Walterdale Theatre acknowledges that our theatre is located on Treaty 6, a traditional territory of the Cree and has been an important trading place of the Saulteaux, Blackfoot, Nakota Sioux, Dene, and Métis peoples of western Canada for thousands of years. We also recognize and honour that we are Treaty people and therefore seek to uphold the spirit and intent of this Treaty.
We are an Edmonton-based community theatre committed to the production of engaging and vibrant works and providing our member volunteers opportunities to participate in all aspects of theatre production.
Want to get involved with Walterdale?
Have you ever wanted to try your hand at stage management, acting, directing, or even media relations in theatre?
Walterdale Theatre has been successfully run by its volunteers for more than 60 years now, and we invite you to join our team. Whether you can donate a few hours or a few seasons, we are always looking for new volunteers to help grow our theatre.
The best way to get involved at Walterdale is to become a member today! You will receive news about shows, special events, opportunities to volunteer or audition, and discounts on tickets.
For more information about joining Walterdale, go to our website at www.walterdaletheatre.com, e-mail us at walterph@telus.net, or call us at 780-439-3058. We will get back to you!
Tuesday, May 19 & Saturday, May 23
Director: Dalton Terhorst
Esme and Gillian, by Amir Shah, dramaturged by Collin Doyle
| Role | Actor |
| Esme | Sandy Roberts |
| Gillian | Jen Bewick |
| Barry | Brian Ault |
| Chris | Justin Pitt |
| Paul | Ryan Mattila |
A Long Ride Into Town by Katherine Orsten, dramaturged by Darrin Hagen
| Role | Actor |
| Misty | Ash Rose |
| Constance | Bethany Doerksen |
| Yako | Lucas Lee |
| Stage Directions | Anika Hipson |
The Dress That Made the Girl by Lynda Celentano, dramaturged by Darrin Hagen
| Role | Actor |
| Giorgina | Lily McKinley |
| Adele | Sara Dirks |
| Marcella | Emma Yee |
| Cosatina (Ma) | Carrie Candy |
| Silvana / Stage Directions | Sarah Boswell |
Wednesday, May 20 & Friday, May 22
Director: Mike Hicks
To Be Hanged by Matt Dale, dramaturged by Collin Doyle
| Role | Actor |
|---|---|
| Otis | Ethan Campos |
| Sissy | Kennedy Hamdon |
| Vance | Alex Doyle |
Wooden by Kalin Jensen, dramaturged by Beth Graham
| Role | Actor |
|---|---|
| Alix | Bailey Bieganek |
| Mary | Julie Marko |
Far From the Tree by Marisa Scarbeau, dramaturged by Beth Graham
| Role | Actor |
|---|---|
| Mac | Erwin Veugelers |
| Rose | Lita Pater |
| Goldie | Cristina Albanez |
| Brae | Courtney Nelson |
| Chris | Dave Breakenridge |
Thursday, May 21 & Sunday, May 24 (Matinee)
Director: Bob Klakowich
Pieces by Jezec Sanders, dramaturged by Beth Graham
| Role | Actor |
|---|---|
| Jer | Asael Bonilla |
| Glassy | Dave Wolkowski |
| Sara | Karen Huntley |
Good ‘n Gooders by Logan Sundquist, dramaturged by Darrin Hagen
| Role | Actor |
|---|---|
| Wanderer | Stratus Mandziak |
| Operator | Jesselle Valentine |
The Easy Road by Kristen M. Finlay, dramaturged by Collin Doyle
| Role | Actor |
|---|---|
| Kathryn | Danielle Yu |
| Katie | Myrna Ferris |
| Kat | Karen Huntley |
| Kathy | Alex Cook |
| Katia | Marisa Scarbeau |
Festival Team
| Role | Name |
|---|---|
| Festival Coordinator | Shawn Marshall |
| Festival Dramaturgs | Collin Doyle, Beth Graham, and Darrin Hagen |
| Stage Manager | Adorra Sergios |
| Lighting Designer | Pat Sirant |
| Sound Designer | Matthew Baker |
| Lighting Operator | Vaishnavi Nadul |
| Sound Operator | Adrian Mackenzie |
| Assistant Stage Manager | Rebecca Cave |
| Poster Design | Lee-Anna Semenyna |
Message from the Festival Coordinator
From Cradle to Stage is such an important festival for upcoming writers, and Walterdale Theatre is the perfect setting to usher in a new group of Alberta playwrights. The importance of workshopping is so vital to creating new works, and allowing an audience to partake in that process is so unique. Emerging playwrights involved in the festival are given professional dramaturgical work, which, in the past has led to sold out fringe runs, as well as festival wins and professional productions and From Cradle to Stage has been at the forefront of those wins for many, many years.
Personally, I love this festival. It has given me so much, so to now coordinate the playwrights, performers and directors through the incredible process, and to be a part of the festival is such a dream come true. As an audience, you will get to experience new works at various stages of the development process, all of them are very important and I hope you enjoy them.
I want to thank Barbara Mah, and all my wonderful Walterdale Crew for supporting me once again through this wild festival. I want to thank my family for supporting me and being without me for 2 weeks. I also want to thank my selection committee, the extremely busy and talented dramaturgs, Collin Doyle, Beth Graham, and Darrin Hagen, and all the artists that trust the process of the festival and love the vision!
Laugh, cry, sigh, gasp all evening long and please, enjoy the shows!
~ Shawn Marshall, Festival Coordinator
Playwright Biographies
Lynda Celentano – The Dress That Made the Girl
Lynda Celentano is known for her comedic and compassionate stories. In 2025, she was awarded a grant from CCFA, a spot in the APN / RBC Emerging Artist Program, and the Gerald Osborn Playwrighting Award. Her work has been featured at Workshop West’s Springboards festival, and the Fringe Festival.
Matt Dale – To Be Hanged
Matt Dale is an adventure-loving storyteller whose work in arts and tourism has taken him into
many unique corners of Canada, now calling Edmonton homebase. He is grateful and excited
for the opportunity to have To Be Hanged take its first breath at Walterdale Theatre’s From
Cradle to Stage festival.
Kristen M. Finlay – The Easy Road
This year marks Kristen’s 20 year anniversary with Walterdale. Previously her plays Pieces, Water Beneath Her Feet, and Modern Day Saints have been presented at the festival. Other works include Double Double (co-written with Anne Marie Szucs), Little Monsters, From Something, Tightrope, and Zachary and the Storytelling Stones.
Kalin Jensen – Wooden
Kalin graduated from the UofA with a degree in English & Creative Writing. She is active in the local theatre community as an actor, director, and ASM. She is thrilled to add playwright to that list with the inclusion of her first play, Wooden, in this year’s Cradle to Stage.
Katherine Orsten – A Long Ride Into Town
Katherine is a jack of a few trades: devisor, playwright, director, and performer. They grew up in Sylvan Lake, studied theatre in Red Deer and Toronto, and now practice throughout Alberta. Their education focused on the creation of new theatre “from scratch, with ingredients you probably have around the house”.
Jezec Sanders – Pieces
Jezec Sanders has been writing and acting in Edmonton for nearly a decade, working
predominantly with ReadyGo Theatre. His works include Hacking and Slashing, The Cabin
on Bald Dune, and Where Foxes Lie. Special thanks to all the friends and family who lent
their eyes to Pieces during its creation.
Marisa Scarbeau – Far From the Tree
Marisa is an Edmonton born artist. In 2005, her play LABELS received the ADFA’s award for Outstanding New Work. Her last stab at playwrighting produced DIARY, which premiered at Azimuth Theatre in 2008. Recent acting credits include: Hearts Left Open (Edmonton Fringe) and The Ballad of Maria Marten (LDS).
Amir Shah – Esme and Gillian
Born and raised here in Edmonton and I’m honoured to be sharing the stage with so many
great writers. I’m very grateful to my dramaturg Collin for his help. I’m also thankful to the Walterdale team of staff and volunteers for everything they do.
Logan Sundquist – Good ‘n Gooders
Logan Sundquist is a Director, TYA Performer, and Playwright based in Edmonton / Calgary. Recent Credits: The Verdict (Shadow Director – Vertigo Theatre), Possible Worlds (Director – Acorn Cap Productions, ND Theatre), BULLSH*T (Playwright – 1000 Monkeys Project). Upcoming: How to Save the World from a Bus to Thunder Bay (Calgary Fringe @acorncapproductions)
Director Biographies
Rye Fournier
Rye Fournier is thrilled to be making their Walterdale debut with From Cradle to Stage. Most recently, they’ve performed as themself in 4% Rye at the Fringe 2025. But they are so excited for the opportunity to re-enter the world of directing, with such an incredible range of plays and performers.
Mike Hicks
Mike Hicks has been passionate about theatre for over 30 years. He has worked with several Community Theater companies and has performed at the Edmonton Fringe Festival twice while producing, writing, and directing one of his own shows, and is excited to be working with Walterdale for From Cradle to Stage.
Dalton Terhorst
Dalton “Dolly” Terhorst is a multi-disciplinary creator and eternal student of the arts, tremulously debuting as Director. Gratitude abounds for the patience, trust, and generosity of tonight’s extraordinary team. Recent credits: This is War (Sound Designer, WTA), Beehive (Music Director, SADT), and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Mr. Salt, FP).
Dramaturg Biographies
Collin Doyle
Collin Doyle is an Edmonton based writer. Previous writing credits include: The Mighty Carlins (Workshop West Theatre), Routes (Concrete Theatre), Let the Light of Day Through (Theatre Network), Slumberland Motel (Shadow Theatre), and Terry and the Dog (Edmonton Actors Theatre).
Beth Graham
Beth is playwright, actor, and dramaturg. Her plays have been produced nationally and internationally. In 2015, her play, The Gravitational Pull of Bernice Trimble, was a finalist for the Governor General’s Award and received the Gwen Pharis Alberta Literary Award in Drama.
Darrin Hagen
Darrin Hagen is an award-winning playwright, author, filmmaker, composer, and Queer historian. He has created over 40 plays, dozens of published articles illuminating Queer history, and is Artistic Director of the legendary Drag theatre company Guys In Disguise.
Walterdale Creates – Lobby Visual Artists
Anne Marie Szucs
Anne Marie Szucs is an abstract artist working in acrylic and mixed media. Her inspirations are nature, colour, and the flow of energy around us all. Her colour palette is vibrant and expressionistic, and her works express her joy in the freedom of creativity.
Denika LePage
Denika “D Le P” LePage is a multifaceted artist based in Leduc, Alberta. Over the course of a decade Denika has had the privilege to establish a career in the industrial paint industry, which has fueled an artistic passion for paint. In recent years it has opened the path to new and growing opportunities in the theatre community to date; from painting on a set to designing for the first time. A singer/performer by nature, but when not on stage Denika is always enveloping her experience and expertise in the medium of paint. From water colours, to oils, to Denika it does not matter. Denika appreciates and thanks you for your time looking at her artwork, for she never imagined it would be exhibited outside of hers, her friends and family’s homes.
Lindsey Powlik
Lindsey Powlik (she/her) is a visual artist whose work explores themes of identity, memory and home as a place. Forever intrigued by stories and narratives, Lindsey’s practice cultivates a visual language with the use of colours, shapes, and printmaking techniques.
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Donors and Sponsors (August 2022 – May 2025)
Walterdale Theatre extends thanks to the generous support of local business, government grants, partners, and our patrons and members for their donations of time and funding. Without your support we could not continue.
Public Funders and Partners
Community Facility Enhancement Program—Government of Alberta
Artistic Sponsor
Gorilla Property Services Edmonton
Community Partners
Valtone Cleaners
Champions ($500+)
AbleIT Inc.
Alexander Family in Memory of Shelley Superstein Alexander
Anne Marie Szucs
Dale and Syrell Wilson
Harmony Fund at ECF
Supporters ($100-$499)
Joan & Alex Hawkins, Kristen M. Finlay, Michael Buhr, Mike Harding & Don Zeman, Moira Walker,
Philip & M.J. Kreisel, Richard Hatfield, Sol Sigurdson, Margaret Booker, Julie Sinclair, David Wolkowski, Genevieve Carolan, Anonymous
Friends ($50-$99)
Brent Christopherson, Jean Guertin, Gerry and Barbara Sinn, Sally Hunt, Ruby Swekla
Donors ($49 and under)
Vivian Binnema, Isabel Cave, Andrew Marriott, Roberta Rolf, Trish Mallet, Louise Mallory
Player’s Endowment Fund ($200 plus)
All My Sons – The Cast and Production Team
Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike – The Cast and Production Team
A Party to Murder – The Cast and Production Team
It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play – The Cast and Production Team
King of the Yees – The Cast and Production Team
Stag and Doe – The Cast and Production Team
If you would like to be a part of the Walterdale Theatre family of sponsors, contact our Administrator by e-mail or phone the theatre at 780-439-3058.
| WALTERDALE THEATRE ASSOCIATES Is a Canadian Registered Charity, and will provide you with an income tax receipt for any donation over $20.00 you wish to make.Thank you to everyone who supports our theatre! |
A Brief History of Walterdale Theatre and Building
Walterdale is one of the longest running community theatres in Canada.
Walterdale Theatre Associates traces its beginnings to Theatre Associates, who produced their first plays (Lady Audley’s Secret and Out of the Frying Pan) in August 1958, playing in the Jubilee Auditorium social room. Before finding its home in the current Fire Hall, there have been two other Walterdale Theatres. The first was an old school on the Walterdale flats (Kinsmen Fieldhouse area), hence our name. The second was a former service men’s club house, which was later demolished for Kingsway Garden Mall.
Our current building was built in 1910 and was Strathcona Fire Hall #1. In 1912 it was re-numbered Edmonton #6 when the City of Strathcona amalgamated with the City of Edmonton. The bell tower houses the Strathcona “Town Bell”. It is topped by an octagonal belfry, covered by an octagonal roof. The tower was used to dry hoses (by hanging them up) after use. The stable (now set-building workshop) was designed to house nine horses.
The building ceased to be a working Fire Hall in 1954 and was used to store furniture. In 1974 Walterdale Theatre Associates took over the building and lovingly restored it, and converted the inside to a 145-seat theatre. The first play produced in this theatre was What the Butler Saw by Joe Orton, which opened November 12, 1974.
Major renovations were again carried out in 1993 (raising the roof and tying the building together with new beams) and in 2011 (new main floor washrooms, renewing the bricks and other major outside work).
Walterdale continues to keep our building updated and efficient, and have replaced the lighting instruments with LED lights, and the aging second floor furnaces with new high-efficiency units.
Walterdale Theatre Board of Directors 2023 – 2024
Executive
Artistic Director – Barbara Mah
Incoming Artistic Director – Joyanne Rudiak
President – Richard Hatfield
Vice-President – Anne Marie Szucs
Treasurer – Martin Stout
Secretary – Kristen M. Finlay
Past-President – Sally Hunt
Directors
Building Co-Directors – dale Wilson & Doug Verdin
Front-of-House Co-Directors – Rachel Whipple & Vacant
Membership Co-Directors – Laura Eschak & Christine Gold
Production Co-Directors – John Anderson & Afrah Collier-Potts
Public Relations Co-Directors – Stephanie Swensrude & Dalton Terhorst
Technical Co-Directors – Rebecca Cave & Matthew Baker
Directors at Large – Jennifer Robinson & Tracy Wyman
Front of House Volunteers
Front of House Committee Members
Volunteer Coordinator
Harmen de Vries
Box Office Manager
Anne Marie Szucs
Bar & Concession Manager
Cassie Duval
A special and heartfelt thank you to all the wonderful volunteers for Front of House positions during the run of Stag and Doe.
ADORRA SERGIOS, ALAA ALAJMY, ALODIE LAROCHELLE, BARBARA MAH, CASEY POWLIK, CHERYL LIEBEL, CINNAMON STACEY, COLIN STEWART, DALTON BRYCE TERHORST,
DORAN WERNER, DOUG VERDIN, ESTER MALZAHN, GLORIA CARR, HARMEN DE VRIES,
HEIDI RYLL, IAN HICKS, JIHANE ZEIDAN, JOANNE SWENSRUDE, KARLY BROADSTOCK,
LAURA ESCHAK, LEIGH BORNN, LISA SWAREN, LOUISE MALLORY, MATTHEW BAKER,
NICOLLE LEMAY, PHIL ZYP, ROWE ANNE RIVET, SARAH CHAMP, SHABAB KHAN
