February 11, 2002 -

Ottawa -- The NAC English Theatre is delighted to be bringing Dorothy Dittrich's hip, funny, bittersweet musical to Ottawa audiences. A hit in Vancouver, Toronto and Victoria, and winner of three Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards, When We Were Singing has been playing to delighted audiences at Victoria's Belfry Theatre and will run in Ottawa from February 19 to March 2. When We Were Singing is in the NAC Studio, with evening performances beginning at 20:00, matinees on February 23 and March 2 at 14:00.

When We Were Singing captures a weekend in the lives of four thirty-something friends who are trying to get their lives together. Abby is a flamboyant actor who's ambivalent about her boyfriend -- until he decides to dump her; Jenny, a documentary producer, has just ended a ten-year lesbian relationship; Belinda stars in TV commercials and insists she's not an alcoholic; while Les, the women's confidant, is trying to avoid dealing with a devastating personal loss.

When We Were Singing is performed entirely in song, and as Jo Ledingham of the Vancouver Courier writes, "When We Were Singing [is] the kind of musical that could persuade those utterly disenchanted with the genre to give it another try." Similarly, Robert Mitchell, reviewing the musical for CBC Radio, Victoria, says "[i]f Gilbert and Sullivan were alive they would be in awe of [Dittrich]." Indeed, praise for Dittrich's music seems to be unanimous and her sensitivity to the issues with which the musical deals, has been noted: "[i]n only a handful of lines, Dittrich can poke fun at accepted rules of behaviour, trace the pain of a breakup or capture the anguish of losing a lover to AIDS." Vancouver Sun.

Dittrich herself is thrilled that the show is enjoying acclaim and a long life. Originally mounted in Vancouver, When We Were Singing enjoyed a successful run at Toronto's Buddies in Bad Times Theatre in 2000. Cast members from both the Vancouver and Toronto casts return to this new production, along with some new members. Dittrich not only wrote the piece, but performs in it too, joining the actors on stage as their piano accompanist, with bassist Joey Smith. She is delighted to be working with old friends Roy Surette and the actors whose performances helped to shape When We Were Singing, "[i]t's been a really interesting and fun way of bringing east and west together...and I love these people...what fun to keep working with them!"

Director Roy Surette is pleased to be directing this new production of When We Were Singing, after having first directed the musical in its debut at the Firehall Theatre in Vancouver in 1995. Surette recently told Victoria's Monday Magazine that "with two successful productions behind it, the idea to revive [When We Were Singing] was not to rework it, but to take [the characters] deeper into who they are and what they mean to each other." And that is precisely what this company has done.

When We Were Singing features the considerable vocal talents of Shannon Anderson, Marc Richard, Paula Wolfson and Alison Woolridge. These four seasoned actors have been praised for the calibre and energy of their performances. Robert Mitchell says of them that they "blend so well it's like listening to a Manhatten Transfer concert."

Set design for this production is by Brian Perchaluk, who has created a set in which four, IKEA-inspired pods represent the high-rise apartments in which the urban characters live. Costume Design is by Phillip Clarkson, Lighting Design by Alan Brodie, and choreography by Russell Kilde. The Dramaturg for the play is Carolyn Bell. When We Were Singing is stage-managed by Kate Stoneman.

Performance times and prices:
Monday to Thursday evenings @ 20:00 $25.00
Friday & Saturday evenings @ 20:00 $29.00
Saturday matinees @ 14:00 (Feb. 23 and Mar. 2) $25.00
Ticket prices include GST and Facility Fee where applicable.
The Facility Fee supports the maintenance of the National Arts Centre.

Tickets are available for purchase:
In person at the NAC Box Office (no service charges);
At all Ticketmaster outlets;
By telephone from Ticketmaster, (613) 755-1111;
Online through the Ticketmaster link on the NAC's Web site (www.nac-cna.ca).
A service charge applies on all purchases made through Ticketmaster.

FOR STUDENTS ONLY:
Last-minute "Live Rush Seat" tickets ($8.50 each) are available in limited quantities, on a first come, first served basis, after 16:00 on the day of performance for evening performances or two (2) hours before matinee performances. Get your Live Rush Seat tickets online at www.liverushnac.com or in person at the Live Rush Centre in the NAC Foyer, upon presentation of Live Rush Card and valid student I.D. Limit two Live Rush Seat tickets per performance per Live Rush Card.

Advance student tickets (50% off regular price) are available for purchase in person at the NAC Box Office only, on presentation of valid student I.D. Limit one advance ticket per performance per student I.D.

Information:
Laura Denker, Publicity & Media Relations Coordinator
(613) 947-7000, ext. 389
ldenker@nac-cna.ca

Digital photography: Production images from When We Were Singing will be available for download in digital format (JPEG) February 14 at www.nac-cna.ca/media/ Just follow the link to When We Were Singing