The Other by Matthew MacKenzie

After a record number of failed applications, Matt was accepted to and graduated from the playwriting program at the National Theatre School of Canada, where he was awarded the Quebec Lieutenant Governor’s Award for community involvement and sticktoitiveness. After a record number of failed submissions, Matt’s play SIA won the 2010 Alberta Playwriting Competition, receiving critically acclaimed productions in Toronto, Calgary and Edmonton. Winner of Tarragon Theatre’s Urjo Kareda top emerging Canadian theatre artist award in 2012, Matt worked closely with Daniel McIvor on his new play WAS SPRING, which mostly consisted of Matt looking after Daniel’s dog. In 2015, Pyretic Productions premiered Matt’s play BEARS, which was nominated for five Sterling Awards—winning in two categories. Last year, Matt’s play BENEFIT was premiered by Calgary’s Down Stage Theatre, and was subsequently nominated for a Betty and shortlisted in the Alberta Playwriting Competition. Matt’s play TICK has just received its premiere in Ontario with Carousel Theatre and a new musical he is developing with Bryce Kulak titled BONE WARS; THE CURSE OF THE PATHALOGICAL PALAEONTOLOGIST will be premiered by Punctuate! Theatre here in Edmonton in April.

Amber is delighted and inspired to be working with The Other’s vastly talented creative team. She works in both theatre and contemporary dance as a performer, creator and educator. Amber has performed across Canada, the United States and one super magical time in Japan with wonderful artists and companies like Theatre Network, Ghost River Theatre, Northern Light Theatre, The High Performance Rodeo, The Maggie Tree, Azimuth Theatre, Tania Alvarado, Mile Zero Dance and Firefly Theatre. A graduate of the BFA acting program at the U of A, Amber has received three Sterling Awards, the most recent being for her role in in Little One at Theatre Network.

Krista Posyniak is an Edmonton-based, contemporary dance artist. She has created and performed work for the independent stage, fringe festivals, musicals, and fundraisers. A graduate of The School of Toronto Dance Theatre, Krista has performed across the country in works byAinsley Hillyard/Matt Mackenzie, Susie Burpee, and Tedd Robinson, among others. Select credits include: Retake (Co-producer/choreographer); BEARS, Pyretic Productions (performer); The Dead Philosophers, Susie Burpee (performer); DIMBY-Dance in my Backyard, Lady Janitor (performer);Afternoon Delights and Emergency Exits (choreographer); In the key of ‘eh(choreographer/performer).

Kate Stashko is a dance artist and writer based in Edmonton and a graduate of The School of Toronto Dance Theatre. She has trained and worked across Canada and Europe, dancing with artists including Peggy Baker, Helen Husak, Sasha Ivanochko, Mélanie Demers, Mile Zero Dance and Heidi Strauss. She recently performed in the Prairie Dance Circuit as part of Brian Webb Dance Company’s season, and collaborated with Pyretic Productions in Bears (2015). Kate is an artist of the Good Women Dance Collective, has presented her own work in Montréal, Toronto and Alberta, and teaches, acts as an outside eye, and freelances for various dance magazines.

Alison Kause is a founding member of the Good Women Dance Collective. She works with the collective and independently. Alison is a graduate of the Grant McEwan Dance Program and the School of Contemporary Dance at SFU. She has worked with Peggy Baker, Shasha Ivanochko, Melanie Demers, Mile Zero Dance, Heidi Bunting, Brian Webb, Jen Mesch Dance Conspiracy, Anastasia Maywood of AM Choreography, Krista Posyniak, Richard Lee and GWD Collective artists. Alison has performed in Toronto, Ottawa, Calgary, Vancouver and Edmonton and recently participated and performed in Peggy Bakers Summer Dance Intensive (2014). Alison teaches dance in Edmonton Public Schools as a supply teacher and an artist in residence. She is thrilled to be embarking on new educational and independent projects as well as her work with the Good Women Dance Collective and is continually supported by her family and friends in the convergence of these two careers.

Alida Nyquist-Schultz is a performer, choreographer, teacher, and collective artist of the Good Women Dance Collective. She holds a BA with Honors from the School of Contemporary Dancers in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Her choreography (Counterpart, Pod, Withheld) has been performed at numerous festivals and events across Canada. As an independent artist, Alida has performed internationally for @tendance and locally for Usha Gupta Dance, the Edmonton Opera, Heidi Bunting Dance, the Jen Mesch Dance Conspiracy, AM Choreography, and Pyretic Productions.

Aimee Rushton is an independent contemporary dance artist who has worked significantly throughout Canada since 2008. After completing the Professional Program at the School of Contemporary Dancers in Winnipeg, Rushton immediately became a company member with Ruth Cansfield Dance. Working with Cansfield established Rushton as a tenacious contemporary dancer. Since returning to Edmonton in 2014, Rushton has worked across disciplines and significantly with Matthew MacKenzie. MacKenzie’s production of Bears, of which she was an ensemble member garnered numerous accolades. In 2016, Rushton was awarded the Good Women Dance Collective’s New Work award. With this award she will create a new dance work that will be included as part of the Chinook Series (Expanse Festival) in 2017.

Patrick is thrilled to have had the opportunity to direct Pyretic Production’s The Other, as part of the Roxy Performance Series. This production marks his professional theatre directorial debut. Past directing experience includes three festival renditions of Matthew Mackenzie’s hit The Particulars, he was a directing consultant on last season’s production of Bears, he programmed and directed six renditions of the Edmonton Show involving hundreds of Edmonton artists, and he has directed several productions for young actors. Patrick Lundeen is a graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada and the Citadel Banff Professional Theatre Program. He is Co-Founder and Executive Director of Common Ground, the organization also behind Edmonton’s annual “Found Festival”. In 2014 he received the Enbridge Emerging Artist Award through Nextfest. Patrick is also an Associate Director of Outreach at the Citadel Theatre, facilitating the Student’s Club and Senior’s Club. Patrick is a sterling nominated actor, accomplished teacher, acting coach, and arts manager. He would like to thank his family, friends, Matt Mackenzie for trusting him to direct his plays, and his partner in life and art Lianna.

Megan Koshka is a freelance Canadian theatre designer, based in Edmonton Alberta. She is a part of the Associated Designers of Canada and is a graduate from the University of Alberta with a degree in set, costume and lighting design (BFA). Select credits include set and costume design for PETER AND THE STARCATCHER (Citadel Theatre), GORDON (Theatre Network), & THE STEADFAST TIN SOLDIER (Alberta Opera), costume design for FORTUNE FALLS (Catalyst Theatre), 2016 Freewill Shakespeare Festival (Free Will Player’s Theatre Guild), set design for the 2015 Freewill Shakespeare Festival (Free Will Player’s Theatre Guild), production design for THE OTHER (Pyretic Productions), and associate costume design for VIGILANTE (Catalyst Theatre, 2015 Sterling Award Best Costume Design). www.mkoshka.com

Ainsley Hillyard is an Edmonton-based choreographer, performer and educator who works in contemporary dance and theatre. She has been a collective artist with the Good Women Dance Collective since 2009. Ainsley’s choreography credits include; Bears, (Pyretic Productions) Sterling Award for Outstanding Choreography; Beckett’s Shorts, Genius Code (Surreal SoReal Theatre); and Snout, Ursa Major, Runcible Riddle (Catch The Keys Productions). Acting credits include pool (no water) (Studio Theatre), The Contract (MadFandgo Theatre Collective) and Snout, Dead Centre of Town, Runcible Riddle (Catch the Keys Productions). Ainsley is thrilled to be back on Pyretic’s team this year, it is an absolute gift to be working on this project with these people.

This will be Dean’s third scoring project for Pyretic productions, garnering an Elizabeth Sterling Haynes award for his work on Matt MacKenzie’s “BEARS”. Performing since 1998, under his recording/stage name Phatcat, he is known as much for his lively DJ performances as his tireless work behind the scenes of western Canada’s electronic music community. As the founder of Future Roots events he has been instrumental in enriching Edmonton’s arts landscape, hosting hundreds of risk taking artists and ensuring the city remains a hotbed for groundbreaking electronic music. The last year has seen him taking on a number of new projects scoring for Theatre, Dance, Film, and various multimedia installations. He’s very excited to be a part of The Other, looking forward to giving the project his modern musical stamp.

Trent is an emerging Production Manager, Stage Manager, Theatre Technician, & Lighting Designer based in Edmonton Alberta. He is excited to be making his debut with Pyretic Productions on this beautiful show. When Trent isn’t doing any of the above he is coordinating entertainment for Edmonton festivals and events. Trent would like to thank Erin for her constant support.

Kieran, originally from BC came to Edmonton to pursue his love of theatre. Kieran is currently in his last year of theatre production at Macewan university. Kieran started out learning to be a welder, but, disliking the field, moved over to carpentry and theatre where he wants to build sets for theatre and film. Kieran is excited to start work after school ends in April and cannot wait to see what the future holds.

Shiq is currently a 2nd year theatre production student at MacEwan university. She was part of production team for 5 musical shows, which were presented at MacEwan University. Her previous work experiences were wardrobe head of Curtains, designer assistant of Nice Work if You Can Get It and technician of Catch Me if You Can, Big Fish, Sondheim on Sondheim and The Works Art & Design Festival.

Brianna, a sprouting designer, is a student in the U of A’s BFA Theatre Design Program. Recent credits include The Wolves, Amahl and the Night Visitors, Spring Awakening, (Un)Known Stories, Yeomen and the Guard, Our Town, Oklahoma, and Dead Man Walking. She has a passion for fashion, is an avid yogi and a chickpea enthusiast.

Rachel is an Edmonton based stage manager and technician. She is a proud Maritimer and graduate of the National Theatre School and St. Thomas University. Select stage management credits include AH, ROMANCE! (Plain Jane Theatre); ANNAPURNA (Shadow Theatre); THE BULLY PROJECT (Concrete Theatre), I LOVE YOU, YOU’RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE, TRAVESTIES, THE GRADUATE, GUYS AND DOLLS (Segal Centre); THE OTHER, BEARS (Pyretic Productions); THE MERRY WIDOW (Edmonton Opera); A CHRISTMAS CAROL, GIFTS OF THE MAGI (Theatre New Brunswick); A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM (Opera on the Avalon); BLIND (Scapegoat Carnivale); SEDNA: GODDESS OF THE SEA (Tableau D’Hôte); DEAR JOHNNY DEERE (Blyth Festival, Lighthouse Festival); FALSETTOS (Acting Upstage); DON GIOVANNI (Glenn Gould School); ED’S GARAGE, FOOTLOOSE (Grand Theatre); ROMEO AND JULIET (National Arts Centre).

Lianna Makuch is thrilled to have worked alongside the amazing collaborators of The Other! Lianna is a graduate of the BFA Acting program at the University of Alberta. In addition to acting, she is a producer, administrator, and educator. Lianna has produced two other productions with Pyretic, including Bears (2015) and Sia (2013), and has worked for the SkirtsAfire Festival and Thousand Faces Festival. She is currently the Promotions Manager for the Found Festival. As an educator, Lianna has taught drama at the Foote Theatre School, as an Outreach instructor with the Expanse Festival, and with Three on the Tree on Pender Island, BC. Lianna is one of the founders of, as well as the Performance Instructor with, Spark! Youth Camp, a two week collective creation camp for youth in the Alberta Avenue Neighborhood. Select acting credits include No One Showed Up for the Anarchist Rally (Nextfest Anniversary Showcase), Bears (Pyretic Productions), Scars are Healing Wrong (Punctuate! Theatre), Boogie Monster Club (Promise Productions), Excuse me… This is the Truth! (Break the Wall Productions), and the performer apprentice with Mump and Smoot CRACKED. She wishes to thank Theatre Network, the Good Women, her ever supportive family, her loving partner, Patrick, and the rest of her furry family.