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artistic director: Jean Grand-Maître
executive director: Martin Bragg

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Joni Mitchell's The Fiddle and The Drum (Touring)

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Touring Dates 2009 / 2010

  • Vernon: January 18, 2010 – 8 pm   Vernon Performing Arts Centre
  • Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad: January 22, 2010 – 8 pm  Through Ticketmaster
  • Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad: January 23, 2010 – 8 pm  Through Ticketmaster
  • Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad: January 24, 2010 – 2 pm  Through Ticketmaster
  • Victoria: January 27, 2010 – 8 pm The Royal Theatre
  • Victoria: January 28, 2010 – 8 pm The Royal Theatre
  • Nanaimo: January 30, 2010 – 8 pm  The Port Theatre
  • Seattle, WA: February 23, 2010   Paramount Theatre
  • Irvine, CA: February 25, 2010  Irvine Barclay Theatre
  • UCLA: February 26, 2010  Royce Hall UCLA
  • UCLA: February 27, 2010  Royce Hall UCLA

Introduction

Imagine the power and the beauty when two accomplished artists come together and create a unique, contemporary tableau of dance, art and music.

Legendary Canadian artist Joni Mitchell and internationally acclaimed choreographer Jean Grand-Maître have come together to collaborate on a special ballet that will speak volumes of Joni Mitchell's life-long concerns about environmental neglect and the warring nature of mankind.

This semi-abstract narrative ballet danced in neo-classical style is performed to 90 minutes of Mitchell's most relevant music. The dynamic stage, fully designed by Mitchell, will also include the first release of Mitchell's latest artwork, which will be projected on a large canvas screen during the ballet.

Alberta Ballet's athletic dancers will merge – through energetic and sensual movements – with Joni Mitchell's eclectic sound and visual art, and create a contemporary ballet that will awaken and stir the soul.

"As an artist creating today, quite frankly, I can see no other subject matter that is of more importance now. We need people to awaken to this reality."
Joni Mitchell, singer & song writer

"The creative process for Joni Mitchell’s The Fiddle and The Drum has renewed my faith in my relationship between art and life. Ms. Mitchell's selfless and gentle participation will most likely be the highlight of my entire career."
Jean Grand-Maître, Artistic Director & Choreographer

  • Choreographed by Jean Grand-Maître
  • Music by Joni Mitchell

Historical Timeline:

Joni Mitchell’s The Fiddle and the Drum World Premiere
Calgary, February 8th 2007

Calgary Film Festival, Screening of the film “The Fiddle and the Drum”
September 28th, 2007

Launch of the CD Shine
September 2007

Screening of the film "The Fiddle and The Drum"
Landmark Theatre, New York
September 2007

Woodstock Film Festival. Screening of the film "The Fiddle and The Drum"
October 10th, 2007

Bravo TV premiere of "The Fiddle and The Drum"
October 2007

Screening of "The Fiddle and The Drum" Bravo TV
January 2008

Joni Mitchell’s The Fiddle and The Drum wins Alberta Film and Television Award for Best Musical or Variety Special
April 26, 2008

Screening of the film "The Fiddle and The Drum" at the Canadian Consulate LA
March 13, 2008

Worldwide DVD Launch
May 2008

Screening of the film "The Fiddle and The Drum" at Rose d'Or Lucerne
May 2-6, 2008

Luminato Festival Toronto, performances of Joni Mitchell’s The Fiddle and The Drum
June 13-22, 2008

Performance in Banff: September 5, 2008

West Canadian Tour of Joni Mitchell’s The Fiddle and The Drum
Medicine Hat, Regina, Saskatoon and Lloydminster
January 2009

Calgary and Edmonton premiere of extended version of Joni Mitchell’s The Fiddle and The Drum
February 2009

United States Tour of Joni Mitchell’s The Fiddle and The Drum
January / February 2010

Reviews

Links:

Technical Rider
Alberta Ballet
The Fiddle and the Drum Production Rider

For technical information please contact:

Alberta Ballet
The Fiddle and the Drum Production Rider

For technical information please contact:

   * Mike Hessler
    * 403.245.4222 ext 540
    * mikeh@albertaballet.com

    * Harry Paterson
    * 403.245.4222 ext 524
    * harryp@albertaballet.com

Joni Mitchell’s The Fiddle and the Drum is a full length ballet performed to the music of Joni Mitchell.

Running Times

Act 1: 40 Mins, Intermission: 20 Mins, Act 2: 34 Mins
The house opens no earlier than one half hour prior to curtain.

Personnel

This show tours with the following production personnel: Head Carpenter, Head Electrician, 2nd  Electrician, 3rd Electrician, Head Props, Head Sound/Video, Head Wardrobe, Stage Manager and Technical/Lighting Director. Department heads and seconds are members of I.A.T.S.E (IA) and artistic staff including dancers and stage management are members of Canadian Actors Equity Association (CAEA). The Fiddle and the Drum is a Yellow Card show under IA jurisdiction.

The Fiddle and the Drum has a dancer company of 29 with an additional 4 artistic support staff.

Staging

  • Stage Size - Minimum Dancing Area of 44' wide x 30' deep with wings.
  • Stage Height - 26' to Border, electrics 28' - 30'. Upstage projection screen is 14' in diameter and bottom must be approx. 8'6 off the deck.
  • A groundplan and section of the theatre in Autocad DWG format is appreciated. A lineset schedule is required.
  • Scenery occupies 3 overhead linesets.
  • Use of house main drape is required. Guillotine preferred.
  • House Masking Requirement - Five Sets of black legs and borders in good condition.
  • Stage Surface - Must be smooth and level with wooden surface. Concrete is not acceptable. Wood laid directly on top of concrete is not acceptable. Wood floor on sleepers or something with similar give and pliability is required.  Ballet Stage Manager must give final approval to floor surface. If floor surface is deemed unacceptable, modified or canceled performance may result at the expense of the presenter. Ballet will provide own linoleum dance floor (Marley).
  • Wardrobe facilities for prepping, cleaning and repairing costumes. Must include washer and dryer.
  • A prehang call to move house soft goods and lighting prior to the Ballet's arrival may be required. This is determined on a case by case basis depending on the individual house hang.
  • Use of upright piano for ballet class either on stage or in rehearsal hall.
  • Stage temperature can be no less than 20 degrees Celsius (68° F) at all times that dancers are present.
  • Ballet will provide all scenery, lighting, costumes, video and audio as well as linoleum dance floor for stage (Marley).

Lighting

  • Ballet will provide entire lighting rig including dimming, control, conventional and automated fixtures.
  • Overhead lighting occupies 6 overhead linesets. Heaviest electric is 1,200 lbs.
  • Lighting Power Requirement: 400A - 3 phase.
  • We require 3 distinct washes from the front of house and DMX control over them.
  • We require the use of 2 Decent Follow Spots.
  • Use of electric manlift with platform height no lower than 24'. We would like our electrician to focus the overhead in your lift. Please advise if this is a problem for you.

Audio/Video

  • PA and monitors will be provided either by the House or the Ballet depending on what's available in the venue. In the event that Ballet provides PA, crew calls should be adjusted in order to facilitate hanging a line-array.
  • Audio Power Requirement: 100A - 3 phase - isolated ground power.
  • Ballet will provide video projectors and projection surfaces.
  • An FOH mix-position is required. In the case of the house PA being used, the Ballet operator will still use the mix position, we will just send signal to the house desk.

Dressing Rooms

  • Clean, warm dressing rooms will be provided to accommodate 30 people. Dressing rooms must have easy access to toilets and hot showers. Temperature in dressing rooms must be between 21 and 26 degree Celsius (70-80°F).
  • Please note that there are 29 people in body makeup for the show - please inform us if your shower facilities cannot accommodate this amount of showering immediately following performance. If the number of showers is deemed to low, alternate arrangements may need to be made at the Presenter's cost.
  • Bottled or filtered drinking water must be in abundance in the backstage area. Tap water is not acceptable (a water cooler is).

Wardrobe

  • Presenter is responsible for providing adequate washer and dryer(s). Things like irons and steamers are appreciated as well.

Other Backstage Support

  • Access to a telephone and internet is appreciated.

Transport

  • This show travels in 1 - 53' trailer. Onsite parking is appreciated.
  • Artist travel may include large bus. Please have free parking available.

Local Crewing

  • Assuming that masking swap and lighting strip have already been completed:
  1. IN/OUT:  3 Carpenter, 8 Electricians, 1 Audio, 3 Properties, 1 Flymen, 2 Fly Loaders, 1 Wardrobe, 4 Truck-Loaders.
  2. SHOW: 1 Carpenter, 1 Electrician, 2 Follow Spot, 1 Audio, 1 Properties, 1 Flyman, 1 Wardrobe.
  • All numbers are working hands and do not include house staff who only fulfill a supervisory role.
  • Major setup is 5 hours, followed by crew breakdown and dancer class on stage and spacing. Focus is completed after spacing.
  • Load out is approximately 2 hours.

US Representative

    * U.S. Representative:
    * Cadence Arts Network, Inc.
    * Phone: 310-838-0849
    * cadencearts@aol.com