I am someone who loves my summer theatre. When I was in Ontario I was amazed by how many summer theatres were running, not just at the big festivals like Stratford and Shaw, but also all of the “Ports and ‘Burgs” some of which I performed at (Port Dover) and some where I had works of mine performed (like the Port Stanley Festival Theatre, which premiered Bingo Ladies under Artistic Director Simon Joynes). I then spent 10 years performing with Rising Tide Theatre in Trinity Newfoundland, discovering my great great great great grandparents in the graveyard there and experiencing those beautiful summer months by the ocean.

Last summer was one of my first summers in awhile without a summer gig, which is why I’m so happy to be working at Rosebud Theatre this summer, and getting to experience a prairie summer in the province I grew up in. If you’re in Alberta and looking for some great theatre in a beautiful prairie oasis, come for a visit! Tickets are available at:
https://www.rosebudtheatre.com Hope to see you there!

As the culmination of my Master’s Degree in Playwrighting, I had the opportunity to write a new musical, THE BOOK OF JOAN. In this musical within a play (though as I wrote it, it became more a play and a musical running together) a Christian University’s drama department hires a group of local theatre professionals to work with their students in creating a musical adaptation of The Book of Job. And of course, as the show progresses it seems the theatre professionals might have their own agenda with the production…

On March 21st and 22nd we had the chance to share the piece through a staged reading at the U of C’s University Theatre. It was a fantastic team, with Vanessa Porteous as director, Joe Slabe as musical director, along with a mix of music and drama students, professionals, and my supervisor in the cast! We had a great reception for the piece, though I’m still a little shocked at having written it while doing my grad degree (though thankfully, the last term was less busy and allowed me the time to compose and write lyrics for the songs).

After a bit of time off (as I write my Artist’s Statement, which will accompany the script of my musical as my thesis) I’ll look forward to getting back to writing this piece, and see where these characters might go!

Tickets are going fast for Jekyll and Hyde, and soon there will be only two weeks left of the run, so get those tickets if you’d like to come!

Well, this is going to be fun! I’ve been cast in this the above production, a North American premiere of an adaptation by Nick Lane (a script that I love). I’m looking forward to treading the boards once again in my hometown of Calgary, it’s been awhile. Hope you can make it, tickets are available at Vertigo Theatre.

Jillian Rees-Brown, Michelle Nash, Allison Crowe, and Brandon Lee Carabin. Photo by Mandy Keeping

The summer has wrapped up for Bingo Ladies at the Gros Morne Theatre Festival in Cow Head NL! I was lucky enough to make it out for opening night, and the talent there was incredible. Thanks to the actors, artists, and all involved at Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador who made this production such a success and brought so much joy and laughter to the local audiences and tourists.

Meet Thor, the Bingo Troll! He’s very excited (and so am I) that he’s heading out for his fifth production of Bingo Ladies, this summer at the Gros Morne Theatre Festival in Cow Head NL!

Will Thor hike the Tablelands? Take the boat tour of Western Brook Pond? Perhaps a dip in the ocean at Shallow Bay? My feelings are honestly mixed on Screech Ins (I finally gave in at my cousin’s wedding) but I’m thinking a kiss from a capelin would be suit Thor. I hope to get a picture.

As part of my MFA in playwrighting at the University of Calgary, I needed to write a pre-thesis play. In consultation with my supervisor we thought, “why not a musical?” On April 4th and 5th I was given the opportunity to workshop a truncated version of this new musical with a 45 minute staged reading at the University Theatre at the U of C. Our incredibly cast was made up of Robyn Ord (Susan), Elinor Holt (Dr. Pepper), and Steven Conde (Rex) with Konrad Pluta as music director, led by Christine Brubaker as director. I was so happy with what these imaginative artists were able to bring to this piece, they were a dream to work with! Thank you to them and the School of Creative and Performing Arts at the University of Calgary for making it possible. I look forward to completing the piece!

It feels great to be back at school. After two years of the pandemic and living in Calgary, it felt like it was time to re-invest in some learning. In September I started my MFA in Playwrighting at the University of Calgary. They do keep you busy as a Grad student! But so far I’m having a great time getting to dedicate myself to studying plays, writing plays, oh, and musicals. Drop by the office and say hello!

 It’s hard not to love this place, and after ten years of coming back, it has started to feel like home. I’m lucky to be working back with Rising Tide Theatre in Trinity NL, where I’m acting, as well as arranging music, writing comedy sketches, and music directing the Dinner Theatre and Shenanigan shows. I keep on telling folks to visit, and hopefully these photos might get you interested…

Had the greatest time working on this show at the Citadel Theatre this Spring.  At a time when there wasn’t much theatre going on, getting the chance to act, sing, and dance with such a  talented creative team, cast, and crew was a gift!