NEW IDEAS FESTIVAL 2010: Week Two Program
WEEK TWO: Wednesday March 17 to Saturday March 20, 2010
- CATCHER by Michael Corkett Johnston • Directed by Valary Cook
- TIGHTROPE by R. J. Downes • Directed by Kate Fenton*
- PEARLS by Brenda Somers • Directed by Pam Redfern*
- SEX ON THE BEACH by Derek Hale • Directed by Kimberley Ann Croscup
- SOLEDAD by Tina McCulloch • Directed by Kathryn Malek
STAGED READING: Saturday March 20 at Noon
- THE FLYING AVRO ARROW - A Musical Comedy by Doug Warwick • Directed by Nonnie Griffin*
ENVIA! A New Show Each Week
- ENVIA! PERFORMANCE ARTIST by Kelly DuMar • Directed by Jessica Beaulieau
THE SHOWS: March 10 - 13, 2010
ENVIA! Performance Artist
A performance artist probes her raison d'être by performing her quirky, spontaneous, poignant, energetic and hilarious pseudo-improvisational autobiography in three theatrical scenes from her unusual life.
| Playwright: | Kelly Dumar |
| Director: | Jessica Beaulieu |
| Stage Manager: | Catherine Owen |
| Cast: | Briana Templeton |
| Running Time: | 10 Minutes |
Biographies
KELLY DuMAR Playwright, ENVIA!
Kelly DuMar is a playwright, psychodramatist and Playback Theatre Artist from Boston whose plays have been produced around the U.S. She is developing her series of comic monologues into a one-woman show: ENVIA! Autobiography of a Performance Artist. Most recently, Kelly's short romantic comedy, No Strings, about two misfits who meet their soul mates in a parking garage by reading oil spots like Rorschach ink blots, has been performed in Boston and NYC - it's also a short screenplay. Kelly's full-length drama, Weekend at the Dreaming Cloud, won the Susan McIntyre Play Festival, Yellow Taxi Productions, 2008. Go to: www.diarydoor.typepad.com/stagedoor
JESSICA BEAULIEU Director, ENVIA!
Selected Credits: High Fidelity (Assistant Director), Politically Correct Bedtime Stories (Director, Playwright), The Anger in Ernest and Ernestine (Ernestine), Conjoined Skins (Co-director), The King Stag (Director), A Dream Play (Stage Manager), Aria da Capo (Lighting Designer). Jessica is a graduate of the University College Drama program and the Artistic Director of The Pheasant Pluckers Mates Theatre Company. Last summer, she directed and adapted Politically Correct Bedtime Stories for the Toronto Fringe Festival, which was selected as the Patron's Pick and Best of the Fest. She also performs weekly improv shows with Vanguard Comedy Theatre. Jessica's ultimate goal: To shake Jack Nicholson's hand.
CATHERINE OWEN Stage Manager, ENVIA!
Catherine Owen recently graduated from the University of Toronto's University College Drama Program. She is thrilled to be working as a mate of the Pheasant Plucker again. Previous Plucker's credits: Stage management for Gozzi's The King Stag and The Anger in Ernest and Ernestine by Leah Cherniak, Robert Morgan and Martha Ross and stage management for the 2009 Toronto Fringe hit Politically Correct Bedtime Stories. Other selected credits: Stage management for the red light district's Le Misanthrope directed by Johanna Schall, Ivona, Princess of Burgundia, and Titus Andronicus; stage management for Theatre Recap's Witch Hazel and The Last Lighthouse; stage management for Islet production's How Sweet it is.
BRIANA TEMPLETON Envia, ENVIA!
Briana Templeton is a Toronto based theatre artist and recent graduate of the University of Toronto's University College Drama Program. She is a co-founder of the Pheasant Plucker's Mates theatre company and has performed in their productions of Politically Correct Bedtime Stories and The King Stag. Other recent stage credits include: Guantanamo Hotels & Resorts (Pandemic Theatre), Ivona, Princess of Burgundia (The Red Light District), I <3 Future (Il Piccolo Teatro di Milano), Methusalem; or The Eternal Bourgeois (The Red Light District), The Robbers (UCDP).
CATCHER
An old man is chased into a theatre where an audience sits waiting for a play to begin. As he reveals his history, his humour, his philosophies the audience learns his terrifying secret. But do they care? He's just another old man.
| Playwright: | Michael Corkett Johnston |
| Director: | Valary Cook |
| Stage Manager: | Kate Peters |
| Cast: | Peter Higginson |
| Running Time: | 20 Minutes |
Biographies - Catcher
MICHAEL CORKETT JOHNSTON Playwright, Catcher
Kate Peters, a friend, suggested Mike submit a play to the New Ideas Festival. Catcher was selected, and Kate will be stage managing! In 1979 Mike founded the Unionville Theatre Company and until he retired from its Board in 1991, he wrote scripts, hung lights, produced. With great trepidation he even trod the boards once. Meanwhile his love of poetry inspired the writing of various collections of poems, one of which fills a published volume called Reflections Around The Sun (Hidden Brook Press). In 2007, Mike was commissioned by the town of Kugluktuk in the Arctic to develop a play with the Inuit kids at the high school. The theme, very familiar to Mike, was alcoholism in the family, domestic violence, and teenage suicide. Mikes latest play (beside Catcher) is The Dead, a two-act drama featuring the five dead members of his family reminiscing about their alcohol-tainted lives. Mike is thrilled to be working with Kate, Valary, and Peter. The rehearsals have been mind-blowing.
VALARY COOK Director, Catcher
Valary has a specialist in Dramatic Arts (U of T) and was a drama teacher for three decades with the Toronto District School Board. During that time she directed musicals (Camelot, Godspell, Into the Woods), Shakespeare (A Midsummer Night's Dream), Arthur Miller (The Crucible), Sears Festival provincial award winning student productions (2003) and even crocodiles, lost boys and pirates!!! (ah, yes . . . the great directorial challenge: how to make Peter Pan fly?) She has also directed for community theatre. This is her third association with New Ideas, having previously directed the readings Deadman and The Secret Self-Loathing of Florence Nightingale. Valary is delighted to have the opportunity to work with published poet, hatching playwright and master of words Mike Johnston on Catcher, to benefit from Peter Higginsons considerable talent and range of experience, and to share a giggle with the amazing Kate Peters.
PETER HIGGINSON Actor, Catcher
Born on an aerodrome outside London in 1940, of Welsh parents, and raised in London and South Wales, Peter has been acting since the age of 15 and has enjoyed the privilege of performing in over 100 stage and screen productions in Britain, Kuwait and Canada, ranging from ancient Greek drama on makeshift outdoor stages to new works and sometimes elaborate sets on film and stage. He has appreciated and learnt much from working with many talented and committed colleagues and is gratified that his three children have all chosen to work in the performing arts. First appearing with the Alumnae in 1973 as The Covey in The Plough and the Stars, the play which opened this Firehall Theatre, Peter is enjoying his 19th role in this theatre, and his 3rd New Ideas role, as William Walters and is delighted and excited to be working with the enthusiastic and talented team of Valary, Mike and Kate.
KATE PETERS Stage Manager, Catcher
Kate is privileged and decidedly mad to be stage managing two plays for this year's New Idea Festival. Last year she displayed similar insanity when she stage managed two Fringe shows, one of which won Patrons Pick and the other of which was good! Kate is honored to be working closely with both her talented directors, Valary Cook and Florence Ballard, and especially excited to be working with the author of Catcher, Mike Johnston. It is a stage manager's dream to work with good actors who are professional and courageous and Kate wants to send special love to Margaret for her daring and integrity. A special thank you to her new cast members, Hugh Buller and Peter Higginson. She considers herself most fortunate to work with some of the best new and seasoned talent NIF has seen in years.
TIGHTROPE
Raised in a traveling circus, Sheila grows up knowing only the insides of the giant tent; a childs fantasy brought to life. But behind the bright lights and makeup, is a world as painful and real as any other.
| Playwright: | R.J. Downes |
| Director: | Kate Fenton* |
| AD/SM: | Lauren Breuer |
| Costume Design: | Mary Downes |
| Sound Design: | Briyan Skol |
| Cast: | Mark Gibson* Dave McKay June Morrow Stephanie Seaton |
| Running Time: | 45 Minutes |
Biographies - Tightrope
R.J. DOWNES Playwright, Tightrope
R. J. Downes has been a playwright for 18 years. His plays have been performed all across the GTA and beyond. Tightrope marks his fourth time in the New Ideas Festival, the first three being Modern Ritual (2003), Death To Dating co-written with Kathryn Malek (2007) and The Stranger (2009). Other noted works include: Platypus (2004 Rhubarb! Festival), Coffee Black (Slaw Festival 2005), Charades (No Sweetheart Required 2006), the full-length Last Dance of The Dark Cloaked Avenger (2007 Beautiful Lie Productions), Without Whom (Toronto and Hamilton Fringe Festivals 2008) and Death To Dating: A Dark Comedy with Song and Dance co-written with Kathryn Malek (Toronto Fringe Festival 2008).
LAUREN BREUER Assistant Director/Stage Manager, Tightrope
Lauren holds a BFA in Film from Ryerson University where she focused on Writing, Directing and Art Direction. She completed New York University's Collaborative Arts Project summer program (musical theatre/performing arts). She is also a graduate of the Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts, where she studied Acting, Singing and Dance. Lauren teaches children's theatre and facilitates drama for adults with developmental disabilities. She is very excited to be working through her fear of clowns with the great group of people that make up Tightrope!
KATE FENTON* Director, Tightrope
Kate Fenton is the Co-Artistic Director/Producer of The Quickening Theatre. She was recently awarded a Metcalf Foundation grant to complete an internship in Directing/Artistic Direction at the Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People. This year, Kate is Assistant Directing with Allen MacInnes (LKTYP), Jeremy Smith (Driftwood Theatre) and Alisa Palmer. She has performed with theatre companies throughout Toronto and the Ottawa area, and has written, produced and appeared in three short films Greta's Eddy, The Wedding Party, and Swimming Lesson (TIFF 2009 Official Selection In Short Program). Kate's work has been presented at the New Ideas Festival, Red Fest, InspiraTo Festival and several International Fringe Festivals. She recently directed and co-created the successful production of Fish Face (NOW Magazine Fringe Critic's Pick for Outstanding New Play, Outstanding Production, Outstanding Performance and Outstanding Design). Fish Face will be produced at the Cultch Theatre in Vancouver in 2010/2011. Upcoming credits include: Directing Tightrope (Toronto Fringe) and Directing/co-creating The Madhatter Tea Party (Pioneer Village). Kate holds an MFA in Acting from York University.
MARK GIBSON* Actor, Tightrope
Originally from Winnipeg, Mark is a graduate of the Acting Conservatory at York University where he was seen in various productions including the Master and Margarita and The Life of Galileo. A singer and songwriter in the city, Mark was also recently seen in the five-star production of Code Blue at last year's Toronto Fringe Festival. He is excited to be reunited with fellow cast member Kate Fenton (Code Blue) to take on the life of the circus.
DAVE McKAY Actor, Tightrope
Dave is pleased to be back at the New Ideas Festival where, in 2005, he first directed the clown play Primal Broads. He performs regularly as the host of the Lunacy Cabaret as Sketchy the Clown and acts as a co-producer of this monthly clown cabaret show. To help bring the clown community together Dave created and runs the website TorontoClown.com and the Toronto Festival of Clowns, now in its 5th year. He has appeared in the Toronto Fringe Festival in Villain, Omie Finds his Way and Radioplay. Dave was a performer in The Grotesques, Beard of Bees and Dawn Valley and the Southern Ontarians and has appeared at many cabaret, sketch, improve, clown, vaudeville and burlesque shows in Toronto. Dave has studied clown with Michael Kennard of Mump and Smoot, bouffon with Adam Lazarus and completed the Second City Training Centre Conservatory Program. Most recently Dave appeared at the New York Downtown Clown Revue.
JUNE MORROW Actor, Tightrope
June is a writer, actor, clown and burlesque entertainer. Her one-woman show, Miss April Day's School for Burgeoning Young Strippers, played to sold-out audiences at the 2009 Hamilton Fringe Festival and was awarded Best in Venue at the 2007 Toronto Fringe. A frequent performer at Zero Gravity Circus' monthly Lunacy Cabaret, she has shown Toronto audiences probably more than they care to see and is delighted to be doing a show where she can keep her clothes on (well, mostly). June has studied clown with Helen Donnelly, bouffon with Adam Lazarus and life with her husband, the uber-talented Dave McKay. June most recently appeared in No Sweetheart Required and is currently writing a new play about crushes to debut in 2011.
STEPHANIE SEATON Actor, Tightrope
Stephanie is a graduate of the Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts where she was the recipient of the Triple Threat Award. She played the handsome cowboy Ben Shipwright in RAPA's 5th term production of Anton in Show Business, and was a featured dancer and singer in RAPA's production of Cinderella. Stephanie has worked at St. Andrews College in Aurora with London director William Scoular in a variety of roles including Elsa in Hopscotch, Marty in Grease, and as Lady Macbeth. Most recently Stephanie was seen as Cecille in T3's production of Annie. This is her second year in the New Ideas Festival. She hopes you enjoy!
BRIYAN SKOL Sound Designer, Tightrope
Briyan has been making noise and recording it for over three decades, and has worked with Manteca, Salsa 78, Banda Brava and Perfect World. He has played percussion (congero, timbalero, or gongero) in Latin American bands, and provided acoustic and digital drums as well as composition and studio producer duties for other bands. Skol has also collaborated as composer and percussionist for films by Christopher Terry and Annette Mangardt, and music videos with Christopher Terry and Deborah Samuels. Also a visual artist, his experimental and cross-discipline work include solo works with guest performers such as the recent CD entitled Salacious Hyperbole, and previous work with The Palace At Four A.M. and Di Bri and I.
PEARLS
A woman gets ready for her date.
| Playwright: | Brenda Somers |
| Director: | Pamela Redfern* |
| Stage Manager: | Laurie Williams |
| Cast: | Anne Harper |
| Running Time: | 10 Minutes |
Biographies - Pearls
BRENDA SOMERS Playwright, Pearls
Brenda has worked as an actor throughout Europe and in Toronto. She appeared in Week One of this year's Festival and in last year's main stage production of Pride and Prejudice. You may also have seen here in several past NIF productions. Pearls is her second play. Her first, Waxing Lyrical, was a huge success at the 2008 New Ideas Festival and has just been remounted, with equal success, at No Sweetheart Required. At first glance, both pieces appear similar. Middle-aged love and longing, but Pearls explores a womans very different journey.
ANNE HARPER Actor, Pearls
Anne has been involved with New Ideas as a producer, director and actor in the past few years, and now she's back as an actor. 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 recently directed Cyprienne at the Village Playhouse. Previous work at Alumnae includes Under Milk Wood, Thirteen Hands, Departures and Arrivals, Orpheus Descending, and the cockney maid in Hay Fever. For New Ideas: The Gay Parrot, The Vigil Crasher, Eulalie and the Great March and Faeries Inc. She enjoys the challenges of new works, so really appreciates being part of New Ideas.
PAMELA REDFERN* Director, Pearls
Pam is pleased to be directing Pearls for the NIF. Past directing at the Alum includes The Stroller and Shrinkwrap. Pam has acted in a number of Canadian theatres, including the Stratford Festival, Young People's Theatre, Theatre Plus, Solar Stage, The Globe Theatre, and roles in television and film including In God's Country, Childstar, Queer as Folk, Serendipity, The City, The News Room, Goosebumps, and Empire Inc. For Alumnae Theatre, roles include Marlene in Top Girls, Katie Hughes in Bag Babies, various roles in Departures and Arrivals and Mrs. Sullen in The Beauxs Stratagem. Theatre training includes the National Theatre School, Guelph U., Banff School of Fine Arts, and Diana Reis.
LAURIE WILLIAMS Stage Manager, Pearls
Laurie is a newbie at Alumnae, stage managing and tech work and is delighted to be participating in all three; delighted to be reconnected with the theatre. My seeming distant past connections other than as audience were as an actor and a director in community theatre. I'm learning lots. Break a leg and have a blast everyone. Thanks Pam, Brenda, Pat, Shelley, Danielle, Anne, Brenda S. and Jamie - the people I know at the time of writing this.
SEX ON THE BEACH
David and Karen are spending the last two weeks of summer vacation at their parents' cottage. After staying out all night at a beach party, Karen makes a shocking accusation.
Sex on the Beach: (L - R) Dayna Chernoff & Leeman Kessler • Photo by Derek Hale
| Playwright: | Derek Hale |
| Director: | Kimberley Ann Croscup |
| Stage Manager: | Anthony Arnold |
| Cast: |
Dayna Chernoff Jennifer Fraser Leeman Kessler Kevin Risk Elliot Shermet |
| Running Time: | 25 Minutes |
Biographies - Sex on the Beach
DEREK HALE Playwright, Sex on the Beach
Derek studied English at York University. His non-fiction work includes movie reviews for the website Toronto Cinefile and an instruction book called The Player's Guide to Crokinole. He is also the author of many unpublished short stories and unproduced one-act plays. He is currently working on a three-act play.
ANTHONY ARNOLD Stage Manager, Sex on the Beach
Anthony was born in Vancouver. His play Libraries are Exciting Places was performed at New Ideas Festival 2007 was produced in July 2008 at the Eclectic Company Theater in Los Angeles. He is pleased to be able to learn more about stagecraft by his involvement with NIF 2010.
DAYNA CHERNOFF Actor, Sex on the Beach
This performance marks Dayna's debut with Alumnae Theatre's New Ideas Festival, and she's pretty excited about it! Most recently, you may have seen Dayna in Hart House's production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. Next, you can catch her in Songs For A New World at Theatre Passe Muraille's Backspace in April. Thanks so much to Kim and Derek for the opportunity, and to everyone in the cast and crew for making it fun!
KIMBERLEY ANN CROSCUP Director, Sex on the Beach
A Ryerson University Film Graduate, Kim has performed nearly every role on a film set from Craft Services to Producing. Having trained in Acting at The Neighborhood Playhouse in New York City, her stage credits include The Evil Queen in Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs and a self-written one woman show, Ophelia's Hour, which toured the Canadian Fringe Festival Circuit. Kim is making her Alumnae Theatre directorial debut with Sex on the Beach.
JENNIFER FRASER Actor, Sex on the Beach
Jennifer is currently in her third year of study at the UC Drama Program with University of Toronto, specializing in Theatre and Literature. She is so pleased to be working with such a wonderful cast and a dedicated, hardworking creative team. She would like to thank her friends and family for their unwavering support of her work and she hopes you enjoy the show! Her credits include Top Girls, Romeo and Juliet, and The Crackwalker.
LEEMAN KESSLER Actor, Sex on the Beach
Leeman Kessler, Science Fiction Professional, is a Nigerian-born American living it up in Toronto with nothing but his rich, velvety voice and winning manner to recommend him. This is his first production with Alumnae and New Ideas though he has been seen around town as King Kong, a werewolf, a golem and coming soon at the Imperial Pub, HP Lovecraft.
KEVIN RISK Actor, Sex on the Beach
Kevin is pleased to return to the stage after having taken a hiatus from theatre work. This is his third time appearing at New Ideas. He was last a part of the festival in 2007 when he performed in Shakespeare's Brain and Conscientia.
ELLIOT SHERMET Actor, Sex on the Beach
Elliot is a well-renowned actor amongst his friends. With the love and support of family he rushes headlong into characters, such as Buzz in Rebel Without a Cause (Berkeley Street Theatre), Dracula in Dracula Spectacula (Meadowvale Theatre), and various other roles in children's and youth theatre shows. Graduated from Toronto Film School's acting program, he spent two years touring across Canada and the US performing. Elliot returns to Toronto with a passion and desire to branch into film and television - ironically booking this show immediately.
SOLEDAD
A young traveler, lost in the middle of nowhere, finds a house called loneliness,
and is invited to stay the night by its mysterious occupant.
Oh, c'mon! What do you think happens?
| Playwright: | Tina McCulloch |
| Director: | Kathryn Malek |
| AD/SM: | Navneet Rai |
| Sound Design: | Buck Moore |
| Thanks to: | R.J. Downes Jo-Anne Wurster |
| Cast: | Greg Corkum Sandra Krstin Sarah St-Onge-Richards |
| Running Time: | 15 Minutes |
Biographies - Soledad
TINA McCULLOCH Playwright, Soledad
Tina is a writer who acts. Or maybe an actor who writes. Scribbled stories as a very little girl, shot a TV commercial when she was about 5, and debuted on stage (in Crimes of the Heart) MUCH later. Favourite roles include Jane Eyre (Amicus Productions), Poopay in Communicating Doors (Theatre Aurora), and Rose in Enchanted April (Village Playhouse). Her short plays My Name Is Ariel, The View From Here and Celebrity have appeared in various theatre festivals, and she wrote the screenplay for a short film, Chances. Soledad was written in 2005; Tina is a longtime vampire aficionado!
GREG CORKUM Actor, Soledad
Soledad is Greg's second appearance in New Ideas - his first was in 2008's Xtro and Julie. He has also appeared on Alumnae's main stage with Triple Take Production's Last Dance of the Dark Cloaked Avenger (2007). Greg has also done numerous roles with the Village Playhouse (Private Lives, Hay Fever), Cabbagetown Theatre and Upstart Crow (Shakespeare's Sports Canon, 2002 - 2005 Toronto Fringe Festival).
SANDRA KRSTIN Actor, Soledad
Past credits include: Viola in Twelfth Night (Bardbusters), Sondheim in September (Ensemble), Esmerelda in Sleeping Beauty (Solar Stage Theatre), Angela in How Can You Tell?, Teresa in Showdown! (Mixed Company), Tatiana in The Constructivist Suit (Toronto Fringe), Conscientious Objector in Zen and the Art of Experiencing Theatre (Toronto Fringe), and Bobbi Michele in Last of the Red Hot Lovers (Class Act Dinner Theatre).
KATHRYN MALEK Director, Soledad
Theatre directing credits include: Modern Ritual (New Ideas Festival), Platypus (Rhubarb Festival), The Tip (NSR Festival), The Auditions (Cabbagetown Theatre), Apples and Bananas (The Wedding Shows). Film directing credits include: Longing to, Constructing Women, Playing the Part, and Stolen Moment. Selected acting credits include: Death to Dating (Toronto Fringe), Perfect Wives, Desperate Lives (Hamilton Fringe), Last Dance of the Dark Cloaked Avenger (Beautiful Lie Productions), Baby With the Bathwater (Alumnae Theatre Company), Embracing the Black Madonna (Fringe Festivals). Selected film credits: Determined, Green Christmas, The Psychic's Daughter, Souvenirs from Asia, Grown Up For a Day, This Year's Girl.
NAVNEET RAI AD/SM, Soledad
Navneet is an emerging writer, actor, director and producer currently working with the rAiz'n ensemble. She was recently seen in the rAiz'n ensemble's production The Centre at SummerWorks 2009. This is her first year participating in the New Ideas Festival.
SARAH ST-ONGE-RICHARDS Actor, Soledad
Most recently, Sarah appeared as Jackie Coryton in the Bloor Village Players' production of Hay Fever. After spending the summer studying at RADA, she is thrilled to participating in Alumnae's New Ideas Festival. She hopes you will enjoy the show.
Staged Reading + Talkback: Saturday March 20 at Noon
THE FLYING AVRO ARROW - A Musical Comedy
The Flying Avro Arrow L-R: Danielle Capretti (Olga the Russian spy), Stephen Flett (John Diefenbaker),
Jason Winther (William Shatner), director Nonnie Griffin, David Abramovitz (Morris Lax) and Franz
Robinow (Nikita Khrushchev).
The Canadian Avro Arrow supersonic interceptor jet is scrapped in 1959 during the cold war era. Meet John Diefenbaker, Ike Eisenhower, Nikita Khrushchev, William Shatner, and Olga (a female KGB agent from Mother Russia). The legendary Avro Arrow flies again!
| Playwright: | Doug Warwick |
| Director: | Nonnie Griffin* |
| Stage Manager: | Naomi Priddle Hunter |
| Cast: | David Abramovitz Danielle Capretti Stephen Flett Nonnie Griffin* Kyrylo Gubarev Leeman Kessler Franz Robinow Jason Winther. |
| Running Time: | 60 Minutes |
Biographies - The Flying Avro Arrow
DOUG WARWICK Playwright, The Flying Avro Arrow
Doug wrote, produced and directed the Toronto 2008 Fringe production, Sherlock Holmes & The First English Gentleman. The play was first produced in 2000 and was revived in Idaho, USA. His jazz arrangements have been played on CBC radio. He played saxophone with Garfield French opposite Rush, at the Montreal Forum in the 80's. His very short play, Murder By Intermission was a runner-p in the Atlantis Playmakers SAS Playfest (2002) USA. Keeping his day job, Doug currently works as a Certified General Accountant.
DAVID ABRAMOVITZ Actor, The Flying Avro Arrow
Among David's early acting experiences was Herman Hierman's The Good Hope at Hart House Theatre. His Irish druggist role in Sean O'Casey's Hall of Healing led to his casting as Finian in Finian's Rainbow and subsequently in The Blue Goose. He directed The Tunnel of Love, Q Revue (in 1966) and Centennial Edition (in 1967), and produced Death is a Tree among several others. His other acting credits include the 1961 Dominion Drama Festival's winning production of Rashomon, The Tender Trap, The Bad Seed, Red Eye of Love, Dirty Work at the Crossroads, George Washington Slept Here, Peter Mann's revue Let Yourself Go and Gorky's Lower Depths.
DANIELLE CAPRETTI Actor, The Flying Avro Arrow
Danielle has performed in 10 countries. She has recently dusted off her long-disused singing chops, last heard in New Zealand, and will next be harmonizing in Alumnae's The Queens in April. Roles include: Raymonde in Flea in Her Ear (Amicus, ACTCO-nominated), Sibyl in Private Lives (Oakville Players, ACTCO-nominated), Eve in The Wisdom of Eve (Scarborough Theatre Guild), Einstein (Arsenic and Old Lace, UK), Lady MacBeth (MacBeth, US) and Mrs. Tilehouse (The Sea, Finland).
STEPHEN FLETT Actor, The Flying Avro Arrow
Steve is an award-winning actor who has appeared in far too many plays spanning far too many years. He returns for his fifth Alumnae show. Roles include Lord Augustus in Lady Windermere's Fan (Alumnae), Coach in Hockey: The Musical (Fringe), Falstaff in Shakespeare's Sports Canon (Upstart Crow), Michael in Someone Who'll Watch Over Me (Toronto Irish Players), The Stage Manager in Our Town, Sir Robert Chiltern in An Ideal Husband (Village Playhouse), Hank in Affections of May, Victor/Poche in Flea In Her Ear, Dafydd in Chorus of Disapproval (Amicus). Recently: Paulet in Mary Stuart (East Side). Upcoming: Moonlight and Magnolias (Amicus, April 15-24).
NONNIE GRIFFIN* Director, The Flying Avro Arrow
A veteran of the theatre, Nonnie Griffin has been seen in countless productions across the city and the country for decades, as well as on television. She is well remembered for her work in radio drama during “the golden days of radio”. Directing is a natural for her, and The Flying Avro Arrow is ideal for this experienced actress as it embodies music, authentic drama and humour. The tragedy of the Arrow lives on in the memory of many Canadians who still feel outraged and cheated by the cancelling of this magnificent creation. Hats off to the writer/composer of this wonderful work, Doug Warwick.
KYRYLO GUBAREV Actor, The Flying Avro Arrow
Krylo came to Canada from the Ukraine just two years ago. A graduate of law, he practised his profession in his home country, but harboured a deep longing to become an actor. Since coming to Canada he has found that his true passion in theatre and showbiz is being fulfilled. Although in this country such a short time, Kyrylo has managed to land several jobs in film. His objective is Hollywood and we wish him the best of luck in his chosen profession.
LEEMAN KESSLER Actor, The Flying Avro Arrow
Leeman Kessler, Science Fiction Professional, is a Nigerian-born American living it up in Toronto with nothing but his rich, velvety voice and winning manner to recommend him. This is his first production with Alumnae and New Ideas though he has been seen around town as King Kong, a werewolf, a golem and coming soon at the Imperial Pub, HP Lovecraft.
NAOMI PRIDDLE HUNTER Stage Manager, The Flying Avro Arrow
Naomi is a regular at Alumnae Theatre and has been active in theatre for some time. She divides her time and talent between East Side Players, The Arts and Letters Club and the Alumnae. Her most recent gig was as producer of the highly successful production of Mary Stuart for East Side Players. Naomi acted in their production of Our Town and served as Fight Director for I Hate Hamlet, BR (Before Renovations). She was also seen as Miss Archie in last season's Waiting In The Wings. The Avro Arrow will most definitely lift off with her very efficient and able assistance!
FRANZ ROBINOW Actor, The Flying Avro Arrow
Franz is happy to be Mr Besso in Who is Lieserl? (Week Three) and Premier Krushchev in The Flying Avro Arrow for New Ideas. New York credits include Jean Louis, a French thug in NBC-TV's Search for Tomorrow; Robert, a Russian KGB Agent, in ABC-TV's One Life To Live; Gottschalk's father in The Great Gottschalk with Ben Vereen (dir. Tom O'Horgan). Toronto, previously: several Hart House roles such as the Doctor in The Father, the Priest/Undertaker in A Scent Of Flowers. He has worked with directors Bob Gill, Bill Glasgow, and David Gardner. Played the Bachelor in a Russian production of The Marriage (Zhenitba).
JASON WINTHER Actor, The Flying Avro Arrow
Mr. Winther has last appeared at Alumnae in Daughter of the House by Lucy Brennan. Also: Broadway (The Rainmaker), Action by Sam Shepard at The American Living Room Fest, a guest lead on NYPD Blue and numerous independent film productions. He is delighted to take part in the presentation of Doug Warwick's The Flying Avro Arrow.
*Appearing with the permission of Canadian Actors' Equity Association
ALUMNAE THEATRE COMPANY
70 Berkeley Street
Toronto, Ontario • M5A 2W6
Phone: 416-364-4170
Email: contactus@alumnaetheatre.com
New Ideas 2010: newideas@alumnaetheatre.com
