LEADERS

Laurie has been involved with Drama as a performer and a director for over 40 years - yes she is old and retired after teaching at the high school and university level for 34 years! Most of her directing experience has been with school one act shows, classroom projects and main-stage musicals. She loves theatre and discussing the creative process with young adults.

Matt is a lighting designer currently based in Calgary, Alberta. He has an intense passion for light and is often found studying the quality of light hitting objects (and friends). In his spare time, he experiments with film photography and photo development in his makeshift darkroom. Notable productions include; Table (Drama Studio London), O’Kosi (Making Treaty 7), and Mainstage (UCalgary SCPA).

Chris Kyle Peterson brings over 25 years of experience in theatre, film, and television across Alberta and the western United States. Her performance credits include Golde in Fiddler on the Roof, Lady Macbeth in Macbeth, Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet, Sarah Brown in Guys and Dolls, and Mrs. Banks in Mary Poppins. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Lethbridge Music and Speech Arts Festival and is the founder of Phoenix Arts Co., a company committed to providing Southern Alberta with consistent, high-quality theatre and theatre education. Phoenix Arts Co. will present Newsies this summer at the Yates Theatre and Little Women in November.

Greg MacArthur is a playwright, director, dramaturg, and educator. For over thirty years he has been involved in the creation and development of new work for the stage. His plays have been produced extensively across Canada, as well as in South Africa, Germany, the UK, Mexico, Romania, Hungary, Korea, Japan, and the United States. He studied performance at Toronto Metropolitan University and holds an MFA in Interdisciplinary Theatre Studies at The University of Lethbridge. He has taught at the University of Alberta, Concordia University (Montreal), the National Theatre School, and the University of Lethbridge, where he is currently an Instructor in the Department of Drama.

Chloe is a passionate theatre artist with a focus on movement and physical storytelling. With a background in acting, devising, and sound design, she is dedicated to exploring the connection between body, breath, music, and character. She is continuing her studies in the Faculty of Education and aspires to teach the dramatic arts to students in Alberta. 

Gen Matsuzaka (he/him). A current student at University of Lethbridge, studying for a BFA in Drama -Technical/Design. Has been involved in theatre arts mainly as a lighting and sound technician. Also a board member of Canadian Institute of Theatre Technology (CITT/ICTS) Alberta Region as a Student Director at Large.

Kelly graduated from the U of L in 1991 with a BFA (Drama Performance) and has been working as the University Theatre sound technician since October of 1999. Since then he has enjoyed being the sound designer for more than sixty mainstage shows for the department of Theatre and Dramatic Arts and mentoring students enrolled in Stagecraft and Technical Theatre Portfolio. In September 2005 he moved to England for a year earning an Audio Engineering Diploma and Pro Tools Operator (Music and Post-Production) certification from Alchemea College in London. 

A performance veteran of more than two decades, Jon has made a spectacle of himself from the halls of legislature to the soundscapes of musical theatre, city street corners to stage plays, and from auction blocks to the shooting galleries of stand-up comedy. An eternal improviser known for his fearlessness, his musical style, and his eclecticism Jon can be seen most regularly in the trenches of both long and short form improv performance in the local comedy scene. He is a believer in the arts in education - and society as a whole - and of equal access and equal rights; his long-theorized belief of comedians as unlicensed philosophers echoes the sentiment of artists using lies to tell the truth.
When he's not doing PERFORMANCES™ he's doing his kids' laundry at home or being an absolute chaos goblin at a D&D table.

Avery is a graduate of the University of Lethbridge with a combined Bachelor of Fine Arts in Drama and Bachelor of Education. She is thrilled to have had the opportunity to study what she loves, but also become qualified to encourage and influence other generations of arts culture! When she is not working as an educator, Avery can be found curled up on the couch reading her book of the day, crafting with one of her many hobbies, playing board games, or even playing Dungeons & Dragons with friends. Select theatre credits include Footloose the Musical (Wendy Jo), Shrek the Musical (Fiona), You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Lucy), Murder's in the Heir (Co-Director), I Don't Want to Talk About it (Director).

Jesse Thibert Bear Child (kiááyo pookáá) is a Metis artist from Winnipeg, Manitoba. He has spent his entire life working at as many different art forms as possible. He graduated from the University of Lethbridge with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in theatre: directing and theatre creation with a minor in cinema. Jesse specializes in directing and movement as a form of theatre. He has recently directed Romeo and Juliet Dinner Theatre, Grandmama Mama Presents the Legend of 9/11, Taming of the Shrew, Wasted, and assistant directed Next To Normal. He now owns and operates Experience Theatre which specializes in producing new work with emerging artists. In the last year he has produced six original productions with over 60 different artists.  To keep up to date on auditions and opportunities follow @xptheatre

Carson Rafuse (he/him) is a recent graduate from University of Lethbridge, graduating with his BFA in Drama and B.Ed this spring. He has worked in many positions in the theatre, with some of his specializations including directing, puppetry, and fight direction. He is also an avid theatre educator, teaching drama programs both in schools and in extracurricular programs across the province. 

Strater is a queer stand-up comedian and parent of three. Their self-deprecating humor and genuine stage presence have made them a familiar face at Good Times Lethbridge Comedy Club, where they host and perform regularly. A passionate performer, Strater has spent the past two years honing their craft and fulfilling a lifelong dream of connecting with audiences through comedy.

With a background in arts and theatre administration, an unending passion for mental health awareness and advocacy in his day job, and a side hustle of being a father, David (he/they) lives and breathes improv in all that they do in Lethbridge since they moved here in 2005. With a "yes, let's" attitude, David has been involved with multiple southern alberta theatrical groups as a performer, director, or instructor including New West Theatre, Dirty Laundry: YYC Improvised Soap Opera, Playgoers, Lethbridge Musical Theatre, Drama Nutz Productions, and of course with Theatre Outre.

With ImpromptOu, David has co-created many different Improv formats, many of which seek to entertain through laughter and others that seek to push the boundaries of what improv can be. 

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Toby Brook (he/him) is a recent graduate of the University of Lethbridge, where he earned degrees in both Drama and Education. During his time at the U of L, Toby embraced a wide range of creative challenges, from working as a lighting technician to devising and performing original solo theatre pieces. Now beginning his journey as an educator, he is passionate about inspiring the next generation of creative thinkers. Toby is excited to bring his love of the performing arts into Alberta classrooms, helping students explore storytelling, collaboration, and self-expression through drama.

Madeline is a passionate and dedicated theatre artist currently entering her fourth year at the University of Lethbridge, pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dramatic Arts with a focus on directing and performance. Her love for theatre began in elementary school and has only deepened over the years. As a high school student, she attended workshops just like this one, and they played a formative role in her development as a young artist. Now, she’s thrilled to give back by creating a space where others can explore, experiment, and grow as directors. Madeline brings a collaborative spirit and a love of storytelling to every project she takes on. Selected directing credits at the UofL are the one act Boiling People In My Coffee and assistant directing Paradise Lost.

Elaine Jagielski has been a member of The Playgoers of Lethbridge for 30 years. It is one of the oldest continuously running amateur theatre companies in Canada. Elaine is the President of the Board of The Playgoers and has directed, acted, written plays, facilitated workshops, worked backstage and front of house. She is an educator, workshop facilitator and therapist in the holistic health field.

Jess recently completed her BFA in Dramatic Arts at the University of Lethbridge, with a major in performance. Recent performance credits include "Romeo and Juliet" (Juliet), "The Late Night Ghost Show" (Ghost), "Dr. Faustus" (Mephistopheles), and "Blood: A Scientific Romance" (Angelique). When not onstage, she works as a freelance voice artist and sound designer. She is a two-time recipient of the University of Lethbridge’s Play Right Prize (2021, 2023) and Co-President of Experience Theatre, a Lethbridge-based theatre company passionate about working with emerging artists.  

Kevin Wood is an assistant professor at the University of Lethbridge. Long ago and far away he studied the Grotowski method of theatre creation, which is a rigorous technique that focuses on physical and meaningful connection. He sadly has no pets, he has never gone viral (except for the seasonal flu) , he has never been nominated for an award, he hands out standing ovations like candy,  and he is really glad to support your journey in the arts! 

Autumn Adrian is a puppet enthusiast and emerging theatre artist. Autumn's recent puppet credits include: the puppet designer and technician for Hootenanny (New West Theatre, 2024), the puppet designer and technician for Pants (Experience Theatre, 2024, TheatreXtra 2023), and the 12 foot snake puppet technician for The Little Prince (University of Lethbridge, 2023). Autumn will be graduating from the University of Lethbridge this May with a BFA in Dramatic Arts - Technical/ Design.

Anastasia is a graduate of the University of Lethbridge with a BFA in Dramatic Arts. She began her drama studies in Europe before moving to Lethbridge in 2016 to complete her education. Anastasia has had the opportunity to act, direct, and stage manage numerous shows within the Lethbridge theatre community and worked with a variety of local theatre companies. Her passions include theatre, collaborative creation, dance, film, and clowning. Anastasia co-directed TomorrowLove (2023) as part of the U of L Mainstage series and directed In Tongues (2024). She currently works as New West Theatre’s Education Coordinator, where she loves watching young talents grow and helping them discover the magic of theatre. Anastasia is also known around Lethbridge community events for her performances as Lola the Clown.

Erica is a Southern Alberta based theatre artist and educator. A graduate from the University of Lethbridge, Erica received her BFA in Theatre Performance as well as her Bachelors in Education. She has spent many summers teaching improv for adults and youth, as well as countless summer theatre camps. In addition to being an educator, Erica is a musician and ImpromptOu Associate with Theatre Outré, a leading outlet for alternative queer theatre in Alberta. Erica enjoys performing improv with her local troupe, obsessing over whatever book series she is currently reading, and managing the chaos that is her beautiful twin girls. 

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