NEW IDEAS FESTIVAL 2008: Week Three
WEEK THREE: Wed March 19 to Sat March 22: Evenings at 8 pm • Saturday matinée at 2:30 pm*
- FAERIE INC. by Diane Vanden Hoven • Directed by Anne Harper
- NOT LIKE HER by Jayne Collins • Directed by Julia Lederer
- HE, SHE & IT by Kyle Greenwood • Directed by Ellen Green
- GODZILLA ON SUNDAYS by D.J. Sylvis • Directed by Martin Chodorek
(Total running time with intermission: approx. one hour and forty-five minutes)
Saturday Reading at Noon:
- SHUTTER by Rob Kempson • Directed by Jonathan Seinen
*Warning: Smoking - gasp! - mature themes, foul language, more good times.
Week Three Plays
FAERIE INC.
On a midsummer's eve, faeries Moth, Peaseblossom, Mustardseed and Cobweb meet to discuss the effects of Titania and Oberon's upcoming merger on the Romance Industry, and the possibility that any or all of them may be downsized.
| Playwright: | Diane Vanden Hoven |
| Director: | Anne Harper |
| Sound Designer: | John Buller |
| Cast: | Hannah Barnett-Kemper (Moth) Julia Cameron (Mustardseed) Jane Hunter (Cobweb) Charlene Rockwell (Peaseblossom) |
| Running Time: | 20 minutes |
HANNAH BARNETT-KEMPER Actor (Moth), Faerie Inc.
Hannah is thrilled to be part of the New Ideas festival. A native Torontonian, Hannah attended Players Academy, as well as the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York. Choice roles include Rosalind and Ariel (the Rebel Shakespeare Co.), Simple Simon (the Berkshire Theatre Festival) and participating in the Alumnaes Nuit Blanche series.
JULIA CAMERON Actor (Mustardseed), Faerie Inc.
Julia Cameron is a recent graduate of the University of Victoria where she studied Theatre, specializing in acting, as well as English. Julia has returned home to Toronto to begin her career where she is thrilled to have this opportunity with the Alumnae Theatre company and the New Ideas Festival. Past credits include Gusia in Rachel Wyatt's Crackpot (U Vic Phoenix Theatre), Margaret in Shakespeare's Richard Third (U Vic Phoenix Theatre) as well as Marina in Shakespeare's Pericles (Victoria Shakespeare Society).
ANNE HARPER Director, Faerie Inc.
Anne Harper has been involved with New Ideas as a Producer, Director and actor in the past few years, and now shes back as an actor and director. Some of her favourite roles have been Lady Bracknell in The Importance of Being Earnest, Lettice in Lettice and Lovage, Melissa in Love Letters and Countess Aurelia in The Madwoman of Chaillot. She has recently directed The Winslow Boy at the Village Playhouse. Previous work at Alumnae includes Under Milk Wood, Thirteen Hands, Departures and Arrivals, Orpheus Descending and for New Ideas The Gay Parrot, The Vigil Crasher and, last year, Eulalie. She enjoys the challenges of new works, so really appreciates being part of New Ideas.
JANE HUNTER Actor (Cobweb), Faerie Inc.
Jane is thrilled to be performing at the Alumnae theatre even if it is as a fifty-four year old fairy with the attention span of a goldfish. A regular on the Village Playhouse stage over the last 30 years, Janes last role was as Miss Barnes in The Winslow Boy.
CHARLENE ROCKWELL Actor (Peaseblossom), Faerie Inc.
As a fan of bringing new works to life, Charlene is pleased to add Faeries Inc. to the collection of plays she's performed. Other inaugural performances include The Vipers Brood by Joel Miller, Skeleton Staff by David Fennario,and Masque of the Red Death by Gillian Street. Always looking for variety, Charlene has played in a myriad of other roles including Malcolm in MacBeth, Maria in The Sound of Music and Robin Hood. She looks forward to bringing her performing, writing and directing skills to the Toronto theatre scene in years to come.
DIANE VANDEN HOVEN Playwright, Faerie Inc.
Diane was previously involved in the New Ideas Festival with her play Welcome To Naxos. Recently, her short piece The Inferior Planets was performed at the London PlayWrights Cabaret. Other writing credits include her one-woman show Bobasaurus and The Twisted Land, honourable mention Herman Voaden Playwrighting Competition. Her full-length play This Above All won Theatre BC's National Playwrighting Competition and toured BC with the Smilin Armadilles Theatre where it won Best Production at the Fraser Valley Zone Festival. Having acted in Toronto for a number of years, Diane now lives in London and is glad to be back on a day pass.
NOT LIKE HER
A young girl struggles to make sense of her relationship with her mother.
- Smoking and language -
| Playwright: | Jayne Collins |
| Director: | Julia Lederer |
| Cast: | Amanda Mallard (Shawna) |
| Running Time: | 10 minutes |
KATIE BARNES Stage Manager, Not Like Her
Katie is delighted to be working with the wonderful company of Not Like Her. Her most recent stint behind the scenes was for Boxed In at the Hysteria! Festival. Katie has previously worked with Theatre in Her Shoes and at the Sears Ontario Drama Festival. She would like to thank everyone involved with Not Like Her for their hard work and her family for their love.
JAYNE COLLINS Playwright, Not Like Her
Jayne is a theatre artist originally from St. Johns, Newfoundland who has been living in Toronto since 2001. As an actor, her recent stage credits include: Canon in D Minor (Core Theatre/SummerWorks2007) Looking After Eden (Toronto Fringe), Out (Theatre Inspirato), Boxed In (Theatre in Her Shoes/Hysteria!). Film and TV: Unseen Summer (Burdock Root), Control (Butler Films), Ride of the Yoga Valkyries (Metal Dog Films/BravoFact), The Shields Stories (W Network). Her first play Ablaze was part of the Paprika Festival in 2006 and received a reading at the SummerWorks Festival the same year. Most recently, she developed Pigeon through Nightwood Theatre's 'Write from the Hip' program. Jayne is a founding member of Theatre in Her Shoes. www.theatreinhershoes.com
JULIA LEDERER Director, Not Like Her
Julia's produced works include: Boxed In (Hysteria! Festival, SummerWorks Reading, 2007), Louise, Thelma, & Something in the Middle, and Puzzled Man (New Ideas Festival 2007 & 2006). Frame was read in Nightwood Theatre's 2007 Groundswell Festival. Also an actor and director, other recent projects: The Russian Play (Assistant Director: Factory Theatre, Magnetic North, HATCH) and performing in 36 Little Plays About Hopeless Girls (Birdtown and Swanville), The Height of Madness (Toronto Fringe), and Boxed In (whale riders & Hysteria!). Julia is an associate producer for the Paprika Festival. She is a founding member of Theatre in Her Shoes, and a Masters Student in Drama at the University of Toronto.
AMANDA MALLARD Actor (Shawna), Not Like Her
Amanda is from the beautiful Island of Newfoundland and has traveled to Toronto to feed her creative habit. She is a graduate from the Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts and has played various roles in random short films and many crazy characters on numerous stages across Canada. She is very excited to be playing the part of Shawna in Jayne Collins' Not Like Her, directed by the lovely and talented Julia Lederer.
HE, SHE & IT
Lying awake after another fight with her husband, Tori hears a noise on the stairs and imagines it is an intruder coming to kill them both. Andrew, her husband, doesn't believe her. At least, he doesn't believe her at first.
- Coarse language and mature themes -
| Playwright: | Kyle Greenwood |
| Director: | Ellen Green |
| Designer: | Brandon Kleiman |
| Stage Manager: | Morgan-Leigh Hearty |
| Cast: | Kat Leonard (Tori) Steven Shreyberg (Andrew) |
| Running Time: | 15 minutes |
ELLEN GREEN Director, He, She & It
Ellen is excited to continue working with the Alumnae Theatre as a director in the New Ideas Festival. What a great opportunity to collaborate with talented playwright Kyle, and fine actors, Steven, and Kat on the intriguing, He, She & It. Ellen thanks them for making the process a most pleasurable, rewarding, creative endeavour. Thanks also go to her friends and family for their unwavering faith and support. Previous Alumnae projects include assistant directing Lady Windermere's Fan and The Memory of Water with the wonderful Barbara Larose. Directing favourites are Noises Off, Into the Woods, and Little Shop of Horrors.
KYLE GREENWOOD Playwright, He, She & It
Born in a hospital famous for switching babies, Kyle spent most of his youth traumatized and, unfortunately, artistic (a play documenting this psychosis appeared at the 2001 Toronto Fringe Festival). His other writing has appeared in Grimm, LICHEN Arts & Letters Preview and The Hart House Review. He currently works on behalf of the Writers Trust of Canada, administering grants to professional writers in need and managing a national writing workshop program. Thanks to Ellen, Kat and Steven. He, She & It is a scene from a longer piece currently nearing completion.
MORGAN-LEIGH HEARTY Stage Manager, He, She & It
Morgan-Leigh Hearty is delighted to be involved with New Ideas Festival. She is currently a theatre major at York University studying with a focus on production. Past stage management credits include: of enigmatic things (Toronto Fringe Festival), Rogers Chinese Lantern Festival 2007 (Ontario Place), and Rhinoceros (Theatre @ York).
BRANDON KLEIMAN Designer, He, She & It
New Ideas Festival: Debut. Alumnae: Memory of Water, Barbara Larose; Private Lives, Ed Rosing. Other design credits include: Rhinoceros, Madd Harold, Seven Stories, Ellen Green; Spare Change, PlayGround '06. Upcoming: Daughter of the House, Jane Carnwath; Terrorism, Adam Baily; Rapunzel, Solar Stage. Etcetera: Brandon is in his final semester at York University where he studies theatre design and production, after which he will be living the dream here in Toronto. He would like to thank Ellen for this opportunity; as always it is pleasure to work with her.
KAT LEONARD Actor (Tori), He, She & It
Kat likes to sing, dance and imagine she's with Johnny Depp alone. She is a writer and performer of stand-up, sketch, short videos and music. She is currently developing her multi-media musical extravaganza called I Love Johnny Depp. And she really, really does. She studied Theatre at York University and graduated from Radio, Television & Film at Centennial College as well as The Second City conservatory program. She has an extensive body of creative work - predominantly on her iMac. She would like to dedicate today's performance to Vanessa Paradis.
STEVEN SHREYBERG Actor (Andrew), He, She & It
You may have spotted Steven in Montreal playing the Wizard in The Wizard of Oz or on the front pages of the Edmonton journal promoting an abridged religious satire wearing nothing but a fig leaf, for a touring production of The Bible: The Complete Word of God (abridged). He was recently spotted in New York playing Arnold in a production of The Boys Next Door and in Brooklyn, eating sushi. Steven trained at The National Theatre School of Canada in Montreal and most recently trained with Michael Howard in New York.
GODZILLA ON SUNDAYS
Dale and Kadin became best friends when they were two geeky little kids cheering for monster movies, working on school projects together, squabbling about girls. Now they're adults and still best friends, still getting together for monster movies and Halloween parties, still squabbling about a girl. But this time, the girl is Dale's wife and all the movie references in the world won't help them find the key to making it work out right. Even Godzilla wouldn't have dreamed of this team-up...
| Playwright: | D.J. Sylvis |
| Director: | Martin Chodorek |
| Godzilla Costume Designer: | Michelle Reynolds |
| Cast: | Timothy Nussey (Kadin) Brad Rowe (Dale) |
| Running Time: | 45 minutes |
MARTIN CHODOREK Director, Godzilla On Sundays
Martin is ecstatic to be working on another show at the Alumnae Theatre after being assistant director for the recent romp that was Private Lives. A graduate of the Ryerson University Theatre Acting program, he feels lucky to be working with three friends, conveniently masters of their respective arts. Martin's other previous offstage credits include directing David Auburn's Proof (Staged and Confused) and stage managing William Mastrosimone's Extremities (Little Olga Productions). Martin would like to extend a special thank you to Gojira, himself, and the Toho Co. Ltd., who keep the fifty-something fella lookin' his best.
TIMOTHY NUSSEY Actor (Kadin), Godzilla On Sundays
Timothy is a proud graduate of the Ryerson Theatre Acting program and is super-pleased to finally be working with Brad Rowe and Marty Chodorek. Aside from neat t-shirts and a love of music, Tim is also proud of his past performances as Labordette in Nana and Al Jode in the Grapes of Wrath. Tim is excited to be back on stage after a romp through the world of rock bands and he is pumped to be acting again, especially in Godzilla On Sundays. Thank you D.J., thank you to my family, and y'all that kick ass. Word.
BRAD ROWE Actor (Dale), Godzilla On Sundays
A graduate of Ryerson Theatre School, Brad began acting in high school at Centennial CVI and through the University of Guelph. Previous credits include Lee in Shepard's True West, Iago in Shakespeare's Othello and roles in the ensemble cast of Kaufman's The Laramie Project (Ryerson Theatre School), as well as leads in Albee's Bench (Theatre Distilled) and Leaving Song (Not In London). More than thrilled to be involved in the first production of Godzilla On Sundays, Brad thanks his friends, family and supporters in this next step. Also, he spends way too much time hanging out with his co-star, Tim Nussey, who is awesome. Thanks, Juice.
D.J. SYLVIS Playwright, Godzilla On Sundays
D.J. is an accomplished poet, fiction author and playwright, as well as a pop-culture-obsessed geek. His plays have seen the stage in one form or another in theatres in western Pennsylvania (where he once resided) and western Ontario. Currently, D.J. is engaged in a one-year online writing project, Monkey, Monster or Spaceman?, which can be found at djsylvis.com/mms. He lives in a loft in Toronto with his wife Laura, and a variously-numbered pack of wild housecats.
Week Three Readings
SHUTTER
Shutter deals with the pursuit of artistic fulfillment in the capturing of beauty in a photograph. Joe Laurent, a wedding photographer in the midst of his career, risks everything as he attempts to capture perfection, love and sparkle on film. While blindly working on his project, he isolates himself from his co-workers and wreaks havoc on the lives of those happy couples he was to capture on film. Told through the perspective of Joe's assistant Will Morraine, Shutter asks questions about the blind pursuit of perfection and the costs it extracts from those in the artists path.
- Mature subject matter -
| Playwright: | Rob Kempson |
| Director/Dramaturg: | Jonathan Seinen |
| Cast: | Keith Bennie (Will Morraine) David Condren (Matthew Johnson) Amy Connolly (Laura Samson) David Gingerich (Joe Laurent) Jordi Mand (Maria Salvez) Ari Millen (Peter Smith) Jenna Turk (Samantha McDonald) |
| Running Time: | 50 minutes |
KEITH BENNIE Actor (Will Morraine), Shutter
Selected Theatre: Boulevard of the Brave, Source of Gravity (University of Toronto Drama Centre) Variations on x and why we float, Three Sisters, Volpone (Queen's Department of Drama); The Winter's Tale, Meltdown (Theatre Kingston); Cabaret, Lucky Stiff (Queen's Musical Theatre); Henry V (Single Thread Theatre); Miss Julie (Open Minds); As the Wayne's World Turns (Queen's Players); Smoke, Stalling (Vogt Studio Series). Keith recently earned an Honours B.A. from Queen's University and is presently an M.A. Candidate at the Drama Centre. He can be seen this summer in both As You Like It and The Merchant of Venice at the St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival in Prescott, Ontario.
DAVID CONDREN Actor (Matthew Johnson), Shutter
David is a recent graduate of the Queen's University Drama Department and fairly new to the Toronto theatre scene. As his interests lie in the development of new Canadian work, David is proud to be a part of this festival. Selected credits include: Elizabeth Rex (County Festival Players); Doctor Faustus, Three Sisters, Songs of Love and Medicine (Queens Drama Department); Glengarry Glen Ross, This is Our Youth, The Laramie Project (Staged and Confused); Henry V (Single Thread). David would like to congratulate Shutter's playwright, Rob Kempson, for his courage and patience.
AMY CONNOLLY Actor (Laura Samson), Shutter
Amy Connolly is a graduate of Dalhousie University's acting program. After working professionally in the Maritimes after graduation, she made the move to Toronto almost three years ago. Favourite credits include: Patty Simcox in Grease at the Bluma Appel Theatre, Smile Theatre's tour of A Christmas Carol, and Liz in Chicago. This is Amy's third year of involvement with Alumnae's New Ideas Festival. In 2006 she played Marjorie in Julia Lederer's play Puzzled Man and last year was Co-Artistic Producer of the festival. Thanks to Rob for the opportunity to work on his new script!
DAVID GINGERICH Actor (Joe Laurent), Shutter
David is thrilled to be working with Rob and the gang on Shutter. A native of the K-W area and recent grad of the University of Windsor's BFA program, David hopes to keep working with wonderful people in a long and productive career as an actor. Many thanks to friends and family who have supported this adventure.
ROB KEMPSON Playwright, Shutter
Rob Kempson is a graduate of Queen's University in Drama/Music, as well as Education. He currently works in Toronto as a playwright/composer and a high school supply teacher. Rob also works as a vocal coach (Solar Stage) and workshop facilitator (LKTYP). Writing Credits: Genesis (Vogt Studio), Spadina to Main: A New Musical (Queen's Drama). Acting Credits: Baker in Into the Woods, Gordon in A New Brain, Eddie in Blood Brothers (Queen's Musical Theatre). Watch for his upcoming musical, Ike and Pearl, which will be presented at this summer's Fringe Festival. Thanks to Jonathan and the cast, for working so hard to bring this show to life!
JORDI MAND Actor (Maria Salvez), Shutter
Selected Theatre credits: Hermia in A Midsummer Night's Dream (Classical Theatre Project), A. in Underground (Necessary Angel), Antoinette in A Flea in Her Ear (Ludger-Duvernay Theatre), Quin in Asphalt (Rhubarb Festival), Paulina in Death of a Maiden (George Ignatieff Theatre). Film/ TV: Fortune's Wake, Glory That Follows, Sealed, Means to an End, River Bending, Class Rebellion at Burger High, Ricky's Room. Her voice can also be heard on the animated series Zoe Kezakos, Rescue Heroes, Girlstuff Boystuff. Upcoming: Lady MacDuff in Macbeth (Classical Theatre Project). Jordi is a recent graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada.
ARI MILLEN Actor (Peter Smith), Shutter
Ari is a recent graduate of Ryerson Theatre School. Selected theatre credits include: The Man on the Floor in Finer Noble Gases (Summerworks), As Is (On The Wing Productions), Angelo in Measure for Measure (RTS). Film and Television credits: Jim in My Bear Lady (CFC), ReGenesis, Smart Woman's Survival Guide, The Real Treasure Island. Currently, Ari can be seen as Alexander in Hearts and Stones, as part of the pivotal(arts) WriteNOW Festival.
JONATHAN SEINEN Director, Shutter
A graduate of the University of Alberta and the National Theatre School, Jonathan recently directed The Curative by Thom Bryce for pivotal(arts) theatre's WriteNOW! Festival, and assistant directed The Madwoman of Chaillot at George Brown College. While at the U of A, he directed student productions of The Visit and 4.48 Psychosis. Upcoming: Assistant Director on Forever Yours, Marie-Lou (Centaur). His first two plays, [ice land] and Regeneration were produced in Edmonton, and he is currently working on his third, Unknown Pleasures. Acting highlights include Firs (The Cherry Orchard, NTS), Aristarkh (The Suicide, NTS), and Orlando (As You Like It, SummerWorks 2006).
JENNA TURK Actor (Samantha McDonald), Shutter
Originally from Ottawa, Jenna recently graduated from the University of Windsor's BFA Acting program. After spending five months out west in Vancouver, Jenna is thrilled to be back in Ontario! Recent credits include: Jennifer and Lillian in 7 Stories and Mrs. Crump in That Summer with University Players (Windsor); Speed, The Duke, and all of the Outlaws in Two Gentlemen of Verona with A Company of Fools (Ottawa); and Dottie in Abra-Cadavre!, a character study based on the life of Dorothy Parker (Windsor). Thanks and much love to cast, crew, family, and friends. Cheers to New Ideas!
Go to New Ideas: Main Page
Go to New Ideas: Week One
Go to New Ideas: Week Two
TICKET INFORMATION
Dates
WEEK ONE: March 5 - 8, 2008
WEEK TWO: March 12 - 15, 2008
WEEK THREE: March 19 - 22, 2008
Times
Wednesday to Saturday: 8:00 pm
Saturday Reading: 12 Noon
Saturday Matinée: 2:30 pm
Admission Prices
Wednesday to Saturday: $12
Saturday Reading: PWYC
Saturday Matinée: $12
New Ideas Pass: $30 - Good for all 3 weeks + Readings
Reservations
Email reservations@alumnaetheatre.com
Cash Only!
Box Office does not accept credit or debit cards
ALUMNAE THEATRE COMPANY
70 Berkeley Street
Toronto, Ontario • M5A 2W6
Phone: 416-364-4170
Email: contactus@alumnaetheatre.com
New Ideas 2008: newideas@alumnaetheatre.com
