The Cultch is thrilled to present The Boy in the Moon, from Neworld Theatre, in partnership with Rare Disease Foundation, March 31 – April 11, 2020, at the Historic Theatre.
Written by Emil Sher, and based on Canadian journalist Ian Brown’s memoir of life with his son, The Boy in the Moon tells a deeply moving story about a family raising a child with a severe disability. Ian and Johanna Schneller’s son, Walker, was born with a rare genetic disorder, Cardiofaciocutaneous (CFC) syndrome. It made him unable to talk, eat properly, or take care of himself. The family must face complex issues most of us do our very best to avoid.
Collaboration is so key to Neworld Theatre, that their motto is “plays well with others.” They are known for creating unique and honest shows that do not shy away from the hard questions, and have created close to 50 productions in the last ten years. For The Boy in the Moon they have partnered with Rare Disease Foundation to introduce us to a Canadian family with something to share with us all. “This is a unique project in that the idea came to us from our community partner, the Rare Disease Foundation,” say Neworld’s Chelsea Haberlin. “Bill McKellin, a board member at the Rare Disease Foundation and the father of a daughter with a rare disease, first became aware of this play when it was originally produced in Ottawa. He contacted Sasa Brown and Stephen Drover who are both intimately involved in the theatre community and have a son with a rare disease. It was through this connection that Bill found his way to us.”
Directed by the award-winning director, and Artistic Director of Neworld, Chelsea Haberlin, The Boy in the Moon will feature Neworld’s Senior Artist, award-winner, Marcus Youssef as Ian Brown, Meghan Gardiner, as Johanna Schneller, and Parmiss Sehat as Hayley—Ian and Joanna’s daughter. “What I love about this play is that it is a deeply intimate, deeply personal story of a family dealing with a not a completely unique situation—but a pretty extraordinary situation—raising their beloved son who can't communicate verbally, and barely physically,” says Youssef. “And the play doesn't shy away from their extraordinary challenges.”
WHEN:
Mar 31, 7:30PM: Preview
Apr 1, 7:30PM: Opening
Apr 2–4, 7–11, 7:30PM
Apr 5, 2PM: Relaxed Performance
Apr 11, 2PM: Vocal Eye Performance
Pre-show Conversations with the Playwright*: Mar 31 & Apr 3, 6:30 to 7:15PM
Post-Show Artist Talkbacks will follow every performance
Emotional Support Workers will be available in the Founders Lounge during every performance
WHERE: Historic Theatre, 1895 Venables
TICKETS: Tickets from $26. Single tickets on sale now through The Cultch’s Box Office: 604-251-1363 or tickets.thecultch.com.
Photo by Matt Reznek
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