The House Without a Christmas Tree

a a T Tr ree ee

With With The Little Ope

The Little Oper ra Com

a Comp pa an n y y &

& F Friend s

riends Ricky Ian Gordon, Composer - Royce Vavrek, Librettist

17th - 7 :30 PM 18th - 7 :30 PM 19th - 7 :30 PM

Composer, Ricky Ian Gordon L ibrettist, Royce Vavrek Director, Rob Herriot Music Director / Conductor, Armand Singh Birk

Sponsors

Me dia Public Re latio ns: Marketing – Greg Klassen Marketing – Heather M ilne Web Design / Email Marketing – Don Larsen Program / Orignal Poster Design - Mel Goncal ves

T Tr ree ee

About The Opera: Based on the beloved 1970s tel evision movie, this touching new opera by composer Ricky Ian Gordon and Canadi an librettist Royce Vavrek captures the emotional heart of the holiday season. The story follows young Ad- die, who longs for a Chr istmas tree in a home shadowed by her father’s gr ief—and discovers that hope and forgiveness can bring light even in the darkest winters. Conducted b y: Armand Singh Birk Directed by: Rob Herriot Principal Cast: (in order of appearance) Adult Addie Mills / Helen Mill s / Miss Thompson – Lara S ecord–Haid Addie Mill s – Sarah Schabas Grandma Mills – Donnalynn Grills James “Dad” Addison Mills III – Di on Ma zerolle Carla-M ae, Addie’s best friend – Ashley Schneberger

S upp or tin g Ca st: Gloria Cott – Abby Corpus Billy Wi ld – Jyoti Jhass Production Te am: Stage Manager – Karyn Kumhyr Assistant Stage Manager - Madison Andrews Digital Background Source – Chris Coyne Set Dresser – Lars Trel oa r Lighting Facilitator – Fisher Wohlgemut Costume Design – Robert Butler Assistant Costume Design – Diane Berger Me dia Public Re latio ns: Marketing – Greg Klassen Marketing – Heather Milne Graphic Design / Program Design – Mel Gonca lves Web Design / Email Marketing – Don La rsen

Woodwin ds: Flute / Piccolo – Anna Torqua to Oboe / English Horn – Elizabeth Mil ler Clarinet 1 – Coli n Mehmel Clarinet 2 / Bass Clarinet – Chris Wolf Bassoon - Nathan Schroeder Bra ss: Horn 1 – Rachel Cote Horn 2 – Ian Angala Trump et – Richard Gi llis Trombone – Craig Beatti e S tr ings: Violin 1 – Karen Bauch Violin 2 – Josiah Wurch Violin 3 – Brian Wur ch Viola – Laurel Howard Violoncello – Deverson Correi a Contrabass – Sam Fournier Percussion / Keyboar d: Percussion – Maggie Koreen Piano – Cary Denby Piano – Lisa Rump el

Opera C ho ru s: Sopranos - Cleo Ha rcus, Amalia Hickerson, Kate Oberheu Mezzo-sopranos - Isabelle Buisson, Sophia Dunning, Isabella Marshall, Ca s Ramos, Graze Re zaee Tenors - Gabrielijhay Gambalan, Le o M cPhail Baritones - Aaron Jude Abellera , George Alarape

Pr oduct ion S po nsor s: Gail Asper Family Foundati on, Inc Zita and Mark Bernstein Family Foundati on, Inc The Winnipeg Foundation

Public Fun der s: Winnipeg Arts Council Manitoba Arts Council S pon sor s: Robert Dalgliesh and Daniel Friedman Ron and Sandi Miel itz Dr. Bill Pope a nd Dr. Elizabeth Tip pett Pope Corpora te S po nsor s David Kraem er Financia l Service s

Supporters

Boar d of D ir ect or s: Spencer Duncanson - Art ist ic Direct or Robert Campbell - Board Chai r Donnalynn Grills - Trea surer Zohreh Gervais - Direct or Rob Herriot - Direct or Odette Heyn C.M., LL.D - Director Darrell Mar leau - Director Maybelle Pacak - Director Eldene Spencer - Director

D ire cto rs Eme r itus Diane Berge r Don Larsen Peter Klym kiw

With gratitude to those who made this production possible

Thank You: Elba Haid, Karen Schellenberg – U of M Theatre Dep artment, Victoria Sparks – U of M Musi c Department, Carolyn Boyes – Winnipeg Boys’ Choir, Carolyn Boyes – Ecole Sisler High School , Jana Zens – Daniel McIntyre School, Don Larsen, Diane Ber ger, Lars T reloar, Chris Coyne, Jonathan Challoner, Steve Denby, Aidan Wilson, John Erskine

Dear Friends, When we hear the wor d Christmas, we often picture festive lights, swirling snow, and beautifully decor ated trees. It’s a season of nostalgia and memories, of family and fr iends, of exchanging gifts and gathering for feasts. A time of celebr ation and joy. But we rarely stop to consi der how Christmas feels for those who have experienced loss, or for those who have very little. For some, the season is a painful re minder of loved ones gone, financial hardship, or the ache of going without. The House Without a Christmas Tree exp lores this very theme. At its he art is the story of a man who has lost his wife, and the daughter who helps heal him by bringing Christmas joy back into their home. It r eminds us that Christmas is, above all, a time of hope, renewal, and new beginnings. I remember asking myself in December 2020: Will thi s be a sad or happy Christmas memory? Isolated from family and friends, I faced the holiday a lone. Yet I recalled pa st years filled with laughter, presents piled around a glowing tree, and the warmth of tradition. That memory sparked hope. I decorated, cooked a ham, and even wr appe d a gift for myself. What could have been a lonely d ay became a beautiful memory. Once again, the magic of Christmas pre vailed. This is the essence of The House Without a Christmas Tree: even in the face of loss and adversity, the joy of Christ mas has the power to heal the most broken hearts. Rob Herriot Director The House without a Christmas Tree

Director’s Notes

Dear Friends, As the holiday season approaches, we i nvi te you to step back with us into a sim pl er time—a time when the warmth of family and the spirit of Christmas were treasures beyond measure. The House Without a Christmas T ree is more than an opera; it is a heartfelt story of love, resili ence, and the quiet magic that binds us together during the holidays.In this beautiful work by Royce Vavrek and Ricky Ian Gordon, we meet Add ie Mills and her fa mily as they navigate loss and longing, ultimatel y rediscovering the joy of connection. It reminds us that even in m oments of absence, the true gift of Chr istmas lies not beneath a tree but within the bonds we share. We are thrilled to bring this touching story to l ife with an extraordinary cast and creative tea m. Our hope is that, as you join us, you will feel the embrace of music and memory—a ce lebration of tradition and togetherness that speaks to the heart of the season. Thank you for supporting The Little Opera Company a nd for allowing us to share this journey with you. May your holidays be filled with peace, warmth, a nd song. Spencer Duncanson Artistic Direc tor The Little Opera Company

Artistic Director’s Message

Production Leadership

Winnipeg based Rob Herriot has directed produc tions a cross North America including recent productions of Cosi fan tutte a nd H ansel and Gretel for Toronto’s No Strings Theatre. Local productions inc lude Cosi Fan Tutte, La Cenerentola, Madama Butterﬂy, Don Pasquale, Ri goletto, La Boheme and Lucia di Lammermoor for Manitoba Opera as we ll as Beauty and the Beast and Cinderella for Rainbow Stage. Li ttle Ope ra Company productions include Three Decembers, The Magic Fl ute, The Walk From the Garden, A Tribute :Unsung Opera tic Blac k Divas and MLK and last spring’s Gisela in Her Bathtub. Rob also di rected online pr oductions of I Need Opera and Dance and Al l Those Arias.

Rob Her r iot, D ir ect or

Canadian conductor Armand Singh Birk was a 2023 conducting fel low at the Tanglewood Music Center and recently completed a conducti ng fellowship with the Orchestre Métr op olitain under the mentorship of Yannick Nézet-Séguin. His recent and upcoming engagements include the Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra, l’Orchestre Métropolitai n, Lei pzig Gewandhaus Mendelssohn-Orchester Akademie, Winni peg Symphony Orchestra, Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra, a nd the Littl e Opera Company. He is also the founder of the River City Chamber Or chestra . Armand is a devoted orchestral and operatic conduc tor committed to connecting new audiences with classic al music.

Ar mand S ing h Bir k, Mu sic Dir e ctor / Co nduct or

Stage Managem ent

Some of Karyn’s most recent shows in Winnipeg are Romeo and Julie t (RWB), Ma-Buhay! (Rainbow Stage), Little Women, T he Secret to Good Tea, Three Musketeers (RMTC), End of the Line (TP M), and Fea st (PTE). She has had the opportunity to work in theatr es across Canada with highlights that include the Shaw Festival, Charlottetown Festival, Atlan- tic Theatre Festival, CanStage, The Grand Theatr e, Citadel, ATP, S hi p’s Company Theatre, and has even ﬂown shows into remote communities for Manitoba Culture & Heritage on a Twin Otter ﬂoat p lane! Next up she will be off to Ontario for a production of the musi cal 42nd Street wi th Drayton Entertainment.

Karyn Kumhy r, Sta ge Ma nag e r

Praised for her “beautifully clear, light lyric soprano” (Ludwig Va n) , Sara Schabas has performed as a soloist on three continents. A 2024 Wir th Vocal Prize winner, she is a Dora Award nomi ne e, a former Metropolita n Ope ra Laffont Competition Distr ict Winner, and a three-time laureate of the Jeunes Ambassadeurs Lyriques. An avid interpre ter of new music, she collaborates closely with composers including Ja mes Rolfe, Da ni ka Lorèn, and Amy Brandon. Recent engagements include returns to the Little Opera Company of Winnipeg and debuts with the Victoria P hi lharmonic Choir, Toronto Beach Chorale, and Women’s Musical Club of Winni peg. Her recording of Rolfe’s O Greenest Branch wi ll be rel eased on New Focus Records in 2025. Sara holds degrees from the University of Toronto and Roosevelt University and is pursuing doctoral studies at McGill Univer sity.

Sarah Sc haba s, Addie Mills

Lara Secord-Haid is a ver satile singing artist whose work has been pra ised for its “impassioned strength” (Classical Scene) and for being “capabl e of the highest ﬂights of coloratura” (Atención San Miguel). She performs a wide range of classically inform ed reper toi re from ea rly to contemporary music. Operatic highlights include r ol es with Manitoba Oper a, Nashville Ope ra, Juill iard Op era, Manhattan Op era Studio, New York Lyri c Opera , Opera on the Avalon, and Little Opera Wi nnip eg. Lara holds a Master of Music from The Juilli ard School and a Bac he lor of Music from the N ew England Conservatory, with additional training at the Banff Centre, Highlands Opera Studio, and the Internationale Mei stersinge r Akademie.

Lara Secord-Ha id, Adu lt Addie Mills / He le n Mills / Miss Th ompso n

Principal Cast

Mezzo-soprano Ashley Schneberger, originally from Cochrane , Alberta, holds a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the Uni ve rsity of Manitoba and a Bachelor of Music from the University of Lethbr idge. Her operatic work includes roles with G ood Mess Op era Theatre, Manitoba Underground Opera, NUOVA Vocal Arts, Chicago Summ er Ope ra, and the University of Manitoba Opera Theatre. In 2024, she a ppear ed with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra as alto soloist in Messiah and A Traditional Christmas. Concert highlights include Berl ioz’s Les nuits d’été and Bach’s St. John Passion. Ashley is a recipi ent of multiple awa rds at the Winnipeg Music Festival and was a ﬁnalist in the Nati onal CFMTA Voic e Competition. She also maintai ns a private voice studio.

Ashley Schneberger, Carla-Mae , Addie’s be st f rie nd

Mezzo-soprano Donnalynn Grills is a versatile p erformer equa lly at home in opera, oratorio, and musical theatre. She has a ppear ed as a guest sol oi st with ensembles including the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra , Manitoba Chamber Orchestra, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Vanc ouver CBC Orchestra, and Regina Symphony Orchestra. H er stage credits i nc lude roles in The Barber of Sevil le, Le Nozze di Figaro, Lucia di Lam mermoor, La Traviata, Susannah, The Medium, Trouble in Tahiti, Ama hl and the Night Visitors, and productions with the Winnipeg Gilbert & Sulliva n Society. Donnalynn is also a member of The Winnipeg Singers and De ad of Winter.

Donnalynn Grills, Grandma Mills

Acadian baritone Dion Mazerolle ha s established a strong reputation in Canada and Europe for his musical ﬁnesse and commanding sta ge presenc e. A former m ember of the Atelier lyrique de l’Opéra de Montréal, he performs regularly in both opera and concer t. Recent and upcomi ng engagements include appearances with Edmonton Opera, Ca lgary Opera , and leading orchestras a cross Canada, with rep ertoire ranging from Wagner and Verdi to Bach and Brahms. Notable roles include Al be rich in Das Rheingold, Golaud in Pelléas et Mél isande, and Dr. Fal ke in Die Fledermaus. Dion has performed with companies i nc luding O péra national de Lorraine, Teatri di P iacenza, a nd F estival Classica .

Dion Ma z er olle , Jame s “Da d” Addiso n Mills III

Canadian soprano Abby Corpus is based in Winnipeg, where she studies as a post-baccalaureate student at the University of Manitoba. She holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Vic tor ia and has per formed in major cities across Ca na da. Recent highlights include her solo debut with the Victoria Symphony as guest vocalist in Best of Broadway, alongside Tony Award–nominated performer Melissa Erri co. In addition to performing, Abby works as a voic e teacher, music director, and theatre educator, with extensive experience in thea trical production and management.

Abby Cor pus, G lor ia Co tt

Jyoti Jhass is a Winnipeg-based singer making his operatic stage de but with The Little Opera Comp any. An alumnus of the Winnipeg Boys’ Choir, he is currently studying voice with Monica Huisman whi le compl eting his Bachelor of Arts at the Desautels Faculty of Music . His concert appearances include A Traditional Christmas wi th The Little Op era Company and Friends. A scholarship recipi ent with The Little Op era Company, Jyoti is recognized for his musicality and expressi ve voi ce.

Jyot i Jhass, B illy W ild

Supporting Cast

Opera Chorus:

Sopran os Cleo Har cus Amali a Hickerson Kate Oberheu Mezzo-sopra no s Isabelle Buisson Sophia Dunning Isabella Marshall Cas Ramos Graz e Rezaee

Te no rs Gabri elijhay Gambalan Leo McPhail Ba rit one s Aaron Jude Abellera George Alarap e

Th e Little Opera Company salutes the life and times of a dear friend and ally. While there were many in the business of set construction, only Ian committed to making our dreams come true. He was o ft en overbooked and tired, but he always made time to make our set designer’s drawings a reality.. . and safe. His dedication and generosity although c ouched in a gruff demeanor were qualities few p ossessed. We came to love him and rely on him for most of our productions. He is and will continue to be sorely missed.

IN MEMORIAM Ian Fillingham

Pa tro ns ($1000+) Gail Asp er O.C., O.M., LL.D. & Michael Paterson Rob Dalgliesh & Daniel Fri edman Neil Weisensel and Rachel Landrec ht Ron and Sandi Miel itz Dr. Wil liam Pop e & Dr. Elizabeth Ti ppett Pope Edith Wiebe Deve lop er ($500 - $999) Judith Panson Sid Robinovitch Edith Wiebe (in m emory of Marj Camp- bell) Edith Wiebe (in memory of Adr ianne (Duncanson) Maxwell-F errer) S upp or te r ($150 - $499 ) Stephen and Ja ckie Boyd Gerald BrownRobert Cam pbell Colleagues from the Bureau de l’éduca - tion françai se (in memory of Mar j Camp- bell) Don & Cindy Larsen Rory Runnells Margot Sim & Ken Hi ebert Annemarie Wi ebe

Our Individual Supporters

Friend ($ 50 - $ 149) Diane Berge r Coralie Bryant Jean-Paul Cloutier Viola Davidson John Erskine Andrew Froese Terumi Kuwada Terumi Kuwada (in memory of Marj Ca mpbell) Donna Lester Donna Lester (in memory of Marj Camp be ll & Adrianne (Duncanson) Maxwell-Fe rrer) Joy & John L oewen Lillian Mendoza Brent & Marion P feil Karin Woods Member ($1 - $ 49) Paul and Eva Lester Anonymous donat ions t hr oug h Ca na da Help s

With sincere thanks, we recognize the generous supporte rs whose contributions sustain the Little Opera Company’s 30-year tradition of professional opera and vocal performance in Winnipeg.

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