The Realistic Joneses is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc.
www.concordtheatricals.com
Original Broadway Production Produced by Jeffrey Richards, Jerry Frankel, Jam Theatricals, Stacey Mindich, Susan Gallin, Mary Lu Roffe, Andy Sandberg, Scott M. Delman, William Berlind, Caiola Productions, CandyWendyJamie Productions, Amy Danis & Mark Johannes, Finn Moellenberg Productions, Angelina Fiordellisi, Jay Franke, Gesso Productions, Grimaldi Astrachan Hello
Entertainment, Meg Herman, Mara Smigel Rutter Productions, KM-R&D, Will Trice.
In association with Yale Repertory Theatre The Realistic Joneses was commissioned by and premiered at Yale Repertory Theatre: James Bundy, Artistic Director; Victoria Nolan, Managing Director
Walterdale Theatre acknowledges that our theatre is located on Treaty 6, a traditional territory of the Cree and has been an important trading place of the Saulteaux, Blackfoot, Nakota Sioux, Dene, Saulteau, and Métis peoples of western Canada for many thousands of years. We also recognize and honour that we are Treaty people and therefore seek to uphold the spirit and intent of this Treaty of Peace and Friendship.
Walterdale Mission Statement
We are an Edmonton-based community theatre committed to the production of engaging and vibrant works and providing our member volunteers opportunities to participate in all aspects of theatre production.
Want to get involved with Walterdale?
Have you ever wanted to try your hand at stage management, acting, directing, or even media relations in theatre?
Walterdale Theatre has been successfully run by its volunteers for over 60 years now, and we invite you to join our team. Whether you can donate a few hours or a few seasons, we are always looking for new volunteers to help grow our theatre.
The best way to get involved at Walterdale is to become a member today! You will receive news about shows, special events, opportunities to volunteer or audition, and discounts on tickets.
For more information about joining Walterdale, go to our website at www.walterdaletheatre.com, e-mail us at walterph@telus.net, or call us at 780-439-3058. We will get back to you!
Walterdale’s COVID Protocols During the Performance
- Keep your masks on at all times in the building
- Follow all instructions from our Front-Of-House volunteers
- Enjoy the show!
For more information regarding Walterdale’s COVID-19 response, please click here.
Dramatis Personae
| Zack Siezmagraff | Bob Jones |
| Colleen Allen | Jennifer Jones |
| Christoff Lundgren | John Jones |
| Brooke Hodgson | Pony Jones |
Production Team
| John Anderson | Director |
| Megan Reti | Costume Designer |
| Sarah Spicer | Intimacy Choreographer |
| Richard Hatfield | Lighting Designer |
| Joan Hawkins | Set Designer & Master Painter |
| Shawn Pallier | Sound Designer |
| Anne Marie Szucs | Mentor Director |
| Cinnamon Stacey | Production Manager |
| Justine Makowecki | Stage Manager |
| Pierre Valois | Master Builder |
| Anthony Hunchak | Props Master |
| Lauren Gagnon | Assistant Stage Manager & Assistant Production Manager |
| Suanny Dugarte | Lighting Operator |
| Shannon Kerr | Sound Operator |
| Ken New | Build Crew |
| Aldrick Dugarte & Brad Melrose | Lighting Crew |
| Fay Fletcher & Mary Jane Kreisel | Paint Crew |
| Krista Lai | Poster Designer |
| Christine Gold & Ed Medeiros | Co-Directors of Publicity |
| Kahlan Oosterveld | Technical Advisor |
Director’s Notes
“We need funny material, nobody wants to watch something sad during COVID.”
Comedy is a powerful tool, when used with good intentions. During the Great Depression and World War Two, the Marx Brothers’ comedies provided escapism for a troubled audience. It was done in good faith to lift spirits in very hard times. The Realistic Joneses is sold as a comedy, but really it’s a drama about bad faith comedy, about the problems that can arise when comedy is used to mask anxiety and distract the joke’s recipient from expecting honest communication. As the play’s characters endure hardship, one of them grows more and more dependent on comedy as a form of emotional evasion.
Let’s be honest, on a macro level times are tough right now. Knowing that audiences wanted funny plays that could lift their spirits, I thought that if we’re going to do something funny, why not have it be about the psychology behind the impulse to defer to humour when times are tough. Only not on a global scale, but on a micro one, between a married couple. My hope is that this production of The Realistic Joneses makes Walterdale audiences smile and laugh, but that it also makes them consider what the play is demonstrating about the importance of communicating with one another, being emotionally honest, and allowing ourselves to heal. Especially right now.
The director does a lot of work on a show that they don’t get any credit for. However, the director also gets a lot of credit for the hard work done by others. In this show, the credit is all due to the strong team around me; so I would suggest you stop reading this self-important text and skip ahead to the bio section of this programme, if you want to read about the real talent and hard work behind this show. It has been such a joy to work with a team I have felt very privileged to be a part of. I was lucky to get a healthy mix of new members and Walterdale veterans for this production. For example, three of the actors in this cast are brand new to Walterdale audiences, while the fourth actor is a returning member from the theatre’s past shows. This is my first time directing and my Mentor Director, Artistic Director, and my cast and crew have all made it a wonderful and satisfying experience, thanks to their knowledge, talents, and collaborative spirits.
I would like to specifically thank Anne Marie Szucs, Kristen Finlay, Richard Hatfield, Cassandra Duval, and Joan and Alex Hawkins. About half of those names can be found in the crew list of this show, but the rest of them were involved indirectly, by regularly giving me valuable advice over long phone calls about whatever obstacle I was faced with that day. I have learned so much about the craft of theatre from this group of people during my eight years with Walterdale, and I’m grateful that I continue to learn from them and from many others.
John Anderson, Director
| Summary |
|---|
| Bob and Jennifer Jones are middle-aged and dissatisfied with their situation. Their young, new neighbors, John and Pony Jones, pretend to have a light and bubbly life. When these two couples meet, their interactions draw out topics none of them want to discuss, and they all discover they share more than just a last name. |
| Setting |
|---|
| A town near the Alberta Rocky Mountains |
| Run Time |
|---|
| 2 hours & 15 minutes, plus a 15 minute Intermission |
| Acknowledgments |
|---|
| Martin Bosma Kristen Finlay Scott Henderson & Henderson Images Larra Hunchak Raena Hunchak Megan Jordan Louise Mallory Andrew Parada |
Cast Biographies
Colleen Allen – Jennifer Jones
Colleen is as surprised as you are that she’s back on the stage after a <ahem> 30-year hiatus. Last seen as Mary Lennox is Stage Polaris’ The Secret Garden, she’s relieved to have this amazing cast and crew help her find her way around the stage.
Brooke Hodgson – Pony Jones
Brooke Hodgson (Pony) is excited to be a part of her first Walterdale Theatre production. Brooke, a graduate of the U of A, teaches and performs theatre in Edmonton. She is grateful to her friends and family for their love and support and would like to thank all those involved for this rewarding experience.
Christoff Lundgren – John Jones
Christoff is delighted to be working with such an amazing cast/crew in his first Walterdale production. An actor and comedian, Christoff has been performing for over twenty years and has appeared in recent productions of Tape, Some Girl(s) and principal roles in television shows such as Supernatural and The Flash.
Zack Siezmagraff – Bob Jones
This is Zack’s 4th Walterdale appearance, after A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine, Anything Goes!, and Boeing-Boeing. He was last seen on stage in East of Sixty’s Don’t Dress for Dinner. He is also an accomplished playwright, with his recent farce Other Duties as Assigned workshopped at Script Salon in 2021.
Production Team Biographies
John Anderson – Director
John is happy to be back in the theatre, working with his fellow theatre lovers and volunteers. This is his first time directing a show. Previous Walterdale credits include: The December Man, The Attic, the Pearls and Three Fine Girls, A Doll’s House, etc.
Suanny Dugarte – Lighting Operator
Suanny is excited to be working on her first Walterdale Theatre production. She has always loved the theatre and is thankful to the cast and crew for their excellent guidance throughout. She hopes you enjoy the show!
Lauren Gagnon – Assistant Stage Manager & Assistant Production Manager
Lauren (she/her) is grateful for the opportunity to be working with the Walterdale Theatre for her first ever production. She would like to thank everyone on the team for their support and guidance, and hopes that you enjoy the show!
Richard Hatfield – Lighting Designer
Richard has been designing lights as well as performing many other production activities since the ’90s. Most recently, Richard designed the lights for The December Man at Walterdale. Richard absolutely loves working with the many talented people at Walterdale and hopes you enjoy the show as much as he has enjoyed working with the team to prepare it for you.
Joan Heys Hawkins – Set Designer & Master Painter
Joan thanks John for giving her this opportunity to design the set for his directing debut. She also thanks the builders and scene painters for their creativity and enthusiasm. This is Joan’s 20th set design for Walterdale, and once again, the cast and production team have been wonderful colleagues.
Anthony Hunchak – Props Master
Anthony is a recent graduate of the University of Alberta’s Theatre Production program with interests including design, tech, and performance.
Previously at the Walterdale he has worked on Queen Milli of Galt, The Women, and A Doll’s House, and he is excited to be returning for this production.
Shannon Kerr – Sound Operator
Shannon is excited to be participating in this production, in the role of sound booth operator. Shannon is a graduate of Grant MacEwan and University of Toronto music programs (Jazz Vocal Performance). She performs as a solo performer and choral singer in the local music scene. During the day, she is a Speech-Language Pathologist specializing in voice therapy.
Justine Makowecki – Stage Manager
Justine graduated from Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo, BC last year with her Technical Theatre diploma. This is her first time stage managing in Edmonton and at Walterdale Theatre. She has always loved the arts and hopes y’all enjoy the show as much as she did working on it!
Shawn Pallier – Sound Designer
Shawn is pleased to be a part of his second behind-the-scenes experience with Walterdale Theatre, just a few years after his first work in sound design on The Attic, the Pearls and Three Fine Girls. Sometimes, he’s an actor, appearing many years ago as Dogberry in Much Ado About Nothing.
Megan Reti – Costume Designer
The Realistic Joneses is Megan’s third show with Walterdale. She previously designed for Silent Sky and Copenhagen. She currently attends the University of Alberta pursuing a Juris Doctor degree and appreciates the break from her studies to use the creative side of her brain.
Sarah Spicer (she/her) – Intimacy Choreographer
Sarah is a graduate of Rosebud School of the Arts and has been pursuing fight and intimacy choreography since moving back to Edmonton. She’s excited to have the opportunity to work with this team to bring this show to life!
Cinnamon Stacy (she/them) – Production Manager
This is Cinnamon’s first time acting as production manager. Cinnamon is thrilled to have had the opportunity to work with such an amazing production team and to have been able to learn from such an enormously talented group of people. She hopes you enjoy this beautiful show.
Pierre Valois – Master Builder
Pierre has been involved with Walterdale Theatre since building the set for Charlie Brown in 2009. Since then he has built sets, designed sets, trod the boards, operated lights and sound, and even had a stint on the Board of Directors. Many thanks to his spouse Parazanda for her support.
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WALTERDALE THANKS OUR PARTNERS AND SUPPORTERS
Public Funders
2021 – 2022 DONORS AND SUPPORTERS
Walterdale Theatre extends thanks to the generous support of local business, government grants, partners, and our patrons and members for their donations of time and funding. Without your support we could not continue.
We would especially like to thank all the subscribers, Flex Pass, and 6Pack ticket holders who donated the value of their tickets from the cancelled shows of the 2019-20 season to the theatre.
Benefactors ($1,000 plus)
The Cinders Fund at the Edmonton Community Foundation
Champions ($500-$999)
AbleIT Inc.
Anne Marie Szucs
Supporters ($100-$499)
Anonymous
Carole Barton
Michael Buhr
Joan and Alex Hawkins
Richard Hatfield
Paul Jankowski
Philip and M.J. Kreisel
Jennifer Kwan
Patricia Luxford
Shell Canada Limited
Sol Sigurdson
Julie Sinclair
Mike Harding & Don Zeman
Friends ($50-$99)
Sally Hunt
Donors ($49 and under)
Vivian Binnema
Player’s Endowment Fund ($200 plus)
5@50 – Cast and Production Team
Copenhagen – Cast and Production Team
The 39 Steps – Cast and Production Team
The Realistic Joneses – Cast and Production Team
If you would like to be a part of the Walterdale Theatre family of sponsors, contact our Administrator by e-mail or phone the theatre at 780-439-3058.
| WALTERDALE THEATRE ASSOCIATES Is a Canadian Registered Charity, and will provide you with an income tax receipt for any donation over $20.00 you wish to make. Thank you to everyone who supports our theatre! |
A Brief History of Walterdale Theatre and Building
Walterdale is one of the longest running community theatres in Canada.
Walterdale Theatre Associates traces its beginnings to Theatre Associates, who produced their first plays (Lady Audley’s Secret and Out of the Frying Pan) in August 1958, playing in the Jubilee Auditorium social room. Before finding its home in the current Fire Hall, there have been two other Walterdale Theatres. The first was an old school on the Walterdale flats (Kinsmen Fieldhouse area), hence our name. The second was a former service men’s club house, which was later demolished for Kingsway Garden Mall.
Our current building was built in 1910 and was Strathcona Fire Hall #1. In 1912 it was re-numbered Edmonton #6 when the City of Strathcona amalgamated with the City of Edmonton. The bell tower houses the Strathcona “Town Bell”. It is topped by an octagonal belfry, covered by an octagonal roof. The tower was used to dry hoses (by hanging them up) after use. The stable (now set-building workshop) was designed to house nine horses.
The building ceased to be a working Fire Hall in 1954 and was used to store furniture. In 1974 Walterdale Theatre Associates took over the building and lovingly restored it, and converted the inside to a 145-seat theatre. The first play produced in this theatre was What the Butler Saw by Joe Orton, which opened November 12, 1974.
Major renovations were again carried out in 1993 (raising the roof and tying the building together with new beams) and in 2011 (new main floor washrooms, renewing the bricks and other major outside work).
Walterdale continues to keep our building updated and efficient, and have replaced the lighting instruments with LED lights, and the aging second floor furnaces with new high-efficiency units.
Walterdale Theatre Board of Directors 2021-2022
Executive
Artistic Director – Monica Roberts
President – Sally Hunt
Vice-President – Anne Marie Szucs
Treasurer – Wylee Johnston
Secretary – Jennifer Robinson
Past-President – Kristen M. Finlay
Directors
Building Director – Matthew Lindberg
Front-of-House Co-Directors – Alle DeMelo & Mary-Ellen Perley
Membership Director – Laura Eschak
Production Co-Directors – John Anderson & Louise Mallory
Public Relations Co-Directors – Christine Gold & Ed Medeiros
Technical Co-Directors – Richard Hatfield & Kahlan Oosterveld
Director at Large – Jay Sanni
Front of House Volunteers
Front of House Directors
Mary-Ellen Perley & Alle DeMelo
Front of House Committee Members
Volunteer Coordinator
Cinnamon Stacey
Box Office Manager
Anne Marie Szucs
Bar & Concession Manager
John Dolphin
A special and heartfelt thank you to all the wonderful volunteers for Front of House positions during the run of Copenhagen!
Alle DeMelo, Anne Marie Szucs, Anneliese Coutu, Carol Davidson, Christine Gold, Cinnamon Stacey, Dale Wilson, Dave Wolkowski, David Bodnar, Ed Medeiros, Erin Slobodian, Gloria Carr, Heidi Ryll, Jean Eaton, Jenn Robinson, Kelly Santarossa, Kristen Finlay, Lauren Gagnon, Mary-Ellen Perley, Michael Tilleard, Nicolle Lemay, Phil Zyp, Rob Cauti, Ruby Swekla, Selena DeMelo, Syrell Wilson, Violet Tilleard, Vivian Binnema, John Dolphin
