Winter Theatre Update

Northern Lights Landscape Aurora Borealis Sky NightFrom my new home, a cabin in the shadow of Mt. Lorne, I’m happy to inform you all about a busy and productive few months; a season which has been full of twists and turns for me, but which has yielded its share of great news.

1474890808First, November saw the Toronto production of Qui Nguyen’s She Kills Monsters, directed by my good friend Tom Beattie under the Orphaned Egret banner. I’d like to congratulate the cast and crew, many of whom I’ve had the pleasure of working with before, and thank everyone who came out to see the show!

Gift HorseMore recently, my full-length play-in-progress Gift Horse had a public reading at Nakai’s Pivot Festival for the second straight year. With the help of a very talented cast of performers, the majority of the all-new second act was read, and I feel I have the inspiration I need to carry this two-year saga to an exciting conclusion! Thanks so much to all those who came out to produce, perform, or hear the event!

 

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Coming up, I’m excited to announce I’ll be featuring as a performer in Gwaandak Theatre’s Map of the Land, Map of the Stars, a collaborative telling of Northern and Indigenous stories which premieres in Whitehorse May 10th – 13th and will go on to tour smaller communities throughout the territory in the following weeks. I’ve had the privilege of working with Gwaandak many times in the past, most recently bringing an excerpt from this very show to Haines Junction for the Intertribal Gathering, so getting to expand my role with them in such a challenging and exciting new project is a dream come true. Stay tuned for more details to come!

 

 

Orphaned Egret at Theatre in the Bush

The Summer was a busy one, between performing with the Frantic Follies Vaudeville Revue, teching at Canada’s Magnetic North Festival, and most recently driving the Waterfront Trolley as part of The Tale of a Town during their stop in Whitehorse. My play, Third Person, also enjoyed a production as part of Kingston Ontario’s first annual Storefront Fringe Festival. But now the Yukon landscape is painted a beautiful palette of yellows and greens and I await the exciting opportunities to come.

Looking ahead to the Fall, my company Orphaned Egret will be presenting a piece as part of Ramshackle Theatre’s fantastic Theatre in the Bush. Having attended the last two iterations, first as an audience member then as a guide, I’m so excited to contribute this Autumn as a performer/creator. Those attending can look forward to Orphaned Egret’s unique existential voice as we contribute a brand new original site-specific short play as part of this innovative multidisciplinary trek around Yukon’s boreal forest.

Currently, tickets are already selling out for the 6th edition of Varietease: A Burlesque Cabaret, which I’m happy to announce I’ll be co-Stage-Managing. Coming up, I’ll also be serving as the Stage Manager for Gwaandak Theatre‘s contribution to the Indigenous Performing Arts Alliance Intertribal Gathering in Haines Junction, YT.

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I’m also happy to report that I’m running a Youth Theatre program at the Heart of Riverdale community centre, together with Orphaned Egret co-founder Kevin Ray. This after-school program for kids grade 3 – 8 gives youth a chance to develop their creative voices and explore the many roles that need to come together to create our own original musical from top to bottom, over the course of a whole school year. Registration is still open and we always welcome new voices!

As always, there’s lots of new work in development as well, so hold on tight for updates about a second appearance at Nakai Theatre’s Pivot Festival, a new Orphaned Egret Production in Toronto and another in Whitehorse, new initiatives and collaborations, as well as a bid to play a role in yet another renowned Yukon performing arts institution.