Roseneath Theatre’s 36th season – Hope for a Better World – encourages audiences to consider how we can better understand and support each other in today’s society. These five plays offer hope and a positive way forward for us all. First up is a remount of Beatriz Pizano’s La Maleta (The Suitcase) which focuses on the refugee and immigrant experience, incorporating both Spanish and English. In February, we will be presenting Djennie Laguerre’s Rendez-vous With Home for Black History/Future Month, which tells the story of two sisters, who are sent by their mother on a trip to Haiti to bury their father. At the end of February we’re remounting Paul Dunn’s Outside which encourages the creation of Gay-Straight Alliances, and will also be spending two weeks in Saskatchewan schools. In March and April, we revisit our unique production of Meet Cute, which looks at consent from multiple perspectives by playing the same conversation between two teens at a bus stop in three distinctly different ways. To round out our season in the spring, Roseneath will be presenting the Bad Hats Theatre production of Princess Frownsalot. This fun Canadian children’s book by John Bianchi has been given an incredibly creative adaptation for the stage by Fiona Sauder.
November 4-29 2019 – La Maleta (The Suitcase) – grades 3-8 February 18-26 2020 – Outside (Northern Ontario Tour) – Grades7-12 February 20-28 2020 – Roseneath Presents: Rendez-vous With Home – grades 4-8 March 30-May 1 2020 – Meet Cute – grades 7-12 April 20-May 8 2020 – Roseneath Presents: Princess Frownsalot – grades K-4
First up is a remount of LA MALETA-THE SUITCASE (grades 1-6) which focuses on the refugee and immigrant experience, incorporating Spanish and English. LA MALETA is the story of Roca, a ten-year old refugee who escapes her native Colombia and moves to Toronto to live with her aunt. Originally produced in the spring of 2014, LA MALETA was nominated for two Dora Awards, and remounted in 2015 for a US venue tour. This production is under consideration for Aluna Theatre’s RUTAS Festival in October 2019 at the Aki Studio.
In February, we will be presenting RENDEZ-VOUS WITH HOME (grades 4-8) for Black History/Future Month. This play tells the story of two sisters, who are sent by their mother on a trip to Haiti to bury their father. What the sisters experience in Haiti proves to be more moving than they had expected – a journey of discovery combined with love, humour, and Haitian oral and dance traditions. This production is performed by the playwright, Djennie Laguerre and a live musician. RENDEZ-VOUS WITH HOME recently had a successful school tour in Montreal with Black Theatre Workshop. Roseneath is thrilled to give this show its first showcase in Toronto schools.
The end of February and into March we’re remounting OUTSIDE (grades 7-12) which addresses homophobia and encourages the creation of Gay-Straight Alliances in Middle Schools. OUTSIDE has received two Dora Award nominations and has been remounted every season since in Ontario schools and in the US. This tour of OUTSIDE will visit schools in Northern Ontario where we haven’t been back with this production since 2015 and includes a three-week Saskatchewan partnership with the Organization of Saskatchewan Arts Councils (OSAC).
In March and April, we will be remounting our unique production of MEET CUTE (grades 7-12), which looks at consent from multiple perspectives by showing the same scene of two teenagers meeting at a bus stop in three different ways. Originally produced for school touring in the spring of 2017, MEET CUTE received three Dora Award nominations. With Ontario sex-education being rolled back, and in light of the #MeToo movement, to exclude this topic is detrimental for the safe development of young people.
To round out our season in April and May, Roseneath will be presenting the Bad Hats Theatre production of PRINCESS FROWNSALOT (grades K-6). Bad Hats Theatre are best known in TYA for their production of PETER PAN which won three Dora Awards. This new production is an adaptation by Fiona Sauder of the Canadian children’s book of the same title by John Bianchi. When Princess Frownsalot frowns one too many times, that’s exactly what happens! This show is a screamingly funny story about four people wrestling with the beautiful and complicated task of expressing their feelings.