After debuting Canada’s only horse-drawn travelling theatre titled Théâtre Roulant, Station Road Arts launches its 2023 season with Rosalia’s Piano.

Rosalia’s Piano is an entirely original production, based on a true story. The new work is written by Station Road Art’s Conrad Beaubien and is Directed by John Burns. The musical score is composed by Gregory Garret, and he is joined by the talented Quinte Symphony violinist Joel Bootsma. These elements, along with the fascinating integration of animation effects created by Ivan Simonetti and the beautifully vibrant costuming created by local artisans come together to create a truly one-of-a-kind theatrical experience that you won’t want to miss.

“Our focus is on original work, authentic work that’s never been seen before,” Beaubien expressed. “I have been writing a lot of the pieces, but were now bringing on other people. We’ve done a piece with Suzanne Pasternak, ‘the boy solider from Hillier’ and where we are right now is, the emphasis is always on original work and original everything that comes within us, music we don’t take anything off the shelf, our concentration is too integrate within the artists and the artisans of the region and support them.”

Conrad Beaubien. (Desirée Decoste/Gazette staff)

Director John Burns is excited about the scope of this production. 

“This performance is much more than a Play,” said Burns “It is also a multimedia piece of installation art that includes a large number of County artists, actors, musicians, designers and artisans!”

Rosalia’s Piano tells the story of a married couple Rosalia, a pianist and Ivan, a second violinist in a symphony orchestra in Eastern Europe. When war displaced the pair from their homeland, Rosalia’s piano was lost while Ivan was able to save his precious violin. Seeking refuge in the small town of Calumet Falls, Ontario, the couple tries to build a new life for themselves and find their place in this small community. Can love, community, fellowship and the search for a new piano restore their inner sanctuary?

“This story has been with me ever since I was a young boy,” Beaubien stated. “It was part of a family lore that was passed down about a grandmother that felt this isolation coming into this country and feeling culturally isolated, linguistically isolated. It was a time of a different time in Canada because coming from Britain into french speaking Canada was dramatic at that time, but she was displaced by war and so this story of displacement of people through war has been here, unfortunately, with our humanity since the beginning of time.”

Members of the cast of Shatterbox Theatre’s groundbreaking production of the musical Spring Awakening reunite to bring Rosalia’s Piano to life. 

Actress Megan Hutton says “The story of Rosalia and her journey of physical and spiritual refuge drew me to the project. As well as the promise of being part of a production that included animation, music, and performance. I couldn’t say no!”

Spring Awakening audiences got to experience the undeniable on-stage chemistry between

Megan Hutton and Gabriel Guadagnin and their artistic chemistry continues to shine through their performance in Rosalia’s Piano. 

When asked to join the production in the role of Ivan, Gabriel responded “It was only appropriate that our first role as a married couple…is to play a married couple. Haha. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to act alongside my wife.”

Shattebox Theatre’s Creative Director, Georgia Papanicolaou lends her magnificent storytelling skills to the production as narrator for the story.

Show dates are set for March 2, 3, and 4th at Waring Hall in Picton.

In partnership with the Waring House, audience members will be able to enjoy pre-show music, hor d’Oeuvres, a cash bar and an interview period with the cast and crew after the show. 

Tickets for Rosalia’s Piano can be purchased at https://www.stationroadarts.com

Station Road Arts is a not-for-profit theatre company. Their “Beyond the Stage” philosophy strives to use theatre as a platform to showcase local performers, artists and artisans through costume, props, and design. By weaving together talent from all corners of Prince Edward County, Station Road Arts offers a unique Studio-to-Stage experience for all to enjoy.