NEW IDEAS 2006 Week Three Biographies

GEOFFREY ALLEN (Fisherman, The Vigil Crasher)
Geoffrey has appeared in over 30 productions in theatres in the Toronto area, his favourite roles being Arthur Birling in An Inspector Calls and Deputy Governor Danforth in The Crucible. When not in rehearsals, he can usually be found in one of the pubs in north Toronto with a Boddingtons and a copy of the Guardian Weekly.

LISA BALLANTYNE (Stage Manager, The Vigil Crasher)
With a degree in Theatre Management, Lisa has over 12 years of experience in technical theatre. Credits include Into The Woods (Theatre Aurora) for which she won a THEA Award, Twelve Angry Men (Medley Entertainment), Love Letters (Lucard Theatrical Ltd), and How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying (Scarborough Music Theatre).

BRIAN BARKER, A.K.A. BRIE (Man, The Vigil Crasher)
Brian initially trained at Queen's University and Ryerson Theatre School. Recent theatre roles include The Woodcutter in Rashomon, Wib in Criminal Hearts and Capt. Breen in Borderline. Recent film work includes lead roles in the shorts Necessary and Larry. Brian is a founding company member of Toronto Playback Theatre ( www.torontoplayback.com). Extra love to J/M/P.

JOHN STUART CAMPBELL (Fisherman/Sound Designer, The Vigil Crasher)
John has worked on sound design for Tempest Theatre Group for the past ten years. In film, he has created the soundtracks for Zombie Clerk and Changes, in which he also played Drake Dekkard. Other acting credits include The Big Shuck (Toronto Fringe), for which John also wrote and performed the music. John is a professional musician based in Toronto.

DOMINIQUE DAVIES (Director, Seen This One Before)
Dominique is thrilled to be back in the theatre world after having been again in the clutches of academia. An educator, director and playwright, she is honoured to be involved with the Festival. She is currently completing her fourth play. A big thank you to Colleen and the inspiring cast and crew.

FRANCINE DICK (Playwright, As Large As Alone)
Francine Dick is delighted to be participating in the New Ideas Festival. She has published a collection of short stories, The Inner Core, but this is her first play. The immediacy and vitality of theatre is fascinating, and participation in the New Ideas Festival has encouraged her to further explore playwriting.

LINDSAY EMPRINGHAM (Person A, I Was Thinking of Something)
Lindsay has been a part of several New Ideas plays, including Dragon's Teeth, Till Life Do Us Part, Your Smile Is Like Your Mother's The Artist Said, Buttonholes In Silk, Three Rooms, Life To Life (Playwright), and Hatchet. Lindsay would like to dedicate her performance to the memory of Suzanne Holland, a childhood friend, and one of the best storytellers she ever knew.

YEVGENIYA FALKOVICH (Stage Manager, Seen This One Before)
Yevgeniya completed a degree in Fine Art at OCAD two years ago. She then founded Theatre F, where she produces and directs contemporary plays in the Russian language.

CHANTALE GROULX (Woman, As Large As Alone)
Chantale recently ended a successful run as hard edge Edna in Edward Albee's A Delicate Balance. Next came the role of the wise Nightingale in The Nightingale, which toured schools in English and French. Chantale is a graduate of John Abbott College's Theatre Program in Montreal. She also appears in Welcome to Naxos in Week One of the Festival.

ANNE HARPER (Woman 1, The Vigil Crasher)
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 Gay Parrot in week two of the Festival.

MICHELLE D'ALESSANDRO HATT (Playwright, The Vigil Crasher)
The Vigil Crasher is Michelle's second play to take flight. Her first produced play, The Big Shuck, enjoyed great commercial success at the Toronto Fringe 2002. Favourite acting credits include Norma Crawford's Really Great Hats (New Ideas 2005), Gregg Taylor's Black Jack Justice (Toronto Fringe 2001), and Robert Siddons' Girls In Chains (Toronto Fringe 1998).

ANITA LA SELVA* (Director, The Vigil Crasher)
Directing credits include Mud for the SummerWorks Festival, Through Comet's Halo for Teatro Della Limonaia in Italy, The Bear, The Proposal and Forfeits. As an actor, she has worked professionally for 16 years appearing in Storm Warning, The Oresteia, A Midsummer Night's Dream and Private Lives among others, and spent four years on the TV series Earth Final Conflict.
* Appears with the permission of Canadian Actors Equity Association.

JENNIFER LIAO* (Lena, Seen This One Before)
In addition to being an actor, Jennifer is a civil servant and an avid reader. She also enjoys quality television and unhealthy snacks (often at the same time).
* Appears with the permission of Canadian Actors Equity Association.

CAROL LIBMAN (Dramaturge, As Large As Alone)
Carol Libman is a former Montrealer, and one of the founders of Playwrights' Workshop (Montreal) - Canada's foremost professional play development centre. Her plays have had productions in Montreal, Toronto and in other venues, and she is an active member of the Alumnae's New Play Development group.

ELIZABETH MCCALLUM* (Woman 2, The Vigil Crasher)
Elizabeth most recently performed as June, the 1950's style housewife struggling through modern times, in Behind These Walls. Other projects include If, Macbeth, The Big Shuck, Blue Murder, commercials and voice work. She spends the rest of her time with her wonderful husband Todd Dulmage, chasing son Mungo, and looking ahead to #2.
* Appears with the permission of Canadian Actors Equity Association.

PAT MCCARTHY (Director, I Was Thinking of Something)
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 performing in The Gay Parrot in week two of the Festival.

DAVID MCCORMICK (Fisherman, The Vigil Crasher)
David is a graduate of the University of Waterloo and has been acting, directing and choreographing stage combat in the GTA for over 7 years. Recent roles include the Husband in Rashomon (City Centre), T.J. in Home Of The Brave (Teatron), and Demetrius in A Midsummer Night's Dream (Forward). Upcoming: Capulet in Forward Theatre's Romeo & Juliet, May 2006.

ROB MCKEE (Kevin, Seen This One Before)
(Officer, As Large As Alone)
For those counting, this is the third round for Rob McKee and the New Ideas Festival. First appearing in Only Silence Remains and then in Modern Ritual, Rob is fortunate enough to be involved in this year's production of Seen This One Before, and in the staged reading of As Large As Alone. As well as on stage, Rob can often be seen performing in independent films, commercials and TV. His thanks, as always, goes out to family and Jenny J.

JASON O'BRIEN (Fisherman, The Vigil Crasher)
Jason O'Brien is happy to be lending his voice to The Vigil Crasher. Currently, he can be heard as singer and bass player of the local funk supergroup, The Elastocitizens.

CONOR O'HEGARTY (Steve, Ditching Mackenzie)
The New Ideas festival provides Conor with his first performance opportunity since moving to Toronto, and he is very excited to be a part of it. His previous theatre appearances include roles in The Glass Menagerie, Frugal Comforts, The Subject Was Roses, A Life, The Caine Mutiny Court Marshal and Philadelphia, Here I Come! He has a bachelor of arts in philosophy, and studied acting at the Atlantic Theatre Company in New York City.

COLLEEN OSBORN (Playwright, Seen This One Before)
Colleen's first achievement was co-unifying the longest human centipede for the 1996 Guinness Book Of World Records (names unlisted). After completing a BA in Fine Arts at Guelph, she moved to Toronto in 2001. She currently is a staff writer for m-pty magazine and is working on The Fecal Monologues - Logs For Short.

JAMES PAPOUTSIS (Playwright, Ditching Mackenzie)
James Papoutsis has produced a short film featured in the On The Fly film festival, and is the co-creator of the comic zine Everything's Fine. He won third place in the 2004 Toronto Fringe Festival's 24-Hour Playwriting Contest. He is a graduate of the University of Toronto, and a doctoral candidate in English at York University.

SUZANNE PENNY (Person B, I Was Thinking of Something)
I am old and wise. Well alright, I'm old and have been acting for many years, and intend to keep practising until I get it right. This is my first time with the New Ideas Festival and I am excited for this opportunity - so be gentle with me.

STAN ROGAL (Playwright, I Was Thinking of Something)
Between Vancouver and Toronto, Stan Rogal has been involved in the fringes of theatre for several years - writing, acting, directing, producing, building sets, washing floors, scrubbing toilets, and so on. He is also the author of fourteen books: two novels, three short story and nine poetry collections.

MARA SHAUGHNESSY* (Director, Ditching Mackenzie)
Mara is delighted to have the opportunity to work with this fine script and an even finer group of people. With a degree in theatre from the University of Guelph, Mara has performed in two New Ideas Festivals, several television commercials, and with theatre companies in Toronto and in Scotland. Directing credits include Three Plays, The Hope Slide, Once A Shoreline (assistant director) and numerous collective creations with Theatre AGO, Jumblies Theatre, and the Outreach Programs at the Canadian Opera Company. Mara is involved in another production this year, due in June - her first baby - co-produced with husband Sean.
* Appears with the permission of Canadian Actors Equity Association.

ALANNA STONE (Director, As Large As Alone)
Alanna is thrilled to be making her directorial debut in As Large As Alone. Professionally trained as an actor, singer, and dancer, it was a fantastic experience to be on the other side of the table. Thanks and hugs go to the New Ideas Festival, Francine, Chantale, Rob, Carol, Dave, roomies, Madelaine, Mom and Dad. Enjoy the show!

JOHN TOKATLIDIS (Mackenzie, Ditching Mackenzie)
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 The Gay Parrot in week two of the Festival.

LOIS TUCKER (Dotty, Ditching Mackenzie)
Lois is a graduate of the Acting Program at Dalhousie University and hails from St. John's, Newfoundland. Lois Tucker is thrilled to be back at New Ideas Festival again this year. Last year, she played Chris in The Stroller. Other theatre credits include Liz in The Book of Liz, and Mary in her one woman show, Sunday School Drop Out (Toronto Fringe 2005). Lois is also performing in Alien Guest in week one of the Festival. For more info, visit www.loistucker.com.

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.

SHANNON ARNOLD, Production Manager - Week Three

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