November 13–24, 2024 (*Studio Theatre)
Bone Cage by Catherine Banks
Director: Cassidy Sadler
Producers: Trisha Harlan and Meliz Posta
Everything in its path it eats. In rural Nova Scotia, 22-year-old Jamie works a tree processor, clear-cutting for pulp. After each shift, he walks the forest carnage, salvaging fallen nests, injured birds, slivers of life. His half-sister mows the sod fields, confessing sins and dreams to a dead tree. His father claws at soil and science, attempting to resurrect a dead child. Winner of the Governor General’s Literary Award for Drama, Bone Cage offers gripping lyricism, dark humour and visceral drama in this portrait of self-destruction. It is a raw and poetic examination of the lives of those who strip the environment and their souls.
*Bone Cage is held in Alumnae Theatre’s third-floor walk-up studio, which is not currently wheelchair accessible.
This production is generously supported by
Trailer by Nicholas Porteous
The Director and Producers
CASSIDY SADLER/DIRECTOR
A director, actor and producer, Cassidy is passionate about new works, immersive experiences, and experimental theatre. She is a co-founder of Moss Theatre Collective and Alumnae Theatre’s seasonal speakeasy cabaret, the Studio Open Mic. She is a company member of Live History, whose site-specific work can be seen internationally. Cassidy is the Associate Producer at Roseneath Theatre. Additional credits include Fierce (Moss Theatre Collective/Alumnae Theatre); The Seqret City and The Curious Voyage (DopoLavoro Teatrale); Back to the Bar (Sidestreet Theatre/Toronto Fringe); A Tonic for Desperate Times (Theatre Gargantua); and The Pride of Life and Mankind (Poculi Ludique Societas/Stan’s Cafe/Metropolitan Museum of Art).
TRISHA HARLAN/PRODUCER
Trisha Harlan is an Ajax-based theatre and film studies graduate, storyteller, and burgeoning producer and arts administrator with a passion for bringing compelling narratives to life on stage. She has a deep commitment to the arts, particularly in fostering representation behind the scenes, and is driven by a desire to see more Black women in leadership roles within Canadian theatre.
MELIZ POSTA/PRODUCER
A musical lover first and foremost, Meliz Posta began her career in the Toronto Arts scene alongside her move from London, UK, in 2023. As well as her involvement at Alumnae Theatre (Co-Producer – New Ideas Festival 2023, Co-Producer – The Studio Open Mic Nights, Costume Designer – The Children 2024), she is also the current Production Assistant for Opera Atelier and Associate Production Manager for Roseneath Theatre. Meliz is delighted to be working with this team on Bone Cage for what will be her “Torontonian swan song” before moving back to London at the end of the year.
The Actors
JORDAN KUPER/’JAMIE’
Jordan Jerry Kuper (he/him) is beyond stoked to be part of the cast of Bone Cage. He is a Dutch-Canadian actor, born and raised in Listowel, Ontario. He is a recent theatre school graduate, with credits in Theatre@York shows such as Revolt. She said. Revolt again (Dir. Alison Wong), The Late Wedding (Dir. Jamie Robinson), and Everybody (Dir. Courtney Ch’ng Lancaster). Most recently, Jordan had the privilege to work with Chris Tolley and Laura Mullin on the new PlayME podcast original series, Tunnel Runners. Jordan would not be in this production without the monumental support of his friends, family, mentors and his partner, Jade.
JENNA BROWN/’CHICKY’
Jenna Brown (she/her) is a queer Métis artist originally from Saskatchewan. She is absolutely thrilled to be making her Alumnae Theatre debut with Bone Cage. Some of her favourite credits include Molly Aster in Peter and the Starcatcher and Benny Southstreet in Guys and Dolls (both at Randolph College for the Performing Arts). Thank you to my family, friends, and partner for your never-ending love and support!
MOLLY BOTTEN/’KRISTA’
Molly Botten is a Toronto-based multidisciplinary artist known for her diverse skill set and dynamic performances. Molly’s artistic journey began in competitive dance, which laid the foundation for her formal education in the theatrical arts at the University of Toronto and Sheridan College. Her stage credits include notable roles such as Annie Sullivan in The Miracle Worker, Hermia in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Emma in Fefu and Her Friends. While live theater is what she is most passionate about, Molly also has established herself as an accomplished performer in the media. She has over two years of experience as a principal voice actor with Pocket FM and headed the internationally accredited short film Mad Pierrette, which toured the festival circuit in 2023. Bone Cage is a raw, heartfelt, and deeply rewarding production, and Molly is extremely grateful for the opportunity to be a part of it.
ADRIAN CHEVALIER/’KEVIN’
Adrian Chevalier is a Toronto-based actor born and raised in Regina, Saskatchewan. He is a graduate of the University of Toronto/Sheridan College Theatre and Drama Studies Program and was a member of Regina’s Globe Theatre School Youth Company for three seasons. Selected performance credits include Romeo in Romeo & Juliet (Sunbeam Theatre Co.); Tristan in The Caligula Exiles, Pete in Pave Paradise (Alumnae Theatre); The Stinky Cheese Man (among other characters) in The Stinky Cheese Man (T.Y.T. Theatre); and Vronsky in Anna Karenina (Theatre Erindale). He was also the associate producer and stage manager for the 2023 production of ONE NIGHT ONLY (duhdumduhdum productions), which played at seven Fringe Festivals across seven Canadian cities.
DAVID CAIRNS/’CLARENCE’
David Cairns appeared at Alumnae Theatre in George F. Walker’s Better Living and Escape From Happiness. Recent credits include Art (Marion Abbott Productions), Anne of Green Gables (Lower Ossington Theatre), and We The Family (Hart House Theatre), where he originated the role of Sonny. Notable Shakespearean roles include Macbeth, Petruchio, Claudius, Falstaff, Feste, and Friar Laurence. He’s had leading roles in The Importance of Being Earnest, Lady Windermere’s Fan, Criminals In Love, Twelve Angry Men, and Urinetown. David has adapted, directed, and toured A Christmas Carol, and his adaptations for Brampton’s Shakespeare In The Square have toured across North America. He won Best Director (ACT-CO) for Consider The Oyster and was nominated for Doubt.
ALEXANDER AUSTIN-BOYD/‘ROBBY’
Alex Austin-Boyd is a Toronto-based actor/improviser who spends his time trying to make the perfect tomato sauce recipe. He has come close many times but just like the meaning of life, true perfection escapes him … pretty good actor though.
ELIZABETH PARKER RODENBURG/‘LISSA’
Elizabeth Parker Rodenburg (she/they) is a 2022 graduate from the University of Windsor’s BFA in Acting program and a recent participant Tarragon Theatre’s Young Playwrights Unit. Previously for Alumnae: Girl in Joyce and Florence. Other selected credits include Laurie in 86 Me: The Restaurant Play (Dead Raccoon/Toronto Fringe), Iris in Slate Sisters (AlvegoRoot Theatre), performer and creator of Party Games (Buddies in Bad Times), Antonio/Curio in Twelfth Night (Louie the Goat), Procne in If We Were Birds (University Players), Molly in The Smell of The Kill and Claudio/Margaret in Much Ado About Nothing (University of Windsor). They are endlessly overjoyed to be given a space to play and create in the most unmasked, ridiculous, and challenging ways!
The Production Team
JULIE GALLAGHER/STAGE MANAGER
Julie is an English and former Drama teacher who provided platforms for young people to experience and participate in theatre. She supports and has developed drama based on a collaborative creative process. She directed and produced high school theatre for over 20 years. Julie recently worked as Stage Manager for The Caligula Exiles (Alumnae Fireworks Festival 2023) and Back to the Bar (Sidestreet Theatre) in the 2023 Toronto Fringe Festival.
LORI DELORME/PROPS DESIGNER
Lori is a Toronto-based director and producer. She is a co-founder of Moss Theatre Collective, and she recently acted as co-producer and co-assistant director for its inaugural production, Fierce. For Just in a Bowl Productions (co-founder), she co-wrote and acted in two plays, Unsinkable and The Hungarian Suicide Duel, both performed as part of the Fringe Festival across Canada. Previously for Alumnae Theatre Company, Lori directed The Children, Governing Ourselves, B to Z, and Belle Darling Klondike Queen and co-produced Top Girls. She has acted as dramaturge for Scrambled Eggs (No Model Types), B to Z and Belle Darling Klondike Queen (Alumnae). She is happy to be a part of the Bone Cage team and is becoming very proficient at sourcing beer and smokes!
DOUGLAS TILLER/SET DESIGNER
Douglas Tiller trained in film, doing everything from location management to post-production, but his true passion is woodwork. With a preference for clean, modern lines, he designed and built two local Leslieville businesses, Mercury Espresso and Hitch, and is the owner of Southpaw Built, a local carpentry shop. In his first theatrical experience, he created stage props for the Alumnae production of B to Z. He then went on to his first production design, which involved the building of a moss-covered cottage on the Alumnae Studio stage for The Children, followed by the crumbling office set for Moss Collective’s production of George F. Walker’s Fierce. He’s very excited for the opportunity to bring the setting of Bone Cage to life.
DANIEL SHIELS/LIGHTING DESIGNER
Daniel is a North Carolinian turned Torontonian and classically trained musician moonlighting as a lighting designer/technician. He spent much of his university and school years performing in ensembles of all sizes: jazz bands, concert bands, symphonic bands, pit orchestras, and NC State University’s Marching Band. Outside of Alumnae, Daniel works in information technology and enjoys road cycling, Dungeons & Dragons, and playing video games with friends.
ANDREW HONOR/SOUND DESIGNER
Andrew Honor is a filmmaker, composer, and sound designer. He is interested in creating new worlds from found sounds and building emotional moments for audiences to experience. He has composed music for various film projects, produced pop music in Toronto and Guelph, and most recently designed the sound for Alumnae Theatre’s 2024 production of The Children, A Little Bite of Paradise (New Ideas Festival), and Moss Theatre Collective and Alumnae Theatre’s production of George F. Walker’s Fierce.
MAKENZIE HAY/COSTUME DESIGNER
Makenzie (she/her) is a multidisciplinary artist from Toronto. Her recent costume credits include Alumnae Theatre’s Fireworks Festival 2023, as well as the upcoming Funeral Al Fresco. Makenzie is a graduate of the Second City Conservatory program and currently works at Young People’s Theatre as an artist educator.
NICHOLAS KOY SANTILLO/FIGHT DIRECTOR
Nicholas is a classically trained actor, having received an MA in Classical Acting for the Professional Theatre from LAMDA and a BFA in Theatre Performance from Concordia University in Montreal. He has trained in the martial-dance performance style of traditional Beijing Opera at the National Academy of Chinese Theatre Arts (NACTA) in Beijing and also in Western styles of stage combat – through Fight Directors Canada. He has been working professionally in the theatre since 2008.
JES WAREING/INTIMACY DIRECTOR
Jes Wareing (she/her) is honoured to be making her Intimacy Direction debut with Bone Cage, after having worked as an actor for many years. She has previously appeared at Alumnae Theatre as Etta Cone in The Equivalent of Sensation (NIF 2020/2021). Jes is a movement professional with experience in MoCap and psychophysical acting and is an advanced practitioner of The Batdorf Technique. Jes currently studies with IDC Professionals Inc. and holds a BFA in Acting from York University.
LEAH HOWARD/COSTUME ASSISTANT
Leah (she/her) is a born Torontonian and a newcomer to the world of theatre! She has been working with the charity Studio Lab Theatre Foundation to support their fundraising efforts this past year and recently had her first foray into corporate production as a Decor Assistant for Utility Contractors Association of Ontario Convention. She has a passion for special effects makeup and has been playing with this hobby since she was thirteen.
ALYSSON BERNABE/SCENIC PAINTER
Alysson is delighted to be returning to Alumnae as Scenic Painter for Bone Cage. Previous Alumnae shows include Set Designer for New Ideas Festival 2023 and Scenic Painter for The Children and Fierce.
ARYANA RIZVI/SCENIC PAINTER
Aryana Rizvi is a Toronto-based multidisciplinary artist. She has an enthusiasm for eccentric design, bold colours, and puppetry. Recent credits include blue skies red earth and tall pines (Jumblies Theatre), The Children (Alumnae Theatre), and Parktopia (Shadowland Theatre). Outside of theatre, Aryana is also a painter, muralist, and henna artist.
BINI SHAH/LIGHTING OPERATOR
Bini works as an IT Analyst during the day and spends her evenings chasing theatre and arts. She has been a part of the Toronto artistic community through volunteering at theatre festivals like The Fringe and other festivals like Elevate, Comic Con, and more. With an innate love for poetry, art, and writing, she continues to support the artistic community in her capacity as a manager and coordinator. She supported multiple productions at the Alumnae Theatre in 2023, and Shadows and Nooks is her fifth production, alongside Low Pay, Can’t Pay. She is excited to be working on Bone Cage!
NATALIYA KOZYRINA/LIGHTING OPERATOR
Nataliya Kozyrina is an emerging artist based in Toronto. Originally from Russia, she has lived in Canada for over five years. Nataliya graduated from the Music and Digital Media program at St. Lawrence College and previously studied film and media production at Humber College. She is deeply passionate about art, dedicating her free time to volunteering with Alumnae Theatre, Alexander Showcase Theatre, Underground Dance Centre, indie film sets, art galleries, and various film festivals. Disguised as a 9-5 Account Executive at Quest AV, she is reaching her full artistic potential developing an artistic initiative called AkaNat_Art. It is a collective of artists focused on creating integrated art experiences, installation art, projection mapping, dance, visual arts, music, and more. Don’t be shy: if you meet Nataliya, say hi! She is super friendly.
The Production Team
Accessibility
Alumnae Theatre’s Berkeley Street entrance and the Mainstage Theatre are wheelchair accessible. There is a wheelchair accessible restroom on the ground floor.
