Poor Superman

Poor Superman

by Brad Fraser

October 11–30, 1994

Poor Superman

The Canadian premiere production by internationally renowned Edmonton playwright Brad Fraser. From the author who gave you Unidentified Human Remains and The Ugly Man comes Poor Superman, an exploration of the pains of success and the pressures of expectation, paralleling the plight of the comic book hero. A co-production with Workshop West Theatre.

Playwright: Brad Fraser
Director: Brad Fraser
Cast: Jill Dyck, Ian Leung, Christopher Peterson, Kate Ryan and Kent Staines Assistant Director/Slide Operator: Heather D. Swain Stage Manager: Katherine Ensslen Production Manager: Stephen Roy Design Coordinator: David Skelton Costume Designer: Dave Boechler Lighting Designer: Judith Bowden Composer: Darrin Hagen Wardrobe: Lindsay Jacobs and Joanna Johnson Carpenters: Wade Staples and Terry Freestone Scenic Painting: Charlotte Hunt

 


October 11–30, 1994

Times
Opening October 11

CAST & CREW

SHANNON

CHRISTOPHER PETERSON

Christopher is thrilled to be back at Theatre Network after not having been here since he appeared in Poor Superman in 1994. For the last 12 years Christopher has been performing his show Eyecons, a tribute to the Great Ladies of 20th Century show business, at the newly renovated Crystal Room at La Te Da in Key West Florida. In 2008, he appeared in The Waterfront Playhouse production of BitchSlap! as Bette Davis. In 2003, he was part of a tribute to Jerry Herman for the Palm Springs Museum in the role of Zsa Zsa from the musical La Cage Aux Folles co-starring with Peter Marshall. Peterson landed a role in the motion picture Rat Race directed by Jerry Zucker and distributed by Paramount. Christopher did a stint as Lucille Ball in the film, along side Cuba Gooding Jr. In 1995, Christopher was under the direction of Derek Goldby in the production Poor Superman, which opened at The Manitoba Theatre Centre and then ran 20 weeks at Canadian Stage in Toronto. Peterson received a Dora Award for Best “Male” Performance.

VIOLET

KATE RYAN

Kate is thrilled to be back at Theatre Network and a part of this production. She last appeared here, a long time ago, in Love Bites. Other stage credits include A Christmas Carol, Metamorphoses, Measure For Measure, Hello Dolly! (Citadel Theatre); Dial M for Murder, The Sound of Music and Oklahoma! (The Mayfield Theatre); The Ambassador’s Wives, The Equisite Hour (Teatro La Quindicina); Water’s Daughter (Northern Light Theatre); The V.I.P. Kids Show (Varscona Theatre) and Ankles Aweigh, The Swingin’ Sisters Club, Sweet Mysteries of Life and The Ugly Duckling (Fringe Festival). She has received two Sterling Awards for stage and an Ampia for the film, 1132 Pleasant Street. Kate is also an instructor and develops shows with her company, Kaybridge Productions (www.kaybridge.ca).

COMPOSER

DARRIN HAGEN

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.

Drag