:: Grand Bank Theatre ::

Berni Stapleton –Artistic Director
Artistic director Berni Stapleton is a Newfoundland- Labrador actor and playwright of unique distinction. She is a recent recipient of the Ambassador of Tourism award from Hospitality NL. She is a past recipient of the WANL award for best work in non-fiction for her book They Let Down Baskets. Her new book of short stories Rants, Riffs and Raves: The World According to Berni Stapleton from Creative Books is winning rave reviews. She has been a playwright-in- residence with the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, Playwright's Workshop Montreal, PARC and other national companies. Her plays are regularly produced across the province of Newfoundland, notably The Oracle at Gros Morne and The Double Axe Murders at TNL in Cowhead, Play Me Home with Rising Tide Theatre in Trinity, and Accordion Dreams in Grand Bank. This year her work has also been produced in Toronto and Ottawa. She is a regular contributor to The Newfoundland Quarterly. Berni is entering her eighth season as Artistic Director of the Grand Bank Regional Theatre Festival. She has grown the company into professional status, most recently having produced (in a co-pro with RCAT theatre) Gordon Pinsent's new play Easy, Down Easy.
She is working on a new book, a series of comedic essays. Berni is 51 years old and was born in North West River, Labrador. She grew up in Marystown on the Burin Peninsula and currently divides her time between life in St. John's, touring, and spending the summer in Grand Bank. Her son is a recent graduate of CONA and has just moved to live and work in Lab City-Wabush.
One of the short stories in her book, and also the title of her one woman show is Beauty Tips for the Vain & Deluded. Berni extols the virtues of embracing the many facets of aging, including dropping false modesty, adopting self esteem and taking on age prejudices. She recently began training to run the Tely Ten, currently is able to go up and down Signal Hill, sometimes walking, crawling, huffing puffing and panting but always wearing very pretty running shoes. She is a very delighted subject for artist Tina Dolter's series of portraits entitled 'Sensuality of the Maturing Woman.' You can see one of her bosoms in proud display at the Christina Parker Gallery.

Amy House – Guest Director
Amy House's theatre career spans thirty something years. Amy is known in this province as a prolific comedienne, a writer, an actor and the Artistic Animateur of the RCA Theatre Company at the LSPU Hall in St. John's. Amy has created several one-woman shows including: The Seven Faces of Amy with Maxim Mazumdar, 'Tis Not Human, her children's show To Be What You Want To Be, most recently Scratch and Pull. Amy was co-writer and performer, with Berni Stapleton, in the two-hander A Tidy Package about the collapse of the Newfoundland cod fishery. She has produced several RCA Theatre productions, most recently: Hail by Edward Riche, Makin' Time with the Yanks by the Mummers Troupe, Suits Do Codco, and the collective Any Mummers 'llowed In?

Joan Sullivan – Guest Director
J. M. Sullivan is the editor of the Newfoundland Quarterly and a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in The Globe and Mail, on CBC Radio's Tapestry, and in The Telegram. As a playwright and director her credits include Your Only Life, which she wrote and performed in St. John's, Halifax and Montreal, and which was short-listed for a CBC Literary Award; an adaptation of Wayne Johnston's The Story of Bobby O'Malley; and Cassie Brown: My Life in Non-Fiction, which premiered in 2009 at the Grand Bank Regional Theatre Festival and later toured provincial schools. Her theatre work in 2010 included Rig, an adaptation of Mike Heffernan's oral history of the Ocean Ranger, staged by Rising Tide Theatre, and a gig as the first visiting director with the Grand Bank Festival. She is thrilled to be back in beautiful Grand Bank, working with all the fabulous cast, crew and administration of the GBRTF again this summer. Ms. Sullivan is also studying for a Master's degree under the M. Phil program at Memorial University. She lives in St. John's with her daughter, Marianne.

Meghan Farrell – Musical Director
Meg Farrell is a seasoned veteran with the Grand Bank Regional Theatre Festival, returning for her sixth season with the company. This is her fourth season as musical director after directing the music for highly successful shows such as And a Good Time was had by All, Rock and Roll heaven, The Rise and Fall of the Lassie Tarts, and Grand Bank Opry just to name a few. Meg has recently broken into the arts scene in the capital city as the musical director for the cult classic show, Doctor Horrible's Sing-a-long Blog, under the direction of Darren Hann and Hann Made Productions, in addition to performing with several local bands around St. John's. Meg is delighted to return to Lighthouse Productions for what is sure to be a fantastic 2011 season.

Lindsay Kyte – Playwright
Lindsay Kyte is an actor/writer originally from Reserve Mines, Cape Breton whose play Toronto Adventures, based on her popular e-mail series of the same name, has had several productions in Atlantic Canada in the last few years. Past acting credits include Blithe Spirit (Classic Theatre Festival), Danny, King of the Basement (Theatre New Brunswick), You CAN Do it! (documentary host), Murdoch Mysteries (TV), etc. Lindsay has written for The Toronto Star, The Globe and Mail, The Toronto Sun, etc. and her second play, Tompkinsville, about the cooperative movement, is just about ready to see the rehearsal hall. Lindsay shakes hands with Sir Paul McCartney this summer as a graduate of the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts.

Mike Donovan – Technical Director
Mike will be returning for his third season with the Grand Bank Regional Theatre Festival. This will be his second season as Technical Director. Mike graduated this year from Sir Wilfred Grenfell College and now has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre (Stagecraft) from Memorial University of Newfoundland. Mike spent the last year of his theatre degree specializing in Lighting Design and is proud to have been one of the few stagecraft students to design a technical aspect of their graduating show. Mike has been involved in theatre, both as an actor and a technician, since junior high in St. John's, and has worked with multiple theatre companies in both St. John's and Corner Brook. Mike is excited about returning to the Festival and looking forward to spending another summer on the beautiful Burin Peninsula.

Andrew Murley – Crew
Andrew Murley is from Marystown and is currently enrolled in the Recording Arts Program at the Stephenville campus. Andrew likes to play hockey with the Junior B Stephille Jets when he isn't helping out with theme nights at his school. Andrew was a part of the Holiday Inn Metric and Alex is on Fire shows during Juno week last year. Andrew is looking forward to his first year with GBRTF

Carin Crabtree – Crew
Carin is thrilled to be joining the Grand Bank Festival team for the first time! She developed a love for theatre early in her life in Kingston, ON, and since has stage managed productions with a variety of local companies including youth group Blue Canoe Productions and Theatre 5 Kingston. She is currently attending Ryerson Theatre School in Toronto for theatre production.

Sara L Jackson – Crew
Sara Jackson is very excited to finally have the Newfoundland summer experience, and working in theatre is a huge plus! She recently graduated from the Grenfell Theatre program with a BFA in acting. Although acting has always been her main passion, she is looking forward to working behind the scenes once again. In her home town of Kingston, On, she has had the pleasure of working with costumes, props, and stagemanaging community theatre productions. She loves everything theatre related and is grateful for the opportunity to further expand her knowledge while here at the GBTF. Thank you, friends!010 season that will showcase the talents of the cast and crew.

Kevin Woolridge – Senior Guest Artist / Musical Director
Kevin is an actor/musician from Goulds. Selected credits include: Dr. Horrible in Dr. Horrible's Sing-A-Long Blog (Hann Made Productions), Nipper in Easy Down Easy (Grand Bank Theatre Festival), Jerome in Afterimage (Artistic Fraud), Thomas in The Nobleman's Wedding,Orlando in As You Like It (Rising Tide Theatre), Antonio in The Merchant of Venice and Demetrius in A Midsummer Night's Dream (New Curtain Theatre). Kevin is also a cartoonist! You can read his comics online at www.thelittleworld.net/blog.

Shawn Parsons – Guest Artist
Returning to Grand Bank for a third season Shawn Parsons couldn't really imagine spending his summers anywhere else. A recent graduate of Memorial University: Grenfell Campus' theatre program, he is excited to see what the "real world" has to offer in the coming months and years. Some of his most memorable roles include Lord Byron in Bloody Poetry, Caliban in The Tempest, Romeo in Romeo & Juliet (Theatre at Grenfell) and Great Uncle Regis, Flinch, and John Lennon all here with the GBRTF. He is excited for what this summer has in store and cheesecake, but that's really why you're all here anyway, isn't it?

Coleen Browne – Guest Artist
Coleen Browne comes from St. John's NL, and she has just graduated from Grenfell College with her Bachelor of Fine arts. This is her third summer working for the Grand Bank Regional Festival and she is excited to see all the familiar faces again :). You may remember her from "And A good Time was had by all" where she played a controlling mother by the name of Verily and "The Ghost of Garnish House" as the chipper young Cora. She has also had the opportunity, while studying at Grenfell, to play such roles as Ellen in "Vinegar Tom", Melissa in "Coram Boy" and Celia in Shakespeare's "As you like it". Coleen is looking forward to a great summer with friends, old and new!

Jennifer Furlong – Guest Artist
Jenn Furlong is an actor/singer from St. John's, NL. Her past theatre credits include: Beth in Turncoat Hill, Berry Tart in The Rise and Fall of the Lassie Tarts, Cindy in And A Good Time was had by All (GBTF), La Marquise de Merteuil in Les Liasions Dangereuses, Masha Prozorov in The Three Sisters (SWGC), Sadie Hiscock in Play Me Home, Rosalind in As You Like It and Mary Snow in Saltwater Moon (RTT). Jenn also enjoys songwriting and playing guitar in her spare time and looks forward to the season ahead!

Kimberley Drake – Guest Artist
Kimberley Drake, is a twenty-four year old actress from St. John's, Newfoundland. While obtaining her BFA in Theatre at Grenfell College she received many awards including the Tommy Sexton Triple Threat Scholarship for excellence in acting, singing, and dancing. Kimberley also has an interest in directing and producing, and is a proud co-founder of Engine Productions, a DIY theatre company in St. John's; a company that includes all art forms. Her credits include shows such as Shakespeare's Richard III (Queen Elizabeth), George F Walker's Problem Child (Denise), David French's Salt Water Moon (Mary Snow). Kimberley also has experience in film, television, and has worked with theatre companies from Newfoundland to South Korea. She is ecstatic to be returning to the lovely Burin Peninsula, where she spent a great deal of time as a child, for another wonderful season with the Grand Bank Regional Theatre Festival.

Keith Power – Guest Artist
Keith was born and raised on the East coast of Newfoundland but graduated from Sir Wilfred Grenfell College on the West coast with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2008. He has a love for the stage which has been shown in various performances throughout his life. Some of which include Prince Edward in Richard III, Demetrius in A Midsummer Night's Dream and Johnny Casino in Grease. Although he has been pursuing acting in South Korea, appearing on stage, as well as TV, he is thrilled to take a break from the big city and get back into his roots here in Newfoundland. He extends many thanks to The Grand Bank Regional Theatre Festival for giving him this opportunity!

Alastair Mackay – Guest Artist
Alastair Mackay is originally from Pictou, Nova Scotia. After living and studying film in Montreal for several years, he moved to Corner Brook, Newfoundland to study acting. During his time at Memorial's Grenfell Campus, Alastair performed in no fewer than fifteen productions and also wrote his first script, Grapefruit, which went on to be workshopped at The Resource Centre for the Arts' Statoil Playwrighting Series in St. John's. He has worked professionally for Theatre by the Bay. This summer marks his second season with the Grand Bank Regional Theatre Festival.

	Barry Welsh – guest artist Barry has been lead guitarist with numerous bands including the legendary Reg and the Rebels. He has been a musician with the Grand Bank Regional Theatre Festival for the past eight years and has enjoyed working with many different people over that time. He is looking forward to the 2011 season.

Aaron Smith – guest artist
Aaron Smith was reared in Sunnyside, Trinity Bay, and will enter his final year in SWGC's theatre program in the fall. Recently in Corner Brook, he has played the roles of Antonio (Twelfth Night) and Handy (The Man of Mode). Aaron enjoys playing and making music, where the keys and guitar are his forte, but also likes to musically experiment with other instruments. Back for his second summer at Grand Bank, Arn is excited to twinkle the keys once again!

	Owen Van Houten – guest artist Since going back to his native Toronto after the festival's 2010 season, Owen has bought his first cell phone and bounced around between day jobs while building his career as an actor/drummer. Owen is thrilled to be back in Grand Bank to live and work with this energetic and funny group of people.

	Lorne Elliott Canadian born LORNE ELLIOTT started performing in 1972 as a folk musician while attending Memorial University of Newfoundland and is known for his one-man concert performance The Lorne Elliott Music and Comedy Show: "The Collected Mistakes" which he writes, directs, produces and tours regularly on the stages of North American Theatres. As well as being a writer, humourist, storyteller and musician, Lorne is also a playwright. One of his plays, "The Night The Racoons Went Berserk" won the Best New Play Award at the Quebec Drama Festival 1983 and it was produced at the Charlottetown Theatre Festival in 1986 along with "Culture Shock", another comedy of his which was also produced in 1987, 1988 and 1989 when it was filmed by CBC TV. Since then it keeps being produced across Canada. Part of "The Pelley Papers", a new cycle of plays he wrote was premiered at Upper Canada Playhouse in September 1995. Another play, "Tourist Trap" now going under the title "The Fixer-Upper" was premiered in August 2000 at Theatre On The Grand in Fergus (Ontario) and it has had several productions across Canada since then. "A Pitiful Ambition" was work-shopped in at Lighthouse Theatre in 2005 in Ontario. His latest play "How I broke into Showbiz" was produced in Charlottetown in 2005. He has also written screenplays and TV Comedies, skits and revues. For CBC he did TV Comedy Variety shows, among others "What Else is On" and "Lorne Elliott's Really Rather Quite Half-Decent TV Special". "Madly Off In All Directions", was Lorne's own CBC Radio Comedy Series which he wrote and hosted, taped in concerts across Canada. It was greeted with such enthusiastic audience response that it went on for 11 seasons till Fall 2006. "The Fixer-Upper" is the novella adaptation of his play "Tourist Trap" which provides a wider scope to the social scene around the setting of the play. Lorne is thrilled to have his play "The Fixer-Upper" staged at the GRAND BANK Regional Theatre festival 2011.
	Brendan "Bulldog" Eckstrom I am from the Prairie town of Sexsmith Alberta. Yes, this farm boy moved against the flow and has come to the beautiful island of Newfoundland to follow my passion. After obtaining a BFA in theatre from SWGC, I decided to stay and pursue a career in the Arts. Taking on a new roll for my first year at the Grand Bank Theatre Festival I take on the part of technician and I hope to do my very best at my part to give you all a wonderful show. Thank you all for coming and enjoy the show.
	Arsene Todd Felix Arsene may be a wanderer, but he was born in Newfoundland and calls the small coastal town of Cape St. George on the French coast home. Although originally graduating with a BFA in acting, Arsene is no stranger to tech work, and is very excited to be working with a very talented collection of people for his first time at the Grand Bank Regional Theatre Festival. Whether he is setting up mic stands, taking notes, or even somewhere on stage, you will never find Arsene far away from theatre.