GET THAT HOPE

By Andrea Scott

Directed by André Sills

World Première

“YOU GOT TO TAKE A LIKKLE BIT OF SUFFERIN' TO GET THAT HOPE.”

Richard Whyte is determined to celebrate Jamaican Independence Day in style. The rice is soaking, the ginger beer is cooling and today his lottery ticket is finally going to hit it big! But Richard's squabbling family have other ideas. Over the course of a single sweltering day in Toronto's Little Jamaica, a lifetime of buried secrets and dreams will surface, forcing a re-examination of true independence.

MEIGHEN FORUM EVENTS

CAST & CREATIVE

(he/him)

2024: Simeon Whyte in Get That Hope. Stratford debut. Elsewhere: Angels in America (That Theatre Company); Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Mirvish); Trouble in Mind (Shaw Festival); Alphonse (Theaturtle); All's Well That Ends Well, Hamlet (Canadian Stage); Incredible Speediness of Jamie Cavanaugh (Roseneath); Dirty Butterfly, Venus' Daughter (Obsidian Theatre/B2C Theatre). Film/TV/Radio: Cabin Connection (SuperChannel); Death She Wrote, Rule Book of Love (M6). Training: York University Conservatory. Awards: META - The Adventures of a Black Girl… (NAC/Centaur/Black Theatre Workshop); Toronto Theatre Critics Award - Pass Over (Obsidian Theatre). Et cetera: Kaleb dedicates this season to the endless love for his wife and son.

(she/her) Birmingham Conservatory 2022/23

2024: Rachel Whyte in Get That Hope. Third season. Stratford: Princess of France in Love's Labour's Lost, Richard II, Player Queen in Hamlet and Olabisi in Death and the King's Horseman. Elsewhere: 16 characters in No Child (Arts Club); Ann Atwater in The Best of Enemies, Novelette in 'da Kink in My Hair (Pacific Theatre); Same Difference (Theatre Conspiracy); Catherine in The Numbers Game (Storefront Theatre). Film/TV: Corrective Measures, Swan Song, Voir, The Baby-Sitters Club, Detour, Song Bird, Scared Lies, Sirens. Radio/Recordings: Aisha in Redbone Coonhound (Arts Club); Mama in Rishi & d Douen (Rumble Theatre and Carousel Theatre). Training: York University. Awards: Peter Donaldson Award recipient, Michael Mawson Award recipient, Jessie Award nomination and B.C. Arts Council Pivot recipient.

2024: Richard Whyte in Get That Hope. Third season. Stratford: Twelfth Night, Taming of the Shrew, Romeo and Juliet, Sweet Bird of Youth. Elsewhere: Leslie in Mustard, Andre in Hush, Pal Joey (Tarragon Theatre); Buddy Black in Helen Lawrence (Canadian Stage/Centre for Performing Arts, LA); Duma Kumbo in He Left Quietly (Summerworks); Sam in "Master Harold" and the Boys (Gananoque Playhouse); Pickett in Coming Through Slaughter (Necessary Angel); Benvolio in Romeo and Juliet (Globe Theatre Regina); Film /TV: Guest Star: Fargo, Star Trek, Defiance, Degrassi. Supporting Lead: Welcome to Marwen and Tron. Training: Maggie Bassett Studio, Equity Showcase, Seneca College. Online: @conradcoates. Et cetera: Conrad dedicates this season to our ancestors!

2024: Margaret Whyte in Get That Hope. Stratford debut. Kim Roberts's lengthy career encompasses over 200 stage, film, television and voice credits. Of note: Greta in The Sinner, Marni in Schitt's Creek, Christine in The Handmaid's Tale, Neeva in The Strain, Mazz in The Doodlebops and Mayor Goodway in Paw Patrol. Kim was the first black woman to speak in a nationally televised commercial in Canada and is a co-founder of Obsidian Theatre Company. Last seen on stage as Mrs. Dickson in Intimate Apparel (Alberta Theatre Projects), Kim is thrilled to be returning to her theatre roots. Online: Instagram: @mskimroberts, Twitter: @kimroberts1, Facebook: @Kim Roberts Page, LinkedIn: Kim Roberts.

(she/her)

2024: Millicent Flores in Get That Hope. Second season. Stratford: Lisette de Courval in Les Belles-Soeurs, King Lear, and Much Ado About Nothing. Elsewhere (selected): Pilgrim in 1184 (Phoenix Arts/Aga Khan); Chorus in Wedding at Aulis, Old Major/Poophead in Animal Farm, Ensemble in Alligator Pie, Celia in As You Like It, Lucy in The Threepenny Opera, Mary in The Time of Your Life (Soulpepper); Ladybug in James and the Giant Peach, Fumiko in Hana's Suitcase, Jojo in Seussical, Bird/Mole in A Year With Frog & Toad, Loa in Blue Planet (YPT); Huong in Vietgone, Lady Nijo in Top Girls (RMTC). Training: University of Winnipeg (B.A.-Honours) and Soulpepper Academy. Online: Instagram: @jennifer_villaverde. Et cetera: Thank you to my agent, Karen, and all my love to Mike and Catie. Go, Aces!

Birmingham Conservatory, 2005

2024: Orsino in Twelfth Night and director of Get That Hope. 10th season. Stratford: King Lear, Much Ado About Nothing, Richard III, All's Well That Ends Well, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Coriolanus, The Tempest, etc. Elsewhere: Director: The Royale (Citadel Theatre); Gloria (ARC/Crow's). Acting: Glass Menagerie, Sex, An Octoroon, "Master Harold"...and the Boys (Shaw Festival); Julius Caesar (Crow's Theatre). Film/TV: Revenge of the Black Best Friend, Kim's Convenience (CBC); Slumberland (Netflix); Private Idiots (YouTube). Voiceover: Tiny Louis in Summer Memories (Family); Fins in Sago Mini Friends (Apple TV). Training: George Brown Theatre School. Awards: Sterling Award for Direction, The Royale; Toronto Theatre Critics Award and Dora Award - Best Actor, "Master Harold"...and the Boys; MyEntWorld Critics' Pick Award - Best Actor, An Octoroon. Online: Instagram: @dre373. Et cetera: Love you NARI.