Kristen Finlay – Page 17 – Walterdale Theatre

Meet the Cast of From Cradle to Stage 2017 – Erin Forwick-Whalley is Chorus #1 in Guenevere

What is your role in this production? I am playing the role of Chorus #1, also known as Mama Nun! (We made up nicknames for all of the nuns because we have no names in the play.) I am the Abbess, which is like the head nun, so feel a great obligation to guide the younger nuns under my tutelage.

What is your background in theatre? At Walterdale? I am an elementary teacher, so really I perform everyday on the stage I call my classroom! I also sing in a choir, and every year we put on a Broadway show, so I’ve had opportunities to act in those. My favorite role so far has been Mme. Thenardier in Les Mis! I first auditioned for a play in 2013, and received a challenging role in the play Marion Bridge by Daniel MacIvor (Horizon Players). Having never been in this type of production before, it was trial by fire for me, and I learned so much from the ever patient director, cast mates, and crew! This is my second role at Walterdale, having last done And Then The Lights Went Out by Andy Garland in 2014.

What has been the most challenging thing about doing this show? The most enjoyable thing? The thing I find most amazing and enjoyable about theatre is how quickly a cast/crew can bond, because we spend so much time together and because we are forced to be vulnerable and have trust that we will be accepted. I have fallen in love with every team I’ve been a part of, and this one is definitely no different! The most challenging part for me will be when we go our separate ways at the end of the run.

Meet the Team for From Cradle to Stage 2017 – Laura Ly is Director of PORTRAIT OF A FAMILY DINNER

What is your role on this production? I’m direct Portrait of a Family Dinner. It mostly involves working with an awesome cast and a great production team, and doing my best to steer things in the right direction.

What is your background in theatre? At Walterdale? This is my first play at the Walterdale. I am relatively new to the production side of theatre; however, I am very familiar with being an audience member and appreciating it from the other side.

What brought you out for this production? My friend Bethany burst into my office one day at work and asked if I would be interested in directing a one-act play. A few hours later, I was signed up to direct Portrait. I’ll admit that it probably took me a few weeks to fully realize exactly what I signed up for, but I’m so glad that I did.

What do you hope audiences will take away from the show? I hope that audiences walk away thoroughly enjoying themselves and marvelling at being able to witness the unveiling of a never-before-seen piece of art. They should come see it because Edmonton has some very talented playwrights, who are trying some very cool things, and they don’t want to be the only ones missing out. I don’t want to bully anyone, but c’mon, all the cool kids are coming out to From Cradle to Stage, and do you really want to be the person who missed out?!

What has been the most best thing about doing this show? It may sound super cliche, but I truly love the cast and crew of Portrait. I have enjoyed spending time with the cast, and have learned so much from the production crew over the past few months.

Meet the Cast of Guenevere – Derek Kaye is Lancelot!

What is your role in this production? I’m playing the role of Lancelot. He is Guenevere’s lover and King Arthur’s right hand man. He’s a man of honor, brave, and fiercely loyal. The love he has for both Guenevere and Arthur is deeply rooted and cherished.

What is your background in theatre? At Walterdale? I’ve loved doing theatre since I was a kid and this is my second show at the Walterdale, my first being A Man of No Importance. It was so much fun and I met so many great people in that production that when I saw Eric Smith was directing this show I said that myself “that’s going to be another fun ride” and here we are!

What do you think audiences will take away from this show? This is such a unique show for the reason that it’s an original Greek tragedy which is a format that isn’t seen very often in modern-day theatre, and the themes that are presented are as true in our lives nowadays as they always were. I hope that the audience connects with these characters like we all have and takes the emotional journey with us.

What has bee your biggest challenge? A challenge that I’ve had to face doing this show is not dying from laughter! The material is heavy emotionally so to be able to laugh and have fun is important and we have had that in droves! Also playing with swords and pretending to fight people; hello, six year old Derek, you don’t ever have to grow up!

Upcoming Members Workshops – Lighting Workshop with Kevin Humphrey

Lighting Workshop with Kevin Humphrey
A Theatre Alberta by Request Workshop
Sponsored by Christie Lite Sales

Date: Saturday June 3, 2017
Time: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (includes one hour lunch break)
Location: Walterdale Theatre

Cost: $25.00 (payable with cash or cheque)
FREE for Walterdale Members
Memberships may be purchased day of the workshop

Refreshments will be provided for morning and afternoon breaks with an hour lunch (bring a lunch or go out).

Email membership@walterdaletheatre.com to register by May 31st or for more information.

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Kevin Humphrey currently splits his time between being a lighting designer for events around Edmonton and programming lights for other designers. He spent over a decade touring the world with Ronnie Burkett Theatre of Marionettes as his designer and Director of Lighting.

Deciding to try and spend more time closer to home he is now the Principal Lighting Operator at the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium which allows him to design for numerous local groups in his spare time. This job is great as he gets to work with the newest technology and annually see hundreds of different designs to pick up new ideas from. While primarily in theatre he has also worked extensively in dance, corporate, and rock n’ roll lighting.

In the past he has been nominated for several Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Awards. He has been the Chair of the CITT Alberta Section for 4 years and is a member of the Associated Designers of Canada.

Introducing the Cast and Creative Team of FOLLIES!

CAST:
SALLY DURANT PLUMMER -Leslie Caffaro
PHYLLIS ROGERS STONE – Monica Roberts
BUDDY PLUMMER – Dustin Berube
BENJAMIN STONE – Gavin Belik
YOUNG SALLY – Tia Yakubowich
YOUNG PHYLLIS – Veronica Masik
YOUNG BUDDY – Allan Cabral de Sa
YOUNG BEN – Aidan Spila
CARLOTTA CAMPION – Kristen M. Finlay
STELLA DEEMS – Joyanne Rudiak
HATTIE WALKER – Karin Thomas
SOLANGE LAFITTE – Jackie Lotery
EMILY WHITMAN – Stacey Grubb
THEODORE WHITMAN – Kent Sutherland
HEIDI SCHILLER – Erin Foster-O’Riordan
DIMITRI WEISMANN/ROSCOE – Morgan Smith
KEVIN (waiter) – Aaron Schaan
Ensemble: Austin Kumar. Michael Watt, Aaron Schaan, Carol Chu, Alyssa Paterson, Stephanie Swensrude, Kayleigh Teatrault, Nadia Small, Christine Maydew

PRODUCTION TEAM
Director/Choreographer – Barbara Mah
Music Director – Michael Clark
Stage Manager – Phil Kreisel
Production Manager – MJ Kreisel
Assistant Choreographer – Christine Maydew
Costume Designer – Karin Lauderdale
Set Designer – David Folk
Lighting Designer – Brad Melrose
Properties Manager – Debbie Tyson
ASM – Danielle Szeponski
Set Builder – Richard Hatfield
ASM – Steven Sobolewski
Sound Designer – Marika Friesen
Live sound (mics) – Tim Friesen
Light Operator – John Anderson
Sound Operator – Christina O’Dell
Set Painter – Karlie Christie

From Cradle to Stage 2017 – Cast Announcement

Guenevere by John Richardson

Guenevere: Miranda Broumas
Chorus: Sarah Spicer, Brooklyn Melnyk, and Erin Forwick-Whalley
Percival/Mordred: Jesse Harlton
Lancelot: Derek Kaye
King Arthur: Kohl Littlechilds
Bedivere: Austin Kumar
Elaine of Astelot: Catherine Wenschlag

Portrait of a Family Dinner by Tessa Simpson

Basil: Amir Shah
Kristy: Vina Nguyen
Dorian: Julian Stamer
Sybil: Samantha Woolsey
Victoria: Anglia Redding
Chris: Rebecca Ponting

Production Team

Festival Coordinator: Vlady Peychoff
Guenevere Director: Eric Smith
Portrait Director: Laura Ly
Portrait Mentor Director: Bethany Hughes
Guenevere Stage Manager: Rebecca Sokoluik
Production Manager: Catherine Wenschlag
Set Designer/Head of Paint: Joan Hawkins
Costume Designer: Jaimie Lievers
Lighting Designer: Karlie Christie
Sound Designer: Nicholas Juba
Master Builder: Alan Westen
Costume Mentor: Geri Dittrich

Meet the Cast of LADY WINDERMERE’S FAN – Andy Mikula is Mr. Dumby

What is your role in this production? I play Mr. Dumby, who is variously described as ‘ridiculous’ and ‘an absolute brute’, but is really just trying to do his best to succeed in this demmed thing we call ‘society’, for better or worse.

What is your background in theatre? I got involved in theatre during high school, where I played some part, big or small, in fourteen productions over the course of three years. In the years since, I have not been nearly so prolific. My last appearance on stage was as Michael in Sex Lives of Superheroes for the Stage Struck festival in 2013.

What brought you out for this show? Why did you want to be a part of it? I’ve always loved Oscar Wilde’s writing, and I find it fascinating that what was his idea of satire and modern society more than a hundred years ago isn’t too far off from today. Of course, we might be dressed a bit differently, but the sentiments are the same.

Why do you think audiences should come and see this show? First of all, it’s just a great story, with a little bit of everything. Love, jokes, insults – what more can you ask for? Secondly, the costumes. We all look pretty fantastic, if I do say so myself.

What has been the most fun so far working on the show? The most challenging thing? Absolutely, without a question, the best part of working on the show has been the people. I don’t have a lot of experience in the community theatre scene in Edmonton, but everyone has been fantastic, and I couldn’t imagine a better reason to wake up for a 9:00 AM rehearsal on a Saturday morning.

What is your favorite Oscar Wilde quote?“The world is a stage, but the play is badly cast.” (Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime and Other Stories)

Introducing the Cast and Creative Team of QUEEN MILLI OF GALT

Cast:

Milli: Stephanie O’Neill
Edward: Owen Emblau
Mona: Lauren Tamke
Mrs. Milroy: Anne-Marie Smyth
Godfrey: Robert Klakowich

Production Team:

Liz Cook – Director
Paula Blanco Longa – Assistant Director
Anne Marie Szucs – Mentor Director
Laura Young – Stage Manager
Glenn Cook – Production Manager
Catherine Wenschlag – Mentor PM
Jim Herchak – Set Designer
Roy Jackson – Lighting Designer
Phil Kreisel – Sound Designer
Geri Dittrich – Costume Designer
Karin Lauderdale – Costume Ass’t/Assigned DoP
Alayna Hunchak – Props Master
Assistant Stage Manager – TBA
Lighting Operator – TBA
Sound Operator – TBA
Richard Hatfield – Master Builder
Joan Hawkins – Master Painter
Kimberly North – Assistant Painter

Meet the cast of LADY WINDERMERE’S FAN – Patrick Maloney is Lord Windermere!

What is your role in this production? I’m playing Lord Windermere in this production. He’s an austere traditionalist man who deeply loves his wife.

What is your background in theatre? At Walterdale? I’ve been involved in theatre since elementary school. Recently I graduation from Grant McEwan’s Theatre Arts program. Last Spring I appeared in Sunset Syndrome for Walterdale’s From Cradle to Stage Festival.

What brought you out for this show? What drew you to it? I heard about the audition for the show from a friend! I was a little asleep at the wheel! It’s Oscar Wilde! How could I pass that up! He’s one of the great wits.

What should audiences expect from the show? Audiences should expect a hilarious evening of theatre where an assortment of British upper crust experience problems we can identify with to this day.

What has been the most fun thing about working on this show for you? Sussing out all the closet nerds on the cast (there’s lots of us!). The most challenging? Hardest part is maintaining posture. It puts a hurt on you.

Favorite Oscar Wilde quote? “I have nothing to declare but my genius.”

Meet the Cast of LADY WINDERMERE’S FAN – Miranda Broumas is Lady Windermere

Who are you and what is your role in Lady Windermere’s Fan? My name is Miranda Broumas, and I’m playing Lady Windermere.

What is your background in theatre? At Walterdale? I took drama, advanced acting, and oral communication classes from junior high through post-secondary. In 2013, I retired from competitive and professional dance to focus my extracurricular efforts on theatre. 2016 roles include Lucy in Raine (New Works Festival 2016), Cunningham in The Last Days of Judas Iscariot (University of Alberta), and Dawn in Seven Lost Minutes (35^th Annual Edmonton Fringe Festival). Lady Windermere’s Fan will be my first production at Walterdale Theatre.

What brought you out for this show? Why did you want to be a part of it? I’m a big fan of Oscar Wilde, a major nerd for Victorian literature, and I liked the challenge of learning a proper English accent. Lady Windermere is also a rather interesting character to play. She and I share distaste for egocentric and smug people, but we differ in that she holds very black-and-white views. Personal growth and maturity entail learning at least some level of elasticity, and it’s really fun to navigate that journey with her.

Why should audiences check out the show? Lady Windermere’s Fan brilliantly juxtaposes the amusing and the serious, putting a comedic and melodramatic twist on themes that everyone can relate to. If you’ve ever felt pressure to uphold reputation, save face, or create the illusion that everything is fine when it really isn’t; if you’ve ever witnessed hypocrisy, felt burdened by social mores and conformity, or faced social ostracism at school or work; if you’ve ever withheld information to protect someone you love, or experienced the joyous complexity of family and romantic relationships, then you’ll surely identify with a character or two. Plus, it’s written by Oscar Wilde…how could you miss it?

What has been the most fun part of working on the show? Among a host of other aspects, like our fantastic team, I’d say the costumes are a pretty fun part of the show. The play takes place at a time in history when manners and mannerisms were held to the highest standard – when folks scrutinized over every minute detail of their posture, breath, and physical interactions with others. When the ladies started rehearsing in corsets, long trains and character shoes, you could really see life breathed into our characters (while the oxygen was simultaneously pushed out of our lungs) – everybody’s spines straightened and upper lips stiffened just a bit more. It’s also pretty entertaining to see the gentlemen commit to period-appropriate facial hair.

Favourite Oscar Wilde quote: “Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go.”