Category: From Cradle to Stage

Walterdale Theatre “From Cradle to Stage” 2018-19 Submissions Request

Edmonton’s foremost community theatre company is now accepting submissions for its annual new work event, From Cradle to Stage. For over a decade, Walterdale Theatre has been producing original plays by local playwrights as a part of its main stage season. In celebration of our 60th Anniversary Season we are doing something a little different.

This Day, which was submitted for last year’s competition was selected in advance for development this year. It’s a musical by Matt Graham and Sue Goberdhan and will receive dramaturgy from Anne Marie Szucs over the fall and winter to be ready for audition by the end of January 2019.

Collaboration Project: For the second piece to be developed, in honour of the 60th Season, we are looking for monologues and scenes about your Walterdale (and other community theatre) experiences. Selected playwrights will work with Facilitator Kristen M. Finlay to construct a collective piece celebrating Walterdale.

Timeline:

  • Deadline for all submissions is midnight November 15th, 2018.
    • Selected playwrights will work with the facilitator over the fall and winter the 2018-19 season to have an audition-ready collective piece by the end of January 2019.
    • Finished scripts will be paired up with directors and production teams by December 2018.
    • Both plays will be produced May 13-18, 2019.

Submission Guidelines:

  • Submit a monologue or short scene in the theme of “Walterdale Memories”. You can submit more than one piece, but please submit as a combined package (we may not use all scenes/monologues submitted).
    • Scripts must be typed or printed, with spaces between all speaking parts. Include your name and contact info on the first page of the script, and number your pages.
    • Along with the script, please include a brief bio (50 words or less) which Walterdale will use for publicity purposes if your play is chosen.
    • For the purpose of this competition, “local” indicates a resident of the Edmonton Area. This includes satellite communities such as Spruce Grove, Stony Plain, Sherwood Park, St. Albert, and Leduc. If you are unsure if you geographically qualify to submit, please do not hesitate to inquire via email.

There are two ways to submit:

  1. Email a digital copy (pdf is preferred) of your scripts to Bethany Hughes, Artistic Director at walterdalead@gmail.com with From Cradle to Stage 2018-19 in the subject line.
  2. Hard-copy Scripts can be mailed to (do not send your original or ‘only’ copy):

From Cradle to Stage 2018-19
Walterdale Playhouse
10322 83 Avenue
Edmonton, AB T6E 5C3
Attention: Bethany Hughes, Artistic Director

All submissions must be received by midnight November 15, 2018. Do not submit your original copy. If you want your script returned to you, please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Unselected scripts without a SASE will be recycled.

Meet the Cast of WATER BENEATH HER FEET – Brittany Hinse is Janey

What is your role in this production? I play Janey in Water Beneath Her Feet. Some of the play takes place in her memories, so it’s been kind of a fun challenge to maneuver the switches between past and present. Janey is a very stubborn character, but a sweet one too, she’s been fun to get to know.

What is your background in theatre? At Walterdale? I have a diploma in Musical Theatre from MacEwan University, and this is my fourth Walterdale show. My other Walterdale productions were Ravenscroft, Lady Windermere’s Fan, and Shatter from earlier this season.

What brought you out for this show? I love doing New Works, I think it’s fun to be a part of something completely new and exciting.

What has been the biggest challenge about working on the show? think the biggest challenge, again, has been the switches between time frames, especially as Janey never leaves the stage in between the switches, she just steps into and out of memories whenever!

What do you think audiences will take away from the show? Why should they come and see it? Water Beneath Her Feet is an interesting show –  the audience never knows more than Janey does at any given moment, so you kind of have to piece together the puzzle as you watch. It’s a little bit of a mystery!

From Cradle to Stage runs May 14-19 on the Walterdale Stage.

Meet the Playwrights of FROM CRADLE TO STAGE 2018 – Sharon Reichert

 What is your role in this production? I am reading the roles of two very different men in Incorruptible. One is a teenage boy, the other the younger brother of the main revolutionary. So I am getting to practice doing different voices! lol
 
I am also the playwright of Inaccurate Conceptions, another of the plays being read. I am so excited and blessed that they chose my play to be a part of this festival! I am excited to have it read for a completely new audience! Inaccurate Conceptions started as a seven-minute movie short when I first wrote it back in 1993. In 2014 I developed it further, resulting in a 15-minute one act play, which I directed it for the Yellowhead Region Adult One Act Play Festival in 2015, where the production was named the runner up for the provincial festival. 
 
What do you think audiences will take away from the show? Why should they come and see it?
Inaccurate Conceptions is a funny play that proves, when it comes to relationships, things are not always what they seem. I believe the other plays that are being read are much deeper than mine and have the potential to really make audiences think. In other words, the complete opposite of Inaccurate Conceptions! OK, that isn’t completely true, but I do really hope that audiences can sit back and enjoy a few laughs with Owen, Angela, Lisa and Joanne. Also, I have to add, the title of this play is such a good play on words that it might just be my favourite part of the whole thing! lol 

Meet the Cast of WATER BENEATH HER FEET – Wylee Johnston is Lizzie

What is your role in the production? I play Lizzie, Janey’s mom. She is a loving and free spirit that has her struggles with mental illness, which impacts her relationship with her daughter and husband.

What is your background in theatre? I got back into theatre in 2015 after a long break. I was a child model with a focus on theatre and had a theatre coach within the agency. While I had been involved in various works at that time, my recent credits include The Little Mermaid with Stageworks Productions, Girls’ Night Out with St. Albert Theatre Troupe, and I have volunteered with the Walterdale on several occasions since 2016.

What brought you our for this show? I have always wanted to be a part of the Cradle to the Stage. There’s a different kind of energy that comes with performing a new show, one that has not been on stage before. You are building a whole new world and to be able to present it to others is quite exhilarating! As I read for Lizzie in the audition, I felt a connection with her and really wanted to be involved.

How have you found the experience of creating this character? To help make Lizzie who she is and shape the play with this group has been an amazing experience and such a privilege. But her character work has also been my biggest challenge; diving into her mental wellness issues, finding out what could trigger her or move her and being able to express that for an audience without taking the emotions home with me.

Why do you think audiences should come and see this show? I hope audiences will be able to see that mental illness is not all of what a person is. Someone can be this amazing human being and while they face these types of challenges, it does not define who they are. I hope we can help break that stigma a bit. I think it this is something people will want to see as it portrays a very real look into a family that is learning to deal with mental illness together.

Meet the Cast of From Cradle to Stage 2018 – Matt Boisvert is Clay in WATER BENEATH HER FEET!

What is your role in this production? I play Clay in Water Beneath Her Feet. Clay is the main character’s father and is seen only in memory sequences. He is a father devoted to taking care of his daughter and helping his wife cope with her growing mental illness.

What is your background in theatre? At Walterdale? I started acting onstage with St.Albert Children’s Theatre in 1993 at the age of 11. I wrote, produced and directed my first plays at age 14 as part of a festival called Fresh Fest. Some years after that I took a break from theatre to pursue music projects (released 3 albums) and study art (UofA Visual Art Certificate, my final show of encaustic paintings will be up in Enterprise square this Oct 1st-18th). After a 13 year break I returned to the stage with Walterdale’s Chess (2016) and have been working steadily ever since. Probably my favourite role since returning was playing Dr. Horrible with Heart and Soul Productions last Halloween.

What brought you out for this show? After reading the script I felt I could bring something genuine to this character that perhaps others could not. I think Clay could be easily seen as a villain but he is much more complex than that. He has his own journey which I hope you will see in my performance.

What has been the most fun thing about working on the show?  Everyone involved in the project is a blast. Though the show has few comedic moments, every rehearsal has been filled with laughter. Each person involved loves what they do and brings that love into every action. It is rare that a group is as devoted as this.

What do you think audiences will take away from the show? Why should they come and see it? Water Beneath Her Feet is a bit of a mystery as well as a drama. You will become so involved with the main character as she peels away layer after layer surrounding what happened to her parents that by the end you feel like part of the family.

Meet the Team of SHATTER – Savanna Harvey is the Lighting and Sound Designer

PRINTWhat is your role on this production? Light and sound designer.

What is your background in theatre? At Walterdale? I started with Walterdale as Assistant Director for Jennie’s Story (2014). I was also Associate Dramaturg for the Cradle to Stage play Bottled Up (2016).

What brought you out for this show? I’m an independent creator-performer, and I’ve wanted to learn more about light and sound design for ages. What better way to learn than by doing?!

What do you think audiences will take away from this show? Why should they come and see it? I may be a little biased, but I think the lighting design for Shatter is really cool. I tried to design a unique aesthetic (flashlights and shadow puppetry) on top of stage lighting that would compliment the themes in the text. Watch out for shadows, suspicion, and fragmentation!

Women's_March_(VOA)_03Shatter deals with a major event in Canadian history that Canadians today might not know too much about. Are there any other major events in Canadian history that you feel we should know more about that we do? I don’t know much about Canadian history, but I am involved in its present. I participated in the Edmonton Women’s March on Washington last January. Collectively, these marches were the largest civil rights march in history. The event aimed to be intersectional, inclusive, and international, supporting of the rights of all women and femmes. It was an incredible experience – it’s not often you have the opportunity to actively participate in history! I ended up making an art exhibit about the experience called ARTifacts of Protest. If you’re interested in learning more about the march, I’m presenting the exhibit and a lecture at the University of Alberta for International Week (January 2018).

Meet the Cast of FROM CRADLE TO STAGE 2017 – Miranda Broumas is Guenevere in GUENEVERE

1047556What is your role in this production? I’m playing Guenevere, who’s a spirited and yearning young lady. Despite her affairs with Lancelot, she remains a dutiful partner to King Arthur. Their marriage is founded in a very admirable friendship and professional respect. Arthur values her insight and opinions, which is a refreshing dynamic between a man and a woman given the attitude and treatment toward women during the time period in which the show is set. Overall, Guenevere is a bold and noble queen who, in her own way, is always striving to protect the kingdom, promote peace, and preserve Arthur’s reputation. In many ways, she’s beyond her years. She can come across as introspective and strong, but has momentary lapses of naivete. Regardless of which side she’s putting forward, she is inherently opinionated and punctilious. She listens when the time is right, and takes charge when she feels she should.

What is your background in theatre? At Walterdale? I took drama and oral communication classes from junior high through post-secondary, and was a professional and competitive dancer for fifteen years. In 2013, I retired from dance to focus my extracurricular efforts on theatre. Recent credits include Lucy in Raine (New Works Festival 2016), Cunningham in The Last Days of Judas Iscariot (University of Alberta), Dawn in Seven Lost Minutes (35th Annual Edmonton Fringe Festival) and Lady Windermere in Lady Windermere’s Fan (Walterdale Theatre). This is my first role of 2017 and my second production at Walterdale.

What brought you out for this production? I’ve long admired the work of our director, Eric Smith, and jumped at the opportunity to audition for one of his productions. Once I had a chance to review the script, I was immensely intrigued. I’ve never worked on a such a poetic show before, so I was excited to try something new. I also felt somewhat obligated to audition for a Greek tragedy since my father hails from Nafpaktos.
What do you hope audiences will take away from the show? Why do you think they should come see it? From playwrights and painters to actors and dancers, it’s always important to support local artists, and From Cradle to Stage is a great way to do that. John Richardson has written a delightful rendition of a well-known tale that I think audiences will enjoy. I’m especially impressed by the depth of emotion the show covers in just sixty minutes.

What has been the most challenging thing about doing this show? The most enjoyable thing? The most enjoyable part has been getting to know the cast and crew on both professional and personal levels. The rehearsal process was a great balance of silly and serious, and resulted in a close-knit cast presenting a very unique and heartfelt show.

Meet the Cast of FROM CRADLE TO STAGE 2017 – Anglia Redding is Victoria in PORTRAIT OF A FAMILY DINNER

Anglia Redding - Guest Poster

What is your role in this production? My role is twofold in this production: I play Victoria in the production and I’m the Co-Director of Publicity for Walterdale. In my role as Co-Director, I write press releases, contact local reviewers, set up interviews, and make sure the word about the show gets out so people will come and see it! Victoria is a bit of a puzzle. She is the perfect wife and mother, but she has many secrets she needs to keep hidden. She would do just about anything to protect her family.

What is your background in theatre? At Walterdale? I graduated from Keyano College with a diploma in Visual and Performing Arts program located in Fort McMurray. I acted in a few shows on the Keyano main stage, including Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean and Les Belles Soeurs. I’ve been involved in stage-managing a few productions like Death Comes to Auntie Norma (Lucky Wench Productions) and Jesus Master Builder (Walk on Water Productions). I’ve also stage-managed for Gerald Osborn at ADFA’s Stage Struck for the past few years, which has been a real treat. Since 2012, I’ve been volunteering at Walterdale in various roles, including assistant stage manager and lighting operator. I’ve really found my niche as a stage manager, which suits my bossiness to a T.

What brought you out for this production? Since acting seems to be in my blood (despite my love for stage-managing), I love to come out and audition for Walterdale shows. It’s awesome to get to meet different directors and hear about their vision. Even if I don’t get a part, I never feel rejected because of the feeling of community Walterdale projects. I always feel like I’m coming home.

What do you hope audiences will take away from the show? Why do you think they should come see it? I hope audiences will see that not every family is perfect; we all have secrets and skeletons in the closest. Some laughs would also be nice! Audiences should come and see it because it’s a great way to spend an evening while supporting local playwrights. What not to like?

What has been the most challenging thing about doing this show? The best thing? It’s been 17 years since I was onstage last, so remembering how to learn my lines was a bit of a struggle. I used to know all the tips and tricks, but things have changed so much! Imagine my surprise when I found out there were apps I could use to help me. Back in my day, you just sat with your script and repeated the lines until they were in there (shakes fist at young people).

I’d have to say the best thing has been getting back onstage. Stage-managing and acting can be quite varied in responsibilities and duties. It’s a whole different world under the lights than it is hiding in the booth!

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

Erin Forwick-WhalleyWhat 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.