tag:donnacreighton.com,2005:/blogs/donna-s-blog?p=2Donna's Blog2017-02-04T13:17:32-05:00Donna Creightonfalsetag:donnacreighton.com,2005:Post/35008772015-02-02T23:09:07-05:002023-10-16T10:47:09-04:00Northern Daughter Hits the Road<p><span class="font_regular">Since the Canadian premiere of <strong>Northern Daughter</strong> at The Arts Project in London, ON, October 22, 2014, the production team has been busy booking a 2015 tour. Come see Josephine. <br><br>May 12 and 15, 2015 -- <a contents="SpringWorks Indie Theatre Festival," data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.springworksfestival.ca/" target="_blank">SpringWorks Indie Theatre Festival,</a> Stratford, ON<br>June 2 - 12, 2015* -- <a contents="London Fringe Festival" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.londonfringe.ca/" target="_blank">London Fringe Festival</a>, London, ON<br>June 18 - 28, 2015* -- <a contents="Ottawa Fringe Festival" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://ottawafringe.com/" target="_blank">Ottawa Fringe Festival</a>, Ottawa, ON<br>Nov. 1, 2015 -- <a contents="United Solo Theater Festival" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.unitedsolo.org/" target="_blank">United Solo Theater Festival</a>, 42nd Street, New York, NY<br><em>*Specific performance dates TBA</em><br><br>There are a couple other exciting Northern Daughter projects in the works...</span><br><br><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="vimeo" data-video-id="118545866" data-video-thumb-url="http://i.vimeocdn.com/video/505619894_1280.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/118545866" frameborder="0" height="506" width="900"></iframe><br><br><span class="font_large"><strong>Northern Daughter Team</strong></span></p>
<hr><p><span class="font_regular">Play Producer, Co-playwright, Songwriter & Performer: Donna Creighton<br>Co-playwright & Director: Louise Fagan<br>Stage Manager: Krisanne Nunes<br>Set Designer: Eric Bunnell<br>Lighting Designer: Karen Crichton<br>Sound Designer: Andrew Mawdsley<br>Costume Designer: Julie McGill<br>Marketing & Communications: Tina Capalbo<br>Documentary Producer & Cinematographer: Deena Morielli</span><br><br><strong><em>Northern Daughter</em> </strong><em>instrumental </em>- performed and engineered by Paul Mills at The Millstream, London ON<br data-reactid=".2w.$mid=11423263938823=25731ecdf94b03c4995.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$end:0:$3:0" style="color: rgb(55, 62, 77); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.3599996566772px; white-space: pre-wrap; background-color: rgb(246, 247, 248);"><br data-reactid=".2w.$mid=11423263938823=25731ecdf94b03c4995.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$end:0:$5:0"><span class="font_regular"><em><strong>Northern Daughter </strong>EP</em> - recorded and mixed by Darren Morrison at Big Room Studios, London ON<br>Donna Creighton (vocal/guitar)<br>Tara Dunphy (violin/vocal)<br>Jeff Fountain (bass)<br>Ted Peacock (drums)</span><br><br><span class="font_regular"><span class="font_large"><strong>Northern Daughter Sponsors</strong></span></span></p>
<hr><p>Siskinds | The Law Firm<br>Ontario Arts Council<br>London Arts Council<br>The Chris Doty Endowment Fund<br> </p>Donna Creightontag:donnacreighton.com,2005:Post/34003802014-12-15T10:57:19-05:002021-06-26T22:14:23-04:00Theatre Festival Dates<span class="font_regular">With the luck of a draw, <strong>Northern Daughter </strong>will be taking part in two Fringe Festivals in Ontario this summer. If you're going to be in <a contents="London" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.londonfringe.ca/" target="_blank">London</a> or <a contents="Ottawa" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://ottawafringe.com" target="_blank">Ottawa</a> in June 2015, come see the show.<br><br>With a nod from Stratford's jury, Donna is excited to be performing <strong>Northern Daughter </strong>at the acclaimed <a contents="SpringWorks Indie Theatre and Art Festival" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.springworksfestival.ca/" target="_blank">SpringWorks indie theatre and arts festival</a>, May 7-17, 2015. Stay tuned for performance dates.<br><br>This week, Donna was thrilled to accept an invitation to stage the American premiere of <strong>Northern Daughter</strong> off-Broadway at the exciting <a contents="United Solo Theater Festival" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.unitedsolo.org/" target="_blank">United Solo Theater Festival</a> in New York City on November 1, 2015. </span><br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/40100/cbd7b2ff2f1a005f7ba973ab65ac831278e833b9/large/nd-theatre-festival-graphic3.jpg?1422938697" class="size_xl justify_center border_" /><br><br> Donna Creightontag:donnacreighton.com,2005:Post/32502672014-10-25T13:50:22-04:002017-01-13T08:58:32-05:00What the Audience Said About Northern Daughter<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/40100/09e9c1983b04a7b2e1291d0ed55445cd5bd07a45/large/northern-daughter3.jpg?1414259678" class="size_l justify_right border_" />“WOW! An incredibly powerful play, lightened by music and laughter from the audience. Hauntingly beautiful voice and s<span class="font_regular">tory—filled with tragedy, painful memories, laughter and a reminder we all make choices to paddle on through the troubled waters and storms of life.” ~ Jacquie T. <br><br>"Be prepared for a powerful, emotional wallop to the gut, to gasp, to nod in agreement and come to the edge of tears. Donna brilliantly and powerfully portrays her rough-around-the-edges father and her genteel and sophisticated mother, the other half of this fated-to-fail marriage. We meet the chain-smoking neighbour and mentor Mrs P., and Bailey the dog. You will be riveted. The songs are powerful. The singing and guitar playing a real treat. Northern Daughter is as real as drama gets." ~ Vincent C.<br><br>"STUNNING!!!! </span><strong><em><span class="font_regular">Northern Daug</span>hter's </em></strong>haunting songs and stories share the raw nature of growing up in the wilds of the Canadian bush. Donna's splendid voice, and gift for bringing her characters to life through compelling narratives, completely draws the audience into the humor and heartache of this semi-autobiographical piece. While not for children, this is currently the best hour of theatre outside of Stratford and needs to be seen!” ~Jacquie B. K.<br> <br>“Wow. Go see <strong><em>Northern Daughter</em></strong>—so good. I am completely blown away!” ~ Madison C.<br><br>“I saw the show tonight and was very moved. Everything comes together here, the writing, acting, set, music. And Donna is a wonder, changing characters in a heartbeat. Her Mrs. P. is a marvel, inhaling & exhaling from that invisible cigarette while dispensing wisdom. And those intense scenes with Mr. McAllister, and Bailey, were courageously written and acted. The writing throughout is superb; it felt like a novel with 95% of the text edited out, but nothing is missing. And the songs are perfectly suited and situated. Congratulations Donna and company. A powerful, honest, brave, deeply moving and entertaining experience.” ~Roger F.<br><br>"<strong><em>Northern Daughter</em></strong> brings to life both charming and chilling childhood memories and experiences in the bush of Northern Ontario. This show deserves to be seen by many! What a moving performance - a tour de force. Donna is a natural onstage - born to sing and entertain Congratulations!" ~ Diane G.C. <br><br>"<strong><em>Northern Daughter </em></strong>was spectacular. It needs to be on the big screen! I was in from start to finish!! WOW. WOW. WOW. Totally love the music and got the CDs too. I was humming all the way home!! Congrats. Truly an amazing Canadian show. Spectacular!" ~ Tara S.<br><br>“<strong><em>Northern Daughter </em></strong>an absolute must see!!! Brilliant!” ~ Kim K. <br><br>“I will take Mrs. P’s wisdom on with me forever . . . ‘We all have our own choices to make, and with whatever choice you make, there will also be a pile of shit you will inevitably have to deal with’ - and just deal with it! I will always be proud to be a Mrs. P card carrying member—available to my daughters and their young friends, any woman, any young man—any PERSON who needs advice, help, support or just an ear, any time. And as she proudly drank her scotch from a tea cup, I proudly drink my beer from a wine glass and smoke way too many cigarettes!” ~ Rebekah M. W.<br><br>“The performance was great. Choices. That is what life is all about. The set was perfect.” ~ George S.<br><br>"It was brilliant to see how Donna Creighton crafted those ideas into a well delivered, and at some times gut wrenching, stream of conscience. Along with well timed comedic relief, the overall presentation was a gem to witness. Bravo Donna!" ~ Richard M.<br><br>"Just got in the door after a lovely night out, which started with this amazing, powerful and powerfully delivered production. <strong><em>Northern Daughter</em></strong> is emotional, evocative and thoroughly entertaining. Bravo Donna Creighton and Louise Fagan." ~ Vinnie C.<br><br>"Amazing talent!" ~ Teresa R.<br><br>"Wow. What a tremendous performance, amazing play, music, and theatrical design. Each character voice was so distinct. You have a talent for drama and a future with one woman shows!" ~ Susan C.<br> <br>“Donna, you wove an intricate northern tapestry and the jewels were your songs. Bravo.” ~ Catherine G. L.<br> <br>“I went opening night . . . enthralling. Take this one in! Donna-doll does a job.” ~ Gerald F.<br><br>"Northern Daughter, with Donna Creighton, was a Tour De Force!!!! Can't wait to see where it goes! A little slice of Canadiana and a story that has needed to be told for a long time." ~ Wendy L.<br><br>“Bravo Donna!” ~ Mark Z.Donna Creightontag:donnacreighton.com,2005:Post/32228582014-10-08T10:59:23-04:002017-01-13T08:58:32-05:00My Friends All Said<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/40100/4e53e4b6b9198aa0300612853a922f17d7a93aac/large/nd-album-cover.jpg?1412782719" class="size_l justify_left border_" /><span class="font_regular">The songs of <strong><em>Northern Daughter</em> </strong>are written in different genres: a country tune, rockabilly, a jazz song, a power ballad, yet when you listen to all the songs together there's a musical theatre influence running through them. <br><br>“My Friends All Said” is inspired by “Hopelessly Devoted to You,” a song I’ve always loved from the movie <strong><em>Grease</em></strong>. That’s the rock-ballad feel I was going for.<br> <br>I wrote the song a few years ago, when I was single for the first time since the age of 15. I had no idea how to date or if I even wanted to. I found myself having a conversation with a group of women, five girlfriends all in the same room. They all very generously gave me a bunch of conflicting advice. I didn’t know what to make of all of it and felt very confused. The first part of this song comes from that conversation. But the entire song isn’t about me.<br> <br>For <strong><em>Northern Daughter</em></strong>, I started to think about the song in terms of my character Josephine. Josephine sings this at a point in the play when she’s looking at her relationships, and she’s asking herself: “Who am I?” “How did I end up here?” I thought about Josephine being attracted to somebody and wondering: “How do you date?” “How do you do this?” “And...what happens if they actually love you?”<br> <br>Just before Josephine sings this song in the show, we see her mother struggling with the awareness that she doesn’t want to be where she is. She doesn’t want to be in the predicament she’s in. When Josephine sings "My Friends All Said," she's confused about love and relationships, and in a way she's reflecting the same fight-or-flight impulse we see in her mother.<br><br>Josephine isn’t really in a relationship in the show. She’s dating. She’s trying to figure her relationships out. But she has a revelation, and she does answer these questions by the end of the show in the song “Northern Daughter.”</span><br><br><br><strong>NOTE: </strong>This show contains mature subject matter that is not suitable for children.
<hr><br><span class="font_large"><span style="color:#A52A2A;">**CONGRATULATIONS to JAMES SAYNOR who has won two free tickets to this week's premiere of <em><strong>Northern Daughter</strong></em> at the Arts Project, London, ON.**</span></span>Donna Creightontag:donnacreighton.com,2005:Post/32080482014-09-28T20:55:53-04:002022-05-15T04:16:11-04:00WHO's WHO: The Artistic Director<a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.eventbrite.ca/e/northern-daughter-tickets-12786299165" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/40100/8e19cf4eed6e08c9591dd25122dd9005958fe590/large/nd-whos-who-blog-louisefagan.jpg?1411951696" class="size_l justify_left border_none" alt="Northern Daughter WHO's WHO | Artistic Director | Louise Fagan" /></a><br><br><span class="font_regular"><strong>NOTE: </strong>This show contains mature subject matter that is not suitable for children.</span>Donna Creightontag:donnacreighton.com,2005:Post/31871422014-09-15T08:10:13-04:002017-01-13T08:58:32-05:00Northern Daughter Premiere<strong><span class="font_large">NORTHERN DAUGHTER</span></strong><br><em><strong><span class="font_large">One Canoe. Five characters. One Performer. World Premiere.</span></strong></em><br> <hr><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br><span style="color:#696969;">“Josephine is gritty and exposed. Someone important has died, and she’s on a reluctant journey home. Just as the forces of nature are indiscriminate, Josephine has to make good on a promise she’s made. She knows that if you don’t respect the forces of nature, they can kill you. She knows she has to keep her word. But in the middle of the lake, she learns something unexpected about the forces of living. The audience steps into the canoe and makes this journey with her.” ~</span><em style="color: rgb(105, 105, 105);"> Donna Creighton</em>
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<hr><br><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.eventbrite.ca/e/northern-daughter-tickets-12786299165" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/40100/c850c6de07f3cc67f8a354ece23d9faf29e52566/large/nd-social-media-release.jpg?1410782279" class="size_xl justify_center border_none" alt="Northern Daughter premiere at the ARTS Project, London, ON - October 22-25, 2014" style="margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px;" /></a><strong>NORTHERN DAUGHTER</strong> is a one-act play with music co-written by Donna Creighton and Louise Fagan, performed by Donna Creighton and directed by Louise Fagan. <br> <br>This is the story of Josephine, a girl who grew up in the untamed Canadian north before escaping to the city. The story is set in a canoe.<br>When we meet Josephine, she is returning to the lake of her childhood, armed with her paddle, a guitar, and the songs that punctuate her story. She recalls the colourful characters from her past and traces a sequence of pivotal moments in her life. Like the wilderness around her, Josephine is hardy and honest, at times poignant, then funny—quintessentially Canadian.<br> <br><strong>THE TEAM</strong><br>Award-winning singer-songwriter <strong>Donna Creighton </strong>plays Josephine and the four colourful supporting characters.<br>The production team is lead by Artistic Director <strong>Louise Fagan</strong> with set design by <strong>Eric Bunnell</strong>, costume design by <strong>Julie McGill</strong>, lighting design by <strong>Karen Crichton</strong>, sound design by <strong>Andrew Mawdsley </strong>and stage management by <strong>Krisanne Nunes</strong>.<br><br>Co-produced by <strong>AlvegoRoot Theatre Company </strong>and <strong>Donna Creighton Productions</strong>, this show will round out <b>AlevgoRoot's</b> 2014 season with a world premiere at <strong>The ARTS Project </strong>theatre, London, ON. AlvegoRoot is an independent theatre company based in London, Ontario, that produces local plays about Southwestern Ontario, along with classical repertoire.<br><br>This production has been made possible with support and sponsorship from <strong>The Chris Doty Endowment Fund, The London Arts Council, The Ontario Arts Council,</strong> and <strong>SISKINDS | THE LAW FIRM</strong>.<br> <div>
<strong>When</strong>:<br>Wednesday, Oct. 22 - 8:00pmThursday, Oct. 23 - 8:00pm<br>Friday, Oct. 24 - 8:00pm<br>Saturday, Oct. 25 (matinee) - 2:00pm <br>Saturday, Oct. 25 - 8:00pm</div><br><strong>Where</strong>: <a contents="The ARTS Project" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.artsproject.ca/theatre/northern-daughter" target="_blank">The ARTS Project</a> theatre, 203 Dundas St., London, ON (seating capacity 80)<br><br><strong>Tickets</strong>: $20 (adults), $10 (seniors and students with ID)<br>Available at the ARTS Project Box Office: (519) 642-2767 and <a contents="online" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.eventbrite.ca/e/northern-daughter-tickets-12786299165" target="_blank">online</a>.<br><br><strong style="font-size: 17px; margin: 0px;">NOTE: This </strong><span class="font_large" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px;">show contains mature subject matter that is not suitable for children.</strong></span></span><br> <div> </div>Donna Creightontag:donnacreighton.com,2005:Post/31790162014-09-09T15:54:17-04:002021-08-27T15:32:45-04:00What's your songwriting process? (+ Other Things We Want to Know!) <span class="font_large"><strong>1. What's your songwriting process?</strong></span><br> <br>Usually, I get started by doing something physical -- riding my bike, doing the dishes, taking a shower, driving the car, sewing, gardening. Any activity where my hands are busy allows me to think freely.<br> <br>I’m constantly singing in my head, but a line will come to me that’s inspired by something else. Sometimes that line will stick with me for months or years before I even write it down. When I hear the words, or lyrics, I hear them with the melodic line. When I finally do write it down, it sometimes becomes a completely different song. That’s very early in the process.<br> <br>When I sit down to write the song it’s because I have a deadline or I’m inspired by something or the line is persistent in my mind and wants to be written. I don’t know how else to explain that.<br> <br>Then, I make some notes. (<em>Some of my notes for Northern Daughter are below</em>.) I make a list or write a free verse poem with no particular shape. And I pick up my guitar and structure song lyrics to fit whatever meter, or lyric form, or mood I have going on in the song that’s taking shape.<br> <br>I like to work in many genres: folk, rock, blues, ragtime, Bossa Nova, jazz, rockabilly, and I have one Ukrainian folk tune. (<em>I’ll have to tell <strong>that </strong>story some other time.</em>) I also like to sit down and work out chord progressions and melodies with an idea in mind. I’m sure it’s awkward to watch me sitting there, juggling my guitar, a pick, a pencil, my notebook and sometimes my laptop too. I often record bits on my iphone as I go along too, so I don’t forget them.<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/40100/105036b487de82a905f3772409ba3394b6ff03a2/large/northern-daughter-notes.jpg?1410291701" class="size_l justify_right border_none" alt="Donna Creighton's hand written notes for the song Northern Daughter" style="margin-left: 20px;" /><div>Once the song is roughed out, I might play it live if I can. I might play it on the phone for people. I might shelve it for awhile if it doesn't feel done. I often go from one song to another as part of my creative songwriting process.</div> <br><span class="font_large"><strong>2. What types of things inspire you to write?</strong></span><br> <br>I’ve written songs about relationships -- new love, old boyfriends. I wonder about people I’ve known and what they are doing now. I also write about people in my life who ask for my advice but then ignore the advice I give them! My frustration sometimes becomes a song. I’m inspired by the nature of things and people, like the process of growing up or growing older. I read a lot about self-awareness, and I also write about it. I am inspired by fun and nonsense too, and I love irony. Who doesn't?<br> <br><span class="font_large"><strong>3. How did the song <em>Northern Daughter</em> come about?</strong></span><br> <br>I wrote and recorded the song Northern Daughter as a demo in 2005. It was basically an account of my own life as a northern daughter. I grew up in two rural areas, Baptiste Lake north of Bancroft and Courtice just north of Lake Ontario.<br> <br>I was recently divorced and living on my own for the first time in my life—no kids, no husband. I had a dog. That was the best relationship I’ve ever had. (<em>laughs</em>) I was probably having an identity crisis at the time. I was asking myself, “Who am I, and where do I come from anyway? And how the *bleep* did I end up here?”<br> <br>At the time, I was also rebound dating and within two weeks my rebound boyfriend had asked me to marry him. I was sure I never wanted to marry again, but I was also inspired and wrote three songs in three days. Suddenly the lyric, “I was born a northern daughter,” fell out of the sky.<br> <br>I decided at the time, I would try to write a two-chord song. It was an ironic homage to the late Ken Palmer (the long-time Artistic Director of Home County Folk Festival in London) who was my friend and mentor. About ten years ago, while I was singing in the trio Sirens, Ken had given us some advice about playing with other musicians at jam sessions and festivals. He said, “Your songs have complicated harmonies, complicated chord progressions and too many chords. Other musicians can’t follow you.” So writing Northern Daughter started out as an exercise in writing a two-chord song in the style of Johnny Cash and an old folk-country tune.<br> <br>Once I started that process, picked up my guitar and started playing with two chords—A minor and E7—the song sort of tumbled out.<br> <br>The song isn’t a true autobiographical account. My parents never gave me the advice I give myself in the song. In some ways the whole point of the song was to get to the message of the last verse, which is the answer to the marriage proposal:<em> <span style="text-align: center;">I will bathe in your sweet water. </span><span style="text-align: center;">I will walk close by your side. </span><span style="text-align: center;">I will carry many burdens, </span><span style="text-align: center;">but I will never be your bride.</span></em><br> <div><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="tKWNT3hTu0A" data-video-thumb-url="http://img.youtube.com/vi/tKWNT3hTu0A/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tKWNT3hTu0A?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="240" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></div><br><span class="font_large"><strong>4</strong><b>. How did the idea to turn Northern Daughter into a play evolve?</b></span><br>The idea first occurred to me at my brother's place. And originally I intended to write a one-woman play based on the life of a girl who grows up in the bush. I didn’t intend to write the play with music that <em>Northern Daughter</em> has become. <br><br>So, I was at my brother’s place, northeast of Toronto. We were sitting on the grass, with canoes and paddles all over the place, resting after moving a bunch of gear around. That was where I first had the idea to write the play. I felt that even though not everyone has had the same experiences I had growing up in rural Ontario, on the lake, everyone could relate to a story set in the Canadian bush. It’s very different growing up rural where you learn about nature and the environment, where you play around water and learn how to grow your own food and how to survive.<br><br>You learn different things growing up in the city. <br><strong> <br><span class="font_large">5. Is the play <em>Northern Daughter</em> autobiographical at all?</span></strong><br> <br>My own story is way too long, much too complicated, and has too many people involved to perform over an hour in a one-act play. So the play that started to emerge from my memoir stories became much more fictional as it evolved. I was having a lot of fun as I developed the characters, and I started to use a lot of creative license. I amalgamated people that I knew into new characters. I also amalgamated the two rural communities I grew up in, blending them, as I envisioned the story. So, no, the play is not autobiographical in the sense of a memoir. But the story comes entirely from my own experiences and perspective as a girl growing up in rural Ontario.<br> <br><span class="font_large"><span style="color:#800000;"><em><strong>If you have a different question for Donna about this show, post it in the comments:</strong></em></span></span>Donna Creightontag:donnacreighton.com,2005:Post/31446632014-08-19T16:10:53-04:002020-03-10T05:09:17-04:00The Making of Northern Daughter<div>
<em>Northern Daughter</em> is a one act, one woman play with music, written and performed by Donna Creighton in collaboration with Artistic Director and Dramaturge Louise Fagan. This co-production with AlvegoRoot Theatre Company is <span class="font_regular" style="font-size: 1em; ">and</span> premieres<span class="font_regular" style="font-size: 1em; "> October 22 to 25, 2014, at <a contents="The ARTS Project" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.artsproject.ca/" target="_blank">The ARTS Project</a> in London, ON. </span>
</div><br><em>Northern Daughter</em> is the contemporary story of a girl, Josephine, who grew up in the deep woods of Canada. Josephine is standing at the shore, one paddle away from her past. This is quintessentially Canadian theatre with its untamed setting, heart-tugging themes, and zany humour!<br> <hr><br>In the fall of 2005, I embarked on something new. The Northern Daughter project began as a song that I wrote and recorded as a demo. It was an auto-bio-fictional account of my own life as a northern daughter. In the fall of 2006, when the idea for a one-act musical play emerged, I contacted actress Lesley Andrew to develop a storyline based on the life of a young girl in the Canadian bush. In those early stages, Lesley provided me with weekly writing tutorials and feedback to draft preliminary wilderness narratives for the play. <br><br>Over the winters of 2006 and 2007, I performed public and private readings from <em>Northern Daughter</em>. In spring 2007, I compiled a collection of the best excerpts and work-shopped the play for three days with artistic director, Louise Fagan. I finally completed my first draft of <em>Northern Daughter</em> at the "Developing the One Person Show" weekend workshop with Louise Fagan and Molly Peacock in Manhattan. <br><br><span class="font_regular" style="font-size: 1em; ">In June 2009, I traveled to Vada, Italy, for two</span> intensive <span class="font_regular" style="font-size: 1em; ">weeks of playwrighting. There, I </span>focused on character development<span class="font_regular" style="font-size: 1em; ">. The workshop was facilitated byCanadian playwright, and Governor General's Award winner, Vern Thiessen.<br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/40100/fdc2c4a8cb7d79ff9f2a6e5ad0f115959a80af0a/medium/quote3.jpg?1408074411" class="size_m justify_left border_none" alt="" /><br>In April 2010, I travelled to Kitchener and met Lisa O’Connell at <em>Pat the Dog</em> -- a playwrighting development centre. After a series of dramaturge sessions with Lisa O’Connell, I presented excerpts from the play. First, at the <em>Magnetic North Theatre Festival</em> in Kitchener (June 2010), then for </span><em>Thin Air</em> at <span class="font_regular" style="font-size: 1em; ">the <em>Winnipeg International Writer’s Festival </em>(Sept. 2010), and finally at the <em>Winnipeg Fem Fest -- a Festival of Canadian Women Writers and Arts Creators </em>(Sept. 2010). <br><br>In 2011 and 2012, I brought <em>Northern Daughter</em> to writing workshops at Brescia College, UWO. Then, in 2012 and 2013, I wrote a total of seven songs for the play, recorded three of them, and performed all of them live at Aeolian Hall in my show, <strong><em>Donna Back From the Dead</em>.</strong> That was November 2013. In the months leading up to the <em>Northern Daughter </em>premiere in October 2014, I have been in the final stages of script development and collaboration with dramaturge and director Louise Fagan.</span>Donna Creighton