Faded Canadian musician Vanna Schneider lives in the past: she and her sister Shoshanna led one of the most powerful folk-pop bands in Canada - the Schneiders. Breaking into the mainstream with their hit song "Don't You Dare Run Away", they enjoyed a rocket ride to fame with their guitarist brother Grace, until the untimely death of Shoshanna in 1985. Undeterred, Vanna hires baby sister, sixteen-year old Abby to fill the gap that Shoshanna left. After just a few years, Abby leaves the band to travel the world, then settle down in Ireland to raise a family of her own.
On New Year's Eve Eve, 2003, Vanna gathers the band together for one more interview and show on CBC. As soon as they all arrive at Vanna's Horseshoe Bay bungalow, they realize that their hit song may be cursed, based on a psychic's prediction. Although Vanna is skeptical, a series of freak occurrences keep them from getting through their song. Will they be able to put aside their dysfunction and get something ready for their big radio show?
ABBY: You’ve been reminding us of your greatness since I joined your band.
VANNA: Our band. It’s a privilege to become a Schneider, you know?
ABBY: I already was a Schneider.
Realizing he wasn't mathy enough for Modern Symbolic Logic and Cognitive Studies at the University of Toronto, he switched to writing classes. During one of the warmups in his class with Djanet Sears, he was given a prompt that inspired him to write about his family. He thought about the wackiness, the creativity, and all the tragedy that befell them. His mum's side were a theatrical family known as the Wrights (sometimes the Wright sisters to his Uncle John's chagrin). But he didn't want to write about theatre or actors: he was also half-musician on his dad's side.
He did a short little presentation of Vanna having a tantrum and locking herself in her room, which still exists in the current draft. It was a five minute showcase which was featured amongst many other writers more talented than him. Denise Jones played Vanna, Polly Phokeev played Abby, and Roshawn Balgrove played Grace. Jijo Quayson did stage directions.
Fast forward to 2026. Robin developed it into a funnier, two act play. Two new characters were added - the neurotic Ben, son of Vanna, and douchebag CBC host Milton Dench. First act still focuses on the dysfunction and longing for the deceased sister, but this time, there's an element of the occult added - well, in a way. Abby, after seeing a psychic, found out that their unresolved tension and guilt actually resulted in a curse on the song. In fact, they were never able to play the song well, nor in completion, since Abby replaced Shoshanna in 1987.
Production/reading/workshop history: March 2026, Stratford Ontario
April 2026, Fort Frances Ontario
"The dead don't throw confetti."
- Grace
Don't You Dare Run Away
History - the why?
by Robin Taylor Wright
It was such a blast, he wanted to do it in its entirety to see if it had legs. So he booked the first floor of the Victory Cafe in Mirvish Village (pictured - RIP), and he invited Polly, as well as Shanda Bezic playing Vanna and Paul Kit as Grace. Jijo came back for stage directions, and his buddy Ben Doerksen played guitar.
It was a much, much different script then. He was excited to do more.
This was the last show before he hit the road to live in Kenora before grad school. Grad school never happened and he didn't come back writing for another nine years. This play held huge significance for him.
This album here, man!
After two albums of standard folk fare, the Schneiders dropped their previous management - their father, Private Brick Schneider - and packed up their gear, moving from Bruno, SK to sunny Vancouver.
Recorded in one weekend, Secret Heart showcases a creative reawakening. Still true to their folksy North Americana roots, they introduce elements of piano/accordion tearjerkers ("Six Days in Prince Albert"), a soulfull groove ("Secret
Heart"), and singalong pop-hooks ("Don't You Dare Run Away"). 1979 was a monumental year for this band.
Click the album to hear something!
Gordon S. Miller
played Grace
Aubree Erickson not only read the stage directions, but played a whole bunch of unseen characters like radio voices, an annoying telemarketer, and archival footage of Shoshanna.
VANNA. Still living in regret town, but - that’s the human thing right? Guess I’m trying to remember to be human.
MILTON. I completely understand. I once sat on my hamster when I was ten. He survived. But he walked funny for the rest of his life.
In this snippet, Grace takes a call from Dennis, the widower of Shoshanna. Abby is rightfully prickly at this as she has a very ugly past with Dennis, something that the siblings are somewhat oblivious too. Of course, they aren't really too patient with Abby since she ran off to Europe, effectively disbanding the Schneiders.
"I am woman, kiss my ass."
- Vanna
These videos you see (yes, press play on `em!) are courtesy of the lovely Susie Smythe.
Check out her incredible website!
Maria Vacratis played Vanna
Don't You Dare Run Away
Bunker Lounge
Stratford, Ontario
March 9, 2026
Emma Rudy played
Abby
The Bunker is an incredible little place in provincial Stratford.
John and Jer took a chance on me by hosting Home for Boys in summer of 2025. We are gonna return there to do FIreproof in December 2026.
Context: Grace is frustated (for deeply-rooted guilt reasons) that Ben didn't put winter tires on the car. Meanwhile, Vanna and Abby explore the possibility that the song could carry an actual curse.
Tyler Check
played Ben and Milton Dench
This scene shows the Schneiders stop/starting their way through the titular song. It's not a great start, and they only have so much time until they need to make it to the station!
Don't You Dare Run Away
Fort Frances Library Technology Centre
Fort Frances, Ontario
April 22, 2026
"Anne Murray knows what she did."
- Vanna
L to R: Cynthia Vanuden (singing voice for Abby), Ken Kellar (Grace), Kathryn Pierroz (Abby), Jennifer Thorpe (Vanna), Darren Derendorf (Ben/Milton), Kate Stevens (narrator)
This was the first of what we hope is many more public readings at the Shaw Room in the Fort Frances Public Library Technology Centre. We had to grab more chairs, so we were chuffed at the supporting and attentive audience.
What changed? The introduction of real time sound cues, such as a radio news report or an incessant ringing of a phone.
Check out this article/radio snippet with RTW, with thanks to Johnathan Price.