Young Acting Company
OWEN BISHOP
Owen Bishop made his Citadel debut at the early age of five when he enthusiastically sang along to a production of Grease. The audience was not pleased. Owen became seriously involved with theatre in high school at Ross Sheppard; his experience there finalized his decision to pursue acting as a career and he could not be more thrilled to be working in the professional theatre of which he has been a patron of for over a decade. Owen is currently working on his third year of his Bachelor of Arts at the U of A. He was most recently seen in Threepenny Opera (Walterdale Playhouse), Crazyface (University of Alberta) and Serial (Edmonton Fringe Fesitval).
LIAM COADY
Liam Coady is ecstatic to be part of the Citadel’s 2011-2012 Young Actors Company. Originally from Calgary, Liam is in his third year of his BA at the University of Alberta studying drama and literature. At the university he has been a performer in The Juvyline Cubangbang Show, Shaded Light (New Works Festival), CRAZYFACE (ABBEDAM), and several student directing projects over the past three years. In the summer of 2010, Liam also took part in Nextfest by performing in the NITECLUB Cabarets as well as playing the role of the detective in Characters and Violence. Besides acting, Liam has also found success in writing and performing spoken word poetry. He will be heading off to Toronto in October to compete in the National Poetry Slam Competition with the Edmonton Slam Poetry Team.
LAURA DUGUAY
Ever since Laura Duguay’s first play in grade 6, she knew that acting was her passion. Throughout junior and senior high school, Laura has taken acting classes and has been cast in numerous productions, including Once Upon a Mattress, Waiting for Her Beau, and The Bright Blue Mailbox Suicide Note, which was awarded Best Play at the regional One Acts Festival. This past year, she took Advanced Acting with the Citadel and is very excited to be a part of the Citadel Young Companies this season. Laura is in grade 12 at Paul Kane High School and is looking forward to continuing her studies in acting upon graduation.
SARAH FEUTL
Sarah Feutl is a graduate of Victoria School of the Arts and is entering her first year at the University of Alberta where she is majoring in drama. She has appeared in productions of My Fair Lady, The American Clock and The Two Gentlemen of Verona. Last year she directed the one-act play In Paris You Will Find Many Baguettes But Only One True Love, performed at Victoria School and Avenue Theatre. She was also the stage manager for Victoria’s production of Curtains. Sarah is delighted to be involved with the Young Acting Company.
SOPHIE GAREAU-BRENNAN
Sophie Gareau-Brennan is currently attending her second year at the University of Alberta in Drama. She has taken classes with Foote Theatre School since 2005 and has been a Teaching Assistant at FTS since spring 2007. From 2006 to 2008 Sophie took classes and worked with l’Uni Theatre (the local French Theatre). Sophie was honored to be a part of A Christmas Carol at the Citadel Theatre in 2006 and 2007. As part of the Teen Acting Company in 2008/2009, Sophie performed in Shelter at the 2009 Teens @ The Turn Festival. Sophie participated in the first year of the Citadel Theatre Young Acting Company and performed in While We’re Young. Last year, as a part of the Young Acting Company, Sophie performed inThe Mill on the Floss.
CAITLIN GORUK
Caitlin is extremely excited to be a part of the Citadel’s Young Acting Company this year. She is no stranger to theatre, as she is currently a third year drama student at the University of Alberta. Some of her favorite credits include: Chicago (Mona), Seussical: The Musical (Gertrude McFuzz), Peter Pan (Slightly), Sound of Stars Reflecting (Kaiya), Rapture! (Wilma/Lana/Marina), and Paula and Strom (Ensemble). Caitlin is a graduate from Eastglen High School, where her drama teachers taught her how much acting can truly change your life. She feels this program will give her a chance to grow even further as a performer, and she is thrilled to have the opportunity to work with such amazing people and mentors.
JOSH GRESCHNER
Josh Greschner found his calling in life in Archbishop Jordan’s Drama Theatre, and is very excited to be a part of the Citadel’s Young Companies. Being a relative late-bloomer to the performing arts (having only started in grade 11), he hopes his passion for the stage can make up for any experience he never had. After playing Elwood P. Dowd in Archbishop Jordan’s Harvey, Josh became incredibly interested in how far an actor can bring their character, and hopes the Young Companies can help him develop a variety of characters of his own. Josh also writes and directs his own films, and can usually be found in a greasy diner or just off a highway somewhere shooting his latest script.
JOHNATHON LOVETT
Johnathon Lovett is thrilled to be a part of the Citadel Theatre’s Young Acting Company this year. His last appearance at the Citadel was five years ago as Tootles in the production of Peter Pan in 2006. Other credits include My Fair Lady, White Christmas, American Clock, The Proposal, Daniel on a Thursday, Two Gentlemen of Verona, and most recently as Aaron Fox in Curtains, earning him a Cappies nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical. Johnathon has also been involved with the Edmonton International Fringe Festival’s Youth Troupe, a member of Victoria School’s improv team, and is currently working on staging a musical, co-written with Ben Fitzpatrick. He strives to never stop learning, working, growing and is hoping to carry on with theatre as a career.
JORDAN PARASYNCHUK-BUHAT
This is Jordan’s first season with Young Companies and he couldn’t be more thrilled. Jordan was a late bloomer when it came to the performing arts, taking his first drama class in grade 8. Since then he has been involved in productions such as High School: It’s A Concept, Splendor In the Grass, and Hansel & Gretel, as well as featuring in a local television pilot of The Kois: Fish Out of Water. He has completed his first year at the University of Alberta as a Drama Major and plans to audition for the BFA Acting Program in the hopes that Young Companies will give him the knowledge and experience that he needs to succeed. Not only does Jordan perform on the stage as an actor, but he also performs as a musician. He has been a top ten finalist for The Bounce Showdown 2009 and 2010, and a top 6 finalist in Edmonton Undiscovered.
KYLE SANSCARTIER
Kyle started acting at the Citadel’s Foote Theatre School at the age of 8 years old getting the lead role of Max in Where the Wild Things Are. He continued the Foote Theatre School throughout elementary school with the roles such as Pinocchio in Pinocchio and Mr. Mushnik in the children’s version of The Little Shop of Horrors. In junior high, Kyle joined the Edmonton Musical Theatre. He did many productions such asDon’t Fence Me In A Musical Hoedown, Broadway Rocks, All The Worlds A Stage, The Best Of The Thirty Years, and Go The Distance. He also participated in school productions of Tom Sawyer, Rhinoceros, Crazy for You and The Visit. With the Citadel’s Young Musical Theatre Company, he played Angel Dumott Shunard in RENT. He was also a member of The Flaming Escargos improv team at his school for three years and loved it. He had the blessing of receiving the Escargot award at his high school due to skill and team spirit. Last summer he worked at the Edmonton Fringe Festival, as a youth troupe worker writing and performing children’s plays such as Monster Detective, KidsFringe Has Talent! and Pond Bully. The highlight of his performing life so far was when he took one of the major roles as Angel Dumott Shunard in the Citadel’s production of RENT, with the Young Musical Theatre Company. He is extremely excited to once again be a part of a Citadel Young Companies and is looking forward to absorbing everything it has to offer!
CALLA WRIGHT
Calla Wright has been interested in writing since she was six, and theatre (mostly Shakespeare) since she was nine. Her favourite roles include: Viola in Twelfth Night and Ariel in The Tempest (for Celsius Youth Theatre) Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet, (for the Freewill Dream Troupe) and First Maggie in last year’s Young Company’s production of The Mill on the Floss. Calla won Best Performance by an Actress at the 2010 National Youth Shakespeare Festival for a scene from Richard III. An Unnatural Turn, her first play, was performed for An Evening of One Acts with Celsius Youth Theatre (of which she is an Artistic Director). Word Problem, her second play, was read for Teens @ the Turn 2009, and was performed with NextFest 2010. Most recently Calla directed, co-wrote, and performed in; the musical at the 2011 Edmonton Fringe Festival. Calla is very excited to be a part of the Young Company again, and to be working with such fantastic people!
Young Musical Company
HUNTER CARDINAL
Hunter Cardinal, new to the Citadel Young Musical Company, is an Edmonton based performer studying acting, singing, improvisation and movement. Currently majoring in Drama at the University of Alberta, Hunter is also preforming weekly at Rapid Fire Theatre where he is a part of the rookie tier. He looks forward to this year and is excited to start learning more about theatre as soon as he can. Selected stage credits from Strathcona High School include: Inspector Javert from Les Miserables, Bernardo from West Side Story, Lawrence Brown from Home Free!, and James Prince from Saint Aggie’s ’84.
CELINA GADO
Just realizing her love for theatre a few years ago, Celina is thrilled to be a part of the Young Musical Company for the 2011-2012 Season. Since making her stage debut in 2009, credits include Louis St. Laurent’s productions of Urinetown (Officer Lockstock), Pippin (Ensemble) and Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night (Stage Manager). Celina is a grade twelve student at Louis St. Laurent, where she studies theatre through the LSL Theatre Intensive Program. Her passion for theatre growing rapidly; she also attends weekly voice lessons and has participated in the Edmonton Kiwanis Festival and Theatre Alberta’s Artstrek for the past two years.
CYNTHIA HICKS
Cynthia Hicks is ecstatic to be back for her second year in the Young Musical Company at the Citadel Theatre. She grew up taking classes at the Foote Theatre School and made her Citadel Theatre debut in Who Has Seen the Wind. She was then the Ghost of Christmas Past for three years in the Citadel Theatre’s annual production of A Christmas Carol and in 2010 she was fortunate to be part of the Young Musical Company’s 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Other theatre credits include South Pacific with the Edmonton Opera and five shows with St. Albert Children’s Theatre where she most recently appeared as Gabriella Montez in High School Musical: On Stage. Cynthia choreographs for the Philippine Barangay Performing Arts Society. She is a graduate from Victoria School of the Arts where she studied drama, dance, voice, composition and directing. She is currently attending the University of Alberta, majoring in drama. Cynthia received a Cappie for Outstanding Female Dancer for her role as Bambi Bernet in Victoria School’s production of Curtains. At the 2011 Mayor’s Celebration of the Arts, she was a recipient of the Stantec Youth Artist Award. She also received the Dr. Dasha Goody Memorial Foundation Award. Cynthia spent last summer at the Broadway Theatre Project in Florida where she trained every day in musical theatre from some of Broadway’s most iconic performers, directors, choreographers and teachers.
CAMERON KNETEMAN
Cameron Kneteman is an aspiring actor just graduated from Strathcona High School and is excited to be joining The Citadel Young Musical Company. Cameron has been previously seen at the Citadel in A Christmas Carol as Peter Cratchit; at Strathcona High as Marius in Les Miserables, Tony in West Side Story, and the Beast in Beauty and the Beast. This year Cameron hopes to learn much about the acting world and hopefully one day will be a full-fledged part of it.
MADDY LAKUTSA
Maddy Lakusta is thrilled to be a part of the Citadel’s Young Company after recently graduating from Strathcona high school. She is looking forward to learning from a variety of highly acclaimed Canadian theatre specialists. Her previous credits include Gloria 4 in 10 000 Cigarettes (a part of Scona’s one act festival in 2009); Anybodys in Strathcona’s production of West Side Story; July the orphan in Sherard Theatre’s production of Annie; the Old Woman in Strathcona’s production of Les Miserables; and Joanna, in Lanford Wilson’s Homefree, which being a part of Scona’s 2010/11 one act festival made it to the city and provincial level. Maddy couldn’t be more excited to share her love of acting, singing, and dance with the 2011-12 Young Company!
HARLEY MORISON
Harley Morison is pleased as punch to join the Young Musical Company this year! Currently, this Calgary native spends his days at the University of Alberta where he is a second year Drama student. Harley blames a 1999 production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella for igniting his love of musical theatre, and since then he has not able to stray from the stage! Over the years, Harley has been spotted working on various musical productions with Calgary area community groups. During high school, Harley played in multiple shows (both musical and not) including a second production of Cinderella (2010), as well as a murder-mystery he also co-wrote and directed. This year, Harley is on the design team for ABBEDAM at the University of Alberta. Harley cannot contain his excitement for the upcoming year with the Citadel and is quite looking forward to getting back on stage!
ERIN ORRIS
This is Erin’s first year as part of the Citadel Musical Theatre Young Company and is absolutely delighted to be involved! Erin is a graduate of Victoria School of the Arts where her theatre credits include productions such as Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Annie, Village of Idiots, The American Clock and One-Act plays as a part of the school’s PlayWorks One-Act Festival. Erin has also had the honor of directing a One-Act play for the festival called Specter by Don Nigro. Theatre credits outside of Vic include Sherard Musical Theatre’s production of Anne Of Green Gables, St. Albert Children’s Theatre’s productions of Oink!, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, and High School Musical Onstage!. Along with theatre Erin has gained a passion for the Vocal Arts studying with Kim Mattice-Wanat in both Musical and Classical genres. Erin has competed in The Edmonton Kiwanis Musical Festival for four years along with Provincial competitions for two years. Erin will be beginning at the University of Alberta this fall, entering into a Bachelor of Arts program majoring in Drama.
BEN PLATTEN
Ben has been acting for a large part of his life, starting at the age of 4. Since then he has been a plethora of various characters in plays and musicals such as Eugene in Grease, Peter Pan in Peter Pan, and Lumiere in Beauty and the Beast; the last of which won him a Cappie for best featured actor in a musical. Ben also directed an award winning one-act entitled Passage by David S. Raine. He is very excited to be a part of the Young Companies and plans to carry on with acting in the future.
DYLAN ROSYCHUK
Dylan Rosychuk is still getting used to the world of theatre, having only started his acting career two and a half years ago in grade 10 having landed the lead role in a small One Act play entitled God & Poker. The role earned him a Best Actor award at the 2009 One Act Festival at the Timms Center for the Arts. Ever since then, he has appeared in a number of roles including the Prince Dauntless in Once Upon a Mattress, Jon in Tick, Tick…BOOM! and Will Parker in Oklahoma, a role that earned him a Best Supporting Actor nomination at the 2011 Edmonton Cappie Awards. Dylan has performed with the St. Albert Children’s Theatre in the past, most recently as Troy Bolton in High School Musical: On Stage! He has also participated in a number of non-musicals including Village of Idiots and 1984, both for Paul Kane High School. He recently wrote, directed and starred in a play called Cinnamon Cookies for the 2011 One Act Festival where he was awarded Best Director alongside his directing partner Jeff Punyi. Dylan is extremely excited to be involved in this years Citadel Young Musical Company group and hopes to grow as an actor, singer and dancer.
MICHAEL STREAN
Michael Strean just graduated with honours from Strathcona High School. His previous theatre experience includes three shows with the Strathcona theatre company: Les Miserables (his portrayl of Enjolras earned him a Cappie nomination for outstanding featured actor in a musical), West Side Story (A-rab), and St., Aggies ’84 (chorus). Michael was also the master of ceremonies for the Strathcona dance showcase Pathways, and then again for Pathways 2, Dance Through History. Most recently, Michael played Feyvel in the Walterdale theatre’s production of Village of Idiots. Michael is wildly enthusiastic about paper!
ELLICIA VIERA
Ellicia Vieira is a graduate of the Victoria School of the Arts and is now pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Drama at the University of Alberta. She began performing in gymnastics and dance at the age of 2, but found her true passion when she was introduced to Musical Theatre at the age of 11. She has since been expanding her training in dance, music, and drama. She was last seen on stage as Carmen Bernstein in Victoria’s School of the Arts musical production of Curtains. Ellicia is ecstatic to be a part of Citadel Theatre’s Young Musical Theatre Company.
JULIA VOS
Julia Vos is thrilled to be part of the Citadel Theatre Young Company again where she’s had the privilege of studying her love for musical theatre under some of Canada’s most sought-after theatre coaches. She has an extensive background in theatre and has performed in such classic Broadway musicals as Annie, where she played the lead role of Miss Hannigan, Grease as a Pink Lady (Jan), The Sound of Music as Brigetta, Charlotte’s Web as Fern and Annie, where she played little orphan Molly at the tender age of seven. Most recently Julia has played the role of Gertrude Mcfuzz in Suessical the Musical and Catherine in Pippin. Julia’s love for musical theatre is apparent in her fine singing, dancing and acting skills. In 2004, 2005 and 2008 Julia represented Canada in the North American Country Music Association Competition in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, USA where she was awarded Female Vocalist of the Year and Entertainer of the Year, and added Songwriter of the Year to the list of awards in 2008. She also won 2nd place at the 2010 provincial music festival in both the musical theatre and classical categories. She has opened for several CCMA recording artists such as Brad Johner, Beverly Mahood, The Higgins, George Canyon, Gord Bamford and Adam Gregory. Julia continues to develop her singing, dancing, acting and songwriting skills in hopes of fulfilling her dream to become the next ‘triple threat’ on Broadway. “I love musical theatre because it allows me to use all the wonderful gifts that I have been blessed with.”
Young Playwriting Company
ANNA FITZ
Anna is thrilled to be a part of the Young Companies! She is a passionate playwright and actress. Her first play Make-Up won the Best Written award at her school’s one-act play festival. It also appeared in Nextfest 2010, as did her piece Melodrama Dating 101 in 2011. She directed both shows and designed the sets and sound. Anna is also a versatile actress and singer, having appeared in several Ross Sheppard shows including: Song of Survival, Leader of the Pack and Snow White. In grade 10 and 11, she entered her one-act in a zones competition and appeared as the High Priestess of Shinar in Babel’s in Arms and Anne in A Life Sentence. Anna will be starring as Juliet in Ross Sheppard’s production of Romeo and Juliet. With her writing, singing, acting, dancing and martial arts Anna is a quintuple threat!
BEVIN DOOLEY
Bevin is very excited to be returning for her third year with the Young Playwriting Company. Bevin is a recipient of the Michael Becker ‘Loud Ideas Young Playwriting Scholarship.’ Prior to be involved with the Young Companies, she performed in a few seasons of the Citadel Theatre’s Teens @ the Turn Festival. Roles included Sam in Lord of the Flies, Skuzz in ICE:Beyond Cool and Helena in After Juliet. Bevin is currently in her fourth year at the University of Alberta, majoring in Drama with an English minor. She hopes to pursue a master’s degree in Playwriting. Upcoming projects include a production of her play, The Playmates, as part of the University of Alberta’s New Works Festival, which takes place in February. She is also helping facilitate new play development within the festival, as its Vice-President and Head of Artistic Development. Piles of ‘thank-you’s’ to Mom, Dad and Quinn for their love and encouragement. Bevin also has a blog you can check out: olduglytown.tumblr.com
CAMERON LEWIS
Cameron Lewis is very excited to be participating in his first year as a member of the Citadel Theatre’s Young Playwriting Company. Cameron is a recipient of the Michael Becker ‘Loud Ideas Young Playwriting Scholarship.’ Cameron has acted in one-act plays for both Strathcona Composite High School and the University of Alberta, as well as Strathcona High School’s production of Les Miserables (2011). In 2011 Cameron wrote and directed a one act play for NextFest’s High School Mentorship program called ‘Father’s day.’ Cameron is very glad he quit hockey to pursue his aspirations in drama and writing!
JOSH LANGUEDOC
Josh is ecstatic to be back at the Citadel Theatre, this time partaking in the Young Playwriting Company. Ever since the tender age of 6, Josh has been writing stories and performing in community theatre. As a graduate of Victoria School and Grant MacEwan’s Honours Sociology program, Josh has found a strong passion for social change and writing for theatre. Josh was first introduced to playwriting at the tender age of 15 through the Citadel’s Teens @ the Turn festival. Years later, he helped co-write Are We Safe Yet? at a later Teens @ the Turn festival at age 19. Since then, Josh has written 4 plays: Question (Fringe Festival 2008), A Day in the Life of Old People, Killing Earl, and Starlight Tours: Part 1. Josh also has a strong passion for youth and children and enjoys teaching theatre at the YMCA at various communities, and Avenmore Junior High School. Josh also enjoys performing in theatre as an actor, dancer, and singer whenever there is time. Josh also has co-founded two semi-professional theatre groups: Beerprov, an improvisational comedy group that performs at Avenue Theatre; and The Kazoodles, a professional children’s storytelling and music group that performs for children using comedic stories aimed at enhancing children’s creativity, self-esteem, and life choices. Josh looks forward to an exciting year with the company and learning tons more about the wonderful world of creative writing!
KATHLEEN STEIL
A newcomer to the world of theatre, Kathleen Steil is more than excited to have the privilege of taking part in Young Playwriting Company for the first time. Steil, who found her love for the arts in a small two-school town, has little background and experience but can passionately say her drive for the dramatic arts does not match the size of her old drama classroom. Only just over a year ago she had found herself participating in a play in the Alberta One Acts Competition which won Most Outstanding Play and took her along with the rest of the cast to Provincials. The feeling of being on the stage was an experience that shaped and defined her permanently and in those moments she knew for the rest of her life that this is where she wants to be. Although the very next year she decided to take a different route and direct her first play titled La Porte, she was lucky enough to find herself again on the provincials stage reliving the feeling she had the year prior. She earned a total of eleven awards including two Most Outstanding Student Playwright awards. This year, she discovered writing to be the root of her passion for the stage and now peruses it with an unmatchable desire and drive. Kathleen wants to spend the rest of her life behind the scenes, creating the stories that will last a lifetime in your mind and forever make you think and question the world around you.
LIAM SALMON
Liam Salmon is delighted to be back and part of the Citadel Young Playwriting Company for a second year. He is currently ferociously studious and likely writing yet another English essay at or around the University of Alberta where he hopes to complete his third year in education with a major in English and a minor in Drama. His previous theatre experience includes various productions throughout high school including Little Shop of Horrors as the sadistic dentist, Orin, which garnered a CAPPIES Award for Outstanding Comedic Actor in a Musical. His past writing experience includes several published articles for the student magazine YOUTHINK, the journalistic component of CAPPIES, and two short plays, Zipperman and Unthinkable, which were written and read as part of the 2010/11 Young Playwriting Program.
Young Theatre Production Company
STEPHANIE BAHNIUK
Stephanie Bahniuk is a currently in her second year in the Bachelor of Fine Arts, Theatre Design program at the University of Alberta.
Recent credits include work in wardrobe for Motown Meets Vegas (Movements Dance Ensemble), Shumka at 50 (Ukrainian Shumka Dancers), The Cripple of Innishmaan, Love and Human Remains, The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby (Studio Theatre), The Eternal Quest for Company (MOD Contemporary Dance Movement) and Dark in a Sunlit Room (Edmonton Fringe). She was also a Scenic Artist for The Cripple of Innishmaan and Cymbeline (Studio Theatre).
Recent design credits include costume design for For the Love of Colors, Sounds & Words (MOD Contemporary Dance Movement), Albertine in Five Times (Walterdale Playhouse) and Murmuration of Starlings at the New Works Festival 2012.
In 2010 she received a CAPPIES award for “Outstanding Achievement in Costumes” for Jordan Theatre’s production of Hansel and Gretel. She is also a member of the “Ukrainian Shumka Dancers” and has toured with them across Canada and China in the past year. This is Stephanie’s second year as a member of the Young Theatre Production Company and she is looking forward to designing the costumes for the upcoming productions of Spring Awakening and Cloud 9.
MIA CALIC
Mia’s passion and love for the arts has only grown with her recently discovered interest in theatre. With fine art, music and photography in her portfolio, theatre and cinematography have become her main focus and career path. Being on stage in Louis St. Laurent’s Urinetown (Little Becky Tow Shoes/ensemble), Twelfth Night (Feste), and Babes in Arms (Jennifer Owen), she has experienced the point of view of an actor. Although she enjoys the feeling of being on stage, her true interests are in directing. Mia is a grade twelve student at Louis St. Laurent High School, where she is in the LSL Theatre Intensive Program and is in every aspect of the productions that the company puts on stage. This year, Mia has expanded out of the LSL Theatre Intensive Program and is excited to be part of the Citadel Theatre Young Production Company.