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BY JADE O'KEEFFE

291 explores the love of two of the most influential figures in early American modernist art: Georgia O’Keeffe and Alfred Stieglitz. In 1915 Stieglitz received some of O'Keeffe's charcoal drawings at his famous 291 gallery. They were sent to him, unbeknownst to O'Keeffe, by her friend Anita Pollitzer. Fascinated by these drawings, Stieglitz began a correspondence with O'Keeffe that would last until his death in 1946. Throughout those three decades they exchanged over 5,000 letters; a selection of which have been published in a book titled My Faraway One by Sarah Greenough. This play is inspired by those letters, and includes excerpts from them, thanks to the permission granted by the Yale Committee on Literary Property. We are very grateful to be able to bring some of O'Keeffe and Stieglitz's real words to the stage. Unlike Stieglitz, O’Keeffe kept to herself and spent little time and energy building a public persona. For this reason her art and her character continue to be wildly misunderstood. It is with such delight that we bring these characters to life once again for the Parodos Festival, and share part of their story and truth with you.

291 was first developed and workshopped at Ryerson University for the New Voices Festival in 2014. It was subsequently accepted into the Rough Writers New Play Festival 2015, where it received a staged reading with professional actors in Colorado. This is the play's second fully staged production.

70 Minutes

Thursday June 14th at 8:00pm and Friday June 15th at 2:00pm and 8:00pm

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Photography by: Joseph Hammond

Jade is a Toronto-based actress, singer and playwright. She has earned her BFA in Acting at Ryerson University. Most recently, Jade completed Theatrical Clowning at George Brown College with Helen Donnelly and studied Psychosocial Rehabilitation in Mental Health at Humber College. She is passionate to contribute and explore some new opportunities towards a future that better combines the arts and healthcare! Before Ryerson, Jade worked as an actor for four consecutive seasons at 4th Line Theatre, a leading Canadian open-air theatre.

Jade O'Keeffe

Playwright, playing the role of Georgia O'Keeffe

Chris is a Toronto-based actor, creator and story-teller and a graduate of George Brown College’s theatre program. Recent credits include Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing (Hart House Theatre), Iago in Othello and Laertes/Rosencrantz in Hamlet (Driftwood Theatre Group) and Charles Hamilton in Gone With The Wind (RMTC). As a veteran member of the Nearly World-Famous Dufflebag Theatre, Chris has performed across Canada, the USA and Southeast Asia. Upcoming: This summer Chris will be taking on over 70+ roles as ‘Clown 1’ in The 39 Steps at Bruce County Playhouse in Port Elgin, ON.

Christopher Darroch

Playing the role of Alfred Stieglitz

Rebecca is a freelance director and producer, and graduate of the Centre for Drama, Theatre and Performance Studies at the University of Toronto. In addition to her training under Leah Cherniak at U of T, she has completed directing workshops with Adam Seelig, Matthew Jocelyn and Kim Collier. Rebecca also has experience as an arts administrator: She has held positions at Theatre Ontario, Canadian Stage, and the U of T Drama Centre, and currently works as the Network Coordinator for SPARC (Supporting Performing Arts in Rural and Remote Communities). She recently directed Hedwig and the Angry Inch for Hart House Theatre, as well as Pearle Harbour's Battle Cry for the 2018 Rhubarb Festival.

Rebecca Ballarin

Director

Beau Dixon- Multi award winning actor, playwright, composer, director, producer. Dora nomination for sound design/composition, Rifles (Shaw Festival/ Praxis Theatre/ Next Stage Theatre Festival) The Big Sleep (Vertigo Theatre) When The World Was Green (Surface Underground Theatre), Oregano (Theatre Rhea) Othello (Mysterious Entity), 291 Letters (Ryerson Theatre/ New Voices), Berlin Blues, Bad Luck Bank Robbers (4th Line Theatre). Selected writing credits; Once A Flame, From Here To Africville (Factory Theatre). Beneath Springhill: The Maurice Ruddick Story (Thousand Islands/Firebrand Theatre/ Lunchbox Theatre/ Theatre Collingwood) received three DORA nominations (TYA) and awarded for best new play and best individual performance, two Calgary Critic's nominations and respectively won for best solo performance, along with a Betty Mitchell nomination (Calgary). Selected acting credits: Hamlet, Next To Normal (Tarragon), Guys and Dolls, HMS Pinafore (Stratford Festival) Motherf!@#er With The Hat (ATP/ Calgary), Titus, As You Like It (Shakespeare In High Park/ Canstage). Beau is a KM Hunter Award Finalist. He has toured extensively throughout Canada, Europe and the U.S. as a recording artist and musician. He has four solo albums under his name and was recently inducted into Peterborough's Pathway of Fame for his leadership in the arts.

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