January 15 - 30, 2010
What happens when each member of an eccentric English family invites a guest for a weekend at their country house? Outlandish behaviour, flirtations, and silly parlour games, thats what! Coward's 1924 play is recognized as a classic of “pure comedy with no mission but to delight.”
Read the Press Release: 0910press-hayfever.pdf
Check Alumnae's blog: alumnaetheatre.wordpress.com
Performance Dates
Friday January 15 - Saturday January 30, 2010
Performance Times
Wednesday to Saturday: 8:00 pm
Sunday Matinée: 2:00 pm
Box Office opens one hour before performance time
Admission Prices
Wednesday: 2-for-1
Thursday, Friday & Saturday: $20
Sunday Matinée: PWYC
CASH ONLY! Box Office does not accept credit or debit cards
Reservations
Email: reservations@alumnaetheatre.com
Phone: 416-364-4170 (Box 1)
ANNE HARPER,
Clara
Anne's last mainstage production at the Alumnae was Orpheus Descending. She has been involved over the years inseveral New Ideas productions as an actor, director and producer.
Other selected credits: Dangerous Corner, Lettice and Lovage, The Madwoman of Chaillot and Arsenic and Old Lace (all at the Village Playhouse). Her last performance in a Noël Coward play was Waiting in the Wings at East Side Players last spring.
TAMARA LUBEK,
Sorel Bliss
Tamara is dancing a continual jig to be performing at the Alumnae. A newcomer to the acting world, she has dabbled in various one-act plays at the University of Guelph, but is now excited to embrace the Toronto Scene. A particular thrill for Tamara arises from the opportunity to play along side her Auntie, Ms. Watts, whom she has seen on stage from a tender age, and who has inspired her to be positively silly in front of an audience. She also feels supremely smug knowing now what the Alumnae dressing room looks like.
KEN MacALPINE,
Simon Bliss
Not only is this Ken's first show with Alumnae Theater, it is his first show in Toronto. A recent graduate of Dalhousie University's Acting Program in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Ken moved to the big city to pursue his acting career... needless to say, he still has a ways to go before he hits fame and fortune. Ken is pleased to be part of such a wonderful, talented, and attractive cast.
HEREWARD POOLEY,
David Bliss
From the seventies to the nineties I never gave up the idea of being a professional actor. I had developed a sort of “less is more” style of doing very little, which was perhaps more suited to film than the stage. After a particularly poor review exactly ten years ago, I gave up acting, however before that I had been in about fourteen shows at the Alumnae, including The Madwoman of Chaillot, Wild Honey and Dancing at Lughnasa. At that time, I got a “real” job that had me working until eight at night, so that I could not take on the even few offers that I got to audition. More recently my schedule has changed and, as retirement looms, I find myself drawn back to community theatre just for the fun of it.
KAITLYN RIORDAN,
Jackie Coryton
After studying acting in her native Montreal, at The Dome Theatre Program, Kaitlyn went to England to study at LAMDA (The London Academy of Music & Dramatic Arts). Since then she has worked and lived all over the UK & USA doing projects from Shakespeare to Mamet and is very happy to be adding Coward to that list. Since moving back to Canada a year ago, she has appeared in several classical plays and was most recently seen in Politically Correct Bedtime Stories (Toronto Fringe - Best of the Fest). Special thanks to Brandon for all his support.
TINA STERLING,
Myra Arundel
Tina is delighted to be performing in Noël Coward's Hay Fever, and to become a new member of the Alumnae Theatre. She has most recently been seen on stage in Fly By Night's Autobahn, Seventeen Steps' Sherlock Holmes and Alluvion Theatre's Caligula. Tina has also expressed horror and grief in episodes of Forensic Factor and Cold Blood (crime re-enactment entertainment), wielded guns in Roger Edralin's Scratched Out (an independent action/gansta' film), and smiled warmly for Minute Rice (a fast-cooking carbohydrate by Rozoni Foods Inc.). She is very happy to be back on stage with this wonderful ensemble of actors!
LEETE STETSON,
(Sandy Tyrell)
Leete grew up in Victoria, BC, where he performed with the Victoria Shakespeare Society (As You Like It, Hamlet, Cymbeline), Pacific Opera Victoria (The Gypsy Baron, La Boheme, The Tempest, Carmen) and the Gilbert and Sullivan Society (Pirates of Penzance). After completing the Diploma Program in Voice at the Victoria Conservatory of Music, he moved to Halifax to attend Dalhousie University, earning his B.A. with Combined Honours in Music and Theatre. At Dal, he performed in Night Must Fall, Firefly, The Witch of Edmonton, The Laramie Project and Trelawny of the Wells. Last summer, he appeared in Allen Cole's new musical Rockbound with Two Planks and a Passion. Leete is proud to say that Hay Fever is his Toronto acting debut.
JONATHAN THOMAS,
(Richard Greatham)
Jonathan is an actor, singer, freelance photographer, and designer. He has appeared in several films for Bee Charmer Productions, including the short film Harmony Love Matches For Life Inc. that debuted at the 2008 Great Lakes Independent Film Festival where it was nominated for Best Gay/Lesbian Short Film. Jonathan also enjoyed playing the villain, Doyle, for two seasons of the prize-winning web series B.J. Fletcher Private Eye; also for Bee Charmer Productions. He has not been on the stage since his appearance in The Fantasticks (Encore Entertainment) in 2000, owing to his deep and abiding respect for the theatrical tradition. When word went out that there was an opportunity to appear in a Noël Coward play (his Hero!), he had to jump at the chance. Jonathan is thrilled to be working with such a wonderful cast and crew. Thanks to Sean for everything.
DINAH WATTS,
Judith Bliss
Dinah has enjoyed a long and happy association with the Alumnae Theatre. Recent roles include Mrs. Erlynne in Lady Windermere's Fan, Amanda in Private Lives, Vivian Bearing, the central character in Wit and Agnes in A Delicate Balance. Work with other Toronto companies includes a compilation of Havel's Audience/Unveiling/Protest (The Co.), Ines de Castro (Whetstone), Titus Andronicus, King John (Shakespeare in the Rough), and The Case of the Wandering Corpse (Solar Stage and the Edinburgh Festival). She has also had a lot of fun doing Fringe and SummerWorks productions, including The American Dream (also with Tricia Brioux and director Barbara Larose); Finish Line, Sparta, Revengers Tragedy, Forensic Tables, and Jellied Salad. Film and television projects include My Dog Vincent, some CBC fare, and a few very small roles in very big productions.
NOËL COWARD,
Playwright
Celbrated English playwright, actor and composer Noël Coward (1899-1973) absolutely defined British wit at the turn of the 20th century. Born into a musical family, he made his stage debut at age 6, and wrote his first play when he was a teenager. A visit to New York in 1921 inspired him to inject the fast pace of Broadway shows into previously staid British drama and music, to create a soundtrack for the Jazz Age. Among his many well-known plays are Blithe Spirit (1941), Private Lives (1930), and Design For Living (1932), and his hundreds of songs include Mad Dogs and Englishmen and Don't Put Your Daughter On the Stage, Mrs. Worthington. Knighted by Queen Elizabeth in 1970, he died three years later in Jamaica, where he had vacationed regularly since his first visit in 1944, as a guest of James Bond creator Ian Fleming. Coward is buried in Jamaica on the site of his house, 'Firefly', which is now operated as a museum.
ANGUS BARLOW,
Sound Design Consultant
A freelance musician/engineer/sound designer from Toronto, Angus has been working with the Alumnae Theatre for over six years. Sound designs include: Lettice and Lovage, Summer & Smoke, A Lie Of The Mind, Perfect Pie, Wit, Closer and most recently A Delicate Balance.
CHARMAINE HUCULAK,
Costume Designer
Charmaine is delighted to be costuming her first show with Alumnae. Recent credits include The Uninvited for Scarborough Theatre Guild and Twelve Angry Men for Scarborough Players, and she is currently costuming The Wisdom of Eve for STG. She has actually been designing stage costumes since she was twelve and thinks she may get it right soon.
HEATHER HYSLOP,
Props Designer
Heather is thrilled to be making her Alumnae debut as Properties Mistress for Hay Fever after only a small amount of arm-twisting by Dinah and a wee bit more by Kevin (KJM). A Life member of Scarborough Music Theatre, Heather credits her husband Jim for introducing her to the fun and thrills of theatre life. As much as she enjoys being on stage, recent years have found her putting her crafty side to work pulling together and creating props. Past props credits include: T3's Annie, Scarborough Theatre Guild's Anne (Dir. KJM), Scarborough Music Theatre's Kiss of the Spider Woman (Dir. KJM). Hmm, do I see a pattern of working with directors? Absolutely yes! Thanks Dinah, Tina, Margot and Razie for allowing me to dabble my feet in Alumnae's water. Kevin, I'm here for you as always. Special thanks to the light of my life (and the candles in the show) Jim, for supporting me in many ways. Last but not least, all my love to Matthew and Kirstine for allowing mom out to play, again
TINA McCULLOCH,
Producer/Publicist
Tina is making her Main Stage producing debut with Hay Fever, having produced two Alumnae shows in the Studio - Criminal Hearts (2004) and Talking Heads (co-producer, 2008), as well as many shows in SummerWorks and Fringe. She actually prefers to tread the boards: favourite roles include Jane Eyre (Amicus Productions), the time-travelling dominatrix Poopay in Communicating Doors (Theatre Aurora) and Rose in Enchanted April (Village Playhouse). Tina has written several short plays for various theatre festivals, and the screenplay for Chances, a short film that premiered at the Female Eye Film Festival in 2003. Upcoming: her latest script, the spooky tale Soledad, in Alumnaes New Ideas Festival in March.
KEVIN JOHN McDONALD,
Director
By day Kevin is a Group Sales Specialist for Dancap Productions, by night he is a Director, Writer and Designer. Favourite recent directing credits include Anne (Scarborough Players), Kiss of the Spiderwoman - The Musical (Scarborough Music Theatre), Love Letters (Vagabond Theatre), A Midsummer Night's Dream (Shakespeare in the Vineyard) and The Rocky Horror Show (Granny M Productions). He is currently at work writing a new erotic cabaret-style musical called Kinky Kabaret with JoDel Lightman and Kristi Woods. Kevin would like to thank Alumnae for this opportunity and Chris for his patience and support.
CATHY McKIM,
Marketing Team/bloggergal
Cathy has been kicking around Alumnae for about eight years now, working as an actor, playwright, bartender, scenic painter, reading committee member and general labourer. She writes The View from the Bar, a regular column for the company newsletter, and more recently has been working on the marketing team to promote Alumnaes productions, and blogging on womenspost.ca and lsbn.ca, and the Alumnae Theatre Company blog on Wordpress.
ED ROSING,
Head Scenic Artist
Ed received his BA in Theatre/English at Western Reserve University in Cleveland. He next went to Yale University Drama School where he studied Design, and finished his formal education at Central School of Art and Design in London, England. He hopes he never stops learning.
Recently: Directed My Darling Judith (Scarborough Theatre Guild); designed the sets for Of Mice And Men (Scarborough Players - ACT-CO Award nomination for Best Set Design) and Brighton Beach Memoirs (Teatron Theatre). Among his lighting credits are Vinegar Tom (Royal Porcupine Productions), Pride & Prejudice (Alumnae Theatre), and an original musical revue for The Toronto Lawn Tennis Club. He is delighted to be back at home base for this production.
KATE ROWLANDS,
Assistant Lighting Designer
Although this is Kate's debut in assistant lighting design, she is not a stranger to the theatre. Beginning as an actress at Scarborough Music Theatre in Gigi and Oklahoma, she became interested with the other side of stage. Now in her final year at Humber for Theatre Production, she has gained a lot of experience in all areas of technical theatre. School credits include: Scenic Carpenter for Grimm, Scenic Painter for A Field Guide to Fevers and Curses, and Electrician for Pentheus. Other credits include: Stagehand for Endless Summer on Ice with Canada's Wonderland, Sound Operator and ASM for John/Yoko Bed Piece with Draft89, and Scenic & Graffiti Painter for Toronto the Good with Factory Theatre. Kate is excited by this opportunity to work with such a great group of people and cannot wait for it all to come together. Break a Leg!
BILL SCOTT,
Lighting Designer
Bill hasnt written a bio in 30 years - this one is penned by a ghostwriter. He has a long association with Alumnae, and fond memories of designing the lighting for a Studio production of two one-act plays by Edward Albee, Box and Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-tung. He has also designed lights for Scarborough Village Theatre for about 10 years, including a production of Cabaret and most recently, Anne (directed by Kevin McDonald).
MICHAEL SPENCE,
Master Carpenter
Michael has been hanging around the Alumnae for about four decades. He has built sets for too many productions to mention - his most recent construction were for A Delicate Balance and Pride and Prejudice - and designed lighting for several shows as well, including She Stoops to Conquer, On The Verge, Beautiful City, After You, and Talley's Folly.
KRISTI WOODS,
Choreographer
As a choreographer, Kristi has worked with various groups around the GTA. Recent productions include Kiss of the Spiderwoman and The Who's Tommy with Scarborough Music Theatre, Bye Bye Birdie with Curtain Call Players, We Will Wok You and Up Your Yangtze with the comedy troupe Asiansploitation at the Bad Dog Theatre. This year Kristi received her American Bronze Certification in Ballroom Dance through DIVDA and currently assists ballroom classes at the Joy of Dance Studio. As a performer, Kristi's most recent credits include Diana Morales in A Chorus Line (CCP), Rumpleteazer in Cats (CCP)and Little Becky Two Shoes in Urinetown (SMT). Thanks to Kevin and the Alumnae group for inviting me to choreograph for a wonderful show.
ALUMNAE THEATRE COMPANY
70 Berkeley Street
Toronto, Ontario • M5A 2W6
Phone: 416-364-4170
Email: contactus@alumnaetheatre.com
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