World Premiere
Rubaboo
A Métis Cabaret with Andrea Menard
March 7 to March 25, 2023
Opening Night March 10
Spriet Stage
Written by Andrea Menard
Music by Andrea Menard and Robert Walsh
Co-Produced with Arts Club Theatre Company, Vancouver
Running Time: 90 minutes (no intermission)
Age Recommendation: 4+
Content Advisory: This production features songs and subject matter centering on topics of sexual abuse, sexual violence, and residential schools, which may be triggering for some individuals.
Title Sponsor
Upcoming Shows & Tickets
"A beautiful dream lives on. A hundred years of silence is broken today."
The Story
Derived from the Michif word for “leftovers stew” or “big pot,” Rubaboo will take audiences on an intimate, moving, and joyous musical journey – guided by powerhouse, Métis performer, Andrea Menard. An award-winning singer-songwriter and actor, Andrea’s lyrical voice and masterful story telling will envelop you into the beauty of Métis culture. Featuring the sounds of drums and guitar, this grand musical feast will include songs of reconciliation, unity, love, frustration, and resilience.
Enhance Your Experience
AfterWORDS
On Wednesday evenings, immediately after the performance, come up to the Drewlo Lounge for a brief guided discussion with Grand staff members, guest artists, and creative team members.
- March 8, 2023
With special guest artists, ANDREA MENARD and NATHEN ASWELL - March 15, 2023
With special guest artists, ANDREA MENARD and ROBERT WALSH - March 22, 2023
With special guest artists ROBERT WALSH and KAREN SHEPHERD
Creative Conversations
Enjoy stimulating discussion and hear insights into Grand productions with host James Stewart Reaney and special guests at Creative Conversations, offered pre-show in the Spriet Theatre.
- Wednesday, March 15, 2023
With host James Stewart Reaney and special guest, Summer Bressette – the Indigenous Cultural Consultant on Rubaboo. Please join us from 12-12:30pm for coffee, tea, cookies, and conversation pre-show in the Spriet Theatre.
From the Stage Door
“Expect your hearts to fill and your spirits to soar as Andrea Menard uses her wisdom, warmth, and formidable voice to take us all on a very personal journey in the world premiere of Rubaboo. It's a real honour to have Andrea here with us.” – Dennis Garnhum, Grand Theatre Artistic Director
The Cast
Andrea Menard
Andrea
Andrea Menard is an accomplished Métis singer/songwriter, actor, speaker, wellness trainer, retreat host, and the founder of the Sacred Feminine Learning Lodge. As seen in USA Today, Andrea is a top influencer in Feminine leadership and was named one of Women Executive Network’s (WXN) Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Award Winner in 2020. An advocate for rematriation and reconciliation, Andrea trains women to “Lead Like a Goddess” and helps all-gendered people to name, reclaim and embody the qualities of the Sacred Feminine. She is also the author of the Seeds from the Sacred Feminine Wisdom Cards, to be launched with Mango Publishing in 2022.
One of the stars of the up and coming CTV series, Sullivan’s Crossing, Andrea is a five-time Gemini-nominated actress, a 15-time music award winner, and was named ACTRA National’s Woman of the Year for 2021. She has released 4 award-winning albums, a symphony show, 2 television programs, and her TEDx Talk called “Silent No More” has reached over 128,000 views. Andrea has performed for royalty, prime ministers, governor-generals, residential school Survivors, families of the missing and murdered Indigenous Women, and even sang her song “Peace” to the world’s NATO generals.
Born in Manitoba, Andrea is a proud member of the Metis Nation of Canada. Her Metis family originates from St. Laurent, Manitoba, but settled in the interlakes region of Treaty 2 territory. She carries the name Skooteah Equahh, which means Fire Woman in Anishinaabemowin and the Nêhiyawêwin name Notigwew Yutin, which means Grandmother Wind. These names deeply inform Andrea’s work.
One of the stars of the up and coming CTV series, Sullivan’s Crossing, Andrea is a five-time Gemini-nominated actress, a 15-time music award winner, and was named ACTRA National’s Woman of the Year for 2021. She has released 4 award-winning albums, a symphony show, 2 television programs, and her TEDx Talk called “Silent No More” has reached over 128,000 views. Andrea has performed for royalty, prime ministers, governor-generals, residential school Survivors, families of the missing and murdered Indigenous Women, and even sang her song “Peace” to the world’s NATO generals.
Born in Manitoba, Andrea is a proud member of the Metis Nation of Canada. Her Metis family originates from St. Laurent, Manitoba, but settled in the interlakes region of Treaty 2 territory. She carries the name Skooteah Equahh, which means Fire Woman in Anishinaabemowin and the Nêhiyawêwin name Notigwew Yutin, which means Grandmother Wind. These names deeply inform Andrea’s work.
Nathen Aswell
Nathen
For the Grand Theatre: Debut.
Other: Graduate of the BFA Program (Specialization in Jazz Studies) at Concordia University. www.NathenAswell.com
Other: Graduate of the BFA Program (Specialization in Jazz Studies) at Concordia University. www.NathenAswell.com
Karen Shepherd
Karen
For the Grand Theatre: Debut.
Selected Credits: Violin/Viola: Jessica McMann Arts, Vancouver, BC; Violin: Regency Encounters, Pride and Prejudice Midsummer Ball, (Fairmont Empress, Victoria, BC); ProCoroCanada; Original Composition: “Before the West” (Emily’s West)
Film and T.V. Credits: Original Music: Nathaniel Hehir’s “The Stone Killer” (2020); Chehala Leonard’s “Living a Legacy” (2021).
Other: Currently an undergraduate student at Macewan University (Bachelor of Music in Jazz and Contemporary Popular Music, Composition Major)"
Selected Credits: Violin/Viola: Jessica McMann Arts, Vancouver, BC; Violin: Regency Encounters, Pride and Prejudice Midsummer Ball, (Fairmont Empress, Victoria, BC); ProCoroCanada; Original Composition: “Before the West” (Emily’s West)
Film and T.V. Credits: Original Music: Nathaniel Hehir’s “The Stone Killer” (2020); Chehala Leonard’s “Living a Legacy” (2021).
Other: Currently an undergraduate student at Macewan University (Bachelor of Music in Jazz and Contemporary Popular Music, Composition Major)"
Robert Walsh
Robert
For the Grand Theatre: Debut.
Theatre Credits (Selected): Music for Catalogue de Société (Le Petit Champlain); Music and Lyrics with Andrea Menard for Velvet Devil (Globe Theatre, Broadway Theatre, CBC Movie of the Week); Music, and Lyrics (with Marty Chan) for Forbidden Phoenix (Citadel Theatre, Lorraine Kimsaa Theatre, Manitoba Theatre for Young People, Gateway Theatre); Music and sound design for Circle Mirror Transformation (Shadow Theatre); La récolte (L’Unithéatre); Musical Director for The Comedy Company (Shadow Theatre); Many theatre and opera shows as a musician (Disney, ESO, Edmonton Opera).
Film & TV: Numerous songs placed in TV and film, original scores for films.
Other: Singer-songwriter, producer, educator, author. www.robertwalsh.ca
Theatre Credits (Selected): Music for Catalogue de Société (Le Petit Champlain); Music and Lyrics with Andrea Menard for Velvet Devil (Globe Theatre, Broadway Theatre, CBC Movie of the Week); Music, and Lyrics (with Marty Chan) for Forbidden Phoenix (Citadel Theatre, Lorraine Kimsaa Theatre, Manitoba Theatre for Young People, Gateway Theatre); Music and sound design for Circle Mirror Transformation (Shadow Theatre); La récolte (L’Unithéatre); Musical Director for The Comedy Company (Shadow Theatre); Many theatre and opera shows as a musician (Disney, ESO, Edmonton Opera).
Film & TV: Numerous songs placed in TV and film, original scores for films.
Other: Singer-songwriter, producer, educator, author. www.robertwalsh.ca
Creative Team
Alanis King
Director
For the Grand Theatre: Debut.
Theatre Credits (selected): As playwright – If Jesus Met Nanabush, The Tommy Prince Story, Born Buffalo, Two Spirits, Nawwwin Gamik, To Nooshenh. As director – Awowakii (Theatre Calgary).
Other: Odawa originally from the Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve on Manitoulin Island, Canada. NAC’s Indigenous Cities 2021.
Theatre Credits (selected): As playwright – If Jesus Met Nanabush, The Tommy Prince Story, Born Buffalo, Two Spirits, Nawwwin Gamik, To Nooshenh. As director – Awowakii (Theatre Calgary).
Other: Odawa originally from the Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve on Manitoulin Island, Canada. NAC’s Indigenous Cities 2021.
Robert Walsh
Music Director
For the Grand Theatre: Debut.
Theatre Credits (Selected): Music for Catalogue de Société (Le Petit Champlain); Music and Lyrics with Andrea Menard for Velvet Devil (Globe Theatre, Broadway Theatre, CBC Movie of the Week); Music, and Lyrics (with Marty Chan) for Forbidden Phoenix (Citadel Theatre, Lorraine Kimsaa Theatre, Manitoba Theatre for Young People, Gateway Theatre); Music and sound design for Circle Mirror Transformation (Shadow Theatre); La récolte (L’Unithéatre); Musical Director for The Comedy Company (Shadow Theatre); Many theatre and opera shows as a musician (Disney, ESO, Edmonton Opera).
Film & TV: Numerous songs placed in TV and film, original scores for films.
Other: Singer-songwriter, producer, educator, author. www.robertwalsh.ca
Theatre Credits (Selected): Music for Catalogue de Société (Le Petit Champlain); Music and Lyrics with Andrea Menard for Velvet Devil (Globe Theatre, Broadway Theatre, CBC Movie of the Week); Music, and Lyrics (with Marty Chan) for Forbidden Phoenix (Citadel Theatre, Lorraine Kimsaa Theatre, Manitoba Theatre for Young People, Gateway Theatre); Music and sound design for Circle Mirror Transformation (Shadow Theatre); La récolte (L’Unithéatre); Musical Director for The Comedy Company (Shadow Theatre); Many theatre and opera shows as a musician (Disney, ESO, Edmonton Opera).
Film & TV: Numerous songs placed in TV and film, original scores for films.
Other: Singer-songwriter, producer, educator, author. www.robertwalsh.ca
Cimmeron Meyer
Set Designer
For the Grand Theatre: Debut.
Theatre Credits (Selected): Pawakan (Akpik Theatre, Set); Kaasinooniks (Making Treaty 7, Set, Lighting, Projection); Iceland (Theatre Calgary, Lighting); The Unplugging (Gwaandak Theatre, Lighting); My Fair Lady: The Punk Version (Productive Obsession, Set, Lighting, Projections); Twelfth Night (Theatre Calgary, National Arts Centre, Lighting); Bakkahi (Stratford Festival, Lighting).
Film and TV Credits: Naughty to Nice (NFB, Old Trout Film Division, Associate Producer)
Other: Cimmeron would like to recognize that this design is a collaboration and reflection of the talents of First Nations artist Leah Dorian and is made manifest by the talents of resident scenic painting artists (Richard Lawler and Craig Guthrie). Graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada www.cimmeron.net
Theatre Credits (Selected): Pawakan (Akpik Theatre, Set); Kaasinooniks (Making Treaty 7, Set, Lighting, Projection); Iceland (Theatre Calgary, Lighting); The Unplugging (Gwaandak Theatre, Lighting); My Fair Lady: The Punk Version (Productive Obsession, Set, Lighting, Projections); Twelfth Night (Theatre Calgary, National Arts Centre, Lighting); Bakkahi (Stratford Festival, Lighting).
Film and TV Credits: Naughty to Nice (NFB, Old Trout Film Division, Associate Producer)
Other: Cimmeron would like to recognize that this design is a collaboration and reflection of the talents of First Nations artist Leah Dorian and is made manifest by the talents of resident scenic painting artists (Richard Lawler and Craig Guthrie). Graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada www.cimmeron.net
Samantha McCue
Costume Designer
For the Grand Theatre: Honour Beat.
Theatre Credits (Selected): The Breathing Hole (National Arts Centre); Where the Blood Mixes, Kamloopa (Soulpepper Theatre Company); The Herd (Citadel Theatre); Little Red Warrior and His Lawyer (The Belfry, Theatre Calgary); I Am William (Stratford Festival, co-design with Michelle Bohn).
Other: Graduate of the BFA Program at York University. www.sammccuedesign.com , Instagram: @sammccuedesign
Theatre Credits (Selected): The Breathing Hole (National Arts Centre); Where the Blood Mixes, Kamloopa (Soulpepper Theatre Company); The Herd (Citadel Theatre); Little Red Warrior and His Lawyer (The Belfry, Theatre Calgary); I Am William (Stratford Festival, co-design with Michelle Bohn).
Other: Graduate of the BFA Program at York University. www.sammccuedesign.com , Instagram: @sammccuedesign
Kimberly Purtell
Lighting Designer
For the Grand Theatre: Elf, Home for the Holidays, This London Life, Prom Queen The Musical.
Theatre Credits (Selected): Almost A Full Moon (Citadel Theatre); Dido and Aeneas (Opera Atelier); Indecent (Mirvish/Studio 180); Public Enemy (Canadian Stage); Uncle Vanya (Crow’s Theatre); Queen Goneril, King Lear (Soulpepper); Hamlet (Stratford Festival); Cyrano de Bergerac, Gaslight (Shaw Festival); The Barber of Seville (Vancouver Opera); Newsies (Arena Stage).
Other: Recipient of three Dora Mavor Moore Awards, the Pauline McGibbon Award, a Montreal English Theatre Award, and an Elizabeth Sterling Award. She is the Vice President of the Associated Designers of Canada.
Theatre Credits (Selected): Almost A Full Moon (Citadel Theatre); Dido and Aeneas (Opera Atelier); Indecent (Mirvish/Studio 180); Public Enemy (Canadian Stage); Uncle Vanya (Crow’s Theatre); Queen Goneril, King Lear (Soulpepper); Hamlet (Stratford Festival); Cyrano de Bergerac, Gaslight (Shaw Festival); The Barber of Seville (Vancouver Opera); Newsies (Arena Stage).
Other: Recipient of three Dora Mavor Moore Awards, the Pauline McGibbon Award, a Montreal English Theatre Award, and an Elizabeth Sterling Award. She is the Vice President of the Associated Designers of Canada.
Mary Jane Coomber
Sound Designer
For the Grand Theatre: Debut.
Theatre Credits (Selected): Me Love Bingo!, Hand to God, Thanks for Giving (Arts Club); My Little Tomato, In My Day (ZeeZee); Yaga, Kill Me Now (Touchstone); Oz, Ladies & Gentlemen Boys & Girls (Carousel); Maps of Utopia, White GIrls in Moccasins, The Explanation (Frank); Kindred, Forget About Tomorrow (Belfry).
Other: Graduate of the BFA Music Composition and BFA Theatre program at Simon Fraser University.
Theatre Credits (Selected): Me Love Bingo!, Hand to God, Thanks for Giving (Arts Club); My Little Tomato, In My Day (ZeeZee); Yaga, Kill Me Now (Touchstone); Oz, Ladies & Gentlemen Boys & Girls (Carousel); Maps of Utopia, White GIrls in Moccasins, The Explanation (Frank); Kindred, Forget About Tomorrow (Belfry).
Other: Graduate of the BFA Music Composition and BFA Theatre program at Simon Fraser University.
Kelly Luft
Stage Manager
For the Grand Theatre (Selected): Elf, Grow, Home For the Holidays, Grand Re:Opening Festival, Mary Poppins, Prom Queen, Chariots of Fire, A Christmas Carol (2017, 2018), Art, The Wizard of Oz (’16, ’09, ‘02).
Theatre Credits (Selected): Hamlet-911, A Festival Queerstory, The Front Page, The Komagata Maru Incident (Stratford Festival); The Sound of Music, Hairspray (Drayton Entertainment); Le Bal (Theatre Plus); Not Wanted on the Voyage (Canadian Stage Company); 2 years in London England’s West End.
Opera Credits (Selected): 12 seasons with Opera Lyra Ottawa, 10 seasons with Hawaii Opera Theatre, 7 seasons with Orchestra London and Opera Pacific Victoria, 16 seasons with Opera Hamilton / Opera Ontario, Wagner’s Ring Cycle - Götterdämmerung for the Canadian Opera Company, and Idomeneo for Opera Atelier.
Upcoming: Love's Labour's Lost (Stratford Festival)
Theatre Credits (Selected): Hamlet-911, A Festival Queerstory, The Front Page, The Komagata Maru Incident (Stratford Festival); The Sound of Music, Hairspray (Drayton Entertainment); Le Bal (Theatre Plus); Not Wanted on the Voyage (Canadian Stage Company); 2 years in London England’s West End.
Opera Credits (Selected): 12 seasons with Opera Lyra Ottawa, 10 seasons with Hawaii Opera Theatre, 7 seasons with Orchestra London and Opera Pacific Victoria, 16 seasons with Opera Hamilton / Opera Ontario, Wagner’s Ring Cycle - Götterdämmerung for the Canadian Opera Company, and Idomeneo for Opera Atelier.
Upcoming: Love's Labour's Lost (Stratford Festival)
Evan Ren
Assistant Stage Manager
For the Grand Theatre: Debut.
Theatre Credits (Selected): Cranked! the Remix (Greenthumb Theatre); Ride the Cyclone (Blue Bridge Theatre); Yellofever (Firehall Arts Center); ‘Da Kink in my hair (the Arts Club); Mary’s Wedding (Firehall Arts Center); East Van Panto: Alice in the wonderland (Theatre Replacement); Revolt, she said, Revolt again (UBC); Cariboo Magi (Far from the tree production); Guards at the Taj (SACHA); The Winter’s Tale (Carousel Theatre); Melville Boys (Vagabond players); The Drowsy Chaperone (TUTS).
Theatre Credits (Selected): Cranked! the Remix (Greenthumb Theatre); Ride the Cyclone (Blue Bridge Theatre); Yellofever (Firehall Arts Center); ‘Da Kink in my hair (the Arts Club); Mary’s Wedding (Firehall Arts Center); East Van Panto: Alice in the wonderland (Theatre Replacement); Revolt, she said, Revolt again (UBC); Cariboo Magi (Far from the tree production); Guards at the Taj (SACHA); The Winter’s Tale (Carousel Theatre); Melville Boys (Vagabond players); The Drowsy Chaperone (TUTS).
Summer Bressette
Indigenous Cultural Consultant
For the Grand Theatre: Grand Re-Opening Festival (Featured Artist/Curator); Honour Beat (Indigenous Cultural Consultant).
Theatre Credits (Selected): Love Song for the Thunderbirds (2021); “40 Seeds for 40 Seasons” Grant Recipient, Native Earth Performing Arts (2022).
Other: Master of Indigenous Education, Western University 2013, Bachelor of English, Western University 2001.
Theatre Credits (Selected): Love Song for the Thunderbirds (2021); “40 Seeds for 40 Seasons” Grant Recipient, Native Earth Performing Arts (2022).
Other: Master of Indigenous Education, Western University 2013, Bachelor of English, Western University 2001.
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