THE PLAYWRIGHTS
EDWARD ALBEE (THREE TALL WOMEN) ~
ALAN BENNETT (TALKING HEADS) ~
JOAN DIDION (THE YEAR OF MAGICAL THINKING) ~ American journalist, essayist and novelist, Joan Didion was born on December 5, 1934 in Sacramento California. She graduated from University of California at Berkeley in 1956 and moved to New York. She spent the next ten years writing for The Saturday Evening Post, Esquire, American Scholar, Mademoiselle, National Review, Holiday, The New York Times Magazine and The New York Times Book Review. She also wrote for Vogue Magazine which honoured her with the prestigious Prix de Paris Award. Joan is the author of five novels and eight books of nonfiction. Her early collections of essays, SLOUCHING TOWARDS BETHLEHEM (1968) and THE WHITE ALBUM (1979) made her famous as an observer of American politics and culture with a distinctive style of reporting that mixed personal reflection and social analysis. With her late husband, the writer John Gregory Dunne, she collaborated on several screenplays including A STAR IS BORN, TRUE CONFESSIONS and UP CLOSE & PERSONAL. In 2007 Joan received the National Book Foundation’s annual Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. That same year she also won the Evelyn F. Burkey Award from the Writers Guild of America. In November 2005, her memoir THE YEAR OF MAGICAL THINKING won the National Book award for nonfiction. Her adapation of this book for the stage was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Tony Award for Best Play. It opened on Broadway in March, 2007 starring Vanessa Redgrave. Novelist and poet James Dickey has called Didion “the finest woman prose stylist writing in English today”.
TOM KEMPINSKI (DUET FOR ONE) ~
NEIL SIMON (THE DINNER PARTY) ~
STEPHEN TEMPERLEY (SOUVENIR) ~ Born in England, actor and writer Stephen Temperley came to America in the 60's and made his debut in HENRY IV at The New York Shakespeare Festival. He returned to London and performed in the West End. Later he came back to the USA and was in AMADEUS and the Broadway company of CRAZY FOR YOU. His other plays include BESIDE THE SEASIDE, MONEY/MERCY and DANCE WITH ME. In 2005 his fantasia SOUVENIR opened at The Lyceum Theatre in New York.
THE ACTORS
CORINNE CONLEY (THREE TALL WOMEN) ~ Celebrating 50 years in a career that has taken her to Broadway (LOVE AND LIBEL directed by Tyrone Guthrie), London's West End (CANADIAN REVIEW, CLAP HANDS) and Hollywood, Corinne now lives in Toronto where she has performed at the Royal Alexandra Theatre (SPRING THAW JUBILEE), The Winter Garden Theatre, Stage West and Canadian Stage as well as appearances at Hamilton's Theatre Aquarius and Peterborough's New Stages. Film & Television: HOGAN'S HEROES, THAT GIRL, THE NEW DICK VAN DYKE SHOW, HOLLYWOOD WIVES, DEAR DETECTIVE and RULES OF ENGAGEMENT. She appeared opposite Julie Andrews in the two Disney specials ELOISE AT THE PLAZA and ELOISE AT CHRISTMASTIME. For seven seasons Corinne played Phyllis Anderson Curtis on the popular NBC soap-opera DAYS OF OUR LIVES. For First Stages: Fonsia in THE GIN GAME, Agnes in A DELICATE BALANCE, Adrienne in A BENCH IN THE SUN and Lily in SIX DANCE LESSONS IN SIX WEEKS.
JILLIAN COOK (THREE TALL WOMEN) ~ A company member of The Shaw Festival for 13 Seasons, Jillian's appearances there include: PYGMALION, THREE MEN ON A HORSE, THE ROYAL FAMILY, DIANA OF DOBSON'S, THE HOUSE OF BERNARDA ALBA, SHADOW PLAY, THE MADRAS HOUSE, UNCLE VANYA, YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU, MAJOR BARBARA, THE CHILDREN'S HOUR, MARSH HAY, HOBSON'S CHOICE, THE FRONT PAGE, ON THE ROCKS and CAVALCADE. Other theatre credits include BLITHE SPIRIT (Globe Theatre, Regina), NURSE JANE GOES TO HAWAII and THE PHOENIX LOTTERY (Grand Theatre, London), BORDERTOWN CAFE (Gryphon Theatre, Barrie), STEPPING OUT (Stage West, Edmonton) and THE WOMEN (Royal Alexandra Theatre, Toronto). Film & Television: I'LL NEVER GET TO HEAVEN, MIDWIVES, WOMEN OF WINDSOR, STREET LEGAL, THE RECKONING, SORRY WRONG NUMBER, JANE OF LANTERN HILL and FRIDAY THE 13TH. Jillian also participated in THE MYSTERY PROJECT for CBC Radio. For First Stages: Her Ladyship in THE DRESSER and Alice in THE RETREAT FROM MOSCOW.
ALEX DALLAS (TALKING HEADS) ~ Originally from England, Alex Dallas was a founding member of the female comedy troupe Sensible Footwear that toured the UK, Canada and the USA for 18 years. She has appeared at theatre festivals worldwide including Edinburgh, New York, Winnipeg and Adelaide. Her one-woman shows have been produced in Los Angeles and been produced on Bravo-TV and CBC Radio along with guest appearances on CITY-TV, CTV and WTN. Alex participated in the Just For Laughs International Comedy Festival in Vancouver and her show, NYMPHOMANIA, was nominated for a Canadian Comedy Award for Funniest One-Woman Show. Her theatre roles range from Shakespeare (Lady Macbeth) to Noel Coward (Madame Arcati in BLITHE SPIRIT) and she co-starred in MOM'S THE WORD for Drayton Entertainment. She is also well known from voicing TV and radio commercials. Alex recently guest-starred at the CBC Winnipeg Comedy Festival which will air on CBC television in the fall of 2008. For First Stages: Rita in EDUCATING RITA.
DIANE FABIAN (SOUVENIR) ~ Seasoned veteran entertainer Diane Fabian has thrilled audiences throughout North America with her versatility as a singer, dancer, pianist, horn player, comedienne, actor, impersonator and narrator. She has performed for ten seasons at The Stirling Festival Theatre, most recently in STEEL MAGNOLIAS, OLIVER! and in THE KITCHEN WITCHES that was penned for her particular talents. At the Royal Alexandra Theatre she appeared in DAMN YANKEES, and in The Ford Centre for the Arts and the U.S. National Tour of SHOWBOAT. Other performances include The National Arts Centre, The Citadel Theatre, Massey Hall, Victoria Playhouse Petrolia and Drayton Festival Theatre. Film & Television: SAVE THE LAST DANCE, OUR HERO, BIZARRE, SANTA CALLS and voicing animation series such as QUADS, BOB & MARGARET, JACOB TWO-TWO, SUPER MARIO BROS., CORDUROY BEAR and BOOKMICE. Diane is also recognized for her many TV commercials. Ms. Fabian has also appeared at Carnegie Hall in New York. For First Stages: Debut.
DAVID GARDNER (DUET FOR ONE) ~ Toronto-born Dr. David Gardner has been a professional actor, director and educator for over 50 years. He received his PhD in Canadian theatre history at the University of Toronto, and in 1993 he was awarded Honorary Membership in the Association for Canadian Theatre Research "in recognition of his distinguished service to theatre in Canada". Career highlights include a Tyrone Guthrie Award at Stratford, TAMBURLAINE on Broadway in New York, touring with The Canadian Players and The Old Vic Company, HUNTER'S MOON and REQUIEM FOR A NUN in the West End in London, Artistic Director of the Vancouver Playhouse, Theatre Officer for the Canada Council of the Arts and Chairman of the Founding Committee of The National Theatre School of Canada. Theatre credits include DEATHTRAP (Neptune Theatre, Halifax), THE CRUCIBLE (Manitoba Theatre Centre, Winnipeg), AND THEN THERE WERE NONE (Theatre Aquarius, Hamilton), ON GOLDEN POND (Huron Country Playhouse, Grand Bend), ANNE OF GREEN GABLES (Red Barn Theatre, Jackson's Point) and in Toronto at Tarragon, CanStage, Necessary Angel and Factory Theatre. In 2004 The Canadian Theatre Critic's Association presented David with The Herbert Whittaker Drama Bench Award for "Outstanding contribution to the Canadian theatre". Film & Television: MURDER AT 1600, DETROIT ROCK CITY, TORSO, JFK, ROBOCOP, TRADERS and THE CITY. David produced and directed over 75 dramas for CBC including QUENTIN DURGENS MP and Timothy Findley's THE PAPER PEOPLE. For First Stages: THE COCKTAIL HOUR, THE DINING ROOM, THE GIN GAME, A DELICATE BALANCE, TRYING and WRONG TURN AT LUNGFISH.
MARIA HEIDLER (TALKING HEADS) ~ 2008 marks Maria's 35th year on the international stage. A graduate of England's Webber-Douglas Academy she has played lead roles in theatres throughout the UK. National tours in Britain include DENNIS THE MENACE with Prunella Scales and WHOSE LIFE IS IT ANYWAY? with Simon Ward. Her work in theatre in Canada includes THE MOUSETRAP, WEEKEND COMEDY, NO SEX PLEASE WE'RE BRITISH, CAUGHT IN THE NET, TONS OF MONEY and CASH ON DELIVERY all for Drayton Entertainment. Among her other theatre credits are THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST (Sudbury Theatre Centre), BLITHE SPIRIT (Grand Theatre London) and SHIRLEY VALENTINE (Showboat Theatre). Film & Television: MATERIAL WORLD and DIEPPE (CBC) and ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE DARK? (Cinar). For First Stages: Miss Poppenghul in MOONLIGHT AND MAGNOLIAS.
GODRIC LATIMER KIM (THREE TALL WOMEN) ~
STEPHANIE MCNAMARA (DUET FOR ONE) ~
DIANA REIS (THE DINNER PARTY) ~
ANDREA RISK (TALKING HEADS) ~ Andrea appeared recently at the 2008 Toronto Fringe Festival in the critically-acclaimed FREEDOM 85 in which she portrayed five different characters. Other theatre credits include BOEING BOEING and A FLEA IN HER EAR (Drayton Entertainment) and LEND ME A TENOR and CAUGHT IN THE NET (Victoria Playhouse Petrolia). Andrea achieved an astonishing record of over 500 performances portraying Barbara De Marco in the murder-mystery-mayhem of SHEAR MADNESS playing it across Canada at The Charlottetown Festival PEI, The Atlantis Theatre Toronto, The King's Wharf Theatre Penetang, The Schoolhouse Theatre St.Jacobs and Stage West Mississauga. For First Stages: Madge in THE DRESSER.
PATRICIA YEATMAN (YEAR OF MAGICAL THINKING) ~ Patricia recently appeared in GLORIOUS for Centaur Theatre in Montreal where she also performed in CONDOVILLE, LIFE AFTER GEORGE and THE PRIME OF MISS JEAN BRODIE. Other theatre credits include SEXY LAUNDRY (New Stages, Peterborough), THE LONG WEEKEND (Maho Resort, St. Maarten), BLESSINGS IN DISGUISE, THE GLASS MENAGERIE and KINGDOM OF EARTH (Touchmark Theatre), SEPARATE BEDS (Showboat Festival/Stage 237), SELF-HELP (Theatre Aquarius/Stage West), DEATH AND THE MAIDEN and DRIVING MISS DAISY (Sudbury Theatre Centre), PERFECT PIE (Bluewater Playhouse), IT HAD TO BE YOU (Victoria Playhouse), THE HOUSE OF BLUE LEAVES (Theatre Newfoundland-Labrador) and her tour de force performances in SHIRLEY VALENTINE and THE SEARCH FOR INTELLIGENT SIGNS OF LIFE IN THE UNIVERSE. Patricia has had a long association with Michel Tremblay's FOR THE PLEASURE OF SEEING HER AGAIN having co-starred in four separate productions including Theatre New Brunswick, Sudbury Theatre Centre and Bluewater Playhouse. Film & Television: JEFF LIMITED, THE ASSOCIATES, BLUE MURDER, RIVERDALE, DIFFERENT, THE BRIDAL PATH (Toronto/Montreal Film Festivals), BLOOD AND STRAW (winner Minneapolis Short Film Festival) and the upcoming CAMILLE with Siena Miller. For First Stages: Nana in FOR THE PLEASURE OF SEEING HER AGAIN.
Casting for the 2008/2009 Season is ongoing. Additional bios for the acting company and the playwrights will continue to be updated on this page. Please check back for more information.