Tag: Member Profile

Meet the Cast of The 39 Steps – Lauren Tamke

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!

Meet the Cast of The 39 Steps – Lucas Anders

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.

Meet the Team of The 39 Steps – Introducing Natalie Blanchard

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.

Meet the Cast of THE TRIANGLE FIRE FACTORY PROJECT – Rebecca Bissonnette is Yetta Lubitz and Rose Schneiderman!

Who are you and what is your role in this production? My name is Rebecca Bissonnette and I get the honour of playing two real life heroes – Yetta Lubitz an immigrant factory worker and Rose Schneiderman a union organizer. The characters are quite different – Yetta is a young, immature and vulnerable girl looking to better herself, while Rose is a strong, opinionated speaker who does whatever is necessary to create change.

What is your background in theatre? With Walterdale? My background in theatre isn’t a big one……not yet anyway. My very first show ever was only a few years ago, here at the Walterdale when I was cast as Mrs. French in Ravenscroft. My background is mainly in dance, having been a studio dancer for 15 years and recently returned to the dance floor over the past couple of years to launch my own dance troupe. While I might have come rather late to the theatre party, I consider myself quickly making up for lost time, having been blessed enough to work with some of the best community theatres around – Foote in the Door, Trinity Players, Element Theatre and Paper Doll Productions.

Why do you think people should come see The Triangle Fire Factory Project? I believe that when real life tells a story, people need to listen. This is so much more then words on a paper – these are words spoken by real live people, people who have experienced such tragedy, such devastation, such heartbreak. Their stories need to be told, so that we never forget and hopefully aren’t doomed to repeat.

On top of that, this show is full of such passionate people on both the cast and crew. With a show that has so many moving parts, it could very easily turn into a disaster. BUT, the commitment, hard work, dedication and joy (yes joy) with which everyone has approached this show, has easily made it one of my favourites to work on. I would work with anyone of them again in a heartbeat. People need to come see this show based on its collective heart.

Since this show deals with workplace ‘issues’ – What was your first job? How old were you and what did it entail? Let’s be real – my first job was as a lazy teenager, not wanting to work, but was told by my grandma that I wasn’t sitting around her beach house all summer. So, I was a dishwasher at the town restaurant. It was physically hard, I stunk of grease and was constantly sweaty, but I got free meals. And at 13, that’s all you can ask for.

Meet the Cast of THE TRIANGLE FACTORY FIRE PROJECT – Danielle Yu is Rose Freedman & Ida Mittleman

Who are you and what is your role in this production? My name is Danielle Yu and I play 2 amazing characters, Rose Freedman and Ida Mittleman. Rose Freedman was known as the last survivor of the Triangle Shirtwaist fire dying at the age of 107 who worked on the 9th floor and Ida Mittleman was known as one of the women who testified in court that all doors of the 9th floor were indeed open.

What is your background in theatre? With Walterdale? ​I have been performing for as long as I can remember, from taking musical theatre classes at the Citadel as a child to voice lessons at the Conservatory of Music with the Alberta College. I had taken a very long break from the theatre (12 years to be exact!) until 2017 when I auditioned for an original musical titled Emma, and had landed the lead role! I auditioned at the Walterdale Theatre for my very first time this past summer and am ecstatic to be on this journey of opening the 60th season.

Why do you think people should come see The Triangle Fire Factory Project? Everyone and anyone should come and partake in the adventure and experience of The Triangle Fire Factory Project to witness the importance of this piece of history! Not only is it filled with historical events, but there’s action, agony, sorrow, humor and SO MUCH MORE. Most importantly it teaches us the reason behind the rules and regulations we have today in modern life.

Since this show deals with workplace ‘issues’ – What was your first job? How old were you and what did it entail? ​The very first job I had was when I was 16 at a McDonald’s near my neighbourhood. Being 16, I didn’t really have the understanding of responsibility so I didn’t last very long. However the 3 weeks that I was employed taught me a lot about hungry customers, cheerful customer service, and an amazing discount!

Meet the Cast of THE TRIANGLE FACTORY FIRE PROJECT – Dustin Berube is William Shepherd

Who are you and what is your role in this production? My name is Dustin Berube and I play the role of William Shepherd. My character was a United Press reporter who happened to be in Washington Square at the time of the fire. He called into his office and described the fire as it was happening. In the show, he is used as a narrator for the audience.
What is your background in theatre? With Walterdale? This is my second Walterdale show (Dustin appeared in Follies, in 2017), but I have been involved with theatre since I was a teenager.

Why do you think people should come see The Triangle Fire Factory Project? This show is an interesting piece of history that is told in a unique way. Much of the script is taken straight from the transcripts and testimonials of those people that were there, which adds to the impact that this show will have on an audience. This is a live theatre experience that doesn’t come along very often.

Since this show deals with workplace ‘issues’ – What is the funniest/most embarassing thing that ever happened to you in a workplace situation? I had a funny/embarrassing workplace experience when I was working in a retail card store. It was Boxing Day and I was the first to open the shop doors. My coworker was running late so I was working as fast as I could with a very long line of customers. In the middle of a transaction with a customer, I suddenly realized that I was going to become sick, so I calmly turned around and utilized the small trash bin at my feet. I wiped my mouth with a tissue, stood up and carried on. The customers seems unfazed by my germs and insisted that I continue to bag their items. As we all know, the customer is always right!

Meet the Cast of THE TRIANGLE FACTORY FIRE PROJECT – James Toupin is Chief Edward F. Croker

Who are you and what is your role in this production? My name is James Toupin and I play New York Fire Department Chief Edward F. Croker. Before I started doing research for this show, I had no idea that Chief Croker actually instituted the Fire Drill. A Fire Drill is actually called a Croker Drill.

What is your background in theatre? With Walterdale? I graduated from Grant MacEwan’s Theatre Arts program in 1984 and worked professionally as an actor/writer/director until 2004. After 20 years, I needed to take a break for a while. I have never appeared in a Walterdale Theatre production, but I have performed many times in this theatre, including getting married here in 1990.

Why do you think people should come see The Triangle Fire Factory Project? First and foremost, because it is an excellent drama. Of course the play deals with the formative years of the labour union movement and explains what they were up against and that is an interesting moment in history.

Since this show deals with workplace ‘issues’ – what is the funniest thing that ever happened to you in a workplace situation? I have to say it was during a children’s theatre performance. I was playing the bad guy and before the show I would always talk to the younger children to let them know I was only acting like the bad guy for the play. The play began with a monologue by my character explain who everyone was and right towards the end of the monologue my character asks, “And do you know who I am?”. Without missing a beat, a little voice from the audience responded, “You’re the bad actor!”.

Meet the Cast of THE TRIANGLE FACTORY FIRE PROJECT – Kingsley Leung is Eddie Markowitz

What is your role in The Triangle Factory Fire Project? I am an immigrant. I am a Jew. I helped to make this country strong and diverse. They call me Eddie Markowitz – the head shipping clerk at the Triangle Shirt Waist Factory – played by Kingsley Leung.

What is your background in theatre? At Walterdale? This is my 3rd Walterdale production. When they need Asians or funny looking guys, I get the call. My willingness to shave my body and wear high heels on stage make my talents very unique.

Why do you think audiences should see this show? This will be the best Rom-Com you will see this century! Fiery relationships that go up in smoke, burning desires and trailblazing women.

This is a show about terrible working conditions… to lighten the mood, do you have any funny work stories?  As a hospital porter, I was bringing body parts and limbs down to the morgue. I was in the elevator trying to keep everything from falling off my cart, when the doors open with a bunch of doctors standing there and I ask them, “Do you mind if I get a hand?”. That was exquisite fooling!

Meet the Cast of THE TRIANGLE FACTORY FIRE PROJECT – Kent Sutherland plays Max Blanck!

Who are you and what is your role in this production? My name is Kent Sutherland, and I play Max Blanck one of the co-owners of the Triangle Waist Factory. Blanck is not a very nice person and along with his fellow co-owner, Isaac Harris, the duo was named as one of the Top 10 Worst Bosses in America by TIME Magazine. I also helped build the set and some of the props.

What is your background in theatre? I was involved with theatre throughout elementary and junior high, and then got back into as an adult with my first production being at Walterdale – The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. I have since done musicals with Festival Players, Two ONE-WAY Tickets to Broadway, Foote in the Door, and, of course, Walterdale. This is my first non-musical role in a very long time.

Why do you think people should come see The Triangle Fire Factory Project? The story is a significant part of history. It was this fire that was the catalyst for changes in building codes, the implementation of fire drills, and better working conditions for women and immigrants. The play explores the historical, political and social ramifications that resulted from this seminal event, and examines the continuing modern day concerns of corporate greed and responsibility, and the moral and ethical issues surrounding the question, “what is the value of a human life?” Also, the way our director has decided to stage the show is sure to have an effect on the audience and have their feelings run the gamut.

Worst job you ever had, and why? Probably the worst job I ever had was working the graveyard shift at the 7-11 that used to be on 99 St. and 90 Ave. one summer. There was supposed to be two people working the shift, but my co-worker often/always called in sick leaving me to work alone. There were several “interesting” incidents at that location during the graveyard shift while I was employed, and there were several times I did not feel all that safe. During one shift, a customer came in asking where the bathroom was, and I looked up to see his face covered in blood — all I could do was point in the direction of the bathroom.

The Triangle Factory Fire Project runs October 10-20, 2018.
Click here for tickets.

Five Fast Qs with Monica Roberts – Diana Goodman in NEXT TO NORMAL!

What is your role in the show? I have the honour of playing Diana Goodman, the maelstrom at the center of the story. 

What is your background with Walterdale? I have been around Walterdale for a long, long time. First in a technical role (costume design) but then on stage as Cleopatra in Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra. 

Favourite thing about rehearsal for Next to Normal? The cast and crew. This show deals with very emotional subjects and everyone has been so open, vulnerable, respectful and honouring of everyone’s story. Without this group of talented performers and supportive crew the show would be an awful experience. 

Someone new visits Edmonton, what do you recommend they check out (other than Walterdale Theatre)? Depends on what you like – hike the river valley, find a great food shop, drink local beer, visit a museum. Edmonton has something for everyone.

If you could ask Walterdale’s resident ghost “Walter” a question, what would you ask him? Not really a question but a message. Thanks for the blue sock. 

 

Photo Credit: Scott Henderson, Henderson Images