STC producing plays by local emerging writers

This season, under the auspices of new artistic director Caleb Marshall, Sudbury Theatre Centre (STC) is reinventing itself.

STC will be hosting cabaret performances in its newly renovated lounge. The centre is offering classes in theatre arts. And perhaps, most daring of all, it is presenting plays by local writers.

The STC’s Opening Acts program is designed to give an audience for Northern Ontario stories. Marshall pioneered the Opening Acts concept while he was artistic producer at Theatre New Brunswick in Fredericton.

The first Opening Act feature, Golden Girl, will run from Oct. 15-31 before the performance of Dangerous Liaisons. Golden Girl is written by Vicki Gilhula, editor of Sudbury Living and a former editor of Northern Life.

Gilhula’s play is based on the life of millionaire Mary Martin, a prospector in the Kirkland Lake gold rush. Her husband, Ernie, was vice-president of Lake Shore Mines and a partner of Sir Harry Oakes, one the richest man in Canada.

“Mary Martin was an independent woman at a time women couldn’t vote and their career options were limited,” says Gilhula. “I was fascinated by her story and tried to tell as much about her as I could in a 10-minute play.”

Golden Girl was inspired by the book, Ernie’s Gold, which was written by her friend, Brian Martin.

Michelle Fisk plays Mary and Jamie Cavanagh plays reporter Jimmy Lawson. Both actors have roles in Dangerous Liaisons.

Gilhula began writing the play while during the Playwright Junction workshops at the theatre centre with writer-in-residence Matthew Heiti.

“The STC is doing so much to encourage emerging writers as well as actors,” Gilhula. “I still can’t believe that my play will have its premiere on a professional stage.”