Programme: Harvey

Astrid Deibert – Myrtle Mae Simmons

Astrid is an Edmonton-based artist and recent graduate of the MacEwan University Theatre Arts Program. Most recently, she performed in The Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes at the Edmonton Fringe Festival. Harvey is her first show at the Walterdale Theatre and she is so excited to be a part of it!

Samantha Beck – Veta Louise Simmons

Samantha is absolutely delighted to be here at Walterdale for the 5th time. Samantha has been a lover and performer of theatre since she was young, and she is honoured to bring this amazing character and story to life with such a dynamic cast and crew. Ty to CB for your endless support.

Thomas Usher – Elwood P. Dowd

Alberta’s Arts practitioner for 30+ years, Thomas has directed over 80 plays and performed in over 30 others. Training: University of Alberta (MFA – Directing), Director’s Lab North, National Theatre (London), Antonio Fava (Italy). Artistic Director: Prime Stock Theatre (1994-2021), Great West Theatre (1996-2000) and BARD on BOWER. Certified Instructor: Fight Directors’ Canada.

Judy McFerran Stelck – Ethel Chauvenet

Some of Judy’s favourite’s roles include Gypsy (Rose) for Sherrard Musical Theatre, White Christmas (Martha) and Sound of Music (Mother Superior) for Festival Players, Three Viewings with St Albert Players, and many roles in Linda Wood Edwards’ plays. Special thanks to my husband Leland, who nudged me to audition for this tasty role!

Sarah Gibson – Nurse Ruth Kelly

Sarah is an Edmonton-based theatre artist. She is excited to be performing on the Walterdale stage for the first time! Previous credits include: The Clockmaker (Shattered Glass Theatre), Hamlet (Primestock Theatre), Proof (Keyano Theatre), and Corpus Christi (Ignition Theatre). Sarah thanks all those who come out to support Edmonton arts!

James Ostime – Duane Wilson

James is happy to be returning to Walterdale, having previously appeared in 2022’s A Fitting Confusion. He obtained his BFA from University of Regina and has since performed for theatres and festivals across Saskatchewan and in Toronto. His writing has appeared in Interview!, Men’s Health, Reductress, Exclaim!, and on CBC Radio. Enjoy the show!

Lucas Anders – Dr. Lyman Sanderson

Lucas is thrilled to return to the Walterdale stage for Harvey. He co-directed The Clockmaker at the Edmonton Fringe international Festival. Recent credits at Walterdale Theatre include assistant directing the Penelopiad, directing Cradle To Stage entry Come Again Another Day and a principal role in The 39 Steps.

Andrew Mecready – Dr. William R Chumley

Andrew’s first appearance at Walterdale was in the Merry Wives of Windsor in 1986, which gives you an idea of how old he is. Other Walterdale credits include The Vampyre (1999), Goodnight Desdemona, Good Morning Juliet (2000), Hamlet (2009), Dracula (2013), and 1984 (2020).

Katelyn Arthurs – Betty Chumley/Miss Johnson

Katelyn is thrilled to be part of this delightful project. Her last credits with Walterdale include The Penelopiad and The Women. She hopes you enjoy the show!

Gary Goulden – Judge Omar Gaffney

Here comes the Judge! Last season, Gary backstopped the role of Paravicini in The Mousetrap. He is excited to make his Walterdale debut in Harvey – a witty old classic. I mean the play…but I guess it also applies…

E Unland Spencer – Cab Driver E.J. Lofgren

E Unland Spencer is a multidisciplinary artist making their Walterdale debut. Previous credits include The Bacchae (King’s Theatrical Society, Halifax) and Erzébet, which they wrote and performed as part of the 2023 Infringement Festival (KTS). Their mom definitely didn’t ghostwrite this bio.

Matthew Baker – Sound Designer

Matthew is thrilled to be back behind the booth, designing the soundscape for this hilarious comedy! He hopes you enjoy the show this brilliant cast and crew have created just as much as  he enjoyed working on it. Recent Walterdale credits include: Austentatious (Sound Op) and The Mousetrap (Sound Designer).

Rebecca Bissonnette – Director

Outside of Pooka spotting, Rebecca has her own theatre company DEPTH Perception Productions and is happily an arts educator/administrator with Workshop West, CRIPSiE, FACE and Mile Zero Dance. After saying goodbye to the Dowds, Rebecca will head back to the hilarity with Die-Nasty, The Live Improvised Soap Opera.

Donna Call – Production Manager

Donna is back with love! The Harvey team has melted her production heart with happiness! This magic tale is her latest wonder-filled Walterdale experience, building on her time with A Fitting Confusion (Madam Agreville), Glace Bay Miners’ Museum (Sound Op) and Copenhagen (Margrethe). Jingle-jingle, everyone!

Afrah Collier-Potts – Costume Assistant

Afrah has a background in theatre, film and television in Vancouver BC and after a hiatus has excitedly jumped back into Walterdale and all of the learning experiences it has to offer. This will be her 4th Walterdale production – a whole new experience as Costume Assistant, helping these eccentric characters come to life!

Stephan Desjarlais – Sound Operator

Stephan is a theatre loving high school student who, within a year, has already got himself deep into the Edmonton theatre community. This is his first time on the technical side but hopefully not his last. When he’s not doing theatre, he enjoys writing and hanging out with his dog.

Emily Dusome – Master Painter

Emily Marion Clearsky Dusome is an Oji-metis painter and theatre technician. Her experience includes six MacEwan University productions, twelve independent productions, ASM for the 2018 Edmonton Burlesque Festival and technical assistance for 2018 Ignite! Important are meeting people of different backgrounds, walking her dog, feeding her snakes, and watching TV.

Laura Eschak – Co-Costume Designer

As Co-Costume Designer for Harvey, Laura has enjoyed supporting the Costume Team and watching them grow into future Designers. Researching the history of the story and characters and helping the cast and characters come to life brings her great joy. Laura is often seen around Edmonton theatres on stage and behind the curtains.

Deb Gunning – Co-Costume Designer

Inspired by my Mum, a talented dressmaker, I discovered my passion for garment making by age 7 hand sewing outfits for my Barbies. This passion continued into adulthood, opening many doors including working wardrobe at the Citadel and running my own garment design business. I’m excited to be a part of Harvey!

Richard Hatfield – Master Builder

Richard has been building sets for Walterdale since the early 2000s. Some notable builds include The Triangle Factory Fire Project and The Mousetrap. Richard is also Co-Technical Director at Walterdale. He hopes you enjoy the show as much as he has enjoyed helping to bring it to the stage for you.

Anthony Hunchak – Set Designer

Anthony is an emerging artist whose work ventures into multiple disciplines including design, technical theatre, acting, and puppetry. His past Walterdale projects include The Mousetrap (set design, 2023), and The Realistic Joneses (prop design, 2022). He is excited to be back at Walterdale, and hopes you enjoy the show!

Isabelle Kuzio – Production Assistant, Props

Based in Amiskwaciwâskahikan on Treaty 6 territory, Isabelle is a visual artist trained in painting, sculpture, and installation. Holding a BFA from the UofA, she has showcased in exhibitions across North America and Germany. Kuzio applies her skillset to theatre production as a scenic painter and props assistant for the Walterdale.

Derek Logan – Assistant Stage Manager

Derek Logan is happy to be part of all that is being done to support this talented cast. He has been in front and behind the stage for ELOPE Musical Theatre, Grande Prairie Live Theatre, 2 One-Way Tickets to Broadway, and Trinity Players. This is his second production with Walterdale Theatre. If anything strange happens to you on the way home, blame it on the seven foot rabbit!

Kyrsten Lofts – Props and Set Decoration

Kyrsten is an interdisciplinary artist from Edmonton, AB. With a BFA under her belt, she continues to pursue avenues that inspire artistic growth. She has been able to do so by working professionally as a prop maker, and in the art department for film. Harvey is her debut in theatre production!

Carly Pettitt – Stage Manager

Carly is excited to make her debut behind the stage and with Walterdale. She is a proud UofA alumni. Her previous acting credits include: This Isn’t How We Left It, Freaky Friday and Rack Attack. You can catch her on stage next for Festival Place’s production of Tuck Everlasting. Enjoy!

Jenn Robinson – Assistant Director 

This is Jenn’s tenth show with Walterdale. In the past she has taken on many roles both on and off stage and is a current member of the Board of Directors. She is thrilled to try out directing, and is incredibly grateful to Rebecca and this amazing cast for the opportunity.

Lauren Tamke – Mentor Director

Lauren’s Walterdale credits include her current role as Artistic Director; performing in The 39 Steps, A Fitting Confusion, and Queen Milli of Galt; and directing Boeing Boeing, The Mousetrap, and the upcoming production of Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike (July 2024). 

Simon Taylor – Lighting Operator

This is Simon’s first time volunteering at Walterdale Theatre. It is also Simon’s first time in the role of lighting operator for a play, but Simon has done lighting work for bands and other performances.

Sarah Spicer – Fight and Intimacy Coordinator

Sarah Spicer (she/her) is a graduate of Rosebud School of the Arts and has been pursuing fight and intimacy choreography since moving back to Edmonton. She’s excited to have the opportunity to work with this team to bring this show to life!

Ethan Stevens – Lighting Designer

Ethan Stevens is a technician and designer who loves everything about theatre. His passion lies in lighting. His experience includes acting, tech, and design at Vancouver Island University, and beyond. He most recently teched Walterdale for the Edmonton Fringe two years in a row, and can’t wait for more!

Teddi Taylor – Assistant Stage Manager

Teddi is excited to make her debut at Walterdale and in the role of assistant stage manager, learning and helping behind-the-scenes for Harvey! Most of her theatre experience is on-stage, appearing in Opening Night, Lady Windermere’s Fan, Anne of Green Gables, The Phantom Tollbooth, and more.

Debbie Tyson – Props Mentor

Debbie Caseburg Tyson 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.

Sarah Wilson – Costume Assistant

Sarah is in 4th Year UofA BA/BEd. This is her first time as Costume Assistant. Sarah’s recent on-stage experience includes ABBEDAM’s Love and Information; …And Others at the Edmonton Fringe; Walterdale’s The Penelopiad (Helen); New Works Festival’s The Hand That Feeds (Anne); and ABBEDAM’s 13 (Sarah). Enjoy the show!