, and Mallory Gilbert who passed in February.

Please support us on Patreon.com

Links

Toronto Workshop Productions

Toronto Dance Theatre

Roelof Peter Snippe

University of British Columbia

Joy Coghill and the Vancouver Playhouse

Brian Jackson, resident designer at Van Playhouse

John Brockington

Richard Ouzounian

John Grey

Larry Lillo, and a film about his life

Brent Carver

Goldie Semple

A Taste of Honey at UBC, not the same production, but a neat photo

Terminal, part of the Living Theatre tradition by Open Theatre

Much Ado About Nothing - musical at UBC

Nancy (Jowsey) Lewis - resident designer at TWP

June Falkner, GM at TWP

George Luscombe

Joan Littlewood

Richard Two-time at TWP

Ten Lost Years at TWP by Jack Winter based on the book by Barry Broadfoot

You Can’t Get There From Here by Jack Winter TWP

The fire at TWP on Alexander St in 1974

CBC Design department and Susanne Mess and some of her designs

The Tommy Hunter Show

The King of Kensington, produced by Perry Rosemond

Home Fires, produced by Robert Sharen and production shots

AIDS crisis in the Arts in Canada

Expo ‘86 Ontario Pavilion and photos of the pavilion by Astrid

Ken Gass

Sholem Dolgoy

HMS Pinafore directed by Leon Major at Stratford Festival starring Michael Burgess

The Cherry Orchard at the Shaw Festival in 1980 notorious

Murray Laufer set designer

John Hirsch

Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s Firebird with Vincent Nabrada choreographer

Lotfe Mansouri, Canadian Opera Company, A Tales of Hoffman directed by Hans Nieuwenhuis

Malibar’s Costume House

Robert Desrosiers’ In Cognito at the Calgary Olympics 1988

Opera Philadelphia

Joe Papp at The Public Theatre in New York and his Stable of Designers

Rusalka with Ben Heppner at COC

Dancing at Lughnasa at the Grand Theatre

The Master Builder at TWP directed by George Luscombe 1983-4

Molly Sweeney directed by Miles Potter at Canadian Stage

Women in Mind directed by Martha Henry at the Grand Theatre London

Sweet Bird of Youth at Stratford Festival starring Martha Henry

From the House of the Dead directed by Dina Bertman

Les Canadians at TWP

The Grace of Mary Travers, directed by Martha Henry, Toronto Free Theatre

Village of Small Huts by Michael Hollingsworth

Shadowland Theatre

U of Toronto Drama Department

Buddies in Bad Times Theatre

Josef Svoboda

Michigan School of Music - Barber of Seville

Jacob Two Two and the Hooded Fang

Harry Frehner

Jacob Two Two and the Dinosaur

Kodachrome Slide Projector

The Waverly Gallery

#52 Kevin Fraser / January 14, 2019 by Michael Kruse

Lighting Designer Kevin Fraser, photo by David Cooper.

Kevin Fraser has been at the Stratford festival for 30 years and designed the lighting for over 500 productions since graduating from Ryerson Theatre School in the late 1970’s. He invited me to his home in Stratford Ontario in August of 2018 and we spoke about his early career and beginnings in Toronto at the Adelaide Court and the Tarragon Theatre and his move into the large festivals including Stratford and Drayton. Find examples of his work here: www.kevinfraserlighting.com.

Please support us on Patreon.com

Links

Frances Mavor Moore and the Mavor Moore Family

Ryerson Theatre School

George Vanier Secondary School

Sandy Black

Jim Carnright

Theatre Passe Muraille

Maggie and Pierre by Linda Griffiths

Hank Williams: The Show He Never Gave by Maynard Collins directed by Paul Thompson at TPM

Leslie Wilkinson

The Blyth Festival

Adelaide Court Theatre at 57 Adelaide St. East Toronto

Théâtre français de Toronto

Phoenix Theatre and Nurse Jane Goes to Hawaii

Factory Theatre

The Tarragon Theatre

Kim Merchiso (SP?) (york university now)

Urjo Kereda (as a critic)

Farther West, directed by Duncan Macintosh designed by Cameron Porteus

The Shaw Festival

Jeffery Dallas

One For The Pot with Heath Lamberts from the Shaw Festival

Heartbreak House designed by Michael Levine

Harry Frehner

Louise Guinand

Photo-sensitive paper

Stratford Festival: Festival Stage

Stratford Festival: Avon Theatre

Stratford Festival: Tom Patterson Theatre

Soulpepper Theatre

John Neville

David William

Pericles, directed by Richard Ouzounian

Boys from Syracuse, based on Comedy of Errors

Robbin Phillips’ young company at Stratford

Bernard Hopkins

Love’s Labour’s Lost in 1989 at the Stratford Festival

Opera Atelier

Marshall Pynkoski

Theatre Aquarius

Myrthis by J.P. Rameau

McMillan Theatre

Baroque theatre lighting history

Drayton Entertainment

Alex Mustakas

Tanya Moiseiwitsch set for stratford current configuration

Original Stratford Stage

Caberet at Stratford Festival in 1980

Changeover at the Stratford festival

Vari-Lite VL1000

Avab moving yokes

#51 Glenn Davidson / January 4, 2019 by Michael Kruse

Glenn Davidson sat down with the Title Block in August of 2018 to talk old times and design. Among our topics were included the start of the Toronto Fringe Festival and the Poor Alex Theatre Group as well as his early work as an actor and his most recent design work with the Tarragon, Tafalmusik and beyond. Also, if you don’t know what a “golden donut” is, you will have to listen right to the end.

In the production shots below, I have attempted to include all of the credits that we can find, if you know who is featured in the production shots, or the other designers on the project please email us at thetitleblock@gmail.com.

Please support us on Patreon.com

Links

University of Ottawa theatre program

Maristella Roca

Michael Stevens - NAC

Bob DeMetril

Richard Pilbrow’s Stage Lighting

Sue LaPage

Goodnight Desdemona Good Morning Juliet

The Centre in the Square

Henry V and Mother Courage in rep at NAC, directed by John Wood

Derek Ralston

Joan Orenstein

Loot by Joe Orton at the NAC

Ben Campbell

Edward Atienza

Festival of Classics, Pericles directed by John Wood

Nellie McClung CBC documentary

The Theatre Centre on the Danforth (Now the Music Hall)

Necessary Angel

Autumn Leaf Performance

Buddies in Bad Times Theatre

The Piano of Death by Sky Gilbert

Sargent Trowels Legion Hall on Queen St.

SOC - (silent on camera)

Oresteia, libretto by Maristella Roca

Julie Owens (nee bishop) of Theatre Columbus, now Common Boots Theatre with Martha Ross and Leah Cherniak

University of Toronto Drama Dept

Upper Canada Playhouse now Helen Gardiner Phelan Playhouse

Theatre Columbus’s Melancholia (Durur’s fallen angel)

Michael Simpson

Andy Massingham

Oliver Dennis

The Three Sisters in Banff birthed the Soulpepper

Lazzi

École de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq

The Anger in Ernest and Ernestine by Theatre Columbus written by Robert Morgan, Leah Cherniak, and Martha Ross

Maquette of He Won’t Come In From The Barn by Ted Johns at the Blyth Festival 1994, directed by Paul Thompson, set and costume design by Glenn Davidson, lighting design by Michael Kruse. Photo credit North Huron Publishing.

Paranoia by Theatre Columbus

Cliff Saunders

The Black Bonspiel of Wullie MacCrimmon at Blyth Festival

He Won’t Come In From The Barn at Blyth Festival

Pinocchio by Maristella Roca at Young People’s Theatre 1993, directed by Richard Greenblatt, lighting and sets by Glenn Davidson

Pinocchio at Young Peoples Theatre

Poor Alex Theatre

Roger West

Le Groupe de la Place Royale

Raha Javanfar

Crow’s Theatre

Theatre Smith-Gilmore - there was no 4th company to found Poor Alex Theatre Group

The Augusta Company - Daniel Brooks and Tracy Wright’s company

The Hobbit by Kim Seledoy at Young People’s Theatre, directed by Jim Warren, set and lighting by Glenn Davidson. Costumes and actor credit unknown.

Theatre 2000

Julian Richings, Cheryl May and Gregory Nixon’s Company Flexible Packaging Plant

Hashish by Flexible Packaging Plant

The Fringe Festival

The Palmerston Library

Sneaky Dees

Napalm the Magnificent by David Craig

Sensible Footwear, Alex Dallas, Allison Fields and Wendy Vousden

Lori Hickling

A Chip in the Sugar

Glen Morris Studio Theatre, now the Luella Massey Studio Theatre

Jennifer Brewin

The Alchemical Wedding (Black Theatre) of Hermes Trismegestos by R. Murray Schafer

David Owen film gaffer (head electrician)

John Kelly Cuthbertson

Set-Reset, now Ready Set Recycle

The Tarragon Theatre

Urjo Kereda

Crackwalker by Judith Thompson

Andy McKim

Undercover at the Tarragon

Romeo and Juliet, by Ballet Jorgen, produced by Hong Kong Ballet, sets by Glenn Davidson

Fronteras Americanas by Guillermo Verdeccia

Ectographic Carosel projector

Richard Greenblatt

Rick Roberts

John Stead

Craig Smith, Carpenter at Young People’s Theatre

Midsummer Night’s Dream directed by Jackie Maxwell

Martin Zucker, production manager YPT

Maja Ardal

Doctor Dappertutto by Theatre Columbus

Romeo and Juliet by Ballet Jorgen

The Farm Show at The Blyth Festival

Tafelmusik

Alison MacKay

Ontario Arts Council

High Life with Brent Carver

#50 Dana Osborne / December 17, 2018 by Michael Kruse

Designer Dana Osborne, photo by David Cooper

Dana Osborne is a set and costume designer based out of Stratford Ontario. She started out working in some of the top wardrobe shops in the country, including the Canadian Opera Company, the Shaw Festival, and the Mirvish shops when they still owned them. We talk about her transition to design and her work over the last 20 years in Canadian theatre. Find samples of her work at www.danaosborne.ca

To support the show, go to patreon.com/thetitleblockpodcast

Links

Duncan BC

York University Theatre Program

Jason Bendig

Deeter Shurig

Karla Falconbridge

Amy Cummings

Alison Sharpe

Canada’s Wonderland

Peter McBoyle

Norwegian Cruise Lines Performance

Canadian Opera Company

Michael Levine

Hill of bodies show: Igor Stravinsky’s Oedipus Rex and Symphony of Psalms at COC 1997

Jeff Churchhill bootmaker

Cunning Little Vixon, Canadian Opera Company

Brenda Clark Lion King Mirvish

Mamma Mia, Mirvish

Kelly Sullivan, seamless costumes

Edge Scenic, gone now, with Bratton surving

The Stratford Festival

Doug Lemke

Michael Gianfrancesco

Lorenzo Savoini

April Viczko

Francesca Callow, on Twelfth night

Peter Hartwell, Good Mother

Katka Hubacek

Aaron Felker

Agamemnon, at Stratford, directed by Steven Ouimette, starring Peter Donaldson and Tom McCamus

Daryl Cloran and Theatre Front produced Mojo

Ken Gass at Factory Theatre

Tarragon Theatre

Young People Theatre

The Sarajevo Project, by Daryl Cloran and Theatre Front

Amanda Plummer

Cameron Porteus

Ann Curtis

Richard Monette’s Gigi at Stratford

Ken MacDonald and Morris Panych

Charlotte Dean

Moby Dick at Stratford Festival

Donna Fiore

Charlie Brown at Stratford Festival

Fiddler on the Roof at Stratford Festival at 2013

Allen Moyer

Designer Fabric Outlet, Toronto

Rocky Horror Picture Show, Stratford Festival

King Henry IV Part 1 at the Stratford Festival, directed by Richard Monette

Santo Loquasto

Doug Paraschuk

Dream in High Park

David Latham and the Globe Theatre, Regina

Ruth Smilie

The Grand Theatre, London

#49 Jamie Nesbitt / October 29, 2018 by Michael Kruse

Jamie Nesbitt_Projection Designer_headshot.jpg

Jamie Nesbitt is a Vancouver based projection designer and we caught up in June of 2018 at the Shaw Festival where he was designing The Hound of the Baskervilles. Jamie and I talk about the start of his career at the end of the slide projector era and the transition to the full integration of video projection into modern Canadian theatre. Find his portfolio at www.jamienesbitt.com

Please support us on patreon.com

Links

Studies in Motion by Kevin Kerr at The Electric Company

Robert Gardiner from UBC Theatre

Isadora created by Mark Coniglio

Frost Nixon at Canadian Stage, designed by Patrick Clark

Mean Girls video designed by Finn Ross and Adam Young

Rocky Horror Picture Show, at Stratford Festival

Michael Walton

Arcade Fire tour 2018

QLab

Photon projection software

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe After Effects

Trapcode Particular

The Hound of the Baskervilles, Shaw Festival

Arther Grimshaw, British painter

Dana Osborne

Digital Rights Management in Canada

#48 Siobhán Sleath / September 10, 2018 by Michael Kruse

Siobhán Sleath is a Toronto-based lighting designer with a history at our two big festivals, Shaw and Stratford. Siobhán and I chatted in June of 2017 about her early career at Stratford, her work in dance and musical theatre, and her adventure touring to India with Anandam Dance. We lost some names in the audio so follow along with the notes below to make sure you get all of the connections.

Please support us at Patreon

Links

York University theatre program

Brandy Leary with Anandam Dance Theatre

Jennifer Robichaud with Larchaud Dance

Michael Lavine's Die Valkyrie

Kiss Me Kate directed by John Doyle at Stratford Festival

Howell Binkley lighting designer

Jesus Christ Superstar at the Neil Simon Theatre in New York

Souszatzka

Vari*Lite 3500Q

Brenden Fernandes

The Orange Dot by Sean Dixon, directed by Vicky Anderson

John Gzowski

Max Reimer

George Pothitos at the Neptune Theatre

The Addam's Family at Neptune

The Hart House Theatre at University of Toronto

Carrie, the Musical directed by Richard Ouzunian

Richard III, set design by Scott Penner at Hart House Theatre

Wilde Tales by Kate Henning at the Shaw Festival

Kevin Lamotte

#47 Gillian Gallow / August 4, 2018 by Michael Kruse

Gillian Gallow was a designer right out of the gates. Before finishing her degree at York University, she was already assisting at the Stratford Festival, and had cut her teeth at our favourite summertime haunt: Blyth. Gillian and I discuss her early career and take on design, and her recent work on the Canadian Opera Company remount of the Harry Somers opera Lous Riel. Gillian and I spoke in July of 2017.

Please support us at patreon.com/thetitleblockpodcast

Links

York University Theatre Program

Jennifer Jansen

The Outdoor Donnelly's by Paul Thompson and Co.

Victoria Wallace

Lorenzo Savoini

The Stratford Festival

Peter Hartwell

Orpheus Descending directed by Miles Potter

Philip Clarkson and the Merchant of Venice

Paul Tazewell

Heidi Ettinger

Romeo and Juliet directed by Des McAnuff

Christina Poddubiuk

Thousand Islands Playhouse

Andrea Surich

The Graduate at The Grand Theatre London with Sonja Smits

Awake and Sing directed by Miles Potter

Joanna Billings, cutter

Susan Ferley

Michael Dobbin

Christopher Morris and Human Cargo

Michelle Ramsey

I Am Yours by Equity Showcase directed by Christopher Morris

The Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre

God of Carnage directed by Miles Potter in 2012

Brian Perchaluk

Steve Lucas

I Know and Feel That Fate is Harsh But I am So Loathe to Accept This by DNA Theatre run by Hillar Liitoja

The Road to Paradise directed by Christopher Morris at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre

Richard Feren

Peep Show

An Octaroon by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins adapted from The Octaroon by Dion Boucicault ... at The Shaw Festival directed by Peter Hinton

Louis Reil by Harry Somers and Mavor Moore

About the Costume Design of Louis Riel

Louis Riel, Canadian Opera Company.Directed by Peter Hinton. Set Design by Michael Gianfrancesco, Costumes by Gillian Gallow, Lighting Design by Bonnie Beecher. Photo by Michael Cooper.

Justin Many-Fingers, buffalo dancer

Obsidian Theatre Company mentorship program

Janille Sinclair

Tanya Greaves

#46 Andrea Lundy / May 7, 2018 by Michael Kruse

When I was starting in the 90's Andrea had all the work. She was connected to all of the most interesting theatre companies in Toronto and had production managed many of them. I envied her for getting their first, for having the ability to get into the middle of the most interesting creative work, but that was not the whole story. Andrea is a brilliant artist, she learned her craft while working with iconic Canadian theatre artists like the Daniels - Daniel Brooks and Daniel MacIiver, she was a part of the re-invention of alternative theatre in Toronto with the Poor Alex theatre and the companies surrounding it, with the fringe and with summer works - and most importantly, she fostered and trained a generation of theatre artists that themselves became top artists in their own right, like Rebecca Picherack and Michelle Ramsey. Now she runs one of the most important training programs in Canada for English theatre production The National Theatre School in Montreal

I had a sublime conversation with Andrea about her career, training and philosophy of design as well as the changes she has wrought at NTS during her 6 year tenure. This is an important conversation.

Links

Theatre 2000, Penguin Theatre, and Great Canadian Theatre Company

The Real Inspector Hound, by Tom Stoppard

University of Toronto, Drama Dept.

Helen Gardner Phalen Playhouse (Nee UC Playhouse)

Glen Davidson

Yanna McIntosh

Jeanne LeSage

Alison Petty

Alison McMacken

Theatre Columbus

Dr. Dappertutto, at The Poor Alex

Twelfth Night at The Poor Alex

Theatre Smith-Gilmore

Crow's Theatre

Nightwood Theatre

Leah Cherniak and Martha Ross

The Lorca Play, at Da Da Kamera

Danial Brooks

The Toronto Fringe Festival

The Edmonton Fringe Festival

Gregory Nixon

Sneaky Dee's on Bloor St.

The Transac Club

The Annex Theatre

Unidentified Human Remains and the True Nature of Love, by Brad Frasier

Mump and Smoot

Theatre Passe Muraille

Urban Donally's

Romeo and Juliet by Die in Debt, under the Bathurst St. bridge

Sarah Stanley

Troy Hansen

Minda Johnson

Oedipus Rex by Die in Debt.

Nan Sheppard

Susan Serran

David Bale

Jacoba Knaapen

Hillar Liitoja and his DNA Theatre Production of Sick

Here Lies Henry, by Daniel MacIver

Buddies in Bad Times Theatre

Designated Mourner

Faust by Daniel Brooks

Half-Life by John Mighton directed by Daniel Brooks

Possible Worlds, by John Meighton, directed by Daniel Brooks

Julie Fox and Michael Levine

Attic and the Pearls and Three Fine Girls by Ann-Marie MacDonald

John Kelly Cuthbertson

Goodnight Desdemona, Good Morning Juliet, directed by Alisa Palmer, starring Anne Marie MacDonald at Canadian Stage

Maria Popoff

Charlette Dean, Sue LePage

The white carpet show: Liquor Guns Karate designed by Sue LePage

Kaftka and Son, starring Alon Nashman

The Shaw Festival's Old Ladies by James MacDonald

Richard Greenblatt

Therac 25, directed by Jordan Peddle

I, Claudia, by Kristen Thomson

Phaedra, at Soulpepper, directed by Daniel

Soheil Parsa

Stories From the Reign of Love and Death

Artword Theatre

Necessary Angel

Side By Side By Sonhiem directed by Richard Ouzounian

National Theatre School, English section

#45 Alan Brodie / March 19, 2018 by Michael Kruse

Alan Brodie is a lighting and set designer based in Vancouver B.C. I caught up with him during my visit to the Shaw Festival in May of 2017. We speak about the early 90's in vancouver and the changes that have taken place there over the last 30 years. We continue the story of the Phantom of the Opera tour that is legendary in Canadian theatre history and Alan recounts his rise to the top of design in Canada.

Links

University of British Columbia - Theatre Dept.

Pacific Northwest Music Festival in Terrace BC

Niagara College theatre production (now defunct)

Bonnie Beecher

Banff Centre for the Arts

Doug Welch built DWD Theatre Design

Vancouver Opera

Queen Elizabeth Theatre

Move Ent

Dance Training Program at Banff

National Ballet of Canada

Pacific Northwest Ballet in Seattle

Plot Point at Netherlands Ballet

Emergence, by Crystal Pite from Alan's Portfolio

Ubu the Musical, from Ubu Roi

Tom Montvilla

Kevin Lamotte

La Tragedie de Carmen, Peter Brook's Carmen

Phantom of the Opera, Canadian tour by Livent

Rob Bosworth

Ruthie Mitchell

Showboat, by Livent

Joseph and the Technicolour Dreamcoat by Livent

Ragtime, by Liveent

Jeff Hyslop

Heidi MacDonald nee Lingeren

Andrew Bridge

Maria Bjornsen

Sunset Boulavard, by Livent

Semaphore colour changers

Strand LP90

Vivian Leone on InOne Podcast

Garth Drabinski

The Last of the Mohicans, the Musical

Vari-Lites

Artisan Console

SMPTE time code

Full House Theatre collective aka Bard On the Beach

Christopher Gaze

Vancouver Shakespeare Festival, aka Bard on the Beach in Vanier Park

Vancouver Children's Festival

The Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre

The Overcoat, by Morris Panych (not to be confused by the new Morris Panych opera The Overcoat: a Musical Tailoring) Choreographed by Wendy Williams

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Canadian Stage

Red at Canadian Stage

The Company at Studio 58, by Morris Panych

Glynnis Leyshan

Ken MacDonald

Leslie MacMillon

Bob Ashman, director of photography

CBC Radio Orchestra

SARS outbreak and the cultural sector in Canada

The Lady's Not For Burning, directed by Christopher Newton

Detective Story, directed by Neil Munro, designed by Cameron Porteus

Jackson Pollock

Coronation Voyage, design by Ken MacDonald

Sweeney Todd, at the Shaw Festival

Hotel Pecidillo, by Morris Panych

Ah Wilderness, directed by Jo Zeigler

Summer and Smoke, directed by Neil Munro

Oklahoma, at Stratford Festival

Moby Dick and Wanderlust, by Morris Panych

Tear the Curtain by Kim Collier

Max Reimer at the Vancouver Playhouse

Theatre Aquarius

Huron Country Playhouse

Knee-High Theatre Company

Noel Coward's Brief Encounters, based on Brief Encounters Film

La Ronde

Little Mercy's First Murder, by Touchstone Productions in Vancouver

Little Mercy's First Murder, from Alan's Portfolio

Landscapes of the Dead and from Alan's Portfolio

Godspell, directed by Sarah Jean Hosie

Sean Nieuwenhuis, projection designer

A Little Night Music by Patrick Street Productions

Dracula at the Shaw Festival

Sea of Stories, White Rock, BC for Canada 150

2010 Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver Opening Ceremonies

Rob Sondergard and Electric Aura

Cam Davis

Michael Gianfrancesco

ALD Pro and Lightwright

WYSIWYG by CAST Software

Dracula at The Shaw Festival 2017

#44 Ken MacDonald / January 22, 2018 by Michael Kruse

Ken MacDonald went from teaching drawing and painting at high school in the 1970's to one of the most sought after theatre artists in Canada today. His artistic and personal partnership with Morris Panych has resulted in some of the most iconic Canadian theatre productions, including the international sensation The Overcoat. Ken and I spoke in May of 2017 at his home in Toronto.

In the opening rant I reference this interview that appeared on CBC Metro Morning, regarding the civil suit brought against now former artistic director of Soulpepper Theatre Albert Schultz.

Please support the show at Patreon.com

Links

University of British Columbia, Art Education

Gordon Smith

Sam Black

MUSSOC UBC Musical Theatre Society

Sheila McCarty

Don Shipley

Patty Armstrong and the The Belfry Theatre

Danny Costein

Puttin' On The Ritz, at The Belfry Theatre

Puttin' On the Ritz, at the Shaw Festival

Cameron Porteus

A Day in the Death of Joe Egg by Peter Nichols

Piaf by Pam Gems at The Belfry

Dames at Sea Directed by Glyis Leyshon at The Belfry

Da by Hugh Leonard with Denis Arndt at The Belfry

Private Lives by Noel Coward at The Belfry

Canadian Gothic, American Modern by Joanna Glass at the Belfry Theatre

A Thousand Splendid Suns at ACT in San Francisco, by Khaled Hosseini

The New Play Centre in Vancouver, Artistic Director Pamela Hawthorn

Tamahnous Theatre

Haunted House Hamlet, by Peter Eliot Weisse

Festival TransAmeriques in Montreal

Sleep No More by Punchdrunk

Morris Panych

Last Call, a Post-Apocalyptic Musical

Sue Astley, director

Vancouver East Cultural Centre, The Cultch

CBC Special of The Last Call

The Last Call at The Globe Theatre, with Patrick McManus and Alan Moon, designed by Deeter Shurig

Chris Thomas and Lucy Peacock

David Sereda

Don Williams, producer for CBC

Ukrainian Labour Temple, Thunder Bay - this is most likely the Finnish Labour Temple, but could have been the Ukrainian Labour Temple in Winnipeg, where Don Williams was based.

Rene Simard

Adelaide Court Theater, Toronto

Cheap Sentiment, Tamahnous Theatre

Simple Folk, Songs of a Generation (1987)

Babz Chula, a la Mary Travers

John Forrest, bass player

Odessa, Russia

The Berlin Wall, and East Berlin

Wolfgang Kolneder, director (translate from the German)

Key (Floor) Ladies in Russian Hotels

Langara, Studio 58, Pam Johnson, resident designer, Bruce Kennedy, Technical Director, Katherine Shaw, artistic director

Glynis Layshen