Thunderstick

Lorne is thrilled to be back amongst family and friends for Theatre Network’s co-production of WHERE THE BLOOD MIXES. He was last seen here in THUNDERSTICK, TRUE WEST and HIGHLIFE. The importance of this play can not be underestimated. It is not meant to assign blame but to shine a light on an often overlooked, dark aspect of Canadian history. By looking at a microcosm of the effects of the residential school experience, this play can be effective as a first step in enlightening many who are unaware and thereby creating an atmosphere which can lead to healing and understanding.

Lorne dedicates his performances to his mother, Bertha, and father Don, who were survivors of this genocide and whose strength was reflected through honouring Cree culture and language as well as their belief in truth, love and respect.

(Ojibway, French, English) Craig, a Gemini nominee best known as a cast member on CBC’s ROYAL CANADIAN AIR FARCE, is one of Canada’s top character performers. His characterizations have been described as “great Canadian comedy, quick and snarky with surreal moments of brilliance!” (John Doyle, The Globe and Mail).

Most recently, Craig portrayed Kent in the National Arts Centre’s all Aboriginal production of KING LEAR. He has been nominated for the prestigious Tim Sims Encouragement Award – a yearly prize given to promising comedic talent in Toronto. Since then, Craig has performed at It’s Always Something the Gilda’s Club Gala, Raising the Roof, Hubcap Comedy Festival, We’re Funny That Way and the CBC’s Winnipeg Comedy Festival WELCOME TO TURTLE ISLAND.

An accomplished writer, Craig has received three Canadian Comedy Award nominations: one for Funniest New Play THE CHICK AND CUBBY COMEDY HOUR; and two for writing television: HAM I AM and ROYAL CANADIAN AIR FARCE. He also co-wrote the 2006 Gemini Industry Night gala events.

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.

Del began his career in Saskatoon as one of the co-founders of Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan.  While in Vancouver, he managed a national career, spent a decade as Artistic Director of Pi Theatre, and was a co-founder of See Seven (of which Live Five is a local variant).  His directing has been featured at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa and in Birmingham, England.  His latest directorial efforts for Persephone Theatre have been last season’s Waiting for Godot, For the Pleasure of Seeing Her Again, and John & Beatrice.  Del has received forty award nominations in the last two decades and been awarded Vancouver’s Jessie Richardson Career Achievement Award.

Kenneth is an award-winning Cree playwright and journalist from the George Gordon First Nation. His plays Thunderstick, Suicide Notes, AWOL: Aboriginals Without Official Leave, and Three Little Birds have been professionally produced across Canada. He recently co-wrote an adaptation of Are We There Yet, a play for young audiences about sexual decision-making for Aboriginal youth, which has toured across Western Canada. The Saskatchewan Native Theatre Company has commissioned him to write Bannock Republic, the sequel to Thunderstick. This last January, he won the Fully Committed category of the 10 Days of Madness’s 24-hour playwriting competition with a play called Deserters, which was organized by the University of Alberta Bookstore in Edmonton. He also had a workshop and staged-reading of Gordon Winter at the 2009 Weesageechak Begins to Dance festival in Toronto. He is the first Aboriginal writer to earn an M.F.A. in Playwriting from the University of Alberta. He currently resides in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

Marissa has worked in Edmonton as a freelance set/costume designer for the past twelve years, with over ninety theatrical productions to her credit.  She won a 2004 Sterling Award for her set design of Theatre Network’s Marion Bridge, and a 2004 Bettie Mitchell Award (Calgary) for her costume design of November Theatre’s The Black Rider.  Thunderstick marked her first design for the Persephone stage and she is now thrilled to be back at Theatre Network!

Mark’s most recent lighting design is Bonneau et la Bellehumeur for La Troupe du Jour, which is currently touring Saskatchewan.  Mark also just returned home from Prince George where he lit Mesa for Theatre North West.  Mark has lit at least one show for TNW each season for the last eight years.  Mark has been the lighting designer for over fifty productions at Persephone Theatre since finishing his MFA in 1993.  He recently was awarded a Saskatoon and Area Theatre Award for Achievement in Lighting for Persephone’s production of The Skull in Connemara.  Mark is the Artistic and Executive Director of Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan.

Jeff is from Saskatoon, SK and is excited to be part of this powerful and important production. His costume design experience includes HOW THE CHIEF STOLE CHRISTMAS, WHERE THE BLOOD MIXES (Saskatchewan Native Theatre Company), THE GREAT MOUNTAIN (Red Sky), MIGRATION (Red Sky/Black Grace), SPIRIT, MEMORY & DESIRE, INDIGENOUS TERRITORIES (Indigenous Dance Residency, Banff Centre), BORN BUFFALO (Askiy Productions, Wanuskewan), THUNDERSTICK (Theatre Network/Persephone Theatre), GOD OF CARNAGE, BERLIN BLUES (Persephone Theatre), and numerous shows for SNTC. Jeff enjoys spending much of his time costume tailoring and stitching for the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, Citadel Theatre, Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Banff Centre’s Summer Arts Festival, Persephone Theatre, and Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan.

Dave is a musician, actor and writer.  He has composed music and produced sound designs for theatre, film, dance and multi-media for three decades. Recent designs include MOVING ALONG (Theatre Network), 6.0 HEAP & PEBBLE (Northern Light Theatre) and EVIE’S WALTZ (Shadow Theatre). Other projects include THE MISSIONARY POSITION (University of Alberta),  a soundtrack for the feature film THE PHARMACIST and a family musical about a profoundly deaf mother with a hearing son based on his own experience entitled SONGS MY MOTHER NEVER SUNG ME. Dave is the co-writer and composer for the animated cartoons at Rantdog.com. He is also the sound guy for CBC Radio’s THE IRRELEVANT SHOW. Dave has won several awards for his work, including Sterling Awards for Outstanding Score (DOG, Surreal SoReal Theatre), Musical Direction (ILSA, QUEEN OF THE NAZI LOVE CAMP) and Sound (SHAKESPEARE’S WILL, VIMY, THE ECSTATICS).

Cheryl is really happy to be working on Collin’s beautiful new play and with everyone involved in this production. Cheryl’s Stage Management credits for Theatre Network include: IN ON IT, MICHEL & TI-JEAN, THUNDERSTICK, (co-production with Persephone Theatre), BUDDY, ALIAS GODOT, CHOKE and A BEAUTIFUL VIEW. Other shows Cheryl has Stage Managed over the years include Theatre Yes’ production of RACE, Bent Out of Shape’s THE DROWNING GIRLS, Workshop West Theatre’s THE BLUE LIGHT, MARY’S WEDDING, THE RED PRIEST and APPLE. Free Will Players HENRY V and A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM, The Citadel Theatre’s productions of TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD and OF MICE AND MEN (co-productions with the Manitoba Theatre Centre) as well as EXTINCTION SONG and POPCORN. The Mayfield Dinner Theatre’s productions of SHEAR MADNESS and SEXY LAUNDRY, Alberta Theatre Projects THE LEISURE SOCIETY and GET AWAY. And Catalyst Theatre’s THE BLUE ORPHAN and CARMEN ANGEL to name a few. Cheryl also Stage Manages two annual outdoor music festivals each summer.