Student Writers Group Showcase 2023

CAST & CREW

Keira Dax - Playwright: Distant Memories

Keira is a jack of many trades. Often working onstage in acting roles, Keira is thrilled to have an opportunity to watch her work being acted out in front of her. Keira’s experience comes from her love of being onstage, such as school performances of Peter Pan, The Wizard of Oz, The Lottery, and Murder by Indecision. Her passion for acting and writing has never wavered, only increasing with time. Her family has influenced her with constant support and love, and she is grateful for everything they do for her. Keira is excited and scared, but that’s to be expected.



Clare Franko - Playwright: Benched

Claire is delighted to be making her playwriting debut. Select ATP credits: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, as well as performing with the Youth Singers of Calgary. Her training includes level seven Royal Conservatory Piano. Claire likes writing people she knows into scripts without them knowing and making up dance moves in her bathroom when she should be getting ready. A big thanks to the other two thirds of the Three Musks, Grandma’s Basement Theatre, and to her people for their support.



Annika Keatley - Playwright: The Flower

Annika is thrilled to have her work performed at ATP. She has acted in A Little Princess, and The Canterville Ghost (CYPT), and recently worked as a choreographer for the original musical The Poison Squad (CYPT), and will be appearing soon in the Cannonball Festival 2023 (CYPT) in As You Were. She spends her time reading, running, and participating in her school’s band and choir programs. She would like to thank her parents, friends, and dogs for their endless support.



Emma McDonald - Playwright: This Play is Unique

Emma McDonald is a creative with a passion for the absurd, the gothic and the off-beat. She is an actor, a writer, and a soon-to-be director, having been involved with CYPT, Calgary Actors’ Studio and ATP. Emma’s interests also lay outside of theatre, namely in film. She frequently volunteers with CIFF, and recently completed her first short film, Hiraeth. With This Play is Unique, Emma hopes to explore identity, purpose, and how the audience can serve as a character in its own right. In her spare time, Emma can be found in record stores, digging through the $1 bin.



Hayley Ness - Playwright: Bee Economics

Hayley Ness is an actress and playwright based in Calgary. She enjoys theatre because it allows her to share ideas through the powers of acting. She has acted in several school and community productions including Rock of Ages, Madagascar, and Little Red Riding Hood. Recently she has starred in an independent feature film called The Maiden directed by Graham Foy. She is also working on a few writing projects of her own. So far, her biggest project is called Cinderella the Real Story. This is the first time one of Hayley’s plays will be shown to a public audience. Hayley is on the autism spectrum, enjoys playing Pokémon and is learning Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.



Marellah Roda - Playwright: A Gambit

Marellah is ecstatic to make her playwright debut with Alberta Theatre Projects. She has theatrically acted in her school's production of A Lighter Shade of Noir last year in the lead role of a British detective, and recently co-directed this school year's production of She Kills Monsters. Though she makes her playwright debut, Marellah primarily writes poetry and short stories, and spends a lot of her time reading and watching films. She hopes to one day become a film director, and gives a heartfelt thanks to her family, friends and teachers for their enduring love and support.



Sofia Vargas Vanegas - Playwright: Portrait of Madame X

As an emerging theatre artist, Sofia is thrilled to be a part of the ATP Student Writers Group Showcase! While only getting involved in theatre two years ago at their high school, Sofia has found a passion for the dramatic arts, and has been involved in several productions since. Sofia has also fostered an interest in scriptwriting, having been part of YOUth Riot (2022), and is excited to have their playwriting debut with Portrait of Madame X. Sofia is extremely grateful to their family - both blood and chosen - for the support.



Camille Pavlenko - Student Writers Group Instructor

Camille (she/her) is an award-winning playwright, actor, and theatre artist. Recent projects include real boi: The Tragedie of Pinocchio in Five Comedic Acts (Calgary Young Peoples’ Theatre), The Hitchhiker (Vertigo Theatre), Go for Gold, Audrey Pham (Lunchbox Theatre, Alberta Theatre Projects), Vasilisa & Baba Yaga (Alberta Musical Theatre Company), and USS ARTEMIS (co-created with Ali DeRegt), a sci-fi radio play that uses binaural audio to create an immersive experience, available to stream for free at USSARTEMIS.ca and the Apple Podcasts App. This summer, Camille will be taking part in the Caravan Farm Theatre’s National Playwrights Retreat and (remotely) joining the Creative Writing program at the University of British Columbia, in pursuit of her MFA. Camille is also the Artistic Associate at Verb Theatre and getting pretty OK at Mario Kart 8 for Nintendo Switch. Thanks to BG for all the love, support, and drifting lessons. See more of her work at camillepavlenko.com



Bronwyn Steinberg - Director
Favourite Play: Whatever show I'm working on next!



Javier Vilalta - Director
Favourite Play: The Seagull by Anton Chekhov



Kat Armstrong - Actor
Favourite Play: Undone created by Kate Purdy and Raphael Bob-Waksberg



Damian Brandenburg - Actor
Favourite Play: The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant by Rainer Fassbinder



Hodan Dualeh - Actor
Favourite Play: Macbeth by William Shakespeare



Braden Griffiths - Actor
Favourite Play: Angels in America by Tony Kushner



Maezy Reign - Actor
Favourite Play: Wild Abandon by Daniel MacIvor
Photo by: Emily Machan



Claire Bolton - Stage Manager
Favourite Play