From Cradle to Stage to the Edmonton International Fringe - Apocalypse, Saskatchewan

If you loved Apocalypse, Saskatchewan at the Walterdale Theatre's From Cradle to Stage: An Evening of One Acts in 2012, or you if missed it, you have another chance to catch it at the 2013 Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival!

Apocalypse, Saskatchewan, a comedy by Dion Huel, follows the adventures of Clifford, a semi-retired farmer, Bill, the town's former mayor, and Charlie, a World War II veteran, as well as Clifford's long-suffering daughter, Cassandra, who owns and runs the coffee shop where ...the men spend their days wondering why the town has gone downhill. After Charlie's house mysteriously blows up, the answer to these three retirees' complaints ends up staring them in the face. From there, they know they are their small Saskatchewan town's only hope against the impending zombie horde.

Show dates:

Saturday, August 17, 2:00 pm
Monday, August 19, 5:00 pm
Tuesday, August 20, 2:00 pm
Wednesday, August 21, 2:00 pm
Thursday, August 22, 2:00 pm
Friday, August 23, 2:00 pm
Saturday, August 24, 2:00 pm
Sunday, August 25, 2:00 pm

Venue #31: Filthy McNasty’s, 10511 82 Avenue

Runtime: 90 minutes

Featuring:
David Wolkowski (Sinbad, Selection) - Clifford
Bill Roberts (Misanthrope, Burning Vision, Mr. Twiddles) - Bill
Clyde Rigsby (The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas) - Charlie
Parazanda Valois: Cassandra

Playwright: Dion Huel
Director: Giorgia Severini
Stage Manager/Lighting Designer: Pierre Valois
Set Designer: Clyde Rigsby
Costume Designer: Yvonne Trethart
Sound Designer: Mandy Stewart

From Cradle to Stage - 2014

Walterdale Theatre “From Cradle to Stage”

2013-2014 New Work Competition

Edmonton’s foremost community theatre company is now accepting submissions for its annual new work event, “From Cradle to Stage”.  For over 10 years, Walterdale Theatre has been producing original plays by local playwrights as a part of its main stage season.  Plays are selected by jury, and selected playwrights will receive dramaturgy to help them in the development of their play.

 Timeline:

·         Deadline for all submissions is Sunday, September 15^th, 2013.

·         Playwrights will have the opportunity to work with a dramaturge to develop their scripts in late 2013 and early 2014.

·         Finished scripts will be paired up with directors and production teams by January 2014.

·         The selected plays will be produced May 12-17, 2014.

Submission Guidelines:

·         Scripts must be unproduced and unpublished prior to the Walterdale production dates.  If your script has had a public reading or has been work-shopped, please include its development history up to this point.

·         Scripts must be typed or printed, with spaces between all speaking parts.  Include your name and contact info on the first page of the script, and number your pages.

·         Along with the script, please include a brief bio (50 words or less in the 3^rd person) which Walterdale will use for publicity purposes if your play is chosen.

 

·         Scripts should run approximately 60-120 minutes.  Although we recognize that running times may change during play development, Walterdale reserves the right to edit script to accommodate time requirements.

·         For the purpose of this competition, “local” indicates a resident of the Edmonton Area.  This includes satellite communities such as Spruce Grove, Stony Plain, Sherwood Park, St. Albert and Leduc.  If you are unsure if you geographically qualify to submit, please do not hesitate to inquire via email.

 

All submissions must be received in a hard-copy format by midnight September 15, 2013.  Do not submit your original copy.  If you want your script returned to you, please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope.  Unselected scripts without a SASE will be recycled.  Scripts can be mailed to:

From Cradle to Stage 2013-2014

Walterdale Theatre

10322 83 Avenue

Edmonton, AB  T6E 5C3

Attention: Adam Mazerolle-Kuss, Artistic Director

Walterdale Theatre Associates 55th Season Announced!

Today at 12 noon at City Centre Mall and again at 6:00 p.m. at Walterdale Playhouse, the 55th Season under the Artistic Direction of Adam Mazerolle-Kuss was announced.  The line up is as follows:


Dracula by Steven Dietz
from the novel by Bram Stoker
Directed by Darrell Portz
On Stage: October 16-26, 2013


Proof by David Auburn
Directed by Kristen M. Finlay
On Stage: December 4-14, 2013


Blithe Spirit by Noël Coward
Directed by Curtis Knecht
On Stage: February 5-15, 2014


A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
Book by Burt Shevelove & Larry Glebart
Music & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Originally produced on Broadway by Harold S. Prince
Directed by Adam Mazerolle-Kuss
On Stage: April 2-12, 2014



From Cradle to Stage An Evening of New Work
Submission Deadline: September 15, 2013
On Stage: May 12-17, 2014



Jennie’s Story by Betty Lambert
Directed by Alex Hawkins
On Stage: July 2-12, 2014

For more information about the shows and audition dates please check out the theatre website here.

Tweet All About It - Live Tweet Night at From Cradle to Stage

Last night we invited local arts tweeters to the show and to share their thoughts about the plays.  It was great fun having them in our house and they provided great feedback on twitter before, during intermission and after the show.

Here are some of their tweets:

About The Ugly Spot:

Louise Mallory ‏@onlyLouise13h

#FCTS2013 The Ugly Spot poignant glimpse of two lonely people @WalterdalePlays

Jenna Marynowski ‏@jennamarynowski13h

I want to see "The Ugly Spot" at #fcts2013 about 5 more times #yegtheatre

Erin Valentine ‏@erinaceousv13h

Lisa Lorentz-Gilroy knows how to craft a beautiful story. Would love to see "The Ugly Spot" further developed and staged again #FCTS2013

Stuart McDougall ‏@studabomb13h

The Ugly Spot just finished. So sad. So good! There should be a ravine-themed new play festival. @WalterdalePlays #yeg #yegarts #FCTS2013

About Exposure:

Louise Mallory ‏@onlyLouise11h

#FCTS2013 #Exposure by @Steve_Allred B Hughes& @JessieMcPhee Engagingly-irritating characters, interesting premise, credible end #yegtheatre

Jenna Marynowski ‏@jennamarynowski12h

Exposure @WalterdalePlays has an eloquent script & captivating cast. I'm excited to review it! #FCTS2013

Erin Valentine ‏@erinaceousv13h

Lights going down for Exposure by Bethany Hughes, Stephen Allred & @JessieMcPhee. How do 3 people write 1 play? #FCTS2013

Erin Valentine ‏@erinaceousv12h

Answer: extremely well. Another touching offering from @WalterdalePlays at #FCTS2013. Gonna go drink a glass of milk now.

About the Evening as a Whole:

John Richardson ‏@1anhaga12h

I was right! I feel so much better after #FCTS2013 at @WalterdalePlays Those plays were 2 glowing little peas in a pod! #yegtheatre

Jenna Marynowski ‏@jennamarynowski13h

Mounting The Ugly Spot and Exposure in the same festival was such a great choice! The two complement each other so well. #FCTS2013

Tweeter Louise Mallory is also a local blogger.  The link to her blog about From Cradle to Stage 2013 can be found here.

Walterdale Theatre Associates can be found on twitter @WalterdalePlays

Opening Night! Hope to See You All There!

Two great new works open on our deck tonight The Ugly Spot, by Lisa Lorentz-Gilroy and Exposure by Stephen Allred, Bethany Hughes and Jessie McPhee. Walterdale is pleased to have a continued investment in the development of new work.  

Meet Lisa Gilroy (Lorentz) - Playwright, The Ugly Spot, From Cradle to Stage 2013

I wrote my first play, Sitter, for the New Works Festival at the University of Alberta in 2011; it was short and goofy and I adored the process of watching it come to life. The following year, I wrote another play, Walter Alone, for the same festival and that’s when I came to the realization that writing plays and watching them hit the stage was more fun than eating marshmallows and peanut butter. So I promptly replaced one hobby for another. Just kidding, I would never give up marshmallows and peanut butter.
            When I heard that Cradle to the Stage was accepting play submissions, it was already the day before the deadline. At first, I resigned to submit something for the following year but excitement got the better of me. Before I knew it, I had canceled my date with myself to practice the moonwalk and was sitting at my computer writing a story that, I realized, had wanted to come out for a quite some time. Thus, The Ugly Spot was born.
            During the process, I had the great fortune and privilege to work with a passionate and talented writer, actor, teacher, director and dramaturge who I like to call Brian Dooley. You can call him that too, because that’s his name. It’s no exaggeration to say that Brian revolutionized the way I look at theatre and writing; he asked me hard questions about my work and pushed me to challenge myself and challenge my writing. Since September, The Ugly Spot has shape-shifted more times than that blue lady from X-Men and it’s been a great learning experience for myself as a new writer. The finished product is a short piece on life, death, and forgiveness and I hope that you’ll enjoy it.

Join Us for a Playwriting Workshop - Part of From Cradle to Stage 2013

The Nuts & Bolts of Playwriting – An APN Workshop

Sunday, May 26th

10:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

(Lunch provided)

Walterdale Theatre – Glenfield Rehearsal Hall

Facilitator: Tracy Carroll

By creating mini-production companies with participants, we’ll look at some of the building blocks of developing a new play from the writing, acting and directing point of view.

A fun, hands-on session for all participants of the From Cradle to Stage Festival and members of Walterdale Theatre.

This workshop is free to all Walterdale Members, contact Sarah Van Tassel at walterdalead53@gmail.com to reserve a spot.  Space is limited.

Meet Sarah Culkin - Anna in Exposure at From Cradle to Stage 2013

What is your role in this production? I play Anna in Exposure. She's a young mother who's recently been through a lot, so she's come to a sort of psychiatric workshop/recovery centre, where she meets Will and Eric.

What brought you to Walterdale? I was interested in the one-acts at the Walterdale because the productions are locally written, and it's a cool experience to work on something from square one. Watch the lil' baby grow!

What is your background in theatre? Theatre has been a big thing for me since elementary school. I've acted, directed, costumed a whole show and even written a play through the drama departments at my old schools. From there I've done children's theatre, clown and play readings, as well. I read a part in Magpies, which had a staged reading in Walterdale's one act festival last year, and right now I'm rehearsing for another locally written piece that goes up in July. Basically, I've taken every opportunity that's come my way, so I spend a lot of time not sleeping.

What has been your biggest challenge during this process? It can be tough understanding a character when you have no reference points, you know? You can't say "Oh yeah this is how she's normally played," because no one's been there before. But that's also the fun part, growing the character on your own.

Both plays this year deal with people being connected but not knowing they are connected, has anything like that ever happened to you? This is going to sound so teenage girl, but I accidentally met one of my friends through a blogging site. We would talk almost every day about our lives and our friends and oh you know also boys and at one point I realized I knew literally everyone she was talking about. It was so weird. Out of ALL the people on the website, we had started talking to each other and WE LIVED IN THE SAME CITY.

Introducing Sam Banigan - Will in Exposure (From Cradle to Stage 2013)

What is your role in this production? I am playing the part of Will in Exposure, he is agoraphobic, but in the end he just wants to be normal again.

Why did you audition for this show? I really wanted to try and get out of the school environment and career track I was on and I thought that this could be a good place to start.

What is your background in theatre? I grew up with 2 very artistic parents and it just kinda became my life. Grade 5 was my first play that I ever did, and then I've been in one or more every year since then, Most recently I have performed in Neil Labute's A Second Of Pleasure at my school's Playworks festival.

What has been the biggest challenge for you? The biggest challenge I have had is working with new people, I have only ever worked with people I knew from class so just entering this new world was difficult. The most gratifying? The most gratifying part of this is that no one can say that they've seen someone else play this character before and I can literally start from the bottom and go up, create a completely original character not inspired by any other production.

Both plays deal with hidden connections that people have.  Have you ever had a situation where you discovered you were connected to someone in a weird and unpredictable way? I guess I have had a couple moments, for instance, last year in my math class I met a guy named Chase and I thought he was like alright guy maybe a little douchey but then I found out that he was an actor as well and we were in our school's production of The Odyssey. Now, I consider him to be one of my best friends. Another weird one was when I was at Artstrek in 2009 I met Greg Dowler-Coltman and just 2 years ago he auditioned me for the Advanced Drama 10 class at Vic and he is now my Directing teacher and will be again next year as well as my Advanced Acting teacher.

Introducing the Casts and Teams of From Cradle to Stage

Last week we held auditions for our two new one acts being presented at this year's From Cradle to Stage. We had a great turn-out and the two directors, Eric Rice and John Trethart were able to put together two fantastic casts from those that came out. We are pleased to welcome some brand new actors to our stage to join those who have been there before!

The Ugly Spot by Lisa Lorentz-Gilroy
Dramaturge - Brian Dooley
Director - John Trethart
Stage Manager - Giorgia Severini
Cast:
Paul - Chance Heck
Paula - Cayley McConaghy

Exposure by Stephen Allred, Bethany Hughes and Jessie McPhee
Dramaturge - Tracy Carroll
Director - Eric Rice
Assistant Director - Shannon Joyes
Stage Manager - Faun Rice
Asst. Stage Manager - May Kharaghani
Cast:
Will - Sam Banigan
Anna - Sarah Culkin
Eric - Morgan D.D. Refshauge

Production Team 
Festival Coordinator/Set Designer - Kristen M. Finlay
Master Builder - Alan Westen
Costume Coordinator/Mentor - Geri Dittrich
Technical Advisor - Brad Melrose
Lighting Designer - TBA
Sound Designer - TBA
Lighting Op. - Ben Taylor
Sound Op. - TBA
Crew - TBA

If you are interested in filling in any of the TBAs in our team, please contact me, Kristen M. Finlay at smeep22003@yahoo.ca to see where we can best place you!

Auditions - From Cradle to Stage 2013

AUDITION INFORMATION

WALTERDALE THEATRE ASSOCIATES

From Cradle to Stage 2012-2013

PERFORMANCE DATES: May 20th – 25th

AUDITION DATES: FEB 10th & 11th; Times: 7:00 – 10:00 p.m.

Walterdale Playhouse (10322 83 Avenue)

This year’s Festival consists of the following selected pieces:

The Ugly Spot by Lisa Lorentz

Director: John Trethart; Dramaturge: Brian Dooley

Exposure by Stephen Allred, Bethany Hughes and Jessie McPhee

Director: Eric Rice; Dramaturge: Tracy Carroll

Casting Requirements:
The Ugly Spot: 2 Strangers meet in an unlikely place where a tragic event once happened – each seeking resolution.
- Paul: Male, 18 years old
- Paula: Female, 20 years old

Exposure: Three people’s lives intertwine. Each seeks help for a very different reason, but perhaps they can help each other?
- Will: Male, 25 – 40 years
- Anna: Female, 25 – 40 years
- Eric: Male, 25 – 40 years, plays guitar

• The auditions will comprise of the following:
o Please prepare a short (1-2 minute) contemporary monologue
o Readings from the scripts
o For The Ugly Spot – you may be asked to sing a short a capella song – no preparation needed.

• Please bring any major or recurring scheduling conflicts you have between auditions and the show dates. Headshots and resumes are recommended but not required.
• As these are new works under development, Copies of the Scripts are NOT available.

TO BOOK AN AUDITION:

Email Kristen Finlay at smeep22003@yahoo.ca with FROM CRADLE TO STAGE AUDITIONS

in the subject line or phone 780-406-1256.

Walterdale is a volunteer/member organization. We cannot engage Equity performers.

Announcing the Selected Plays for From Cradle to Stage 2012-2013

Every year Walterdale takes one of it's performance slots in the season to develop new works by local playwrights.  Over the years we have developed the program so that we provide professional dramaturgy for the development of the submitted work.  This year, we were blessed and challenged by the work that we received this year as we saw a very high caliber of work from 15 submitters (17 scripts) which made our selection process all the more difficult.

The Jury narrowed that pool of scripts down to the following five for the dramaturges to select the finalists from (in no particular order):

Secrets by Jacqueline Dumas

Downturn by Cody Porter

The Ugly Spot by Lisa Lorentz

Wolfman Crossing by David Haas

Exposure by Stephen Allred, Bethany Hughes and Jessie McPhee

From those 5 scripts the successful pieces that we will be

producing on our stage this year will be:

The Ugly Spot by Lisa Lorentz

Dramaturge: Brian Dooley

Lisa Lorentz is a new playwright and student at the University of Alberta in her final year of the Ba/Bed combined degree program. She enjoys both acting and playwrighting within the community and is excited to have had two of her most recent plays showcased in the University’s New Works Festival.

Exposure by Stephen Allred, Bethany Hughes and Jessie McPhee

Dramaturge: Tracy Carroll

Jessie McPhee collectively created Subterranean (2011) with his long time improv troupe DotDotDot for the Next Fest Festival in Edmonton and has also collectively created two shows with Break the Wall Theatre, Excuse Me… This is the Truth! (2008) and TrueLife (2011), for both the Edmonton and Winnipeg International Fringe Festivals.

Stephen Allred has found his home on stage ever since he was first cast as Ichabod Crane in his grade 7 production of Sleepy Hallow. Since then he has appeared in such shows as Fiddler on the Roof, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, The Drowsy Chaperone, and Forever Plaid.
Bethany Hughes - An Edmonton local, this girl is known for her relationship with Peanut Butter. She has worked around Edmonton on various projects and is hoping to get involved drama therapy. She has worked with youth at the Art Start Program for the past 4 years. Bethany graduated with her BA in psychology and drama.

Only 9 Days Left to Get Your Script In...

Hello aspiring playwrights! There are only 9 days let to get your new script into our annual From Cradle to Stage Competition. This is a fabulous opportunity to work with either Tracy Carroll or Brian Dooley as Dramaturge to develop and grow your script as well as get it produced onstage in our 2012-2013 season.  We are looking for scripts 'under development' so don't worry if it's not exactly where you want it to go, if selected, we will help you make it what you want it to be!

Scripts can be sent in electronically or by mail or even just dropped off at the theatre.  Check the link here for more details on how to submit your script!

Retrospective - Introducing Walterdale's 54th Season

Wednesday afternoon marked the official launch of Walterdale's 54th Season, Retrospective.  I was happy to be a part of the event, as I introduced and sang a song from next season's musical, Anything Goes.  It was fun to be on Walterdale's stage to sing such a clever and upbeat song and great to see all the people who came out for the Launch. I also introduced a scene and song from Nine, the final show in this year's season.

Next season at Walterdale, we will be treated to the following pieces:

The Weir, by Conor McPherson

Directed by Anne Marie Szucs

On Stage: October 17-27, 2012

Auditions: July 8 & 9, 2012

An amateur production of

The Misanthrope by Molière, in a version by Martin Crimp

Directed by Janine Hodder

On Stage: December 5-15, 2012

Auditions: September 2 & 3, 2012

Summer and Smoke by Tennessee Williams

Directed by Mary-Ellen Perley

On Stage: February 6-16, 2013

Auditions: October 21 & 22, 2012

 

Burning Vision by Marie Clements

Directed by Sarah Van Tassel

On Stage: April 10-20, 2013

Auditions: December 9 & 10, 2012

From Cradle to Stage: An Evening of One-Acts New Works by Local Playwrights

Submission Deadline: September 14, 2012

On Stage: May 20-25, 2013

Auditions: February 10 & 11, 2013

Anything Goes, Music & Lyrics by Cole Porter

Book by Guy Bolton, P.G. Wodehouse, Howard Lindsay & Russel Crouse

Directed by Barbara Mah

On Stage: July 3-13, 2013

Auditions: March 3 & 4, 2013

Spotlight on John Trethart - Director for From Cradle to Stage 2012

What is your role on this production? I am directing two of the readings that are going up on the Sunday following the regular run of the One Acts. The readings are Mary! and Magpies. As the director it is my job to help bring forth the play from words on a page to actors on a stage. In particular as a reading their is minimal blocking so the focus is on the words and bringing the characters forth. Also, directing involves working with the designers to portray the images the script invokes. This last one can be a challenge because for any written work there could be multiple ways of interpreting it.

What is your background in theatre? I have been an actor and involved in theater since 1989, I have a few Fringe shows under my belt and was recently in Walterdale's production of Love of the Nightingale. I studied theater in California for two years where I earned a degree in theater arts and won the department award of Student of the Year for my outstanding devotion to the craft. Beyond that I have learned from every show I've done since I started on the stage. I have only recently got my hand into directing shows and I am hoping to spread my knowledge and skills further into the theater community.

What is the biggest challenge with working on a New Work? The most exciting thing? The biggest challenge of a new work is their is no one who has come before you to compare your interpretation to. This is also the most exciting thing. As the first to work with a new work you are paving the path for all shows that follow it and you are giving the director the first look at their play as a living thing. One of the challenges I personally faced with working with one the new works was that it was incomplete and I had to sit down with the writer to hear how it ended to pass it on to my actors so they could get the over all arc of the play. Yet, I am glad to still be bringing to life the first act of her work with full gusto as if it was a complete play.

* photo by Douglas Dollars-Stewart from Poetry Unbound - John Trethart and Gabby Bernard.

Spotlight on Dion Huel - Playwright for From Cradle to Stage 2012

Dion Huel - Playwright of Apocalypse, Saskatchewan

What did the role of playwright involve for you? I wrote this play during the Saskatchewan Playwrights Centre’s 2011 24 Hour Playwriting Competition. After putting it aside for awhile and then doing some tweaking to it over the summer, I submitted it for consideration to Walterdale’s “From Cradle to Stage” competition. The wonderful folks there decided it was worthy to be included in their festival. The amazing and talented Tracy Carroll must drawn the short straw because she got stuck working with me as my dramaturge (No, she didn't get stuck - she CHOSE you, Dion!). Tracy helped me push the development of the characters and the conflict of the play to new levels. This play has really become what it is thanks to her guidance and expertise. Which means, of course, if people don’t like it, then it was absolutely perfect before I met her. Really, you would have liked it way better before. Seriously though, Tracy guided the subsequent drafts that I wrote of this play from something raw into something worth producing. I want to sincerely thank Tracy for her patience and willingness to share her knowledge.

What is your background in theatre? training? shows? with Walterdale? I am a writer and a storyteller, although it is only with pushing from my super supportive wife that I have recently started to write again after not doing so since childhood. I love watching live theatre but have never been involved in it other than as an audience member. Apocalypse, Saskatchewan is the first play that I have written and I am extremely proud of it. I am looking forward to hearing the actors say the words that I have written and seeing them act out the things I have dreamt up. My hopes for this play are that someone out there laughs at the jokes and that the audience finds the story funny (not just absurd). If this happens, I will be the happiest person in the room. And hopefully this is the beginning of a long relationship between myself and the theatre.

What is the biggest challenge with working on a New Work? The most exciting thing? The biggest challenge for me has been overcoming the doubts I have had about whether the ideas I am putting down actually make any sense to anyone other than me. The most exciting thing has been finding out that not only do they make sense, but there are people who actually get my sense of humour and find it funny.

What was your inspiration/source material for the play you wrote? Has the work changed much through the process? This play is based on the true story of a time when zombies attacked a small town in Saskatchewan. Of course, I had to change the location and names of those involved and I added the part about zombies attacking a small town in Saskatchewan, but other than that, it is essentially a true story. By true, I mean there are retired guys like Clifford, Bill, and Charlie sitting in coffee shops in small towns all over Saskatchewan using their free time to solve all the world’s problems. And supporting them are the very patience rural women that wait on them at home and in town. These women do their best to smile and grit their teeth before going home to a glass of wine (or a shot of whiskey) and 3 hours of housekeeping.

I personally know all of the characters in this story. They are not anyone specific but an amalgamation of people I have been privileged enough to meet and interact with during my times in rural Saskatchewan. The zombies are pure imagination, in more ways than one.

I wanted to write a story about the tedium of doing the same thing day in and day out and what could possible happen to your mind with that kind of lack of stimulation. I also wanted to write a story that was distinctly about rural Saskatchewan and the things that occur in daily life, whether it is talking about the Riders, playing VLT’s, complaining about the government and the young people, or spending time at the bar, which is the only business in most small towns.

The play has changed a great deal, especially since I have had the privilege to begin working with Tracy. The characters have grown into their individual personalities and this has helped make their predicament that much more intense (and funny). That said, even through the growth of the characters and increase in the action and conflict, the basic story has remained the same. It is about the power of what three old guys sitting in a small town coffee shop can accomplish… even if it doesn’t need to be accomplished.

Spotlight on Anne Marie Szucs - Playwright for From Cradle to Stage 2012

Anne Marie Szucs - Playwright of The Loneliest Number

What did was involved for you to bring you to this production at Walterdale? Several years of writing, rewriting, worrying, hoping, worrying, rewriting, submitting!

What is your background in theatre? Almost 25 years in theatre - acting, directing, producing, teaching, you name it - most recent is this foray into playwriting. Co-AD of FinallySauces, an independent theatre company, with Kristen Finlay. Training at Keyano College (Fort McMurray) and Seacoast Studios (Vancouver). First got involved in Walterdale through the Board and then acting (Pieces) and directing (Kiss within a Kiss; Much Ado about Nothing).

What were the challenges for you? The biggest challenge for me has been bringing this play to life. I wrote the first draft in an afternoon at a fishing lodge in B.C. in 2007. I didn't know what to do with it after that, so it sat on the shelf for a while. Then, when I could look at it again (without cringing), I did, and it wasn't as bad as I had remembered. Knowing there was hope, I decided to play with it for a while. It is still literally a work in progress. What is most exciting? I am excited to hear it read aloud in front of an audience for the first time - I am also quite nervous. It's been a long time since I've been truly nervous in a theatrical endeavour - this is really good for me!

What was your inspiration for this piece? I had been thinking a great deal about the nature of female friendships when I sat down to write The Loneliest Number. What are they built on, and how delicate is this foundation? How can we truly connect with each other through clouds of expectations and judgment? The central idea hasn't changed much through the process - character arcs have shifted somewhat, and their voices have solidified for me. I anticipate further changes after the reading.

Spotlight on Wes Schofield - Playwright of poor defenseless creatures in From Cradle to Stage 2012

Wes Schofield – What is your role in this production?  I wrote poor defenceless creatures and I am also performing as the Narrator in the reading.

What does this involve?  It was important to Brooke Leifso, my Director, since I am performing double duty in the production that we make a distinction between when I am an actor and when I am a writer. 

At our first rehearsal I was there as the playwright, so I talked a bit about why I wrote the play and some of my intentions with the script. However I was more interested in what the rest of the cast thought about the play. What did they think it was about? What images or bits of dialogue worked for them? What was confusing? What didn't they like? For me the play is the thing. If the play doesn't tell the story or present it's ideas, no amount of me explaining myself is going to help it. That being said, it does help to discuss my own ideas about the play as a way of bringing clarity to my own mind as to what I am trying to accomplish with the work. 

As an actor in the reading, it's my responsibility discover who my character is and be honest with their intentions and goals in the script. I must work inside the reality of the play that is created by the director and the other actors. As an actor it is not important to me what the play is about or what the playwright is trying to do. Understanding the world of the play and inhabiting it is what is most important. 

What is your background in theatre? I studied theatre in University. I took Drama as a major, so I was able to study almost all aspects of the theatre. I was primarily focused on performing and writing though. My first play Hold'em  was produced at NextFest. And I wrote a show with Kevin Cheung called Journey to the Centre of a Doughnut which we preformed in at the Fringe. I was in You Can't Take it With You at the Walterdale. That was a fantastic experience. One of the things I love about the Walterdale is that every year they produce a big ensemble cast show. Larger shows like that are becoming a rarity on stages everywhere and having the chance to see one or even act in one is a tremendous privilege. 

What has been the biggest challenge on this project?  The biggest challenge with a New Work is understanding that it is still a work in progress. Accepting the limitations of the script and dealing with them rather than dwelling on imperfections. The most exciting thing?  The most exciting thing is being part of something that has never been done before. Creating new work and seeing new work is the most important thing artists and art lovers can do. 

What was your inspiration for this script? My inspiration for the script was a news story a few years back about a couple kids who put a cat in a microwave and the uproar that ensued. It just got me thinking a lot about how we a society or culture react to and deal with the injustices that occur. 

How has the script evolved? My intention with the script is to turn it into a full length play. So I haven't been making any changes to the script through the process. I'm interested in seeing it as it is. The other actor’s input and the audience is key. When I see what the actors have been able to accomplish with my words and how that lines up with my vision of the play I will know what to do. Also feeling the audience's response and discovering what impact the play makes with them will help decide the future direction of the play. The play has certainly evolved since my first draft. The one Walterdale is producing is a fourth draft of the story. My hope is that the script continues to grow and change. Thank you so much to Walterdale Theatre for inviting me to be a part of this festival. 

Spotlight on Jennifer Roberts, Playwright of The Carrying

Jennifer Roberts - What is your role in this production? Playwright (The Carrying)

What does that involve? Writing, rewriting, some serious existential pondering regarding why I chose to write this story, some cringing self doubt and then some more rewriting.

What is your background in theatre? Primarily I’m a performer, writer and creator. I graduated from the U of C Theatre Program and have continued to train. I have taking workshops with One Yellow Rabbit and their Summer Lab Intensive, Clown Bootcamp with John Turner, Contact Improv Dance with Martin Keogh and Playwriting with Ken Cameron and Eugene Stickland. Most recently I was involved in the creation and performance of i-Robot (Swallow-a-Bicycle),   Letters from the WhimsyState (Citizens of the WhimsyState) with my script Parched, The Bon-bon dolls (Site Specific Spectacular, High Performance Rodeo), The House Project, Do Me (Downstage Performance Theatre Motel series), The Dangers of Being (Sage Theatre Ignite! Festival), Voy· er·ee (Buck Assembled Artists), Interrarium project (High Performance Rodeo 2006) and most notably in Featherland (One Yellow Rabbit 2005) at the Belfry Theatre. This is my first interaction with Walterdale and I’m delighted!

What is the biggest challenge with working on a New Work?  The biggest challenge with new work is the risk it takes and the need to trust the process while simultaneously removing my personal worth from the outcome.  The most exciting thing? All of the above- what a rush!

What was your inspiration/source material for the play you wrote? This script had a few inspirations. I was reading the National Geographic with the stories on the Inca and their relationship with their dead. I was struck by the images of these bound bodies and began to visualize two women carrying their dead with them. While I wrote I listened to Agnes Obel’s Philharmonic’s the melodic nature of the album managed to seep into the writing.

Has it changed much through the process? Yes, the story has tightened and come more forward. The character arcs were further developed.