August 18, 2011

Cultural Beacon Shines Bright in Rosebud 

Community nominated as a finalist for CBC’s Alberta Cultureville contest
Rosebud, Alberta (August 18, 2011) - From live-theatre, music, and art galleries to culinary delights, festivals, and youth-inspired performances, the community of Rosebud is a beacon of culture and art in Alberta.The well-known hamlet 100 km NE of Calgary at the edge of the Canadian Badlands has been nominated as a finalist for the 2011 CBC Alberta Cultureville contest. 

 

May 9, 2011

Small-Town Prairie Comedy Rolls into Rosebud
W.O. Mitchell comedy Jake and the Kid: Prairie Seasons set to entertain Albertans this summer

“W.O. is beloved by Canadians as our cantankerous prairie literary icon.” Morris Ertman, Artistic Director

Rosebud, Alberta – For most winter weary Albertans, summer can’t arrive fast enough.  Rosebud Theatre has the answer to kick away those dreary winter blues.  Make plans to see the comedy of W.O. Mitchell’s Jake and the Kid: Prairie Seasons playing this summer at the Rosebud Opera House. Opening Friday May 27, this humourous “growing up” story will transport audiences back to fictional Crocus, Saskatchewan where a young boy and the family’s hired hand Jake forge a friendship through the changing seasons. 

Artistic Director Morris Ertman notes, "It's been several years since we've put a W.O. Mitchell story on our stage. The last was The Kite and it absolutely captured audiences with its small-town characters and antics. Rosebud is not unlike Crocus, Saskatchewan - the setting for Jake and the Kid.  So, coming to see a W.O. Mitchell story here in this valley is akin to walking through a village right out of  a W.O. Mitchell prairie novel and then entering the theatre to be entertained by his stories. Having a W. O. Mitchell story on our summer stage is a huge treat! W.O. Mitchell and Rosebud were meant for each other.”

In 2005, Rosebud Theatre presented Mitchell’s The Kite that played to sold-out houses and almost 12,000 patrons. Audiences were enthralled by the connection of W.O. Mitchell’s characters to their own communities. Of particular note in that production was the character Daddy Sherry. “Nathan Schmidt pulled off a performance as Daddy Sherry that is still talked about as one of Rosebud's funniest accomplishments,” says Ertman. “For this production he's changing clothes to play the title role of Jake and will tickle audience funny bones with the same wit, humour and prairie town 'cantankouressness' that only W.O. Mitchell can create.”

When visiting Rosebud, plan to make a stop at the new Wild Horse Jack’s Bistro & Grill. Ertman encourages people to check it out: “I am certain that if W.O. Mitchell was wandering the Alberta highways and came upon this restaurant, he'd find himself at a table in the centre of the room, soaking up the atmosphere and identifying with the wild, wonderful energy of a village in rural Alberta that reflects the size, quirkiness and life in his imagination."

Beginning Friday May 27, Jake and the Kid: Prairie Seasons plays on the Rosebud Theatre Opera House stage Wednesday to Saturday until July when it plays Wednesday to Sunday until August 28. Matinee and evening performances are available. Please call the Rosebud Theatre Box Office for reservations at 1-800-267-7553. More information can be found at www.rosebudtheatre.com.

The Cast: Nathan Schmidt as Jake; Conrad Belau as The Kid; Glenda Warkentin as Ma; Mike Thiessen as Old Man Gatenby and The Mayor; Laura Gillespie as CBC Reporter

The Creative Team:  Director – Karl Sine; Musical Director - Bill Hamm; Set Design - Steve Waldschmidt; Costume Design - Norma Roth; Head of Wardrobe - Jette Brown; Sound Design/Composition - Paul Zacharias; Stage Manager - Brad G. Graham; Assistant Stage Managers - Amy Burks and Laura Gillespie

April 18, 2011

Painting pictures on stage with fabulous fabrics
A Bright Particular Star boasts beautifully designed and tailored costumes that magically transport actors back to the 19th century

Rosebud, Alberta  – Clothing has certainly changed in the past two centuries. Women with floor length dresses, petticoats and bustles and men with top hats and long suit coats are hardly expected today. In the 19th century however, as portrayed in Rosebud Theatre’s spring production, A Bright Particular Star, these items are commonplace.

Comments Director Morris Ertman, “The costumes are stunning in their detail. But what is even more stunning as the actor’s ability to inhabit the costumes like they are 21st Century everyday clothes. That’s a tribute to Deb Lawton’s design, our remarkable Head of Wardrobe, Jette Brown, and the performers who bring such life to this show that feels a lot like the movie Shakespeare in Love, a period story so energetic, it seems like it could be happening today.”

“Costume designers play an important key role that is often overlooked. These designers are able to set the mood, add realism to the storyline and give audiences an idea of what the character is like. They have to understand each of the characters as well as the time and setting of the play in order to make the character portray a specific message to the audience without having to explain it all. They illustrate these things by the type of fabrics they choose, the colors, the accessories, the shape of the clothing and many more details audiences may never think of. They spend hours researching each character, the period in which the show takes place and the history of fashion at that time. Rosebud’s costume department has worked tireless hours to make sure that every detail is perfect on the costumes in A Bright Particular Star.”

Lilia MacDonald, the daughter of famed 19th century writer, George MacDonald, discovers that she is a gifted actress and feels her calling to the stage.  She shines in the little amateur productions their family troupe produces for the poor, but the professional stage is no place for a reputable woman in Victorian England! So, the daughter of the man who inspired J.R.R. Tolkien (The Lord of the Rings) and C.S. Lewis (The Chronicles of Narnia) sets out to follow her own path toward the theatre. With cameos by famous writers like Mark Twain (Adventures of Huckleberry Finn) and Lewis Carroll (Alice's Adventures in Wonderland), this is a true and inspiring story about finding and taking one’s place in the world.

A Bright Particular Star plays until May 14. Tickets are available by calling the Rosebud Theatre Box Office at 1-800-267-7553. Matinee performances are Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sunday, May 8 (Mother’s Day) and evening performances are Fridays and Saturdays. For more information, call the box office or visit www.rosebudtheatre.com.

March 18, 2011

Rosebud in the mirror - chasing the dream to be an actor
A Bright Particular Star shines the spotlight on choosing between society’s norms and pursuing one’s dreams

“This is perhaps the most truly Rosebud story we have ever produced,” Morris Ertman, Director

Rosebud, Alberta  – From actors to singers, dancers, musicians, writers and all the behind the scenes talent that makes theatre come to life on stage, Rosebud has it all. In a community where most of its members live and breathe arts & culture and where there is a renowned post-secondary theatre school, Rosebud Theatre’s spring production has a direct connection. A Bright Particular Star, tells the tale of a young woman caught between society’s expectations and her own dreams of pursuing acting and the theatre as a profession. It is a passionate drama by Ron Reed, and plays March 25 to May 14.

Director, Morris Ertman comments on the connections of A Bright Particular Star to Rosebud School of the Arts. “It’s a real privilege to be doing a show all about the principle ambition of students attending Rosebud School of the Arts and who are apprenticing on the Rosebud Theatre stage - a life in the theatre. I’ve been comparing the drama of such a choice to the drama of salmon swimming upstream. It takes tenacity, talent and heart to make it all the way. And this story asks the question about what “all the way” means. Is it bright light success, or the success that comes from voicing stories that one is passionate about? I must say that this play feels a lot like the movie “Shakespeare in Love”, with the same kind of energy that comes from a story about youthful ambition and love and the high stakes and humor of it all. It’s an exhilarating story that really reflects the youthful energy of our little artistic village with the very big voice.”

“This is perhaps the most truly Rosebud story we have ever produced. It’s simply a must see for those folks who have tried to put into words the ethos of this magical village. The magic is in the story and its connection to real people and real hopes and real dreams. The show is a rocket of a story, heading out and up into a starlit sky. Don’t miss it. It’s already magical, and we just got onto the stage.”

Still in today’s society it seems parents encourage their children to pursue careers outside of the arts. However, it certainly isn’t because those in the trade are deemed promiscuous, but rather due to the instability of the occupation. Only those who hit the Hollywood stage are deemed successful. In contrast, many alumni from Rosebud School of the Arts, have pursued their dreams and careers in the arts and successfully made or are making a living. A Bright Particular Star may take place many decades – even centuries – ago, but internal struggle with the pursuit of one’s dreams and happiness remain true today.

By Ron Reed, co-author of Tent Meeting, which was a huge success only a couple years ago, A Bright Particular Star is about the daughter of a famed 19th-Century writer, who is a gifted actress and feels her calling to the stage. She shines in the little amateur productions their family troupe produces for the poor but the professional stage is no place for a reputable woman in Victorian England! So, the daughter of George MacDonald, who inspired J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, sets out to follow her own path toward the theatre. With cameos by famous writers like Mark Twain and Lewis Carroll, this is a true and inspiring story about taking one’s place in the world.
 

March 10, 2011

Rosebud Theatre celebrates 2011 season with opening of Rosebud Mercantile
Theatregoers can choose from a plate service or buffet – public can dine at Wild Horse Jack’s Bistro & Grill for lunch & dinner
Wed-Sat and the second floor 250-seat catered conference centre is receiving bookings for summer weddings.

Rosebud, Alberta  – “The Rosebud Mercantile, our new 10,000 square foot dining, shopping and meeting/convention space expansion has been 10 years in the making,” says Rosebud Theatre’s Executive Director Bob Davis. “Everything will be ready in time for opening night of A Bright Particular Star, our first Rosebud Opera House performance of the 2011 season.”

Davis adds, “The architectural design of the Rosebud Mercantile in an old-time bank and livery stable theme is in keeping with the unique heritage values of the hamlet of Rosebud. The facility will be an integral part of Rosebud’s renowned dining and theatre experience, the revenues of which help support the education and training of theatre artists from across Canada.”

One of the most notable changes will be the spacious Rosebud Gifts and Crafts retail shop now located on the main floor. As well, patrons now have the option of choosing from the buffet or a plate meal (extra charge for non- season ticket holders) in the new Harvest Room dining space. Visitors to Rosebud can also experience Wild Horse Jack’s Bistro & Grill which will be open to the public from Wednesday to Saturday for lunch and dinner. On the second floor is the Encana Conference Centre with catered meeting space for up to 250 people.  Several weddings and meetings have already been booked for 2011. 

This year promises to fulfill our 2011 theme and be full of stories that end “Beyond Your Wildest Expectations”. There are plays with Canadian connections and plays with connections to stories that have been told in the past at Rosebud Theatre. More information can be found on www.rosebudtheatre.com or by calling the Box Office at 1-800-267-7553.  Here is our Beyond Your Wildest Expectations line-up for 2011.

A Bright Particular Star (A Passionate Drama by Ron Reed -  March 25 - May 14)
The daughter of a famed 19th-Century writer is a gifted actress and feels her calling to the stage. She shines in the little amateur productions their family troupe produces for the poor but the professional stage is no place for a reputable woman in Victorian England! So, the daughter George MacDonald, who inspired J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, sets out to follow her own path toward the theatre. With cameos by famous writers like Mark Twain and Lewis Carroll, this is a true and inspiring story about taking one’s place in the world.

W.O. Mitchell’s Jake & the Kid: Prairie Seasons (A Humourous Growing-Up Story adapted by James B. Douglas - May 27 – August 28)
Just outside the town of Crocus, Saskatchewan (home of the infamous “oldest man in the world”, Daddy Sherry), a boy and the family’s hired hand forge a friendship in the absence of the boy’s dad. With each season comes a new adventure as the Kid watches Jake and the cantankerous Old Man Gatenby, argue about life on the prairie with all its joys and trials.

The Diary of Adam & Eve (The Very First Romantic Comedy from Mark Twain’s story. Dramatized by Marc Bucci - July 2 – August 28) At the Rosebud Studio Stage
A delightful retelling of human creation and the first true battle of the sexes! Mark Twain humorously recreates the first days when Adam, a quiet man who enjoys the simplicity and peace of Eden, is unexpectedly joined by Eve, an energetic and much too talkative woman. As Adam and Eve discover each other, audiences will get a new look at the famous first couple.

Queen Milli of Galt (Likely a True Story by Gary Kirkham - September 9 - October 22)
When the Prince of Wales visits Galt, Ontario at the end of the Great War, the whole town is eager to meet him. Bored with the pomp and circumstance, he slips away from his official duties and finds a young woman working in her garden. Milli tells him exactly what she thinks about the pomposity of royalty and captures his heart.  Years later, when 82-year-old Milli has her tombstone engraved stating she is the wife of Edward VIII, Duke of Windsor, everyone is eager to hear the story.

The Gifts of the Magi (A Christmas Musical. Book by Mark St. Germain. Music by Randy Courts. Lyrics by Randy Courts and Mark St. Germain - November 4 – Dec 23)
It’s Christmas in New York, but Jim and Della are out of work and penniless. In the desire to give each other something meaningful, they give away more than expected. This classic story is framed by a host of characters who scurry through the streets preparing for Christmas, including a paperboy and an old bum who is not above doing something illegal in order to spend a few nights in a warm jail. Christmas doesn’t get much warmer than this story.

December 15, 2010

Rosebud Theatre is ready to get you in the Christmas spirit
Idyllic setting for last minute shopping, a true country meal as well as singing, dancing and musical entertainment for whole family

Rosebud, Alberta – “We still have some seats available during the final week of performances of The Secret Garden, that ends on December 23rd,” says Bob Davis, Executive Director, Rosebud Theatre. “The Secret Garden is a wonderful, family-oriented and uplifting play that is well suited to the Christmas season and will most certainly get you into the Christmas spirit.  In fact, the entire hamlet of Rosebud is fully decked out in its finest Christmas décor.  There are also plenty of last minute shopping ideas to consider in our gift shops and the Royal Sproule Art Gallery. Our Executive Chef Pat Murphy has also prepared a country style feast to complement a terrific musical performance on stage at the Rosebud Opera House.”

“A week or so ago, I watched patrons pour out of the Opera House after the show,” says director, Morris Ertman. “I heard one woman remark to the other, ‘now, I have the Christmas feeling’. I love watching patrons bundle up at the Rosebud Mercantile, after having their fill a Rosebud country Christmas meal while being entertained with live musicians and singers.”

“There is always time before the show to shop in the quaint gift shops across the street, or walk up the street to Royal Sproule's Art Gallery. Some of them just like to walk the white-covered streets next to a frozen pond because it reminds them of when they were young. And then they all flood into the Opera House to see the show - to be buoyed by a story that offers music, dance and a real feeling of coming home to something that was once lost. It's a story of a family made completely again, about the promise of new life in the dead of winter. It's a story about a blooming spring that is matched by the boldness of a young girl's passionate spirit. And when the audience leaves the Opera House after the show, they really do have that ‘Christmas feeling’.”

Starring well-known Rosebud Theatre actors, such as, Cassia Schramm, Nathan Schmidt, Heather Pattengale and David Snider, The Secret Garden is filled with beautiful music and acting. It is the story of young Mary Lennox (Schramm) who is orphaned and sent to live with her reclusive uncle (Snider). Left to wander her new surroundings she uncovers a neglected, secret garden that she adopts. As she nurtures the garden back to life, unbeknownst to her, she thaws the hearts of her new family and home, sparking new life in them as well.

A wonderfully nostalgic play, The Secret Garden runs until December 23. The last week before Christmas, there are both matinee and evening shows on Tuesday December 21, Wednesday December 22 and Thursday December 23. The perfect time to bring the kids on school break. To reserve tickets, call the Rosebud Theatre Box Office at 1-800-267-7553 or 1-403-677-2001. More information can be found by clicking the link to The Secret Garden on the Rosebud Theatre website at www.rosebudtheatre.com
 

November 5, 2010

Rosebud presents Christmas musical about love, hope and healing
The Secret Garden delivers entertainment for the entire family. It’s inspirational story, unique costumes,
and brilliant staging are wrapped together for Christmas with music that touches the soul.

Rosebud, Alberta – “Mary, Mary, quite contrary. How does your garden grow?” That popular line from a well-known childhood nursery rhyme is also a reference from the book that forms the basis of Rosebud Theatre’s Christmas production, The Secret Garden. From the novel, by Frances Hodgson Burnett, this famous children’s story that dates back to the early 1900s is a classic.

“At the conclusion of our first dress rehearsal in front of a live audience for The Secret Garden, people were crying and cheering as the lights faded at the end of the show,” explains Director, Morris Ertman.  “This story packs an emotional punch because its themes of renewal and forgiveness and belonging are wrapped up so beautifully in the music. There is so much music. This is everyone’s story; everyone’s longing - to be part of a healthy family. What better way to celebrate the Christmas season than with a story about hope that turns into miracles that are so believable they could happen to anyone. I love this story! It’s not a wonder it’s a classic that parents have read to their children generation after generation.”

Since the original version of The Secret Garden in 1910, many versions have been adapted for print, as well as for radio, television, film and the stage. The version Rosebud Theatre is presenting is a relatively new musical adaptation from the late 1990s. Filled with beautiful music, The Secret Garden is the story of young Mary Lennox who is orphaned and sent to live with her reclusive uncle. Left to wander her new surroundings she uncovers a neglected, secret garden that she adopts. As she nurtures the garden back to life, unbeknownst to her, she thaws the hearts of her new family and home, sparking new life in them as well.

A wonderfully nostalgic play, The Secret Garden is a well-known family story that plays from November 5 to December 23. Matinee performances (Showtime 1:30 PM) are on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and evening shows (Showtime 8:30 PM) are on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. There are also two additional performances on Tuesday, December 20. And let’s not forget about the wonderful Christmas feast beforehand at the Mercantile Dining Room, where the dining atmosphere and music will definitely bring out your holiday spirit. In addition to the Mercantile’s traditional buffet, a plate service menu is also available at the Rosebud Country Inn. Please ask about availability when reserving your tickets. To reserve tickets, call the Rosebud Theatre Box Office at 1-800-267-7553. For more information visit www.rosebudtheatre.com
 

October 28, 2010

Spring is in the air this Christmas at Rosebud Theatre
The Secret Garden - a musical that delivers hope, magic and the promise of spring - all in the dead of winter.

Rosebud, Alberta – “The Secret Garden is the perfect show to stage at this time of year because Christmas falls at the darkest time of the year,” says Artistic Director Morris Ertman. “ And because it does, we decorate our world with candles, coloured lights, and brightly wrapped Christmas gifts that cheer up our world with a touch of spring colour. It is a time when we dare to hope that our world could get better if we only gathered together. It is a season when we tell a story about a baby born into the world that offers the promise of peace and a release from loneliness. In the lonely dead of winter, we need to believe that spring will come.”

Ertman adds, “The Secret Garden is a story that takes place in the middle of a damp winter in England. A dismal and drafty house is woken by the promise of spring when an orphan girl dares to explore (what in our production will be), a frost covered greenhouse garden that feels a lot like an elegant Christmas card. And the show is filled with music that celebrates the human voice in the same way that Christmas carols do.”

Rosebud Theatre celebrates the notion that when we gather around a story of hope, something wonderful happens to performer and audience alike. A kind of magic unfolds in the theatre between performer and audience that wakens the soul. That’s the story of The Secret Garden. Come and join us for the promise of spring in the dead of winter. That’s what Christmas is really about.

Filled with wonderful music, The Secret Garden is a well-known family story based on the novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett and the book by Jim Crabtree. When a young, spoiled girl is orphaned and sent to live with her uncle, things quickly progress from cold-hearted and frosty to warm and loving. Witness the inspirational transformation of a neglected garden and the lives of an entire family.

And let’s not forget about the wonderful Christmas feast beforehand at the Mercantile Dining Room, where the dining atmosphere and music will definitely bring out your holiday spirit. In addition to the Mercantile’s traditional buffet, a plate service menu is also available at the Rosebud Country Inn. Please ask about availability when reserving your tickets.

The Secret Garden plays from November 5 to December 23. To reserve tickets call the Rosebud Theatre Box Office at       1-800-267-7553. Matinee performances (Showtime 1:30 PM) are on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and evening shows (Showtime 8:30 PM) are on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. There are also two additional performances on Tuesday, December 20. For more information visit www.rosebudtheatre.com.

October 6, 2010

A woman’s journey of personal faith takes centre stage at Rosebud
In The Road to Mecca, an aging sculptor creates her own personal Mecca to keep the darkness out

Rosebud, Alberta  – In the hamlet of Rosebud, a community immersed in art and spirituality, a journey of personal faith is taking centre stage. The Road to Mecca is a story about how one woman’s art helps her survive and find herself.

Artistic Director, Morris Ertman explains “The Road to Mecca is a story about a person who cannot explain their faith journey as anything but deeply personal. The truth is that there are people of all faiths that would describe their relationship with their God as exactly that, yet somehow they feel like they are living outside the bounds of traditional faith. If we were to describe such a person’s life, it would be in words like ‘profoundly spiritual, mystical even’. In The Road to Mecca, an aging sculptor has followed her muse to her own Mecca - a yard full of creatures facing east and a house full of candles and mirrors that help her keep the darkness at bay. This is a faith story like no other, and it’s full of resonances that will touch people of many different backgrounds. Helen Martins, sculptor and friend, is a living testament to a remarkable spirituality that changes her village. Audiences are hanging on the words and passionately talking about the play as they leave the theatre. It’s certainly striking a core for these folks who see Rosebud as a bit of a Mecca.“

The Road to Mecca is ideally suited to the Rosebud  School of the Arts and Rosebud Theatre. As New York City may be seen as a mecca for young, aspiring artists, Rosebud has a similar attraction for many new students who come here to explore their faith, spirituality and arts. It is a place where the stage can become their personal Mecca – a safe haven to express themselves through their art among peers within a nurturing community.  By definition, a Mecca is a place that attracts many visitors.  At Rosebud Theatre, we encourage people of all faiths to personally experience The Road to Mecca.

The Road to Mecca by Athol Fugard, plays until October 23, 2010 at the Rosebud Theatre Opera House. There are matinees available on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and evening shows on Friday and Saturdays. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Rosebud Theatre Box Office at 1-800-267-7553. For more information visit www.rosebudtheatre.com