The Legends Project, for CBC Radio. www.cbc.ca/radio/ideas/features/legends
100+ First Nations foundational stories were gathered and recorded in their original language, as told by the elders in more than 25 communities across Canada, from coast to coast to coast. Featured 25 languages, all endangered. Each legend or ‘history’ was transcribed into English and lightly dramatized, then recorded with local native 'performers', in studios created in the community specifically for this project – sometimes a basement studio, or bingo hall, a community centre or a school classroom, or a local radio station. Each dramatized version was then transcribed back into the original language, and then recorded totally in that language. The final product was aired on CBC Radio's Ideas, and produced on DVD in English and the original language. This series was included in the Google Worldwide Language Initiative Project. Communities represented included Haida, Innu, Inuit, Shuswap, Mi’kmaq, Blackfoot, Montagnais, Gwich’in, Kwakiutl, Ahtahkakoop Cree, and Cayuga.
Broadcast on CBC Radio, and worldwide on BBC, ABC (Australia) RNZ (New Zealand).
The Plains Cree Stories from Sandy Lake, Saskatchewan.
Adapted and dramatized, in English and Cree.
Included in the The Legends Project, for CBC Radio. www.cbc.ca/radio/ideas/features/legends
100+ First Nations foundational stories, in 25 languages, including:
Haida, Innu, Inuit, Shuswap, Mi’kmaq, Blackfoot, Montagnais, Gwich’in, Kwakiutl, Ahtahkakoop Cree, and Cayuga First Nations .
CBC Radio, and worldwide on BBC, ABC (Australia) RNZ (New Zealand).
Legends of the Ilnuatsh from Mashteuiatsh, Quebec.
Adapted and dramatized, in English, Nelhuen and French.
Included in the The Legends Project, for CBC Radio. www.cbc.ca/radio/ideas/features/legends
100+ First Nations foundational stories, in 25 languages, including:
Haida, Innu, Inuit, Shuswap, Mi’kmaq, Blackfoot, Montagnais, Gwich’in, Kwakiutl, Ahtahkakoop Cree, and Cayuga First Nations .
CBC Radio, and worldwide on BBC, ABC (Australia) RNZ (New Zealand).
Legends of the Kwakwaka'waka: Stories collected in Alert Bay.
Adapted and dramatized, in English and Kwak'wala.
Included in the The Legends Project, for CBC Radio. www.cbc.ca/radio/ideas/features/legends
100+ First Nations foundational stories, in 25 languages, including:
Haida, Innu, Inuit, Shuswap, Mi’kmaq, Blackfoot, Montagnais, Gwich’in, Kwakiutl, Ahtahkakoop Cree, and Cayuga First Nations .
CBC Radio, and worldwide on BBC, ABC (Australia) RNZ (New Zealand).
Stories from the Longhouse - Spoken in the Cayuga Language
Adapted and dramatized, in English and Cayuga.
Included in the The Legends Project, for CBC Radio. www.cbc.ca/radio/ideas/features/legends
100+ First Nations foundational stories, in 25 languages, including:
Haida, Innu, Inuit, Shuswap, Mi’kmaq, Blackfoot, Montagnais, Gwich’in, Kwakiutl, Ahtahkakoop Cree, and Cayuga First Nations .
CBC Radio, and worldwide on BBC, ABC (Australia) RNZ (New Zealand).
Stratford Shakespearean Festival Series, CBC Radio, Producer/Director: Series ran for 10 years, 100+ productions, recorded in Glenn Gould Studio, Toronto, live audience, subscription series. Featured many Canadian superstars, including Timothy Findley, William Hutt, Bernard Hopkins, Peter Donaldson, Stephen Ouimette, Tom McCamus, Martha Henry, Cynthia Dale, Fiona Reid. Worked closely with Stratford Artisitc Director Richard Monette and Antoni Cimolino, current Artistic Director.
Shaw Festival Series, CBC Radio, Producer/Director: Series ran for 10 years, 50+ productions, recorded live-to-tape at the Shaw Festival, and studio productions. Worked closely with Shaw's star director, Neil Munro, Shaw's Artistic Director Christopher Newton (now Artistic Director Emeritus), and dramaturg Denis Johnston.
Plus numerous other dramas, musicals, Christmas specials, and docudramas, for various programs including Ideas, The Current, Sunday Showcase, Monday Night Playhouse, Afghanada Series, Sounds Like Canada, Outfront, Morningside.
More than 100 productions, recorded live in front of an audience, highlighting Canada's top tier of classical performers, composers and technicians. Created and Produced by Barbara Worthy, with Damiano Pietropaolo, Executive Producer for CBC Radio, Richard Monette and Antoni Cimolino, Artistic Directors, Stratford Festival.
Corporate Sponsor: Bank of Montreal
More than 40 productions recorded live at the Royal George Theatre from 1993 - 2005, highlighting rarely produced early Canadian drama and unique European gems, complementing the Shaw mandate. Produced by Barbara Worthy, with Artistic Director Christopher Newton, and Academy Director Denis Johnston.
Corporate Sponsor: Bell Canada
This park in the heart of the Old Town in Niagara-on-the-Lake, celebrates Niagara’s rich - and rarely told - Black History. Download the app at vofpark.org to hear the walking tour - audio recordings that explore Voices of the Enslaved, Voices of the Freedom Seekers, Voices of the Black Loyalists, and Voices of the Black Community. Writer/Producer: Barbara Worthy. Research: Natasha Henry. Cast of local and Shaw Festival actors/musicians. Recording Engineer Joe Lapinksi , Wow! Recording Studio and Creative Music Space.
Flames of War
Flames of War - a 'son et lumiere' (sound and light) show - tells the story of the War of 1812 in a fusion of sound, light, music, dance, drama, and video. This triple-screen production was originally projected on to the exterior of a Parks Canada Heritage Blockhouse in the historic grounds of Fort George, Niagara- on-the-Lake, Ontario. The production then toured Canada, from Winnipeg to Halifax, and seen in its triple screen version in venues as diverse as downtown urban car parks, Native arenas, playing fields, or historic forts, with backdrops as unique as the spectacular Bay of Fundy, or the historical Citadel in Halifax.Flames of War is a story of survival, loss, heroics and victories. Flames of War highlights the major battlefield of the war – Niagara. But significantly it captures the crucial role played by Native Nations, and how their alliance directly affected the outcome of the war, resulting in the Canada we know today. Narrated by: Valerie Pringle Runs: 37:25 Suitable for all ages English/French versions Original production (2013): Steve Shaw Productions, Barbara Worthy, & Parks Canada
Portable Production (2014): Cross Canada Tour produced by Barbara Worthy &12th Street Productions with the Niagara Historical Society and Museum.
Photos courtesy of Vince Ierulli, 12th Street Productions.
Produced by Barbara Worthy and 12th Street Productions (Vince Ierulli) for Parks Canada.
This 30min video honours the role played by Canadians on June 6, 1944, in what was known as "Operation Overlord" - better known as D-Day. It had been confirmed a year earlier in Quebec, in 1943, when Mackenzie King, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill agreed to a joint coordination of forces for the invasion of France.
This video recounts the heroics of the Canadian forces, on land, in the air, and on the sea - in particular on the HMCS Haida - as forces landed on the beaches of Normandy. Original footage shows the horror and bravery as forces battled for France, and ultimately ensured the allied victory in Europe. . HMCS Haida - the only surviving Tribal Class Destroyer from WWII - is moored in Hamilton, Ontario. This movie was shown on the exterior of the battleship on D-Day, 2014, and again in 2015. It is now part of the permanent collection of Parks Canada.
The last surviving Tribal Class Destroyer from WWII - she was in a class of her own with the most sophisticated technology of her age. Twenty-seven Tribal Class destroyers were built. At the end of the war only 13 remained. Today, there is only The Haida. She lost only two men in her entire history - and saved the lives of thousands.
This video honours the men and women who served on her, and who fought one of the most decisive battle of WWII: D-Day.
Today, HMCS Haida is moored in Hamilton.
Announcing Canada's involvement in WWII
For the Niagara Historical Society and Museum: a series of nine 'kiosk' documentary videos, approx 5 mins each, detailing Niagara's history in nine chapters: First Nations; First Settlement; The Capital Years; The War of 1812; Rebuilding; Tourism; Transportation and Industry; The 20th Century; Military History.
Each video is produced for viewing on Samsung tablets.
Co-produced with 12th Street Productions.
Under the artistic guidance of Juliet Dunn and Peter Shea, the TD Niagara Jazz Festival is a new, cutting edge four-day celebration of all types of jazz, performed in intimate indoor and outdoor venues in the heart of Niagara’s stunning wine country. The Niagara Jazz Festival presents the finest Canadian and internationally acclaimed jazz musicians by way of spectacular concerts, wine, craft beer, and culinary packages, and free performances throughout Niagara-on-the-Lake and selected locations throughout Niagara.
Production Assistant: Grant and proposal writing, Emcee, Program/Web Content.
The TD Niagara Jazz Festival is a new, cutting edge four-day celebration of all types of jazz, performed in intimate indoor and outdoor venues in the heart of Niagara’s stunning wine country. The Niagara Jazz Festival promotes excellence by presenting the finest Canadian and internationally acclaimed jazz musicians to Niagara’s local and vast tourist audiences, by way of spectacular concerts, wine, craft beer, and culinary packages unique to the Niagara region, and free performances throughout Niagara-on-the-Lake and selected locations throughout Niagara.
Music Niagara launched the Music Niagara Performance Academy in 2014.
10 students were enrolled and the curriculum ran for 9 days, incorporating classes, instrument practice, workshops, master classes, performances and cultural outings.
Music Niagara is now in its 17th year. The festival runs for four weeks in Niagara on the Lake. Each year’s repertoire showcases the work of exceptional Canadian and international composers and performers, from the world of classical, Jazz, and chamber music, to country, cabaret and big band.
In 2015 the Festival runs from July 11 to August 9.
From page to stage, radio, or the great outdoors.
Director/Producer/Writer/Actress.
Agent: Sandra Gillis, Premier Artists, Toronto: Ph. 905 461 6868.
Directing Credits (Selected)
History of Niagara (Documentary, 2015)
A Queen’s Coronation (Music Niagara 2013)
Flames of War (1812 Sound & Light show, Fort George, 2013/14 National tour)
It’s A Wonderful Life – The Musical (Lyndesfarne Theatre, 2012)
Petticoats, Boots & Muskets (1812 musical theatre, Niagara region, varied)
CBC Radio Legends Series (2004 – present, 50 + episodes)
Dick Barton:The Serial (Brock Radio/Niagara Museum)
The Wizard and His Parrot (with Christopher Newton/Music Niagara)
Radio Noir (Lyndesfarne Theatre/Niagara Museum/Brock Radio)
It’s A Wonderful Life – The Musical (Indie Production 08)
GBS Abbreviated (Shaw Festival Lunchtime)
A Certain Lady-Dorothy Parker (with Kate Hennig, Shaw Festival Lunchtime 2005)
How the Vote Was Won (with Jennifer Phipps, Shaw Festival Lunchtime 2004)
Chekhov’s The Creditors (with John Neville, co-director ARC – Artwood, Toronto)
Oscar Wilde’s Lord Arthur Saville’s Crime (with Timothy Findley, Stratford Series/CBC)
Oscar Wilde’s The Canterville Ghost (co-directed with Neil Munro, Stratford Series/CBC)
Elliot Hayes’ Intimate Admiration (with John Neville and Lucy Peacock, Stratford Series/CBC)
Dave Carley’s Writing With Our Feet (with Michael Riley, Stratford/CBC)
Gogol’s Diary of a Madman (with Stephen Ouimette, Bravo/Stratford Series/CBC)
Shaw Abbreviated:/St.Joan/Wonderful Town (Shaw/Carousel Theatre Camps)
Writing Credits (selected)
Flames of War: 1812 Documentary drama/multimedia
The Burning of Niagara: 1812 historical re-enactment
Graveyard Shift – A Walk Through History: History of St. Mark’s cemetery and its ‘inhabitants’
Acting For Life: Life skills from the actors’ toolbox: created and co-authored with Jon Osbaldeston
The Legends-First Nations Myths and Stories: (50+ stories, adapted for CBC Radio)
The Wizard and His Parrot: (adapted Shavian fable)
The Abbreviated St. Joan: (adapted from GB Shaw’s St. Joan)
Wonderful Town – St. Kits: (youth musical, co-written with Jon Osbaldeston)
Remember Me To Everyone: (co-written with Jon Osbaldeston) ‘Letters Home, adapted from Charlotte Gray’s non-fiction best-seller
Radio Noir: a collection of golden age radio adapted for the stage
It’s A Wonderful Life – The Musical: (co-written with Jon Osbaldeston)
GBS Abbreviated: (a life story)
Kidzair: (Air Canada en route children’s variety programming)
Curtains Up: (Shaw Publicity/Marketing/Education DVD)
Lord Arthur Saville’s Crime: (with Timothy Findlay/Stratford Series, CBC Radio)
A Certain Lady-Dorothy Parker: the lives, loves and troubles of Dorothy Parker
How the Vote Was Won: a compilation of suffragette plays, words and actions
Through the years, It’s a Wonderful Life has been wonderfully versatile.
It has been a movie, a musical and a radio broadcast. It is a TV staple every Christmas, and has seeped into pop culture since it opened (to little fanfare) in 1946. Novelist/musician John Pierson even wrote a book about the characters’ futures had George Bailey not survived his plunge into the river.
But no matter what version you see it, the message still resonates: Your life affects people in ways you’ll never know.
“It shows the foibles of humanity,” says Barbara Worthy, who directs a new production by Lyndesfarne Theatre Projects opening Nov. 21 at the Seneca Queen Theatre. “The message in the original movie (is the same).”
But the way it’s told will be much different. Using veteran Shaw Festival performers like Jeff Meadows, Jenny Wright, Ric Reid and Patty Jamieson, the cast will recite the show as a radio play, with music by U.K. composer John Hogg.
Written and adapted by Barbara Worthy and Jon Osbaldeston.
St. Catharine's Standard/John Law: Sun Media
A ribald, fact-filled, highly-irreverent cabaret re-telling of the War of 1812. Commissioned by the Niagara Historical Society, co-written with Monica Dufault. Original music by Aaron Berger and Steven Baranyai.
Performed as a Tent Production in Niagara on the Lake, 2013 - 2014.
School tours throughout 2014.
Bringing to life the residents of St. Mark's cemetery - the oldest cemetery in Ontario. Produced with the Niagara Historical Society and Museum, with invaluable help from Donald Coombe.
Produced for the Niagara Historical Society and Museum.
Producers: Barbara Worthy and Vince Ierulli (12th Street Productions)
Writer/Narrator: Barbara Worthy.
This is part 7 of a 9-pt series, illustrating the history of Niagara, Ontario, from its First Nations heritage, early settlers, war and American occupation, to its ultimate growth as a major destination for lovers of wine, music, theatre and heritage.
Produced for the Niagara Historical Society and Museum.
Producers: Barbara Worthy and Vince Ierulli (12th Street Productions)
Writer: Barbara Worthy. Narrator: Christopher Newton
This is part 8 of a 9-pt series, illustrating the history of Niagara, Ontario, from its First Nations heritage, early settlers, war and American occupation, to its ultimate growth as a major destination for lovers of wine, music, theatre and heritage.
Produced by Barbara Worthy and Vince Ierulli, (12th Street Productions).
Honouring the 70th anniversary of D-Day, the battle that changed the face of Europe. Produced for Parks Canada, this was seen as an exterior production with the HMCS Haida as the backdrop, the last remaining Tribal Class battleship from WWII, moored in Hamilton, Ontario. Accompanied by a sound and light show, pyrotechnics, and live narration in English and French.