Audiences at Rosebud Theatre this October will see the culmination of a decade-long creative journey when Hayley Rosenau steps onto the stage in ‘Night, Mother’ — a powerful, Pulitzer Prize-winning drama that explores the complexities of mental health, family and the bonds between mother and daughter.

Rosenau, who grew up on a second-generation farm in the Youngstown-Chinook area and graduated from Youngstown School, is now in her final year at the Rosebud School of the Arts (RSA). As part of her graduation requirements, she will both produce and star in the production, which she describes as one of the most challenging and meaningful projects of her life.

The production, staged under Rosenau’s newly formed company, Broken Yolk Productions, is part of RSA’s “Final Project” course — a six-credit capstone in which students create their own theatre company, choose and mount a play, cast and manage the team, and oversee all aspects of the production from marketing to performance. For Rosenau, it’s not only a graduation milestone but also the launch of a creative vision focused on “embracing the uncomfortable” and sparking vital conversations around difficult topics.

In ‘Night, Mother’, Rosenau takes on the role of Jessie, a daughter spending her final evening with her mother before ending her life. The production is a candid and deeply emotional exploration of suicide and mental illness, with an age advisory of 16 and older. Opposite Rosenau is Kelsey Krogman, a graduate of RSA, with direction by alumna Leah T. Hearne.

The play runs October 8, 9, and 10 at 7 p.m., and October 11 at 4:30 p.m. on the BMO Studio Stage on the west end of Rosebud, Alta.

For Rosenau, who started her performing arts journey in competitive dance before moving into theatre a decade ago, this project represents not just the completion of her formal education, but a step toward a future in producing work that challenges audiences and brings critical conversations to the forefront.

Tickets are available through Rosebud Theatre, and attendees are advised to prepare for an intense, thought-provoking experience — one that blends the heart of rural Alberta with the boldness of contemporary theatre.