Thousand Islands Playhouse Presents CLOSER THAN · PDF fileThousand Islands Playhouse Presents... ... PATSY CLINE. Page 2 ... Crazy Just A Closer Walk - Reprise. Page 5 About Patsy

CLOSER THAN EVER

Thousand Islands Playhouse Presents...

You can download this guide at www.1000islandsplayhouse.com

Educator Resource GuideStudent Matinee Presented by TD Bank GroupFor Grades 9 - 12 By: Amanda Henderson & Rob Kempson

Thousand Islands PlayhouseBox 241, Gananoque, ON K7G 2T8

A CLOSER WALK WITH PATSY CLINE

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Welcome to the Thousand Islands Playhouse’s first production of our 2016 season! A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline is a musical that chronicles Patsy’s compelling journey, as she climbs to stardom from small town Virginia to Carnegie Hall. Featuring her greatest hits, including “Walkin’ After Midnight,” “Crazy” and “I Fall To Pieces,” this production stars Playhouse favourite Alison MacDonald (SHE LOVES ME, PIRATES OF PENZANCE) in a performance that will transport you back in time. With great tunes, a great band, and country music’s greatest lady, this show will have your students singing the whole way back to school!

We hope that this guide gives you the tools you need to make arts education both accessible and fun for your students. Thank you so much for your interest and support of the Thousand Islands Playhouse and I look forward to seeing you again at our student matinee days this fall!

Yours,

Ashlie CorcoranArtistic Director, Thousand Islands Playhouse

Table of Contents

Message From the Artistic Director

Message from the Artistic Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 2The Thousand Islands Playhouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 3Song List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 4About Patsy Cline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 5 Director Biography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 6 Team Biographies, Cast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pages 7 - 8Team Biographies, Creative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pages 9 - 10 Ontario Curriculum Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 11Classroom Activities, Pre - Performance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 12Classroom Activities, Post - Performance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 13Discussion Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 14 Up Next at the Playhouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 15 Thank You to Supporters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 16

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The Thousand Islands Playhouse

The Thousand Islands Playhouse is a not-for-profit charitable organization that was founded

in 1982 by Greg Wanless. In its thirty-two year history producing world class live professional

theatre, the Playhouse has achieved many milestones, including: the founding of its Young Company

in 1996, the addition of a black box performance space in the former Gananoque Firehall in 2004,

and this year we acquired and renovated a new premiere production facility complete with rehearsal

hall. The Thousand Islands Playhouse has been ranked one of the top five summer festivals in

Ontario, along with the Shaw and Stratford Festivals, Soulpepper and Drayton Entertainment. It is

the most active theatre in Eastern Ontario.

This will mark the fourth season for Artistic Director Ashlie Corcoran. In 2016 our audiences

will enjoy nine shows presented in two separate theatres, a Monday night classical music series,

and extensive outreach activities including special student matinees, drama workshops, backstage

tours, pre-show chats and post-show talkbacks with the professional actors. Artists will be supported

through our Playwrights’ Unit and Young Company training; and school children will experience the

magic of professional theatre through our tour of Violet’s the Pilot. In this way, over 46,000 people

will experience one or more artistic activities at the Playhouse this year.

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Song List

Act One

Come On In

Gotta Lot of Rhythm

There He Goes

Seven Lonely Days

Faded Love

Walkin’ After Midnight

Your Cheatin’ Heart

Stop, Look & Listen

Always

Lovesick Blues

Act Two

Blue Moon of Kentucky

Don’t Wanna

Just A Closer Walk with Thee

She’s Got You

Back in Baby’s Arms

Sweet Dreams

I Fall to Pieces

Bill Bailey

Crazy

Just A Closer Walk - Reprise

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About Patsy Cline

“PATSY CLINE, (Virginia Patterson Hensley), was born in the Shenandoah Valley in Winchester, Virginia, on September 8, 1932. The family home was in nearby Gore. Legend has it that she was entertaining her neighbors as early as age 3! Her natural talent and spirit took her to the top of the country charts in 1962, and her style and popularity has never waned.

Patsy’s big break came when she won an Arthur Godfrey Talent program in 1957 with the hit Walkin’ After Midnight. From there she pursued a recording career appearing at the mecca of country music - the Grand Ole Opry in 1958, and received national awards in 1961 and 1962.

Country music lost a magical entertainer when her career was ended in an airplane crash in Tennessee, in 1963.

In 1973 Patsy was elected posthumously to the Country Music Hall of Fame, and her reputation is on record as one of the major female vocalists of all time.

A bell tower has been erected in her memory at the Shenandoah Memorial Park, where Patsy Cline is interred. Several Highways, including the Patsy Cline Memorial Highway, Route 522, and Patsy Cline Boulevard in Winchester, have been named to commemorate her life.”

Sourced from http://www.patsycline.com/

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The Team THE DIRECTORDaryl Cloran

For the Playhouse: Closer Than Ever, The Importance of Being Earnest, Boeing Boeing, Till it Hurts, and Hockey Mom, Hockey Dad

Elsewhere: Love’s Labour’s Lost (Bard on the Beach); Liberation Days (Theatre Calgary); Tribes (Canadian Stage/ Theatrefront); Afterplay (Shaw Festival); All for Love (National Arts Centre); Generous (Tarragon); This is How it Goes (Neptune); The Last Five Years (Manitoba Theatre Centre); Mary Poppins, Peter & the Starcatcher and Les Misérables (Western Canada Theatre); UBUNTU (The Cape Town Project), RETURN (The Sarajevo Project), The Mill (Theatrefront); Time Stands Still (Theatre Aquarius)

Upcoming: The premiere of Daryl’s stage adaptation of The Cure for Death by Lightning (WCT), as well as directing In a Blue Moon (Thousand Islands Playhouse)

Daryl has received the Canada Council’s John Hirsch Prize for Outstanding Emerging Director, the Toronto Theatre Emerging Artist Award, and Halifax’s Merritt Award for Outstanding Direction. He is the Artistic Director of Western Canada Theatre in Kamloops, British Columbia and the Founding Artistic Director of Theatrefront (Toronto). Daryl is so happy to be back in Gananoque with Ashlie and all the great folks at Thousand Islands Playhouse!

For the Playhouse: Dear Johnny Deere, Up the River, Love & Larceny, The Perilous Pirate’s Daughter, plus many Young Company Productions

Elsewhere: A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline (WCT); Dear Johnny Deere (Theatre Calgary); Kitchen Radio, St. Anne’s Reel, Dear Johnny Deere, Hometown, Ballad of Stompin’ Tom, The Perilous Pirate’s Daughter, (Blyth); Dear Johnny Deere (Light-house); Ballad of Stompin’ Tom (Confederation Centre for the Arts, Charlottetown); Ballad of Stompin’ Tom (Drayton); Dr. Magnificent’s Travelling Musical Medicine Show (YAH Theatre). David is the composer, playwright, or both in many of the above, and has also been a performer and songwriter for Sesame Street (PBS) and Mr. Dressup (CBC).

Upcoming: Kitchen Radio, 2017 – A new CD of original material to be released in 2016

David has been awarded the Betty Mitchell Award for Outstanding Musical Direction for Theatre Calgary’s Dear Johnny Deere, and the Fen Watkin Scholarship (play development) from the Confederation Centre for the Arts in Charlottetown. David has recorded for RCA and was the producer of pop star Avril Lavigne’s first recording. He has also been commissioned by many Provincial and National Parks to compose, record, and perform songs celebrating Canada’s natural and cultural history.

MUSICAL DIRECTOR / PianoDavid Archibald

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The Team THE CAST

ALISON MACDONALD - Patsy Cline

For the Playhouse: The Pirates of Penzance, She Loves Me, SUDS - The Rocking 60s Musical Soap Opera, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, The Marvelous Wonderettes

Elsewhere: It’s a Wonderful Life, Elf - The Musical, Joseph and the Amazing Tech-nicolor Dreamcoat (Chemainus Theatre); The Penelopiad (The Citadel); A Closer Walk With Patsy Cline (Western Canada Theatre); Back To You: The Life and Music of Lucille Starr, Sound of Music, Emily (Gateway Theatre); Seussical, Little Women (Carousel Theatre); The World Goes ‘Round, Songs For a New World (AMC); Les Miserable, Company (Arts Club)

Upcoming: The Funky Punckies at Toronto Kidsfringe.

Alison recently recordered her debut album – I’m Moving Along. It’s full of hits from the 1950s and 60s, inlcuding a number of Patsy Cline tunes! It is available for purchase in the lobby during each performance.

www.alisonmacdonald.ca

TYLER MURREE - Little Big Man

For the Playhouse: Debut

Elsewhere: Les Misérables (Broadway); The Lion King (National Tour); The Lord of the Rings, Dirty Dancing, Les Misérables (Mirvish Productions); Regional shows around Canada and the U.S.

Selected Film/TV: Generation Wolf (Indie Feature); 1Up (Pilot); Orphan Black, Copper (BBC America); The Other Kingdom, Max & Shred, Life with Boys (Nickel-odeon); Murdoch Mysteries, The Trojan Horse (CBC)

When not performing, Tyler serves as an on-set acting coach for many popular TV series as well as a private audition coach. He is married to former Alberta Ballet dancer Tanya Dobler. They live in Toronto with their son Nicholas and dog Benny. Dedicated to the memory of Katherine McDonell: “I love you Grandma”.

www.tylermurree.com

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The Team MUSICIANS

BOB ARLIDGE - Bass

For the Playhouse: Stan Rogers: A Matter of Heart

Elsewhere: Forever Plaid, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, God-spell, Blue Champagne, Annie, Les Miserables, H.M.S. Pinafore, Man of La Mancha, The Buddy Holly Story (Grand Theatre Kingston); The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Wellington Street Theatre)

Upcoming: Later in this season, Bob looks forward to providing bass for the ROSS NICHOL - Set Designer

For the Playhouse: Closer Than Ever (set and lighting design), Waiting for the Parade (lighting design), Boeing Boeing (lighting design)

DAN CHARBONNEAU - Guitar

Dan is a Kingston-based guitarist/vocalist best known as a member of the Growing Pains (now Hat Trick) and his numerous sideman appearances withKingston artists such as Emily Fennell, Cliff Edwards, The Runaway Cow-boys, The Fatones, and many others. He has also been an in demand private music instructor for 30 years, teaching virtually all styles of mu-sic to people of all ages. Dan began taking guitar lessons at age 5 and started playing professionally while still in elementary school at age 12.

DUNCAN HOLT - Percussion

Duncan is an experienced drummer, having played for over forty years. He currently owns and runs a recording studio, Concept Audio, and has recorded popular artists such as, Avril Lavigne, Glorious Sons, The Abrams Brothers, and David Archibald to name a few.Along with being a session drummer, Duncan also plays in local bands, The Rain Kings, Chris (from Pursuit of Happiness) and Dee, Georgette Fry’s tribute to Etta James, Cliff Edwards (The Bells), and Jenica Rayne. Duncan gets great joy passing along his drumming knowledge to twenty-two of his students at the Kingston School of Music. His philosophies are, be a team player and never stop learning.

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The Team CREATIVEROSS NICHOL - Set Designer

For the Playhouse: Closer Than Ever (set and lighting design), Waiting for the Parade (lighting design), Boeing Boeing (lighting design)

Elsewhere: Miss Caledonia, The 39 Steps (Western Canada Theatre); Mail Order Bride (Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops, BC); The Black Bonspiel of Wullie MacCrimmon (Theatre North West, Prince George, BC)

Ross has completed more than 225 designs in theatre, film and TV from coast to coast. He has taught for Studio 58, Langara College, Vancouver BC and Stagecraft & Event Technology, Douglas College, New Westminster, BC. He is a member of the Associated Designers of Canada and the Canadian Institute for Theatre Technology.

Ross would like to thank the production staff for their work to get the show on stage!

JAYNE CHRISTOPHER - Costume Designer

For the Playhouse: Violet's the Pilot, Bird Brain, Roses Clothes, Saltwater Moon, Marvelous Wonderettes, Forever Plaid

Elsewhere: Winter Wonderettes (Theatre Kingston); Fiddler on the Roof, Grease, Anything Goes, Les Miserables (St. Lawrence College); Rare (H’art Centre & Box Productions)

Jayne lives in Gananoque and has been Head of Wardrobe at Thousand Islands Playhouse for 26 years.

DAVIDA TKACH - Lighting Designer

For the Playhouse: DebutElsewhere: Designer – Ayikodans, Opera Briefs (Tapestry New Opera); Centre Stage Gala (COC); The Particular Premiere of a First (Esme Boyce Dance); Altar Boyz (Angelwalk Theatre, Victoria Playhouse Petrolia); Late, Black Medea (Obsidian Theatre Company).Associate/Assistant – Arc3Design; Canadian Opera Company; Much Ado About Nothing (Theatre for a New Audience); The Princess and The Goblin (The Royal Winnipeg Ballet); The Common Pursuit (Roundabout Theatre Company); The Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre Gala; Hemsley Lighting Design Internship (New York City Ballet, New York City Opera)

Davida is thrilled to be working with the Thousand Island Playhouse for the first time. She is a Toronto based lighting designer that works in theatre, dance and opera. Davida completed the Gilbert Hemsley Lighting Design Internship in New York City in 2012. Davida has assisted at the COC, Stratford Shakespeare Festival, on and off Broadway, and at the Metropolitan Opera. Davida is a graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada.

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The Team

BEN MALONE - Sound Designer

For The Playhouse: DebutElsewhere: Various Leisa Way Tributes across Southern Ontario, including Patsy Cline and Dolly Parton

Upcoming: Touring Western Canada with English group Oysterband.

A Hamilton native and graduate of the Theatre Arts - Technical Production program at Sheridan College, Ben has spent the better part of a decade as a sound engineer (and occasionally a lighting tech) for concerts, theatre, corporate shows, and many other live events. Ben relishes the opportunity to work with the top notch gang you see before you both playing and singing, and wishes for you to have as much fun watching the show as he’s had designing it.

LISA RUSSELL - Stage Manager

For the Playhouse: DebutElsewhere: Liberation Days, Les Misérables, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, The Attic, The Pearls and Three Fine Girls (Western Canada Theatre); Romeo and Juliet, A Soldier’s War, The Drowning Girls, Becky’s New Car, Shangri-La, O.C.Dean, Pride and Prejudice, Shout Sister, Robin Hood and A Doll’s House (Globe Theatre); Grace & Glorie, Over the River and Through the Woods (Chemainus Theatre Festival); Madame Butterfly (Calgary Opera); Souvenirs, TheDecember Man and Steel Kiss (Green Thumb Theatre); Doubt, A Parable (Theatre Calgary/Manitoba Theatre Centre); Shirley Valentine, Anything Goes (The Grand Theatre)

Lisa was the interim production manager for Calgary Opera’s 2014 summer festival and was the onsite producer in 2015. She was also the production stage manager for the Summer Arts Festival at the Banff Centre for four summers and spent seven seasons at the Stratford Festival.

MICHAEL BARRS - Assistant Stage Manager

For the Playhouse: Stage Manager of Bed and Breakfast

Elsewhere: Eight seasons with the Canadian Opera Company; the premieres of Arrabal (BASE/Marquis Entertainment) and Queen for a Day (April30th Entertainment); Rock of Ages, The Sound of Music (Mirvish Productions); Jersey Boys, The Toxic Avenger (Dancap Productions); Damn Yankees, 9 to 5: The Musical, The Wizard of Oz (Drayton Entertainment); Just For Laughs

Upcoming: Stage Manager of In a Blue Moon (Thousand Islands Playhouse)

Michael holds a BFA in theatre production and design from York University

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Curriculum Connections

There are many curriculum connections to be found in the Grades 9-12 Drama strands for A CLOSER WALK WITH PATSY CLINE, and for live theatre in general. Students always benefit from have the experience of participating in a live theatre performance. A CLOSER WALK WITH PATSY CLINE responds to the curriculum by providing examples for students of various dramatic techniques, and relating to the three strands of the grades 9 - 12 Drama curriculum. However, it is when you apply this learning in your classroom with your students that the connections are truly made for students.

The following strands build on the ELEMENTS OF DRAMA from the Intermediate curriculum, and apply to a performance of A CLOSER WALK WITH PATSY CLINE in a number of specific ways. We encourage educators to use the talk back sessions following performances, as well as the activities in the Study Guide, to help students make these connections. Workshops are also available following your performance by our Associate Artististic Director Rob Kempson. Please contact Rob or Amanda Henderson, Outreach Officer, for more details.

Creating and Presenting: “Students use the creative process to develop, produce, and perform drama. Through a variety of dramatic forms, students explore characters, issues, and feelings, both individually and collaboratively.” This strand connects to the post-show activities through students creating a monologue about a “real-life” scenario, which is then presented to peers and/or the class.

Reflecting, Responding and Analyzing:“In this strand, students use the critical analysis process to reflect on their response to dramatic works and develop their understanding of how dramatic purpose is achieved. Students examine the social functions of drama, including how dramatic exploration promotes appreciation for diverse cultures.” This strand is connected through both the pre-show and post-show discussion and reflection questions that ask students to analyze their understanding by responding with examples and by reflecting on personal connections.

Foundations of Drama:This strand is concerned with dramatic forms, conventions, practices, and skills. Students learn about the origins and development of drama and theatre arts and their influence on past and present societies. They learn to communicate by using terminology specific to creating and presenting in drama. This curriculum strand is connected through the pre-show activity where students learn about the style of this musical and examine it as a dramatic form.

Themes in A CLOSER WALK WITH PATSY CLINE

Relationships Faith

Personal Growth Self Expression Changes Self-Reflection

Communicating Emotions Perseverance

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Classroom Activities

Pre-Show Activity: Curriculum Connection: Foundations of Drama; Reflecting, Responding and Analyzing

Discussion & Reflection

• Is this is your first introduction to the music of Patsy Cline? If not, share where and when you became familiar with her music.

• Share what you may already know about the play; share your current understanding before watching the play to see if it changes afterwards.

• Reflect on your knowledge of other works that are performed in musical style. Compare your examples with 2 classmates.

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Classroom Activities

Post-Show Activities:Curriculum Connection: Creating and Presenting

1. Creating A Flash-Back Scene

Throughout the performances of Patsy Cline’s songs, the lyrics often tell the story or portray scenes from the past. a) Have students get in small groups to create a scene set in the present. b) Students then create a second scene that is a “flash-back” set in a specific period of time before their present-day scene. The goal of this exercise is to give more depth and background to their scene set in the present.c) Have the students share their inspiration and what they believe can be accomplished through the use of this technique in play writing and story telling.

2. Metaphor Monologue

In A CLOSER WALK WITH PATSY CLINE the song Walkin’ After Midnight is one example of a metaphor.

• Have students reflect on their understanding of metaphors. Next, have students think of examples of metaphors and share with a classmate.

• Students can reflect on this song example and share how they believe it is metaphorical. For example, in the song Walkin’ After Midnight, the lyrics “I walk for miles along the highway, Well, that’s just my way of sayin’ I love you” might be interpreted as symbolizing someone going the distance for love.

• Have students create their own scene, poem or song that is based around a metaphor.

• Students complete the exercise by presenting their monologue to a classmate, in small groups or to the class.

• As an extension activity, students can share their inspiration behind the metaphor they use.

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Post-Show Discussion Questions:

Drawing Personal Connections Curriculum Connection: Reflecting, Responding and Analyzing

1. In A CLOSER WALK WITH PATSY CLINE, we learn that Patsy aspired to perform at the Grand Ole Opry from early on in her career, but did not succeed at first. Patsy pursued her goal and she later succeeded in performing at this coveted venue because she was determined to achieve her goal.

a) Recall an example from your life when you had a goal that you were determined to achieve. Reflect on why this goal was important to you, and what steps you took towards achieving it.

b) What character traits do you believe are important to achieve goals? Discuss with a classmate what you believe achieving success means. How might we measure our success in life?

2. In A CLOSER WALK WITH PATSY CLINE we learn that Patsy was in a car accident in 1961 that nearly caused her to lose her life. This near-death experience inspired Patsy to strengthen her faith and focus her song-writing on gospel music.

a) Reflect on your life - have you, a friend or a family member had an experience that inspired a changed outlook on life?

3. Was there a particular scene that you related to more than the others?

What did you interpret as the “take-away” message of the show?

(Barbara Zimonick/Courtesy of Western Canada Theatre)

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Springer TheatreEveningsTuesdays 7:30pm Wednesday- Saturday 8pm

MatineesWednesday, Saturday & Sunday 2:30pm (Starting Sunday AFTER opening)

Firehall TheatreEveningsTuesday - Sunday 8pm

MatineesFriday & Saturday 2:30pm (Starting Friday AFTER opening)

PERFORMANCE TIMES

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THANK YOUTo Our Supporters

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Performance Sponsors:

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