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2018 - 2019 Alumnae Season
The Importance of Being Earnest FireWorks Festival Top Girls New Ideas Festival Impressionism |
Top Girls
BY CARYL CHURCHILL Produced by Lori Delorme, Tina McCulloch Directed by Alysa Golden January 18 - February 2, 2019 on the Mainstage Marlene is throwing a dinner party to celebrate her promotion at Top Girls Temp Agency. Her guests? Five powerful wonder women from the historical past. Marlene strives to join their ranks, and does - but at what cost? Caryl Churchill's magical yet realistic play brilliantly dramatizes the timeless quest to define success and women's struggle to achieve it. |
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Top Girls
BY CARYL CHURCHILL
BY CARYL CHURCHILL
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"Caryl Churchill has made every theatre trip an adventure."
Guardian |
TOP GIRLS · SPECIAL EVENTS
Opening Night Celebration
Fri. January 18, 2019
After the show, join cast and crew in the lobby to celebrate the Opening night of TOP GIRLS.
Fri. January 18, 2019
After the show, join cast and crew in the lobby to celebrate the Opening night of TOP GIRLS.
Panel Discussion
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"Women, Power and Success in the Age of Me Too"
Thurs. January 24, 2019 6:30 pm Before the performance of TOP GIRLS. |
Director/Cast Talkback
Sun. January 27, 2019
After the Matinee performance of TOP GIRLS.
Sun. January 27, 2019
After the Matinee performance of TOP GIRLS.
Caryl Churchill, Playwright
British-born playwright Caryl Churchill wrote her first play, Downstairs, while at Oxford University in the 1950s. In the 1960s, she began writing plays for BBC Radio, and her first professional stage production, Owners, premiered in 1972. Some of Churchill's well-known plays include Vinegar Tom (1976), Light Shining in Buckinghamshire (1976), Cloud Nine (1979; produced by Alumnae Theatre Company in 1993) and Fen (1983; produced by Alumnae in 1987). Last November, Necessary Angel and Soulpepper presented the Canadian premiere of Churchill's 2016 drama Escaped Alone. Top Girls (written in 1982) won Churchill an Obie Award in playwriting for its 1983 off-Broadway production, and the play later premiered on Broadway in 2007. Top Girls was previously produced by Alumnae in 1996.
British-born playwright Caryl Churchill wrote her first play, Downstairs, while at Oxford University in the 1950s. In the 1960s, she began writing plays for BBC Radio, and her first professional stage production, Owners, premiered in 1972. Some of Churchill's well-known plays include Vinegar Tom (1976), Light Shining in Buckinghamshire (1976), Cloud Nine (1979; produced by Alumnae Theatre Company in 1993) and Fen (1983; produced by Alumnae in 1987). Last November, Necessary Angel and Soulpepper presented the Canadian premiere of Churchill's 2016 drama Escaped Alone. Top Girls (written in 1982) won Churchill an Obie Award in playwriting for its 1983 off-Broadway production, and the play later premiered on Broadway in 2007. Top Girls was previously produced by Alumnae in 1996.
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Alysa Golden, Director
Alysa Golden is an actor, director, the Artistic Director at Avalonstorm Theatre and the former Artistic Director at Livingroom Theatre. She most recently appeared in The Makeover Show at the Toronto Fringe Festival and Surrender Dorothy at the Fireworks Festival 2017, Alumnae Theatre Company. As an assistant director, she has worked with Dean Gabourie, Sue Miner, Buddies in Bad Times and Shakespeare in the Rough. She has directed for Avalonstorm, Livingroom Theatre Company, Alumnae Theatre, the Rhubarb Festival and the Tarragon Spring Arts Fair. |
CAST
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Peta Mary Bailey, Louise
This is Peta's first show with Alumnae, and she is delighted to have the chance to work with this amazing cast and crew. She has also had the privilege of working with Village Players in Tainted Justice (Maudie), with Amicus Productions in Quiet Courage (May Sexton and others), Sense & Sensibility (Mrs. Dashwood) and Villette (Mme Walravens), with Scarborough Players in Deathtrap (Myrna Bruhl) and with East Side Players in Joyful Noise (Mary Pendarves). Many thanks to Alysa, Tina and Lori for this wonderful opportunity. |
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Alison Dowling, Marlene
Alison is a Toronto-born actor. She is a graduate of the University of Toronto's drama program with an Honours Bachelor of Arts, Theatre Specialist. Since graduating, she has been pursuing her professional career in Toronto with the help of Newton Landry Management and has trained at Canada's National Voice Intensive, Shakespeare & Company's month-long intensive (Lenox, MA) and Second City, and honed her voice-over skills with Melissa Altro of Voice Pro Studio. Select past credits include the Fool (King Lear, Mortar & Pestle Productions), Lady Macbeth (Macbeth, Rose Theatre Shakespeare in the Square) and Jack's mom (Jack and the Beanstalk, Solar Stage Children's Theatre). Alison is currently working towards completing her certification as a nutritionist at the Institute of Holistic Nutrition, and can soon be heard on a radio near you, advertising the upcoming Toronto Motorcyle Show! |
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Jennifer Fahy, Griselda
Since moving to Canada in 2017, Jennifer has relished being a part of the theatre scene here. She has performed in a pantomime and a play with the Nags Players, playing Malabelle the Wicked Witch in Beauty and the Beast and Gloria Rathburn in The Ashes of Forgotten Rain. This summer, she took part in the InspiraTO Festival here at Alumnae Theatre, playing Claire in Welcome Wagon, which won the People's Choice Award for the Blue Show and the Best Play Award for the festival overall. Most recently, she made her directorial debut as part of the Nags Players' production of The Coarse Acting Show 2. She is delighted to be working with this wonderful team of women on this thought-provoking and timely piece of theatre. |
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Charlotte Ferrarei, Pope Joan
Charlotte is thrilled to debut with Alumnae Theatre Company. She is known for her roles as Vivienne Kensington in Legally Blonde (Curtain Call Players) and Kat McGowan in Titanic (Wavestage). Charlotte also played Esmeralda in the Toronto premiere cast of The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Alexander Showcase). She majored in Musical Theatre in high school before moving to Toronto in 2014 to study film, theatre and television at Toronto Film School. She has grown up surrounded by creative outlets, including drawing, singing, snare drums and bagpipes. When not on stage, she can be found dog walking in Corktown or endlessly scrolling through Pinterest. Charlotte wishes to thank her parents, sister, friends and partner for loving and supporting her and allowing her to chase her dreams. She credits the success of Top Girls to her director, Alysa Golden, and her cast, who really know how to throw a dinner party. |
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Estella Haensel, Dancer
Estella is delighted to be on stage with this talented cast. Past performances include Ballet Jörgen's Sleeping Beauty and Anastasia. Estella is currently in Grade 9 at Rosedale School of the Arts. When she is not at school, Estella can be found dancing at Pegasus Studios, her "home away from home". Estella would like to thank all her teachers at Pegasus for giving her the confidence and skills to chase her dreams. She would also like to thank her amazing parents for their unmatched support and encouragement along the way. |
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Nyiri Karakas, Joyce
Training: East 15 Acting School, London, UK. Selected credits, UK: Kimberly in Pie in the Sky (Canal Cafe Theatre); Octavia/Dolabella in Antony and Cleopatra (Outcast Theatre Group); Dunja in 3 Winters (East 15 Acting School); Macbeth and Second Witch in Macbeth (Shakespeare's Globe Higher Education Residency). Canada: Melantho in The Penelopiad (Hart House Theatre); Nerissa in The Merchant of Venice (Theatre Nemesis); Ismene in Antigone and Pat Keleman in The Refugee Hotel (Western Arts & Humanities Student Council); Sweet Girl in La Ronde, Johnna in August: Osage County and Deer/Sister Stephanie in The Trials of Robin Hood (London Community Players); Ursula in Much Ado About Nothing (Western Summer Shakespeare); Ally in Guilty Pleasures (London Fringe Festival). @nyirikarakas |
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Claire Keating, Win
Born and raised in Co. Dublin, Ireland, Claire recently relocated to Toronto. After completing her BA in Drama and English from University College Dublin, she went on to complete her MA in Drama and Theatre from National University of Ireland, Galway. Selected past theatre credits include Yerma at the Mick Lally Theatre, Galway, The Ward, as a part of the Jerome Hynes Theatre Festival, A Crucial Week in the Life of a Grocer, Blackrock Theatre, 2thegrave, Bank of Ireland Theatre. Claire was also an inaugural cast member of the long-running Story of the Irish show, from Beyond the Gateway Theatre. In 2017, she was in the Toronto and Hamilton Fringe Festivals playing Sophie in Pencil Kit Productions' Perfect Couples. She's delighted to be returning to Alumnae after playing Annie in the 2017 production of Gut Girls. |
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Naomi Koven, Kit
Naomi is currently a high school student at Westmount C.I. in the Arts Vocal Music program. She loves everything about theatre and is constantly performing and training in singing, acting and dancing. Favourite credits include: Violet Beauregarde in Willy Wonka (The LOT), Big Fish (Wavestage Theatre Company), Charlotte in 13 (CharActors Theatre Troupe) and Baby Louise in Gypsy. She thanks the creative team for this amazing opportunity and thanks her parents for their support and for spending so much time driving her to rehearsals and shows. |
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Lisa Lenihan, Isabella Bird/Mrs. Kidd
Lisa received her training at Concordia University (BFA, Specialization Theatre Performance) in Montreal. She toured with Repercussion Theatre's Shakespeare in the Park over a number of years, sat on the Board of the Montreal Fringe Festival, and played everything from Mrs. Howell in staged performances of Gilligan's Island, to a burlesque house madame, and even Isabella Bird, whom she's tickled to be reprising with Alumnae 18 years later! Alumnae audiences last saw Lisa in The Importance of Being Earnest as Lane and as Mama in Sweet Mama and the Salty Muffins for the New Ideas Festival 2018. She would like to dedicate her performance to her own Top Girls—her mom, sister and the women in her life who are her rock and foundation. To you, ladies! |
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Tea Nguyen, Nijo
Tea is an alumni of Niagara College's Acting for Film and Television Program, and a graduate of Second City's Improv Program. Since graduating, her work includes No Visible Scars, a two-hander off-off-Broadway play in the New York International Fringe Festival. She also plays Empress Wu Zetian in NASTY, which went on to win Patrons' Pick in the Toronto Fringe Festival and was remounted in the Feminist Fuck It Festival. Tea also appears in the TV pilot My Spot and in the musical Pieces of Me. Tea is a 1st degree Black Belt in Taekwondo and her favourite weapon is the Bo Staff. Tea produces her own work and collaborates with other filmmakers to create artistic content. "I want to empower LGBTQ performers, women and artists of colour through film and the arts". |
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Jordi O'Dael, Gret
Jordi is a Toronto-based trans non-binary performer, director and producer. A UWinnipeg/Randolph College alum, Jordi has based their career on creating queer punk feminist pieces. In 2017, Jordi served as co-writer, dramaturg, producer and performer for the award-winning, breakout hit NASTY at the Toronto Fringe. More recently, Jordi directed The Ghost Light Anthology with Aberrant Theatre, a horror theatre company they co-founded. Select credits include: Julian, The Two Gentlemen of Verona (Dauntless City Theatre); Oberon, A Midsummer Night's Dream (NonExistent Theatre); and Logainne Schwarzandgrubenierre, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (RCPA). |
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April Rebecca, Shona/Jeanine
Alumnae Theatre debut! April is a graduate of Randolph College for the Performing Arts. Past credits include: Flounder, Disney's The Little Mermaid and Serena, Legally Blonde (The LOT); Serena Katz, FAME Tour (Creativiva). April would like to thank her amazing cast, crew and her loving "husbond". Enjoy the show! |
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Rebekah Reuben, Angie
Rebekah is from New Orleans, Louisiana and is a graduate of the University of Toronto. She has appeared most recently in the InspiraTO Festival and can also be found studying improv at Bad Dog Theatre. She is excited to be a part of Top Girls, and thanks everyone involved for all their hard work, as well as her family and friends for their ongoing support. |
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Grace Thompson, Nell
Grace is Toronto-based writer and performer. She has been involved as both a playwright and actress in the SummerWorks Performance Festival, The Toronto Fringe Festival, Paprika, CUTOUTS, Nuit Blanche, Uno Fest and The Muddy Mary Project. Grace's play My Nightmares Wear White, which premiered at SummerWorks in 2016, has since toured across Canada, including two national medical conferences. Grace's next play, Wake, will be performed at Soulpepper in May as part of Rare Theatre's new project Welcome to My Underworld. Grace holds a degree from Guelph University in Theatre Studies as well as Humber's Theatre Performance Program. |
PRODUCTION TEAM
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Lori Delorme, Producer
Lori graduated from McGill University with a BA in English/Theatre. Since then, she has acted, stage managed, directed, written and even costumed a few folks along the way. She co-founded No Model Types Productions in Toronto, for whom she directed three plays. Lori is also a co-founder of Just in a Bowl Productions, with whom she co-wrote and acted in two plays, Unsinkable and The Hungarian Suicide Duel, both performed as part of the Fringe Festival across Canada. Most recently, she directed Governing Ourselves as part of Alumnae's 2018 New Ideas Festival. She is thrilled to be part of the Top Girls team! |
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Tina McCulloch, Producer
Tina has tried her hand at almost everything in theatre (except design): you name it, she's probably done it! For Alumnae Theatre Company, she has produced several plays, was Director of Marketing for ten seasons, is currently co-manager of the bar and takes out the theatre's garbage. She was most recently onstage last fall in Alumnae's The Importance of Being Earnest and The End Is The Beginning (Gay Play Day 2018). Other favourite stage roles include: Mother in Lemons From Life (Ryerson New Voices 2018); Bertha in After Mrs. Rochester and Ruth in Cosi (Alumnae Theatre Company); Mary in Mauritius and Rose in Enchanted April (Village Playhouse); and Jane Eyre (Amicus Productions). Her short plays have been staged in Gay Play Day, Alumnae's New Ideas Festival, Fringe and SummerWorks. The next challenge is film. |
