Written by local playwright Dorothy Dittrich, The Piano Teacher was originally a 2017 Arts Club Theatre Silver Commission and opened to critical acclaim. Vancouver Presents shared, “The Piano Teacher remains a beautiful, graceful and incredibly moving piece of theatre, filled with maturity and thoughtfulness.” Winner of The Governor General’s Award for English-Language Drama and Jessie Richardson Award for Outstanding Original Script, The Piano Teacher is sure to be a memorable experience for theatre-goers in Chemainus.
When classical pianist Erin (Rebecca deBoer) experiences a devastating family tragedy, she finds herself unable to play music or even touch a piano. Navigating through the traumatic loss of the life she knew, she meets an unconventional piano teacher, Elaine (Erin Ormond), who gives her new hope for the future. Rounding out the story is a contractor, Tom (Victor Hunter), who brings a new perspective and love of music into the equation.
According to a Georgia Straight review of The Piano Teacher’s world premiere, “Dittrich’s unadorned dialogue is refreshingly direct: the characters speak and listen intently to one another, usually without subtext. It’s quietly riveting, as is the gentle progression Elaine uses to help Erin overcome her fear of the piano…”.
The Piano Teacher is a story of loss, love, friendship, and the healing power of music. It was the arts we collectively turned to in 2020 when the world shut down and this story illuminates how creative expression allows us to survive difficult times. Join the Chemainus Theatre Festival this fall and rediscover the connections we find as a community. Whether you are a classical music aficionado, took a few piano lessons as a child, or can get lost in a song on the radio, The Piano Teacher will touch your heart and stay with you long after the applause.
Sarah Rodgers returns to the Chemainus Theatre Festival as Director. If you caught her recent production of Gaslight you will know she is a master at storytelling. Not only is Dorothy Dittrich the playwright, but she will also assist in sound design for this production. The creative team supplying the behind-the-scenes magic is Hans Saefkow as Set Designer, Hannah Case as Costume Designer, and Harika Xu as Lighting Sesigner. Gina Moe will be managing the stage and assisted by apprentice stage manager Lourdes Sumners.
