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STRAWBERRIES IN JANUARY
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If only life could be like the movies! This fizzy concoction takes the classic ingredients of romantic comedy, love, humour, coincidence and fantasy and serves them up with a surprisingly touching twist in this tender and witty comedy by an extraordinary new voice from Quebec.
Sophie is demanding, complicated, often self-centred, and sometimes superficial in her slightly bourgeois thinking. But will François overlook her faults for true happiness? Évelyne de la Chenelière is a Canadian writer and performer. She is best known for her plays Désordre public, which won the Governor General's Award for French-language drama in 2006, and Bashir Lazhar, which was the screenplay basis for the 2011 film Monsieur Lazhar. Morwyn Brebner is a graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada’s playwrighting program. Her plays include Music for Contortionist, Liquor Guns Karate, Little Mercy’s First Murder, The Optimists, and The Pessimist. She is a playwright-in-residence at Toronto’s Tarragon Theatre. |
CAST & PRODUCTION
Simon P. Therrien - Francois
Simon Therrien is a young actor from the Eastern Townships who now lives in the city of Montreal. He leaves the Townships in 2006 after graduating from Champlain College in Creative Arts with a mention in Theatre. It's in this same year that he starts his studies at Concordia University in Theatre Performance. He finishes his studies in 2010 and starts his professional career as an actor. Now in Premier Role Agency, he has appeared in many different films and Quebec tv shows. Simon is proud to be part of this Persephone production.
ROBERT - TBA
Karine Lefebvre - Sophie
Karine graduated from the John Abbott College Professional Theatre Programme in May 2009. A native French speaker, she faced the challenge of learning a new language while developing her acting skills. After graduating, Karine performed and assistant directed for the Sudden Impact Entertainment Company in shows in Australia and Canada. She had the privilege of touring multiple times around Quebec for the Segal Centre's theatre troupe the Wandering Stars. It is back in 2010 that Karine acted in her first Shakespearian play, Henry V, presented by Persephone Productions. She is excited to be returning again with the company for this bilingual production of Strawberries in January et espère que vous apprécirez le spectacle!
Tania Dos Santos - Lea
Tania Dos Santos is an emerging Montreal based artist. She found her way into the independent theatre scene working with Brave New Productions on both The Laramie Project: 10 Years Later and Standing On Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays. Most recently she performed in Teesri Duniya Theatre’s Bhopal. Tania is thrilled to be working with Persephone Productions for the first time. Always taking the road less traveled, Tania is proud to be a product of the independent workshops and training Montreal has to offer.
Davide Chiazzese - Director
A local actor, budding director and aspiring playwright, this is officially Davide's directorial debut. He is thrilled to be working with Persephone Productions once again, as he was last seen on stage, in the company's production of Henry V, years ago. A graduate of the Professional Theatre Program in Acting at John Abbott College and recipient of both the Pamela Montgomery Award and Karla Napier Scholarship, Davide has devoted this past year to nurturing his desire to direct. As Artistic Associate of Teesri Duniya Theatre he participated in and administrated a directing mentorship under the guidance of Stacey Christodoulou (The Other Theatre). He also just recently completed the Artist Mentorship Program as a director with Black Theatre Workshop. This past season, he assistant directed Sal Capone: The Lamentable Tragedy Of, BTW's coproduction with Urban Ink, as well as Letters To My Grandma and Bhopal, both of Teesri's main stage productions. Davide is excited to announce that he will be performing in Talisman Theatre's Fall production of Billy (The Days of Howling) by Fabien Cloutier, translated by Nadine Desrochers and directed by Emma Tibaldo.
Jo Joffre - Stage Manager
Jo Joffre fell in love with theatre at a young age and her feelings have only grown stronger. She is a performer first and foremost, however she discovered she has a knack for stage-managing as well. Favourite shows include: Elizabeth Rex(Tableau D’Hote), Richard III(Metachroma), Jesus Jello…(Sheep in Fog) and Suburban Motel (Tableau D’Hote). She wants to thank Davide for bringing her on to this show and hopes you enjoy it as much as she does!
Anna Delfino - Set Deigner
Anna is a recent graduate from John Abbott College's Professional Theatre Costume and Set Design program. She is ecstatic to be designing for this funny, romantic and magical alongside her past classmate Elyse Malo. Designing the set for "Strawberries in January" an interesting process; basically starting from scratch and attempting to go in many very different directions! Anna considers herself very fortunate to have had the opportunity to share this experience with such an amazing production team and cast!
Elyse Malo - Costume Design
Elyse is a graduate from John Abbott College’s Professional Theatre Design program. Upon graduating, she spent the summer as the costume and set designer for Jac’n’Burgh’s production of Under Milk Wood by Dylan Thomas, which was brought over to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival after opening in Montreal. Her recent credits include Beautiful City Theatre’s The Full Monty (set), Medulla Oblongata’s Alex Cross and his Rise to Fame (costume), and the upcoming web series Sex and Ethnicity (set/costume). This is her second time working with Persephone Productions, having previously done costumes for The Walnut Tree.