Tornado Magnet

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.

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!

“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.”

Neon is a founding member of Guys in Disguise. Her Stage Managing credits include: EDMONTON QUEEN, WITH BELLS ON, TYPHOON JUDY, TORNADO MAGNET (original production) and KLONDYKES, all with Guys in Disguise. Neon is also a makeup artist with credits that include: HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH (Theatre Network), Edmonton Opera (2000-2006), Edmonton Musical Theatre (2001-2015), DRAGULA (Guys in Disguise), KLONDYKES (Guys in Disguise), Oh Susannah (2000-2014). She has the great pleasure of working as the Hospitality Coordinator for the Edmonton international Street Performers Festival for the last 17 years. She sang with the legendary girl group The Divas for over 15 years. Neon is also proud to be a part of the Theatre Network team, working in the box office.  In her spare time Neon enjoys sleeping and collecting awesome jewelry. Sometimes she also gets to socialize with her amazing friends and family.