The Story

THE STORY: Bridget and Chris were approached to write The Winter’s Tale Project back in 2002. They loved musicals. Both had written a musical or two on their own at the point in their careers. The opportunity was an exciting venture, so they both agreed. They were commissioned by MacEwan College’s Theatre Arts Department to adapt this Shakespeare classic into a 22 person rock and roll show. They spend the entire winter season in Edmonton working on the appropriately named ‘Winter’s Tale’. Many read thru’s with Chris, Bridget and her husband Dave playing multiple characters later, the show neared completion. In April 2003, The Winter’s Tale Project opened for a sold out 6 day run as part of MacEwan’s Theatre Arts Season.

In the fall of 2003, Bridget and Chris met on a blustering fall day and decided to remount the production as an Equity Co-op, using half of the students that were in the production and half seasoned Equity professionals. On Febrauary 4 2004, The Winter’s Tale Project opened for a 10 day run at La Cite Francophone. A full cast recording was made during the run, and the script was then presented to a few colleges. Currently Red Deer College in Alberta has slated The Winter’s Tale Project for it’s 2007/2008 Season.

The co-op production garnered 4 Sterling Award Nominations and went on to win in all four categories including Best Musical Production, Best New Score and Best Independent Production.

One wintry day in 2006, Bridget phoned Chris and said ‘The New York Fringe…let’s go!’ Everyone said it’s too expensive, it’s too risky! Whatever! This is our plan: To present The Winter’s Tale at the FringeNYC this August. We are currently reworking the show, tweaking it, cutting it in places and reshaping the music. We are introducing a new ‘house’ quality to the music (one of the characters is a DJ) and Chris is currently hanging out with Shout Out Out Out Out’s DJ Nik 7 and trying to bring this new sound to the show. 

We are also taking with us Sheldon Elter and Farren Timoteo. Both are from Edmonton, both are incredible talents who represent the brilliance of our young musical theatre performers up here. Bridget and Chris also want to connect with Edmonton audiences on how the pursuit of our dreams in going. There will be incredible high’s and low’s as we journey to the big apple. Bridget and her husband/Co-Producer Dave Horak is currently creating a website that will have DAILY video feed of our ‘going-s on’’ in NYC. Daily rehearsals, confessionals, shots of NYC, ect. We are planning on casting the production in NEW YORK (as well as Sheldon and Farren) and are heading down in June to hold auditions. These auditions will also be available for on the website. In this day and age, the internet is an incredible means to connect people and document and share. It’s a phenomenal way to connect Edmonton audiences with Edmonton artists in every sense. 

Sheldon and Farren will be meeting a cast they’ve never worked with before and we have 10 days to put this magical celebration together. We will have a camera crew down there who will upload the video daily, as well will be getting footage for the final showing for Edmonton Audiences: A Documentary called The Winter’s Tale to be shown in December at Zeidler Hall in Edmonton. A true winters tale. A true winters dreamers tale!