Colleen Allen – Laertes/Maid (Alecto)/ Suitor 3

Colleen is thrilled to be back at Walterdale after this theatre broke her four decade hiatus from the stage with The Realistic Joneses. She’s honoured to have been cast with the most collaborative group of creative women. Thank you to the crew and Walterdale Theatre, with special gratitude to our director, Kristen M. Finlay.

Katelyn Arthurs – Anticleia/Maid (Phasiana)

This is Katelyn’s more than fifth, but less than tenth show at Walterdale Theatre. When the opportunity came to work with such a talented cast and fabulous story, she jumped at the chance to be involved. She hopes you enjoy the show!

Samantha Beck – Melantho/Oracle/Maid

Samantha is honored to be part of her 4th production at the Walterdale. Having been on stage for more years than she cares to admit, she is grateful for yet another opportunity to create with these talented people. Love and gratitude to her number one fan, CB.

Vivien Bosley – Eurycleia

Apart from the many enriching hours Vivien spent at Walterdale in the past, she has appeared at several Edmonton venues: Studio Theatre, Network Theatre, and the Fringe.

She may be one of the last actors standing who played at the Citadel Theatre when it was still in the Salvation Army Citadel.

Alora Bowness – Penelope

Originally from British Columbia, Alora has worked with both professional and community theatres and is thrilled to be working with Walterdale Theatre for the first time! Some of Alora’s most recent work includes: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Theatre NorthWest), The Importance of Being Earnest (Nechako Theatrics Society), and Much Ado About Nothing (Lip Theatre). 

Katie Corrigan – Maid (Tanis)

Katie is thrilled to be a part of The Penelopiad. She has appeared previously at Walterdale in The Glace Bay Miners’ Museum and ELOPE’s Brigadoon. She would like to thank the entire cast and crew who worked so hard to make this beautiful and challenging production possible. She hopes you enjoy the show!

Angela James-Findlay – Icarius/Maid (Zoe)/Suitor 2

Angela James-Findlay is a Theatre Arts graduate and company improviser with Sorry, Not Sorry Productions. Angela has worn many hats in theatre, but is excited to be back as an actor with a script to follow! She has loved working with this amazing team on this breathtaking script! Enjoy the show!

Karla Martinez – Maid (Klytie)

This is Karla’s first role with Walterdale Theatre, and she’s in awe of the talented people she gets to act with. When she’s not acting or singing, she’s making paper planes with her kids at daycare or moonlighting as a “name announcer” with the MacEwan Convocation team.

Sarah Spicer – Antinous/Maid (Narcissa)/ Suitor 1 / Fight and Intimacy Captain

Sarah is thrilled to be a part of this show! She received her FRSA from RSA and has been training in stage combat and intimacy choreography. Select credits: Butcher, Mary’s Wedding (Shattered Glass Theatre) and Guenevere (Lucky Wench Productions). Stories like this are important to give a voice to those often forgotten.

Mandy Stewart – Naiad Mother/Maid (Iole)/Suitor

Mandy is thrilled to return to Walterdale after performing in The Women, Wyrd Sisters, and One Man, Two Guvnors (Citadel). Offstage she’s been busy with costume design, living through a pandemic, and rehabilitating after surviving a stroke. Mandy is extremely grateful for all the support that’s allowed her to be part of this incredible show.

Monica Stewart – Maid (Celandine)

This is Monica’s first production at Walterdale Theatre. She is excited to work with her fellow maids in The Penelopiad, and is thankful for everyone who has made this production possible. When Monica is not acting, she is in school to be a paramedic.

Stephanie Swensrude – Telemachus/Maid (Selene)

Stephanie has been in past Walterdale shows such as Follies and The Triangle Factory Fire Project and is thrilled to perform with the talented women in The Penelopiad. When she’s not acting you may find her rollerskating, knitting or chilling with her cats, Pepper and Juno. Enjoy the show!

Sarah Wilson – Helen/ Maid (Chloris)

This is Sarah’s first time on Walterdale’s stage and she is so grateful to have gotten the opportunity to perform with such a beautiful cast of women. She has previously appeared in shows at the University of Alberta in the ABBEDMAN and New Works Festival

Katy Yachimec-Farries – Odysseus/Maid

After a two decade hiatus, Katy is thrilled to be back on stage! Especially with a cast of so many powerful, hilarious and supportive women. She hopes The Penelopiad will encourage audience members to search beyond established history for the hidden stories of forgotten women. 

John Anderson – Assistant Director and Assistant Sound Designer

John is happy to be back in the theatre, working with his fellow theatre lovers and volunteers. This is his fourth time Assistant Directing a show. Previous Walterdale credits include: The Attic, the Pearls, and Three Fine Girls; The December Man; and The Realistic Joneses.

Lucas Anders – Assistant Director

Recent credits at Walterdale: Richard Hannay in The 39 Steps and directing Come Again Another Day. He brought Stones in His Pockets to the Fringe Festival in 2015. This is his first time working on the production side at Walterdale. His involvement in theatre and improv spans two decades in Edmonton and Prince Rupert.

Rebecca Cave – Stage Manager

Rebecca has been working with Walterdale in various capacities for the last six years, but this is their first time as a Stage Manager! Most recently she designed the lighting for The Mousetrap and provided support for the crew of Cradle to Stage. They’re thrilled to be a part of The Penelopiad.

Afrah Collier-Potts – Lighting Operator

Afrah’s love of theatre took her to Vancouver, BC where she attended school and began her journey in TV and Film. A creative, Afrah loves working in both worlds on screen/stage and behind the scenes. Getting to help bring creative visions to life is her passion.

Cassandra Duval – Interim Stage Manager

Cassie is back Stage Managing at Walterdale for her third time! Past Walterdale credits include: 1984, A Doll’s House and Bottled Up. Alternatively, you can find Cassie at her desk as Walterdale’s Administrator OR at Freewill Shakespeare Festival’s office as their Managing Director…or at home under a mound of cats.

Laura Eschak – Costume Assistant

Laura has enjoyed supporting the Costume Designer, Director, and cast as Costume Assistant for The Penelopiad. Laura is often seen around Edmonton theatres on stage and behind the curtains. Laura was recently an understudy for The Mousetrap and Costume Designer for A Fitting Confusion.

Brooke Emberly – Master Painter

Brooke is a MacEwan alumni who specializes in scenic painting. Previous Master Painter credits include: The Women, The Triangle Factory Fire Project, 1984, The Mask, Copenhagen, The 39 Steps, The Glace Bay Miners Museum, A Fitting Confusion, and The Mousetrap. Brooke has been Walterdale’s Paint Department Head since January 2022!

Gibson Finlay – Music Composer 

Gibson attends the UofA, studying to become a Music Teacher. After 13+ years of playing music, this is his first time writing music for a stage performance. He is a multi-instrumentalist and has played in the UofA Concert Band, among others. Gibson thanks the wonderful cast for bringing his compositions to life!

Kristen Finlay – Director and Music Composer

Previous directing credits include The 39 Steps, The Light in the Piazza, Chess, Nine, Proof, Rabbit Hole, and Crimes of the Heart, among others. Kristen is a former Artistic Director and is currently Board Past President. Kristen is also an actor, designer and playwright. She’s usually tired, but happy.

Lauren Gagnon – Production Manager

Lauren (she/her) is grateful for the opportunity to once again be working with Walterdale Theatre! While this is her first experience as Production Manager, she previously worked as Assistant Stage Manager for The Realistic Joneses (2022) and Stage Manager for A Fitting Confusion (2022). Enjoy the show! 

Richard Hatfield – Master Builder and Technical Advisor

This is the latest episode of Richard’s theatre addiction. Richard has been performing many roles at Walterdale since 1991. Some of these roles include Set Builder, Technical Director, Lighting Designer and many more.

Joan Heys Hawkins – Set Designer

Joan is grateful to the Director, the actors, and the production team for enabling this set to evolve through the rehearsal process.  The raw materials of fabric and rope have been combined with movement, sounds, and imagination to create the environment for this challenging and intriguing story.  Enjoy the show!

Sally Hunt – Musical Director

Sally is a frequent contributor to Walterdale productions, including Altar Boyz, Next to Normal, Chess, and Nine. Projects with other companies include Sweeney Todd, Cabaret, The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and The Wizard of Oz. Since 2010, Sally has taught musical theatre at the Citadel Theatre’s Foote Theatre School.

Alodie Larochelle – Costume Designer

Alodie Larochelle is a queer and franco-Albertan multidisciplinary artist. Though their collection of stuffed animals is well-dressed, this is their first time creating human-sized garments from scratch. Alodie hopes you enjoy the play as much as they enjoyed working on it!

Brad Melrose – Lighting Designer

Brad is happy to be designing lights for The Penelopiad.  Shows without a box set are the most fun to light, so I hope you find it illuminating.  Some of Brad’s recent lighting works include: The 39 Steps, The Triangle Factory Fire, Next to Normal, Follies, Avenue Q, Titanic, Rent, Sweeney Todd.

Anna Pratch – Choreographer

Anna comes from rural Alberta and has been dancing for over 20 years. Anna has a passion for choreographing dance, stage fight, and intimacy. This has taken her on-screen and behind the camera for local short film productions and onto the creative crew of many incredible theatre projects across Alberta.

Adorra Sergios – Assistant Stage Manager

Adorra is one of the Assistant Stage Managers for The Penelopiad, and she’s super excited to be working on another Walterdale production! All of the cast and crew are truly amazing, and she’s really lucky to have had the chance to work with them.

Logan Sundquist – Sound Operator

Logan Sundquist is an up and coming playwright and director, based here in Edmonton. His work has been shown at Nextfest (The Dirge of 2038, The Second AmendmAAAGHHH), the Take 5 Theatre Festival (Gone With The Shopping Cart), and here at Walterdale (From Cradle to Stage: Come Again Another Day)

Lisa Swaren – Assistant Stage Manager

Lisa’s areas of study include dance, music, Art & Design (UofA) and Advanced Multimedia & Design (Banff Centre for the Arts). Her work experience includes makeup services, hair, costume and set design, administration, production and acting. She last appeared on stage in the 2022 Fringe musical-comedy, I’m Still Here.

Anne Marie Szucs – Sound Designer

Anne Marie is an active member of the Walterdale family as director, actor, box office manager, and Board Vice President.  Most recently, she designed sound for last season’s The 39 Steps and directed this season’s The Glace Bay Miners’ Museum.  Thank you to Kristen who always gives me a seat at her creative table!!

Debbie Caseburg Tyson – Props Master

Debbie Caseburg Tyson is a fibre artist who explores her world through colour, texture, print and stitch.  Certain she was a magpie in a former life, she collects all manner of things and gravitates to the shiny and outrageous.   She is delighted to be involved in another Walterdale show!

Janine Waddell – Fight and Intimacy Advisor

Janine is an Intimacy and Sterling nominated Fight Director. Select Theatre Credits: Network; Jane Eyre; Peter Pan Goes Wrong; The Fiancée (Citadel Theatre); Tosca; La Bohème (Edmonton Opera); Film Credits: Under the Banner of Heaven (FXP); Billy the Kid (MGM);Black Summer (Netflix). She is the lucky mother of four.