Jonah: Live at Sydenham Street United & Casting Call

Jonah

Sydenham Street United Church is looking forward to hosting Canadian
environmental composer R. Murray Schafer. On April 17th, the youth group Many
Gifts One Spirit is presenting the composer’s musical play, Jonah.
Jonah is a musical based on the well‐known bible story of a man named Jonah who is
running from God, from responsibility, from what he knows to be true in his heart.
The play is an intergenerational effort, with parts for men and women as well as
children. Jonah will be presented in the magnificent sanctuary of SSUC on Saturday
evening, April 17. Artistic direction will be by the composer: Murray Schafer will
meet the cast in mid‐February (date to be confirmed) to discuss his vision of the
play. He will entrust weekly rehearsal to artistic director Sarah Gibson Bray and
musical director Marie Anderson. Schafer will be present in the final week of
production to add his unique creative spirit to the production. This is a Sydenham
Street United Church endeavor and we are welcoming anyone who is interested in
exploring the Jonah story. Solo roles and chorus parts are available for youth, ages
nine and up, and adults. Any children ages four to eight who are involved in the
Sunday morning Many Gifts One Spirit will also be involved. There will be a limited
number of spaces available. Enthusiasm, willingness to take direction, and creative
openness are more important than previous dramatic and musical experience. This
is a rare opportunity to work with Canada’s renowned composer R. Murray Schafer.
The Canadian Music Center quoted Yehudi Menuhin who spoke of Schafer saying,
“His strong, benevolent, and highly original imagination and intellect, a dynamic power
whose manifold personal expressions and aspirations are in total accord with the urgent
needs and dreams of humanity today.”

Mr. Schafer will meet the cast to discuss the presentation on Sunday, February 20 at
2 pm. Rehearsals begin on Saturday morning, March 6 and continue every Saturday
until the production. For information, call Marie Anderson, 613‐531‐0814 or email
m.annendale@gmail.com.

Casting Call

For Singers, Actors
By R. Murray Schafer
With Composer R. Murray Schafer
Sunday, February 21 at Sydenham St. United Church, 2:30 pm
Director: Sarah Gibson Bray Musical Director: Marie Anderson
Performance Date: Saturday, April 17, 2010
♫
This is an intergenerational musical play with parts
for men, women and children.
For information phone Marie Anderson 613-531-0814 or
Sydenham Street United Church 613-546-9616