Spotlight on Prudence Olenik - Granny Weatherwax and Make-up Designer for Wyrd Sisters

What is your role for this production? I wear two hats in this production, one of Granny Weatherwax and one of Make-up Designer.

Why did you come out for this show? What brought me to this show was the chance of playing an incredible character and working with some very talented people.....mischief and fun

Tell us a bit about your background in theatre... I completed a Theatre training Program in Vancouver called STUDIO 58...worked on a show called Free at Last, and a greenthumb production called A Chain of Words, and then went on to train in a program in London England in the field of Television and Film Make-up artistry at a school called GREASEPAINT. I worked my first show at Walterdale in the seventies called Butterflies are Free ...other shows that I actually performed in were: JITTERS, NURSE JANE GOES TO HAWAII, a melodrama a of which the title escapes me ... and HAMLET.

How has the process been? The most challenging is trying to capture a character that many Discworld fans have a very clear vision of in their minds. Understanding the fantasy world and all the background. The best thing besides the great team that Nelson has put together in terms of both cast and crew is the anticipation of giving birth to the vision of this undertaking. We have an incredible production team of very dedicated people .

What do you think the audience will take away from this production? Laughing till it hurts.

Spotlight on Rowan Hickie - Cast Member of Wyrd Sisters

1.What is your role in. this production? I play several roles in the show, including: Peasant 2, Robber 2 and Witch 2. An interesting combination of characters, but a funny and (surprisingly) challenging task to take on. What does this entail? A whole lot of costume changes.

2. What brought you to this production? In Calgary I was very involved with community theatre. After moving to Edmonton I decided that I wanted to branch out into the community theatre scene here and decided the Walterdale would be the place to start!

3. What is your background in Theatre? I started out with High School drama in Calgary and then started doing some community theatre there. Last year I came to the University of Alberta to study Drama and Education . Most recently I took Jan Henderson's Clown and Mask workshop this past summer, where I enjoyed the company of not only my wonderful class mates and professor, but also a bunch of clowns.

4. What is the most challenging thing about being involved in this production? Balancing being a full-time student and this production has most certainly been a challenge. However, it has not only helped me buckle down and actually do my homework, but has also improved my (somewhat lacking) time-management skills.

5. What is the most enjoyable thing about being involved in this production? Definitely working with such a big cast full of diverse and talented people. I've already learned so much from watching them work and working with them.

6. What do you think audiences will experience if they come to this show? Magic. They're coming to see a play about witches aren't they... What else would they expect?

7. Any other comments you would like to share? I never thought I would garner so much joy from playing a robber.

Spotlight on Heather Morrow - Lady Felmet in The Wyrd Sisters

1. What is your role in. this production? Lady Felmet. She's the wife of the regicide Lord Felmet, who has killed King Verence of Lancre. However, Lady Felmet was an accessory to the murder. She's a very un-contrite version of Lady McB.
What does that entail? Arch-villainy

2. What brought you to this production? I've been a Walterdale member (this time) for two years and have been wanting to act again for a while. I auditioned for a number of shows, but I was particularly excited about this one because I'm a big fan of the Discworld series.

3. What is your background in Theatre? I've been writing plays since high school, and have had a number of plays produced at theatre festivals. I was part Walterdale's new play series in 1996-7 -- it was called Evening of One-Acts then -- and my one-act play Crushed was performed at Walterdale in June 1997.

4. What is the most challenging thing about being involved in this production? Because the cast is so big and the scenes varied, we've really been rehearsing in pieces. Today (Oct 23) was our walk-through, and it was the first time I'd seen many of cast-mates since our first read-through! Now that we're rehearsing in the theatre, I'm getting a better sense of the plays flow.

5. What is the most enjoyable thing about being involved in this production? My character is genuinely, unapologetically evil. I was a bit taken aback that I got this part, but I'm enjoying being evil too much to really worry about it.

6. What do you think audiences will experience if they come to this show? It's going to be a total immersive experience -- we found out today just HOW amazing the production design is going to be, how it will absorb the audience into the story's atmosphere. Combining that with the amazing script and the perfect actors in each part, I can only imagine everyone who comes to see it not wanting it to end.

7. Any other comments you would like to share? I admit, I'm really looking forward to the debauchery once tech week starts, and to the cast party -- with a cast and crew this big and a play this funny, the stories are going to be legendary. We're already enjoying ourselves--the show is just so much fun!

Heather's Blog: http://theatrejunkie.shawwebspace.ca/

Introducing the Cast of Albertine in Five Times

The Cast of Albertine in Five Times by Michel Tremblay is announced! After 2 days of auditions followed by callbacks the cast was narrowed down to the following:

CAST

Albertine at 30 - Amelia Maciejewski-Duplessis

Albertine at 40 - Michele Vance Hehir

Albertine at 50 - Mary-Ellen Perley

Albertine at 60- Syrell Wilson

Albertine at 70 - Ruby Swekla

Madeleine - Janine Hodder

The show goes right into rehearsal and goes up in February 2012, and it is brought to you by the following skilled Production Team:

PRODUCTION TEAM

Director - M. J. (Mary Jane) Kreisel

Production Manager - Sarah Valois

Stage Manager - Catherine Wenschlag

Set Designer - Bob Forrow

Lighting Designer - Roy Jackson

Sound Designer - Phil Kreisel

Costume Designer - Stephanie Bahniuk

Hair & Make-up Designer - Coralyn Whitford

Master Builder - Pierre Valois

Set Dressing/ Props - Alli Ross

The team is still looking for ASMs, Lighting Ops and Sound Ops. Contact Walterdale Theatre if you are interested.

Introducing Sarah Van Tassel - Walterdale's Artistic Director and Director of Reasons to be Pretty

Can you tell us a little bit about your background in theatre? I'm very excited to be the Artistic Director of Walterdale for the next two seasons! After graduating from the U of A with a minor in drama I joined Walterdale's Board of Directors as Co-Director of Productions from 2005-2007. While on the board I did everything from production manage, run sound and lights, help with props, FOH and direct a few shows (assistant director for Antony & Cleopatra and director for You are Here). In 2008 I launched my own independent theatre company, Guts&Guile Productions, and have directed and produced a handful of productions including Sarah Kane's Crave and David Mamet's Oleanna. This past season I wrote my first play, Gone. *Winner of the 2011 Edmonton ADFA Zones

Why did you want to take on the job of Artistic Director for Walterdale? I feel like I got my start in the Edmonton Theatre community through Walterdale. It's a great place to learn new things - I know that I have a lot to learn in this new role and I'm excited to be back at Walterdale working with so many dedicated and inspiring people.

What should audiences and members expect from you over the next two seasons? Audience should expect to see theatre that will engage them. Whether it's provocative material that will make them think about the world around them or knee-slapping comedies that will have them still giggling the next day - I hope audience walk out of each performance feeling like they connected with the actors on stage or the story being told.

What are the challenges you are anticipating in the next little while with regards to the position? There's been a fairly high learning curve thus far - everything from picking a season to getting each of the productions to come together. And there have been a few curveballs already, but the show(s) must go on... It's been a lot of fun so far and I've already had so much help and encouragment from the Board.

What is one cool fact about you that most people might not know? I'm a film geek! My major in University was Film Studies and I love watching, talking and learning about all kinds of different movies.

Spotlight on Nathan Coppens - Kent in Reasons to be Pretty

1. What is your role on this production? I play Kent. He's rather a bully, and a friend of Greg's.

2. Why did you want to work on this production? I wanted a script I could really sink my teeth into. I love Labute's writing. Plus, I'd worked with some of the cast and crew before, and I wanted to do so again.

3. What is your background in theatre? I have a B.F.A. in Acting. I've done several shows in Edmonton and have been on a few tours. This is my fifth show with Walterdale. *Nathan was previously in Antony and Cleopatra, You Are Here and The Trial of Salome at Walterdale.

4. What is the hardest thing about being involved in the show? Scheduling. Holding down day jobs and doing a show is hard. What is the best thing? Having the chance to change lives, including your own.

5. What do you hope audiences will take away from this production?I don't want to spoil anything, so I'm going to say I hope they take away what Labute would want them to take away.

Thanks for supporting us!