TNB Next Stage presents The Dollar Woman
Starring an All-New Brunswick Cast
From February 29 – March 4,the TNB Next Stage’s production of The Dollar Woman uncovers a dark secret of New Brunswick’s past. It was only a little over a century ago that a community’s poor would be auctioned off to the lowest bidder. Alden Nowlan and Walter Learning’s gripping and controversial play transports us back to a small New Brunswick town and the showdown between a well-intentioned pauper overseer and a crusading newspaper editor at the final auction. What will become of a community divided? What will become of the last woman sold for a dollar?
“When The Dollar Woman premiered in January 1977, this controversial play packed houses, garnered praise and even inspired a denouncement from a church pulpit,” explains TNB Artistic Producer Caleb Marshall. “The past 35 years have not diminished the power of this story. Alden Nowlan and Walter Learning pulled no punches. It’s not as black and white a story as you may expect – it’s a complicated mesh of morality and motivations.”
St. Thomas University Director of Drama Ilkay Silk will direct this latest production of The Dollar Woman.
Poster art from the 1977 world premiere.
“I remember quite vividly the first production of The Dollar Woman. I was a TNB Young Company member and was so engaged in this remarkable story that took place our province,” says Silk. “Fate- or what you will – has me directing the show 35 years later and I can’t wait for this generation to see it with all our New Brunswick talent.”
The 35th Anniversary production brings together an all New Brunswick cast, the largest gathering of the province’s professional theatre talent on one stage including Walter Learning himself as crusading newspaper editor George Frances Train.
“The writing partnership of Walter Learning and Alden Nowlan was a landmark in TNB’s history and The Dollar Woman marks the first time TNB premiered a play about New Brunswick,” Marshall says. “Today part of our company mission is to celebrate New Brunswick content and artists. I don’t think we’ve ever done it better than in The Dollar Woman.”
“It will be a New Brunswick theatre event that is not to be missed. “
The Dollar Woman runs February 29 – March 3 at 7:30 p.m. and March 4 at 2 p.m. at The Black Box Theatre, St. Thomas. Adults $25 | McCain Student Tickets only $10
CAST
Jane Wheeler (Alice White) moved to New Brunswick from Montreal four years ago with her husband and children. She has been active in both theatre and film in the province. She made her TNB debut in the 2010-2011 season in Treasure Island.
Robbie O’Neill (Tom Roach), founder of Mulgrave Road Theatre Company is a familiar face to Fredericton theatre goers having appeared in numerous productions in the city. His most recent TNB appearance was in 2009’s It’s A Wonderful Life.
Graham Percy (Lewis White) is a Saint John native now based out of Nova Scotia. He has appeared in five previous TNB productions most recently as Father Flynn in Doubt in 2009.
Nora Sheehan (Maggie Harvey) has appeared in three previous productions with TNB most recently as Ma Bailey in 2009 in It’s A Wonderful Life. Originally from Saint John she has appeared on stages across the country.
Marshall Button (Martin Condon) is best known to New Brunswick audiences as “Lucien.” He has appeared in numerous TNB productions and is currently the artist-in-residence at Monton’s Capitol Theatre.
Jeffrey Bate Boerop (Peter Fraser) has been acting for 17 years, most of that time in Fredericton. He made his TNB debut in 2009 in It’s A Wonderful Life.
Wally MacKinnon (Alex McKay) has worked extensively in film, television and theatre including six productions with Theatre New Brunswick most recently in 2010 in Skin Flick.
Walter Learning (George Francis Train) is the founder of Theatre New Brunswick and the co-authour of The Dollar Woman. He has written, appeared in and directed productions across the country and abroad. This marks his first appearance on the TNB stage since 2004’s The Cricket on the Hearth.
The professional cast will be joined by four experienced actors from local community theatre: Jacob Leblanc (Hockey Dreams), Darrell Mesheau and St. Thomas University drama students Ian Goff and Georgia Priestley-Brown.
Creative Team
Patrick Clark (Set & Costume Designer): TNB’s Resident Set and Costume Designer has designed numerous productions for TNB. His designs have been seen on stages across Canada and the United States. Patrick was recently awarded with a Lieutenant-Governor’s Award for High Achievement in the Arts.
Michael Doherty (Sound Designer): TNB’s Resident Composer and Sound Designer is a prominent Fredericton-based composer, sound designer, producer, and musical director who works throughout Atlantic Canada. Michael was the recipient of the ECMA Musician’s Achievement Award, and his recording studio was nominated for Studio of the Year.
Chris Saad (Lighting Designer): The Technical Director and Resident Lighting Designer for the Black Box Theatre at St. Thomas University in Fredericton. He has designed numerous TNB productions most recently Feelgood / The Truth is a Hard Flat Surface.
Media Contact: Heather Allaby, Director of Marketing and Development, Theatre New Brunswick,(506) 460-1381 ext 105
