FREE-6042 Program - Freewill Shakespeare Festival

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Freewill Shakespeare
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June 25th - July 21st, 2013
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July 5th - 14th, 2013
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message to our audience
Freewill Shakespeare Festival 2013
“WHY, THIS IS VERY MIDSUMMER MADNESS”
Dear Friends,
Welcome to the 25th Anniversary of the
Freewill Shakespeare Festival! We are
delighted to welcome our new Managing
Director, Cadence Konopaki! It is our distinct
pleasure to introduce guest director Jim
Guedo, actor Dave Horak, Young Company
members Bobbi Goddard and Luc Tellier,
and assistant stage manager Sang Sang
Lee – all who are joining us for the first time.
We’re thrilled to present Julien Arnold, Jesse
Gervais, Sheldon Elter and Kristi Hansen,
who return to our acting company for our
extraordinary 25th season.
This summer’s productions are King Lear,
directed by Jim Guedo, and A Midsummer
Night’s Dream, directed by yours truly.
Both plays share a common theme: the
characters in both plays must surrender
to the rules of nature once they choose
to abandon the laws of society.
us profoundly, if we focus on the truth of
his text, champion his themes, and build
authentic characters that most any human
being can relate to, in helping us to interpret
him now.
A quarter of a century ago, a group of
BFA acting graduates from the University
of Alberta came up with the idea that
Edmonton needed to provide an outdoor
Shakespeare Festival for the citizens of
Edmonton, and headed down to Hawrelak
Park in 1989 to do just that. It was a
pass the hat affair with a budget of about
a thousand dollars. Today the Freewill
Shakespeare Festival operates on a budget
of just over half a million dollars, and since
1989, almost a quarter of a million audience
members have been in attendance.
Four hundred years ago, the Elizabethans
came up with a brilliant form of
entertainment when they combined theatre
with the outdoors. But they were successful
mostly due to Shakespeare’s talent to create
passionate, inventive, imaginative, heart
breaking, hilarious stories with themes that
inspired his audience members to suspend
their belief, fuel their imaginations, and
launch themselves into fantastic worlds that
helped them to interpret their present world.
In the past 25 years, all the founders, actors,
artistic directors, managing directors,
designers, technicians, stage managers,
production managers, administrative staff,
board members, associates, volunteers,
sponsors, donors, funding agencies, city
council members, and audience goers have
all become members of what we proudly
call the Free Will Players. It is because of all
of you that we are able to continue to bring
productions of excellence to our community.
We would like to thank you all for your
amazing support and look forward to
continuing our journey with you in the future.
Welcome friends, and Happy Anniversary!
The challenge for our Festival has always
been to encourage our audience members
to enjoy and understand Shakespeare in
our present world. His stories can move
through time and geography and affect
Marianne Copithorne
Artistic Director
Mission Statement: Free Will Players are a not-for-profit theatre company formed in 1989.
As operators of the Freewill Shakespeare Festival, the Players endeavor to create professional,
contemporary, innovative productions of the works of William Shakespeare that are accessible
to all audiences, regardless of age, ability, education, or income levels, while also developing
new audiences and mentoring theatre professionals of the future.
Freewill Shakespeare Festival, 618 – 7 Sir Winston Churchill Square, Edmonton, AB T5J 2V5
T: (780) 425-8086 F: (780) 426-3248 E: [email protected] W: www.freewillshakespeare.com
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On behalf of City Council and the people of Edmonton, Alberta’s Capital City, I’d like to
welcome everyone to the 25th anniversary season of the Freewill Shakespeare Festival!
Every summer, rain or shine, the amphitheatre in Hawrelak Park showcases the great works of
William Shakespeare in the beautiful setting of Edmonton’s River Valley. Whether being
immersed in the madness and betrayal of King Lear or submitting to the magic in A Midsummer
Nights Dream, audiences of all ages will experience a thought-provoking night of entertainment.
Thank you to all the players, directors, volunteers and sponsors who have worked tirelessly to
organize this year’s festival. It’s a spectacular display of the talented people who live in
Edmonton, and reinforces our reputation as Canada’s Festival City!
Enjoy the show!
Yours Truly,
Stephen Mandel
Mayort
Message from Honourable Heather Klimchuk
Minister of Culture
On behalf of the Government of Alberta, it is my great pleasure
to welcome everyone to the 25th season of the Freewill Shakespeare
Festival in Edmonton’s Hawrelak Park.
“The course of true love never did run smooth” – and thank goodness! Without the
ingenious complications of Shakespeare’s comedies, life would be very dull indeed.
Likewise, there will always be tragedies to make sense of in life, and there are few
guides better than Shakespeare to see us through them.
What we owe to Shakespeare, we owe no less in this milestone year, to the talents,
enthusiasm and dedication of a generation of performers, directors, stage crew, festival
organizers, sponsors, volunteers and audience members. Without you, the Freewill
Shakespeare Festival would not have been brightening our summers since 1989. I say
it again, since it cannot be said too often: thank you.
And may this milestone be one of many on a long journey. My very best wishes, as the
Bard might say, that “thy eternal summer shall not fade”.
Enjoy the show!
Heather Klimchuk
Minister
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Our Government understands the important
role that arts and culture play in creating vibrant
communities and a strong identity. We know that
creativity and innovation are vital to maintaining a
robust Canadian culture, as well as to strengthening
the economy. One good example of this is the
Freewill Shakespeare Festival, which, for a quarter
of a century, has been entertaining audiences with
exciting and inventive performances of some of the
best plays in the English language.
Notre gouvernement connaît l’importance des arts
et de la culture lorsqu’il est question de bâtir des
communautés dynamiques et de renforcer notre
identité. Nous savons que la créativité et l’innovation
sont essentielles au maintien d’une culture canadienne
riche et d’une économie forte. Le Freewill Shakespeare
Festival en est un bel exemple. Depuis un quart de
siècle, ce festival divertit le public en présentant de
grandes œuvres du répertoire anglophone d’une
manière novatrice et captivante.
On behalf of Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the
Government of Canada, I would like to congratulate
the Freewill Shakespeare Festival on its 25th
anniversary and to wish cast and crew and audience
members another great season in 2013.
Au nom du premier ministre Stephen Harper et
du gouvernement du Canada, je tiens à féliciter
le Freewill Shakespeare Festival à l’occasion de
son 25e anniversaire. Je souhaite aux artistes, aux
artisans et aux spectateurs une bonne saison 2013.
The Honourable / L’honorable James Moore
C O N G R AT U L AT I O N S
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PAGE
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A Major Sponsor Since the Creation of the Freewill Shakespeare Festival in 1989
• 10501-82 Avenue (Strathcona Square) Phone (780) 439-9829 •
• 13712-40 Street Phone (780) 456-3211 • www.chianticafe.ca
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Freewill Shakespeare
Festival Administration
Lisa Dalmazzi
Production Assistant
Geneva Seaton
Site Coordinator
Marianne Copithorne
Artistic Director
Candice Charney
Stage Manager, King Lear
Jake Prinns
Administrative Assistant
Cadence Konopaki
Managing Director
Tracey Byrne
Stage Manager,
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Lucas Boutilier/Naked Rain
Creative
Festival Photographer
Sang Sang Lee
Assistant Stage Manager
Annette Loiselle
Youth Programming Director
Andrew Paul
Publicist
Gil Miciak
Apprentice Stage Manager
Mother Nature
Ambience Director
Josiah Hiemstra
Head of Lighting
Sharla Matkin
Camp Shakespeare
Administrator
Jim Guedo
Director, King Lear
Matthew Koyata
Sound Technician
Marianne Copithorne
Director, A Midsummer
Night’s Dream
Chris Hayes
Head Carpenter
Cheryl Andrews
Assistant Managing Director/
Volunteer Coordinator
Cory Sincennes
Festival Lighting
& Set Designer
Greg Cardinal
Richard Green
Serge Menard
Carpenter
Narda McCarroll
Festival Costume Designer
Amy Kucharuk
Props Master
Joanna Johnston
Head of Wardrobe/
Assistant Designer
Darrell Cooksey
Gizmos/Whizbangs
Dave Clarke
Composer/Sound Designer,
King Lear
Matthew Skopyk
Composer/Sound Designer,
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Kevin Corey
Fight Choreographer
Bobbi Goddard
Dialect Coach,
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
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06
Julie Davie
Brenda Inglis
Cutter
YOUNG COMPANY
Bobbi Goddard
Luc Tellier
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Kevin Mott
Chair
Sue Quon
Vice Chair
Teresa Goldie
Secretary
Michelle Docking
Treasurer
Sandy Bugeja
Janine Hodder
Kathleen Mulder
Kathryn Neuman
Stitcher
Jody Jones
Michelle Warren
Milliner
Mary-Ellen Perley
Sylvia Evans
Wardrobe Assistant
Janice MacDonald
Sarah Polkinghorne
ARTISTIC ASSOCIATES
Nicole Deibert
Head Painter
Tracey Byrne
Tyson Erno
Festival Production Manager
Andrea Steinwand
Painter
Troy O’Donnell
Tiana Boutilier
Assistant Production
Manager
Katie Elliot
Concession Manager
Annette Loiselle
History of the Freewill
Shakespeare Festival
The Freewill Shakespeare Festival
is produced by the Free Will Players
Theatre Guild in Edmonton, Alberta,
Canada. Free Will Players was formed
in 1989 by a group of actors in a truly
co-operative, pass-the-hat spirit with
the mandate to produce the works of
William Shakespeare. Since then the
company has attracted over 220,000
people to 37 main-stage productions.
These large numbers are a reflection of
the high quality of production and the
very affordable ticket prices, which range
from pay-what-you-will performances to
free admission for children under twelve.
We also offer discounts for seniors and
students and an economically priced
season pass.
The Freewill Shakespeare Festival, which
became a professional not-for-profit
theatre company in 1998, consists of two
fully realized Shakespearean productions
that run in repertory over four weeks
from late June to late July. Productions
boast contemporary interpretations of
setting, theme, and character to best
communicate the plays ideas to a modern
audience. The Festival also offers the
Camp Shakespeare program which runs
in tandem with the Festival. Week-long
camps expose young people aged 8-18
to Shakepeare’s text, music, dance and
stage fighting, culminating in an afternoon
showcase for friends and family.
The Free Will Players / The Freewill
Shakespeare Festival has been
nominated for numerous Elizabeth
Sterling Haynes Awards for excellence
in Edmonton theatre. Most recently,
Chris Bullough received the award for
Outstanding Actor for his sensitive
performance as the tragic title character
in the 2008 production of Richard III
and Nadien Chu received the award for
Best Supporting Actress in the 2010
production of Titus Andronicus.
In 2003 the Free Will Players /
The Freewill Shakespeare Festival
was honored to receive the City of
Edmonton’s Salute to Excellence Arts
Achievement Award and the Syncrude
Award for Innovative Artistic Direction at
the Mayors Luncheon for Business and
the Arts in Edmonton.
“He that is thy friend indeed, he will help thee in thy need”
– William Shakespeare
As we move into our next 25 years,
the Freewill Shakespeare Festival is seeking new
Directors for our Board as well as Committee Members.
To apply, or for more information, please forward your
letter of interest to [email protected]
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…that very first show...
By Annette Loiselle & Troy O’Donnell
Founding Members of the Festival
The first year of the Freewill Shakespeare
Festival (known as Free Will Players in
1989) and our production of The Comedy
of Errors was a hodge podge fly by the
seat of our pants sort of affair.
In what has become Freewill legend,
Annette Loiselle (having spent the
previous summer performing outdoor
Shakespeare in Calgary) was taking a
shower and realized that every major
centre seemed to have Shakespeare
in the Park except Edmonton. She
brought the idea to her classmates,
the graduating class of the BFA Acting
Program at the University of Alberta. By
the end of the school year five members
of the class along with two from other
programs began the task of bringing the
dream to life: Geoff Brumlik, Shelley Kline,
Annette Loiselle, James MacDonald,
Lisa Meekison, Troy O’Donnell, and
Declan O’Reilly.
While the grand idea of getting grants
to pay everyone did not come to fruition,
we did manage to receive one STEP
grant to cover an administrator/publicist
position. With no other resources, money
was fronted from company members’
day jobs as servers and paid back through
pass the hat donations at the end of each
performance. After expenses were
covered, every speaking actor walked
away with $100 for their trouble.
Everything was beg, borrow, or steal.
Set pieces, costumes, and props were
scrounged from a variety of sources,
including dumpster diving at Namao
Junior High School whose drama
PAGE
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department was having a huge end of
year cleanse. Office space was donated
by the University of Alberta, Rehearsal
space from Stage Polaris, and a friend’s
basement apartment for visiting director
Susan Cox.
The lack of resources did not deter
us from trying to present spectacle
on a shoe string budget. The cavernous
stage was filled with a complete band
playing live soundtrack and a cast of
over twenty five. We did not have the
resources to build a forestage out from
the permanent one in the amphitheatre,
as we do now. We did not have money
for microphones. To allow the beautiful
poetry of Shakespeare to be heard
past the 20 odd feet that separated the
audience from the stage, a high energy
“turn your head and shout yourself silly”
style of acting was adopted. This was
complimented with brightly coloured
costumes, clown wigs and makeup,
and big signs announcing scene settings
all set against a backdrop of the town
clock fashioned from dumpster-rescued
flats held in place by offstage actors to
prevent them from blowing away.
Surprisingly, with little publicity and no
history we still managed to attract close
to 1000 audience members that year.
It was clear that it was something missing
from Edmonton’s landscape and we
were thrilled to be able to provide it.
1. Comedy of Errors (1989)
2. Midsummer Night’s Dream (1993)
3. Romeo and Juliet (1994)
4. Two Gentlemen of Verona (1999)
1.
2.
4.
3.
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CITADEL THEATRE
ROB B I N S
STAMINA, STRENGTH AND AGILITY
OF THE BODY, MIND AND HEART
A work in
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FOOTE THEATRE SCHOOL
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enhance our communities. Yet
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and sometimes all they need is
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the gap between their academic
training and their professional
careers. Emerging artists: they’re
a work in progress. We can’t wait
to see how they turn out.
We are proud to support emerging
young artists through the Free Will
Players ‘Young Company’ program.
To find out more, go to
www.rbc.com/donations.
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PAGE
11
Directed By Jim Guedo
KING
LEAR
Dramatis
Personae
Character (in order of appearance)Actor
Earl of Kent, Lear’s royal advisor
John Kirkpatrick
Earl of Gloucester, one of Lear’s cabinet
Julien Arnold
Edmund, Gloucester’s illegitimate son
Sheldon Elter
Edgar, Gloucester’s legitimate son and heir
Nathan Cuckow
Lear, King of England
John Wright
Goneril, Lear’s eldest daughter
Annette Loiselle
Duke of Albany, Goneril’s husband
Troy O’Donnell
Regan, Lear’s second daughter
Belinda Cornish
Duke of Cornwall, Regan’s husband
John Ullyatt
Cordelia, Lear’s youngest daughter
Kristi Hansen
Duke of Burgandy, suitor to Cordelia
Oswald, assistant to Goneril
Soldier / Captain
Jesse Gervais
King of France, suitor to Cordelia Soldier / One of Cornwall’s Men
Kevin Corey
The Fool, Lear’s sidekick
Dave Horak
Waiter / Curran / Soldier / Servant
Luc Tellier
Waiter / Old Women / Doctor / Soldier / Servant
Bobbi Goddard
Under the terms of the Indpendent Theatre Agreement, Freewill Shakespeare Festival engages
professional artists who are members of the Canadian Actor’s Equity Association.
There will be one fifteen-minute intermission.
Photography, video-recording and audio-recording are strictly prohibited.
Please remember to turn off all cell phones and pagers prior to performance.
PAGE
12
synopsis
DIRECTOR NOTES
Lear divides his kingdom between his three
daughters. Put to a test of their love, Goneril
and Regan flatter him, but Cordelia speaks
the truth. Lear disinherits her, leaving her to
marry the King of France. His advisor Kent
tries to reason with him, and is banished.
Gloucester, also loyal to Lear, has two sons:
Edgar and Edmund, a bastard plotting to gain
his brother’s inheritance. Edmund convinces
his father that Edgar plans his death, then
persuades his brother to flee his father’s
wrath. Edgar disguises himself as a homeless
person, ‘Poor Tom’, to avoid capture.
Lear visits Goneril and Regan with his Fool
and a disguised Kent, who Lear unknowingly
takes into his service. The sisters pressure
him to dismiss his entourage. In a rage, Lear
leaves into a violent storm, where he meets
Poor Tom. Gloucester leads them to shelter,
then sends them to Dover where Cordelia
arrives with the French army to aid Lear.
Edmund betrays his father to the Duke of
Cornwall who puts Gloucester’s eyes out.
In a struggle, Cornwall is killed.
Gloucester meets his son Edgar disguised
as ‘Poor Tom’. Withholding his identity, Edgar
leads his father to Dover. Animosity between
Goneril and her husband Albany leads her to
shift her affections to Edmund; Regan also
turns her desires towards him.
England and France battle; Lear and Cordelia
are captured and sentenced to death by
Edmund. Edgar battles Edmund. Out of
jealousy, Goneril kills Regan. When Edmund
is defeated, Goneril then kills herself. Before
dying, Edmund confesses his evil deed of the
death sentences of Lear and Cordelia.
Lear enters with the body of Cordelia. He
collapses in sorrow and dies beside her.
Reconciled with his son Edgar, Gloucester
also dies. Kent and Edgar depart, and Albany
is left to rule Britain.
Why is this show relevant to today’s
audience?
At it simplest, Lear is a family drama. An
aging parent trying to leave a legacy but
instead unleashing strife within a family can
happen any time, anywhere. Shakespeare
captures all the contradictions of human
behavior in his writing, so Lear especially
can speak to us about the consequences
of our actions in a world without a moral
compass.
What themes of the show inspire you most?
The play addresses and balances so many
arguments: blindness versus sight, both literal
and metaphorical; reality versus ‘madness’;
power versus responsibility. The landmines
when maneuvering the landscape of ‘family’
is especially intriguing.
What context have you decided to set the
play in, and why?
We’re doing modern dress; I’ve never
been interested in doing Shakespeare in
a perceived ‘period’ flavor. In his day, all
productions of Shakespeare were modern
dress actually…one didn’t see togas in
Julius Caesar until a century later. He
conceived his work to be performed with
minimal scenery and without elaborate
costumes to allow the play and his words
to breathe. We intend to do the same. So
it’s the distant past, prior to the high tech
world of cell phones, WiFi and Twitter.
If you could tell the audience one thing before
they watch the show what would it be?
This play embraces contradictions. It’s
open to multiple interpretations because
its themes are woven into a strong
tapestry of characters. So approach it
with no pre-disposed judgment about any
character. Yes, we know bad people can
do bad things… But you’ll see good people
do bad things. Bad people do good things.
Who is right? Who is wrong? What is just?
And what is cruel? A great play leaves you
with more questions than answers. Lear is
such a play.
PAGE
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Directed By Marianne Copithorne
A MIDSUMMER
NIGHT’S DREAM
Dramatis
Personae
Character (in order of appearance)Actor
Nick Bottom, a weaver /
John Ullyatt
Ass / Pyramus
Fern Bottom, Nick’s wife / Feather, servant faerie to Titania
Annette Loiselle
Philostrate, servant to Theseus /
Robin Goodfellow, servant faerie to Oberon
Kevin Corey
Theseus, Duke of Athens /
Oberon, King of the Faeries
John Kirkpatrick
Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons /
Titania, Queen of the Faeries
Belinda Cornish
Atom, a tiny Shih Tzu / a tiny changeling pup
Atom Cornish Meer
Egeus, father of Hermia
John Wright
Hermia, daughter of Egeus, in love with Lysander Bobbi Goddard
Demetrius, suitor to Hermia
Jesse Gervais
Lysander, in love with Hermia
Sheldon Elter
Helena, in love with Demetrius
Kristi Hansen
Peter Quince, a carpenter /
Mustardseed, a faerie / Stage Manager
Troy O’Donnell
Francis Flute, a bellows mender / Peaseblossom, a faerie / Thisbe
Luc Tellier
Robin Starveling, a tailor / Cobweb, a faerie /
Moonshine
Dave Horak
Tom Snout, a tinker / Moth, a faerie / Wall
Nathan Cuckow
Snug, a joiner /
Dandelion, a faerie / Lion
Julien Arnold
Under the terms of the Indpendent Theatre Agreement, Freewill Shakespeare Festival engages
professional artists who are members of the Canadian Actor’s Equity Association.
There will be one fifteen-minute intermission.
Photography, video-recording and audio-recording are strictly prohibited.
Please remember to turn off all cell phones and pagers prior to performance.
PAGE
14
synopsis
DIRECTOR NOTES
In Athens, Hermia loves Lysander, and
refuses to marry Demetrius. Duke Theseus
states she must marry the man her father
chooses, or be sentenced either to death,
or to a nunnery. Hermia and Lysander
decide to elope, and tell their friend
Helena. In love with Demetrius, Helena
tells him about their plan, and they pursue
Hermia and Lysander into the forest.
In the forest, Faerie King Oberon is
angered when Titania refuses to give her
little ‘Changeling’ to him. Oberon orders
Robin Goodfellow to find a magic flower
called ‘love-in-idleness’. When applied
to the eyelids, the intended victim falls
in love with the first living thing they see.
Oberon applies it to Titania, and orders
Robin to use it on Demetrius so he’ll fall in
love with Helena. Robin errs, causing both
Demetrius and Lysander to fall in love with
Helena, and turn against Hermia. When
amateur actors arrive to rehearse ‘Pyramus
and Thisbe’, Robin transforms Nick Bottom
into an ass, and Titania falls in love with
him. Oberon pities her, and releases Titania
from her spell. Robin reverses the spell
on Bottom, unites Lysander with Hermia,
and Demetrius with Helena. At dawn, the
faeries disappear, and the lovers head
back to Athens. Bottom joins his cast at
the palace, and they perform their play for
Theseus, his new bride Hippolyta, and the
contented lovers.
What are the biggest challenges specific
to presenting A Midsummer Night’s Dream?
My biggest challenge is always to find a
way to cast the entire play with a relatively
small company of actors. This one has
about 30 characters, and Oberon and
Titania require a veritable fleet of faeries.
We are producing this play with 15 actors,
so that’s the trick in creating a concept to
satisfy Shakespeare’s needs.
Why is this show relevant to today’s
audience?
I’d like to think most people love a little
crazy fun in the forest and want to believe
that faeries exist. Love is a fickle emotion,
and people can do pretty foolish things
when they’re spellbound. Shakespeare
knows he’s making fun of love, and mocks
Romeo and Juliet in the play within his play
– Pyramus and Thisbe.
What themes of the show inspire you most?
Order versus Chaos – Oberon trusts Puck
enough to give him the magic flower potion
and to follow his directions correctly. But
faeries don’t understand order – they like to
cause chaos – they are more irresponsible
and erratic that humans are – so who is
actually in charge here? It’s every man,
woman, and faerie for him/herself in this
neck of the woods.
You have worked with Freewill for a number
of years in different capacities (actor, director,
and AD). What keeps you coming back?
I love directing Shakespeare performed
outdoors. Lighting designers have always
told me how jealous they are of Mother
Nature – they just can’t compete with her
when she conjures a brilliant sunset as a
backdrop to our comedy – or an electrical
storm during one of our tragedies. She
doesn’t always get it right – but when she
does, it’s simply awe inspiring.
PAGE
15
“For never anything
can be amiss,
When simpleness
and duty tender it.”
A Midsummer Night’s Dream (5.1.82)
PAGE
16
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PAGE
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We look at everything from a creative perspective.
The official design partner of Freewill Shakespeare since 1998.
.com
25 seasons of holding the
Mirror up to Nature
Linda Duncan
MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT / EDMONTON—STRATHCONA
[email protected] / lindaduncanmp.ca
@lindaduncanmp | facebook.com/lindaduncanmp
PAGE
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Celebrating 25 years of the Bard’s best!
Tix-on-the-Square:
780.420.1757
Visit freewillshakespeare.com
for performance and ticket
details.
@FreewillPlayers
“What win
I if I gain the thing
I seek?”
You’ll never know unless
you buy a 50/50 ticket!
Listen carefully at the end of
intermission for the announcement
of the 50/50 draw winner. Winners
must present their ticket at the
Concession at the end of the show
to claim their prize. All proceeds
from 50/50 sales support the
Freewill Shakespeare Festival.
Best of luck!
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for a 20% discount
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PAGE
19
biographies
• King Lear
• A Midsummer
Night’s Dream
• Production Team
JULIEN ARNOLD – Earl of Glouchester / Snug / Dandelion / Lion
Julien is so happy to be back in the company this year he could almost
burst. His first show in the park was 1992’s Much Ado About Nothing,
and since then some of his favourite roles have been Petruchio in The
Taming of the Shrew, Romeo in Romeo and Juliet, Malvolio in Twelfth
Night, and Don Armado in Love’s Labours Lost. Julien was an artistic
associate with the company for many years, but left last year to run his
own company, Atlas Theatre, which does plays in the Lower Arts Space
in the Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Old Strathcona – look for their
production of Shipwrecked at this year’s fringe. Julien has also performed
with many of the local theatres, including The Citadel, Workshop West,
Theatre Network, The Mayfield, and Teatro La Qundicina, and will be
acting in the upcoming production of A Picasso at the Fringe, directed by
Shadow Theatre’s artistic director John Hudson.
TIANA BOUTILIER – Assistant Production Manager / Stage Carpenter
Tiana is back for her 7th year of summer fun! She now has enough
XP to control the weather. Enjoy the rain, mortals!
TRACEY BYRNE – Stage Manager, A Midsummer Night’s Dream
This year marks Tracey’s twelfth season with Shakespeare in the Park!
Some of her favorite Freewill credits include stage managing The
Tempest, The Merchant of Venice, Titus Andronicus and The Taming of
the Shrew. Most recently, Tracey stage managed The Penelopiad for the
Citadel Theatre. Last season, Tracey was assistant stage manager for
The God of Carnage and The Rocky Horror Show for the Citadel Theatre.
Many thanks to Marianne, Cadence, Candice, Sang Sang and Gil.
CANDICE CHARNEY – Stage Manager, King Lear
Candice is excited to be back for her eighth summer at the park. Previous
shows this season include A Christmas Carol with the Citadel Theatre;
Where the Blood Mixes with Theatre Network; Soul Collector with
Catalyst Theatre. Thank you to Tracey, Sang Sang and Gil for another
great summer.
DAVE CLARKE – Sound Designer / Composer, King Lear
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 Let The Light Of Day Through (Theatre Network),
6.0 Heap & Pebble (Northern Light Theatre), Evie’s Waltz (Shadow Theatre)
& Julius Caesar (Free Will). 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).
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MARIANNE COPITHORNE – Director, A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Marianne is delighted to be directing A Midsummer Night’s Dream
for Freewill’s 25th Anniversary! Freewill directing credits include The
Merchant of Venice, Love’s Labor’s Lost, Hamlet, As You Like It, Titus
Andronicus, Much Ado About Nothing, and Othello. Other directing
credits include Blithe Spirit (Vertigo Theatre); Communion, Woman
in Black, Palace of the End, Choke, Habitat and Perfect Pie (Theatre
Network); Dial M for Murder, and Little Shop of Horrors (Mayfield Dinner
Theatre); and Goodnight Desdemona, Good Morning Juliet, and The
Double Inconstancy (Studio Theatre, Timms). Marianne is a member of
CBC’s Irrelevant Show cast, and is a graduate of the BFA Acting and the
MFA Directing Programs at the University of Alberta.
KEVIN COREY – King of France / Soldier / Cornwall’s Servant /
Philostrate / Robin Goodfellow
Past Free Will productions include Julius Caesar, The Tempest, Much
Ado About Nothing, Macbeth (twice), Twelfth Night, Merchant of Venice,
Romeo & Juliet, Love’s Labour’s Lost, A Midsummer’s Night Dream,
Henry V, Richard III, As You Like It, The Winter’s Tale and Two Gentlemen
of Verona the musical. His most recent credits are The Ends of The Earth at
Vertigo Theatre, Old Nick at Caravan Farm Theatre as well as A Few Good
Men at The Citadel Theatre and The Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre.
BELINDA CORNISH – Regan / Hippolyta / Titania
Belinda is thrilled to be joining Freewill for the 25th anniversary season!
Previous appearances with the company include Julius Caesar, Othello,
Much Ado About Nothing and Titus Andronicus. Other recent credits
include: Shear Madness, Boeing Boeing, The 39 Steps (Mayfield Theatre);
The Exquisite Hour, Mrs. Lindeman Proposes, Witness to a Conga (Teatro
La Quindicina); Going To St. Ives (Atlas Theatre). She is a core company
member of the live improvised soap opera DieNasty, and can be seen
in Superchannel’s new sitcom Tiny Plastic Men. Belinda lives with her
brilliant husband Mark and two small but wily dogs, one of whom will be
upstaging her wildly during every performance of A Midsummer Night’s
Dream. Enjoy!
ATOM CORNISH MEER – Atom / A tiny changeling pup
Atom is delighted to be making her debut with this wonderful festival,
and to be following in the distinguished shih tzu footsteps of Woody
Copithorne-Wright. Atom’s previous stage credits include: the title
character in Diamond Dog (Panties Productions); The Infinite Shiver
(Teatro La Quindicina); as well as appearing in Rapid Fire Theatre’s
Chimprov. She can also be seen in Superchannel’s AMPIA-nominated
sitcom Tiny Plastic Men. Yes, seriously – she has actually appeared in all
these things. She likes stealing tomatoes and swimming.
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NATHAN CUCKOW – Edgar / Tom Snout / Moth / Wall
Nathan is an Edmonton-based actor, producer, and writer. Recent credits
include: Flight of the Viscount (Shadow Theatre); The Tempest / Julius
Caesar (FreeWill); In On It (Theatre Network); Waiting for Godot (Wishbone
Theatre); and Victor and Victoria’s Terrifying Tale of Terrible Things (Kill
Your Television). Nathan is the proud recipient of a 2007 GLAAD Media
Award for Outstanding New York Theatre, and a Elizabeth Sterling Haynes
Award for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in Kill
Your Television’s production of Daniel MacIvor’s one-man show, Monster.
Nathan is thrilled to be returning to the park this summer and to be
working with such a talented creative team. Special thanks to Marianne
and Jim for this exciting opportunity!
SHELDON ELTER – Edmund / Lysander
Sheldon is ecstatic to be back in the Park. Previous Freewill credits
include Two Gentlemen of Verona (The Musical), The Winter’s Tale,
Romeo and Juliet, Love’s Labour’s Lost, Twelfth Night and Merchant of
Venice. His one-man show, Metis Mutt, has toured across Canada and
internationally. Other theatre credits include Beowulf (Workshop West
Theatre); Vimy, A Prairie Boy’s Winter, and Julius Caesar (Citadel Theatre);
Shear Madness, Buddy Holly, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling
Bee, and The Full Monty (Mayfield Dinner Theatre); Hroses: An Affront
to Reason (The Maggie Tree); L’Homme de la Mancha (L’Unithéâtre);
The Canada Show (Monster Theatre/MTYP); Undiscovered Country
(Undiscovr’d Country Collective); Wrecked and Dungeon Master’s
Handbook (Azimuth Theatre); Frostbite Christmas (Stuck in a Snowbank
Theatre, Yellowknife). Sheldon is a founding member of the ukulele
group, The Be Arthurs. He stars in the APTN series, Hank Williams’ First
Nation, and can be seen in APTN’s sketch comedy series, CAUTION:
May Contain Nuts. Sheldon is very excited to be heading to Ottawa next
season to be a part of Jillian Keiley’s ensemble of actors at the National
Arts Centre of Canada.
TYSON ERNO – Production Manager
Tyson Erno is an Edmonton-based Production Manager, Entertainment
Technician and Consultant. This is his fifth and final year of guiding
Freewill through the forest. His career highlights include: Technical
Consultant with Edmonton Tourism and their Festival City in a Box
promotion; Head of Audio for the University of Alberta’s Department
of Drama; leading the Maclab Centre for the Performing Arts in
Leduc, Alberta through its inaugural season as Technical Director, and
Technology Consultant on the Morinville Community Cultural Centre.
Tyson is a graduate of the University of Alberta’s BFA (Theatre Production)
program, and a member of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage
Employees. Tyson is moving on to pursue opportunities with Western
Canada’s preeminent Sound Reinforcement Company, FM Systems. He
cherishes and will miss his time with such a merry band of rogues and
ne’er-dowells.
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JESSE GERVAIS – Duke of Burgandy / Oswald / Soldier / Captain / Demetrius
Jesse Gervais is an Edmonton based Actor, Dancer, Street performer and
Voice over artist. He has been very fortunate to have performed for many
companies across Canada including: Theatre Network, Northern Light Theatre,
The Citadel, The Free Will Shakespeare Company, Firefly Theatre, Teatro La
Quindicina, Shadow Theatre, The Maggie Tree, Blarney Productions, Theatre
Calgary, Vertigo Theatre, Alberta Theatre Projects, The High Performance
Rodeo, The Fluid Festival, Concrete Theatre, Globe Theatre, and The National
Arts Center. He has appeared in ATPN’s comedy sketch series: Caution May
Contain Nuts, Bite TV’s: E-Town, and appears as ‘Jesse’ in Tiny Plastic Men
on Superchannel. He has lent his voice to videogame characters in Bioware’s:
Mass Effect 1, 2, 3; Dragon Age 1, 2, 3; and various cartoons for the Cartoon
Network. Jesse is the Co-Artistic Director of Windrow Performance with his
partner Amber Borotsik and has produced and performed in 3 full length
dance\theatre productions across Alberta. Jesse has recently made a full
recovery from Bi-Lateral Calcaneus Fractures (Broken heels). Jesse has a
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting from the University of Alberta.
BOBBI GODDARD – Attendant / Soldier / Servant / Hermia
/ Dialect Coach, A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Bobbi is most grateful and joyful to be a part of this year’s Freewill company!
An Alberta-based artist, Bobbi is a graduate of Mount Royal University’s
Theatre Performance program and is currently a BFA actor at the University
of Alberta. Recent credits include: The Actress in Jason Chinn’s adaptation
of The Seagull, The Bearded Lady in Death of the Freak Show at OYR’s HighPerformance Rodeo, and most recently she joined the creative team for The
Last Days of Judas Iscariot as Assistant Voice/Dialect/Text Coach. Look for
Bobbi next year in the Corner Stage at the U of A! Thanks and ever thanks to
the ones I love.
Supported by the RBC Emerging Artists Project.
JIM GUEDO – Director, King Lear
Over the last thirty years, Jim Guedo’s work as director has been showcased
across the country at Canadian Stage, The National Arts Centre, The Neptune
Theatre, Manitoba Theatre Centre, Prairie Theatre Exchange, Sudbury Theatre
Centre, The Globe Theatre, Alberta Theatre Projects, The Citadel Theatre and
The Phoenix Theatre. Recent directing credits include: Joni Mitchell’s Songs of
a Prairie Girl [National Arts Centre]; Rabbit Hole and Shining City [Persephone
Theatre]; The Shape of Things [Canstage]. Independent production directing
credits include Dying City [Fire in the Hole Productions]; It’s Raining in
Barcelona [2011 Fringe Tour]; The Four of Us [Skinny Walrus]; Bad Jazz and
Julius Caesar [Theatre Ecstasis]; It’s All True and The Coronation Voyage [Last
Exit Theatre]. With his own company Wild Side Productions he directed The
Pillowman, as well as the Canadian Premieres of Neil Labute’s Fat Pig and
Jim Cartwright’s I Licked A Slag’s Deodorant. He’s directed over two dozen
Canadian premieres, and won six Sterling Awards (Edmonton) for Achievement
in Direction as well as two S.A.T.A. (Saskatoon and Area Theatre Award) for
direction. He was nominated for the Siminovitch Prize in Theatre, as well
as a Dora Mavor Moore Award for Oleanna with R.H.Thomson and Kristin
Thomson. As a Designer, Jim won the S.A.T.A. Award for Someone Who’ll
Watch Over Me, and a Sterling Award for the set design for M. Butterfly. Since
being appointed Chair of the theatre Arts Program at MacEwan University’s
CFAC campus, he has directed Stephen Sondheim’s A Little Night Music and
Merrily We Roll Along, Spring Awakening and The Musical of Musicals: the
Musical!, as well as the Canadian Premieres of Xanadu and Vernon God Little.
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KRISTI HANSEN – Cordelia / Helena
Kristi was last seen in the park in 2005 in Romeo and Juliet and Love’s
Labour’s Lost. A graduate of the University of Alberta’s BFA Acting
program (2004), and of the Grant MacEwan Theatre Arts Program (2001),
some of Kristi’s theatre credits as an actor include Little Elephants
(Shadow Theatre); Apocalypse Prairie and Absolute Blue (Azimuth
Theatre); L’Homme de la Mancha and Grace et Gloria (l’Unithéâtre);
Saying Sorry is Not Enough (Tall Tree Theatre/Azimuth Theatre); Pith,
The Scent of Compulsion, and The Ambassador’s Wives (Teatro la
Quindicina); [sic] and Dying City (Trunk Theatre); Age of Arousal, Hroses:
An Affront to Reason, Folie à Deux, and Hunger Striking (The Maggie
Tree); Grumplestock’s (Surreal SoReal Theatre); One (Ghost River Theatre/
REDtoBLUE Performance); The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling
Bee and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Mayfield Dinner Theatre); and Woody
(OneLegged Productions/Azimuth Theatre). Kristi is the co-founder and
co-Artistic Director of The Maggie Tree, and an Artistic Associate with
Teatro la Quindicina. Kristi is a Sterling Award winning actor and producer.
DAVE HORAK – Fool / Robin Starvelling / Moonshine / Cobweb
Dave is excited to be making his debut in the park with such a fabulous
company of artists working on two great plays! He has performed across
Canada and the United States at such theatre companies as Vertigo
Theatre (Ends of the Earth), WPA Theatre NYC (My Life with Men),
and Theatreworks USA (Ramona Quimby), The Citadel Theatre (Death
of a Salesman), The Mayfield (Boeing-Boeing, Full Monty), Catalyst
Theatre (Sticky Feet), Workshop West (The Bus Show), Leave it to Jane
(Midsummer Night’s Dream, Wonderful Town) and Quest Theatre (Under
the Big Top, The General). He also once played a bowling pin in a
mattress commerical. Dave teaches movement for actors at MacEwan
University and has also directed many productions there, the most recent
being Martin Crimp’s Attempts on her Life. He is a new contributing editor
for the Actors Centre Journal in New York and holds BFA (Acting) and
MFA (Directing) degrees from the University of Alberta.
JOHN KIRKPATRICK – Earl of Kent / Theseus / Oberon
John is an Edmonton based, award-winning actor/director and former
Artistic Director of the Freewill Shakespeare Festival. Recent acting credits
include: A Few Good Men, Rock ‘n’ Roll, Julius Caesar, Noises Off, and Fully
Committed; The Citadel Theatre, The Pirates of Penzance; Edmonton Opera,
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels; Mayfield Dinner Theatre, Twelfth Night and Othello;
The Freewill Shakespeare Festival, The Gift of the Coat, and The Age of
Arousal; Alberta Theatre Projects, Of Mice and Men; Theatre Calgary. Recent
directing credits include: 9-5, the Musical, Boeing Boeing, The 39 Steps; The
Mayfield Dinner Theatre, Human Remains; Studio Theatre, The Tempest,
Julius Caesar, and Macbeth; Freewill Shakespeare Festival. John has had the
good fortune to act for companies across Canada including; The Vancouver
Playhouse, The Globe Theatre, The Manitoba Theatre Centre, The Canadian
Stage Company and The National Arts Centre. John has a BFA in Acting
(1993) from the University of Alberta. Enjoy the show!
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24
SANG SANG LEE – Assistant Stage Manager
Sang Sang is very excited for her first shows at the Park! She is looking
forward to the new challenges that outdoor theatre will present. Earlier
this season, Sang Sang was an assistant stage manager for the Citadel
on Monty Python’s Spamalot and Private Lives. Previously Sang Sang has
worked on Sound of Music, Rocky Horror, A Christmas Carol, Billy Bishop
Goes to War and As You Like It (Citadel Theatre); Hunchback (Catalyst
Theatre); The Super Groovy 70s, Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks and
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Mayfield Theatre). She has also interned on
Don Giovanni in Italy with COSI. She is a graduate of Grant MacEwan’s
Theatre Production program. Many thanks to Tracey, Candice, and Gil.
ANNETTE LOISELLE – Goneril / Fern Bottom / Feather
Annette is thrilled to be back in the park after a broken collar bone kept her
away last July. Soon after, she got very busy with her performance in The
Passion of Mary at the Roxy, a play she wrote and co-produced with the
Passion Project. Then A Christmas Carol at the Citadel and most recently
she got to sing and dance in STRIKE! The Musical, for Workshop West
Theatre. She is one of the founders of SkirtsAfire, HerArts Festival which
had an extremely successful debut in March. Annette is also an Artistic
Associate with the Freewill Shakespeare Festival, and her favorite roles
include Beatrice (Sterling Nomination) in Much Ado About Nothing, Kate
in The Taming of the Shrew, Portia in The Merchant of Venice, Hermione
in A Winter’s Tale, Rosalind in As You Like It and Queen Elizabeth in
Richard III. Other favorite performances for Annette include Rabbit Hole
for ATP, Calgary; The Last Train for Shadow Theatre; My One and Only
for Workshop West Theatre and Bloody Poetry (Sterling Nomination) for
Northern Light Theatre. Much love to Terry, Lili, Josie, Dez and Riles.
NARDA MCCARROLL – Festival Costume Designer
Narda is very happy to be part of Freewill’s 25th anniversary season! She has
been designing costumes for the company for 15 sunny (mostly) summers.
Favorite design credits elsewhere include: costumes for The Penelopiad,
lights for A Few Good Men, set/lights for True Love Lies (Citadel Theatre);
production design for Red and Mary’s Wedding (ATP): set/lights for Gaslight,
Sweeney Todd (Vertigo); set/costumes for The Trespassers (Belfry, Vancouver
Playhouse) and lights for the national tour of The Drowning Girls. She is the
recipient of 3 Sterling Awards, 2 Betty Mitchell Awards.
GIL MICIAK – Apprentice Stage Manager
Gil was the apprentice stage manager last year for The Tempest and
Julius Caesar and is thrilled to be returning to Freewill this season. Recent
credits include apprentice stage manager The Soul Collector (Catalyst
Theatre), Evie’s Waltz (Shadow Theatre), Aida (Edmonton Opera), and
Stage Manager of Saint Joan (Studio Theatre). Next season, Gil will be
stage managing the Edmonton run of Aladdin for Alberta Opera. Gil was
born and raised in Edmonton and graduated this spring from the BFA,
Stage Management program at the UofA.
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TROY O’DONNELL – Duke of Albany / Peter Quince / Mustardseed
/ Stage Manager
No stranger to danger, Troy has played Lysander in A Midsummer
Night’s Dream (Greenfield Player), Egeus, Flute, and Mustardseed
in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (University of Alberta), Peaseblossom and Lord
in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Citadel Theatre), Philostrate, First Faerie, and
Snug in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Free Will Players), Philostrate, Starveling,
and Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Leave It To Jane), Theseus and
Oberon in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Theatre Prospero), and Starveling
in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (River City Shakespeare Festival). Playing
Peter Quince this year gets him one step closer to his goal of an even dozen
productions of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
MATTHEW SKOPYK – Sound Designer / Composer, A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Matthew Skopyk is an Edmonton-based Sound Designer and Composer.
Recent design/composition credits include: Richard III, Titus Andronicus,
Much Ado About Nothing, and Macbeth (Freewill); Spreepark the Musical
(Mischief and Mayhem); Palace of the End (Theatre Network); Annie Mae’s
Movement (Studio Theatre); and Something Red (Vault). A BFA graduate of
the U of A Technical Theatre Production program (2006), Matthew excels
at software/hardware manipulation, allowing for new realms of possibility
in theatre through manipulation of data. His works include wireless
performer-worn sensors that allow for performer control over technical
aspects of a production, a glove-based three-dimensional-panner for sound
designers, and a MIDI cello. Matthew has worked as a Front of House mixer for
companies such as Free Will Players and the Catalyst Theatre. Matthew is the
current Head of Audio for the Drama Department at the University of Alberta.
CORY SINCENNES – Festival Set and Lighting Designer
Cory’s set, costume, lighting and video designs have been seen
throughout Canada; as well as in Germany, Austria, Belgium, England and
Russia. He has received both national and international recognition for
his design work, and is fast becoming one of Canada’s newest talents.
Recent design credits include: Spamalot, The Rocky Horror Show, Three
Musketeers and Little Women for The Citadel Theatre; Next to Normal
for Citadel/Theatre Calgary; Let the Light of Day Through, Michel and
Ti-Jean, Communion, Hardcore Logo: LIVE and The Woman in Black for
Theatre Network; Chicago and Boeing Boeing for the Mayfield Dinner
Theatre; DOG: A 1950’s Homelife Nightmare and Grumplestock’s for
Surreal SoReal Theatre. Cory studied design at Ryerson Theatre School
and holds a degree in Architectural Studies from Carleton University. He
also holds an MFA in Theatre Design from the University of Alberta.
www.corysincennes.com
LUC TELLIER – Curran / Soldier / Attendant / Servant / Francis Flute
/ Peaseblossom / Thisbe
Luc is thrilled to be making his Freewill debut this summer! He has
previously worked with Surreal SoReal Theatre, Promise Productions,
the Citadel Theatre, and has made numerous appearances in both the
Edmonton Fringe and the Northern Alberta International Children’s Festival.
Luc is studying Theatre Arts at MacEwan University where he recently
received the Timothy Ryan Memorial Award. He is a proud alumnus of St.
Albert Children’s Theatre and The Broadway Theatre Project. Love to mom,
dad, and J-Flo for making everything possible. Play on!
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26
JOHN ULLYATT – Duke of Cornwall / Nick Bottom / Ass / Pyramus
John was last with Freewill as Iago in Othello and (very briefly) as the
Sea Captain in Twelfth Night. Other appearances with Freewill include
Much Ado About Nothing, MacBeth, Two Gentlemen of Verona, The
Tempest, Julius Caesar and Merry Wives of Windsor. He has recently
finished Spamalot and Private Lives at The Citadel Theatre. He is a
co-founder of Firefly Theatre, with whom he was part of the creative
team of Duck Duck Bang, Primordial Blues, and Operation EVAsion,
and the world premiere in November of Craniatrium. He is also the
creator and performer of street acts, The Dung Beetle, The 21st Century
Gargoyles and The Human Fountain.
JOHN WRIGHT – King Lear / Egeus
A 38 year veteran of the Canadian stage, John has appeared across the
country from Halifax’s Neptune Theatre to the Vancouver Playhouse.
He is delighted to be back with FreeWill, a company he holds with great
fondness, and has appeared in productions since 1995. Favourite roles
include Shylock in The Merchant of Venice, Titus in Titus Andronicus,
Prospero in The Tempest and Malvolio in Twelfth Night. Thanks to you, our
audience for your support over the years. Special thanks to the “unseen”:
designers, Stage Management, technical staff, our board, volunteers,
administration and all the amazing directors. Enjoy the summer!
Be a friend of the
FREEWILL
shakespeare festival
Did you know that ¼ of our performances are Pay-What-You-Will?
Did you know that another ¼ of our performances are free for any
student with a valid ID?
Did you know that our ticket prices are amongst the lowest of any
professional theatre in the city?
The FREEWILL SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL needs your goodwill
to continue providing Edmonton with one of the best outdoor
Shakespeare experiences in the country. Your support allows us to
maintain accessible ticket prices while still producing vibrant and
exciting theatre.
How can you help us?
• Pledge forms are available at the raffle tent.
• You can purchase 50/50 tickets up until the end of intermission.
• Following each performance volunteers will be collecting donations
as you leave through the Amphitheatre.
• Online donations can be made through the Canada Helps link on
www.freewillshakespeare.com
PAGE
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27
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Amy Shostak
Ben Gorodetsky
Brian Turnbull
Canterbury Coffee
Catapult Marketing
Cheryl Hoover, Citadel Theatre
Choice Beverages
Clayton Rodney,
Edmonton Opera
David Prestley
Devaney’s Irish Pub
Flagship
Fiona Williams
Gerry Van Heszwyk,
University of Alberta
Harmeet Kapur,
New Asian Village
Heather Knowles
& Stephanie Courtney
City of Edmonton
Icon Hair
Jim Bob Boudreau,
Catalyst Theatre
Karen Brown Fournell
Ken Rubuliak
The Neiman Family
River City Event Rentals
Rob Montgomery,
Northern Alberta
Jubilee Auditorium
Scott Peters, Interstellar Rodeo
Sheila Cleasby, Citadel Theatre
Sherbrooke Liquor
University of Alberta,
Department of Drama
FRIENDS OF THE
FREEWILL shakespeare festival
Queen’s Court $2000+
Francis Price & Margurite Trussler
Player’s Guild $1000+
David Jones & Anne de Villars
Sue Quon
Eira Spaner
Royal Patron $500+
Anonymous
Emanuel Blosser
& Diane Robitelle
Joan Fargey
Janet & Stan Franklin
Keith Goulden
Barbara & Alan Humphries
Matthew Koyata
Russell Purdy
Elizabeth Fair & Lyle Trytten
Sovereign Liege $200+
Anonymous
Carole Barton
Leland Bertsch
Laurie Blakeman
Jacqueline Breault
Kathy Carter
Candice Charney
Judy Cheng
PAGE
28
2.
Linda Crawford
Brian Deedrick
Robert Dunseith
Mark & Kristen Finlay
Herbert & Catherine Gale
Ken & Barb Galm
Peter & Noella Graham
Donna Hammerlindl
Alex & Joan Hawkins
Barbara Johnstone
Reg Kontz
Kunitz Shoes
Les Lefebvre
Rena Liviniuk
Maureen Liviniuk
Annette Loiselle
Beajay Louie Hemmati
David Marriott
Kevin Mott
Tom & Judy Peacocke
Darrell Rodger
Kevin Short
Sol Sigurdson
Keith Stefanick
Janice Storeshaw
Marian Tyler
Henriette van Hees
Joan Welch
Princely Charmer $100+
Jeffrey Bisanz
Julie Brown
Janet Clark
Lisa Denesink
Gordon McIntosh
Kimberly Nishikaze
David Prestley
Ainsley Sankeralli
Brian Sproule
Gilda Valli
Erin Will
Mary Anne Yurkiw
Amorous Dreamer $50+
Maggie Baird
JoAnna Black
E. Ross Bradley
Robert & Helen Buck
Jody Jones
Joan Paton
Lee Stickles
Shag Hair
Gallant Rogue $20+
LeeAnne Pellerin
Allison Sivak
Ann Tober
Thanks to our Sponsors & Supporters...
The kind support of the following organizations and businesses has made
the Freewill Shakespeare Festival a continuing success.
Public Funders
Corporate Partners
The Compleat Works
The Players
Jewel on the Crown
Queen’s Court
E. & J. Gallo
Winery Canada
Player’s Guild
Opening Night Sponsors
Whyte Avenue
Community Partners
PAGE
29
VOLUNTEER
HoNOr Roll
The Free Will Players would like to extend our utmost gratitude to
all of our Festival Volunteers. This fabulous summer tradition could
never happen without each and every one of you!
Necha Aitkin
Neeltsje Algera
Alysha Anderson
Frazer Andrews
Georgia Ashworth
Lynnea Bartel Nickel
Kathy Bateman
Marcia Bell
Daniel Belland
Alison Besecker
Conor Bewick
Douglas Bewick
Lorna Bewick
Derek Biollo
Rebecca Bissonnette
Gregory Black
Astrid Blodgett
Dan Boonstra
Jessie Burry
Wendy Busse
Jeanie Casault
Taylor Casavant
Sable Chan
Tina Chen
Harvey Chimera
Janet M Clark
Keon Collett
Tangraya Coupland
Dezmond Coyes-Loiselle
Josephine Coyes-Loiselle
Lilianna Coyes-Loiselle
Riley Coyes-Loiselle
Joan Coyle
Linda Crawford
Erin Crene
Kevin Crockett
Miranda de Haan
Drew Delbaere
Amelia Deneka
Vinod Kumar Doddi
Virginia Downar
Inna Dymouriak
Courtney Edwards
Tristan Fair
Megan Ferguson
Jennie Frank
Lauren Gagnon
Justin Gallant
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30
Sarah Geiss
Audrey Groeneveld
Dorothy Hamilton
Shelagh Hamilton
Benita Hartwell
Casie Hauck
Jesse Hawkings
Kerrie Heartwell
Chantelle Hess
Prisca Ho
Alice Huynh
Skye Johnson
Jodie Kachkar
Liam Kachkar
Lesley Karpiak
Walter Kehl
Karin Kellogg
Elizabeth Kelly
Gail Kelly
Lewis Kelly
Torrie Knoll
Janice Kuethe
Claire Lamb
Courtney Lameman
Neil Lang
Charmaine Lee
Bev Lefevre
Jia Li
Zhaolin Liu
Brianna Longworth
Jackson Longworth
Lawrence Loyek
Rhonda Macala
Sara Macala
Vivian Mah
Kiersten Marchand
Jenna Marynowski
Ross McBee
Donna McKay
Enrico Medina
Ben Merrell
Marinda Miranda
Donna Molloy
Kari Morton
Sachiyo Motohashi
Andrea Murphy
Jon Nhieu
Carmen Nieuwenhuis
Arnika Oddy-Van Oploo
Diana Orhz
Marj Ormiston
Alexandros Papavasiliou
Garrison Paquette
Jordan Parasynchuk-Buhat
Linda J Pedley
Julie Pepin
Sophie Pinkoski
Krista Posyniak
Lu Rintoul
Amanda Ryder
Malin Samuelsson
Jennifer Sheldon
Margaret Shone
Prarie Dawn Sibulak
Lori Simon
Arlene Sittler
Allison Sniher
Keith Stefanick
Leland Stelck
Alex Sutherland
Brownen Taylor
Charlotte Taylor
Herb Taylor
Jennifer Tempest
Krykoff Teresa
Erin Thackeray
Joshua Trytten
Sara Vogel
Nina Wang
Mimi Ward
Ashley Wawchuk
Kirsten Weeks
Melissa Wilk
Erin Will
Alanna Williams
Shannon Willis
Marysia Wojcik
Emma Wolodko
Ellen Woods
Glen Woolcott
Denise Woollard
Simon Yackuli
Joanne Zaborowski
Xuan Zhang
Zelin Zhang
EDMONTON OPERA
Main floor tickets
to all 3 operas from
$96
Salome • Die Fl
edermaus • M
adama Butterfl
y
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July1-19, 2013
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1. Richard III (2008)
2. Love’s Labour’s Lost (2005)
3. Midsummer Night’s Dream (2003)
4. Macbeth (2010)
5. As You Like it (2001)
1.
2.
4.
3.
5.
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33
Memories and Thoughts on the
Freewill Shakespeare Festival
“There is something sublime about
Shakespeare outdoors, as it was in
the old theatres of London. Indeed,
it is all-immersive to be in our
cherished river valley, hearing those
immortal words. But what makes this
festival so special is the creativity
of our theatre community in proving
fresh interpretations of the classics.
Congratulations on 25 years!”
– Councillor Don Iveson
“Glorious summer evening, sold out
performance, after - the traffic jam
slowly leaves the park. An audience
member watches in awe: It’s like
leaving a hockey game!”
– Linda Huffman, former Managing Director
“It is such a gorgeous experience. A
beautiful Edmonton summer night and
the plays, the acting and the sets are
all excellent! The experience of high
calibre open air theatre cannot be
beat – definitely one of Edmonton’s
treasures.”
– Carol Watson, festival goer
“Apart from the tribute to Mother Nature
each year, my memorable times
at the park are participating in the
sponsor BBQ events featuring a chat
with the artistic director which gave
welcome context to both plays.
Here’s to 25 more years!”
– Gail Stepanik-Keber, Servus Credit Union
PAGE
34
“What I chiefly remember from the
Free Will Players builds, apart from
the inevitable squirrel running across
the heads of the audience, and
the invariable rainstorm in the midafternoon of setup day, is how I and
my friends laughed at the comedies on
opening night.”
– Peter Lococke, Freewill Carpenter
“1999. My first summer as costumes
designer. Pregnant Annette, Daniela
and Beth dressed in bedraggled,
shredded wedding dresses conjure.
Real lightening cracks. Thunder rolls.
Awesome.”
– Narda McCarroll, Freewill Costume Designer
“Titus Andronicus - a truly amazing
production with some of the finest
actors I have ever worked with. They
leaped fearlessly into HELL every single
night.”
– Marianne Copithorne, Artistic Director (2008
– Present)
“We’re fortunate that for 25 years we’ve
had the Freewill Shakespeare Festival
in Edmonton. The combination of
the relaxed outdoor setting and the
intensity created by the high quality
productions makes for a unique
theatre experience. And of course the
playwright is first rate.”
– John Mahon, Edmonton Arts Council
“The spontaneous, crackpot joy in
camping out with Free Will: the unpaid
chorus of shrieking ravens for Macbeth,
the lame duck extra, or the squirrels
who chattered their disapproval of
the gory meat pie scene in Titus
Andronicus.”
“Outdoor theatre has its own magic.
Sure there have been thunderstorms
at just the right moment. One memory
for me was when Chris Bullough is
playing Richard III. Mortally wounded,
he struggles for life in his final soliloquy,
when on the verge of death, the Stars
Air Ambulance cruises overhead.”
– Liz Nicholls, Edmonton Journal
– Kevin Mott, Board Chair
Without Whom…
The Freewill Shakespeare Festival would not be what it is without
the contributions of the following people over the past 25 years.
We gratefully acknowledge:
Julien Arnold
John Kirkpatrick
Geoffrey Brumlik
James MacDonald
Stephen Heatley
Beccy Starr
Linda Huffman
Wes Stevens
PAGE
35
THE GREATEST LOVE
STORY EVER TOLD
April 5- 27
2014
PAGE
36
Romeo andJuliet
780 425 1820
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