Beyonsea and the mothers
A NEW PLAY WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY TENEILE WARREN
JANUARY 29 - FEBRUARY 9, 2025
The Conrad Centre for the Performing Arts
Warnock MAcMillan Theatre
36 King St W, Kitchener, ON N2G 1A3
World Premiere
“This likkle plot here is an effort, a tribute, if you will, to blooming where you are planted”
(michael, beyonsea and the mothers)
A young girl named Beyonsea is sent to North America to join the mother she only knows through phone calls, barrels, and remittances.
Simone, Beyonsea's mother is a busy immigrant working two jobs.
Michael, their neighbour, who fled a Jamaican community, befriends Beyonsea and eventually introduces her to his alt persona, Melody Knowles.
Beyonsea and the Mothers tells the story of three Jamaicans who are brought together by circumstance in a place meant to give them second chances.
Production photos by Conan Stark (conanstark.com) featuring Chelsea Russell, Emerjade Simms, and Albert Williams.
“Beautifully written and directed
and acted by an ideal cast,
Beyonsea deserves the largest possible audience.”
— Christopher Hoile, Stage Door
WEEK 1:
Wednesday, January 29, 2025 | 7:00 PM (Private Event)
Thursday, January 30, 2025 | 7:00 PM (Opening Night)
Friday, January 31, 2025 | 7:00 PM
Saturday, February 1, 2025 | 7:00 PM
Sunday, February 2, 2025 | 4:00 PM (pay-what-you-can)
Show schedule
WEEK 2:
Wednesday, February 5, 2025 | 7:00 PM
Thursday, February 6, 2025 | 7:00 PM
Friday, February 7, 2025 | 7:00 PM
Saturday, February 8, 2025 | 7:00 PM
Sunday, February 9, 2025 | 4:00 PM (pay-what-you-can)
AUDIENCE NOTE: This play discusses Jamaican culture, queerness, blackness, being an immigrant, and features strained family relationships.
Recommended for Ages 12+ years.
RUNNING TIME: 120 minutes (plus a 20-min intermission).
Original artwork by Alana Decker
CAST
Chelsea Russell*
as Beyonsea
EMERJADE SIMMS*
as SIMONE
ALBERT WILLIAMS
as MICHAEL/MELODY
production team
playwright & Director
teneile warren
set & props designer
jung a im**
costume designer
des’ree gray**
sound designer
riel reddick-stevens
lighting designer
chris malkowski**
stage manager
kat chin*
apprentice stage manager
eloise fan
production management
THE creative co-op
Head of Props
Jack Meldrum
wardrobe assistant / drag consultant
Betty Baker / Isaac Maker
Movement Consultant KEVIN ORMSBY
Vocal Coach ANTONIO MICHAEL DOWNING
Dialect Coach CLIVE FORRESTER
Recording of an Original Arrangement of “Long Time Gal” T.MENTO
Vocals ANGELIQUE VOICES
Keyboard, arranger, music director KAREN CYRUS
Hand drum, claves SAM DONKOH
Guitar, banjito RAY LAZARUS
Rhumba box DERICK WATSON
*Appears courtesy of the Canadian Actors’ Equity Association
**Appears courtesy of the Associated Designers of Canada
Music Composition & Arrangements MICHAEL SEAN HARRIS
Lead Carpenter LEIGH MAULSON
Venue Technicians CATRINA ALBEE, JAMES AGATHOS, NOAH SNOW, RYAN DUNHAM, SERGE PHILLIPS
Scenic Painters SANDY MCQUEEN, MACKENZIE FLOOD
Producers CARIN LOWERISON & MATT WHITE
Associate Producer CIARÁN MYERS
Marketing Specialist JENNI GRANDFIELD
Coordinator & Front of House Manager STEVEN ELLIOTT JACKSON
NOTE: We thank ahdri zhina mandiela for her time and insights in the development of Beyonsea and the Mothers.
We had hoped ahdri would continue in this role for the production, however due to personal/production reasons,
ahdri relinquished the position of director at the end of November 2024.
THANK YOU to all of our Volunteer Crew!
Berkeley White, Beth Lanigan, Bethel Eshetu, Charlie Tang, Dawn Gill, Eleanor Peirce, Heidrun White, Isabelle Gosselin, Jess Carron, Katrina Robbins, Kez Vicario-Robinson, Kimberley Luu, Lily Gyamfi-Kumanini, Marion Grousop, Meg Schmidt, Phi Doan, Sam Varteniuk, Sarah Marsh, Steven McDonald, Susannah Schmidt, Tild Varteniuk, Wendy Michaud.
THANK YOU ALSO:
University of Waterloo Theatre and Performance program (for graciously lending us a plethora of PROPS)
The Registry Theatre (for providing doors for the SET)
City of Kitchener Downtown Development Team (for providing bistro sets for the SET)
City of Waterloo R.E.A.D.I. Team (for supporting Community Night “Kindah Night”)
Waterloo Region Community Foundation (for sponsoring $10 Youth Tickets)
Canadian Discount Appliances (for sponsoring a fridge in our SET)
Brock University Department of Dramatic Arts (for Gobos) and Bó Bárdos (for magicking Gobos to us)
NRG Lights, Serge Phillips, Laura Johnson-Sheratt (for lighting instruments)
Michael Sean Harris (for use of his composition and recording of "Dis Long Time Gyal")
Big Jerk (owner: Kevin Thomas)
Vanessa's Cuisine (owner: Vanessa Simon)
Andrew Kitt, Anne Michelle Doran and kids (for the kitchen chairs), Gerry Egan (Tarragon Theatre), GLA Board of Directors, Jim (Carpentry), Mona Vosberg, Rebecca Warren
With gratitude to our Funders
PRODUCTION SPONSORS
Special thanks to Waterloo Region Community Foundation for making it possible for GLA to offer subsidized youth tickets to performances of Beyonsea and the Mothers.
Special thanks for the generous support of the Theatre and Performance program at the University of Waterloo for all of the props and set dressings that make an appearance in our production.
