Rosebud Theatre Company’s Prairie Stories Contest

Times Jr. Reporter

 

In honour of the Canadian writer W.O. Mitchell, Rosebud’s Theatre Company (RTC) will be hosting a Prairie Stories Contest, where story tellers are encouraged to put their pens to paper and submit their original stories about growing up on the Canadian prairies. The event stemmed from the RTC’s summer production, Jake and the Kid: Prairie Seasons, which is based upon a novel by Mitchell and was adapted to theatre by James B. Douglas. 

After the RTC received secured rights for the production of ‘Jake’, from the author’s son, Orm Mitchell, he also offered the company a number of his father’s books which could be used as a means of promotion.  The suggested idea was perfectly fitting to encourage patronage by having them submit their prairie stories and in exchange, be rewarded with books. 

Throughout the summer of 2011 and progressing on until Aug. 27, weekly winners will be drawn for a book or an audio book by the author and the grand prize winner for best story will receive a larger package of the many works of W.O. Mitchell. 

The turnout for incoming stories has been great, according the RTCs’ marketing coordinator, Heather Little. With very little publicity, the theatre received maybe six or seven stories the first week, and as the summer continually progresses, so does the number of stories. 

“It’s really great to get these stories in and read them, and hear about all the experiences people had growing up on the Canadian prairies, and how they compare to our own experiences here in Rosebud, and the times now too, how things have changed,” said Little.

So far, there have been three weekly winners, the most recent winner being Donna Black, who was drawn on July 2. She tells a story of her dad’s recollection of walking on thin ice. The prior winner, Steve Rendall tells an unlikely story of Elvis Presley attending his school at the Bible Institute in Three Hills. Tthe first story being a remembrance of the past and an acknowledgement of that things back then were not quite as easy as they are today. The story written by Jean Dudley (deceased) and was submitted by her daughter, Betty Fourier. All three stories can be found on the RTC’s website, as well as an audio recording of each story, read aloud by one of the cast members from the production, Jake and the Kid: Prairie Seasons.

As to whether or not the Prairie Writing Contest will become a yearly thing, Little says it depends on the show’s success and if the prizes can be made available the following year. But for now, the show in 2011 is the focus.

Jake and the Kid: Prairie Seasons started on May 27 and will on until Aug 28, during Wednesdays through Sundays. Matinees as well as evening performances are both available. More information about finding tickets can be found on the RTC’s website, www.rosebudtheatre.com.