Segal Centre Presents CHILDREN OF GOD - Must-See Musical About Residential School System
By: A.A. Cristi Dec. 11, 2018
The Segal Centre for Performing Arts and Urban Ink are proud to be co-producing the Montreal premiere of the critically acclaimed Children of God. This important and stunning new Canadian musical will be playing in the Sylvan Adams Theatre from January 20 to February 10, 2019.
A work of immense beauty in music and story, Children of God is a powerful musical that has drawn national attention for its message of resilience and redemption. Children of God tells the story of an Oji-Cree family torn apart when the children are taken away to a residential school in Northern Ontario. In it, we meet Rita, a mother who was never let past the school's gate, and her kids, Tom and Julia, who never knew she came. In its fierce beauty and honesty, Children of God blends ancient traditions and contemporary realities, above all celebrating the resilience and power of the Indigenous cultural spirit. The Globe and Mail called Children of God "must-see theatre for Canadians." An important story of reconciliation, it connects us all as we strive to honour the past while moving forward together. Inspired by First Nations music, Corey Payette's profoundly moving score also includes echoes of provocative Broadway masterpieces such as Fun Home and Next to Normal.
Written and directed by Oji-Cree artist Corey Payette, the show was developed in collaboration with the English Theatre at the National Arts Centre. The show had its world premiere at the York Theatre (The Cultch) in Vancouver in May 2017 before moving to the National Arts Centre in Ottawa and the Citadel Theatre in Edmonton. After its run at the Segal Centre, the production will tour British Columbia.
"Musical theatre has the power to move us in beautiful and unexpected ways. Corey Payette's ingenious score not only makes us feel deep and lasting emotions, it raises the bar on the genre altogether. The end result is simply breathtaking," said Lisa Rubin, Artistic and Executive Director of the Segal Centre.
"This is theatre that resonates on a deep emotional level" - The Ottawa Citizen
Payette is the Artistic Director of Urban Ink Productions and founder of Raven Theatre in Vancouver. He has worked as a playwright, actor, composer, and director across Canada, with credits that include Moonlodge (Urban Ink), A Christmas Carol (National Arts Centre), and La Cage Aux Folles (Vancouver Playhouse).
This production features a cast predominantly made up of Indigenous performers, including Michelle St. John as Rita, Dillan Chiblow as Tom/Tommy, and Cheyenne Scott as Julia. The show features set and costume design by Marshall McMahen, original sound design by Kris Boyd, lighting design by Jeff Harrison, and orchestrations by Elliott Vaughan. Children of God was originally musically directed by Allen Cole; this production is musically directed by Montreal's David Terriault.
Tickets are on sale now at 514.739.7944 or at www.segalcentre.org.
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