The GCTC staff, board, and volunteers acknowledge that we are privileged to work, create, play, and live on the traditional unceded, unsurrendered territory of the Anishinaabe Algonquin peoples, who have been and continue to be the keepers and defenders of this land and these waters, from time immemorial.
We would like to take this time to show our gratitude and respect to them, and to the land and water for all that they provides us.
Improv is a powerful tool that we all use every day. If you think about it, your day-to-day conversations and interactions are improvised (don't think about it too hard).
In our show, we bring that tool and multiply it by 100! Everything you hear, see and experience will be fully made up on the spot. NOTHING IS WRITTEN. Sure, you can try to be a sleuth, seeing the show multiple times and trying to crack a code. We once had someone come 10 times and sit in the exact same spot, but we assure you no musical you see here will ever be seen again!
Flop! is a perfect show for the fiftieth season of the Great Canadian Theatre Company, which has helped to shape Canadian theatre for half a century. Over our run here, we will create 16 original musicals with your suggestions and imagination, so go wild Ottawa! Congratulations on your fiftieth season GCTC, and thank you for bringing our unique show to your stage. Thank you to the staff of GCTC for making this possible, and to Jan Caruana, Ron Pederson and Hannah Spear for being able to achieve this feat of mental gymnastics.
Now, get ready for the opening and closing of whatever musical we are about to make up for you!
Alan Kliffer
When I was thinking about what we should have on our stage at this time of year, I wanted to offer something that was full of fun, delight and surprise, and also remarkably skillful. I asked myself, what was the most fun and astonishing night I’ve ever had at the theatre? I remembered back to a production that I saw in 2016, One Night Only!, an improvised musical. It was co-produced and directed by Alan Kliffer so, through the powers of the internet, I tracked him down and asked him if this was something he was still doing. In fact he was, and he agreed to put together an all-star team to come to Ottawa and work their magic on our stage.
So here we are. I cannot tell you what will happen in this show, because these geniuses of silliness and skill will create it in front of you. But I can tell you this: the highwire skill, unabashed comedy, and surprising rhymes and plotting will make for one of the most unexpected and deliciously riotous nights you’re likely to have at the theatre.
Come back again. It will be a different show!
Enjoy the show,
Sarah Kitz
by Ron Pederson & Alan Kliffer
directed by Alan Kliffer
starring Hannah Spear, Jan Caruana & Ron Pederson
musical direction by Erik Mortimer
stage managed by Caitlin Hart & Emily Fink-Jensen
A Klif Entertainment production
Production Crew:
Kyle Ahluwalia | Technical Director, Lighting Operator
Stephanie Dahmer | Head of Props & Head Scenic Painter
Vanessa Imeson | Head of Wardrobe
Eric Neill | Assistant Technical Director, Head of Carpentry, Running Crew
Josephine Trudel | Assistant Technical Director, Sound Operator
Enjoy the Show!
The Great Canadian Theatre Company engages members of the Local 471 of the International Alliance of Theatrical and Stage Employees.
GCTC acknowledges the support of the Ontario Arts Council (OAC), an agency of the Government of Ontario, which last year funded 2,149 individual artists and 1,043 organizations in 219 communities across Ontario for a total of $53.3 million.
GCTC engages, under the terms of Canadian Theatre Agreement, professional artists who are members of the Canadian Actors' Equity Association.
The Company
Alan Kliffer: Director
Alan Kliffer is originally from Winnipeg, and spent 14 years growing his career in Toronto before moving to New York City. Most recently, Kliffer served as the inaugural Artistic Director of The Second City New York. He also ran Asylum NYC, where he helped to launch the Off-Broadway sensation Titanique, and produced audition showcases for SNL, The Tonight Show, and Just For Laughs. Kliffer has been developing award winning improvised theatricals for 15 years, and is excited to share this improvised musical with Ottawa. Happy 50th GCTC!
Erik Mortimer: Musical Director
Erik is a Musician and composer based in Edmonton AB. His compositions and Music Direction have both been recognized with Sterling awards by Alberta’s theatre community with his composition of Capitol Theatre’s Sleeping Beauty and music direction, on Theatre Network’s The Last Five Years. Erik has been fortunate to work with great artists and companies including The Citadel Theatre, Mayfield Theatre, Mitch Watkins, Andrea House, John Hewitt and Martin Kerr. He is keyboard player for popular Edmonton cover band “The Barkells!” Erik has performed lots of improvised musicals both with Rapid Fire’s Off Book the Improvised Musical and Grindstone Theatre’s The 11 O’clock Number but he is completely unprepared for tonight's performance.
Hannah Spear: Performer
Hannah Spear is a Dora and Canadian Comedy Award nominated actor and comedian. She recently wrapped a two year run with The Second City Mainstage, with whom Hannah co-created several revues. Select television credits include Tallboys, Star Trek Discovery, Strange New Worlds, Law & Order: Toronto, and Murdoch Mysteries.
Jan Caruana: Performer
Jan Caruana is a Canadian Screen Award nominated writer working on shows including Sunnyside, Baroness Von Sketch Show, and The Next Step for CBC.
As an actor, Jan has won a Dora Award as part of the ensemble for The Wonder Pageant (Coal Mine Theatre) and most recently was nominated for directing Holiday - The Improvised Musical (Bad Dog Theatre). She has appeared in films and television shows including Baroness Von Sketch, Mean Girls, and Kim’s Convenience.
Currently, Jan can be heard on CBC Radio’s The Debaters, and as a panelist (and writer) on Because News with Gavin Crawford.
Ron Pederson: Performer
Ron is an actor, improviser, director, and writer who has worked across Canada with many theatres, including; The Stratford Festival, Soulpepper Theatre, The Tarragon Theatre, CanStage, Coal Mine Theatre, RMTC, Alberta Theatre Projects, Arts Club Theatre, Vancouver Playhouse, Theatre Passe Muraille, The Belfry, and The Citadel Theatre. As an improviser, Ron has also toured and collaborated with companies in Berlin, Oslo, Vienna, Amsterdam, Chicago, LA, and NYC. Ron’s television credits include 3 seasons on MADtv (Fox), The Late Late Show (CBS) Murdoch Mysteries,(CBC), Degrassi (CTV), SideKick (YTV), New Eden (Crave), Private Eyes (Global), When Hope Calls (Hallmark), The Next Step (NBC Kids). Ron is the recipient of multiple Canadian Comedy Awards, the Dora Mavor Moore Award, 2 Sterling Awards, The SummerWorks Performance Award and The RBC Arts Professional Award. Ron is of Cree and mixed-settler descent and proud citizen of The Métis Nation of Alberta.
Instagram: @ron_pederson
Michael Aylward | Chair
Lucy Coren | Co-Vice Chair
Maya Fernandez | Co-Vice Chair
Alison Lantos | Treasurer
Francie Ducros
Geneviève Therrien
Hoori Hamboyan
Jacqui du Toit
John Kirkwood
Mo Bakarat
Rabiyah Mirza
Tara Paterson
GCTC Staff (in alphabetical order)
Ana Clara Bouffard Lima | Front of House Team
Ana Lorena Fuentes Roman | Front of House Team
Ananya Antony | Front of House Team & Social Media Assistant
Billie Nell | Front of House Team
Caitlin Hart | Front of House Team
Carolina Gallegos | Fundraising & Membership Manager
Celina Hawkins | Company Manager
Chao Li | Ticketing & Business Systems Manager
Charlotte Stewart-Juby | Front of House Team
Drea | Access Manager
Eric Neill | Assistant Technical Director, Head of Carpentry
Hugh Neilson | Managing Director
Jake Nevins | Front of House Team
Jeremie Huot | Front of House Team
Julie Bica | Front of House Team
Kevin Waghorn | Production Manager
Kyle Ahluwalia | Technical Director
Kyle Cameron | Box Office Manager
Marianna Kokkinos | Front of House Team
Moksha Singh-Sharpe | Front of House Team
Natalie Joan MacLellan | Marketing & Communications Manager
Peter Russell | Front of House Team
Sara Bruton | Front of House Team
Sarah Kitz | Artistic Director
Sarah McKay | Assistant Box Office Manager
Selam Haile | Finance & Office Manager
Stephanie Dahmer-Brett | Head of Props & Head Scenic Painter
Valerie Josephine Trudel | Assistant Technical Director
Vanessa Imeson | Head of Wardrobe
Season Art by Jesús Rivera Zavala
Government Partners
In-Kind Sponsors
Foundations
Membership Program Partners
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Director’s Circle
Director’s Circle members enjoy a deeper connection with our creative process through social engagement with artists and other members of the GCTC family. For more information, please contact: Carolina Gallegos, Fundraising & Membership Manager, 613-236-5192 ext. 226 or carolina@gctc.ca.
Director’s Circle Members
Alan Braideck
Alison Lantos
Andrew Lonie
Barry Thompson
Bernice Marien
Catherine Mensour
Diana Kirkwood
David Culver
David MacLaren
David Van Dine
Diane Kampen and Samir Shah
Dino Testa
Edward Gray
Elizabeth and Charles Long
Geoffrey Hole
Glenn McInnes
Heather Smith
Jane Morris and Robert Hicks
Janice Payne
Jeanne Inch
Jill Hawken
Kim Barnhardt and Kumanan Wilson
Lewis Auerbach and Barbara Legowski
Linda McLaren
Lorna Tener and Brian Toller
Maggie Keith
Margaret Pearcy
Margaret Torrance
Michael Aylward
Natasha Chettiar
Nick Aplin*
Peggy Lister
Raymonde Lea and Stephen Hanson
Richard and Jean Van Loon
Ron & Elizabeth Davies
Sharon Peake
Susan Prosser
Sylvia Shortliffe
Tamara Levine
* We honour the memory of our friend Nick Aplin, a passionate supporter of GCTC.
Thank you to all of the individual donors that continue to help us bring great Canadian theatre to our stage. Our donors are the cornerstone of our organization. Donor benefits include: a tax receipt, good karma, and the knowledge that you directly contributed to ensuring the arts can continue to make a positive difference in your community.
If you are considering making a donation, please go to gctc.ca/donate or speak with a box office staff member.
Cumulative donations from February 2022 to June 2024.
To ensure we align with your preferences as valued donors, please let us know if your name is missing, categorized incorrectly, or if you wish to be excluded from future occasions.
Amelie Crosson-Gooderham
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T T
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