Rat Academy

Dayna (she/her) is an actor and multidisciplinary artist based in amiskwaciwâskahikan ᐊᒥᐢᑲᐧᒋᐋᐧᐢᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ. She is a graduate of the UofA’s BFA Acting Program and Douglas College’s Theatre Diploma, is a former performer and teacher of the Vancouver Circus School, and an alumnus of Canada’s National Voice Intensive. Dayna works with Thou Art Here Theatre as their Artistic Leadership Mentee and is the co-creator of Batrabbit Collective. Recent acting credits include: Counties Shaped Like Stars (Edmonton Fringe Theatre) As You Like it, Measure for Measure, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Freewill Shakespeare), FEED (Mile Zero), Jupiter (Theater Network), Stars on Her Shoulders (Workshop West Playwright’s Theatre), Pillowman (Theatre Yes), Mermaid Legs (Skirts-a-Fire Festival), A Hundred Words for Snow (Northern Light Theatre), and All the Little Animals I Have Eaten (Shadow Theatre). Big love to Ben and Peas.

Katie Yoner (she/her) is an actor, comedian, improviser, and teacher based in Amiskwaciwâskahikan (Edmonton). She is a graduate of the University of Alberta’s BFA Acting program and co-creator of Batrabbit Collective, through which she tours Rat Academy across Canada. As a stand-up comic, Katie recently featured in festivals including Santa Monica’s Bergamot Comedy Festival and the Grindstone Comedy Festival, and currently produces and hosts Edmonton’s weekly Underdog Comedy Show. She is  a mainstage improviser with Rapid Fire Theatre and the 11 O’Clock Number and supplements her career with a passion for teaching improvisation and comedy across the city. 

Recent credits include: Rat Academy 2: Gnaw and Order(Rapid Fire Theatre, Waterfront Theatre, Intrepid Theatre), 39 Steps (Teatro Live!), The Blank Who Stole Christmas (Rapid Fire Theatre).

Joseph McManus (they/he) is a multidisciplinary artist based in Calgary, Alberta. Their career has so far mostly consisted of animal-themed theatrical creations, including a cow-themed brass theatre ensemble called COWTOWN Brass Band, a touring open mic show for zoo animals called Enrichment Hour, and directing Rat Academy and Rat Academy 2: Gnaw and Order. Joseph believes in 3 main mantras: to create unserious theatre as seriously as possible, to attempt to confuse the aliens that are currently studying him, and to always allow the funnest idea in the room to win. Joseph is very excited to be back stage managing the OG Rat Academy at Theatre Network, and you can catch them next at their very own Neo-Futurist inspired project: 100 Shows of All Time this summer at the Edmonton Fringe Festival. Cheers, Ciao, and C-Ya!

Claire Sonmor (they/she) is a surprisingly funny Queer theatre artist currently living and creating in amiskwaciwâskahikan (Edmonton). A graduate of the University of Alberta’s BA/BEd program, Claire wears many hats and works as a stage/production manager, lighting/set designer, and human multitool. Recent projects include Undiscovered Country (Theatre Network), Re:Construct(ion) (Donkey Dog Theatre), A Christmas Carol (Citadel Theatre), Ecos (Diaspora Diaries Collective), Rat Academy, Rat Academy 2: Gnaw and Order (Batrabbit Productions), Reign Check (Walters & Watt), Once Upon a Mattress: Youth Edition (Sky’s the Limit Youth Theatre), It Gets Everywhere (BFA Movement Show 2024), and Working It Out (Alberta Workers’ Health Centre). 

Meegan Sweet (they/them) is a queer multidisciplinary artist, creator and clown based in amiskwacîwâskahikan (colonially known as Edmonton, Alberta).  Meegan holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting from the University of Alberta (2020) as well as a diploma in Theatre Performance and Creation from Red Deer Polytechnic (Red Deer College, 2016). When they’re not doing theatre, they are usually birdwatching or volunteering at WILDNorth as a Wildlife Rehabilitator and Rescuer. Select design credits include: Folk Trail – SilverSkate Festival (Costume Design) The Alberta Hospital for the Insane (Sound and Lighting Design), The Shiniest Piece of Trailer Trash (Costume, Sound Design and Music Composition), SWAN?! (Set Design), Rat Academy & Rat Academy 2: Gnaw and Order (Costume Design). Select acting credits include, Stars On Her Shoulders (Emma Ross – Workshop West Playwrights Theatre), The Shiniest Piece of Trailer Trash (S.P.O.T.T.) (Performer & Creator – Edmonton International Fringe Festival, What The Festival Toronto, Edmonton Fringe Theatre), The Tempest (Ariel – Freewill Shakespeare Festival).