About the play
Based on the stories of Robert Munsch, devised by Christel Bartelse and the Second Year Class.
Directed by Christel Bartelse*
Music composed by Stephan Ermel
Roll Up Roll Up the Carnival is in town. Step into the ring and let us take you to a place of magical fun and chaos. Come on this theatrical journey filled with fantastical characters, delight in experiencing the colourful world inspired by the genius of Robert Munsch. Expect the unexpected when you step into this Circus. Our Ring Leader takes us on a journey full of entertaining Stories.
George Brown’s 36th children’s show returns to the much-loved world of Robert Munsch. Our theatre-for-young-audience shows have introduced tens of thousands of Toronto children to the magic of live theatre over the past three decades. The author of over 45 books, Robert Munsch’s knack for making young people smile, giggle, and want to read his stories over and over again, has made him Canada’s best-selling author. A fun and energy-filled hour of story, music, and dance with many of Munsch’s most popular stories.
LOCATION
Young Centre for the Performing Arts
50 Tank House Lane, Toronto, ON M5A 3C4
Running Time:
~50 min (no intermission)
School/Group Shows
November 29, 30 & December 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 — 10:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.
COST: School/Group (10+) Bookings: $10/child. No charge to supervisors at a 10 to 1 ratio. $10/supervisor above 10 to 1 ratio.
Open to the Public Shows
Friday, December 8
Saturday, December 2
Saturday, December 9
COST: Public Bookings: Children under 12: $10, Adults: $25.
Directed by Christel Bartelse*
Christel is a Toronto based Performer, Storyteller, Writer, Director and Educator. As a performer she got her start in comedy and improv with the physical comedy duo, The Burnt Marshmallows (Canadian Comedy Award Nominees). She is most known for having created and written six award winning Solo Shows and has toured them all across Canada, the U.S. and the U.K. She is also the Co-Producer & Co-Host of the hit Toronto Storytelling Show “But That's Another Story” and has told her personal stories on stages all over. She was also awarded the 99 Second Story Grand Slam Winner title, an international story competition involving some of the best storytellers in the world. Christel is also the Co-Producer & Co-Host of the Variety Cabaret “Chris and Christel’s Collection” with George Brown Theatre Grad, Christopher Sawchyn, showcasing some of Toronto’s top talent. She is a sought after Instructor/Director and Coach, and teaches numerous workshops in improv, clown, physical comedy, solo creation, acting, storytelling around the city, and will also jump on a stage herself, any chance she gets.
She is a graduate of Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts, The Second City Education Program, and has also studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in NY. Christel has also studied under some top instructors, including French Master Clown, Philipe Gaulier, and Tony Award Winner, Bill Irwin, and several artists who have inspired her. She is also a certified Yoga Instructor. Currently, she is developing a new solo show.
Music Composed by Stephan Ermel, Lyrics by Stephan Ermel & the George Brown Class
Stephan Ermel is the vocal music instructor for George Brown and a music director, musician, actor and educator. He is the Resident Music Director of YES Theatre in Sudbury, a graduate of the George Brown Theatre School, and holds an Associate Diploma from the Royal Conservatory of Music.
George Brown: New World, Witch of Edmonton, It's Munsch Time; The Grand: Grow; Talk is Free: Sweeney Todd, Mahagonny Songspiel; Hart House: Legally Blonde; YES Theatre: Into the Woods, James and the Giant Peach, Mamma Mia, The Sound of Music, Merrily We Roll Along, Billy Elliot.
Creatives
Hannah MacMillan* - Stage Manager
Selected Credits: Stage Manager: Heroes of the Fourth Turning (Howland Company/Crows Theatre), Assistant Stage Manager: Little Shop of Horrors (Capitol Theatre), Book Assistant Stage Manager: A Wrinkle In Time (Stratford Festival), Assistant Stage Manager: Martyr (ARC), Stage Manager: New World (George Brown Theatre School), Assistant Stage Manager: 9-5 The Musical (Capitol Theatre), Stage Manager: Storybook Search Workshop (Bad Hats Theatre), Stage Manager: The Antipodes (Coal Mine Theatre), Apprentice Stage Manager: Gloria (ARC), Apprentice Stage Manager: Lady Sunrise (Factory Theatre), Production Stage Manager: Matilda (Mainstage Theatre Company), Apprentice Stage Manager: Reprint (Musical Stage Company), Apprentice Stage Manager: The Wolves (Howland Company/Crows Theatre), Apprentice Stage Manager: The Philosophers Wife (Paradigm Productions), Stage Manager: Dry Land (Cue 6) Stage Manager: PunkRock (Howland Company), Assistant Stage Manager: A Midsummer Night's Dream (Shakespeare in the Ruff).
Other: Hannah is a stage manager for musicals, dance and theatre. In her spare time she loves board games, ultimate frisbee and eating great food!
Glenn Davidson - Set Design
Siobhán Sleath - Lighting Design
Siobhan is happy to be back at George Brown Theatre to design Carnival of Munsch! She’s also worked with the School on Jane Eyre, New World, Witch of Edmonton, Cymbeline, Blood Wedding, The Learned Ladies, Caucasian Chalk Circle, Machinal, Calvalcade, Lady Windermere’s Fan and 5 Munsch Shows. Other recent shows include: Canoe (Unsettled Scores); Homes: A Refugee Story (Grand Theatre), Ann (Arkansas Rep Theatre); The Horse and His Boy, Wilde Tales (Shaw Festival); Miracle on 34th Street, A Year with Frog and Toad, Shrek and The Addams Family (Neptune Theatre); Steel City Gangster and On a First Name Basis (Theatre Aquarius) and Beau: The Musical (Adirondack Theatre Festival). More information can be found on her website: www.siobhansleathdesign.com
Sim Suzer — Costume Design
Recent Design Work: Recent Design Work: Costume Design and Associate Set Design for Everybody (Shaw Festival), Associate Costume Design for Three Women from Swatow (Tarragon Theatre), Set and Costume Design for Untamed (XU) Stratford Festival 2021: Assistant Set and Costume Design for Romeo and Juliet. Shaw Festival 2020: Assistant Costume Design for Gypsy, Assistant Set Design for Devil’s Disciple. Shaw Festival 2019: Assistant Set and Costume Design for Horse and His Boy, The Ladykillers, Victory, Holiday Inn. Design Work 2019: Costume Designer for Water Wonder (Carousel Players), Set and Costume Designer for Play House (Shaw Festival), Set and Costume Designer for The Subjection of Kezia and Poof! (Shaw Festival), Set and Costume Designer for Journey to the Greatest Gift (L’Arche Daybreak), Costume Designer for Good Morning, Viet Mom (Cahoots Theatre).
Scott Banks — Sound Design
Scott is a freelance production manager, technical director, and sound designer in the GTA. Scott attended the University of Waterloo, earning a Bachelor’s degree in technical theatre. Since those days, he has been around the world and back, working on cruise ships for 7 years in the production department. He has worked in the corporate and music sectors with companies such as PSAV, Freeman AV, Snap Hoek and PRG. His real love is theatre though, and he has been involved with various theatres around the country, from Watermark Theatre in PEI (Production Manager, Canada 300 national tour), to Manitoba Theatre for Young People in Winnipeg, MB (Interim Production Manager, 2013-2014 season) to 4th Line Theatre in Millbrook, ON (Production Manager). This is Scott’s 7th season with George Brown Theatre School, and he is happy to be back to help these young theatre artists as they grow and learn.
Cast
Featuring the second-year class of the P104 Theatre Arts Performance program:
- Aliyah Bourgeault
- Hannah Cheetham
- Madelyn Colantoni
- Cameron Cope
- Kiara "ValYa" Côté
- John Daniel
- Juan-Carlos Figueroa
- Aaron Ford
- Andi García
- James Gibson-Bray
- Parsa Hassanzadeh
- Charles Hunte
- Kieran Jensen
- G.P. Lattanzio
- Emmet Logue
- Julia Middleton
- Julie Pearson
- Iza Rincon
- Morgan Roy
- Mila Trichilo
- Kate Truong
- Gaby Villamizar
- Cy "Darkstar" Williams
- Alice Wu
Credits & Acknowledgements
Production Staff
- Properties Master: David Hoekstra
- Assistant Director: Emma Nelles
- Set Carpenter: Andy DeVries
- Set Painter: Paul Boddum
- Head of Wardrobe: Ina Kerklaan
- Wardrobe Assistant: Barbara Morrone-Sanchez
- Stitcher: Victoria Bruer
- Movement Coach: Suzanne Liska
- Voice Coach: Debora Joy
- Speech Coach: Michael Armstrong
- Choreographer: Bob McCollum
- Musical Coach: Stephan Ermel
- Social Media Coordinator: Misha Sharivker
Special thanks to our generous donors
- The William & Nona Heaslip Foundation
- Sonja Koerner and the Women’s Art Association
- Loretta Bogert-O’Brien
- Esther Farlinger
- Larry LaForet
- Audrey J. Murdoch
- Ray Wares
- Lu-Ju Chou
- George Brown Seniors’ Association
- Cindy Larable
- Debbie Read
Staff for George Brown Theatre
- Associate Dean: Trent Scherer
- Program Coordinator: Sue Miner
- Support Coordinator: Michael Longstaff
- Production Manager/Technical Director: Scott Banks
- Head of Wardrobe: Ina Kerklaan
Thank you to our friends in the community
- Jasmine Knox, Julia Carrano, Corey MacVicar and Soulpepper Theatre.
Based on the following books:
Andrew’s Loose Tooth Text copyright © 1998 by Bob Munsch Enterprises Ltd. Illustrations copyright © 1998 by Michael Martchenko.
All rights reserved. Published by Scholastic Canada Ltd.
Class Clown Text copyright © 2007 by Bob Munsch Enterprises Ltd. Illustrations copyright © 2007 by Michael Martchenko.
All rights reserved. Published by Scholastic Canada Ltd.
Jonathan Cleaned Up And Then He Heard A Sound Text copyright © 1981 by Bob Munsch Enterprises Ltd. Illustrations copyright © 1981 by Michael Martchenko; Published by Annick Press.
Moira’s Birthday © 1987 by Bob Munsch Enterprises Ltd; Illustrations copyright © 1987 by Michael Martchenko; published by Annick Press.
Purple Green and Yellow Text copyright © 1992 by Bob Munsch Enterprises Ltd. Illustrations copyright © 1992 by Helene Desputeaux; Published by Annick Press.
*The participation of these Artists is arranged by permission of the Canadian Actors’ Equity Association under the provisions of the Dance.Opera.Theatre Policy (DOT).
