Pilot Season

Pilot Season

by Chris Craddock and Neil Grahn

March 18–20

Pilot Season

TV is getting bigger and bigger so we are blowing up our screen to a whopping 168 x 312 inches!

We will black band the top and bottom for the proper ratio to create a genuine 3D experience with no glasses required! Join us for PILOT SEASON; a theatrical presentation of two new TV Comedy Pilots where you are both studio audience and theatre audience.

Chris Craddock and Neil Grahn have developed a special writing partnership – one filled with trust and support. They hope that you get a chuckle from these comedic works that have sprung forth from their creative partnership.

Please read the preceding paragraphs with a gentle piano score in your mind.

Cast: Harvey Anderson, Amanda Bergen, Leona Brausen, Chris Craddock, Brian Dooley, Sheldon Elter, Jessie Gervais, Linda Grass, Anna-Maria Lemaistre, Jesse McPhee, Ryan Parker, Trevor Schmidt, Davina Stewart, Donovan Workun

Directors: Neil Grahn and Bradley Moss

Video Designer: Paul Bezaire Lighting Designer: Scott Peters Stage Manager: Jenn Best


March 18–20

Times
Opening March 18

CAST & CREW

CAST

HARVEY ANDERSON

Harvey is excited to be part of Theatre Network’s GIRL IN THE GOLDFISH BOWL. Harvey last worked in conjunction with Theartre Network and Propaganda hair salon on their Valentines fundraiser LOVE STYLES: DRESSED TO LOVE. Other than doing the occasional costume design, he also has a company called Henry and Irving with his partner Idaho which includes everything from interior design and fashion shows to set design. Currently they are working on their own clothing line called Verde. Acting credits include; Sister Parnel, THE BLUE ORPHAN, Catalyst Theatre; Rev. Chasable, THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST, Globe Theatre; Prior, ANGELS IN AMERICA : PT I MILLENNIUM APROACHES, Phoenix Theatre, he has also worked with Workshop West, 25th Street Theatre, Fringe Theatre Adventures, Guys in Disguise, Quest Theatre to name a few. He has just finished working on INTERFEAR ARTS FESTIVAL and Edmonton Fashion Week.

CAST

LEONA BRAUSEN

In the past few seasons Leona has designed costumes for Theatre Network’s productions of EXCAVATIONS, PERFECT PIE and ALL CLEAR. Other recent credits include HONOUR, THE ODD COUPLE, THE BEGINNING OF AUGUST, THE GLACE BAY MINERS’ MUSEUM and THE LAST TRAIN, all for Shadow Theatre,The Citadel Theatre’s HOMEWARD BOUND; THE MARGIN OF THE SKY, SKIRTS ON FIRE, THE VILE GOVERNESS and PITH for Teatro la Quindicina; Leona recently returned from performing in Winnipeg and New York in PITH and she will design and perform in that companies upcoming production of FEVERLAND. Leona is a regular cast member of Edmonton’s on-going weekly soap opera DIE-NASTY.

PLAYWRIGHT/CAST

CHRIS CRADDOCK

Chris is a friendly bon vivant with a penchant for weightlifting and a large Incredible Hulk action figure collection. He was born to a religious home in Kitchener, Ontario, and has been a writer ever since. His background is in the theatre, where he has penned over thirty plays, including musicals, solo shows and plays for young audiences. A highlight was BASH’D! A GAY RAP MUSICAL, which played Off Broadway and won a GLAAD media award.  He has since added TV and Film to his pursuits, co-creating TINY PLASTIC MEN with Mosaic Entertainment for SuperChannel. It’s now in its fourth season. It’s been nominated for the Canadian Screen Award for Best Comedy three times in a row, so it can longer be attributed to clerical error. He continues his work with Mosaic Entertainment, as series director on Season 4 of CAUTION MAY CONTAIN NUTS. Chris is also the writer/director of IT’S NOT MY FAULT AND I DON’T CARE ANYWAY, starring Alan Thicke and Quentin Aaron, based on his play PUBLIC SPEAKING. He has recently created his first VR project, and it has zombies.

CAST

BRIAN DOOLEY

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.”

CAST

JESSE GERVAIS

Jesse Gervais is multi award winning Actor, Dancer, Street Performer and Voice over artist.  He has been very fortunate to perform with many theatre companies across Canada and is proud to call Edmonton his home.   He has appeared in ATPN’s sketch comedy series Caution May Contain Nuts, Bite TV’s E-Town, and appears as ‘Jesse’ in season one and two of TINY PLASTIC MEN on Superchannel.  He has lent his voice to videogame characters in Bioware’s MASS EFFECT, DRAGON AGE and NEVERWINTER NIGHTS.   Jesse has received a Sterling nomination for Best Actor in BUDDY, Sterling awards for Best Supporting Actor in: THE 4th GRADERS PRESENT AN UNNAMED LOVE SUICIDE, and Best Actor in LET THE LIGHT OF DAY THROUGH. Jesse has a BFA in Acting from the U of A.  Namaste.

CAST

LINDA GRASS

Linda is overjoyed to be part of this talented ensemble cast performing DINNER WITH FRIENDS, as it is a combination of her three most favorite things (hint- one of them is Trevor). Most recently, she appeared in NIGHT NURSES IN AN INSANE ASYLUM for Northern Light’s URBEN TALES 9, and previous to that as a most competent school teacher in MISS MARGARIDA’S WAY for NLT (with Trevor). This summer she worked with Trevor for Guy’s In Disguise as Zarah Leander in THE NEO-NANCIES: HITLER’S KICKLINE. Linda is the only one in this cast who has not won a Sterling. (Even Trevor has). But she was nominated once for the role of Miss Rose in Theatre Network’s production of GIRL IN A GOLDFISH BOWL. However, Davina has graciously offered to loan Linda one of her own Sterlings because she has so many. Now, THAT’s a friend!

CAST

TREVOR SCHMIDT

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!

CAST

DAVINA STEWART

A Sterling Award winning Actress and an Artistic Associate of Teatro La Quindicina Davina spent this past August in New York performing in Stewart Lemoine’s award winning production of PITH! and directing SILLY SOUP for the Edmonton Fringe Festival. Among her other favourite roles have been Hedda in HEDDA GABLER, Agnes in DANCING AT LUGHNASA, Cecily Pigeon In THE ODD COUPLE, Pam in COCKTAIL AT PAM’S, Nina in EVELYN STRANGE, and Theresa in MARION BRIDGE. Davina is also a core company member of the improvised soap opera Die-Nasty which was recently honored with a Canadian Comedy Award. She recently finished work on Peter Wunstorf’s short film, PATIENCES. Upcoming projects include Cathleen Rootsaert’s new play HOUSE OF CATS and the remount of the Guys in Disguise production of BITCHSLAP! Davina’s love of gourmet food grew out of her first job as a clerk on Woodward’s food floor.

DIRECTOR

BRADLEY MOSS

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.

VIDEO DESIGNER

PAUL BEZAIRE

After 8 happy seasons as the Technical Director for Theatre Network at the (pre-fire) Roxy theatre Paul felt a need to do some touring and so, when the opportunity to Stage Manage for The Old Trout Puppet Workshop’s arose Paul jumped at it. Having now toured 2 shows across Canada, the US and throughout 5 countries in Europe the need to tour is really being satisfied. Theatre Network isn’t completely out of Paul’s blood stream however, so whenever the opportunity arises to come back he does. “It has been an enormous pleasure to work with this team again! Thanks Theatre Network!”

LIGHTING DESIGNER

SCOTT PETERS

“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.”

STAGE MANAGER

JENN BEST

Jenn brings the hawtness all the way from Port Alberni BC. When she isn’t working in dark theatres, she misses tall trees, oceans and other things coastal. She does not miss her appendix. Jenn has stage managed a variety of shows including: the sexy collaborative work, Glistening, as well as 448 Psychosis for Indie5; The Good Thief, Skirmishes and The Last Train to Nibroc for Blarney Productions; A Rocky Night for His Nibs for Teatro la Quindicina; The Play About the Baby and Game Face for Human Loser; Grace for Shadow Theatre; and Mourning Dove for Kill Your Television. Last season she stage managed the gay hiphopera Bash’d on their Canadian Tour, including a week-long run at the Vancouver Cultural Olympiad.

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