Brian Ault – Dominic

Pleased to be in his first Walterdale production, Brian Ault has sung such diverse roles as Maurice in Beauty and the Beast, Narrator/Mysterious Man in Into the Woods, and Harry/Baptista in Kiss Me, Kate. In 2022, he starred in his own popular Fringe show, A Life, with Surprises (and Songs).

Leslie Caffaro – Emily

Last seen In Charlie and the Siberian Monkey Goddess (Edmonton Fringe 2022), playing a girl who thinks she is Charlie Chaplin, Leslie is enjoying playing Emily, another delusional character who thinks she’s a writer/actor. Follies, Light in the Piazza , Shout and Sweet Charity are other highlights.

Nicole English – Jessica

Previous performance credits: The Witch in Into the Woods (Foote in the Door), Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd (ELOPE), Red Girl in Shout! The Mod Musical (Roundbarn Productions). Nicole is a graduate of Birmingham School of Speech and Drama (UK). Many thanks to her family and friends for their support during this production.

Connor Foy – Blake/Fight & Intimacy Captain

Connor is very excited to be performing in his first Walterdale show. He has performed in other shows such as Beauty and the Beast and Kiss Me Kate. Connor has studied at MacEwan University’s musical theatre program and was in 9 to 5, Guys and Dolls and A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Erin Aileen Harvey – Lauren

Erin is thrilled to be making her Walterdale debut in Austentatious! Currently studying at MacEwan’s Musical Theatre program. You may have seen her onstage at Victoria School of the Arts in Spamalot, Mary Poppins, and Crazy for You, or in local festivals such as Nextfest, Playworks, and the Take 5 Theatre Festival.

Joyanne Rudiak – Samantha/Dance Captain

Joyanne is an Edmonton-based teacher who sings and is a self-proclaimed Pride and Prejudice nerd. Her recent credits include Suzy in The Marvelous Wonderettes ’58 (Foote in the Door Productions), Giovanna in Rigoletto (Edmonton Opera), and Stella in Follies (Walterdale Theatre). Joyanne will be performing another Wonderettes rendition at this year’s Fringe.

Aaron Schaan – David

Aaron recently finished a Graduate Certificate in School Leadership at the University of Alberta and is currently working as a Grade 6 teacher.  Aaron is excited to be in his third show with Walterdale Theatre. Previous theatrical credits include: Beauty and the Beast (Lumiere), Mamma Mia (Sky), and City of Angels (Jimmy Powers).

Matthew Baker – Sound Operator

Matthew is extremely excited to be back behind the booth for another amazing Walterdale production! His most recent Walterdale credits include: The 39 Steps as Sound Op and The Mousetrap as Sound Designer. He hopes you enjoy the fun show that this brilliant cast and crew have put together!

Joseph A. Caruk – Percussion

It’s typical; all the money my parents spent on music lessons could have been wasted when I became a lawyer. Nonetheless, I have continued to enjoy playing multiple forms of music from orchestral to punk. Much love to my wife Brenda and daughter Serena for being my major cheerleaders.

Brooke Emberly – Master Painter

Brooke eagerly became Walterdale’s Paint Head in January 2021. Her previous Master Painter roles include The Women, The Triangle Factory Fire Project, 1984, The Mask, Copenhagen, 39 Steps, The Glace Bay Miners Museum, A Fitting Confusion, The Mousetrap and Penelopiad. Brooke is thrilled to add Austentatious to her ever-growing roster!

Laura Eschak – Lighting Operator

Laura is excited to be part of the Austentatious production, helping the cast bring a hilarious story to life. Laura enjoys helping out in costumes, painting, as stage crew or performing on stage with several theatre groups in Edmonton. Laura’s recent Walterdale highlights include being an understudy for Mousetrap and Costume Designer for A Fitting Confusion.

Richard Hatfield – Master Builder/Technical Advisor

Richard has been performing many roles at Walterdale since 1991. Some of these roles include Set Builder, Technical Director, Lighting Designer and many more. Richard is very happy to be building for Barb and Leland once more. Leland tends to provide fun challenges in builds, which Richard always looks forward to.

Doug Hafso – Bass

Doug and his wife Toni live in the country at Hubbles Lake west of Stony Plain. Doug, a former highway designer, took up double bass as a retirement project in 2009. He has enjoyed playing with a number of groups including Orchestra Borealis and MacEwan Outreach Big Band.

Joan Heys Hawkins – Assistant Master Painter 

Joan is very happy to be Brooke’s assistant on Leland’s eclectic set.  Having so many different set pieces gave both new painters and veterans the opportunity to show their individual painting skills.  Enjoy the show!

Mary Jane Kreisel – Production Manager

M. J. is happy to be back working with Barb and the Walterdale gang after our last musical was rudely interrupted by COVID! Past PM credits include: The Triangle Factory Fire Project, Follies, and Avenue Q.  Directing credits include: Into the Woods (staged concert), Albertine in Five Times, and Perfect Pie.

Phil Kreisel – Stage Manager/Sound Designer

While principally a sound designer and playwright, Phil is not new to stage managing – having been at the helm of Follies in 2017.  He has designed over 85 productions since 2005 including: A Fitting Confusion, The Triangle Factory Fire Project, Summer and Smoke, Perfect Pie and Sweet Charity.

Karin Lauderdale – Costume Designer

Over the last 25 years, Karin has worked on an assortment of productions in numerous roles. Costume Design for Walterdale productions include: Anything Goes, W;t, Chess, Queen Milli of Galt, Follies, Blue Stockings and The Triangle Factory Fire Project. Special thanks to all the stitchers who work their magic behind the scenes.

Barbara Mah – Director/Choreographer

Barbara loves all things Jane Austen and all things Musical Theatre. Austentatious is the best of both worlds. Other Walterdale: Triangle Factory Fire Project, Follies, Anything Goes, Sweet Charity. Barbara also teaches musical theatre for Citadel’s Theatre School. Recent: Choreography for Kiss me Kate (Foote in the Door).

Kari McQueen – Live Sound Operator

Kari is a visual and media artist with 25 years working in the cultural sector in a variety of roles. This is her second show with Walterdale (Triangle Factory Fire Project was the first), and as live sound operator, fulfills her need to nerd out, while supporting artists and community.

Brad Melrose – Lighting Designer

Brad is having fun designing lights for Austentatious.  In theatre, things always go wrong, the trick is hiding it from the audience.  It’s always a treat when you can do the opposite.  Some of Brad’s lighting works include: Penelopiad, 39 Steps, The Triangle Factory Fire Project, Next to Normal, Follies, Avenue Q, Titanic, Rent, Sweeney Todd.

Katrina Morel – Assistant Stage Manager

Katrina is a 2nd year student in MacEwan’s Theatre Production program. She has worked on various MacEwan productions, including painting for London Road and audio/RF for Spring Awakening. She is very excited to have this opportunity to assistant stage manage for Austentatious.

Ivy Poon – Assistant Musical Director/Pianist

Ivy is thrilled to be part of Austentatious for her first show at the Walterdale. Ivy has her BMus/BEd from the University of Alberta, where she studied violin with Robert Uchida and played in the University Symphony Orchestra. Ivy is also part of Edmonton-based singer-songwriter duo, Broken Headlights.

Cameron Sheehan – Assistant Stage Manager

Cameron is excited to be a part of Austentatious for their first show with Walterdale. A soon to be theatre production student, Cameron has been working as an Assistant Stage Manager since summer of 2022. Their previous work includes: A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, Kiss Me, Kate and A Grand Night For Singing.

Leland Stelck – Set Designer

I’ve lost track of how many shows I’ve designed at Walterdale; the last one was Copenhagen.  Other shows include: Anything Goes, Nine, The Women and Happy Birthday Wanda June. This show might be the craziest, but I get to tap into an awesome building crew, as well as a fabulous paint crew.

Danielle Szeponski – Properties Master

Danielle is an artist from St. Albert who loves taking on new challenges. She has worked on many musicals around Edmonton, usually with Foote in the Door Productions. She has also worked on several past Walterdale shows such as Follies, And Then the Lights Went Out, and Anything Goes. Enjoy the show!

Debbie Caseburg Tyson – Assistant Properties Master

Debbie explores her world through colour, texture, print and stitch.  Certain she was a magpie in a former life, she collects all manner of things and gravitates to the shiny and outrageous. She loves that every show brings opportunities to explore new materials, methods and constructions.

Ruth Wong-Miller – Musical Director/Conductor

Ruth is excited to be back at Walterdale, this time as MD for Austentatious. She is a pianist, singer and educator who studied at the UofA and has both ARCT diplomas. Ruth can also be found on stage with her company Foote in the Door Productions. Next: The Marvelous Wonderettes at YEG Fringe. @womie