Orchidelirium Backgrounder

A very early version of Orchidelirium was workshopped in 1999 at the Barrington Stage Company, in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. Andrew Volkoff directed.

Pea Green Productions has been the primary developer of Orchidelirium since that time. An initial reading with Mark Brownell, Sue Miner, Sean Baek, Lois Lorimer and Maureen Kirkpatrick was held in early fall, 2001. In October, 2001, a full workshop was held, with actors Martha Burns, Anthony Malarky, Stephen Ouimette and Anne Page. Sue Miner directed, Mark Brownell was dramaturg and Sandy Plunkett was Stage Manager. The workshop culminated in a public reading on Saturday, October 27, 2001. Shortly thereafter, Pea Green and Theatre Voce agreed to move ahead with a three project partnership with Orchidelirium as the inaugural production.

In May, 2002, Orchidelirium was included in the Festival of New Works at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. The cast consisted of Joseph Hendrix (Mike); Pamela Lewis (Frances); Lorijean Nichols (Alice); and Malcolm Tulip (Arthur). Sue Miner directed. Callie McKee stage managed. Other contributors included Mark Allen Berg (Lighting Designer); Rich Lindsey (Props and Set); Clark Johnson (Sound Design); Katie Conrad (ASM); Rebecca Valentino (Costumes) and Anup Aurora (ME/Assistant Lighting Design.) The Artistic Producer of the Festival is John Neville-Andrews and the Managing Director is Mary Lou Chlipala, who also gave dramaturgical advice during the development of the script.

The Laidlaw Foundation and the Ontario Arts Council both contributed developmental funding for Orchidelirium.