MONTREAL November 2006 – For the first of three plays in this musically-themed season, the award-winning Leanor and Alvin Segal Theatre (recently adding four 2005-06 MECCAs) is proud to present a new Canadian play, The Satchmo’ Suite.

Featuring a live three-piece band on stage, the play is a suite in twelve movements with words and music by Hans Böggild and Doug Innis. The writers agree, “It was a real joy to write new songs for the optimistic, great Louis Armstrong.” The story revolves around the relationship between a modern-day black classical cellist and the 'Father of Jazz' himself, Louis Armstrong. The cellist, on tour with a classical symphony, summons the ghost of Louis Armstrong as he struggles with a difficult musical passage from Bach’s Six Suites for Solo Cello. The lives of the two characters intermingle and resonate off each other, sparking a dialogue between the head and heart as issues of hope, courage, family and racism emerge in striking and powerful ways. Segal Theatre Artistic Director, Bryna Wasserman, is inspired by the production, “It’s rare to find an entertaining piece of theatre that has so much content and engages these issues head-on.”

Director Hans Böggild brings a 40-year career to the The Satchmo’ Suite including work across Canada as a director, playwright, dramaturg, story editor, teacher and actor. Andrew Moodie shines as cellist Hubert Clements. An award winning actor as well as a director, Andrew’s writing credits include A Common Man's Guide to Loving Women and The Lady Smith. Jeremiah Sparks will enthral as Louis Armstrong. A musical performer the majority of his life, Jeremiah is a busy actor and is working on his second CD. Music is one of the main characters of the piece and the show’s top-notch Jazz ensemble features bandleader and pianist John Gilbert, Bill Mahar on trumpet and Colin Matthews is the cellist.

Louis Armstrong had many nicknames as a child, all of which referred to the size of his mouth: Gatemouth, Dippermouth and Satchelmouth. During a visit to Great Britain, the editor of Melody Maker magazine greeted him by saying, "Hello, Satchmo’!" Armstrong loved the new name and adopted it for his own. Böggild is really looking forward to this present production; “Doug and I are thrilled to be doing our jazz musical with the Segal Theatre in one of the world’s greatest jazz and music cities. Key parts of the story happen in Montreal and Louis Armstrong visited the city regularly, so we’re unbelievably excited to stage the show here.” The Satchmo’ Suite premiered in Halifax last year at Eastern Front Theatre and received very good notices at the Magnetic North Festival this past summer.

The creative team conjuring the magic on stage comprises set and costume designer Denyse Karn, lighting designer Leigh Ann Vardy and sound designer Rob Denton. The stage manager is Hilary Graham.

From the moment I got a sound out of it, I was hooked, like a fish on the end of a line.

88.5 CBC Radio One proudly presents Sunday-@-the-Segal with Ranee Lee
Sunday, November 19th, 11am. Admission is free.
Join us for another season of intimate conversation and riveting lectures as The Segal welcomes one of Canada’s most popular jazz vocalists and recording artists, Ranee Lee.

Monday Night Talkbacks presented by Pratt and Whitney Canada
As usual following the play, some of the actors and/or designers will remain on stage to take questions from the audience. Monday Night Talkbacks provides an intimate opportunity for audiences to engage up close and personal with the personalities bringing first class professional English language theatre to Montreal. Combined with lower rates for this evening, Monday night performances have become an outstanding package that true theatre buffs cannot resist.

Music, memories and moving on….

Tickets and Media Information

Previews: November 19 1:30 pm
Nov. 20, 21, 22, 8:00 pm

Sunday-@-the-Segal: Nov. 19, 11:00 am

Opening Night: Thursday, Nov. 23, 8:00pm

Run: November 19- December 10

Performances:
Monday-Thursday, 8:00pm
Saturday, 8:30pm
Sunday, 7:00 pm
Matinées: Wednesdays, 1:00pm / Sundays, 2:00 pm

BOX OFFICE: (514) 739-7944
5170 Cote St. Catherine Rd.
Admission 790-1245 www.admission.com

We gratefully acknowledge Upstairs Jazz Bar and Grill for their support of The Satchmo' Suite