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PHOTO CREDIT: Kelly Baker

  JUNE 11  

  MAIN STAGE    THEATRE  |  FILM  | ART  | MOVEMENT

HEARTS ABOVE US

SOLO CHICKEN PRODUCTIONS - THE SPIRIT PROJECT

Join The Spirit Project, a company of artists with and without intellectual and physical disabilities in a moving tribute to ourselves. 

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A multi-disciplinary explosion of art, theatre, music, and film. Directed by Lisa Anne Ross, created and performed by the company and featuring a roster of all-star collaborators including music composition by Kylie Fox and videography by Strike Pictures, this show is a tribute to ourselves.

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What moves the heart?

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HEARTS ABOVE US, examines who we are as individuals, what moves us and makes us awesome. We are mothers, we are sons, caretakers, and friends. We are artists, bakers, comedians, and backwards words aficionados. We are sassy, luminous, and dreaming of a pontoon.

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But who are we when we are together?

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We are silky and silly. We are ooey, gooey maroon. We are mischief on a spoon.

 

We are better together.

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HEARTS ABOVE US, STAGES 2023

(Photo by James Arthur MacLean)

SOLO CHICKEN PRODUCTIONS - THE SPIRIT PROJECT

New Brunswick / Traditional land of the Mi'kmaq, Wolastoqiyik & Peskotomuhkati

The Spirit Project is a company within a company (Solo Chicken)! Solo Chicken Productions is a performing arts company located on the traditional territory of the Wolastoqiyik / Wəlastəkewiyik (Fredericton) in New Brunswick. We foster the creative arts through the creation and development of new works of physical theatre, the facilitation of community collaborations and by offering accessible arts-based programming. The Spirit Project, run in partnership with L’Arche Fredericton and the Charlotte Street Arts Centre, is a company of artists with and without intellectual and physical disabilities whose mission is to share the joys of inclusive living and create dynamic, engaging, luminous art. Since 2019 we have met weekly to train, perform, eat, laugh, and create in community.

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CREDITS

Director/Performer - Lisa Anne Ross
Assistant Director/Performer - Kaylee MacNeil

Composer - Kylie Fox
Sound Designer - Sean McCormick
Costume Designer - Becca Wiegers
Head of Wardrobe/Performer - Dr. Lynda Ross
Set Design - Andrea Evans
Prop/Visual Art Design - Angela Black (Open Your Art)
Film Production - Ariana Martinez, Lance Blakney, Gordon Mihan (Strike Pictures)          
Technical Director - Chris Saad
Stage Manager - Jordan Comeau
        
Performer - Chianne Babineau
Performer - Rochelle Casey
Performer - Noah Deas
Performer- Veronica Grondin
Performer- Christopher Hammel
Performer- Maya Hickey
Performer- Mark Hickey
Performer- Madelin Hik
Performer- Sue Hill
Performer - Alex Klepic
Performer- Lauren Low
Performer- Jon McMath
Performer- Cassandra Mazariegos
Performer- Mary Mersereau
Performer – Courtney Steeves
Performer- Kyra Thomas
Performer- Stacey Vandecaveye
Performer- Alex Waugh
 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Partners: The Charlotte Street Arts Centre, Open Your Art, L’Arche Fredericton
Funders: Canada Council for the Arts, Fredericton Community Foundation, SOCAN Foundation, Government of New Brunswick, City of Fredericton, Government of Canada

ARTIST BIOS

LISA ANNE ROSS

Bouncy, Loquacious, Gregorius

“The Spirit Project is a joy machine”

Helium Hearts is the song that capture who we are.

LYNDA ROSS

Proud, Reliable, Organized

To describe all of us a quote from Freddie Mercury..."We are the champions my friends and we'll keep on fighting [in a nice way!] until the end."

I love it all! But I especially liked the creativity of all the members as we put together and enacted our small group tableau.

COURTNEY STEEVES

Energetic, Playful, Optimistic

“Don’t sweat the petty stuff, and don’t pet the sweaty stuff.”- George Carlin

I’m excited about the group choreography, I love to see how people express themselves!

STACEY VANDECAVEYE

Funny, Patient, Creative

“Goonies never say die” – The Goonies

My favourite part of Hearts Above Us is seeing everyone smiling and being themselves on the helium balloon video.

KAYLEE MACNEIL

Tenacious, Kind, Zany

“Mother! I don’t want a new dress. I want to save Camelot.” - Quest for Camelot

If I had to choose a highlight of the show, it would have to be the Helium Heart music video. Whenever it plays I feel my heart inflate with delight, giggles, and sighs.

JORDAN COMEAU

Adaptable, Creative, Emotional

“We're one of a kind, No category” - Six the Musical

I am so excited to be a part of a project filled with this much passion and “Helium Heart”.

NOAH DEAS

Perceptive, Imaginative, Electric

“I have confidence in sunshine, I have confidence in rain, I have confidence that spring will come again…” – The Sound of Music

I really, really love all the music for the show, which was created directly from material developed during the Spirit Project. It really captures the essence of the group.

CHRIS SAAD

Dependable, Hilarious, Laid Back

"You'll get nothing and like it" - Caddyshack

I am pleased to be working on Hearts Above Us and I am looking forward to the show.

MARY MERSEREAU

Giving, Hardworking, Reliable

“Love to Learn”

I am proud of the variety of artists shown in the “Helium Hearts” music video.

CASS MAZARIEGOS

Adaptable, Boisterous, Adventurous

“See you on the pontoon” – Sue Hill

The Helium Heart Song is catchy!

KYRA THOMAS

Chianne Babineau: Adventurous, Emotional, Optimistic “Never judge a book by its cover” My favourite part of the show is the “Helium Heart” music video.

CHIANNE BABINEAU

Sue Hill: Humorous, Smart, Conservative “Summer Loving” – Grease My favourite part of the show is the “Love to Love” song.

SUE HILL

Humorous, Smart, Conservative

“Summer Loving” – Grease

My favourite part of the show is the “Love to Love” song.

JON MCMATH

Sassy, Funny, Sweetie

“No one should be alone on Christmas”- Cindy Lou Who

My name – Noj – in the Backwards Name Song.

CHRISTOPHER HAMMEL

Hilarious, Passionate, Kind

“I love cookies and kisses” – Christopher

My favourite part of the show is the Heart Meditation and tree adornment.

VERONICA GRONDIN

Brave, Loyal, Wild

“And it looks like I’m the Queen” – “Let it Go”, Frozen

My favourite parts of Hearts Above Us are singing “Love to Love” and “We Are Heroes”.

LAUREN LOW

Adventurous, Observant, Pleasant

“Being in the circle and being included”

My favourite part of the show is the “I am Amazing” small group tableau.

MADELIN HIK

Silly, Happy, Witty

“Ecrous Tneve” - Madelin

“I love the backwards words song because I got to help with it”

ALEX WAUGH

Affectionate, Cheerful, Funny

“Hello” – Mickey Mouse

My favourite part of the show is the small poem reading.

ALEX KLEPIC

Friendly, Observant, Laid Back

“I like playing video games” – Alex

My favourite part of the show is the warm-up foot stomping.

MAYA HICKEY

Enthusiastic, Happy, Sociable

“Bop to the Top” – High School Musical

My favourite part of the show is the “Love to Love” song.

MARK HICKEY

Calm, Quiet, Observant

“You can do no wrong when you choose the right thing”

My favourite part of the show is the “Helium Heart” music video.

BEVERLEY BREWER

Hardworking, Nice, Friendly

"We are Champions" - Spirit Project Poem

I loved making our big tree!

REBECCA WIEGERS

Affectionate, Diligent, Willing. 

“... A creative mess is better than tidy idleness.” – Unknown

My highlight of the show would have to be the “We Are” mega choreography. It's wonderful to get to see the whole group together.

BRENNA GAUTHIER

Imaginative, Observant, Friendly

“Remember why you started”

Singing and making music with everyone makes me so happy, I cannot wait to share!

CASSIE

Calm, Compassionate, Thoughtful

“Always be kind”

My favourite part of the show is the “We Are Heroes” song.

GORDON MIHAN

Funny, Quick-witted, Motivated

“You can't use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have." - Maya Angelou

My favourite part of the show is the We Are Heroes song!

JESSE CANNEY

Loving, Playful, Charming

“I love to love” – Jesse

My favourite part of the show is the warm-up “I ams” with gestures.

KELLY GALLIE

Chatty, Playful, Reliable

“Family is not an important thing. It’s everything”

My favourite part of Hearts Above Us is the “Helium Heart” music video.

KYLIE FOX

Creative, Optimistic, Magical

“Character is fate”

I love making up songs and stories with friends!

LANCE BLAKNEY

Clever, Imaginative, Resourceful

"Reality is a sound, you have to tune in to it not just keep yelling.” - Anne Carson, Autobiography of Red

Favourite part of the show: tutu twirling!

LISA MARIE MCCABE

Artistic, Brave, Mature

“I found a thrill on blueberry hill. On blueberry hill, where I found you” – Fat Domino

My favourite part is singing all the songs.

MEL MCCARTHY

Zany, Lucky, Kind

“If you look for magic, you’ll find it”

My favourite part of the show is the “We Are” mini-hand choreography.

ROCHELLE CASEY

Friendly, helpful, easy-going

“If you can dream it, you can do it”- Walt Disney

The highlight of the show to me- when we gather together and hang our hearts on the tree <3

SEAN MCCORMICK

Dynamic, Artistic, Patient

"Let's-a Go!"- Mario

I love the songs we recorded! I think they capture an awesome snapshot of what The Spirit Project is all about.

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  FUNDERS  

  FESTIVAL SPONSORS  

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