Cast:
Tituba: Nicole Brooks
Mary Black: Divine Brown
Candy: Karen Burthwright
Captain/Doctor: Diana Coatsworth
Auctioneer/Shapeshifter: Saphire Demitro
Sarah: Deidrey Francois
Shapeshifter: Nickeshia Garrick
Abigail Williams: Sarah Gibbons
Rev Samuel Parris: Janet MacEwen
Shapeshifter: Debbie Nicholls-Skerrit
Mercy/Shapeshifter: Melissa Noventa
Puritan: Naomi Peltz
Betty Parris: Dana Jean Phoenix
Elizabeth Eldridge: Sabryn Rock
The Elder: Singing Sandra
Development History:The play underwent extensive development, including:
Initial development by b current as part of its rock.paper.sistahz Festival in 2009 & 2010.
A workshop production in rock.paper.sistahz Festival 2011.
Part of b current's rAiz'n the Sun Program in 2011.
An earlier version produced by b current and Theatre Archipelago in February 2012, for which Nicole Brooks was nominated for a Dora Mavor Moore Award.
Further development by Nightwood Theatre in 2014, culminating in a workshop production in the New Groundswell Festival.
Obeah Opera is a powerful and ambitious musical work, conceived as a Nicole Brooks vision. This opera delves into the historical narratives of the Salem Witch Trials, specifically focusing on the untold stories of women who have been silenced, particularly Tituba, and the broader themes of the African Diaspora. It is described by its creator, Nicole Brooks, as a journey of "extreme growth and adventure," aiming to "set the record straight" for these "lionesses." The work blends various performance art forms, with the intention of profoundly impacting its audience. The production is a significant commission from the cultural arm of the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am / Parapan Am Games arts and culture festival, PANAMANIA.
Credits:
Creator, Composer & Librettist, Tituba: Nicole Brooks
Director & Staging: Lezlie Wade
Music Director: Andrew Craig
Choreographer & Cultural Consultant: Anthony "Prime" Guerra
Sound Designer: Graham Clarke
Set & Costume Designer: Robin Fisher
Lighting Designer: Bonnie Beecher
Stage Manager: Kathleen Harrison
Assistant Stage Manager: Ashley Westlake
Assistant Director: Devin Herbert
Wardrobe Assistants: Janet Pym, Rebecca Zimmerman
Belts: Ina Kerklaan
Veils: Karen Rodd
Assistant Lighting Designers: Nic Vincent, Jacob Beecher
Production Liaison: Dan Gallo
Publicity: DW Communications (Dianne Weinrib & Josh Dumont)
Obeah Opera Image: Frank "Fraver" Verlizzo
Website Design: Alkaline Design Group
Print Design: Akiva Romer-Segal
Executive Producer: Nicole Brooks
Associate Producer (Creative): Marinda de Beer
Associate Producer (Technical): Paul Shaw
Producer: Derrick Chua
Producing Companies: Culchahworks Arts Collective, Nightwood Theatre, and b current
Commissioned by: The TORONTO 2015 Pan Am / Parapan Am Games arts and culture festival, PANAMANIA presented by CIBC