Theatre pro from Big Apple brings lights of Broadway to Hornepayne

It isn’t often that a Broadway musical director and composer brings an original musical to a small northern Ontario community like Hornepayne.

But that’s what’s in store for the township when Memegwesi Mischief - co-written by Broadway’s Mary Ann Ivan and Cedric Thompson, an Algoma District School Board music, visual art and English teacher - hits the stage at Hornepayne JK-12 School on Thursday, April 13.

The musical, including seven original songs written by Ivan, will include performances by the school’s kindergarten to Grade 8 students.

Memegwesi are figures from Ojibway folklore.

Ivan has worked on Broadway in the U.S. and in other countries including Turkey and Scotland.  

Thompson - new to Hornepayne - has taught in Toronto and overseas in countries such as Turkey, Ukraine and Germany.

Thompson met and worked with Ivan 20 years ago on a musical education project in Turkey.

“It was a 10-day program. After the 10 days Mary Ann said ‘we should keep in touch and do this again’ so over the years we've done several productions,” Thompson told SooToday.

“When I came to Hornepayne last year I said to the principal, ‘I have a friend on Broadway and would the board be willing to sponsor a production?’ and so that’s what we’ve done.”

“We write original stories. She’s a composer and a really good lyricist, and I’m pretty good with storytelling and writing, so we complement each other. Between the two of us we share the responsibility of making sure it all comes together,” Thompson said.

“We wanted to focus on an Indigenous concept so we had Katherine Lewis, a school parent and Indigenous drum circle member and storyteller come in to teach the kids some traditional Ojibway drumming songs.”

“The idea of the Memegwesi came from her because we originally wanted to use a jingle dress dancer as a spirit woman but she suggested that in this community the Memegwesi are much more of a tradition,” Thompson said.

“The story developed with the kids, and the teachers, and then we had Katherine come in and the story developed from there. Essentially the story is written by everybody but Mary Ann and I went in and made sure it follows the trajectory of a typical musical.”

Memegwesi Mischief is officially co-written by Thompson and Ivan, but Thompson said “the story would not have taken this direction without Katherine's input.”

The musical is set in the '80s.

“A group of teenagers is heading to a Michael Jackson concert before Christmas in 1984. They want to get on a train and go to the concert but they can’t go to the concert before they learn a few life lessons from spirit animals, so we’ve incorporated Indigenous culture in that sense,” Thompson said.

“The kids say nasty things about their town, about people, so before they can get on the train they’re transported through a portal to be taught by spirit animals. The raven leads them into the portal to be taught lessons by the wolf, turtle, bear and eagle. The turtle teaches them about truth and honesty. When they go to the bear they learn about courage. The lyrics of the songs carry the message of each spirit animal. Finally the eagle teaches them about love. They all come together and they agree that they understand all the messages and are allowed to jump on the train and go to the concert.”

As Hornepayne is a rail town, the musical is set in the community’s old roundhouse.

“Basically the kids go to explore the roundhouse and the Memegwesi tricks them into following this light, so that when they head to the train station they get waylaid, they end up at a pond and they see these magical creatures who teach them life lessons to get them back on the right path,” Thompson said.  

Memegwesi Mischief was originally designed to feature 12 students but that number grew to 45, including 17 kindergarten students.

Grade 9 students have helped with set design.

The show is approximately 45 minutes long.

“With Mary Ann, the kids have an opportunity to work with someone that they would probably never encounter in the course of their school career. A lot of these kids, if they have left town, haven't been to the theatre but have gone shopping instead. Now they’re using personal body microphones and singing solos so it’s been a steep learning curve for them, but I’m absolutely impressed,” Thompson said.

Writing of the story and work on the production began before March Break.

A presentation of Memegwesi Mischief will take place for parents, seniors and Holy Name of Jesus Catholic School students at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, April 12, the main event at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 13.

Both shows will be at Hornepayne JK-12 School. 

Admission is free.

The show is sponsored by the ADSB with assistance from Hornepayne Lumber Mill, Merriam Music in Oakville and the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 194 Ladies Auxiliary.

“There’s a lot of buzz,” Thompson said of the anticipation in Hornepayne over the upcoming show.

“We’re creating magic with kids.”