We are proud to announce that two of our artists have been nominated for Jessie Richardson Awards for their work on our recent production - A Man For All Seasons.

Ron Reed has been nominated for "Outstanding Performance by an Actor in A Lead Role". Ron played the indefatigable Sir Thomas More, a man forced to choose between personal integrity and public duty.

Tracy Wright has been nominated for "Outstanding Costume Design". She successfully interpreted this 16th century story into a 21st century motif, picking up on director Jeremy Tow's parallels between Henry VIII's regime and modern fascism.

Congratulations Ron and Tracy!

The 2008 Jessie Richardson Awards take place in Vancouver on June 30, 2008.

MTC is excited to announce its second full production in conjunction with Pacific Theatre. A Man For All Seasons will run from January 25-February 15, 2008.

This modern masterpiece details the conflict that ultimately split England from the Catholic Church. King Henry VIII wants to divorce his barren wife; the only man who stands in his way is Sir Thomas More, the Chancellor of England. Can More stay true to his conscience and his God in the face of revolution... or even death?

Directed by Jeremy Tow, Artistic Director of the renowned Chemainus Theatre Festival, the show will feature many celebrated Vancouver actors including Ron Reed, William Samples, Dirk van Stralen, Julia Mackey, Adam Bergquist, Damon Calderwood and Evangela Dueck.

"This marks a huge step forward for us as a company," notes MTC's artistic producer Dan Amos, who founded the company with his wife last year, "it gives Erin and I a chance to let go of the reigns a bit and bring in a lot of other artists to collaborate, both on the artistic and production ends. It brings us a lot closer to the dream of a company that facilitiates the work of self-producing artists. And what a fantastic show for an incredible ensemble!"

The setting of the story will be updated to the mid 1940's for this production. Director Jeremy Tow hopes to draw more contemporary parallels to the 20th century monarchy in England. The play was written in the early 1960's and deals with many issues surrounding modern politics, morality and ultimately the conflict between personal conviction and public duty.

Review Vancouver (our best) - http://reviewvancouver.org/th_quarrel07.htm

The Vancouver Sun - http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/arts/story.html?id=105d4006-b440-4e91-a901-9e4a6f7de26e

The Georgia Straight - http://www.straight.com/article-69905/the-quarrel

The Calgary Herald (not a review, but a great preview of the Rosebud remount) - http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/story.html?id=82e2c61b-4468-421c-a569-2ec594351675&k=2133

Well, it's confirmed; MTC's highly acclaimed production of 'The Quarrel' will be going to Alberta this summer. Rosebud Theatre has signed on to host the production on its Studio Stage from July 11-August 25. For ticket info please visit www.rosebudtheatre.com, or check out the Rosebud page on our friends list.

Dan Amos and Nathan Schmidt will reprise their roles as two old friends, torn apart by the holocaust, and haunted by a shared need for redemption. The production will also include original designs by Stephen Waldschmidt (set) Luke Ertman (sound) and Erin Amos (costumes).

This marks an exciting experiment for Midnight Theatre Collective, who have been discussing the option of a larger, North American tour with several potential partners, including David Brandes and Morris Ertman. Brandes is the award-winning author of both the stage and screen versions of 'The Quarrel'. Ertman, in addition to being the director of the recent Vancouver production, is the Artistic Director of Rosebud Theatre and of Naked Soul Stories, a specialized touring company.

Eventual tour stops could include Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal and Los Angeles.

Remember you can engage with feedback and questions about "The Quarrel" at http://thequarrel.forumcircle.com

Last night we held a special talkback evening with the playwright, David Brandes. We had an incredible, warm reception, and an engaging discussion.

Thanks to all of our Jewish friends who attended, and who leant their encouragement and gratitude to Mr. Brandes and the cast.

Our director spoke a great deal with us about how the play lives in paradox... that each character has compelling arguments, and each of the arguments are true... each is also flawed. The most important element is that these two men attempt to live in that paradox - to sit on that park bench with each other, in spite of their bitter differences, because they're family.

One particularly moved gentleman spoke to me privately after the discussion. I did not get his name. I believe he is the same gentleman that revealed himself to Mr. Brandes as a 'survivor'. I could tell that he was having a difficult time accepting this idea of living in paradox. He said that it's fine for us to hold this paradox in our minds, but when it comes to our action, we have to fall on one side or another of the argument. His reaction highlighted for me the nature of Chaim and Hersh's struggle, rooted in intense, personal tragedy. It serves as a potent reminder that we can never take an intellectual stand without engaging the personal stories of those affected.

---Dan (Hersh Resseyner)

It is our goal to produce stories that engage the paradox of human experience. The image of midnight connotes both darkness and illuminating moonlight. Even though it is dark, there is light to be found. Even though it is the dead of night, it is the beginning of a new day. Good theatre takes an unflinching look at the world, at God, at love, humanity, etc; it often uncovers darkness, engages it, and uncovers hope.

A perfect example of such a story is our upcoming debut production of The Quarrel. It takes place in 1948. The turmoil of WWII continues when two childhood friends meet on a park bench in Montreal. In the wake of events that devastated their families, they struggle to find common ground—one has lost all faith in God, the other any hope in mankind. The Quarrel culminates in a journey of friendship and hope in the face of genocide.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Dec. 6, 2006

Media Contact: Julie Sutherland
604.731.5483

Atheism and Orthodoxy Lock Horns in
Pacific Theatre and Midnight Theatre Collective..s "The Quarrel",
by David Brandes and Joseph Telushkin

..At Sinai, God made a covenant with the Jewish people. At Auschwitz, he broke it...

IN SHORT: The sense of betrayal and despair following the holocaust is depicted in the unexpected rendezvous of two old friends who both survived death camps in Europe. One has lost all faith in God, the other any hope in mankind. The viciousness of their debate is only heightened by the ecstasy of their reunion. An engaging exploration of faith and friendship amidst a backdrop of deep anger and emotion.

Runs Jan 25-Feb 17. For tickets ($16-$32) call 604.731.5518 or pacifictheatre.org.

Rosh Hashanah. 1948. When two intelligent, traumatized men meet on a park bench in Montreal, the ensuing struggle is at turns tender and intense. Chaim has lost all his faith; Hersh radiates his bitterness with extreme religiosity. This dialogue-driven story of hope and friendship in the face of genocide offers an intellectually vigorous discourse of great minds struggling to find common ground.

Based on the short story, ..My Quarrel with Hersh Rasseyner.. by Chaim Grade, The Quarrel was made into a Genie-nominated Eli Cohen film in 1991. Pacific Theatre is proud to host Midnight Theatre Collective..s inaugural production of this Canadian premiere, directed by Morris Ertman, a recipient of nine Sterling Awards and a Dora Award for the Canadian Opera Company..s Beatrice et Benedict. Mr. Ertman has a long history with Pacific Theatre, having directed the critically acclaimed Espresso by Lucia Frangione, and the Jessie award winning Master Harold..And the Boys. Most recently he was nominated as Best Director for 2005..s Shadowlands.

Mr. Ertman will direct Pacific Theatre..s own Dan Amos, seen before in Halo, Shadowlands, Hamlet, and A Bright Particular Star. He is joined by Nathan Schmidt, a resident company member of Rosebud Theatre in Alberta, where he has featured in Voice of the Prairie, Cariboo Magi, and The Kite. The Quarrel features scenic design by Stephen Waldschmidt (A Bright Particular Star), stage management by Charlene Crawford (Broken), sound design by Luke Ertman (The Hungry Season), and lighting design by Graham Bedwell (Lilia!).

Pacific Theatre and Midnight Theatre Collective are delighted to present, for the first time in Canada, this play in which two men ultimately learn they are seeking the same redemption, but looking down different pathways to find it.

We are pleased to announce that David Brandes, the author of "The Quarrel", will be traveling to Vancouver from his home in Los Angeles for Opening Night, January 26. We hope David will participate in a talkback on Saturday, January 27. Details to follow.