Charlotte’s Web

CAST & CREW

Alixandra Cowman - Musician, Announcer, Composition & Sound Design

Alixandra was last seen on the Martha Cohen Stage in Alberta Kitchen Party, of which she was also a co-creator! She is thrilled to return to play and create with this terrific, radiant, and humble group, both farm animals and humans alike. Previous sound design/composition credits include The Importance Of Being Earnest (Theatre Calgary); Ms. Holmes & Ms. Watson of #2B, Gaslight (Vertigo Theatre); The Dark Lady, Home For The Holidays, All I Want For Christmas (Lunchbox Theatre); Magic Lies, Grace & Glorie, Lilia! (Rosebud Theatre). Previous acting credits include Twelfth Night, Comedy Of Errors (The Shakespeare Company); Songs For A New World, Bright Star, The Spitfire Grill, Chickens (Rosebud Theatre); Flibbertigibbet’s Story Exhibit (Quest Theatre). Love and gratitude to Conrad, Clarence, and the rest of her family for the endless support. Alixandra dedicates this show to her Nana.



Natascha Girgis - Templeton, Lurvy, Gloria

For ATP: The Black Bonspiel of Wullie MacCrimmon, Drowning Girls (Cross Canada Tour), In Wonderland, Around the World in 80 Days, Blue Light.
Selected Theatre: One Christmas Carol (Storybook); Dark Lady, Complete History Abridged, Blues in the Night (LBT); Mousetrap, Humble Boy, Counsellor-At-Law (TC); Dracula: The Bloody Truth, Sherlock Holmes, Ends of the Earth, Mystery of Edwin Drood (Vertigo); Nine Dragons (Gateway); Becoming Dr. Ruth, Hound of the Baskervilles (TNW); The Gig (Aquarius); Coyotes, Abundance, Beggar’s Opera (Caravan); A Thousand Splendid Suns (Grand); Titus Andronicus, Richard III (Shakespeare Co.); What You’re Missing (Chutzpah Festival); Communion, Palace of the End, Life Skills (Network); Heroine, Love (Northern Light); Speaking in Tongues (Shadow); Trespassers (Belfry, Vancouver Playhouse); Lion in the Streets (Sage); Deathtrap, Suite Surrender, Unnecessary Farce, Fiddler on the Roof, 39 Steps (Stage West); Amadeus, Macbeth, Constant Wife (ATF); Speak (Globe).



David Haysom - John Arable, Gander, Ensemble

This is David’s 2nd show with Alberta Theatre Projects. Most recently, he was in ATP’s production of The Black Bonspiel of Wullie MacCrimmon as Macbeth. Elsewhere: The Merchant Of Venice (The Shakespeare Company), Macbeth Un-Scotched, Wolf On The Ringstrasse, All In The Timing, A Streetcar Named Desire, Of Mice and Men, Vincent (Spirit Fire Theatre). Notable Film/ TV credits: In Cold Light (Telefilm), Under The Banner Of Heaven (FX), Joe Pickett (Paramount), Damnation (Universal), Fargo (MGM/ FX), The Killing (FOX), and I, Robot (20th Century Fox). David lives in Calgary and is a graduate of Mount Royal University’s Theatre Performance Diploma Program. Enormous gratitude to Haysam, Rebecca and the entire Charlotte’s Web team. David would also like to thank Meghan, his parents and friends for all of their love and support. He would like to say a final thank you to the audience whose energy and excitement is what makes coming to the theatre night after night so magical.



Nikko Hinayo - Avery Arable, Lamb, Ensemble

Nikko Hinayo (they/he) is a Filipino-Canadian actor happy to be back in Calgary and ecstatic to be making their ATP Debut! Theatre credits include Charlotte’s Web: Avery/Lamb (Alberta Theatre Projects), Midsummer Night’s Dream: Flute/Moth (Shakespeare Company), Something Rotten: Francis Flute, Bring It On: The Musical: Twig, Spring Awakening: Moritz Stiefel, The Smartest Girl In The World: Leo Martinez (StoryBook Theatre). Film credits include Davey and Jonesie’s Locker: Emile (Hulu & Prime Video Canada). Nikko trained at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy’s integrated musical theatre program in New York City. To their loving friends and chosen family, they extend their gratitude and thanks. @nikkohinayo



Jamie Konchak - Martha Arable, Sheep, Ensemble

Jamie is an award-winning actor, singer, director, voice-over artist, puppeteer, puppet-maker, bread-baker and a curious appreciator of hand-made things. The past twenty years as a professional theatre artist have taken her from coast to coast, with many memorable summers as a company member at Two Planks and a Passion Theatre off the grid in Nova Scotia. As well as performances with The Arts Club in Vancouver, The 1979 Group in Toronto and One Yellow Rabbit, Alberta Theatre Projects, Vertigo, Theatre Calgary, Ghost River Theatre, MT7, Lunchbox Theatre, Downstage, Sage, The Shakespeare Company, Ground Zero, The Green Fools and more here in Calgary. Jamie is also a puppeteer on Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock streaming now on AppleTV. Her family puppet show, Liluune will premier this March with the Festival of Animated objects in collaboration with YWCA. This one is 100% for Hattie.



Ellis Lalonde - Wilbur

Oink oink oink oink oink oink oink oink oink oink Charlotte’s Web oink oink oink oink oink oink. Oink oink oink oink oink, oink oink oink oink oink oink oink oink. Oink Oink: Legend Has It. Oink: Goblin:Macbeth (The Shakespeare Company, Bard on the Beach, Stratford Festival, Tarragon Theatre); Goblin:Oedipus (One Yellow Rabbit). Oink/Oink: Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock (The Jim Henson Company). Oink oink oink oink oink “Oink oink!” oink oink oink Hollis oink Merritt. Oink oink!



Duval Lang - Homer Zuckerman, Uncle, Dirk

I am delighted to play a part in this beautiful play and to also play a part in the revitalization of Alberta Theatre Projects. I am inspired by ATP’s leadership and how the Calgary community is so supportive of the rebuild. I love young audience and family programming! I have made a career out of this genre, starting with my first professional show at ATP’s Canmore Opera House, going on long tours with Theatre Calgary’s Stagecoach Players and topping it off by co-founding Quest Theatre, which I ran for 25 years. Memorable ATP family show experiences include directing the swashbuckling adventure, Treasure Island, playing a loveable Badger in Toad of Toad Hall, and a menacing Tiger in The Jungle Book. It is also a treat to have Rebecca pushing me about the stage and laughing all the way - as I once did to her.



Norma Lewis - Edith Zuckerman, Goose, Sophie

Norma Lewis, returning artist to ATP: previously performed Selma Burke; For Theatre Calgary: Steel Magnolias and To Kill a Mockingbird. Norma is the co-founder of 8Rojo, developing innovative work of unique, fantastical theatre experiences. Norma has produced, co-created, and performed in several original works on international stages, such as Reykjavik, London, Taipei, and Mexico City. Norma also enjoys touring across Canada and the United States with Dandi Productions in The Twins and the Monster.



Julie Orton - Charlotte

For ATP: To The Light, Intimate Apparel, Shakespeare’s Dog, Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead (The Shakespeare Company/ATP). Elsewhere (selected): Dracula: The Bloody Truth, Calamity Town, Evelyn Strange, The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Vertigo Theatre); Twelfth Night, Blow Wind High Water, One Man Two Guvnors (Theatre Calgary); King Lear, As You Like It, Macbeth, Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet) (The Shakespeare Company); Queer Blind Date (Spontaneous Theatre/Buddies in Bad Times), Scarlet Woman (Lunchbox Theatre), Reasons to be Pretty, A Behanding in Spokane, Kung Fu Panties (Ground Zero Theatre/Hit & Myth); A Dinner Party (Bad Knaps Theatre Collective - Director). Awards and Achievements: Julie has been recognized with three Betty Mitchell Awards, an AMPIA award for Best Performance by an Alberta Actress and two Calgary Theatre Critic Award nominations. Julie is thankful every day for Annie and Jennie. She’s also grateful to Rebecca Northan for teaching her how to embrace failing forward - works like a charm.



Alice Wordsworth - Fern Arable

For ATP: Debut. Alice (she/they) is a mixed-race artist based in Moh’kinsstis and recent graduate of the University of Alberta’s BFA Acting Program. Since graduating they have focused on film and television, but they are thrilled to return to the stage with this show. She extends her family, friends, and Jude for their unwavering love and support. Elsewhere: The Tempest, Love’s Heavy Burden (The Shakespeare Company), The Immaculate Perfection…(High Performance Rodeo, BodyCube Arts Collective). Film/TV: Camp (Avalon Fast), A Cowboy Against Thunder, Crow, Abracadavers, Eyes in the Woods (Numera Films).



Joseph Robinette - Playwright

Joseph Robinette is a Tony Award nominee and Drama Desk Award nominee for the libretto of the acclaimed A Christmas Story, The Musical. He is the author or co-author of 55 published plays and musicals. His works have been produced at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, The Theater at Madison Square Garden and Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, the 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle, the Goodman Theatre in Chicago, the BBC in Britain, in all 50 states and in 21 foreign countries. Twelve of his works have been translated into foreign languages, and another five have been anthologized. Robinette collaborated with E.B. White on the authorized stage version of Charlotte’s Web, and he wrote the musical version with Charles Strouse (Annie and Bye, Bye, Birdie). Other dramatizations include The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Anne of Green Gables and Debbie Macomber’s A Gift to Last and The Inn at Rose Harbor. He is the recipient of the American Alliance for Theatre and Education’s Distinguished Play Award for Sarah, Plain and Tall and the Children’s Theatre Foundation of America medallion for his “body of dramatic works for family audiences in the United States and beyond.”



Rebecca Northan - Director

Rebecca grew up in Calgary. She participated in Theatre Blitz (the high school component of Alberta Theatre Projects’ playRights Festival) when she was in Grade 10, with Brad Fraser as her mentor. She stood at the back of the Martha Cohen Theatre and vowed to someday work at ATP. Charlotte’s Web is Rebecca’s 10th production for ATP, where she has worked as an actor, playwright, and director. Rebecca is also the Artistic Producer of Spontaneous Theatre, the company responsible for Blind Date, Legend Has It, Undercover, Goblin:Macbeth, and Goblin:Oedipus. She is Canadian Comedy Award winner who sometimes works in film, TV, and radio. Later this season, Rebecca will direct Pride & Prejudice for the Grand Theatre in London, as well as creating a new Spontaneous Theatre murder mystery for the Shaw Festival, Murder-on-the-Lake. Rebecca and her creative collaborators, Bruce Horak and Ellis Lalond, continue to build a Goblin Empire. Above all, she is grateful for the love & support of her partner, Tyler Rive.



Terry Gunvordahl - Set & Props Design

Terry’s career continues to shift, change and evolve. He designed the Blackfoot Crossing exhibit for the repatriation of Crowfoot’s shirt and an immersive The Great Escape exhibit for the Air Force Museum. He worked as set designer on ‘We Will Rock You’, a tour of a Queen musical. He designed the set for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang for Storybook Theatre in November and Diary of a Wimpy Kid in October. He will be designing Silence, a new Opera in Edmonton in June. His designs have been seen around the world including Paris, France; Rotterdam, Holland; and Manchester, England. Terry’s designs have been nominated for Toronto’s Dora Award, Edmonton’s Stirling Award, Vancouver’s Jessie Award, the Saskatchewan Theatre Award and over 20 nominations for Calgary’s Betty Mitchell Award. In 2015, Terry received The Harry and Martha Cohen Award for a significant and sustained contribution to theatre in Calgary. His seven-year-old grandson has been waiting to see Charlotte!



Ralamy Kneeshaw - Costume Design

For ATP: The Seafarer, Teenage Dick. Recent credits: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Shakespeare Company), The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (Vertigo Theatre), The Ballad of Georges Boivin (Lunchbox Theatre), The Importance of Being Earnest (Theatre Calgary), Fresh Hell (Fire Exit), Screwball Comedy (Stagewest), Much Ado About Nothing (CYPT), and Waiting for Godot (Black Radish Theatre). The Charlotte’s Web costume team are honoured to have received the first Wendy Eakins Memorial Fund for Textile and Design to support the making of these costumes. Wendy was a vital member of the Calgary costume community and this enduring legacy will be awarded yearly to support costume creation in a production. Ralamy is also deeply grateful to the many creative brains and skilled hands who worked on Charlotte’s Web. Special thanks to the talents of Caroline Broadley, Michelle Latta, Ellis Lalonde and Hugh Short. 143



Cassie Holmes - Lighting Design

Cassie (she/her) is a scenographer, theatre artist, designer, creator, and collaborator. Cassie’s work spans all areas of theatre design, projection, sound, costume, set and lighting. This is Cassie’s debut at Alberta Theatre Projects and she couldn’t be more thrilled to share her work on this stage! Select credits include: Ms. Holmes & Ms. Watson - #2B (Vertigo; ADC Mentorship), Buy Me a Drink, Joe (Forte Musical Theatre), Beautiful Man (Downstage; Verb; Handsome Alice), Kisapmata (Chromatic Theatre; Lunchbox Theatre), With Bells On (Lunchbox Theatre), and Argonautika (U of C SCPA). Cassie also works with the Nation accessArts Center as a design consultant and technical translator, working to help curb barriers in design. Recently Cassie traveled with the NaAC dance ensemble to South Korea for the Seoul Performing Arts Festival. Cassie is also a recent graduate from the University of Calgary’s Master of Fine Arts in Design and Technical Theatre. Her thesis primarily focused on lighting diverse skin tones. Photo Credit: Tim Nguyen. cassieholmes.ca



Sara Turner - Stage Manager

Sara is pretty darn chuffed to be back with this amazing company and the team of Charlotte’s Web! Previously for ATP: The Black Bonspiel of Wullie MacCrimmon, Cowgirl Up, The Red Priest. Other select stage management credits include: Naked Radio, Canada 151, Million Dollar Quartet, (Drayton Entertainment), Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Legends of Country (Stage West), Sleuth, Gaslight, Cipher, Strangers on a Train, The 39 Steps (Vertigo Theatre); A Christmas Carol, The Louder We Get, The Secret Garden, Twelfth Night, The Audience (Theatre Calgary); Naughty But Nice Too, Crossing Swords, Touch Me (Forte Musical Theatre); Sensory Box, Giant (Ghost River Theatre). As always, love to her incredible family.



Bonni Baynton - Assistant Stage Manager

Bonni is thrilled to be back in Calgary and at ATP, where she “cut her teeth” in professional theatre oh so many years ago. For ATP, Bonni’s credits include Production Assistant, Apprentice Stage Manager, Assistant Stage Manager, Stage Manager and Production Stage Manager, having been a part of the first resident company as well as the first playRites Festival in 1987. A graduate of the University Calgary, Bonni brings extensive experience in Stage Management having worked for numerous theatres in Calgary and across the country. Bonni spent many summers as a Faculty Member for the Banff Centre Opera as Theatre program where she mentored participants in the art of stage management. She was the Director of Production at Calgary Opera for twelve years, before relocating to Victoria last Fall, where she has Stage Managed for Pacific Opera Victoria, Chemainus Theatre Festival and the Belfry Theatre. Bonni looks forward to this run of Charlotte’s Web, and to also be able to spend the holidays in Calgary with her sons.



K Hall - Apprentice Stage Manager

K Hall is a multi-disciplinary theatre artist based in Mohkinstsis, who explores expression through many mediums, including lighting design, performing, and, of course, stage management. In stage management, he enjoys supporting the creation and growth of new works, and forming safe spaces for creativity to flourish. Recent apprentice stage manager works include The Jungle Book (Alberta Theatre Projects), and Shark Bite (Lunchbox Theatre), and they have stage managed shows such as “Ghost” Return to Mourning (Independent), and Our Canada, Our Story (Action Dignity and Arts Commons). K is excited to be an apprentice stage manager on Charlotte’s Web, and is so grateful to be sharing this story with you!