Bios:
Karrie Ennis (The Triptych)
The Engineers is Karrie's first production with Western Edge Theatre, although she joins a familiar group of people, which makes her feel perfectly at home. Recently she has been seen at Bard to Broadway in Urinetown and Leading Ladies and this summer will work behind the scenes on B2B's Oliver, and onstage as Catherine in The Foreigner. Karrie keeps herself busy (and out of trouble) with her dance classes, acting, and stage management, and on occasion her boss asks her to make time for work too! She hopes you enjoy Brad's creation come to life, and advises you to keep a copy of your own blueprint . . .
Colleen Hannah (The Triptych)
Colleen has been acting in Nanaimo for many years. Her numerous appearances include Writer's Bloc, Out of Order, and Nuts! with the Nanaimo Theatre Group, and Hippies and Bolsheviks, Screen Play, and the New Waves Festival at Western Edge. She has also performed in various films and commercials for independent producers.
Adrian Hough (The Pope)
One of Vancouver's busiest actors, Adrian has had a long career as both an actor and a coach in theatre, film, and television in Canada, Europe, Britain and the U.S. He has acted with and/or coached Oscar nominees and winners (David Strathairn. Ian McKellen, Renee Zellweger) as well as Gemini-, Tony-, Dora-, and other award-winning actors (Brent Carver, Talia Shire, Len Cariou). Theatre credits include 12 roles in The Golden Pathway Annual and Laertes in Hamlet, both for Lovers and Madmen in Toronto, Singer at Canadian Stage, Mahavolitch in the original Toronto production of Timothy Findley's The Stillborn Lover at Theatre Passe Muraille, and The Colonel in Daniel David Moses' Red River at The Factory Theatre. His film credits include AVP2 and X-Men III, as well as leads in The Fog, Slap Shot 3 - The Junior League, and Dim Sum Funeral. On the small screen he has had numerous lead, guest starring, principal, and recurring roles in such diverse TV movies and series as "Falcon Beach," "J-Pod," "Eureka," "Past Tense," "Dragons of Black Roc," and many more. Recently he returned to the stage in Being Frank (playing legendary Nanaimo mayor Frank Ney) and Vigil, both with TheatreOne at the Port. Last January, Adrian became the new Director of Spotlight Academy, where he is dedicated to passing on his more than 25 years of experience, passion for the work, and knowledge to aspiring and working actors in this town of Nanaimo where he has made his family's home for the past seven years. He is delighted to finally be able to work with Western Edge Theatre in this world premiere.
Jonee Janolino (Ben)
Jonee was most recently seen as the King in The King and I, produced by Ubetcha Promotions at the Port Theatre. Other credits include the title role in Gonzo for the Nanaimo Theatre Group (Best Supporting Actor, 2005 One Act Play Festival), as well as NTG productions of Accomplice, Fortinbras, How the Other Half Loves and Blood Brothers. He has also performed at Lady Smith's Little Theatre in The Long and The Short and the Tall (Best Supporting Actor, South Island Zone Festival) and Rebel Without A Cause, and in the independent film Keyeye the Movie.
Darren Keltie (Adn)
Darren is a long time member of the island's acting community and has performed in close to 50 plays. He's appeared as everything from Einstein and Jesus to petty thieves and porn dealers. In recent years he has been seen in Lost in Yonkers at the Chemainus Theatre Festival and in Talker's Town, Hippies and Bolsheviks, and The Odd Couple at Western Edge.
Gordon MacInnis (Cardinal Levee)
The Engineers is Gordon's first production with Western Edge, but he's no stranger to the Nanaimo theatre scene. Cedar/Yellow Point residents will remember him as Basil Fawlty in Yellow Point Players Don't Shoot, We're British. Another foray into U.K. humour was the Nanaimo Theatre Group farce Cash on Delivery. As a change of pace, he played the role of Dr. Heisenberg in the Echo Players production of Copenhagen. Other credits include Arms and the Man, Fortinbras, and Accomplice at NTG, and, as a director, The Haunting of Hill House for Lady Smith's Little Theatre.
Brian March (Director, A Cardinal)
Brian is in his fifth season with Western Edge, currently as associate director and administrator. Previous directing credits here include The Kitchen Sink, How I Learned to Drive and the premiere of Night of Shooting Stars, as well as Fortinbras at Nanaimo Theatre Group and Ten Little Indians with the Yellow Point Drama Group. He has also been owner of the dinner theatre company Mystery Unlimited, based in London, Ont., for the past 20 years.
Lorna McLellan (The Triptych)
The Engineers is Lorna's second "world premiere" with Western Edge, where she previously appeared in the original cast of Michael Armstrong's Night of Shooting Stars. A familiar face in local theatre over the past decade, Lorna has played a wide variety of roles including Mrs. Johnstone in Blood Brothers, Lady Thiang in The King and I, and Little Sally in Urinetown. Comic and dramatic roles have included mimicking Lucille Ball in Brian March's Lucy and Tarzan, and lead roles in Accomplice, The Affections of May, and PROK, in which she played Clara Kinsey. While acting is her first love, costume design runs a close second and Lorna enjoyed assisting Elaine with the costumes for The Engineers. She'd like to thank Brad for the challenging script, and her triptych buddies for the freaky mind-melding!
Frank Moher (Dr. Hanum)
Frank is the Artistic Producer of Western Edge Theatre. As an actor, he has performed previously at Western Edge in Screen Play, as well as in the Island Theatre productions of Cotton Patch Gospel and Sweet Suites, and with Ponomo Productions in You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown and Art. As a director, he has staged the Western Edge productions of Supreme Dream, The Mercy Seat, Some Random City, Tuesdays With Morrie, Boston Marriage, John and Jen, Sugar Daddies, My Name is Rachel Corrie, and The Odd Couple, and numerous staged readings for the New Waves Festival. He has also directed at the National Arts Centre, The Banff Centre, and Nanaimo's TheatreOne. A playwright too, Frank's plays have been seen across North America and abroad. He teaches in the Department of Creative Writing and Journalism at Vancouver Island University.
Tao Mori (Lewis)
Tao is an aspiring writer and anthropologist who is taking to the stage in his first ever public performance, but hopefully not his last. He's happy to be acting in a work written locally, and coming from the creative writing department at Vancouver Island University, of which he's a graduate. The fact that he's a big sci-fi fan helps too.
Nastasja Towe (Annie)
Nastasja has been involved with community theatre for almost 10 years, and is very excited to be working with Western Edge for the first time. Some of her favourite roles to date have been Hodel in Fiddler on the Roof and Pseudolous in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. She also enjoys working backstage, and has stage managed and music directed a number of shows. Nastasja is currently attending VIU's Jazz Music program as a singer. She performs with several vocal groups in what little spare time she has.
Morganna Yoshida (Sister Soul)
Born and raised in Cedar, Morganna started dance at the age of four with Kirkwood Academy of the Performing Arts, and found a life long passion that hasn't waned. She has appeared in productions with the Nanaimo Theatre Group, Bard to Broadway, Razzle Dazzle Productions, Malaspina Theatre, Ubetcha Productions, The Story Theatre Company, and now Western Edge, most recently in Dreamland Saturday Nights. After studying for three years at the Canadian College of the Performing Arts in Victoria, she lived like a gypsy and did contracts on the island and the mainland, including a tour of BC schools that had songs about energy conservation in it! After The Engineers, she will be busy preparing for the production of a lifetime . . . her wedding.
Richard Broad (Set and Lighting Design)
Richard's previous set designs include The Real Inspector Hound and The Monkey's Paw for the Yellow Point Drama Group and Nurse Jane Goes to Hawaii for the Nanaimo Theatre Group. He has also designed lighting for NTG and Arts Alive, and worked on productions at the Western Canada Theatre Company, Vancouver Island University Theatre Department, and Lady Smith's Little Theatre. His film and TV work includes the series "Eureka," as well as Blitzed, Time for Change, and the series "Tasha: Post Apocalyptic Zombie Hunter," currently in development.
Elaine Wood (Costume Design)
Elaine writes: "Born and educated in England and as long as can be remembered loved all areas of creative expression. Became interested in dress design and sewing after receiving my first sewing machine at the age of 11 and continued designing and making clothing for myself, friends and family throughout my adult life. Since joining Yellow Point Drama Group some five years ago as costumer, I have enjoyed the creativity, challenges, and friendships that different productions have offered."
Meldy Wilton (Stage Manager)
Meldy has been involved in writing, visual art shows and entertainment for over 25 years. Her first writing work was published when she was 13 and since then she has published articles and short stories. She has been a singer, actor, stage manager and artist. Presently she is working on a script and a book of short stories. She has won awards for her visual arts and has used her education in business, art and music to help a variety of production companies on the west coast produce plays, and music concerts. Meldy has helped coordinate and market artistic talent, and feels the west coast has an incredible mixture of talent from all artistic venue. She writes: "I am honored to have the opportunity to work with such a wonderful and talented group of individuals on “The Engineers”, and wish then must success. Break a leg People."