NEW IDEAS 2006 Week Two Biographies

DAVID ACKERMAN (Playwright, Shred This)
David Ackerman is excited to have his first play produced in Toronto. He spent many years in NYC and is the creator of Subway Brunch - a theatrical happening that occurs as actors partake in a full service brunch while riding the A-Train. He studied with Gary Austin, the founder of LA's The Groundlings, and later with Mike Nichols and George Morrison at The New Actors Workshop in NYC. He wrote and starred in Inside Albert's Head. His short film, The Tripping Club, won an award with the Lighten UP Comedy Festival in Jamestown, New York.

EREZ BOWERS (Werner, Shred This)
Erez's recent theatre credits include Longaville in Love's Labour's Lost, Quentin in Audience, George Spelvin in Actor's Nightmare, and Mr. Wickham/Mr. Hurst in Pride and Prejudice (Theatre Erindale); The Waiter in Wanda's Visit and Frank in Never Swim Alone (Erindale Fringe); and Brett/Zed in Pulp Fiction-Live (Purple Octagon Theatre). Erez is a graduate of the Sheridan College acting program, also linked with an Honours B.A. at the University of Toronto at Mississauga.

BRIANA BROWN (Director, The Photograph)
By the end of April, Briana will be a graduate of York's theatre program where she specialized in playwriting and directing. She is excited to have the opportunity to be part of the New Ideas Festival, and to be working with such a talented team of women. Thanks Joan, for all your trust.

KRISTIAN BRUUN (Clyde, Be Kind To Mimes)
Kristian Bruun is a theatre artist born and raised in Toronto. He is a graduate of Valley Forge Military Academy, Queen's University and the George Brown Theatre School. Kristian has been an actor with Soulpepper Theatre Company, Theatre by the Bay, Theatre Kingston and Wolfworks Productions. He is a co-founder of the allies-all-over theatre co-op where he acts and writes for the stage, and he is lead singer of Franklin's Fault. Kristian was also an artist-in-residence with the De-ba-jeh-mu-jig Theatre Group on Manatoulin Island as part of the Hamlet Integration Project with Soulpepper.

JOAN BURROWS (Playwright, The Photograph)
Retired from 30 years of teaching English and Dramatic Arts, Joan is exploring a new career in playwriting. Her first play, Staff Room, was awarded Best Production at the Theatre Ontario Festival 2004, and will be produced in Kanata and Guelph in 2006. The Photograph is a work in progress. Thanks to the New Ideas Festival, Briana, Jacqueline and Linda for giving it voice.

ASHLIE CORCORAN (Director, Be Kind To Mimes)
Ashlie has directed A Boy Called Newfoundland (Gateway Theatre), The Play About The Baby (Battersea Arts Centre), Moo (Beyond Chutleigh Productions) and Sad, Lion (Driftwood Theatre Company). She has assistant directed at Tarragon Theatre, the Shaw Festival, and Theatre by the Bay. Ashlie is Co-Artistic Producer of Theatre Smash, holds an MA in Directing from the University of London, is a Lincoln Center Directors Lab member and a Chevening scholar.

STEPHEN FLETT (Presto, Shred This)
Trained in England and Canada, Steve has performed for over 30 years. He is thrilled to return to New Ideas, where he previously appeared in The Evil That Men Do. Recent credits include Shakespeare's NHL (Toronto Fringe 2005), Out Of Order (Amicus), An Ideal Husband (Village), and a Best Acting Ensemble award for Someone Who'll Watch Over Me (Toronto Irish).

ALASTAIR FORBES (Mime, Be Kind To Mimes)
Alastair graduated with a BAH from Queen's University in 2002, winning the William Angus Award for most significant contribution to Drama at Queens. Since graduating, he worked steadily on the professional stage as an actor, and has been commissioned to write and perform his own one-man show in 2003. Alastair is co-founder and artistic director of the allies-all-over theatre co-operative.

DIANE FORREST (Playwright, Work and How To Enjoy It)
An award winning magazine journalist, Diane has had several works at the New Ideas Festival. The prequel to Work and How To Enjoy It, called Life and How To Avoid It, was a Patron's pick at the Toronto Fringe 2002, and a previous New Ideas play, Magda's Beauty Secrets, was produced at the Fringe in 2004. In 2003, she won the Ottawa Little Theatre National Playwriting Competition for her one-act, Shadowplay.

ANNE HARPER (Director, The Gay Parrot)
Anne has been involved with New Ideas in several capacities in the past, and now she's back as an actor and a director. It is exciting to explore new work as part of a team that includes the writer. Previous work at Alumnae includes Thirteen Hands and Orpheus Descending. Anne Harper is also performing in The Vigil Crasher in week three of the Festival.

KATIE HORRILL (Stage Manager, The Photograph)
Katie is currently finishing her third year in Theatre at York University. She most recently designed, built and stage managed a collaborative work called Little Red for the Playground Festival, held at York University. She would like to thank everyone involved in the New Ideas Festival for making this such a memorable experience.

NADINE JACKSON (Director, Shred This)
Shred This is Nadine's directing debut in Toronto, and she is excited to be a part of the New Ideas Festival. Nadine is a graduate of the Dalhousie University acting program, and attended two years in the Technical Theatre Program at Ryerson University. She is now acting in Toronto and is helping to produce and direct work for Purple Octagon Theatre, a company she co-founded in Halifax, NS.

LARRY MACKILLOP (Playwright, The Gay Parrot)
Larry MacKillop is an Alberta playwright/sheepfarmer who has written many stories and plays, some produced, some awarded and some ignored. He is thrilled to visit Toronto, where he is a grandparrot to his son and daughter-in-law's 3 birds, and to attend a reading of The Gay Parrot.

PAT MCCARTHY (Jan, The Gay Parrot)
Pat has been tied up with New Ideas (literally and figuratively) for many years, as producer, director, and actor. She directed Whose Party Is It? (2003) and performed in Half A Dozen Of The Other (2005). She recently directed Rosemary Doyle's A Family Well Knit for the 24-Hour Playwriting Competition, and performed on the Alumnae's mainstage in Ten Lost Years. This year, she is also directing I Was Thinking Of Something in week three of the Festival.

LINDA MCGEAN (Janene, The Photograph)
Linda's involvement in theatre began in 1992. Since that time she has enjoyed performing in numerous plays and independent movies, and has had several appearances on YTV. Linda is especially pleased to be working with Briana, Joan and Jacqueline in The Photograph.

ALLISON MCWOOD (Playwright, Be Kind To Mimes)
Allison McWood is a full-time playwright, holding an honours English degree from York University. Selected playwriting credits include Understudying Wilk Scheissenberger (Planet Productions & Theatre Brantford), The Lyfsux Theatre (Theatre In The Raw & A Monk Walks By Productions), Margo The Nut Lady (Resurgence Theatre), Bentley Burnout (Between Shifts Theatre), Sludge (Theatre Hybrid), Death of a Vacuum Cleaner Salesman (Cinnebar Productions), and Auntie Francis and Her Henchmen (New Ideas 2005).

MELINA NACOS (Performer, Work and How To Enjoy It)
Recent theatre credits include The Meeting (SummerWorks), and Barefoot In The Park (Theatre Cambridge). She is a graduate of the Neighborhood Playhouse, and has a BFA in production from York. When not acting, Melina produces theatre, namely The Burning Bush! She also appears in Hell is a Cubicle in Week One of the Festival. Many thanks to the Alumnae, Emily and Diane for this opportunity!

EMILY PEARLMAN (Director, Work and How To Enjoy It)
Emily spent the past two summers on the Fringe Festival circuit, performing in her original solo shows Swimming Lessons With Paisley Kite and Radio Collar. She directed A.K.A. Jason at New Ideas 2005. Emily also appears in The Girls Do Brunch in Week One of the Festival. She is a 2004 Concordia theatre graduate.

JACQUELINE TARNE (Anne, The Photograph)
Jacqueline has acted in original plays, classic modern plays, children's theatre, a little Shakespeare, and a radio play. She has adapted pieces for her own performance, and has been acting in films for 5 years - three of these screened at festivals. She was in a staged reading in New Ideas 2001.

JOHN TOKATLIDIS (Robert, The Gay Parrot)
John has worked as an actor and writer in Toronto for over six years. He enjoyed a two-year stint in Second City's Tony & Tina's Wedding, and a successful tour of Jimmy & Vito where he showcased his skills as an actor, writer and producer. John recently hit the big screen with a leading role in End Of Silence, and is now shooting his latest project as Poker Night Live's resident poker expert on CGTV. John is also performing in Ditching Mackenzie in week three of the Festival.

KATE ANN VANDERMEER (Stage Manager, Be Kind To Mimes)
Kate Ann, a graduate of Queen's University, is an actor who primarily works on productions for young audiences. Recent credits include The Snow Queen and The Ugly Duckling (Little Red Theatre), Rocky Horror Show (ToolKit Productions), Fiddler On The Roof (Thousand Islands Playhouse) and Nunsense 1 & 2 (Pinnacle Playhouse). She can also be seen fronting the band Franklin's Fault.

LINDA MAE WEAVER (Alta, The Gay Parrot)
This is Linda Mae's second performance reading an original script for Alumnae's New Ideas Festival. The first was as Tammy in Adult Education, where she got to play with Anne Harper. This time, Linda Mae gets to play for Anne, who directed The Gay Parrot. Other roles include Benny in The Uninvited Guest, Ruth in If We Are Women, Emma in Over The River And Through The Woods, and Enid in Three Storey Ocean View.

NEW IDEAS 2006 - Festival Producers

BELL, Artistic Producer
Bell is absolutely thrilled to be one of the triad of Artistic Producers of the prestigious New Ideas Festival this year. A member of the Alumnae Theatre for over a year now, she is an actor, director, writer, VP of Membership and editor of the newsletter. Bell is tired.

TABITHA KEAST, Artistic Producer
Tabitha Keast has been working with Alumnae Theatre for a number of years, which is why she was thrilled at the opportunity to produce the New Ideas Festival. Previous credits at the theatre include roles in Homeward Bound, Possession (New Ideas 2005), Southern Belle (Director, New Ideas 2005) and Talking to Mom in Colour (New Ideas 2004). She also has media experience in commercials and voiceovers, and is the copyeditor for LUSH magazine.

ANDREA ROMALDI, Artistic Producer
Andrea just completed an apprenticeship in dramaturgy and directing at Nightswimming Theatre. Recent directing credits include Death of a Vacuum Cleaner Salesman (Toronto Fringe 2005), Auntie Francis and her Henchmen (New Ideas 2005) and Twenty-One Rants About Working in a Drugstore (Toronto Fringe 2004). Currently, Andrea works as a script reader for the Shaw Festival, and as a dramaturge for CanStage's Festival of Ideas and Creation. Andrea received her M.Phil. in Irish Theatre Studies at Trinity College Dublin.

KATHERINE ARCUS, Production Manager - Week Two
Katherine trained as a stage manager at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art after touring for three years with Cirque du Soleil in Europe. This is her first time working in Canada, and she's thrilled to be part of the New Ideas Festival.

Go to: Week Two Play Synopses

Go to: Week One Play Synopses
Go to: Week One Biographies

Go to: Week Three Play Synopses
Go to: Week Three Biographies

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