THE ECSTASY OF RITA JOE

This year marks the 20th commemoration of George Ryga’s death in 1987, as well as the 40th anniversary of the premiere of the Ecstasy of Rita Joe, the first play in English to be presented in the National Arts Centre Theatre in Ottawa in 1969. For several years afterwards it shook the nation. Chief Dan George wrote in the preface of the first publication, “this play carries a message all Canada should hear.”

One Rita Joe actress after dress rehearsal commented.” I needed to understand situations. I’ve led a pretty sheltered life and this project took me on a journey of understanding the many First Nations issues. I thought it could never happen to me or in my community. I know it is and if we don’t stop it now it’ll go on for ever. It’s not about coming to a play for entertainment – it’s a way of seeing other realities. “A student next to her responded. “I’m reminded of my Grandmother. She was Metis and a rape victim. My Mom says the guy received a light sentence.”

Thank you for coming and supporting.
To share with you is our honour.

“People who are forgotten are not forgetting.
To overlook them is a dangerous delusion.”
-George Ryga

“If the very old will remember, the very young will listen.” - Chief Dan George in My Heart Soars

Cast and Crew
Rita Joe: Samrawit Geti, Kyla Poss
Lynelle Poochey-Torrence, Nicole Zalesak
Jamie Paul: Andrew Fiddler
Father: Rylan Ledene
Magistrate: Tianna Boddy, Erich Jurgens,
Jeremy Roach, Brian Tamosiunis
Mrs. Homer: Trinity Smetaniuk
Priest: Jade Henderson
Eileen Joe: Megan Dyck
Old Women: Michelle Backstrom
Teacher: Audrey-Anne Tellier
Policeman: Andrew Suchar
Witness: Louise Sutherland
Louis: Talib Sadat
Singers: Heather Press, Tristin Greyeyes
Drummers: Brendan Delorme, Vicent Vanmeesen
Dancer: Shawna Brazeau
Fiddler: Dallas Fiddler

Light & Sound: Austin Bloomfield, Brandon Roach,
Jeri Eidsness Hodges
Set Design: Sarawit Geti, Nicole Zalesak, Heather Press
Poster: Klya Poss
Intern Director: Ms D. Tait
Student Director: Heather Press

Supervisors…. Julia Kawa, Raymon Montalbetti, Constance Sacher and Bob Turner Special Thanks…. Melissa Plamondon, Ronalee Hall, Feehan Drummers and Dancers,The Administration and Staff – Principal: Sheila Chad

Fall Productions:

2019/20 Jessica a Ceremony - A reworking of Jessica by Linda Griffiths, Maria Campbell

2018/19 Grass Tomb - Oh Taeseok

2017/18 The Chysalids - David Harrower's adaptation of John Wyndham's novel

2016/17 Conference of the Birds - Based on the poem by Farid ud-Din Attar Stage version by Peter Brook and Jean-Claude Carriere

2015/16 - The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is a play by Simon Stephens based on the novel of the same name by Mark Haddon

2014/15 MacBird - a satire by Barbara Garson

2013/14 Princess Bride - the film script Adapted by William Goldman from his 1973 novel of the same name

2012/13 Stairway to Heaven

2011/12

2010/11 Sleeper Awake - A fragment from Paul Sills' Story Theatre

2009/10 Within the Penumbra - F.D. Schultz

2008/9: Hamlet Collage - adaptation Charles Marowitz

2007/8: Ecstasy of Rita Joe - George Ryga

2006/7: Lotus - adaptation of Deepa Mehta's Water by C. Michalenko & R. Montalbetti

2005/6: Little Mermaid - adaptation of Hans Christian Anderson Fairy Tale

2004/5: Gifts of Flame - David Calcutt
The Tale of Mighty Fish and Magic Hawk - Jo Dorras & Peter Walker

2003/4: Christmas Carol - adaptation of the Charles Dickens Classic

2002/3: Enemy of the People - Arthur Miller

2001/2: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest - Dale Wasserman (adapted from the Ken Kersy novel)

2000/1: The Inspector General - Nikolai Gogol

1999/2000: Our Town - Thornton Wilder
1998/9: The Birds - Aristophanes
1997/8: Go Ask Alice - anonymous
1996/7: The Lark - Jean Anouilh
1995/6: Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy - an adaptation of the Douglas Adam novels
1994/5: The Hobbit - an adaptation of Tolkien's classic story
1993/4: Fans - Mike English
1992/3: Fahrenheit 451 - an adaptation of Ray Bradbury novel
1991/2: The Outsiders - S.E. Hinton,

Drama Club Productions

2017/18 Still Stands the House directed by Keenan
2016/17 The 10 Best/Worst Things about High School directed by Shae

2015/16 Voices of the Unheard directed & written by Morgan Woolf

20011/12 Homer

2008/9: Alice directed by Pat Lengert

2006/7: The Grave directed and written by Heather Press

2005/6: Clue directed by Nolan Palyvos & David Schultz

2004/5: Arabian Nights directed by David Schultz

Labyrinth directed by Kristin Bennett
Breakfast Club directed by Karla Kloeble
Monty Python and the Holy Grail directed by Niki Ashenbrenner
Princess Bride
Alice in Wonderland directed by Norman MacDonald
Dracula directed by Caryn Swark & Crystal Kennedy.

Videos

Dark Inward Journey
Down the Rabbit Hole
Resignation Redemption

Events:

Safe Schools Conference
Haunted House
Kidney Foundation Scare Zone
Peace Conference Workshop
St. Mary Stations of the Cross
School Conference at Western Development Museum
Giving Thanks Elementary Tour