our Team
book and lyrics
Gretchen Kelbaugh
music
Theresa Patterson
music
Deb Adshade
Gretchen Kelbaugh
Ever since I read Auntie Gert’s memoirs, pasted into her scrapbook and given to me by my mother, I have been driven to spread her story: as a biography, a screenplay and, now, a musical. Some girls in the early 1960s may have wanted to be a nurse; I wanted to be a spy. I practised spying while my parents shopped, following familiar patrons around the grocery store every Friday night, taking notes of suspicious behaviour. In junior high, I wanted to be Harriet the Spy; in senior high, it was Sherlock Holmes all the way. This is one reason I fell in love with Auntie Gert’s story. She got to spy for a noble cause. Actually rubbed soot on her face to sprint through allies at night and wore fabulous costumes by day, provided by the Actresses’ Franchise League. I’m jealous. We need to hear about women with a political story to tell, not to mention one of battle and illicit love. As a storyteller for over thirty years, I am driven to tell this one. It’s in my blood.
I am a huge fan of Musical Theatre and have been since my teenage days starring in high school musicals. I met Gretchen in my early 20s. I remember noticing this love-worn scrapbook she had and started reading through these amazing stories and photos of Auntie Gert’s adventures as a suffragette. I remember thinking this would make a great film. Such a moving story of triumph over oppression. So many action scenes that need to come to life. After reading her memoires, I was really wishing I had known her. What a trailblazer. It wasn’t until I saw Gretchen’s one-act play, based on a section of Gert’s adventures, that I felt a song coming on. On my way home from the play, a melody started to come. It eventually became a love song for Gert. Gretchen and I got together and a couple more songs were born. I am a trained opera singer, but my limited experience with composition has been from my years as a children’s artist, writing kids’ music. I knew my years of performing in musicals would help inspire me, but we needed another musical voice. With Debbie Adshade adding her style and writing experience, we became a team. It has been a wild and sometimes daunting ride, but when this show hits the stage and tells Gert’s story, it will be worth all the work. She is a Canadian hero. A real-life Canadian Female role model. I hope this show makes her a household name.
Deb Adshade
When Mike Doherty suggested to Gretchen and Theresa that I might be a good fit, they invited me to join this project. It was fascinating to learn about Gert’s adventures, and finding out she came from our own backyard got my attention. At that point, I was easing out of my life as a performer/songwriter and was homebound looking after my mom. Having no experience in the art of creating a musical, I happily agreed. I thought I would pluck out a half dozen tunes and make a bow. But I quickly learned that if writing a song is done on a single plane, then writing a musical is definitely done in 3D. This proved to be an exciting new medium. For me, the ideal way to pass time with other humans is in a sandbox, playing with ideas. This project delivered that experience. I knew Theresa from a theatrical music skit we performed about 30 years ago, and Gretchen had used my music for one of her films. There are a few times in life when you are presented with a sort of divine synchronicity. Each of us brings something unique to the mix and I think our resulting work is blessed with a touch of alchemy. Now we need to get our magic to the stage!