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A Grand Time in the Rapids
Michael Cowie
- Artistic Director
Michael Cowie is a freelance director,
graphic and web designer, sound designer, photographer, arts administrator and actor, and the co-Artistic director of the
Souris Valley Theatre in Estevan, Saskatchewan.
Since his arrival in Edmonton five years ago, he has completed an MFA in Directing for
Theatre at the University of Alberta,
where he directed productions of the The Trestle at Pope Lick Creek, The Duchess of Malfi (Media Room) and Taking Sides (Studio Theatre). He has also directed Quills (Edmonton
Fringe 2004, Joy, Almost True Tales of Bedlam (Bedlam Theatre Concern), Kingship DeFacto, Sick Jok (NeXtFest) and Unwrap Your
Candy (InterFear Theatre Festival). He directed and produced the Sterling-nominated
CHEECH or the Chrysler guys are in town, and under the Mutt’s Nuts co-op
name is staging their next project – Crazy Gary’s Mobile Disco –
in late February 2007. Other productions he has directed include UK productions of the The Marriage of Bette & Boo,
Closet Land, The Glace Bay Miners’ Museum, The Bacchae, Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet) and Never Swim Alone. A portfolio of Michael’s directing work can be found at www.michaelcowie.ca along with his work as a photographer and web/poster designer for
companies including Shadow Theatre, Theatre Prospero, ETC Theatre Collective, Bedlam Theatre Concern, Catalyst Theatre, Free
Will Players and other companies.
Previous roles as an actor include Big Red and
other characters in Maggie Now (part one) at the Edmonton Fringe, a small role
in James Hamilton’s The Hole in my Head (from Almost True Tales of Bedlam),
and a part in a reading of Mr O’Dell in the University of Alberta’s “10 Days of Madness” festival. Some time ago he also played Tim Allgood in an Edeinburgh Fringe production of Noises Off, as well as playing the Reverend in Doug Lucie’s Grace and Mike in Sam Sheppard’s A Lie of the Mind – and
he once sang while wearing a toga and a wig in the musical The Frogs.
Cast
Shawna O'Connell (Thalia)
Shawna O'Connell is originally from Calgary, AB. She graduated from the
University of Alberta's Acting Program. Past
Credits include Connie in Toni
And Tina's Wedding for Showbox Productions; Phebe in As You Like It and
Brenda in The
Myth of Summer for Studio Theatre. This is Shawna's first
production at the Souris Valley Theatre.
Ian Brodland
(Ted Todd)
Ian is an Actor and Writer who is a recent grad of the University
of Regina's Theatre Performance Program. Recent Credits include
Cowboy in The Englishman's Boy; Katurian in The Pillowman, and Joeseph Surface in School for Scandal. Ian is
from Regina, SK.
Gregory Ochitwa
Greg discovered a love for the
stage growing up in small town Balgonie, Saskatchewan.
He recently received a BFA in Theatre Acting from the University
of Regina, and is thrilled to be making his professional debut here in
Estevan.
Billy Bishop Goes to War
Julia Jamison - Artistic
Director
Julia Jamison is pleased
to return to her home province after twenty-five years as a professional singer and actor, working and training across North
America and in Europe. After completing a Master
of Music in Voice at the University of Regina,
Julia continued her training at The Banff Centre and apprenticed as a lyric mezzo-soprano with the Montreal Opera. She continued to study and perform in London, New York
and San Diego, after which she returned to Canada
to perform in the long running Pantages Theatre production of Phantom of the Opera.
While in Toronto, Julia completed the MFA Acting program at York University, moving on from there to do a couple of
seasons with the Stratford Festival. Upon returning to Saskatchewan,
Julia has performed and music directed at the Globe Theatre and Dancing Sky, she has taught and directed in the drama department
at the University of Saskatchewan,
and is currently teaching and contributing to curriculum development for a new Ensemble Theatre Arts Program at the Saskatchewan
Native Theatre Company.
Cast
Paul Muir (Billy Bishop)
Paul feels absolutely honoured to resurrect the role of Billy Bishop here in Estevan after doing the show with Deborah
Buck at Rosebud Theatre in 2004. Paul is originally from Edmonton,
AB but now makes his home in the charming, theatre-filled hamlet of Rosebud, Alberta,
where he is a company actor for Rosebud Theatre and Education Director for Rosebud
School of the Arts. Paul
has done numerous shows in Rosebud including Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat, Frost at Midnight, Arms and the Man, Chickens, Shadowlands, Howard Buys A Motorhome, The Voice of the Prairie and Godspell. Other professional work includes productions at Edmonton’s Citadel Theatre, Toronto’s Royal
Alexandra Theatre, Vancouver’s
Pacific Theatre, and the Chemainus Theatre Festival on Vancouver Island. Paul is also a director and acting instructor, and lives in a two-room miner’s cabin (no plumbing!)
with his cat Sweep.
Deborah Buck (Pianist/Narrator/Music Director)
Deborah
Buck has directed music for--and performed in--many professional shows here in her home province, at theatres such as Persephone
Theatre, Globe Theatre, and Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan.
She is happy for this opportunity to work with dear friends Julia and Paul on a show she has always loved. Deborah knows
this region well, having spent many a childhood summer in Alameda,SK. If you are a Freitag, be sure to say "hi"!
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