SLUT

Brenda McFarlane

Playwright

Brenda grew up in Toronto, attended college at St. Lawrence University in upstate New York where she majored in theater and creative writing and graduated cum laude. There she was recognized in Who’s Who Among Students and was tapped by Omicron Delta Kappa – The National Leadership Honor Society. She went on to  graduate school at Tulane University in theatre directing, and spent 2 summers as a directing assistant at Williamstown Theatre Festival where she assisted Nikos Psacharopoulos while directing up-and coming stars like Allison Janney, Damian Young and Peri Gilpin. On returning to Toronto she held a steady flow of temporary jobs while producing and directing 7 of her own plays under her company, Far Fetched Productions. The Globe and Mail described her as "one of the brightest young writer/directors around these days" Later she attended three programs at the Canadian Film Center in scriptwriting, moved to Hollywood, won a scriptwriting award from the Austin Film Festival and produced her play "Slut" (published by Original Works Publishing) in Toronto, Los Angeles, San Diego and New York. In Los Angeles she directed and served as dramaturge for the original play "The Pig and I". Backstage review called her direction "crisp and inventive, keeping the stage picture lively." After moving to San Diego, McFarlane served as Artistic Director for the San Diego Performance Festival "Resilience of the Human Spirit." Presently she is seeking a producer for her full length play, "Husband in a Coma" and running her natural body care business ZirYab’s Body Brew specializing in natural deodorant and other products.

Trevor Schmidt

Director, Set & Costumes

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.

Michelle Todd

Matilda

An Edmonton native, Michelle has been active in the arts community as an actor, writer, and choreographer since graduating from Grant MacEwan’s Theatre Arts program.  Michelle has performed her own one-woman show nationally, and been fortunate to work with organizations, post secondary institutions, local and provincial schools through theatre on social justice issues surrounding bullying, diversity, and racism.  With discussions around empowerment, promiscuity, slut-shaming, sexuality, and stereotypes, Brenda McFarlane’s play, SLUT is gratifying to explore.  Michelle can’t wait to work with the wonderful team at NLT and is grateful for Bob and her boys who encourage her to do so!

Beth Dart

Lighting Design

Beth is an Edmonton based director, producer, lighting designer and theatre collaborator. Previous Northern Light Theatre credits include lighting design for THE CARDIAC SHADOW, DO THIS IN MEMORY OF ME and SLUT. She is the co-artistic producer of award-winning indie theatre company Catch the Keys Productions, best known for DEAD CENTRE OF TOWN, an annual site-specific theatre experience inspired by the true crime and ghost stories of Edmonton’s past, and the recipient of an Award of Excellence in Interpretation from Interpretation Canada. She is the co-artistic producer of Common Ground Arts Society and Found Festival, Edmonton’s only multidisciplinary found space and site-specific arts festival.  Select lighting design credits include CONVERGENCE (Good Women Dance Collective, 2013-2018), DEAD CENTRE OF TOWN (Catch the Keys Productions, 2007-2014), OVER HER DEAD BODY (Small Matters Productions), and SNOUT (Catch the Keys Productions).  She has directed over 20 new works, including OCD, FUNCTIONAL, and GEMINI by Louise Casemore (Defiance Theatre), 900 SECONDS by Christine Lesiak (Small Matters Productions), JEZEBEL AT THE STILL POINT by Ainsley Hillyard (Bumblebear Productions), FOSSEGRIM & NØKK by Leif Ingebrigtsen and Megan Dart (Alberta Opera), and SNOUT (Catch the Keys/Azimuth) and URSA MAJOR (Catch the Keys/Workshop West Playwrights’ Theatre) by Megan Dart. Next up, Beth will be co-creating an immersive musical, VAULT, with local playwright Megan Dart and local singer-songwriter Lindsey Walker.

Liz Allison-Jorde

Stage Manager

Tyler Herman

Production Manager

Tyler is thrilled to be a part of the new NLT season! Tyler is an Edmonton based theatre and festival technician with experience in sound, set building, technical direction and lighting. He is also a ticketed electrician. Recent projects include: INFINITY (Audio technician, Theatre Network), SLUT (Production manager/technical director, Northern Light Theatre), and A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S FRINGE 2017 (Site technical director, Fringe Theatre Adventures). Tyler wishes to thank his partner for her patience and support, as well as Trevor Schmidt, Gina Moe, and Adam Turnbull for the chance to be a part of a great team.