Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre-Media Centre
“If being in here with you is a journey, I need a new travel agent.” – Jonesie

What happens when the elevator gets stuck on your way to an important meeting? As Jonesie and Tallahassee attempt to escape their circumstances, the cramped space becomes a pressure cooker and a bitingly funny conversation about power emerges. Who will come out on top?

Developed in the Pimootayowin Creators Circle, this world premiere is a dynamic exploration of reconciliation and what it means to see the humanity of another person.
 

Click on the image to download the digital program:

Ovation6Cover.jpg

 


In keeping with MTC’s ongoing commitment to reconciliation, we’re offering a 50% discount (excluding D section) to all performances of ELEVATE: Manaaji’idiwin for Indigenous Peoples, including First Nations, Inuit and Métis. When choosing your seat(s) from the list below, please select the Indigenous ticket option.

Warnings: 
Strong language, mature themes, theatrical fog

 

Running time: 
Approx. 90 minutes (no intermission)


Pimootayowin Creators Circle Sponsor:
The Asper Foundation


Opening Night sponsor:



Cast & Crew

Production
David McLeod photo
David McLeod

Playwright

Playwright David McLeod
David McLeod photo

David McLeod

David McLeod is a member of Minegoziibe Anishinabe (Pine Creek First Nation, MB) with family roots also in the Métis village Camperville, MB. His early theatre experience was as an actor in Thompson Playhouse productions, Thompson Beer & Skits Nights and as a member of People for People, an Indigenous troupe, all based in Thompson, MB. In the early 2000’s upon moving to Winnipeg, he was a regular in Winnipeg’s spoken word scene and became a member of the Winnipeg Indigenous Writers Collective, going on to win the Winnipeg Centennial Library’s inaugural spoken word competition. He became actively involved in theatre acting, appearing in the late Doug Nepinak’s Incident at Oka, Manitoba during the Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival as well as a CBC radio adaptation. He acted in Shakespeare In The Red, staged at Prairie Theatre Exchange. David performed twice at the CBC Winnipeg Comedy Festival with stand-up written by Darrell Dennis. David’s poetry and writing has appeared in anthologies: Let the Drum Be My Heartbeat, Prairie Fire and Manitowapow: Aboriginal Writings from the Land of Water, as well as IWC chapbooks Urban Cool and Bone Memory. He is truly thankful for the Pimootayowin experience to reconnect to writing with so many talented people and the opportunity to learn and grow as a writer.

Herbie Barnes photo
Herbie Barnes

Director / Dramaturg

Director / Dramaturg Herbie Barnes
Herbie Barnes photo

Herbie Barnes

ROYAL MTC First engagement.

OTHER THEATRE Directing: The Play That Goes Wrong (Charlottetown Festival); Something Rotten!, Urinetown the Musical (Sheridan); It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play (YPT); Tales of an Urban Indian (Public Theater/Autry Theatre/TiFT); The Music Man (TiFT); Oliver! (Bluff City Theatre); Inheritance (Alley/Touchstone Theatre); The Rememberer (MTYP); Dinky (Native Earth Performing Arts). Acting: Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit (YPT/Carousel Players/MTYP); Wickersham Brother in Seussical the Musical (MTYP); Norval Morrisseau in Copper Thunderbird (NAC). Script development and dramaturgy with YPT, Native Earth Performing Arts, Debajehmujig Theatre Group and MTYP.

FILM/TV Directing: RepREZentin’ in Fort Chip, The Rez.

ET CETERA Herbie is an Anishinaabe theatre artist from Aundeck Omni Kaning First Nation on Manitoulin Island and was raised in Toronto. His play Bent Boy was workshopped at YPT and shortlisted for the Sharon Enkin Plays for Young People Award in 2020. Herbie is the Artistic Director of Young People’s Theatre.

William Layton photo
William Layton

Set Designer

Set Designer William Layton
William Layton photo

William Layton

ROYAL MTC First engagement.

OTHER THEATRE The Play That Goes Wrong directed by Herbie Barnes, Jersey Boys (Charlottetown Festival); The Great Gatsby, The Hobbit, Elf: The Musical, Shrek The Musical (Grand – all directed by Susan Ferley); The Freud Project: Civilization and Its Discontents (Dora Award); Mary Poppins (YPT – Dora nomination for costume design).

FILM/TV The Next Step (10 seasons); Da Kink in My Hair; Fall (nominated for a Canadian Screen Award in production design); Heaven on Earth (written and directed by Depha Mehta); Til Death Do Us Part (with John Waters).

TRAINING The Art Institute of Chicago; The National Theatre School.

ET CETERA William is pleased to be back on the prairies where he grew up and wishes to thank the backstage artists and craftspeople who have elevated this production.

Amy McPherson photo
Amy McPherson

Costume Designer

Costume Designer Amy McPherson
Amy McPherson photo

Amy McPherson

ROYAL MTC The Comeback, The Secret to Good Tea.

OTHER THEATRE Blue Beads and Blueberries, Frozen River (MTYP); Tuesdays with Morrie, A Pickle, Pals (WJT); Owl Calling (Root Sky Theatre).

FILM The Nest (National Film Board of Canada). 

TRAINING Fashion Design and Apparel Production (MC College); Indigenous Haute Couture Residency (Banff Centre for Arts).

ET CETERA Always a pleasure to work with Royal MTC! Miigwetch/thank you.

Scott Henderson photo
Scott Henderson

Lighting Designer

Lighting Designer Scott Henderson
Scott Henderson photo

Scott Henderson

ROYAL MTC 70 productions since 1995, including Mix Tapes From My Mom, Sexual Misconduct of the Middle Classes, The Three Musketeers, The Cottage, John, Sense and Sensibility, A Christmas Carol (2017, 2005), Shakespeare in Love (with Citadel), Black Coffee, The Audience (with Mirvish), Billy Elliot the Musical, Next to Normal, Red (with Belfry), Top Girls.

OTHER THEATRE Scott has designed lighting for opera, dance and theatre companies in Winnipeg and across Canada. Most recently he designed Elixir of Love for Manitoba Opera, Tuesdays with Morrie for WJT, and Mabuhay! and Mary Poppins for Rainbow Stage. Scott is also the Lighting Director for the Royal Winnipeg Ballet.

TRAINING Scott is a graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University (Ryerson Theatre School) and is a member of ADC659. 

ET CETERA Special thanks to Karen, Sean and Alex for their love and support.

Jason Burnstick photo
Jason Burnstick

Sound Designer & Composer

Sound Designer & Composer Jason Burnstick
Jason Burnstick photo

Jason Burnstick

ROYAL MTC The Secret to Good Tea.

ET CETERA 2021 Juno Nominee, 2020 Leo Award Winner for Composer of the Year for Best TV Movie and 1/2 of the multi-award-winning and nominated group Burnstick. Jason’s many accolades also include 2015 Indigenous Music Award winner, 2010 APCA’s Winner, 2009 Jessie Richardson and Dora Nominee, 2007 Juno Nominee and 2006 CAMA Award Winner. A Cree Musician, Singer-Songwriter/Composer based out of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Jason’s musical expression has found its voice in his collection of original vintage 1920’s Weissenborn lap slide guitars.

Rick Skene photo
Rick Skene

Fight Director

Fight Director Rick Skene
Rick Skene photo

Rick Skene

ROYAL MTC among men (with TPM), The Three Musketeers, Venus in Fur, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Richard III, Oleanna, Macbeth, Burn This, Good Night Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet), Noises Off, Burn This, The Miracle Worker, The Lonesome West, Shakespeare’s Dog, The Boys in the Photograph, Wait until Dark, The Beauty Queen of Leenane.

OTHER THEATRE PTE, MTYP, TPM, MB Opera, Rainbow Stage, RWB and Théâtre Cercle Molière. Rick was co-founder and associate artistic director of TPM.

FILM/TV 35 years of over 200 credits as a stunt coordinator, 2nd unit director, stunt driver and stunt performer.

TEACHING 35 years teaching Acting, Stage Combat, Filmmaking, Mime and Improvisation at the U of W Department of Theatre and Film.

ET CETERA As always, Rick would like to give a big thank you shout out to his wife Jan who, as he is quick to point out, holds his universe together.

Peatr Thomas photo
Peatr Thomas

Mural Designer

Mural Designer Peatr Thomas
Peatr Thomas photo

Peatr Thomas

Peatr Thomas is a self-taught mural artist of Ininew and Anishinaabe heritage from Pimicikamak. Raised on reserve, he transitioned to city life at 14 in 2001, where he discovered his voice through Winnipeg’s street art scene. Over the past decade, Peatr has woven cultural teachings into his work, and facilitated workshops with youth across Turtle Island to create murals and canvas art. peatrthomas.com

Cali Sproule photo
Cali Sproule

Assistant Director

Assistant Director Cali Sproule
Cali Sproule photo

Cali Sproule

ROYAL MTC First engagement.

OTHER THEATRE 40 Below (Winnipeg Fringe); Saplings (One Trunk Theatre – Rehearsal Director); How They'll Tell It (ViC Staged Reading); The Little Forest (Wagonstage Theatre); The Merry Wives of Windsor (Theatre Calgary Shakespeare on the Go – Assistant Director to Jane MacFarlane); poor recollections (Sage Theatre IGNITE! Festival); Much Ado About Nothing, Here We Go (University of Calgary). 

TRAINING MFA in Directing (University of Manitoba); BA in Theatre & Psychology (University of Manitoba Black Hole Theatre Company); Intimacy Directors and Coordinators (IDC). 

ET CETERA Upcoming: How They’ll Tell It at the Gargoyle Theatre. :) 

Melissa Langdon photo
Melissa Langdon

Assistant Dramaturg

Assistant Dramaturg Melissa Langdon
Melissa Langdon photo

Melissa Langdon

ROYAL MTC Actor: Little Women, The Three Musketeers; Artistic Associate; Assistant Director: The Mountaintop, Trouble in Mind (with Citadel), Orlando; 2020/21 National Mentorship Program; Artistic Coordinator: Tiny Plays, Big Ideas

OTHER THEATRE A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Twelfth Night, Hamlet (SIR); Voice (PTE); Spelling 2-5-5 (MTYP); School Girls; Or The African Mean Girls Play (Obsidian/Nightwood Theatre); Blink (One Trunk/W&T); Home 2.0, The Game, New Beginnings (Sarasvàti); O(phelia) (ShakespeareFest); Animosity (Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival); Time and the Conways, Concord Floral, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead (U of W).

FILM Macbeth (SIR/Blackfriar).

TRAINING Bachelor of Arts Honours in Theatre and Film Acting from the University of Winnipeg.

ET CETERA Dora Award: Outstanding Production and Toronto Theatre Critics’ Choice Award: Outstanding Production of a Play (School Girls), Bethia Henry Memorial Scholarship in Theatre and Drama, Reg Skene Emerging Artist Award. Love you Matt 💕

Monique Gauthier photo
Monique Gauthier

Assistant Lighting Designer

Assistant Lighting Designer Monique Gauthier
Monique Gauthier photo

Monique Gauthier

ROYAL MTC 2024/25 National Mentorship Program.

OTHER THEATRE Lighting Designer: The Mailroom, World’s Fair 1876, Breaking Up With Me (JHG Creative); The Antipodes (The 28th Minute). Apprentice Stage Manager: Blue Beads and Blueberries (MTYP). Stage Manager: The Ultimate Actor’s Nightmare (Club Soda Improv). Misc.: Hamlet: The Modern Player’s Guide (SIR).

TRAINING University of Manitoba Theatre Program; MTYP’s Sandbox.

ET CETERA For her work with her independent company, JHG Creative, Moe has twice been awarded the Harry S. Rintoul Award and was named as one of 2023’s Most Fascinating Manitobans. She is also the board vice-chair of TPM. Moe will be the lighting designer for The 28th Minute’s production of A Steetcar Named Desire this summer. She would like to thank her family and friends for their love and support!

Ridge Romanishen photo
Ridge Romanishen

Stage Manager

Stage Manager Ridge Romanishen
Ridge Romanishen photo

Ridge Romanishen

ROYAL MTC SM: King James, among men (with TPM). ASM: Little Women, The Comeback. Apprentice SM: Sexual Misconduct of the Middle Classes, The Three Musketeers, Calpurnia. 

OTHER THEATRE PSM: Trigger Warning: Cassandra (Sick + Twisted). SM: Iago Speaks, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Shakespeare’s Will (SIR); Narnia (Bad Hats Theatre/MTYP); A Pickle (WJT); The Velveteen Rabbit (MTYP); The Marriage of Figaro (Manitoba Underground Opera). ASM: Bed & Breakfast (Capitol Theatre/PTE); Mary Poppins (Rainbow Stage); Feast (PTE). Apprentice SM: Narrow Bridge, The Golem’s Mighty Swing (WJT); Kiss of the Spider Woman (Dry Cold).

TRAINING Ridge is a Graduate of the University of Winnipeg’s Theatre and Film Program with Honours in Stage Management.

ET CETERA Ridge is thrilled to be back working with Royal MTC this season. He would like to thank all his friends, family and husband for their support and, of course, the fabulous folks at Royal MTC for another amazing opportunity to create live theatre again!

Katie Schmidt photo
Katie Schmidt

Assistant Stage Manager

Assistant Stage Manager Katie Schmidt
Katie Schmidt photo

Katie Schmidt

ROYAL MTC Assistant Stage Manager: The Lehman Trilogy, The Sound of Music, Into the Woods, The Runner. Apprentice Stage Manager: The Cottage, A Doll’s House, Sense and Sensibility. Apprentice Costumer: Sarah Ballenden.

OTHER THEATRE Stage Manager: A Year with Frog and Toad, Snow White, Frozen River, Tiny Treasures (MTYP); The Magic Flute (The Little Opera Company); The Prom (Dry Cold). Assistant Stage Manager: Die Fledermaus (Vancouver Opera); The Wizard of Oz (Rainbow); The Outside Inn, Bad Parent, VOICE (PTE). Apprentice Stage Manager: Ghost Light (PTE). Costumer: Mary’s Wedding (TPM). Props and Set Coordinator: Much Ado About Nothing, The Player King, The Winter’s Tale, Hamlet, Timon of Athens, Romeo and Juliet (SIR).

TRAINING University of Winnipeg Theatre and Film.

ET CETERA Thanks and love to Mom, Dad, Raya and Felix.

Chance Sabados photo
Chance Sabados

Apprentice Stage Manager

Apprentice Stage Manager Chance Sabados
Chance Sabados photo

Chance Sabados

ROYAL MTC First engagement.

OTHER THEATRE The Comedy of Errors, Arcadia, Conversation at Night With a Despised Character (U of M).

TRAINING Graduate of the University of Manitoba.

ET CETERA Chance would like to thank his friends and family for their continued support, and he hopes you enjoy the show!

Cast
Kevin Klassen photo
Kevin Klassen

Jonesie

Jonesie Kevin Klassen
Kevin Klassen photo

Kevin Klassen

ROYAL MTC Recent and selected: The Sound of Music (with Citadel), Network (with Citadel), A Doll’s House, It’s a Wonderful Life: The Radio Play, A Christmas Carol, Shakespeare in Love (with Citadel), Sarah Ballenden, The Audience (with Mirvish), Chimerica (with CS), Alice Through the Looking-Glass, Romeo and Juliet, The Shunning, White Christmas, Bleeding Hearts, Our Town, The Tempest, Feelgood (with GCTC).

OTHER THEATRE Recent and selected: Mary Poppins (Rainbow); The Prom (Dry Cold); Othello (Echo/Beau/Raven); Mesa (PTE); Arcadia (Citadel); Antony and Cleopatra (SIR); Edward II (TBTR); John and Beatrice (TPM); Death of a Salesman (WJT); Peter Pan (MTYP).

FILM/TV Recent and selected: Acting Good, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Little Bird, Burden of Truth, The Pinkertons, Niagara Motel.

TRAINING 2015 Citadel/Banff Professional Training Program; University of Winnipeg.

ET CETERA Grateful and honoured to be a part of this show. Love to Charlene and Phoebe.

Melissa Langdon photo
Melissa Langdon

AI Sharon

AI Sharon Melissa Langdon
Melissa Langdon photo

Melissa Langdon

ROYAL MTC Actor: Little Women, The Three Musketeers; Artistic Associate; Assistant Director: The Mountaintop, Trouble in Mind (with Citadel), Orlando; 2020/21 National Mentorship Program; Artistic Coordinator: Tiny Plays, Big Ideas

OTHER THEATRE A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Twelfth Night, Hamlet (SIR); Voice (PTE); Spelling 2-5-5 (MTYP); School Girls; Or The African Mean Girls Play (Obsidian/Nightwood Theatre); Blink (One Trunk/W&T); Home 2.0, The Game, New Beginnings (Sarasvàti); O(phelia) (ShakespeareFest); Animosity (Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival); Time and the Conways, Concord Floral, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead (U of W).

FILM Macbeth (SIR/Blackfriar).

TRAINING Bachelor of Arts Honours in Theatre and Film Acting from the University of Winnipeg.

ET CETERA Dora Award: Outstanding Production and Toronto Theatre Critics’ Choice Award: Outstanding Production of a Play (School Girls), Bethia Henry Memorial Scholarship in Theatre and Drama, Reg Skene Emerging Artist Award. Love you Matt 💕

Nolan Moberly photo
Nolan Moberly

Tallahassee

Tallahassee Nolan Moberly
Nolan Moberly photo

Nolan Moberly

ROYAL MTC First appearance.

OTHER THEATRE Tales of an Urban Indian, Madame Minister (TiFT); Girl Who Loved Her Horses (Centre for Indigenous Theatre).

TV Hitler’s Last Stand (National Geographic); My Lupine Life (web series).

TRAINING Centre for Indigenous Theatre; Weengushk Film Institute.

Loading ticket information
Production ID: 34005
Start Date: 4/23/2025 3:09:54 PM
End Date: 5/17/2025 3:10:11 PM
Title: ELEVATE: Manaaji'idiwin
Playwright: By David McLeod
Billing: Directed by Herbie Barnes
Warnings: Strong language, mature themes, theatrical fog
Synopsis: “If being in here with you is a journey, I need a new travel agent.” – Jonesie

What happens when the elevator gets stuck on your way to an important meeting? As Jonesie and Tallahassee attempt to escape their circumstances, the cramped space becomes a pressure cooker and a bitingly funny conversation about power emerges. Who will come out on top?

Developed in the Pimootayowin Creators Circle, this world premiere is a dynamic exploration of reconciliation and what it means to see the humanity of another person.
 

Click on the image to download the digital program:

Ovation6Cover.jpg

 


In keeping with MTC’s ongoing commitment to reconciliation, we’re offering a 50% discount (excluding D section) to all performances of ELEVATE: Manaaji’idiwin for Indigenous Peoples, including First Nations, Inuit and Métis. When choosing your seat(s) from the list below, please select the Indigenous ticket option.

Facility: John Hirsch Mainstage
Alternate URL: https://royalmtc.ca/Current-Plays/ELEVATE-Manaaji-idiwin.aspx
Play Image:
Word Mark: ce617edf-6327-4adc-b3eb-93af895a8394
Rotator Image: f9fbd5d3-4492-4d11-86f1-64e0b3163908
Display Rotator From: 4/12/2025 8:15:00 PM
Display Rotator To: 5/17/2025 11:59:00 PM
 

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