{"id":112965,"date":"2025-03-25T14:32:37","date_gmt":"2025-03-25T18:32:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=112965"},"modified":"2025-03-25T14:35:42","modified_gmt":"2025-03-25T18:35:42","slug":"interview-pulitzer-winning-librettist-playwright-grain-theatres-multi-hyphenate-artistic-director-royce-vavrek-talks-shop","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2025\/03\/25\/interview-pulitzer-winning-librettist-playwright-grain-theatres-multi-hyphenate-artistic-director-royce-vavrek-talks-shop\/","title":{"rendered":"INTERVIEW | Pulitzer-Winning Librettist, Playwright: Against The Grain Theatre\u2019s Multi-Hyphenate Artistic Director Royce Vavrek Talks Shop"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure id=\"attachment_112968\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-112968\" style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-112968\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/03\/Copy-of-INTERVIEW-1.jpg\" alt=\"Against the Grain Theatre's Artistic Director Royce Vavrek (Photo courtesy of the artist)\" width=\"1200\" height=\"628\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/03\/Copy-of-INTERVIEW-1.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/03\/Copy-of-INTERVIEW-1-300x157.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/03\/Copy-of-INTERVIEW-1-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/03\/Copy-of-INTERVIEW-1-768x402.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-112968\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Against the Grain Theatre&#8217;s Artistic Director Royce Vavrek (Photo courtesy of the artist)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Royce Vavrek, librettist, playwright, and filmmaker (among other things), is the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2024\/10\/15\/scoop-pulitzer-prize-winning-librettist-royce-vavrek-appointed-artistic-director-grain\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Artistic Director of Toronto\u2019s Against the Grain Theatre<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Born in Grande Prairie, Alberta, Royce Vavrek is based in Brooklyn, NY these days. He won a Pulitzer Prize in 2017, together with composer Du Yun, for the opera Angel\u2019s Bone. His works have been commissioned by some of the world&#8217;s leading opera companies, including The Metropolitan Opera, the Royal Swedish Opera, Opera Philadelphia, Op\u00e9ra de Montr\u00e9al, and Houston Grand Opera, among others.<\/p>\n<p>We caught up with Royce recently to talk about Against the Grain and other things.<\/p>\n<p><em>Melancholia, Royal Swedish Opera (2023), composer Mikael Karlsson, libretto Royce Vavrek:<\/em><\/p>\n<div class=\"jetpack-video-wrapper\"><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/0yDpenHrutc?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/div>\n<h3>Royce Vavrek: The Interview<\/h3>\n<p>\u201cMy parents held music in high esteem, and valued a musical education,\u201d Vavrek says. \u201cMy parents were farmers,\u201d he adds. They were farmers who loved music, to be exact. Royce\u2019s father played piano by ear, and Royce was taking piano lessons by the age of five.<\/p>\n<p>He joined a choir, and went the usual route of lessons and competitions. \u201cI always loved, even at the competitive music festivals, I loved being the room with singers.\u201d He even found the vocal classes and competitions more interesting than solitary study. \u201cI love the interplay of music and words.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>A drama teacher in high school, even though she wasn\u2019t actually a drama specialist, offered him all the resources and support that she could. \u201cShe gave me free reign to write as much as I wanted to write.\u201d He turned to plays to put his ideas into words.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI wrote something like 18 plays in high school,\u201d he says. \u201cWe had about $200 as a budget in that drama class.\u201d Along with writing, it taught him a great deal about making theatre magic with very little.<br \/>\n\u201cI could turn black boxes, and black cubes, into anything.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Working as much as he wanted gave him another, larger advantage. \u201cI was able to cultivate an early voice,\u201d he says. The opportunity to write, and to fail if necessary, provided a firm foundation for the career that would follow.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ve been very, very lucky to have some great educators and mentors in my life.\u201d Community theatre companies were a great place to learn too.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m very much a product of an amazing arts education,\u201d he says, noting that the private vocal and piano lessons were invaluable. \u201cThey really unlocked something.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Royce went on to earn a BFA in Filmmaking and Creative Writing from Concordia University, and an MFA from New York University\u2019s Graduate Musical Theater Writing Program.<\/p>\n<div class=\"jetpack-video-wrapper\"><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/vtjNkUcRFvY?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/div>\n<h3>Against the Grain<\/h3>\n<p>It\u2019s early days for his tenure at Against the Grain Theatre.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI am really excited about empowering my community and creating opportunities for storytellers,\u201d Vavrek says of his role as AtG\u2019s new Artistic Director.<\/p>\n<p>With an already busy and successful career in opera and theatrical productions, he looked for the opportunity to be plugged into an administrative and programming function along with the creative side of things. His relationship with AtG began years ago, before COVID struck when AtG\u2019s former Artistic Director Joel Ivany came to New York City for a workshop. Vavrek had heard of AtG before, and was intrigued. A commission set up their collaboration.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI had a commission from Edmonton Opera to write four operas.\u201d That commission was part of Edmonton Opera\u2019s Wild Rose Project. One of the operas was titled Indians on Vacation, based on the story by author Thomas King, and written with composer Ian Cusson. The initial version was a 12-minute short.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat was such as success that AtG and Edmonton Opera have come on board to produce it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The full length version stars mezzo-soprano Marion Newman as Mimi and American baritone Grant Youngblood as Bird. It\u2019s the story of an Indigenous couple who travel to Europe to unravel the mystery of Mimi\u2019s late Uncle Leroy and a stolen family heirloom, infused with Thomas King\u2019s signature humour.<\/p>\n<p>Edmonton Opera will present world premiere in February 2026, followed by Against the Grain\u2019s presentation in Toronto.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI knew that I loved the company,\u201d he adds of AtG. \u201cIt was just a beautiful opportunity for me to come home [&#8230;] and use my international contacts.\u201d While opportunities have come from all over the world, he relishes the idea of a Canadian return. \u201cMy career has been mostly American and European,\u201d he notes.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m a very proud Canadian. I have a lot of Canadian stories and a lot of Canadian voices that I\u2019m hoping to elevate.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That includes more work with Indigenous colleagues, queer works, and original pieces.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m really excited to create some iconic Canadian repertoire,\u201d he says. \u201cI\u2019d love to lean into that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Against the Grain\u2019s Messiah\/Complex, which was seen and celebrated all over the world, is a kind of model for that kind of success \u2014 one that is universally accessible, and uses cinema in thoughtful and sophisticated ways. \u201cI\u2019d love to push cinema,\u201d he adds. That may include, for example, operas that were composed specifically for film.<\/p>\n<h3>What\u2019s Next?<\/h3>\n<p>\u201cI will be in Toronto in April to host Emma Pennell\u2019s opera pub,\u201d Royce says. \u201cI really want to celebrate the singer community.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>For February\u2019s Opera Pub, he chose soprano Midori Marsh. His model is to choose the main vocalist, and then invite them to invite their own friends and colleagues, and choose the repertoire for the Opera Pub.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe artist\u2019s life is a crazy one, and we do rely on our chosen artistic family.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Royce will be hosting the Opera Pubs at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 344 on April 21 and June 23.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Check out more details on Opera Pubs [<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/atgtheatre.com\/upcoming\/opera-pub\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">HERE<\/a><\/strong>].<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><em>Are you looking to promote an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/advertising\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0e101a;\"><u>event<\/u><\/span><\/a>? Have a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/masthead\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><u>news tip<\/u><\/a>? 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Send us a\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><a href=\"mailto:anya@ludwig-van.com?subject=Let's%20chat\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong><em><u>note<\/u>.<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"western\"><em><b>#LUDWIGVAN<\/b><\/em><\/h3>\n<p class=\"western\"><em>Get the daily arts news straight to your inbox.<\/em><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"western\"><em>Sign up for the Ludwig Van Toronto e-Blast! \u2014 local classical music and opera news straight to your inbox <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/583e6ce0-dfd0-48be-8a33-61256b3c58e3.mlbtlr.com\/p2\/Fbd8jWoWQQ6CdBcLIvut3Q\/02E3cYaETqaj4Xm087cpSg?contactid=S3HHYfHY5rZv5f94S15MnA\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/583e6ce0-dfd0-48be-8a33-61256b3c58e3.mlbtlr.com\/p2\/Fbd8jWoWQQ6CdBcLIvut3Q\/02E3cYaETqaj4Xm087cpSg?contactid%3DS3HHYfHY5rZv5f94S15MnA&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1695737525351000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0QTqKRwRJQFGK3KoJYigxX\">HERE<\/a>.<\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Royce Vavrek, librettist, playwright, and filmmaker (among other things), is the Artistic Director of Toronto\u2019s Against the Grain Theatre, and we caught up with him recently for a chat.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":64,"featured_media":112968,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[41660,29,41357,4780,43,62,63],"tags":[186,35833,9640],"yst_prominent_words":[11623,7140,19645,10976,10965,18486,7059,6886,13258,23198,13767,13765,13766],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/03\/Copy-of-INTERVIEW-1.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p9bakr-to1","amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/112965"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/64"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=112965"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/112965\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":112970,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/112965\/revisions\/112970"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/112968"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=112965"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=112965"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=112965"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=112965"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}