Hockey Mom, Hockey Dad

Sharla is pleased to be back on the Roxy stage, having first appeared in NO! PLEASE at the inaugural NextFest. More recently, she reprised her Sterling Award-winning performance of Ernestine in THE ANGER IN ERNEST AND ERNESTINE. She will be next appearing in PENELOPE VS. THE ALIENS! at the Citadel Theatre in April. The mother of two young children, Sharla is not a “Hockey Mom” yet, but every playoffs she is a “Hockey Widow”. Much love to George, Elijah and Rainy.

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.

Michael is an award-winning writer and director from Nova Scotia. A past writer in residence at the Shaw Festival, Michael’s many plays have been published and produced across Canada, including the Merritt and Dora-Nominated HOCKEY MOM, HOCKEY DAD, a hit at Factory Theatre in 2003, and named one of the “Top Ten Plays of The Year ” by the Toronto Star. HOCKEY MOM, HOCKEY DAD has been a breakaway success across Canada, winning rave reviews at Prairie Theatre Exchange in Winnipeg, Sudbury Theatre Centre, Theatre de L’isle in Ottawa, Western Canada Theatre Company in B.C and many more. This year, HMHD will also be produced at Vancouver’s Arts Club Theatre and Persephone Theatre in Saskatoon. Michael’s recent play THE FLY FISHER’S COMPANION, a hit last year at Ship’s Company Theatre and at APN’s Playworks Festival, will be produced this season by Edmonton’s Shadow Theatre. Michael’s newest play CORVETTE CROSSING premiered in October to rave reviews at Eastern Front Theatre, where it was hailed as “a tour de force” (Chronicle Herald) and “an important new addition to the Canadian theatre canon.” (The Coast). Michael’s feature films as writer include the multi-award winning MILE ZERO (2001) and TOUCH AND GO (2003). Also an award-winning film director, Michael directed on last year’s acclaimed CTV series ROBSON ARMS, starring Mark McKinney and Margot Kidder. His first feature film as director, THE CON ARTIST, produced by Toronto’s Alcina Pictures and Maple Entertainment goes to camera in Spring 2007. Michael would like to thank Theatre Network for welcoming his work to such an important theatre (and hockey) city.

Marissa has worked in Edmonton as a freelance set/costume designer for the past twelve years, with over ninety theatrical productions to her credit.  She won a 2004 Sterling Award for her set design of Theatre Network’s Marion Bridge, and a 2004 Bettie Mitchell Award (Calgary) for her costume design of November Theatre’s The Black Rider.  Thunderstick marked her first design for the Persephone stage and she is now thrilled to be back at Theatre Network!

“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.”

Dave is a musician, actor and writer.  He has composed music and produced sound designs for theatre, film, dance and multi-media for three decades. Recent designs include MOVING ALONG (Theatre Network), 6.0 HEAP & PEBBLE (Northern Light Theatre) and EVIE’S WALTZ (Shadow Theatre). Other projects include THE MISSIONARY POSITION (University of Alberta),  a soundtrack for the feature film THE PHARMACIST and a family musical about a profoundly deaf mother with a hearing son based on his own experience entitled SONGS MY MOTHER NEVER SUNG ME. Dave is the co-writer and composer for the animated cartoons at Rantdog.com. He is also the sound guy for CBC Radio’s THE IRRELEVANT SHOW. Dave has won several awards for his work, including Sterling Awards for Outstanding Score (DOG, Surreal SoReal Theatre), Musical Direction (ILSA, QUEEN OF THE NAZI LOVE CAMP) and Sound (SHAKESPEARE’S WILL, VIMY, THE ECSTATICS).

David is happy to be returning to Theatre Network after helping out with dialects on the wonderful productions of MARION BRIDGE and VINCENT IN BRIXTON. David is an Associate Professor in the Drama department at the University of Alberta. He has spent eight seasons as an Associate Voice Coach at the Stratford Festival and has also been featured as a dialect coach in two CBC documentaries on Canadian speech. David worked as an actor last summer in Quebec doing STONES IN HIS POCKETS for Theatre Lac Brome and was last seen in Edmonton in SPEAKING IN TONGUES for Shadow Theatre.

Betty is very pleased to be part of the company of WHAT A YOUNG WIFE OUGHT TO KNOW. Betty has stage managed Workshop West Playwrights’ Theatre’s production of CAFE DAUGHTER in Belgrade, Serbia, Herceg Novi, Montenegro, at the sPARK Festival/ Belfry Theatre, Victoria, BC, the National Arts and Cultural Centre, Yellowknife, NWT, and at CANADA SCENE at the National Arts Centre, Ottawa, ON.  Other credits include: producer; WiLDLIFE — a video installation at River Valley Crossing in Edmonton, assistant stage manager; DON GIOVANNI, Edmonton Opera, stage manager for the Alberta Ballet.  She goes onto co-produce and stage manage Conni Massing’s, OH! CHRISTMAS TREE, as part of the Roxy Performance Series this December.