King of the Yees is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of
Samuel French Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com
We are an Edmonton-based community theatre committed to the production of engaging and vibrant works and providing our member volunteers opportunities to participate in all aspects of theatre production.
Want to get involved with Walterdale?
Have you ever wanted to try your hand at stage management, acting, directing, or even media relations in theatre?
Walterdale Theatre has been successfully run by its volunteers for more than 60 years now, and we invite you to join our team. Whether you can donate a few hours or a few seasons, we are always looking for new volunteers to help grow our theatre.
The best way to get involved at Walterdale is to become a member today! You will receive news about shows, special events, opportunities to volunteer or audition, and discounts on tickets.
For more information about joining Walterdale, go to our website at www.walterdaletheatre.com, e-mail us at walterph@telus.net, or call us at 780-439-3058. We will get back to you!
Walterdale’s COVID Protocols during Performance
- Masks are encouraged but not mandatory.
- Follow all instructions from our Front-Of-House volunteers.
- Enjoy the show!
For more information regarding Walterdale’s COVID-19 response, please click here.
Dramatis Personae
| Role | Actor |
|---|---|
| Lauren Yee | Ruth Wong-Miller |
| Larry Yee | Stanley Woo |
| Actor 1 / Shrimp Boy / Ensemble | Kingsley Leung |
| Actor 2 / Face Changer / Lion Dancer / Ensemble | Helen Massini |
| Chiropractor / News Reporter / Ensemble | Andrew Kwan |
| Whiskey Seller / Lion Dancer / Ensemble | Grace Li |
| Jenny Pang / Lion Dancer / Ensemble / Erhu Player | Ivy Poon |
| Danny Ma / Lion Dancer / Ensemble | Rupert Gomez |
| Model Ancestor | Tim Lo |
| Ensemble / Buddha Boy / FBI Agent | Tsz Him Hymns Chu |
Production Team
| Role | Name |
|---|---|
| Director | Barbara Mah |
| Choreographer – Lion Dance Choreographers | Ryan Loo & Catherine Wong |
| Costume Designer | Karin Lauderdale |
| Lighting Designer | Rebecca Cave |
| Set Designer | Leland Stelck |
| Sound Designer | Matthew Baker |
| Production Manager | Lauren Gagnon |
| Stage Manager | Tim Lo |
| Master Builder | Richard Hatfield |
| Master Painter | Brooke Emberly |
| Properties Master | Debbie Caseburg Tyson |
| Assistant Master Painter & Assistant Properties Master | Afrah Collier-Potts |
| Assistant Stage Managers | Julia Stanski & Eilidh Tew |
| Lion Captain | Ivy Poon |
| Lighting Operator | Pat Sirant |
| Sound Operator | Sam McCabe |
| Build Crew | Dennis Bedard, Tye Dubrule, Joan Heys Hawkins, Barbara Mah, Ken New, Andrew Selwood, Pierre Valois |
| Paint Crew | Rebecca Cave, Laura Eschak, Angela James-Findlay, Fay Fletcher, Joan Heys Hawkins, MJ Kreisel, Alison Murata, Kendra Nordstrom, Pat Sirant, Leland Stelck, Megan Vetsch, Shi Yi Wang, Tracy Wyman |
| Cultural Consultant | Susanna Wong |
| Stitchers | Lisa Cheung, Geri Dittrich, Joan Heys Hawkins, Hermina Joldersma, Julieanna Lazowski |
| Poster/Cover Art Design | Gabi Sakita |
| Technical Advisor | Richard Hatfield |
| Publicity Team | Stephanie Swensrude, Merrin Fraser, Kristen Finlay, Afrah Collier-Potts |
| Captioner | Shannon Wiebe |
Director’s Notes
This comedy, set in a Chinese Family Association, is deeply personal for me. It features an American born protagonist (Lauren) who doesn’t understand or relate to her heritage. Just like me.
My grandfather, Henry W H Mah, helped found the Edmonton Mah Family Society. Like Lauren, I had no idea of what that society was about. In Spring 2022, Sue Mah interviewed my father and aunt (and other elders) in order to piece together the history of the Mahs in Edmonton — before the knowledge disappeared. I was present and heard stories of my family’s past that I had never heard before.
The resulting exhibit “The Journey of Horse” (Mah means horse) opened Spring 2024, featuring a history and timeline of the Mahs in Alberta, set against a context of what was happening in Canada at the time and the racism and challenges they faced. My father did not live to see the exhibit open.
Working on this play with an all Asian cast has been gratifying and affirming.
I know audiences of all backgrounds will appreciate the humour and relate to the parent child relationship portrayed.
Enjoy.
~ Barbara Mah, Director
| Setting |
|---|
| San Francisco’s Chinatown 2015 |
| Run Time |
|---|
| 2 hours and 15 minutes, with one 15 minute intermission. |
| Acknowledgements |
|---|
| Scott Henderson, Henderson Images, Dorothy Kwan, Dr. Paul Ng, Foote in the Door, Golden Rice Bowl, Chinatown Transformation Collaborative, Freya Fu Chinese Lion and Lion Choreography courtesy of Edmonton Hung Mon Athletic Club |
| Audience Advisory |
|---|
| Some strong language, lots of artificial smoke, gun shots. |
Cast Biographies
Ruth Wong-Miller – Lauren Yee
Zodiac: Monkey
Ruth is a proud Chinese Canadian artist and she’s excited to be back at Walterdale with this amazing team! Recent credits: Mabel in Pirates (FDP) and MD for Austentatious (Walterdale). Ruth is co-founder and artistic associate for local indie Foote in the Door. Welcome to King of the Yees! @womie
Stanley Woo – Larry Yee
Zodiac: Wood Rabbit
Over the years, you may have noticed Stan’s performances on stage, TV, radio, CD, the web, or app. He is also a founding member of the a cappella singing group, Apocalypse Kow, which often performs at the Fringe Festival. When not performing, Stan is an avid gamer, baker, and hugger.
Kingsley Leung – Actor 1 / Shrimp Boy / Ensemble
Zodiac: Water Ox
This is Kingsley’s 5th show at the Walterdale, and is overjoyed to be reunited with many familiar cast members, as well as Director Barb Mah. What a spectacular cast and crew and Kingsley would like to thank all his supporters for letting him show off his inner Asian.
Helen Massini – Actor 2 / Face Changer / Ensemble / Lion Dancer
Zodiac: Fire Snake
Helen is excited to be back on stage to show her family no matter what life brings, it’s ok to not be ok but it’s also ok to have a little fun. She is grateful for this opportunity alongside friends, old and new, to hopefully make you laugh a little.
Andrew Kwan – Chiropractor / News Reporter / Ensemble
Zodiac: Wood Rat
Andrew is delighted to make his return to the Walterdale stage, last seen in Chess. Recent stage appearances (FDP) include: The Pirates of Penzance (Major-General Stanley), and She Loves Me (Sipos). He would like to especially thank his (patient and loving) wife, family, and friends for making local theatre possible.
Waymun – Chinese Lion
Waymun is thrilled to be making his theatrical debut at Walterdale in King of the Yees. He normally entertains at Chinese New Year and lives at Edmonton Hung Mon Athletic Club. Thanks to Catherine Wong and Ryan Loo for choreography and Ivy, Grace, Helen, and Rupert for being his handlers.
Grace Li – Whiskey Seller / Lion Dancer / Ensemble
Zodiac: Metal Dragon
Grace is excited to be a part of another show with Walterdale! Recent theatre credits include acting in A Party to Murder (Walterdale), and stage managing for Spin Cycle (Prairie Strange/Typecast Anonymous). Grace still enjoys reading and writing, but she’s currently tackling mecha pilot to her roster of skills.
Ivy Poon – Jenny Pang / Lion Dancer / Ensemble / Erhu Player
Zodiac: Earth Tiger
Ivy is happy to return to Walterdale Theatre, after last being involved as Assistant Music Director / Keyboardist for Austentatious! Ivy is grateful to her parents and fiancé for their love and support. She is proud of her family’s heritage and is honoured to play a part in telling this Chinese-American story.
Rupert Gomez – Danny Ma / Lion Dancer / Ensemble
Zodiac: Fire Ox
Rupert is thrilled to make his stage debut with King of the Yees. He started to revisit his passion for theatre by joining theatre classes at the Citadel Foote Theatre School and Rapid Fire Theatre. He looks forward to having a great time on stage with his fellow cast members.
Tim Lo – Stage Manager / Model Ancestor
Zodiac: Fire Snake
Tim happily alternates between onstage and backstage roles. He’s excited to be a part of his first Walterdale production with such great Asian representation. He’s also worked with Conwitz Productions (@conwitzproductions), Foote In the Door Productions (@footeinthedoor), Pop Goes the Opera (@pgtoyeg), and Edmonton Opera (@edmontonopera). Tweetstagram @itimlo
Tsz Him Hymns Chu – FBI Agent / The Buddha or Dai Tou Fut (大頭佛) / Ensemble
Zodiac: Water Monkey
Hymns Chu 朱子謙, born and raised in Hong Kong, is a talented actor and scriptwriter. His English name, given by his parents, resonates with his Cantonese name “Him,” reflecting his modest nature. Passionate about the performing arts, he explores the performing cultures of each country he visits, enriching his artistic journey.
Production Team Biographies
Matthew Baker – Sound Designer
Matthew is extremely thrilled to be back behind the booth, designing the soundscape for King of the Yees! He hopes that you enjoy the story this brilliant cast and crew has brought to life! Recent Walterdale credits include: VSMS (Sound Designer) and It’s A Wonderful Life (Sound Designer).
Debbie Caseburg Tyson – Properties Master
Zodiac: Fire Horse
Being a child of immigrants, King of the Yees reminded me of growing up with a foot planted firmly in each of two very different worlds. Poignant, exasperating, guilt-ridden, conflicted, funny. As always, heartfelt appreciation for all the creatives involved in this project. I treasure you all.
Rebecca Cave – Lighting Designer
Zodiac: Earth Rabbit
Rebecca has been working with Walterdale Theatre since 2017, and they are thrilled to be bringing in another year with such a fun and thoughtful play. This season, they’ve also assisted with A Party to Murder and It’s A Wonderful Life. They hope you enjoy the show!
Afrah Collier-Potts – Assistant Master Painter & Assistant Properties Master
Zodiac: Snake
Afrah loves to try new things, set painting being the most recent adventure. She has tried her hand at stage managing, costume designing, and most recently assistant directing in Nacho Pals production of Dick Piston Hotel Detective. She’s incredibly excited to work on King of the Yees.
Brooke Emberly – Production Manager
Zodiac: Water Monkey
Brooke became Walterdale’s Paint Head in January 2021. Having previously been a Master Painter on 15 other Walterdale shows since 2016, and on various shows outside of the theatre, Brooke is thrilled to add King of the Yees to her ever growing roster! She is proud to call Walterdale her home.
Lauren Gagnon – Production Manager
Zodiac: Metal Goat
Lauren (she/her) is thrilled to be involved with her fifth Walterdale production! Last season’s credits include All My Sons (Walterdale, Production Manager), The Cat and the Canary (Paper Crown Theatre, Stage Manager) and What a Young Wife Ought to Know (Shattered Glass Theatre, Stage Manager (Edmonton Fringe Festival)).
Richard Hatfield – Master Builder and Technical Advisor
Zodiac: Fire Goat
Richard has been performing many roles at Walterdale since 1991. Some of these roles include Set Builder, Technical Director, Lighting Designer, and many more. Some of the recent shows Richard has built are It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play, Austentatious, and The Mouse Trap.
Karin Lauderdale – Costume Designer
Zodiac: Fire Rooster
Over the last 30 years, Karin has worked with many theatres in numerous roles. Costume Designs for Walterdale productions include Austentatious, The Triangle Factory Fire Project, and The Light in the Piazza. Special thanks to all the stitchers who work their magic behind the scenes in Edmonton and area community theatres.
Barbara Mah – Director
Zodiac: Metal Ox
Barbara is a director, choreographer, and instructor. She currently teaches musical theatre at the Citadel Theatre School. For Walterdale Barbara has directed Sweet Charity, Anything Goes, Follies, Triangle Factory Fire, and Austentatious. (Merrily was covid cancelled.) She hopes you enjoy King of the Yees.
Sam McCabe – Sound Operator
Zodiac: Tiger
Sam has been involved in the Edmonton theatre scene for the last decade. Select production credits include: RENT (Stage Manager) (ELOPE), Carousel (ASM) (Foote in the Door), and Clowns in Space (Stage Manager) (UofA). Sam would like to thank her wonderful husband(!) for all his love and support.
Pat Sirant – Lighting Operator
Zodiac: Earth Tiger
Pat is a University of Alberta alumnus who has been involved in theatre in roles both onstage and backstage for the last 7 years. Some shows they’ve worked on include Feast (the Edmonton Fringe Festival), It’s A Wonderful Life: The Radio Play (Walterdale Theatre), and Stranger Sings (Darkstage Productions).
Julia Stanski – Assistant Stage Manager
Zodiac: Earth Tiger
Julia is a graduate student at the University of Alberta. She’s so excited to be working on her first Walterdale show! Some past performing credits include Pirates of Penzance, She Loves Me, Kiss Me Kate, and Into the Woods with Foote in the Door Productions.
Leland Stelck – Set Designer
Zodiac: Water Dragon
I believe this marks the 15th Walterdale set I’ve designed; others include Austentatious, Copenhagen, Anything Goes, Nine, and The Women. While researching this show I realized how much I didn’t know about Chinese/American-Chinese/Canadian culture (never stop learning)! Thanks to our awesome building and paint crews for completing the vision.
Eilidh Tew – Assistant Stage Manager
Zodiac: Metal Snake
Eilidh is a graduate of the Canadian College of Performing Arts in Victoria, BC. Recent Walterdale credits include All My Sons (lighting operator) and Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike (assistant stage manager). You may have seen her onstage recently as daughter/pirate in The Pirates of Penzance.
King of the Yees – Things to Know!
- Bai 拜 To salute, to worship or paying respects, to call on formally.
- Buddha Boy 大頭佛 Mask with a smiley face, often used in lion dance to lead the “lion”.
- Cantonese 廣東話 A Chinese dialect originating in the Canton area of China:
- Our cast will be speaking Cantonese during the production of King of the Yees.
- Our cast will be speaking Cantonese during the production of King of the Yees.
- Chinese Exclusion Act (US) 1882 This was the first significant law restricting immigration into the United States. In the spring of 1882, the Chinese Exclusion Act was passed by Congress and signed by President Chester A. Arthur. This act provided an absolute 10-year ban on Chinese laborers immigrating to the United States.
- Chinese Family Associations Associations were formed to provide community to those born with important Chinese names, and those who associate with that name. Lists and rosters can provide information about ancestors’ lives and their associates.
- In Edmonton, the local Yee Society rents the second floor of the Mah Society Building.
- Chinese Immigration Act (Canada) Canada prohibited Chinese immigration on July 1, 1923. The Chinese Immigration Act, 1923 (Chinese Exclusion Act) was the culmination of anti-Chinese racism and policies, including the head taxes which it replaced.
- Chinese Zodiac 生肖 The Chinese zodiac is a traditional classification scheme based on the Chinese calendar that assigns an animal and its reputed attributes to each year in a repeating twelve-year cycle. The zodiac is very important in traditional Chinese culture and exists as a reflection of Chinese philosophy and culture.
- The Chinese Zodiac is the feature theme of the art show in Walterdale’s lobby.
- The Chinese Zodiac is the feature theme of the art show in Walterdale’s lobby.
- Face Changer 變臉 – An ancient Chinese dramatic art that is a part of the Sichuan opera. Performers wear masks and they change from one face to another almost instantaneously with the swipe of a fan, a movement of the head or wave of the hand.
- Leland Yee An American former politician who served as a member of the California State Senate for District 8, which covered parts of San Francisco and the Peninsula. In 2015, Yee pleaded guilty to felony racketeering charges for money laundering, political corruption, arms trafficking, and bribery. He served five years.
- Lion Dance 舞獅 A form of traditional dance in Chinese culture and other Asian countries in which performers mimic a lion’s movements in a lion costume to bring good luck and fortune. It is usually performed during the Chinese New Year and other traditional, cultural and religious festivals.
- Lum Elders People from the older generations in Chinatown, they carry much wisdom from their experiences and lifetimes.
- Tai Chi 太極 – ancient Chinese martial art, initially developed for combat and self-defense. For most practitioners it has evolved into a sport and form of exercise.
- Please note that what the actors are doing on stage is inspired by Tai Chi but is really a mixture of interpretive dance and musical theatre.
- Please note that what the actors are doing on stage is inspired by Tai Chi but is really a mixture of interpretive dance and musical theatre.
- San Francisco Chinatown – one of the first Chinatowns in North America established in the 1850s.
- Shrimp Boy (Raymond Chow) Raymond “Shrimp Boy” Kwok-Cheung Chow is a Hong Kong-born felon with ties to a San Francisco Chinatown street gang and an organized crime syndicate. He was implicated in Leland Yee’s racketeering scandal. Chow is currently in jail for murder.
- Taishanese 臺山話– a Chinese dialect originating from Toi-San, a city in Guangdong, China
- Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) 中醫 A complete medical system that has been used to diagnose, treat, and prevent illnesses for more than 2,000 years. TCM is based on a belief in yin and yang, defined as opposing energies, such as earth and heaven, winter and summer, and happiness and sadness
Resources:
Wikipedia
Britannica
Parks Canada
National archives.gov
Advertisements / Acknowledgements
Donors and Sponsors (August 2023 – December 2024)
Walterdale Theatre extends thanks to the generous support of local business, government grants, partners, and our patrons and members for their donations of time and funding. Without your support we could not continue.
Public Funders and Partners
Community Facility Enhancement Program—Government of Alberta
Artistic Sponsor
Gorilla Property Services Edmonton
Community Partners
Valtone Cleaners
Champions ($500+)
AbleIT Inc.
Alexander Family in Memory of Shelley Superstein Alexander
Anne Marie Szucs
Dale and Syrell Wilson
Harmony Fund at ECF
Supporters ($100-$499)
Joan & Alex Hawkins, Kristen M. Finlay, Michael Buhr, Mike Harding & Don Zeman, Moira Walker, Philip & M.J. Kreisel, Richard Hatfield, Sol Sigurdson, Margaret Booker, Julie Sinclair, David Wolkowski, Genevieve Carolan, Anonymous
Friends ($50-$99)
Brent Christopherson, Jean Guertin, Gerry and Barbara Sinn, Sally Hunt, Ruby Swekla
Donors ($49 and under)
Vivian Binnema, Isabelle Cave, Andrew Marriott, Roberta Rolf, Trish Mallet, Louise Mallory
Player’s Endowment Fund ($200 plus)
All My Sons – The Cast and Production Team
Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike – The Cast and Production Team
A Party to Murder – The Cast and Production Team
It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play – The Cast and Production Team
If you would like to be a part of the Walterdale Theatre family of sponsors, contact our Administrator by e-mail or phone the theatre at 780-439-3058.
| WALTERDALE THEATRE ASSOCIATES Is a Canadian Registered Charity, and will provide you with an income tax receipt for any donation over $20.00 you wish to make.Thank you to everyone who supports our theatre! |
A Brief History of Walterdale Theatre and Building
Walterdale is one of the longest running community theatres in Canada.
Walterdale Theatre Associates traces its beginnings to Theatre Associates, who produced their first plays (Lady Audley’s Secret and Out of the Frying Pan) in August 1958, playing in the Jubilee Auditorium social room. Before finding its home in the current Fire Hall, there have been two other Walterdale Theatres. The first was an old school on the Walterdale flats (Kinsmen Fieldhouse area), hence our name. The second was a former service men’s club house, which was later demolished for Kingsway Garden Mall.
Our current building was built in 1910 and was Strathcona Fire Hall #1. In 1912 it was re-numbered Edmonton #6 when the City of Strathcona amalgamated with the City of Edmonton. The bell tower houses the Strathcona “Town Bell”. It is topped by an octagonal belfry, covered by an octagonal roof. The tower was used to dry hoses (by hanging them up) after use. The stable (now set-building workshop) was designed to house nine horses.
The building ceased to be a working Fire Hall in 1954 and was used to store furniture. In 1974 Walterdale Theatre Associates took over the building and lovingly restored it, and converted the inside to a 145-seat theatre. The first play produced in this theatre was What the Butler Saw by Joe Orton, which opened November 12, 1974.
Major renovations were again carried out in 1993 (raising the roof and tying the building together with new beams) and in 2011 (new main floor washrooms, renewing the bricks and other major outside work).
Walterdale continues to keep our building updated and efficient, and has replaced the lighting instruments with LED lights, and the the aging heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems throughout the building with modern efficient HVAC systems.
Walterdale Theatre Board of Directors 2024 – 2025
Executive
Artistic Director – Barbara Mah
President – Sally Hunt
Vice-President – Anne Marie Szucs
Treasurer – Martin Stout
Secretary – Jennifer Robinson
Past-President – Kristen M. Finlay
Directors
Building Co-Directors – Doug Verdin and dale Wilson
Front-of-House Director – Matthew Baker & Vacant
Membership Co-Directors – Laura Eschak & Christine Gold
Production Co-Directors – John Anderson & Afrah Collier-Potts
Public Relations Co-Directors – Merrin Fraser & Stephanie Swensrude
Technical Co-Directors – Rebecca Cave & Richard Hatfield
Directors at Large – Tracy Wyman & Colin Stewart
Front of House Volunteers
Front of House Committee Members
Volunteer Coordinator
Adorra Sergios
Box Office Manager
Anne Marie Szucs
Bar & Concession Manager
John Dolphin
A special and heartfelt thank you to all the wonderful volunteers for Front of House positions during the run of It’s A Wonderful Life.
ADORRA SERGIOS, AFRAH COLLIER-POTTS, ALAA ALAJMY, ALICE OSCAR, ANDREW KWAN, ANDREW SELWOOD, ANNE MARIE SZUCS, ANNELIESE COUTU, COLIN STEWART,
DAVE WOLKOWSKI, DAVID BODNAR, DAVID SELWOOD, DOUG VERDIN, EILIDH TEW,
GLORIA CARR, HEIDI RYLL, JAMES OSTIME, JENN ROBINSON, JOHN ANDERSON,
JULIA STANSKI, KINGSLEY LEUNG, KRISTEN FINLAY, LEIGH BORNN, LOUISE MALLORY,
MIKE COOPER, NICOLLE LEMAY, PAT SIRANT, PHIL ZYP, REBECCA CAVE, SARAH CHAMP, SHABAB KHAN, SHANNON HARRINGTON, SHARON REICHERT, SHAUNA REBUS,
STEPHANIE SWENSRUDE, SUNNY BOSSERT, AND TSZ HIM CHU
