GCTC’S THE MAN FROM THE CAPITAL OPENS IN OTTAWA'S NEWEST THEATRE SPACE

Media Release: OTTAWA, ONTARIO - Wednesday, October 3, 2007

The Great Canadian Theatre Company presents The Man from the Capital October 9 – 28 as its first play in its new home in The Irving Greenberg Theatre Centre. With the production partnership of Scotiabank Group, this Canadian musical leads Artistic Director Lise Ann’s Johnson’s Capital Letters 2007-08 season, sponsored by TELUS. GCTC’s first of five love letters to the National Capital Region is a Canadian musical about the foibles of a corrupt municipal government written by Colin Heath with music by John Millard. Adapted from The Government Inspector, this play—the largest GCTC has produced--is directed by Jennifer Brewin - http://www.gctc.ca/play01.html.

“We love to make fun of politicians.” says Brewin, “We love to hate them. We often treat them as if they’re a different species, Neanderthals perhaps. But Nikolai Gogol, writing in Russia in the 1830s, about the panic that besets a town when they hear that an inspector is arriving from the capital, knew that politicians were just like us — as corruptible as us, as dishonest, as weak, as petty. Presumably they can be, on occasion, heroic, but rarely: just like us. Gogol would say, I think, we get the politicians we deserve because they are we.”

With 23 local artists in the company, The Man from the Capital at GCTC shows the depth and breadth of Ottawa’s artists. The Set Designer is Scott Windsor, with costume design by Sue Fijalkowska, and lighting design by Martin Conboy. The Assistant Music Director & Rehearsal Pianist is Mark Ferguson, and the Assistant Lighting Designer is Mark Rieger. The Stage Manager is Kevin Waghorn with assistance by Apprentice Stage Manager Natalie Lobb. Hailing from Vancouver is Courtenay Dobbie, the show’s Choreographer & Assistant Director.

The cast includes Constant Bernard, Pierre Brault, Todd Duckworth, Sarah McVie, Ben Meuser, John Millard, Paul Rainville, and Beverley Wolfe. The musicians, led by Music Director John Millard, include Chris Lane, Angela Steele, and Laurie Rosewarne. The chorus features University of Ottawa Theatre Program students Maxime Briére, Anthony Biggs, David DaCosta, Greg Delmage, Bryony Etherington and Heather-Claire Nortey.

GCTC’s Artistic Director Lise Ann Johnson has created a Capital Letters season that is as varied as Ottawa itself. “This collection of plays features music, comedy, political satire, and great Canadian lives,” she says, “In addition to The Man from the Capital, all of the plays are in this 2007-08 season are either penned by writers from Ottawa, or feature a connection to our nation’s capital.”

To purchase tickets or subscriptions, call the box office at (613) 236-5196 or buy in person at 1233 Wellington Street West (at Holland Avenue), Ottawa. For further information, visit www.gctc.ca.

BACKGROUNDER – GCTC AND IRVING GREENBERG THEATRE CENTRE:

Capital Letters 2007-08 Season, featuring Ottawa playwrights or directors:
In 2007, Jennifer Brewin directs The Man from the Capital, October 9 – 28. The Real McCoy, a joint production with Factory Theatre, is written and directed by Andrew Moodie and runs November 13 - December 2. In 2008, Morwyn Brebner’s The Optimists plays at GCTC January 29 - February 17, playwright and actor Pierre Brault stars in the premiere of his work, 5 O’Clock Bells, co-produced with Sleeping Dog Theatre, April 1 – 20. GCTC’s final play in its 2007-08 Season is Plan B, directed by Lise Ann Johnson, May 27 - June 15.

The Lorraine Fritzi Yale Gallery:
Don Monet of Cube Gallery has curated an exhibition inspired by The Man from the Capital, featuring the artwork of Stuart Kinmond. These paintings are on display from October 9 – 28 in the Irving Greenberg Theatre Centre’s new Lorraine Fritzi Yale Gallery space during box office hours. Each play in the season will feature an exhibition of original artwork by Ottawa artists.

The Box Office - Hours of Operation:
The Box Office is open during non-performance weeks: Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday, 12 noon – 4 p.m. During performance weeks, the box office is open Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday 12 noon to 4 p.m.

The Local Bar - Hours of Operation:
The Local Bar by Thyme & Again Encore is now open to the public. The lobby café and wine bar at the Irving Greenberg Theatre Centre is open Tuesday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday, and Sunday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Acoustic Waves Concerts:
The Ottawa Folk Festival in association with GCTC presents an Acoustic Waves concert on the second Sunday of each of the mainstage show’s run. These concerts are by both the celebrated and the rising stars of the Canadian music scene http://www.gctc.ca/AcousticWaves.html. The first concert features Dawn Tyler Watson and Paul Deslauriers, and is dedicated in memory to Ian Wightman. Tickets are $25 per person.

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Media Contact:
Laurie Murphy
Marketing & Communications Director
GCTC Administration
300-1227 Wellington Street West, Ottawa, Ontario K1Y 0G7

Office: 613-236-5192 ex. 229; Fax: 613-232-2075
e-mail: publicity@gctc.ca; www.gctc.ca