Beneath Springhill: The Maurice Ruddick Story

“A celebration of the human spirit…” —Calgary Sun

Created by Beau Dixon

Music and lyrics by Rob Fortin & Susan Newman

Originally directed and developed by Linda Kash

Immerse yourself in the incredible story of Maurice Ruddick, “the singing miner,” an African Canadian who survived nine days underground during the historic Springhill mining disaster of 1958. This multi-award-winning one-man show recalls the events during the disaster, the effect it had on the rural Canadian community, and the racial tension that grew from it. The play is a celebration of hope, courage, and community.

Show may include strong language and mature themes. Theatrical devices such as water-based stage fog, and strobe lighting may occur. Programming, casting, dates, and prices are subject to change. Prices include taxes and facility fees.

Showtimes

*The Saturday January 13 matinee is a Paint the Play show! Drop off your 6–11-year-old child for an art camp while you enjoy the show!

**The Saturday January 20 matinee performance includes Vocal-Eye Audio description for patrons who are blind or partially sighted.

About Beau Dixon

Beau Dixon is an award-winning actor, musician, playwright, music director and sound designer. As an actor, Beau has performed on many reputable theatre stages throughout Canada. NOW magazine and Toronto Star have listed him among Toronto's top ten theatre actors, multiple years in a row. As a playwright, Beau has had his plays commissioned, performed and produced across the country. His award-winning play, Beneath Springhill: The Maurice Ruddick Story garnered him a Calgary Critic's Award for Best Individual Performance and two Dora Mavor Moore Awards for Best New Play and Best Individual Performance. 

Born in Detroit, the birthplace of Motown, Beau has music in his roots and developed a passion at an early age. After discovering the music of Stevie Wonder in his parents’ record collection, Beau insisted on taking piano lessons at age six. His first music gig was at age twelve, playing piano for his father's church services in London, Ontario. After high school, he pursued music full time as a multi-instrumentalist and lead singer for rock bands, touring in the United States, Canada and Europe.

He has written and produced songs for radio and television and has appeared on numerous albums. In 2000, Beau started his own recording studio (Sound Kitchen Studio) in Peterborough, Ontario.

​In 2010, Beau co-founded Firebrand Theatre, a touring company whose mission is to bring Canadian stories to life for students and educators in elementary, secondary and post-secondary schools throughout Canada. As an artist of mixed race, Beau proudly carves the legacy of his ancestors into all his work and publicly advocates racial inclusion.