The Sissy Duckling
A Musical for Children
About Theatre Outré
Theatre Outré is a professional theatre company based in Lethbridge, Alberta. Founded in 2012 by artistic director Jay Whitehead. Theatre Outré is a leading outlet for alternative queer (LGBTQI2+) theatre in Alberta and the producer of the hugely successful Pretty Witty & Gay Cabaret & Festival. It also operates its own venue in Lethbridge, Didi’s Playhaus. Theatre Outré is the recipient of several awards and nominations including Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Direction, Best Original Writing and Best Production Values (Dublin Gay Theatre Festival), Best of Fest (Atlantic Fringe Festival), The Lethbridge Pride Arts and Culture Award (2013 and 2016) and several Merritt Award nominations.
Webpage: www.theatreoutre.ca
Email: theatroutre.lethbridge@gmail.com
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About the Playwright / Director
Nicola Elson is an Assistant Professor at the University of Lethbridge in the Department of Drama with a focus in Theatre for Young Audiences. She holds a master’s degree in Acting from York University. Nicola is also a freelance artist working as an actor, deviser, playwright, director, puppeteer and stilt walker. When teaching Theatre for Young Audiences, she specializes in mask, puppetry, clown, shadow theatre, object theatre and foley and has an interest in exploring sensitive subject matter such as grief and loss, abuse, sexual/gender identity, and learning differences in the plays she creates. Other teaching interests include Improvisation, Drama in Education, and Applied Theatre in Marginalized Communities. Prior to teaching at the University, Nicola worked as a curriculum driven Theatre Artist in Residence in over a hundred schools over fifteen years, while also working in the Education Department at the Calgary Zoo for eleven years.
Select playwriting/directing/acting credits include: Hootenanny! (playwright/director), an outdoor play for all ages presented throughout July in downtown Lethbridge, A Play About a Dragon (director), The War of the Worlds Project (playwright/director) - Calgary Young People’s Theatre, Ivan and the Dogs (actor), The Pied Piper of Hamelin (devisor/actor) - TinMan Theatre, Elephant Song (puppeteer) - Green Fools Theatre, Good Fences, In the Wake, Bus’t (devisor/actor) - Downstage / Alberta Theatre Projects / High Performance Rodeo, Blood; A Scientific Romance, The Attic, the Pearls and Three Fine Girls (actor) - Sage Theatre, Blithe Spirit (actor) - Vertigo Theatre.
About the Designers
Julia Wasilewski is an Assistant Professor at the University of Lethbridge as well as a Lethbridge-based costume, set, and lighting designer. She holds a Masters degree in Design from the University of Calgary and a BA Drama and BFA Multidisciplinary Arts from the University of Lethbridge. Julia's practice embraces the intersection between traditional design conventions and contemporary renewable approaches in an effort to embrace sustainable theatre-making. Select design credits include: Alice, She Kills Monsters, A Lie of the Mind (University of Lethbridge); Care Takers, Miss Caledonia, Lest We Forget, In On It, Fritters in Kandahar, Dad's in Bondage, Life History of the African Elephant, One Good Marriage, That Men May Fly, Shopaholic Wedding Bells, Second Chance, First Love, The Bob Shivery Show, Super 8, Shopaholic Husband Hunt,Wanda’s Visit and The Housewife (Lunchbox Theatre); As It Is In Heaven, Love and Information (Ambrose University); Michel and Ti-Jean, Summer of My Amazing Luck, The Blue Room, Blood: A Scientific Romance and Scorched (Sage Theatre); Matt and Ben, Coast, The Goodbye Day, The Mayday Cabaret, A Clean Slate Christmas and IAMI (Theatre Transit); Susanna's Secret, The Spanish Hour and Cosi fan Tutte (Calgary Opera); Radioheaded II: A Listening Party to Watch (OYR); Speed-the-Plow (Ground Zero Theatre); Pack of Lies (Ghost River Theatre); Essay and The Russian Play (Urban Curvz).
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This is Jaime Johnson's first design credit with Theatre Outré and she couldn't be more excited! Her previous design credits are with New West Theatre for Dear Johnny Deere, Celebrate, Divine, Girls Like That, and Rockers Gone Country; Espresso Theatre Company for The Anger in Ernest and Ernestine; and with Playgoers of Lethbridge for Always a Bridesmaid. She has other wardrobe credits for Lethbridge Shakespeare Performance Society and New West Theatre. Jaime is currently enrolled in the MFA program at the University of Lethbridge majoring in Drama tech/design. Jaime holds a diploma in Fashion Design and Sustainable Production from Lethbridge College and a BFA in Theatre Tech/Design from the University of Lethbridge.
About the Cast
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Rylan Kunkel started his musical career performing in his family’s band at the great Canadian barn dance for over 15 years. Mixing humour, class and talent all the while juggling ukulele, piano, saxophone and vocals, Rylan’s upbeat and soulful performances will have you tapping your feet! Appearing in Tinsel, Homegrown, Starlight and most recently in The Buddy Holly Experience at New West Theatre, Rylan is excited to expand his talents into the acting realm.
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Erica Barr is a Southern Alberta based theatre artist and educator. With a focus in improvisation, Erica works with local groups to both perform and teach improv for all ages. As an educator, Erica has worked with students to create and write original musicals, as well as instructing theatre creation workshops. Recent credits include: A Streetcar Named Desire, Legend of the Lost Tooth, Sapientia and Timmy, Tommy, and the Haunted Hotel.
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Greg Wilson is a Calgary based actor, improviser, podcaster, and musician. When he’s not onstage he can be found teaching improv for teens at the Pumphouse Theatre or talking up a storm on the podcast network “Boathaus Studios." Select theatre credits include A Christmas Carol, Canada: The Musical, Legends of the Mountains (Carter-Ryan), Hamlet (Theatre Calgary), No Way Out (Theatre Outré) Huck Finn (Storybook Theatre), and The Basement Boys (Theatre BSMT) for which he was nominated for a Calgary Theatre Critics Award for Best Lead Actor.
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Shannon Murphy is an Alberta grown actress who was trained in Toronto. She attended the University of Calgary and received a Bachelor of Kinesiology (Distinction) with a minor in Drama. George Brown credits include: Lady Agatha Carlisle (Lady Windermere’s Fan), Eileen (The Cripple of Inishmaan), Sandy (The Crackwalker), Beatrice (The Changeling), Ensemble (Mad About Munsch). University of Calgary credits include: Philomele (The Love of the Nightingale), Delilah Rose Johnson (Ernestine Shuswap Gets Her Trout), Cordelia (Lear's Daughters). project she is very excited to embark on with her graduating year.
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