Message from the Dramaturge Fiorgio Minelli
Lorca wrote Blood Wedding (Bodas de sangre) in a creative burst of only two weeks in 1933, but its gestation was a long five years.He had been mulling the idea since 1928, when the Heraldo de Madrid ran the story of a crime in Níjar (Andalucía) about a bride who moments before her wedding ran off with her cousin. A masked man went after them and shot the offending “abductor.” In its sequels to the story the Heraldo spoke of the tragic consequences which the elopement had unleashed: a death, a case of madness, a grave illness, and the devastating pain of three families. Lorca was so intrigued by the event and the circumstances surrounding it, that he remembered and embroidered a number of its details in the play. But Lorca is no mere chronicler. He fuses with the story elements derived from his wide reading and from the rich fund of popular lore—for which Andalusia is renowned—to create a powerful drama which is nothing less than “poetry that becomes human” (his definition of drama). Through the use of archetypes and expressionistic techniques, Lorca raises the particular and transitory to the level of the universal and ever-lasting. He “transmutes personal destiny into the destiny of mankind.” (Jung) The events of Níjar become an exploration and dramatization of the force of passionate feelings and their relationship with death. As the conflict between the social fact of marriage and the impending irruption of anarchic instinct sharpens, the apparent inseparability of passion and death comes into focus. By Act III, the forces of death—which had been looming in the background in guises of archetypal symbols and metaphors—literally take possession of the stage to consummate the tragedy. But the tragedy is not of those who die, but of the three women left standing, especially the mother, whose obsessive desire for “life” and the continuity of her bloodline precipitates the events that will extinguish it.

CAST BIOGRAPHIES

Dennis Andres (Léonardo):
Dennis has acted in Hamilton Players' Guild production of Moon Over Buffalo in which he played the role of Howard.  He has also taken acting classes with Theatre Aquarius, and studied as well as performed theatre productions at Cathedral High School from which he graduated in 06.  Dennis would like to thank the director Mike for this great opportunity...Ryan for all his hard work and patience with me...as well as the rest of the crew and cast for this memorable and fun time...and last but certainly not least the audience that comes and supports friends, family, and theatre.

Austin Beattie (Youth):
Austin has been working with V.T. for three seasons now, working backstage, on lighting and sound and recently, acting in small roles. Austin has enjoyed working at V.T. with everyone involved, and hopes to continue for many years to come.

Lana Borsellino (Mother-in-Law):
Lana received her Honors B.A. in Dramatic Arts from McMaster University.  When she is not teaching High School at Holy Trinity in Oakville, she is having a blast honing her acting skills.  Past credits include Kate in Brighton Beach Memoirs, and Beth in Yesteryear, both for the Oakville Drama Series.  She honored to be working with Michael and Lisbie and the wonderful cast and crew they have gathered for this production.

Ada Cermeno (Dancer, Girl, Choreographer):
Ada was born in Maracay, Venezuela in 1981. She came to Canada in 2002 to finish her undergraduate studies, and is currently in the Political Science program at McMaster University. Dancing is one of her major passions, she got started with classical ballet at the age of 3. Growing up, she was exposed to Latin American and Caribbean rhythms like salsa, meregue, tambor. In Venezuela, a former Spanish colony, Flamenco is very popular because it links them to their past. She started formal Flamenco education in 2000 in Caracas, and joined the Hamilton Conservatory for the Arts on 2005. She has also taken belly dance and hip hop classes but flamenco is her true passion. She enjoys sharing this passion with others and has recently started teaching Classical Spanish Dance, a great satisfaction for her. She was discovered by the Village Theatre through our friends from The Ups Store in Waterdown, Rosalina and Luis. Being the first time she has been involved with theatre, she sees this experience as a challenge but is enjoying it immensely, and is really looking forward to it.


Kerry Corrigan (Servant):
So far, Mike Rae has cast Kerry as a chambermaid (Flea in her Ear), a cleaning lady (Cott in Extremis), a country wench (As You Like It), a neurotic housewife (Whose Afraid of Virginia Woolf?) and a landlady (A Streetcar Named Desire). As a result, Kerry has abandoned any hope of ever rising above the lower-middle-class. Kerry is thrilled to finally be on the stage with Jen, and she would like to dedicate her performance to her own "bride", her beautiful daughter Sally, and Sally's fiancé, Lindy.

Marie Franek (Death):
Marie is quite honoured to represent the character of Death. It leads her into the supernatural sphere where in her long career of community acting, she has not yet explored. It also ties in nicely with her current interest in puppetry where the puppeteer's hand just moves the strings...


Jen Graham (Bride):
Jen Graham is one again tickled pink to be a part of the very talented cast + crew here at VT. She sends her warmest regards to all of the souls who supported her through the rehearsal process... especially Trevor, who ate dinner at 11:00 pm three nights a week.

Bernette Kay (Moon):
This is Bernette's fourth production at Village Theatre, having multiplied her talents appearing in Arabian Nights, designing costumes for Suburban Motel, and choreography for Beauty and the Beast. Bernette has been involved in community theatre since her teens and studied dance and choreography at the University of Western. She is very excited to be back on stage to dance and act. "Thank you to the great Nora Desmond for my inspiration in preparing for the role as the moon."

Kelly Kimpton (Mother):
After a four year absence, Kelly is thrilled to be back in Waterdown. Some of her past VT productions include Peagen Mike, Playboy of the Western World, Stella, A Streetcar Named Desire and Elizabeth, Escape from Happiness. She wants to thank Evan & Myles for all their "mother motivation" and Mike for bringing her out of retirement!

Julia Kossowski (Girl):
A recent graduate, Julia co-starred in several productions featuring Canadian comedic playwrights through her undergrad.  Her most challenging lead role was Val in a department production of Sally Clark's WASPS.  A former ballet dancer, Julia also acted and danced in the 2006 New Directions festival of short plays at the University of Waterloo.

Rebecca Lamarche (Girl):
Rebecca has been interested in the arts since she was a young child. Playing the violin from the age of five, the trombone, flute and very little guitar, Rebecca is very musically inclined and has been on many school bands/orchestras. She is very interested in singing and has been in choirs, stage choirs and done solo performances for her school. Rebecca is currently starting a band with some friends.


Adriana Lanza (Dancer):
Adriana is from Argentina, and in her country she performed several of Garcia Lorca's plays such as The House of Bernarda Alba, Rosita the Single Lady and Yerma. Here in Canada she performed  the nurse in Romeo and Juliet for Hamilton Urban Theatre, she participated in Evita for Brushstroke Production and she runs The Global Academy of Arts where she directs and produces her own shows with her students.


Michael Mavin (Woodcutter):
Michael is twittering with ecstatic excitement to be involved in his third production at Village Theatre. His most recent performances at other venues include Fault Lines at McMaster University and Making Light of Darkness at the Summer Drama Festival. Michael loves life, acting and donations towards his poor-amateur-actor-fund.


Tom Mays (Bridegroom):
Tom is pleased to be returning to the VT Stage. Previous experiences include Wynne in Beauty and the Beast (2006) and Stanley in Death of a Salesman (2003). Thanks to friends and family.

Anna Morreale (Little Girl):
Anna Morreale is enjoying her first time in theatre. She is 8 years old and attends grade 2 French Immersion at Earl Kitchener Public School. In her spare time she likes to attend classes in ballet, jazz and skating. She loves to sing and play with her friends.

Tony Nunes (Woodcutter):
Tony has enjoyed very much working with the wonderful cast and crew of Blood Wedding. This is his fourth time acting, all at Village Theatre. Previously he appeared in Arabian Nights (2005), Adult Entertainment (Suburban Motel) (2006) and Beauty and the Beast (2006). Olé!

Hedy Ross (Neighbour):
Hedy has been active in the theatre for 50 years in over 50 productions - drama, musicals, dinner theatre, film extra - from Gilbert + Sullivan to The Crucible to Feydeau's Flea in her Ear at V.T. She's delighted to be at the 'Village' once again.

George Sanford (Father):
George is thrilled to be working with Mike Rae again at Village Theatre. George previously performed in Ring around the Moon at Burlington Little Theatre and Village Theatre’s A Month in the Country and Playboy of the Western World. He has danced in The Nutcracker each year for the last eight. Between acting, stage managing musicals, teaching theatre and leading opera tours in Europe, his life is all about the arts. He wishes you all a pleasant and meaningful time as you watch, listen and feel, this particular Blood Wedding.

Gary Santucci (Guitarist, Musical Director):
Gary began his musical studies at the Royal Hamilton College of Music and subsequently moved to Spain where he studied classical guitar. After a lengthy teaching and performance career, Santucci founded Guitarreworks Music in 1999, to produce, record and distribute his original music for guitar and other instruments in collaboration with other performing artists.He has produced two CDs and has other projects in the works. Gary is the 2004 recipient of the City of Hamilton Arts Award for Music.

Hanneke Van Der Kley (Dancer):
Hanneke, originally from the Netherlands, came to Canada two and a half years ago, to work. Blood Wedding is the first play she has been involved in since school. Hanneke started Flamenco dancing back home and has continued here in Hamilton at the Conservatory for the Arts.

Allison Warwick (Wife):
Allison made her stage debut as the Grandmother in a first grade production of Little Red Riding Hood: The Musical, largely because none of the other six-year old girls wanted to play an old woman with an unidentifiable, possibly age-related illness. More recently she has participated in Hamilton Urban Theater's productions of Much Ado About Nothing and The Taming of the Shrew.

Andrew Wilgar (Youth, Woodcutter):
Andrew is a recent graduate of Wilfrid Laurier University. This is Andrew's first performance at the Waterdown Village Theatre. Prior to this Andrew was stage and assembly production co-ordinator and performer at school. Andrew's biggest role was "the coach" in Who's on First.

CREW BIOGRAPHIES

Michael Rae (Director):
In the early 70's Michael, with a small group got together to read Under Milkwood by Dylan Thomas and Village Theatre was born. It was a few years before VT produced Under Milkwood but its success encouraged us to try other poetic and challenging scripts. Edward Albee thought it was better to achieve modest success with a great play than greater success with a mediocre play. Michael agrees and finds that the rewards of exploring a classic are immense and feels privileged to have had to opportunity to do this with VT, particularly with Blood Wedding which is poetic and surreal in parts but unleashes elemental passions and supernatural forces such as that of the Moon and Death.
To be able to direct this play with accomplished friends and experience the freshness of newcomers is a memorable experience. The commitment of the cast and crew inspires creativity and makes directing very exciting. What more could I ask for? - Michael

Mary-Jane Russell (Producer):
Mary-Jane has recently become involved with VT. She played the Beast's mother in Beauty and The Beast last season and she is the producer for this fabulous production of Blood Wedding. She is delighted to be involved with Michael and Lisbie Rae productions as they bring so much professionalism and fun to each play they direct. MJ, primarily a musician, recently moved to this area where she owns a small record production house with her partner.

Helena Adamczyk (Costume Design):
Helena has delighted audiences onstage at Village Theatre in a number of diverse artistic endeavours, including Love for Love, Cabaret25, The Tempest, Escape from Happiness, The Mystery of the Oak Island Treasure, We Won't Pay! We Won't Pay!, and A Streetcar Named Desire. The cast of Blood Wedding is amazed and humbled by the scope of Helena's talents, and the depth of her commitment to the gigantic task of dressing all 22 of them in rural Spanish garb from the beginning of the last century. Kudos also to her trusty sidekick, Brenda Becker.

Ryan Strauss (Stage Manager):
Ryan has been involved with Village Theatre for the past three years working in several different positions from Stage Manager to Producer and Technical Coordinator. He's been thrilled to work with Michael Rae again, as well as the amazingly talented cast and crew. He wants to express his gratitude to ASM Janet McNally for her fantastic work throughout the process, as well as his friends and family for their support and patience!

Janet McNally (ASM):
From the best seat in the house to no seat at all: Janet is excited to be taking  a backstage position for Blood Wedding, after stage managing Playboy of the Western World and Memory of Water at VT. She is enjoying working on Lorca’s intriguing play with such a large, talented and particularly patient cast.

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Mary Westall (Lobby Designer/Set Furnishing/Scenic Art):
Mary studied fine art at the University of Toronto, Claude Watson School for the Arts, and most importantly in heated discussions of european youth in her native Greece. For the last twelve years, environmental and social issues, woven around being at home with her three children, have inspired Mary to work in ways not related to art. Now with theatre work she finds great reason to create live art performances in a world filled with electronic art recordings.