The Company
The Cast: (In alphabetical order)
Colin Ross → Jack Richards*
Colin Ross was diagnosed with bipolar disorder as well as ADHD at a young age and has been struggling with mental illness his entire life. One of the largest struggles Colin has faced is dealing with the emotional trauma that has stemmed as a direct result from being ill. Colin benefits from the use of medication as it enables him to “take a little control of my life back”. He recognizes that there is a lot of emotional damage that exists that no pill could ever fix. Colin firmly believes that with more support for people who have trouble connecting with the world, we would see dramatic change, not just in patients’ wellbeing, but in the lives of those surrounding them as well.
Erin Arnold → Abby Neill
Erin Arnold is a mother of a young son living in Vancouver. She is an active community member volunteering in many capacities including the Board of Directors for Pacific Post Partum Support Society. Her background is in Child and Youth Care Counseling and currently working towards a graduate certificate in Complex Trauma and Child Sexual Abuse Intervention at the JIBC. She has worked for the provincial government since 1998 holding a variety of positions. Erin was a victim of a long lasting crime in her childhood that has shaped her life and career path. Erin has lived with an eating disorder for over two decades, major depression, post traumatic stress disorder and suffered from post partum depression after the birth of her son. Through her lived experience as a patient in the mental health system as well as working with victims of crime and trauma, she personally values the importance of self-care. Erin is thrilled to be a part of maladjusted and to help create change through community dialogue, theatre and making policy recommendations to the powers that be!
Khoal Marks → Mia Williams
Khoal emigrated to Canada at age two, and was raised in a traditional East Indian home, though she would prove to be anything but traditional. A defiant teenager, Khoal escaped from tradition and home, pursuing her dreams and living her own life. Out of necessity, Khoal quickly learned how to survive on her own. Her journey was fraught with adversity and ‘starting over’ moments. After suddenly losing her mother in 2007, she was diagnosed with mental health issues, bringing some clarity to the life she had been living. Being in maladjusted is an exciting opportunity for Khoal. She is hoping this experience will be healing and empowering as her journey continues.
Martin Filby → Jack Richards
When Martin heard about maladjusted, he got excited at the opportunity to be a part of a team that wanted to bring forward the problems of the Mental Health System - not just to make others aware but to maybe bring to light some solutions. Through many years of mental health misdiagnoses, major reactions to improper prescriptions, and countless therapies, Martin is still working towards finding peace. In this workshop and production Martin hopes to learn how others have coped in their fight with the mechanization of the system and to inform those who are clueless that there needs to be changes made to help those in crisis. Martin has lived in Vancouver off and on for the past five years, during which time he has been a street performer with his girlfriend Ashley. He and Ashley also travel around Canada, performing music and taking in the sights. While living in Montreal, Martin worked on a movie set as a caterer, which peaked his interest in performing.
Micheala Hiltergerke → Danielle Willams
Micheala is 22 years old, born and raised in Prince George BC. She experienced some difficulty as a teenager and after a very brief interview with a psychiatrist was diagnosed with serious mental health issues and put on medications, deeply affecting her health and changing the course of her life. She is a strong survivor of diagnostic labeling and treatment. At the age of 19, Micheala decided to stop all psychiatric medications and suffered through debilitating withdrawal effects completely on her own. She went on to complete high school with honors and a bursary. She is now moving towards a career to work with children and youth “at risk”. Talking about this time in her life, Micheala says, “The hardest part about the healing process is teaching one’s self that it is okay and “normal” to feel sad, okay to feel angry, okay to feel happy and excited”. Micheala is stoked to be a part of maladjusted and to help people understand the stigma of a mental health label and the powerlessness of being diagnosed ‘crazy’.
Pierre Leichner → Dr. Paul Devreaux
After 35 years as an academic and administrative psychiatrist, Pierre Leichner has left this profession to become a full time interdisciplinary artist. This change has been fueled by his dismay at the direction our health care system has been taking and his inability to express this while working within the system. As an artist most of his projects address socio-political issues. He is presently working on an altered books project: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) Re-revised that draws on his previous experiences and knowledge as a psychiatrist and an artist. It questions the political and economic issues that are associated with psychiatric diagnosis and treatment. He is a collective member of Gallery Gachet and a board member on the Community Arts Council of Vancouver. He obtained his Bachelor in Fine Arts from Emily Carr University in 2007 and his Masters in Fine Arts from Concordia University in 2011. Most of his works can be seen on his artist website: www.leichner.ca
Sam Bob** → Frank Williams
Sam Bob is a Vancouver based actor who has performed nationally in television, film, radio, and theatre. Sam’s traditional name is Tulkweemultk’ of the SnawNaw-us First Nation. His connection to mental health issues includes overcoming PTSD from Residential School and spending the last few years in recovery from alcohol addiction. Sam is a Jessie Richardson nominee for Best Actor in Headlines Theatre’s production of Out of the Silence in 1992. He was also nominated for Best Actor by Edmonton’s Dreamspeaker’s Film Festival in 1996 for his performance in Dana Claxton’s film The Red Paper. He has performed in many Vancouver theatre production’s such as Dry Lips Oughta Move to Kapuskasing at the Arts Club, Paradise in the Wasteland with Tamahnous Theatre, and Age of Iron, Farewell and Ecstasy of Rita Joe at the Firehall Theatre. Sam can currently be seen in the second season of APTN’s comedy Health Nut’z on APTN. He has several TV and film credits but he finds the true reward of working in the arts to be the active participation and mentoring of First Nation’s youth, in particular with the IIDF program at Capilano University. Idle No More.
* This role originally created by Martin Filby
** Appears with the permission of the Canadian Actors’ Equity Association
The Production Team: (In alphabetical order)
Amanda Konkin → Publicist
Amanda has an MA in theatre studies from the University of British Columbia (UBC) where she studied the unique potential for interactivity demonstrated by TfL’s online broadcasts. She has spent the last decade honing her creative skills in theatre including roles producing, directing, performing and doing publicity. Her first job upon moving to Vancouver 6 years ago was as the publicist for the UBC Players Club, where she spent 4 full seasons on the executive council producing theatre projects and events. She currently sits on the board of directors for ICTV, one of the local independent groups producing television for Shaw channel 4 and contributes actively to Vancouver’s online geek community as a blogger and podcaster. She is excited to contribute her passion for Theatre for Living work and dedication to the performing arts sector in BC as the publicist for Headlines 2013 main stage show maladjusted.
André Prevost → Production Manager
After completing the Theatre Arts program at the Banff Centre in 1978, André Prevost began his career in stage management with the Vancouver Opera. In 1981 he accepted a teaching post in Art & Drama at the High School level until 1987 when he accepted the combined post of Stage Manager and Director of Production with the Edmonton Opera, and with the Manitoba Opera in 1994, and for the Vancouver Opera in 2004. Upon his return to Winnipeg in 2006, he freelanced with Rainbow Stage, Winnipeg Jewish Theatre, and the Ruth Cansfield. In 2008, he became the Administrative Director for the Manitoba Arts Network in Winnipeg, then returned to Vancouver to work with Headlines Theatre in 2011. His career has also included stage managing with the Vancouver Playhouse, Opera Saskatchewan, and Opera Pacific (California), producing the first annual Alberta Emerald Awards in 1995, and continues his work in the visual arts through Iconography.
Bríd Fitzgerald → Support Person
Recognising the creative arts as an effective tool for bridging the gap between fear, hope and change, Bríd has found the fit for her passion in blending the arts, therapeutic practice and education. A thread of Boal’s technique has been woven though Bríd’s work since 1996, when she was first introduced to Theatre of the Oppressed as an undergraduate theatre student. For the past twelve years, Bríd has worked with a wide variety of marginalised groups and individuals, using play methods to practice on and for life situations. Acknowledging the Arts as an invaluable tool for growth and change, Bríd undertook a Counselling and Psychotherapy Degree to further merge creativity and developmental/therapeutic work. Having worked in front line crisis intervention as a Counsellor Psychotherapist and as a Drama/Personal Development Facilitator in Ireland and Australia, Bríd is now delighted to have the opportunity to continue to learn and to develop her skills here in Canada.
Carmen Alatorre → Costume Designer
Originally from Mexico City, Carmen earned her MFA degree in Theatre Design at the University of British Columbia and has worked as a theatre designer in Vancouver since 2006. Some of her local recent design credits include: The Patron Saint of Stanley Park (Arts Club), Fresco (Bella Luna Theatre), Women of Troy (SFU Woodward’s), The Forbidden Phoenix, The Sound of Music and Fiddler on the Roof (Gateway Theatre) and Us and Them with Headlines Theatre. Carmen is a member of Associate Designers of Canada. www.carmenalatorre.com
Candelario Andrade → Sound Designer
Design credits include work with Theatre Replacement, Neworld Theatre, Rumble Productions, Leaky Heaven, Conspiracy Theatre, Real Wheels, Urban Ink and Rimini Protokoll (Germany). This is his second project with Headlines Theatre. Recent credits include the Electric Company’s Initiation Trilogy and Theatre Replacement’s Movie Group. With his own company: Rough House, Cande recently co-created A Last Resort, co-written and Performed in collaboration with Camille Gingras. The show earned a Jessie Richardson Nomination for Outstanding Original Script and it was presented at Free Fall Festival in Toronto, TREMORS Festival and The Shadbolt Centre.
Carissa Wieler → Community Scribe
Carissa is excited to be the community scribe for Headlines Theatre’s production of ‘maladjusted’. She has a sensitive and keen eye to mental health issues through her own experiences. As a young girl, Carissa grew up with the war refugee stories of her grandmother who suffered from post-traumatic stress. As a teenager, she bereaved the sudden loss of her father due to illness. Carissa has since developed a passion for mental and emotional health, inspiring her to obtain a second master’s degree in Integral Psychology (her first is in Natural Resources Management). She strives for the elegant integration of social change, creativity and human well-being. Through her experience with facilitation, public speaking and writing, she has helped direct policy change in the areas of global and community sustainability, and aboriginal planning. Carissa also writes narrative and poetry with publications in two anthologies, Integral Education (2010), and I See You With My Heart: A Voice Flame Anthology (2012).
Chris Bouris → Webcast Master
Chris’ media work has an emphasis on civic education. Chris’ media goals are to broaden community understanding of contemporary social issues and facilitate greater community participation through online technologies. He has a Cooperative Education, BFA (Film) degree from Simon Fraser University.
Dafne Blanco → Outreach Coordinator, Graphic Designer & Webmaster
Dafne was Headlines’ Outreach Coordinator from 2004 to 2010 and she is back at Headlines for a year. She has been involved with several grassroots organizations and art groups since she arrived in Vancouver from Mexico in 1996, working on the areas of Human Rights, First Nations struggles, Racism, Globalization, and other social issues. She also worked as an advocate for agriculture migrant rights, while freelancing as a web designer. Dafne has completed a degree in Graphic Design in the National Autonomous University of Mexico. Painting and ceramics creation has been a great passion of hers and she is hoping to fully focus on her artistic creation if she is able to garner the blessings of the Visual Arts deities. www.dafneblancovisualart.com
David Diamond → Artistic and Managing Director
David is a 1975 BFA graduate of the University of Alberta. He was a founding member of Vancouver's Headlines Theatre (1981) and has been Artistic Director since 1984. David has directed over 500 community-specific projects on issues such as racism, civic engagement, violence, addiction, street youth, intergenerational conflict and homelessness. David is the recipient of numerous awards, including the City of Vancouver's Cultural Harmony Award, the Jessie Richardson Award for Innovation in Theatre, an Honorary Doctorate from the University of the Fraser Valley and the Otto René Castillo Award for Political Theatre. In 2010 he was honoured to travel with the Governor General of Canada (Michaëlle Jean) as a Canadian Delegate in Africa. He is also a recipient of the Vancouver 2012 Mayor's Arts Award for Community Engaged Art. David is the author of Theatre for Living: the art and science of community-based dialogue, which has a foreword by renowned systems theorist, Fritjof Capra and was honored with the American Alliance of Theatre and Education 2008 Distinguished Book Award. In 2012 the book was published in German by Ibidem under the title Theater zum Leben and is also currently being translated into Spanish.
Dorothy Jenkins* → Stage Manager
Dorothy is a seasoned professional Stage Manager with decades of experience in the theatre. This will be her third Headlines’ project, the first being after homelessness…, the second being Us and Them. She is delighted to be working with Headlines Theatre again.
Elisha Burrows → Technical Director
Elisha Burrows grew up in a theatre family and toured with the Caravan as child in the 1980’s. Since graduating from Simon Fraser in 1997, he has worked as a theatre and film technician and as a DOP and Director on documentary films and commercials and as a content producer on various multimedia projects. For the past six years he has worked as a technical director in both theatre and fine arts. Company credits in include The Leaky Heaven Circus, Ruby Slipper Theatre, PI Theatre, Touchstone Theatre, Caravan Farm Theatre and The New Forms Festival. This will be second show as Technical Director for Headlines Theatre.
Gerald King → Lighting Designer
Gerald’s designs have been seen with; Ballet British Columbia, Bard on The Beach, The Vancouver Opera, The National Ballet of Canada, The National Arts Centre, Pacific Opera Victoria, Opera Omaha, The Baltimore Opera, Cincinnati Playhouse In The Park, The Edmonton Opera, Bard on The Beach, Western Canada Theatre and numerous others. Some recent show credits include: Ubuntu- for Western Canada Theatre, Death of A Salesman and La Cage Aux Folles- Vancouver Playhouse, Romeo and Julietta and La Boheme-Vancouver Opera, Cats and Much Ado About Nothing- Theatre Calgary, Madama Butterfly- Opera Omaha, MacBeth and Taming of The Shrew- Bard on The Beach, The Secret Mask-Presentation House and Boeing Boeing- Arts Club Theatre.
Mallory Gallant → Publicity/Outreach Assistant
Mallory is a graduate of the Theatre Performance program at Mount Royal University in Calgary. She has since worked as an actress, drama facilitator, arts programmer, and playwright. She most recently co-wrote/produced Grey Matter for the Edmonton and Vancouver Fringe Festivals. Since moving to Vancouver in 2011 she completed her certification in Documentary Production from Langara College and is currently a student in the Advanced Certification in Arts and Entertainment Management at Capilano University. She completed her first internship at the Public Dreams Society as their Outreach Coordinator for the Parade of Lost Souls 2012 and is pleased to be doing her second internship at Theatre for Living (Headlines Theatre) as their Publicity/Outreach Assistant for maladjusted. Up next she is directing a documentary film called The Language of Rhythm for the Public Dreams Society. She is proud to be a part of this gifted production team at Theatre for Living.
Michael Keeping → Tele/webcast Director
Michael started working in film and television when he was 13 years old. By 16 years old, as a volunteer at Rogers Cable TV Toronto he was directing and switching live TV programs. Over the past 40 years Michael has produced well over 5000 broadcast hours. He currently dire.cts The Rush with host Fiona Forbes and Michael Eckford and produces a number of access shows for Shaw TV. Michael has also been a 28-year supporter of ‘Theatre for the Living’ by producing and directing their television coverage. Michael learned the art of Foley at the CBC in 1981. Since then, through his company TraxStars Entertainment Inc. he has worked with over 50 TV series, for a full list you can check out the Internet Movie Data Base IMDB.com under Michael Keeping. He has won one Gemini for Ice Pilots NWT, 6 Leo Awards and has been nominated for two Prix Genie Awards and four Gemini Awards for his sound work.
Susan Shank Day → Financial Administrator
Susan Shank Day has extensive financial and administrative experience in the arts. For a decade Susan was the administrator for Touchstone Theatre Society. She is also the contract coordinator for Gateway Theatre and has done bookkeeping for The Firehall Arts Centre - but her favorite job is being the mom of her two children! Susan has a BA from SFU with a concentration in Theatre. Over the years she has had experience as an actor, writer, teacher, programmer and producer. Susan is delighted to be working with Headlines Theatre.
Yvan Morissette → Set and Props Designer
Yvan is very happy to be back working with Headlines, where he’s previously designed the productions of Us and Them, After Homelessness, Meth and Thirsty. His Design work has been seen on most stages around Vancouver, including the Arts Club Theatre, the Playhouse, Bard on the Beach, Rumble Productions and Touchstones Theatre, among others. Yvan also teaches in the Design Formation program at Langara College, and would like to thank his partner Kat and daughter Alexina for their Love and Support.