Klondykes by Darrin Hagen & Trevor Schmidt

Darrin Hagen is the Artistic Director of Guys In Disguise, which is celebrating over three decades of creating drag comedies that have toured across North America. He has received 7 Sterling awards for his work in the Edmonton theatre scene, and over 40 Sterling nominations. His writing debut in 1996 was the award-winning THE EDMONTON QUEEN (transformed into book length and published by Brindle & Glass Publishing). Other plays by Darrin include WITCH HUNT AT THE STRAND (nominated for Outstanding New Play); BUDDY (nominated for Outstanding New Play); With Bells On (nominated for Outstanding New Play); BITCHSLAP!; THE NEO-NANCIES: HITLER’S KICKLINE!; TORNADO MAGNET: A SALUTE TO TRAILER COURT WOMEN (published by Brindle & Glass); as well as TYPHOON JUDY (co-written with Christopher Peterson); and PILEDRIVER! (co-written with Wes Borg). His plays have been produced across Canada, in the U.S. and as far away as Ireland.

With his creative partner Trevor Schmidt, he has co-created the hit musical KLONDYKES (nominated for 5 Sterling awards); FLORA & FAWNA’S FIELD TRIP (Sterling Award for Outstanding New Fringe Work); PREPARE FOR THE WORST! (Sterling Nominee for Outstanding New Fringe Work); PUCK BUNNIES (Sterling Nominee for Outstanding New Fringe Work); DON’T FROWN AT THE GOWN; PSYCHOBABBLE; DRAGULA and the children’s musical MY OTHER MOTHER.

He has been inducted into the Q Hall of Fame Canada and the Edmonton Queer Hall of Fame. In 2005 he was named one of 100 Edmontonians of the Century, and last year was named one of Alberta’s 25 Most Influential Artists in the last 25 years. To the best of his knowledge, he’s the only drag queen on that list. He was one of the official Cultural Ambassadors of Canada’s 150 Celebrations, and was appointed as the Writer In Residence for Edmonton Public Libraries for 2018. Most recently, he was one of the recipients of the Edmonton Artists’ Trust Fund.

Trevor is the Artistic Director of Northern Light Theatre for the past 13 years, and been involved with NLT for the past 18 years as a performer, director, designer, and playwright, as well as being a multiple Sterling award winner. He has been awarded twice as a playwright (THE WATERMELON GIRLS, and CHANGE ROOM), twice for directing (the Canadian premieres of THE 4TH PRESENT AN UNNAMED LOVE-SUICIDE and Carol Anne Duffy’s THE WORLD’S WIFE). He received the Outstanding Fringe Performance award for the one-man show COFFEE DAD, CHICKEN MOM, AND THE FABULOUS BUDDHA BOI, penned by Nick Green which toured to New York as part of the FRIGID FESTIVAL. As an actor, he has been seen in ANGELS IN AMERICA Part 1: Millennium Approaches, LOVE! VALOR! COMPASSION!, WOMEN BEWARE WOMEN, THE BUSY WORLD IS HUSHED (Outstanding Male Lead Actor nomination) and created the role of Bette Davis in the international touring success BITCHSLAP!.  His plays have been produced across Canada and far away as Australia (MABEL STARK!). He has created and choreographed a one-woman dance piece entitled MARKED for the Expanse Dance Festival that was extended and nominated for a Sterling for Outstanding New Work. Most recently, he was awarded the DIALOG Award for Excellence in Artistic Direction as part of the Mayor’s Evening for the Arts. He sits on the advisory boards of the Grant MacEwan University Theatre Arts and Red Deer College Theatre Performance and Creation programme and is an Artistic Associate of GUYS IN DISGUISE Theatre company, where he was last seen in FLORA & FAWNA’S FIELD TRIP!

Rebecca Ann Merkley is an Edmonton based Actor and Singer. Select credits include: JACK & THE BEANSTALK (Capitol Theatre) HAROLD AND VIVIAN ENTERTAIN GUESTS (Impossible Mongoose Productions), NEVER, NEVER (Promise Productions), THE FROG PRINCE (Kaybridge Productions), CORALINE THE MUSICAL (Impossible Mongoose Productions). POWERGAME WITH THE BLUE FLAME (Atco Energy theatre). She studied Theatre Arts at MacEwan University where she played Caliope in XANADU. She is a proud owner of a miniature schnauzer and teaches music and drama. She is simply thrilled to be part of Theatre Network’s season and to be working with such fine, tall ladies! Enjoy the show!

Amanda is thrilled to not only be working for the first time with the brilliant creative duo behind Guys in Disguise, but to be playing multiple roles alongside two exceptionally talented ladies in the all female premiere of KLONDYKES! Amanda is a graduate of MacEwan’s Theatre Arts Program, and has since formed her theatre company Patient Mango Theatre, which received Sterling nominations for Outstanding Production and Direction for both REEFER MADNESS and BARE at the Edmonton Fringe. Some of her favourite performing credits include: LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD with Alberta Opera (where she also played multiple characters), Elvira in BLITHE SPIRIT, Rona Peretti in 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, and Deb in ORDINARY DAYS. Amanda is very grateful to have the opportunity to tell this rare, beautiful story and to have been involved in its creative process. I hope you enjoy!

Mackenzie is a classically trained vocalist, and has been studying music since she was eight years old. She is a graduate of MacEwan University’s Theatre Arts Program, and holds certificates from the Royal Conservatory of Music in both voice and piano. Select Theatre Credits include: AMERICAN IDIOT (Strathcona Alumni Theatre); MARVELOUS PILGRIMS (Teatro la Quindicina); SLEEPING BEAUTY (Alberta Opera); CALVIN BERGER, DOGFIGHT, SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD, I LOVE YOU BECAUSE, (Three Form Theatre); MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG, XANADU (MacEwan University). Musical Directing credits include: RENT, THE ADDAMS FAMILY (Scona Theatre Co.), ZANNA, DON’T!, ORDINARY DAYS, SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD, I LOVE YOU BECAUSE, (Three Form Theatre), The ARISTOCATS and INTO THE WOODS JR. (Visionary College). She is one of the founders of local company, Three Form Theatre.

Nick is a rock and popular music artist appearing on stages in the Edmonton area on a weekly basis. He has composed and produced music for theatre, film and video games and recently graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree. Nick performs regularly with his band, Jericho West, at various venues and festivals playing his originals and cover material. You can follow Nick and listen to some of his original music at nicksamoil.com or facebook.com/nicksamoilmusic. This is Nick’s eighth production with Guys in Disguise and is delighted to be performing in KLONDYKES.

Adam Tsuyoshi Turnbull is a multi-talented technician and theatre designer who works in set and lighting design and construction. He is sought-after as an artistic collaborator and his work has been seen on the stages for Northern Light Theatre, Shadow Theatre, Teatro la Quindicina, Fringe Theatre Adventures, L’UniThéâtre, Theatre Yes, multiple high school and performing arts groups, as well as trade shows and conventions. He has served as Production Manager and Site Technical Director for North America’s largest Fringe Festival, and currently serves as the Technical Director and Production Manager at Northern Light Theatre. Adam has been honoured with multiple Sterling nominations for design and last year was awarded with a Sterling Award for Outstanding Achievement in Production.

Neon is a founding member of Guys in Disguise. Her Stage Managing credits include: EDMONTON QUEEN, WITH BELLS ON, TYPHOON JUDY, TORNADO MAGNET (original production) and KLONDYKES, all with Guys in Disguise. Neon is also a makeup artist with credits that include: HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH (Theatre Network), Edmonton Opera (2000-2006), Edmonton Musical Theatre (2001-2015), DRAGULA (Guys in Disguise), KLONDYKES (Guys in Disguise), Oh Susannah (2000-2014). She has the great pleasure of working as the Hospitality Coordinator for the Edmonton international Street Performers Festival for the last 17 years. She sang with the legendary girl group The Divas for over 15 years. Neon is also proud to be a part of the Theatre Network team, working in the box office.  In her spare time Neon enjoys sleeping and collecting awesome jewelry. Sometimes she also gets to socialize with her amazing friends and family.