The Town of Cochrane is putting out a casting call for a new theatrical production designed to help residents connect to their new composting program.
“In communities, we need to do things with our hearts,” said Daunia Del Ben, writer and director of the play Dreaming Alberta. “Theatre is really powerful for translating a technical message into something magical.”
Curbside collection of organic waste will begin in April 2017, to keep Cochrane in line with the City of Calgary’s zero waste strategy. As part of the Roll With It program, residents will be able to put food waste organics, including cooking oils, food-soiled paper plates and napkins, as well as leaves, grass clippings, cat litter and other pet waste into green bins for weekly pickup in the summer (and bi-weekly in the winter).
Waste and Recycling Manager Fabrizio Bertolo said administrators are using a number of different communication tools to spread the word as far and wide as possible about the initiative. The play is just one more way to get people excited about the program.
“We wanted to have something different,” he said. “Throughout the community there are different personalities. You try to reach everybody.”
Del Ben has extensive experience writing educational theatre, both in Canada and in Europe. She said the Cochrane play’s thematic ties into the organics program’s purpose of helping the earth, and begins when “four people from different backgrounds … meet in the forest because they had a dream.”
“They work together to save the environment. This is the message of the play,” she said.
Since the topic of the play is local – Bertolo and Del Ben hope the stars of the production will also be homegrown.
To that end, Dreaming Alberta auditions will take place at the Town of Cochrane Clubhouse on Wednesday Nov. 30 from 6 to 9 p.m.
Del Ben is looking for two males and three female characters from a variety of ethnic backgrounds. She encourages actors to prepare a monologue, a dialogue, a song or even a poem to share with her at the auditions.
Actors will also be asked to read an excerpt from the play. Headshots and requests for sides can be sent to Del Ben at [email protected].
The play will be performed at the Cochrane RancheHouse Theatre on April 12 and 13, 2017. It will also tour to town schools.
Del Ben said is excited to translate the message of the new organics program through such a creative outlet.
“(We want to) make people emotional about this topic; to dream about the future in a better way.”
