The Spirit Garden: Spring Section.

Christine Unger | May 25–27, 2001 at the St. Norbert Arts Centre

The Spirit Garden by R. Murray Schafer, Composer
Director · Barry Karp
Set Designer · Jerrard Smith
Costume Designer · Diana Smith
Music Director · Rosemary Thomson
Assistant Director · Stephen Lawson
Choreographer · Casimiro Nhussi
Stage Manager · Paul Skirzyk

The St. Norbert proudly presents the wonderful production The Spirit Garden by R. Murray Schafer. This piece of extraordinary musical theatre has a little of everything and the St. Norbert Arts Centre with its beautiful gardens and spectacular ruins is an ideal setting for this all outdoor presentation. The centrepiece of the work is a functional garden designed by the composer together with Landscape Architect, Ted MacLachlan, and First Nations artist Mike MacDonald to reflect the cultural and ecological diversity arising from the many different groups of people who settled in this area. The project is designed to become an annual, community driven event, reawakening people’s connection to the deeply embedded rhythms of planting and harvest and its cross-cultural mythic significance. This production encompasses many disciplines: dance, orchestra, choir, opera, acting, audience participation and environmental activism.

Featuring

The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra
The Spirit Garden Chorus
Children’s Choirs:

  • Deborah McLeod: St. James-Assiniboia Divisional Concert Choir

  • Noreen Gafic: St. James-Assiniboia Divisional Children’s Choir

  • Carolyn Boyes: Winnipeg Boys Choir

  • Alicia Johnston and the SNAC Spirit Gardeners

Cast

Spring Child · Lisa Lindo

“Lisa Lindo is a wonderful singer and a powerful performer. She has a mesmerizing stage presence. — Stuart McLean
“A dynamite singer!” — Peterborough Examiner

Mistress of the Planting · Gloria May Eshkibok

Heirophant · David Watson

King · Brian Richardson

Dr. Humus · Stepehen Lawson

Gatekeeper · Iain Phillips (Sponsored by the Assembly of First Nations)

Cornmothers

  • Rosemary Van Der Hooft

  • Sylvia Richardson

  • Lois Lyons-Watson

Baloom · Louise W. May

Baloominians

  • Daina Leitold

  • Alvin Catacutan

  • Alicia Johnston

  • Christine Kennedy

  • Glen Hall

Scarecrows

  • Daina Leitold

  • Alvin Catacutan

Head Gardener · Mike MacDonald
Alicia Johnston and the Spirit Garden Gardeners

The Dancers

  • Alexandra Badger

  • Claire Marshall

  • Coral Aiken

  • Johanna Riley

  • Kyla Wallace

  • Michael Blais

  • Natasha Torres-Garner

  • Paula Blair

St. Norbert Arts Centre been using the presence of the wonderful artists in our production team to create a series of workshops for gifted children from four different Inner City schools. Each workshop teaches them to create elements of their own Spirit Garden and even create parts of the actual performance including some set pieces and songs for the volunteer gardeners to sing. They have been invited to attend a performance of the Spirit Garden as will different school groups from various parts of Manitoba. These workshops which are a part of our DepARTures series, will become the basis of a Spirit Garden curriculum which can be used anywhere to help children create their own Spirit Garden projects. A Special thanks to all the students and teachers from participating schools in the DepARTures Program: Victoria-Albert School, Sister MacNamara School, Mulvey School, Montrose School. This project sponsored by Healthy Child Initiative.

This production is being run as a membership drive to help us bring the community on board in support of the many wonderful events at the St. Norbert Arts Centre. SNAC is committed to bringing wonderful events such as the Spirit Garden, Music in the Ruins (August) and The Living Machine (our art and environment weekend July 13-15) to Manitoba, to providing unique arts education opportunities to young and old, as well as supporting Manitoban artists as they develop their careers Nationally and Internationally.

Spirit Garden Corporate Sponsors: Investors Group Ltd.

Special Thanks to: The Friends of the Spirit Garden, The Assembly of First Nations, Vercurt Rentals, The Dye House, Special-T Printers, The Winnipeg Contemporary School of Dance and many more.