Meet some of the Class of 2018

 

Izzy BERGQUIST - BFA Stage Management
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Izzy in her final year of the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Technical Theatre, majoring in Stage Management. In the past she has had the pleasure to work with Catch the Keys Productions, Opera Nuova, StageLab Festival, Nextfest, Dancefest, Freewill Shakespeare Festival, Blarney Productions, Praise Doris Productions, and she has worked on various productions at the University of Alberta. Her most recent credits include Apprentice Stage Manager with Freewill Shakespeare Company on this seasons The Merry Wives of Windsor and The Merchant of Venice, and Stage Managing Legoland and Myth of the Ostrich at the Edmonton International Fringe. This Studio season Izzy will be stage managing A Doll House, assistant technical directing and replacement stage managing The Lower Depths and assistant stage managing The School for Scandal. Izzy has had an incredible few years learning with fellow artists at the University, and she looks forward to emerging into the Edmonton community among them.



Jake BLAKELY - BFA Stage Management
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Jake Blakely is in his 5th and final year at the University of Alberta, having done 2 years in the BA Drama program then transferring into the BFA Stage Management program for the last 3 years. Throughout the course of his degree, he has had the chance to work with companies such as Punctuate! Theatre, Catch the Keys Productions, and Opera NUOVA. He looks forward to furthering his opera stage management experience this spring when he will be apprenticing on Don Giovanni at the Edmonton Opera.


 

Jesse CHEUNG - BFA Technical Theatre Production
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Jesse is a proud member of the BFA Technical Production graduating class of 2018. Since his arrival to the program in 2014, he has developed a new found respect and admiration for the work that goes into it. Despite being exposed to many different skillsets, perspectives and practical scenarios, he understands that he still has much to learn and has plenty of room for improvement. However, he is currently without clear aspirations or set goals, but hopes to discover that through hardwork, dedication and a fighting mentality. Finally, he would like to thank his fellow classmates and professors for an unforgettable 4 years and he wishes them nothing but the best.



Elise JASON - BFA Theatre Design
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Elise Jason [they/them/theirs] is an Edmonton-based theatre designer and installation artist completing their final year of a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Design at the University of Alberta. Their primary interest is integrating sculpture and installation into theatre, as well as connecting with the audience through interactive, non-traditional performances and experiences. Interested in working primarily with stories of queerness and the experience of the modern other, Elise is interested in practicing non-traditional theatre upon graduation.

 

In addition to being a theatre-based troublemaker and carbon-based lifeform, Elise also works as front-of-house/volunteer wizard at Edmonton's beloved Rapid Fire Theatre.



Kelsi KALMER - BA Honours - Drama Major, Art & Design Minor
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Kelsi Kalmer is a performer/artist/designer from Calgary, graduating in 2018 from the University of Alberta with a Bachelor of Arts Honours Degree (Major in Drama, Minor in Art & Design). She is a founding member of the executive team for the Off-The-Cuff Cabaret, now in its third year, which provides a platform for showcasing and exploring a variety of performance/art styles to the University of Alberta student body. Some of her previous performance credits include: The Odyssey (Drama 457 - 2017), Ministers of Grace (New Works Festival - 2017), Fix/Flux (In Arms Theatre Collective - 2016), Princess Bear (New Works Festival - 2016). Other theatrical credits: Harun - Set/Costume/Lx Design (In Arms Theatre Collective - 2017), Ministers of Grace - Costume Design (New Works Festival - 2017), Freewill Shakespeare (Wardrobe Asst. - 2015), Alberta Theatre Projects (Junior Apprenticeship - 2012/13). Recently she has also been working on developing her skills as a poster designer, with multiple pieces showcased at the 2017 Edmonton Fringe Festival, the University of Alberta, with Grindstone Theatre, In Arms Theatre Collective, and Toy Guns Dance Theatre.



Sarah KARPYSHIN - BFA Theatre Design
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Sarah will be graduating from the University of Alberta with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Design in April. During her time at the University of Alberta, she received training in set, lighting and costume design. She is currently working as a freelance theatre designer based in Edmonton. Sarah also has a Diploma of Fine Art from Grant MacEwan. In June of 2015, Sarah displayed work as part of the Canadian Student exhibit at the Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design and Space. During her time at the University of Alberta, Sarah has worked on plays such as Loveplay and Dream Play as well as designing for the Bleviss Lavatory Theatre; set for If We Were Birds and costumes for Copenhagen. Outside of the University, Sarah has worked on plays Sleuth (Teatro La Quindicina) and Devour Content Here: A Show. Earlier this year, Sarah designed for Henry V (Grindstone Theatre and Malachite Theatre) and was head of props for Bone Wars (Punctuate! Theatre) and will be designing lights for Antigone in the Bleviss Laboratory Theatre later this fall.


Julie MURPHY - BA Drama
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Julie is graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Drama after having completed a degree Education with a Fine Arts specialization. Her recent theatre credits at of the U of A include: The Odyssey (DR 457), Tempting (New Works Festival), Hernani (ABBEDAM Productions), Maps to the Stars (New Works Festival), & Spring Awakening (ABBEDAM Productions.) Julie has been dancing for 22 years and has trained and performed with Edmonton Dance Factory, MOD Contemporary Dance Movement, Toy Guns Dance Theatre, and now Viva Dance. She has been hired and contracted to choreograph routines for professional studios, high schools, universities, and Fringe shows in the Edmonton area for the past 7 years. This will mark her 8th year as a writer, director, actor and improvisor in horror theatre with Spooktacular and Deadmonton Houseand this past year she has dove head first into the world of Fight Direction and Stage Intimacy Direction. Julie likes to construct both Edwardian hats and horror makeup designs for fun. She also watches TV shows that are too intense for her- perhaps that's why she has found a new love of stage combat. She's excited to see what else life brings her way after graduation!


 

Katelyn TRIEU - BA (Drama)/BEd (Secondary) Combined Degree
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Katelyn is graduating with a combined Bachelor of Arts and Education degree majoring in Drama, minoring in English. She is eternally grateful for the wonderful opportunities and the kind, loving souls she has met at the University of Alberta over the past 5 years. Select credits include Medea (Bleviss Laboratory Theatre), The Sinners Club (YEG Fringe 2017), The Odyssey (DR457), Wit (Walterdale Theatre), Afterimage (Citadel Theatre), and Wolves (New Works Festival). Katelyn is pursuing an acting career and is extremely excited to see where this journey takes her! Much love goes out to her professors, friends, family and the drama faculty for their unwavering support and encouragement in her ambitious endeavours!



Caro VANRENSBURG - BFA Theatre Design
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