I am lucky enough to be one of 4 Clowns! The clowns play the entirety of the ensemble. Between the 4 of us, we play every supporting character. The Clowns are ridiculous, fluid, fun and quite an interesting challenge as an actor!
What is your background in theatre?
I have been in the Performing Arts since I was a young girl. My first role was Baby John in West Side Story and I have played many characters over my last 25 years in theatre, from Shakespeare to Sondheim! I have an extensive background in plays and musicals as well as a few production roles. The theatre is my greatest love.This is my 4th production with the Walterdale and I am absolutely delighted to be back!
What brought you out for The 39 Steps?
I love old British comedies! I often would watch them with my Grandfather growing up. The timing, the slapstick, the silliness – It is all great fun. Being in the cast of The 39 Steps is the perfect way to release all the creative energy that has been stored up over the last few years!
What are you enjoying the most about working on this show so far?
Our amazing CAST and CREW. We are so blessed to be working with an inspired Director and amazingly talented Cast and Crew.
Why do you think people should come see The 39 Steps at Walterdale?
This show is a MUST to experience. Step out of the heaviness of the world and into a world of laughter, mystery and romance!
Hi Brooke! What does your role on the show involve?
I bring the vision that the Director and Set Designer have to life on the stage once it is built.
What is your background in theatre?
I am a Theatre Production graduate from the program provided at Grant MacEwan University in 2015. I have been a paint volunteer at Walterdale Theatre since 2016, and have been a Master Painter on 6 shows including this one.
What brought you out for The 39 Steps?
As I have taken over the position as Paint Head for the Walterdale Theatre, I was headhunted to be Master Painter for this show. It looks like a fun, quirky show, and I am very excited to be working with bright colours again!
What are you enjoying the most about working on this show so far?
The community. Walterdale has such an amazing set of volunteers working with the theatre; it has been what brings me back time and time again.
Why do you think people should come see The 39 Steps at Walterdale?
If you are looking for a place with a great atmosphere, and a nice and relaxed night out, there’s no reason you SHOULDN’T want to come see a show with dancing and slapstick humour!
The 39 Steps is based on the Hitchcock film (which is based on the John Buchan novel)… do you have a favourite Hitchcock film? OR a favourite 1930s-40s film?
I haven’t seen any Hitchcock films, but I have seen the Hitchcock influenced Panic Room. I very much enjoyed the slow build in the movie that brought all of your anxieties to a head. Had me glued to the edge of my seat!
Hi Richard! What does your role on the show involve?
I work with the set designer to create the stage in their vision. Once built, I interact with the production team and set designer to ensure the set is safe and accommodates the needs of the show.
What is your background in theatre?
I have been playing at Walterdale since 1991 and have been involved with many other theatre companies since that time. I have done may roles, including stage management, Technical Director (Walterdale; since 2010), President (Sherard Musical Theatre Associates), stage hand, builder, master builder, lighting designer, Actor and many more. I absolutely love the theatre community in Edmonton. We are a group of passionate folks who strive to perform our works of art for others!
What brought you out for The 39 Steps?
Kristen… Yep… that’s it… I have worked with Kristen on many shows and have told her a number of times, “I don’t care if I am stuck cleaning toilets, if you need a hand on a show, I AM IN!” Kristen always puts together a top quality team and I am guaranteed to have a fantastic time working on the show!
What are you enjoying the most about working on this show so far?
Working with the team to get the production going. The satisfaction of seeing the people who I work with having a great time is the part that I enjoy the most.
Why do you think people should come see The 39 Steps at Walterdale?
Having not seen any rehearsals yet, I cannot speak to the show directly, however, I can speak to the team. I have never seen a show directed by Kristen Finlay that I disliked. She is masterful at selecting shows and working with a qualified team to make an amazing performance for the audiences.
The 39 Steps is based on the Hitchcock film (which is based on the John Buchan novel)… do you have a favourite Hitchcock film? OR a favourite 1930s-40s film?
Hi Andrew! What does your role on the show involve?
Just a part of an excellent team dedicated to seeing this production come to life! (Andrew does a lot more than that – he’s the Production Manager so he wrangles the rest of the team to make sure everyone has what they need to get their jobs done! He’s also an ASM so he’ll be on the deck making sure each show runs smoothly!).
What is your background in theatre?
A long time ago and far far away, Andrew graduated from the Technical/Production section of the National Theatre School of Canada. As careers will do, his theatre career evolved into broadcast and television, information technology, and now cybersecurity.
What brought you out for The 39 Steps?
I’ve missed the enjoyment and rush that comes along with being in live theatre. I’ve been involved in different productions at Walterdale, but really wanted to work one from start to finish!
What are you enjoying the most about working on this show so far?
The people – the cast, the crew… everyone is here because they love what they’re doing!
Why do you think people should come see The 39 Steps at Walterdale?
It’s just so much fun… and after the last couple of years, couldn’t we all do with a little more fun?
The 39 Steps is based on the Hitchcock film (which is based on the John Buchan novel)… do you have a favourite Hitchcock film? OR a favourite 1930s-40s film?
I’m still a big Bogart fan… Key Largo, Maltese Falcon, and (of course) Casablanca.
Liam McKinnon is one of four boisterous, ignominious, and loveable Clowns.
Hi Liam! What do you do in the show in your role as one of the Clowns?
In The 39 Steps, the title of the character “clown” is a stand-in for the different ensemble roles that are in the show. With two titled clowns in the show’s description and with two dozen or more ensemble characters, it is entirely possible for The 39 Steps to have a cast of 4, or a cast of 24. Each of the ensemble characters are not only uniquely fun to explore on and off stage, but they all allow me to be active for and with my fellow cast-mates.
What is your background in theatre?
I started “acting” back when I was in Elementary School; performing in Christmas shows that my Mom put together for our congregation at Glory Lutheran Church, and presenting skits from cartoons and stand-up comedy shows in front of my classmates. It was a time when my proudest moment was performing the entire first third of The SpongeBob Squarepants movie for my Grade 4 class, then performing it again for our substitute teacher so that she wouldn’t be confused if I continued.
After experiencing the highs and lows of honour choir, Junior High and High School theatre, and a performance in the Edmonton Fringe Festival of 2017, I studied Theatre Arts at MacEwan University and got a diploma for all the craziness that we went through. I then was cast in Theatre Calgary’s SBTB production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and was going to be in a community theatre production of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? before the COVID-19 pandemic had spread across Canada.
This is the first time since I was in University that I will be performing on an Edmonton stage and I am very excited to return with this cast and crew.
What brought you out for The 39 Steps?
The simple answer is: A need for work 🙄
But The 39 Steps actually holds an interesting place in my heart. I had seen the show years back at the Provincial One-Act Festival in Red Deer and I remember I did not stop laughing for a minute. I was in tears from start to finish. Yet, when I walked out of the theatre, I couldn’t remember a single thing about the show itself.
It’s a busy yet focused piece of work, operating as a farce, a romance, and a mystery piece. What made me want to play one of the clowns though was VERY MUCH the desire to play multiple characters in a single show. I’ve done ensemble shows before but NOTHING like this, and never with this much interest in each individual character; even with the ones I don’t play.
What are you enjoying the most about working on this show so far?
I love working on a show where every rehearsal is a joy to behold. Even on days when I am not on the call sheet, I gladly come and sit in to see what these amazing artists will do next. I love to see them explore, improvise, and discover new possibilities for their characters AND see what the production team comes up with for the set, costumes, and lighting. Writing this now, I light up thinking about what the next rehearsal will bring and I hope that I can time my window in traffic perfectly so that I never miss a moment.
Why do you think people should come see The 39 Steps at Walterdale?
I think that every artist has made a significant contribution to this production and I feel that contribution is not solely driven by a desire to self-promote or cement one’s own brand or the brand of the company. Of course we all want to put on a good show that is entertaining for our audience, but I feel that every one of the production members is making the choices that they are making from a place of love and respect for each member of the team.
Even if someone is not a fan of this particular brand of comedy, I do still feel that they should come and see it. In no small way, I feel that this is a clear example of what community theatre SHOULD BE about; connecting with the members of your community to create art that shares who they are as creatives and as people.
The 39 Steps is based on the Hitchcock film (which is based on the John Buchan novel)… do you have a favourite Hitchcock film? OR a favourite 1930s-40s film?
Oh Boy… A LOT! The 1930s and 40s were such fascinating decades for the motion picture industry, not just in North America, but around the world. Some of the most influential films, characters and iconic celebrities came out of this era and many, myself included, hold up the films of this time as some of the greatest films ever produced.
For my own sake, and for my director’s piece of mind, I want to share a few titles for films that are less well-known today and encourage you to check even just one of them out for yourself. I love them and I hope you do too. The Red Shoes, Double Indemnity, The Great Dictator, Gentleman’s Agreement, La Belle et la Bête, Brief Encounter, Bicycle Thieves, The Classic Universal Monster movies, and the all-time classic REEFER MADNESS!
Introducing Lauren Tamke, who plays Annabella, Margaret, and Pamela in The 39 Steps
Hi Lauren! Tell us about your characters in the show!
I am extremely delighted to play three distinct characters throughout the show including Annabella, a mysterious German spy; Margaret, a sheltered Scottish lass; and Pamela, an upper class English woman.
What is your background in theatre?
The majority of my theatre work has taken place within my university experience at Concordia Edmonton in mainstage and one act festival shows and within community theatres in and around Edmonton, both as an actor and director. Most recently, I acted in The Comedy of Errors (Adriana) and Much Ado About Nothing (Borachio/Francis) as part of Prime Stock Theatre’s outdoor Shakespeare festival. At Walterdale, this is my third show. Previously I acted in Queen Milli of Galt (Mona) and directed the farce, Boeing Boeing. I love the Walterdale community and I am happy to be back on stage here!
What brought you out for The 39 Steps?
So many reasons! The “spy comedy” genre is one of my favourites and the synopsis spoke to me instantly. The timing was also super serendipitous because I saw the audition posting while packing to move back to Edmonton the following week. And I was super excited at the chance to work with director Kristen Finlay! I’m SO happy to be a part of the show.
What are you enjoying the most about working on this show so far?
I am loving the playful and productive energy of rehearsals and being back in the same physical space as my awesome production team and cast. Every night at rehearsal is a blast!
Why do you think people should come see The 39 Steps at Walterdale?
The show is light-hearted, slapsticky, and 100% bound to let the audience escape into the silliness and fun therein.
The 39 Steps is based on the Hitchcock film (which is based on the John Buchan novel)… do you have a favourite Hitchcock film? OR a favourite 1930s-40s film?
My favourite film from the 1930s-40s would have to be Gaslight!
Hi Lucas! Tell us a bit about the character you play, Richard Hannay!
Richard is a man who has seen the world pass him by. His friends have moved on in one way or another. He looks at the world and the people around him. He’s tired of division and the craziness of the world. His hope is for a good world, a better world, one where we look after each other… though he’s up for a Grand Adventure.
What is your background in theatre?
I graduated from the University of Alberta with a B.Ed. with a Major in Drama. I was a theatre kid in high school and part of a core group that formed the Fort Saskatchewan Company “Rare Form Theatre” where I performed in The Importance of being Earnest, Beware of the Quickly Who and Fools. I left for Prince Rupert and became a radio morning show host and got involved in the improv scene as a co-founder of the improv troupe “Hook, Line and Snicker.” A few years back, I also accomplished my life-long goal of performing in the Edmonton international Fringe Festival with the production Stones in His Pockets. I returned to Edmonton pre-pandemic and taught Drama, directing high school productions with my brother, friend and collaborator Christian Zyp. Christian is a friend who I’m grateful for, and who inspires me to tackle many creative projects. This is my first production with Walterdale and I’m thrilled to take the stage under the direction of the talented Kristen Finlay.
What brought you out for the show?
In a twist of fate, I opened the Theatre Alberta newsletter which happened to be in my junk mail folder. There I found the audition posting for The 39 Steps. It’s been a long stretch of isolation with the pandemic continually hanging over us, so I wanted to jump into a creative project and have some fun with other creative minds. I read the opening monologue and instantly felt a connection to the lead character. Not only was I the same age as the character, but we both have a moustache! Kristen’s message of creating a show to make us all laugh resonated with me. This gave me the motivation to be a part of a piece of theatre that will bring a smile to audiences. After what has been a very difficult stretch of human history it will be nice to share some laughter with theatre goers.
What are you enjoying the most about working on this show so far?
When you’ve got such a funny script, talented cast and crew, it makes for a fun time exploring the world of The 39 Steps. How incredibly lucky I feel to work with such a great team. It was an interesting start to our rehearsal process over zoom and eventually meeting in person. It’s been a blast creating, collaborating, getting into hijinks, chases and mischief. The Walterdale Theatre is now our playground and we can’t wait to share what we’ve discovered with you. We look forward to sharing the mystery, laughter and fun with audiences at the Walterdale Theatre.
Why do you think people should come see this show?
Do you like fun? It’s been heavy with global conflict and the pandemic still looming. We hope to give you a break from what has been a hard stretch. Take a chance, sit back, relax, go on a wild ride by seeing The 39 Steps come to life. Come check out the incredibly talented cast and crew under the direction of our fearless leader Kristen Finlay. We all need to laugh… So here’s your chance!
The 39 Steps is based on the Hitchcock film (which is based on the John Buchan novel)… do you have a favourite Hitchcock film? OR a favourite 1930s-40s film?
The 39 Steps radiates spies, espionage and fun. A film that I love which incorporates all these elements is Double Indemnity. It’s everything a classic mystery/thriller (Film Noire) should be.
Hi Natalie! What do you do on the show in your role as Stage Manager?
As Stage Manager, I stand in the shadows and facilitate the organised chaos to make sure everything runs smoothly during the performance.
What is your background in theatre?
Previously I worked on the main stage, as well as, on several student projects in Rosebud. Most recently, I Stage Managed for the River Valley Players in Drayton Valley. The 39 Steps will be my first Edmonton Show!
What brought you out for The 39 Steps?
Before the pandemic, I signed up to volunteer in any area for Walterdale. Fast forward two years later there was an email in my inbox asking me if I would be interested in Stage Managing the show and I jumped at the opportunity.
What are you enjoying the most about working on this show so far?
The people I get to work with everyday and the energy they bring into the space. It has been a blast!
Why do you think people should come see The 39 Steps at Walterdale?
The 39 Steps brings tons of laughter and silliness that is needed after the last couple of years we had.
What is your role in Follies? I play Carlotta Campion. She was a Weismann Girl in the 1940s and has returned for the reunion before the theatre is closed for good. Carlotta was never the star of the Follies but she is the most successful since, having moved on to movies, then Vegas, and now starring in a television series. She’s happy to come back because she believes it’s important to look at where you came from to appreciate what you have. She also is genuinely fond of all her friends from the ‘good old days’.
What is your background in theatre? At Walterdale? I have been involved in theatre since I was in junior high school. I started doing community theatre shows at Keyano Theatre (a 600 seat theatre in Fort McMurray) when I was in grade 10 and can attest that theatre has always been a very big part of my life. I taught high school drama for several years prior to relocating to Edmonton which moved me into directing and designing shows. Since being in Edmonton I have directed, written, produced, and designed many shows. Some were community theatre, some professional, some fringe. I like that Edmonton has a theatre/arts community that embraces a variety of theatres and artists. I’m a former Artistic Director of Walterdale and am always glad to come back and direct (Chess, Nine, Proof, Rabbit Hole), perform (Steel Magnolias, The Misanthrope, The Threepenny Opera) or design (Village of Idiots, Othello) for Walterdale’s stage. My current day job is in the Marketing department of the Citadel Theatre. I most recently assistant directed Sense and Sensibility at the Citadel and was intern director for the 2017 Citadel/Banff Centre Professional Theatre Program.
Why did you come out for this production? I’m a sucker for Sondheim. Truly. I also loved that this show has room for some many ‘mature’ ladies. You get to a certain age and there are 10 of you all competing for the same part. In this show you all get to be in in, and I knew that it would brign out some strong performers who would be great to work with.
What has been the most challenging thing about doing this show? Words… My song is awesome, but it’s also long with lots of words… I think I have them. The fake-tap was hard at first, but I am actually really happy to be dancing onstage again
What has been the best thing about doing this show? Working with old and new friends. I think the show is so well cast and there’s a really nice atmosphere in rehearsals. There are divas – but only in the good way – divas, because man-oh-man can they sing!
What is your role in Chess? I am playing the character of Svetlana, Anatoly’s (the Russian Chess Champion) wife. She faces a lot of struggles including being a woman in communist Russia and dealing with a dying marriage. Her future is very uncertain through much of the production.
What is your background in theatre? At Walterdale? I grew up doing theatre – musical theatre in particular. I am a graduate of the MacEwan Theatre Arts Program, although in those days it was Grant MacEwan College. When I moved back to Edmonton from Toronto after a very long hiatus from theatre, I did my first production at the Walterdale – Nine. I then had another opportunity to work with the amazing Kristen Finlay and Sally Hunt again on The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee with ELOPE theatre. Since then I have been away from the theatre completing my MBA. It feels great to be back at Walterdale!
What brought you out for this show? What drew you to it? I grew up listening to the LP of the original concept album of Chess. I am definitely showing my age when I say it was an LP! It has always been one of my favourite musicals. The music is fantastic and full of interesting layers. In spite of the fact that it is such an amazing show, it rarely gets produced. Because of that, I had to jump at the chance to do it. Lucky for me, our lovely director was willing to accommodate my rather crazy schedule, which included a study tour in Europe during the rehearsal period. Thanks again for that Kristen!
Why do you think audiences should come see this show? What do you think they will take away from it? The music first and foremost! There are such great tunes in this show. The show also provides an interesting journey back into the years of the Cold War. The 1980’s do not seem like they were that long ago but the world has changed an absolutely incredible amount since then. It’s fascinating looking back.
Chess is a Board Game… What’s your favorite Board Game? Why? Got any funny game-playing stories? My favourite game to play is Cribbage. I grew up in rural Saskatchewan, where everyone plays Crib and my great-grandmother (G.G. we called her) taught us all to play, usually around the tender age of 8. She was ruthless! She would steal your points if you didn’t count them right. Needless to say you learned how to count properly pretty quickly! My husband and I also played Crib on our first date….maybe that sounds lame and I should be ashamed to admit it but it was sweet and fun. I won both games – he’ll claim he let me win but knowing how competitive he is there’s no way that’s true!
