Inherit the Wind & Pulitzer Prize Winner at Segal Centre

The Segal Centre for Performing Arts
and
Ernst & Young
Present
INHERIT THE WIND
By Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee
Directed by Greg Kramer
October 18 to November 8, 2009

MONTREAL October 5, 2009 ’Äì The Segal Centre is proud to launch its new theatre season with Lawrence and Lee’Äôs Pulitzer Prize-nominated play, Inherit the Wind.

This thrilling courtroom drama was inspired by the famous ’ÄòScopes Monkey Trial’Äô of 1925 in Dayton, Tennessee where schoolteacher John Scopes was accused of violating a state law against teaching the theory of human evolution.

’ÄúLawrence and Lee wrote Inherit the Wind during the 1950s when Senator McCarthy was on the scene in the United States,’Äù said Bryna Wasserman, Artistic and Executive Director of the Segal Centre. ’ÄúThe play is a metaphor for the importance of intellectual freedom and the dangers of restricting free speech

’ÄúOur production will make a lasting impression on theatergoers’Äù, adds Wasserman. ’ÄúDirector Greg Kramer’Äôs brilliant choice of actors adds a unique dimension and depth to the play and Elli Bunton’Äôs imaginative set strives to bring the audience into the action of the play’Äù.

Costumes are by Susana Vera and lighting is by Robert Thomson. John Gilbert is the musical director.

The play stars Sean McCann (defence lawyer Henry Drummond) and David Francis (prosecutor Matthew Harrison Brady). McCann is one of Canada's most esteemed character actors and has been presented with or nominated for almost every major Canadian award in film, TV and theatre. Francis works equally in English and French in film, television, radio and theatre and has won Critics Choice Awards for both Sleuth and Passion Play at the Segal Centre.

In keeping with the Segal Centre’Äôs objective to enhance the theatregoing experience, we are pleased to announce that Pulitzer Prize recipient Edward Larson will lecture at Sunday @ the Segal on October 18, 2009 at 11am.

Professor Larson won the Pulitzer Prize for history for his book, Summer for the Gods: The Scopes Trial and America’Äôs Continuing Debate Over Science and Religion.

Larson is a professor at the Pepperdine University School of Law. He has addressed Inherit the Wind audiences in the United States, including Tony Randall’Äôs National Actors Theatre production on Broadway, and on the Showtime television version of the play with George C. Scott and Jack Lemmon. More recently, Larson’Äôs work was featured in the playbill for the 2007 Broadway revival of Inherit the Wind with Christopher Plummer and Brian Dennehy. Dennehy used Larson’Äôs book to prepare for his character.

Several scholars, scientists and theologians will attend Professor Larson’Äôs lecture at the Segal Centre, including renowned ethicist Margaret Somerville. Somerville is the Founding Director of the Centre for Medicine, Ethics and Law at McGill University.

This year marks the bicentenary of the birth of Charles Darwin and the 150th anniversary of his work, On the Origin of Species. The debate between Darwin’Äôs theory of evolution and creationism is as relevant today as it was in 1925.

CAST BIOS

Tyrone Benskin - Reverend Jeremiah Brown
Tyrone has appeared on some of Canada’Äôs most distinguished stages and in over 100 film and television projects. His most recent roles include: Joseph Boulogne in Le Code Noir (Black Theatre Workshop), an Alaskan in An Enemy of the People (Segal Centre), and Bob in the Hallmark production of The Christmas Choir. As the Artistic Director of Black Theatre Workshop and the National Vice-President of ACTRA, life is full!

Tamara Brown ’Äì Rachel Brown
When Tamara first walked through the doors of the Segal Centre it was to teach theatre classes at the Youth Institute. Four years later, she is thrilled to debut on the Segal stage and to work with this incredible team. Tamara’Äôs acting credits include: Blacks Don't Bowl and Harlem Duet (Black Theatre Workshop); and Lion in the Streets (Tableau D’ÄôHˆ¥te Theatre).’Ä®
Bill Corday ’Äì Elijah

Bill came to Montreal 40 years ago from Philadelphia, where he was a prominent director of dramas, musicals and operas. His work with the Rittenhouse Opera Society led to a position at The Academy of Vocal Arts teaching acting for opera. In Montreal he produced and directed at the Czarda Dinner Theater. As a screen actor he appeared in many films, including Nuremburg and Varian’Äôs War.

Bill Croft ’Äì Judge
Originally from Vancouver, Bill appeared on the hit television series’Äô McGyver, DaVinci’Äôs Inquest, X Files, Stargate and Andromeda. Movie credits include Legends of the Fall, Stakeout, Needful Things, It and Shoot to Kill. Bill spent six months in China filming Charge out of the Amazon, which won China’Äôs best picture in 2002. Bill recently performed in the Segal’Äôs production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.

Graham Cuthbertson ’Äì Tom Davenport
Graham is a graduate of Concordia University's Theatre department and a founding member of the SideMart Theatrical Grocery. SideMart's winter production of Haunted Hillbilly will run in the Segal Centre Studio this December and feature Juno-nominated musician Matthew Barber and an all-star Montreal ensemble. Haunted Hillbilly's workshop production won Graham the Best New Script award from Montreal Critics.

David Francis - Matthew Harrison Brady
An intrepid traveler, David’Äôs career has taken him throughout England and Europe, India and the South Atlantic, the U.S and Canada ’Äì most recently to Stratford for eight seasons. But nothing beats going to work on the metro. Home again, he’Äôs just finished Quartet (Hudson) and Truth and Treason (Teesri Duniya). David has a special affection for the Segal since appearing here in Sleuth and Passion Play.

Holly Gauthier Frankel ’Äì Mrs. Blair
Holly is thrilled to be at the Segal once again, last seen in their production, Houdini. A professional voice actor and singer for over 20 years, Holly can be heard in various cartoons, films and commercials. She also performs burlesque all over the world, teaches workshops, and is planning a cross-Canada tour with a one-woman burlesque extravaganza! Love and thanks to all!’Ä®

Karl Graboshas - Bertram Cates
A native Montrealer, Karl is thrilled to be back at the Segal (where he last performed in Death and Taxes) sharing the stage with this fine group of actors. A graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada (’Äô02) and Dawson’Äôs Professional Theatre Program (’Äô99), Karl’Äôs recent credits include roles in the series Durham County and the feature Beastly. Karl thanks his friends and family for their invaluable support.

Marcel Jeannin - E. K. Hornbeck
Segal credits: The Odd Couple, An Enemy of the People, The Diary of Anne Frank and Tuesdays with Morrie. Marcel has performed in various theatres across Canada, notably the National Arts Centre, the Great Canadian Theatre Company, the Stratford Festival, Theatre Columbus, the Globe Theatre in Regina, and the Centaur Theatre, where he will be seen next year in The Comedy of Errors.

Elan Kunin ’Äì Jesse Dunlop
Elan began his career at the Segal Centre with The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz in the breakout role of Duddy. He followed that with leading roles in Old Wicked Songs, On Second Ave, The Great Houdini, Pirates of Penzance, and several others. He is currently the Composer in Residence at the Segal where he is writing the upcoming production of The Jazz Singer and a new English musical.

Daniel Lillford ’Äì Mr. Meeker
Daniel has been an actor and playwright for 27 years, working in Australia and Canada.
He was last seen at the Segal in An Enemy of the People. Over 30 productions of his plays have been produced (garnering several awards) in Australia, Canada, the United States and Scotland. Daniel and his wife Rachel, who left Australia in 1997, live in Nova Scotia with their three sons.

Sean McCann - Henry Drummond
Sean is one of Canada's most esteemed character actors. He has been presented with or nominated for almost every major Canadian award in his long career in film, TV and theatre. His notable film and TV credits include: the Academy Award winning Chicago, Simon Birch, Tommy Boy, Naked Launch, Guilty as Sin, and the mini series The King Chronicle where he played the title role of MacKenzie King.

Leni Parker ’Äì Mrs. Brady
Leni has worked with numerous companies for the past 23 years. Her recent credits include Down From Heaven, Age of Arousal, The Baroness and The Pig, (MECCA for Best Production 2008), Life is a Dream, Isadora: Fabulist, Chapter Two, Assorted Candies (MECCA for Best Actress), Bye Bye Baby,Tout comme elle. Her TV and film credits include Earth: Final Conflict, Adam’Äôs Wall, Afterwards, and Orphan.

Glenn Roy ’Äì Storekeeper/Sillers
Glenn is very pleased to be appearing in his first production at the Segal Centre. Selected Montreal area productions: Brigit’Äôs Reel (Theatre Panache); The Eddy Cantor Story (Cameo Productions); Ethan Claymore, Melville Boys (Hudson Village Theatre West); Look Back In Anger, Juno and the Paycock, Oliver! (Centaur); Man of La Mancha, The Megantic Outlaw, Groucho, Loot, Mrs. Warren’Äôs Profession (Theatre Lac Brome).

Set Designer ELLI BUNTON
Costume Designer SUSANA VERA
Lighting Designer ROBERT THOMSON
Stage Manager TODD BRICKER
Assistant Stage Manager JEN JONES
Assistant Director CAITLIN MURPHY
Musical Director JOHN GILBERT

88.5 CBC Radio One proudly presents Sunday-@-the-Segal’Ä®
Sunday, October 18, 2009 - 11am. Admission is free.’Ä®
Lecturer: Pulitzer Prize recipient Edward Larson. Professor Larson won the Pulitzer Prize for history for his book Summer for the Gods: The Scopes Trial and America’Äôs Continuing Debate Over Science and Religion.

Monday Night Talkbacks ’Ä®
As usual following the play, some of the actors and/or designers will remain on stage to take questions from the audience. Monday Night Talkbacks provides an intimate opportunity for audiences to engage up close and personal with the personalities bringing first class professional English language theatre to Montreal.
Building audiences for the future

Everyone knows the importance of creating and fostering new theatre audiences. To this end, the Segal Centre is offering substantial savings for those under 30, providing an opportunity for full-time college and university students and young professionals to experience high quality theatre at an affordable price.

TICKETS INFORMATION
’Ä®’Ä®Run: ’Ä®October 18 to November 8, 2009’Ä®’Ä®
Previews: ’Ä®October 18 - 1:30 pm’Ä®
October 19-21 - 8:00 pm’Ä®’Ä®
Sunday-@-the-Segal: ’Ä®October 18 - 11:00 am
Performances: ’Ä®Monday - Thursday, 8:00 pm
’Ä®Saturday 8:30 pm’Ä®
Sunday 7:00 pm’Ä®’Ä®
Matinˆ©es: ’Ä®Wednesdays 1:00 pm’Ä®
Sundays 2:00 pm’Ä®’Ä®
Box Office: ’Ä®(514) 739-7944’Ä®’Ä®
Admission’Ä®(514) 790-1245’Ä®
www.admission.com’Ä®’Ä®’Ä®

Segal Centre for Performing Arts’Ä®
5170 Cˆ¥te Ste. Catherine Rd.