Walterdale Playhouse’s new Artistic Director, Adam Mazerolle-Kuss, aims to expose matters of the heart with Walterdale’s 2013/2014 season, Where the Heart Lies. The new season was announced on May 22 and Adam says, “one of the things that really jumped out at me [is] that where the heart lives, where the heart lies – there are a couple different things to it. It is where the heart is located, but also what the heart tells us that perhaps isn’t true. Or what others tell us that we use in our heart that isn’t necessarily true. I think that there’s a lot of places that [this notion] ties into in all of the plays.”
This year’s five pieces were chosen from over 30 submissions from Walterdale members. Of the selection process, Adam says, “I picked pieces that I thought would serve the community, our members, and our audience… There’s a lot of variety – we’ve got Dracula and musical comedy. Family and math. Ghostly spirit comedies. A play set here in Alberta about very sensitive issues – it addresses mental health issues.” He went on to say, “part of what I see as Walterdale’s role in the arts community and the community at large, [as] we’re a very big member of the Strathcona community … I think part of what we do by being in that location is provide support to other businesses in the area, and we also give a place for people in the community to come and spend time together… We give people a safe place to come and try things and practice… On the audience side, we give people a place to come see things they might not get to see in other theatres. Dracula is a big piece, but with our model, we’re able to put up [big] pieces like that.”
If this overview of the season intrigues you, check out the Walterdale Playhouse’s 2013/2014 line up:
Dracula – by Steven Dietze from the novel by Bram Stoker, Directed by Darrell Portz. Runs October 16 – 26. As Adam says, “It’s Dracula. It’s not Twilight, it’s not sparkles. It’s original.”
Proof – by David Auburn. Directed by Kristen M. Finlay. Runs December 4 – 14. The play explores the main character’s worry that her genius may also be an indicator of her madness.
Blithe Spirit – by Noel Coward. Directed by Curtis Knecht. Runs February 5 – 15. Adam calls this play a “ghostly comedy” – about a novelist who invites a medium to his house, but may wish he hadn’t.
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum – book by Burt Shevelove & Larry Glebart. Music & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Originally produced on Broadway by Harold S. Prince. Directed by Adam Mazerolle-Kuss. Runs April 2 – 12. This musical is set in Rome… what else do you need to know?!
Jennie’s Story – by Betty Lambert. Directed by Alex Hawkins. Runs July 2 – 12. This play explores what happens when a woman who appears to have it all learns something about her past that has her questioning her sense of self.Written by a Canadian playwright, and set in Alberta, Adam says this play “speaks to Alberta’s history and… addresses concerns about mental health issues.”
More information about Walterdale Playhouse’s 2013-2014 season can be found at: http://69.89.31.119/~walterda/2013-2014-season/.
Auditions for Dracula are coming up soon, on July 7 & 8.
– Jenna Marynowski