Monstress

Trevor Schmidt

Playwright

Trevor is the Artistic Director of Northern Light Theatre as well as a performer, designer of set and costume, a published playwright and a multiple award winner. He has been awarded twice for playwrighting (THE WATERMELON GIRLS, and CHANGE ROOM),for directing the Canadian premieres of Carol Anne Duffy’s THE WORLD’S WIFE and Sean Graney’s THE 4TH GRADERS PRESENT AN UNNAMED LOVE-SUICIDE and the outstanding production award for the Canadian premiere of Elise Forier Edie’s THE PINK UNICORN. For Guys In Disguise, where he is an Artistic Associate, he has also performed the one-man show COFFEE DAD, CHICKEN MOM, AND THE FABULOUS BUDDHA BOI, penned by Nick Green in New York as part of the FRIGID FESTIVAL for which he also received the award for Outstanding Performance, and the Outstanding New Fringe Play (co-written and created with Darrin Hagen) for FLORA & FAWNA’S FIELD TRIP (both at the Sterling Awards), and Outstanding Touring Production at the Critic’s Awards in Calgary. Also for Guys In Disguise, he received an Orlando Fringe award for his performance for Bette Davis in the much-lauded BITCHSLAP.

Trevor Schmidt

Director, Set and Costume Designer

Trevor is the Artistic Director of Northern Light Theatre as well as a performer, designer of set and costume, a published playwright and a multiple award winner. He has been awarded twice for playwrighting (THE WATERMELON GIRLS, and CHANGE ROOM),for directing the Canadian premieres of Carol Anne Duffy’s THE WORLD’S WIFE and Sean Graney’s THE 4TH GRADERS PRESENT AN UNNAMED LOVE-SUICIDE and the outstanding production award for the Canadian premiere of Elise Forier Edie’s THE PINK UNICORN. For Guys In Disguise, where he is an Artistic Associate, he has also performed the one-man show COFFEE DAD, CHICKEN MOM, AND THE FABULOUS BUDDHA BOI, penned by Nick Green in New York as part of the FRIGID FESTIVAL for which he also received the award for Outstanding Performance, and the Outstanding New Fringe Play (co-written and created with Darrin Hagen) for FLORA & FAWNA’S FIELD TRIP (both at the Sterling Awards), and Outstanding Touring Production at the Critic’s Awards in Calgary. Also for Guys In Disguise, he received an Orlando Fringe award for his performance for Bette Davis in the much-lauded BITCHSLAP.

Sydney Williams

The Doctor

Sydney is a multidisciplinary artist raised and currently based in amiskwaciwâskahikan (Edmonton). A graduate of Sheridan College’s music theatre program, she has collaborated on projects as an actor, singer, writer, composer, and dancer. Recent stage credits include Tiny Beautiful Things and Fresh Hell for Shadow Theatre, as well as Pressure and Feast in the Edmonton Fringe Festival. Other significant artistic experiences have been the creation of her first EP, Ordinary Things (produced by emily bachynski of Bad Buddy), offering bedside serenades in long-term care homes and rehabs in Toronto with Smile Theatre, and collaborating on indie concerts, cabarets, and Art Pop-Up shows. She draws comfort and wonder from the natural world, and is grateful for the trees and the relationships with loved ones that sustain her.

Julia van Dam

The Body

Julia is so grateful to be returning to Northern Light Theatre after appearing in last season’s A Phoenix Too Frequent. She has just wrapped up her work on Jean Genet’s THE MAIDS which she co-produced and acted in. Favourite credits include Dracula (Studio Theatre), Little Women (Opera Nuova) and Under the Banner of Heaven (FX on Hulu). She is a graduate of Red Deer College Theatre Performance and Creation program and has a BFA in Acting from the University of Alberta. Catch Julia next in After the Trojan Women by Amena Shehab and Joanna Blundell presented by Common Ground Arts Society. Much love to her family, friends and Joel for their love and support.

Liz Allison-Jorde

Stage Manager

Tiana McLean

Production Manager

As graduate of Grant MacEwan University’s Theatre Production program, Tiana has spent the last two decades working in Edmonton Theatre, where extreme weather, fire, illnesses, broken scenery, aggressive prop handling, and squirrels have taught her much about problem solving and remaining calm in a crisis. Past credits include working as Production Manager for the Freewill Shakespeare Festival, Head of Lighting and Carpentry for Theatre Network, and Technical Director for Alberta Musical Theatre (formerly Alberta Opera). Her favourite show experiences include scenic construction for AMTC’s Pinocchio while 7 months pregnant, and building the fun and creepy set for Theatre Network’s The Woman in Black, with all its ghostly tricks. She is very lucky to have an incredibly supportive family who pressured her into theatre so they could get free tickets.

Julian Padalec

Assistant Production Manager

Julian (he/him) is a student in his final year of the U of A’s stage management program, Julian is beginning his professional theatre career as assistant production manager for Monstress. He will be working with Northern Light again in the new year with the production of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum as their stage manager. Previous works include Troilus and Cressida, Indecent and The Devils, all three from the U of A Studio Theatre.

Dave Clarke

Sound Designer

Dave is a musician, actor and writer. He has composed music and produced sound designs for theatre, film, dance and multi-media for three decades. Watch out for the 2024 Western Canadian tour of his family musical performed in spoken English and American Sign Language, SONGS MY MOTHER NEVER SUNG ME (Concrete Theatre).

Previous designs for Northern Light Theatre include ENOUGH, THE CARDIAC SHADOW, WISH, SPACE/SPACE, THE ECSTATICS and 6.0 – HEAP AND PEBBLE. Other recent designs include AFTER FAUST (Invisible Practice), DEAFY, THE ROYALE (Citadel Theatre), and ALL THE LITTLE ANIMALS I HAVE EATEN (Shadow Theatre).

Larissa Poho

Lighting Designer

Larissa (she/her) is a queer Ukrainian artist living and creating in amiskwaciwaskahikan. A multidisciplinary performer, production designer, visual artist and tattooist (owner/artist at Folk Lore Tattoo), she is also a teaching artist with the Citadel Theatre (musical theatre/dance), and is the current Artistic Director of the Vohon Ukrainian Dance Ensemble. Select performance credits: Once, All Because I’m A Woman, Hits of Broadway (Citadel) ; Infinity (Theatre Network); Canada Rocks: The Reboot, VEGAS LIVE, Canada 151 (Mayfield); ren & the wake (Catch the Keys); 10 out of 12 (WildSide); Ordinary Days (Straight Edge); Assassins (Loose Ends); Dreamer’s Cantata (Plain Janes). Assistant Music-Direction: Jersey Boys (Citadel); Assistant Direction: Evelyn Strange (Teatro La Quindicina). Lighting Design: A Phoenix Too Frequent (Northern Light Theatre); Joni Mitchell’s Songs of a Prairie Girl, Sexual Misconduct of the Middle Classes (Network); An Homage to Billie Holiday, Les Sylphides (Ballet Edmonton); La Raccourcie, Les Neiges, Simone et le whole shebang (L’UniTheatre); Surveil (Hip.Bang!); Fusion – Harmony in Motion, At the Bazaar (Viter Ukrainian Dancers & Folk Choir). Sterling-Nominated Music Direction for the Canadian national tour of Barvinok (Pyretic Productions). You can catch her lighting up the stage again later this season with NLT’s Radiant Vermin. Thanks to everyone who continues to support Larissa on this artistic journey. Much love to Vince and Soaps.

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