For Immediate Release

Imago Theatre is pleased to bring you a workshop presentation of

LIFE HERE AFTER As part of Centaur Theatre’s

WILDSIDE FESTIVAL

A play by Alexandria Haber Directed by Micheline Chevrier

January 11, 12, 13, 2013 – 7:30PM Imago Theatre has had a long standing commitment to developing new work and is therefore pleased to bring you a workshop presentation of Alexandria Haber’s new play Life Here After as part of the Centaur Theatre’s Wildside Festival. We have been collaborating with Playwrights’ Workshop Montreal on this play for the past two years, and have just completed a week-long workshop at PWM in November: playwright, director, dramaturge, actors, and designers worked together in preparation for this Wildside debut. Life Here After is a compelling work about truth: knowing it, owning it, hiding it and uncovering it. The protagonist is a naïve, feisty and humorous 17 year-old girl who sets out on a secret and dangerous search to uncover the truth about her sister’s murder and dark past, setting in motion a spiral of events with far-reaching effect. In Ms Haber’s words:

“Life Here After is loosely inspired by Karla Holmolka’s release from prison and subsequent almost fairy tale happily ever after life: marriage, a family and a house in the Caribbean. When she was released, I read an article wherein the lawyer of the victims' parents pointed out how Karla now had everything they had ever wanted for their own daughters, had precisely everything these girls would never have, everything Karla took away from them. I started wondering, what would be the first step someone in their shoes could take in order to carry on living? How did they begin their ‘life here after’?”

A work-in-progress format has given Ms Haber the opportunity to work with director Micheline Chevrier and a talented cast of actors toward a public presentation of her play, which will include some preliminary staging and design ideas. Following each performance, there will be a moderated talkback with the audience where Ms Haber, along with the cast and creative team, will answer questions and discover how the play’s narrative is perceived. This process will greatly contribute to the revisions toward a final production draft of Life Here After.

- 2 - We are very grateful to Playwrights’ Workshop Montreal for committing their time and resources to the play’s development and to Roy Surette, Centaur’s Artistic Director, for accepting to program this unique project in the Wildside Festival. Preview coverage for Life Here After is enthusiastically welcomed! However we request that no reviews be published or aired due to the nature of the work-in-progress format.

With: Chip Chuipka, Lucinda Davis, Alain Goulem, Leni Parker, Amelia Sargisson, Clare Schapiro

Designers: Ana Cappelluto, Robert Thomson / Stage Manager: Kira Maros

Centaur Theatre / 453 St. François-Xavier / Montreal, Quebec, H2Y 2T1 / Box Office: 514-843-7738

Imago Theatre, now in its 26th year, produces thought-provoking plays from around the world that reflect women’s voices and stories of our times. Imago’s next main stage production is the Quebec English-language premiere of Carole Fréchette’s latest play Thinking of Yu, translated by John Murrell and running at Centaur Theatre from April 24th to May 4th, 2013.

www.imagotheatre.ca

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Source: Ange J Murphy / 514-274-3222 / ange@imagotheatre.ca

- 3 - Playwright’s Note

Life Here After is loosely inspired by Karla Homolka’s infamous “deal with the devil” and subsequent release from prison, not as much in response to her release, but much more in reaction to the effect this freedom must have had on the families of the girls whose lives she took. Ultimately, the only way to go on is to go on—is to put one foot in front of the other. But how to do this in the face of grief and loss and anger is, hopefully, a little bit of what Life Here After is about. I started writing this play four years ago in a Playwrights Unit at Playwrights’ Workshop Montreal. It has been nurtured and developed by PWM, dramaturged by both Greg MacArthur and Emma Tibaldo, and was selected as the winner of the 2009 Write-on-Q playwriting competition. I am thrilled that Imago is taking the play's development to the next level. Imago's method of working always allows artists to set up a timeline that supports the play's particular evolution. Their commitment is not only to the play, but to my development as an artist. It is a company that is known for its fostering and supportive environment, thereby serving each individual playwright and her particular needs. My thanks to all those who have helped me in the creation of Life Here After, I am grateful beyond measure.

- Alexandria Haber, January 2013

- 4 - Biographies

Alexandria Haber – Playwright

Alexandria Haber is a playwright and actor. Her plays include: Life Here After (winner of the 2009 write-on-Q playwriting competition), I Don’t like Mondays (Geordie Theatre), Four minutes if you Bleed (Centaur Theatre’s Brave New Looks selection for 2011 and ZOOFEST 2009), Housekeeping & Homewrecking (Fringe 2008, Theatre St. Catherine), Ordinary Times (Centaur Theatre’s Wildside Festival, FEM FEST, Winnipeg), Birthmarks (Playwrights Canada Press, 2000 produced by Theatre 1774, Montreal Fringe 1995). Radio plays include: The Very Little Girl, winner of the CBC Radio New Voices Competition, Washing Day, winner of the CBC Radio Sound FX contest. She also

adapted Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol (commissioned and produced by Geordie Productions). Most recently, her short play, Tom Waits, was part of Centaur’s Urban Tales.

Micheline Chevrier – Director For over thirty years, Micheline has had the good fortune of working across Canada as director, dramaturge and artistic director. She has directed at such theatres as the Shaw Festival, the National Arts Centre, the Citadel Theatre, Alberta Theatre Projects, the Globe Theatre, Prairie Theatre Exchange, Canadian Stage, Young People’s Theatre, Centaur Theatre, Imago Theatre, Théâtre français de Toronto, and Theatre New Brunswick among others. In addition, she has been, over those same years, Associate Artistic Director at Theatre New Brunswick, Associate Dramaturge at Playwrights Workshop Montreal, Associate Artist at Canadian Stage in Toronto and, most recently, Associate Director at Imago Theatre in Montreal. From 1995 to 2000, Micheline was the Artistic Director of the Great Canadian Theatre Company in Ottawa. She has also directed and taught at the National Theatre School, Concordia University, McGill University, York University, Dalhousie University and the University of Alberta.

5 Biographies

Chip Chuipka – Bart Chip's stage appearances include: Mercutio in Romeo et Juliet (World Theatre Festival), The Lonely Cowboy (Pi Theatre, Vancouver), Pozzo in Waiting For Godot (Persephone Theatre, Saskatoon), Moliere in Isadora: Fabulist! (Imago Theatre), Gordon (Sidemart Theatre), Colonel in A Line in the Sand (Tableau D'Hote Theatre), Lee in The Melville Boys (Theatre Newfoundland), and Krogstaad in The Doll House (Segal Centre). Chip's Film & TV credits include feature roles in John Smith's Revenge of the Land and Bruce MacDonald's Platinum, recurring roles in Emily of New Moon and Being Human, and guest appearances for Made in Canada and The Lexx. A two-time MECCA recipient for best actor, Chip teaches acting at the excellent ASM Performing Arts. Bon Spectacle.

Lucinda Davis – Izzy

Lucinda has been blessed with many opportunities to work on stage, on screen, in cartoon and in video games. Her past theatre credits include: Harlem Duet and The Lady Smith (Black Theatre Workshop), Rock, Paper Jackknife (Talisman Theatre), Beethoven Lives Upstairs (Geordie Productions), Elizabeth Rex (Tableau D'Hote Theatre), Doubt: A Parable, The Madonna Painter, Intimate Apparel (Centaur Theatre), and The Tragedy of Richard III (Metachroma Theatre). She is a co-founding member of Metachroma Theatre, which addresses the under-representation of visible minority actors in Canadian Theatre, challenging current perceptions by telling stories with a diverse cast in order to normalize the presence of these artists on stage. She is very excited to be working with Imago Theatre and with such a powerhouse of talented artists.

Alain Goulem – Joey Alain has many years of stage and film work to his credit. Some of the theatres Alain has performed at include The Stratford Festival (Stratford), Centaur Theatre (Montreal), The Citadel (Edmonton), and Manitoba Theatre Centre (Winnipeg). Alain has directed for Geordie Productions, Theatre Lac Brome, Hudson Village Theatre and Imago where he helmed the world premiere of Colleen Wagner’s down from heaven. Film and TV credits include regular roles on 18 to Life (CBC), The Tournament (CBC), Le Negotiateur (TVA) and Sauve Qui Peut (TVA) as well as featured roles in Snake Eyes, and the upcoming feature films Eddie and Deadfall.

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Biographies

Leni Parker - Erin

Leni has worked with numerous theatre companies for the past 26 years. Recent credits include Elizabeth Rex (Tableau D’Hote), Big Plans (Summerworks), The Heretics of Bohemia ( Scapegoat), The Pit and The Pendulum ( Wildside Fest.), True Nature (Centaur Theatre), Beethoven Lives Upstairs (Geordie Prod.), Champs de Mars, down from heaven, The Baroness and The Pig, Isadora: Fabulist! and Bye Bye Baby (Imago Theatre), Comedy of Errors (NAC and Centaur), Assorted Candies, and Age of Arousal (Centaur Theatre). Her TV and film credits include White House Down, Orphan, Earth: Final Conflict, Mambo Italiano, Out of Control, Adam’s Wall, and Afterwards.

Amelia Sargisson – Carmen Amelia Sargisson is a graduate of the Ryerson Theatre School (Lou Taube Memorial Award; Faculty Award of Excellence). Recent credits include: The Besetting of Reena Virk (Subtle Vigilance Collective), Camping Royal (CORPUS Dance Projects), My Name Is Rachel Corrie (Hart House Theatre), Haunted (SummerWorks 2012), WATER (Toronto Fringe KIDS 2012), and The Innocents (Tango Co./Tarragon Theatre). Other highlights include: La Duchesse de Langeais (Toronto Fringe 2011–NOW Magazine Outstanding Ensemble), The Madonna Painter (Centaur Theatre), down from heaven (Imago Theatre–Cartes Premières Award for Best Actress), and The Art of Catching Pigeons by Torchlight (SummerWorks 2009–Spotlight Award). Amelia thanks Clare, Alex, and Micheline for the opportunity to act in such a beautiful play back in her beloved hometown of Montreal.

Clare Schapiro - Lily Clare has been involved in the creation of theatre for most of her life as an artistic director, producer, director, actor, and teacher. In 1978 she founded Montreal’s Créations etc., a bilingual performing arts company for young people and was Artistic Director for eleven years. She then co-founded Théâtre 1774 (now known as Infinitheatre) with Marianne Ackerman and was co-Artistic Director until 1993. In the year 2000, Clare assumed the role of Artistic & General Director of Imago Theatre. She was last seen on Centaur Theatre’s stage in Urban Tales in 2007 and in Michel Tremblay’s Assorted Candies in 2006. Clare directed Imago’s production of Bye Bye Baby by Elyse Gasco, which premiered to critical acclaim in 2004 at the Monument-National, and was re-mounted for Centaur Theatre’s 2005-06 Season.

7 Biographies

Kira Maros – Stage Manager Kira is absolutely thrilled to be a part of this wonderful team and production. Recent credits include August, An Afternoon in the Country, Intimate Apparel (Centaur Theatre), A Christmas Story, Tuesdays with Morrie (Western Canada Theatre), Edgar Allan Poe’s The Pit and The Pendulum (Wildside Festival), Champ de Mars: A Story of War (Imago Theatre), and Andersen’s Inkwell (Geordie Productions). She has recently returned to Montreal from her seventh season (and second home) with The Charlottetown Festival. When not managing a stage, she can be found ‘technician-ing’ around Montreal theatres. Kira is a graduate of The National Theatre School’s production program where she is now a guest instructor.

Ana Cappelluto – Set / Costumes / Props Ana is based in Montreal. Her designs have traveled to numerous international festivals including Londrina International Festival in Brazil, Singapore Arts festival, Valencia International Arts Festival in Venezuela, Festival Internationaldes Théâtre Francophones in France and Aoyama Round Theatre in Japan. In Québec she has worked with many independent companies including Black Theatre Workshop, Porte Parole, Dulcinea Langfelder & Co, Imago Theatre, Pigeons International and Théâtre Le Clou. She is a Professor in the Department of Theatre at Concordia University, Montreal and has designed for Geordie Productions’ Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Peacemaker, The Jungle Book and The Little Prince.

Rob Thomson – Lighting

Rob Thomson is widely recognized as one of Canada's most prolific and versatile lighting designers for theatre, opera and dance. He has worked at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival for twelve consecutive seasons, served as Resident Lighting Designer for twelve seasons at The National Ballet of Canada, and twenty-four seasons at the Shaw Festival (ten as Head of Lighting Design). He has worked with a diverse range of Canadian companies, and internationally, his designs have been featured at the Lincoln Center Theater and the Metropolitan Opera among others. Rob’s designs have garnered a Sterling Award, four Dora Mavor Moore Awards and he was recently presented the prestigious Siminovitch Prize in Theatre for 2012.

8 About Imago OUR MISSION STATEMENT Imago Theatre produces thought-provoking plays from around the world that reflect women’s voices and stories of our times. OUR PHILOSOPHY Imago showcases playwrights of our times. We produce plays that address current issues and represent the female experience and perspective. We seek strong, unique voices and works with a social conscience. Every play Imago produces fosters conversation, encourages reflection and provokes change. Imago’s productions reflect Montreal’s diversity. Our work transcends the cultural, language and class barriers that hinder people’s perceptions of each other. We give a voice to those who have become isolated, misunderstood or marginalized, either by including them in our operational activities or by putting their stories on stage. Imago places the artist at the center of its work. We value creative freedom, provide opportunities for new partnerships and support the artistic process within a safe, healthy and professional environment. Through every Imago production, emerging or established artists are given the opportunity to learn and expand their practice. Imago is resilient, ambitious and realistic. Notwithstanding our limited financial and physical resources, Imago has persevered for the past 26 years, evolving our dialogue with the Montreal community. As a responsive leader, we look ahead with great anticipation in the hope of creating an increased impact on the Montreal Theatre scene. Imago Theatre is a registered non-profit organization and is a member of PACT, PWM and ACT.

Imago is funded in part by:

www.imagotheatre.ca

IMAGO THÉÂTRE 5143 Boul. St.Laurent

Montréal, QC, H2T 1R9 Tel. : (514) 274-3222 Fax : (514) 274-2498