Gordon by Morris Panych

A native of Edmonton, Alberta, Morris Panych is arguably Canada’s most celebrated playwright and director. His plays have garnered countless awards including two Governor General’s Literary Awards for Drama (for THE ENDS OF THE EARTH and GIRL IN THE GOLDFISH BOWL), fourteen Jessie Richardson Awards, and five Dora Mavor Moore Awards. Productions of the much lauded VIGIL, GIRL IN THE GOLDFISH BOWL. GORDON, THE TRESPASSERS and LAWRENCE AND HOLLOMAN are being mounted throughout Canada, the US, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. His plays have been produced in over a dozen languages. Mr. Panych has directed over 90 productions across Canada. Most recently, Panych’s THE SHOPLIFTERS premiered at Arena Stage Theatre in Washington DC. His latest works SEXTET premiered at Tarragon Theatre, Toronto and The Waiting Room at the Arts Club in Vancouver.

Patricia is thrilled to be making her Theatre Network debut with this fantastic cast and crew. She is a graduate of the B.F.A. Acting program at the University of Alberta. Her work has taken her across western Canada and she just finished BUST ‘EM UP BURLESQUE as a part of the Made In Edmonton Cabaret series at the Citadel. Other selected credits include: SUBWAY CIRCUS (Blarney Productions); THE EARLY BLOOMER, I AM FOR YOU, APPLES AND ORANGES (Concrete Theatre); WORKING IT OUT, THAT’S DANGER! (Alberta Workers Health Centre); THE NATIONAL ELEVATOR PROJECT (Theatre Yes); AN ACCIDENT (Northern Light Theatre); SEXUAL PERVERSITY IN CHICAGO (Quiet Things Creative) and as the title character in SAINT JOAN (Studio Theatre). She also works as an educator and mentor most recently with Victoria School of the Arts where she directed US AND THEM as a part of the ‘Making Connections’ one act festival. A special thank you to Brian and Brad.

Brian Dooley is an award winning actor and producer. Currently Director of Play Development at the Citadel Theatre and formerly Vice President, Creative for Alliance Atlantis, Edmonton, Brian continues to embrace his first love – the stage. For over thirty years, Brian has worked throughout the country and abroad. His skills include directing, writing, producing and performing in a variety of media including radio, animation, film, television and the theatre. Trained and educated at the National Theatre School and Bishop’s University, Brian Dooley continues a long-standing relationship with the National Theatre School of Canada where he teaches neutral and character mask.  Brian believes passionately in the development of new work and always welcomes the opportunity to lend his support and skills to new plays and playwrights. Brian draws inspiration from the Mexican playwright Victor Hugo Rascon Banda’s fervent  message: “The theatre moves, illuminates, disquiets, disturbs, lifts the spirit, reveals, provokes and violates conventions. It is a conversation shared with society. Theatre is the first art to confront emptiness, shadows and silence to make words, movement, lights and life surge forth.”

Joe Perry is an Alberta based theatre artist and is thrilled to be making his Theatre Network debut. He received a diploma from the Mount Royal Universities performing arts program in 2010 and a BFA in Acting from the university of Alberta in 2015. He has worked as an actor with Theatre Calgary, Alberta Theatre Projects, Lunchbox Theatre, Major Matt Mason Collective, Ghost River Theatre, Duckrabbit Theatre, Theatre Transit, and The Shakespeare Company. Joe was nominated for a Betty Mitchell theatre award for outstanding performance by an actor in a supporting role in 2012 for his work in SIA with Downstage Theatre. He has developed new Canadian scripts with Major Matt Mason, Theatre Calgary, Lunchbox Theatre, The Citadel, and APN. Joe has worked on a number of independent short films and feature films with North Country Cinema, Awkward Silencio Films, Polyscope productions, Déjà vu Productions, and Umbrella Collective Films. Joe thanks his ever supportive friends and family for their constant love.

Born and raised in Edmonton, GORDON marks Ben’s debut with Theatre Network. Select credits include MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (Thou Art Here), BLACKPOOL AND PARRISH (Acme), SARTRE’S SHORTS (Surreal Soreal), SWEDEN as a part of the National Elevator Project (Theatre Yes), SNOUT, DEAD CENTRE OF TOWN (Catch the Keys), RED LIGHT WINTER, MACHINAL and EQUUS (University of Alberta). Ben can be seen in the award-winning online television show The People That Touch Your Food, found at www.foodseries.tv. As a performer and playwright, Ben is an active creator of new works in Edmonton, including THE VAN (Found Festival), BRAKE, HOME VIDEO (Heartmeat), HERBERT and IF I HAD A HORSE (Ben, Dave, Steve). Ben dislikes wasps.

Bradley is an MFA graduate in directing from the University Alberta. He joined Theatre Network in 1996 to create the multidisciplinary emerging artist festival – Nextfest. In 2014 Bradley accepted the dual role of Artistic & Executive Director for Theatre Network. Some recent productions include: BED AND BREAKFAST, THE EMPRESS & THE PRIME MINISTER, MINERVA – QUEEN OF THE HANDCUFFS, INFINITY, The Sterling Award Winning Production IRMA VOTH, BUST, GORDON, RED, THE LAST FIVE YEARS, ARMSTRONG’S WAR, the Governor General Nominated THE GRAVITATIONAL PULL OF BERNICE TRIMBLE, the Sterling Award Winning LITTLE ONE, DRIVING MISS DAISY, the Governor General Award Winning PIG GIRL, the Sterling Award Winning LET THE LIGHT OF DAY THROUGH, WHERE THE BLOOD MIXES, IN ON IT, MOVING ALONG, TWELFTH NIGHT, PUBLIC SPEAKING, DOG, THUNDERSTICK, BUDDY, ALIAS GODOT, MISERY, CLOSER AND CLOSER APART, the Sterling Award Winning SUMMER OF MY AMAZING LUCK, TRUE WEST, GIRL IN THE GOLDFISH BOWL, HOSANNA, MARION BRIDGE, A SKULL IN CONNEMARA, the Sterling Award Winning glam rock musical HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH, and HIGH LIFE.

Megan Koshka is a freelance Canadian theatre designer, based in Edmonton Alberta. She is a part of the Associated Designers of Canada and is a graduate from the University of Alberta with a degree in set, costume and lighting design (BFA). Select credits include set and costume design for PETER AND THE STARCATCHER (Citadel Theatre), GORDON (Theatre Network), & THE STEADFAST TIN SOLDIER (Alberta Opera), costume design for FORTUNE FALLS (Catalyst Theatre), 2016 Freewill Shakespeare Festival (Free Will Player’s Theatre Guild), set design for the 2015 Freewill Shakespeare Festival (Free Will Player’s Theatre Guild), production design for THE OTHER (Pyretic Productions), and associate costume design for VIGILANTE (Catalyst Theatre, 2015 Sterling Award Best Costume Design). www.mkoshka.com www.mkoshka.com

“Now is a time to storm; Why dost thou laugh? It fits not with this hour.” Recent Design credits include BED AND BREAKFAST (Theatre Network), EDAY (Serial Collective), Minerva Queen of the Handcuffs (Ghost-writer Theatre), THE EMPRESS & THE PRIME MINISTER, WHAT A YOUNG WIFE OUGHT TO KNOW, INFINITY (Theatre Network), TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA, THE WINTER’S TALE, HAMLET, A COMEDY OF ERRORS (Freewill Players), 9-5, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM (Grant MacEwan University). Scott is resident Production Manager for Theatre Network and Nextfest, and is a founding member of Edmonton band Captain Tractor. “Why, I have not another tear to shed.”