Meet our 2020 “Th'owxiya” Cast!
/We are welcoming back and introducing some new faces for our 2020 tour of TH’OWXIYA: THE HUNGRY FEAST DISH, by Joseph A. Dandurand. They are making stops in Yellowknife, Quesnel, Kelowna, Nova Scotia, Toronto, Vancouver with performances around the lower Mainland! Check out our event calendar here to see when they are coming to your area!
Due to the COVID-19 crises this tour has been postponed until further notice.
Thank you to our sound designer Stephen Bulat, costume/set/props designer Jay Havens, and composer Marguerite Witvoet featuring handpan drumming by Jarrett Plett.
Chelsea Rose | Sasq’ets/Sasquatch
Chelsea Rose is of Cree, Métis, and Western European heritage. She attended both the Canadian College of Performing Arts, and the University of Victoria. Favourite credits include: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Gateway Theatre), REDPATCH (Arts Club/Citadel Theatre), Les Filles Du Roi (Urban Ink/Raven/Fugue Theatre), Th’owxiya (Axis Theatre), Only Drunks and Children Tell the Truth (Firehall Arts Centre), Shevil: The Musical (Comic Shop), Broken Sex Doll (Virtual Stage), Cannibal: The Musical (Awkward Stage), RENT (Fighting Chance), Little Women (Black Box Productions), The Wizard of Oz and Grease (Victoria Operatic Society). Chelsea Rose is the vocalist of Vancouver, symphonic, metal band Ophelia Falling.
Raes Calvert | Spa:th/Bear
Raes Calvert is a Métis theatre artist who lives and works in Vancouver. As a performer he has toured nationally and international with such companies as Axis Theatre, Green Thumb Theatre, Manitoba Theatre for Young People, Neworld Theatre and The Presentation House Theatre. After graduating Studio 58 at Langara College in 2010, he and colleague Sean Harris Oliver began Hardline Productions. His love for physical theatre and theatrical movement have influenced and been a part of the 20+ pieces that Hardline has produced over the last 9 years. Hardline shows have been nominated for 16 and received 3 Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards since 2013. Raes is a four-time Jessie Richardson Theatre Award nominee and one time recipient. He is also a recipient of the Reveal Indigenous Arts award from the Hnatyshyn Foundation.
Taran Kootenhayoo | Sqeweqs/Raven
Taran Kootenhayoo is a Denesułįné and Stoney Nakoda multi-disciplinary artist from Treaty 6 territory in Alberta. He currently pays rent in Vancouver on the unceded and unsurrendered territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh peoples. He is signed with Premiere Talent Management and is a member of Full Circle’s First Nation Performance Ensemble. Taran has been awarded ‘Star to Watch’ at the Whistler Film Festival (2018) and the ‘Sam Payne’s Most Promising Newcomer’ award at the Jessie Theatre Awards (2019). He's honoured to be a part of theatre for young audiences to help share narratives that support the future generations.
Lindsay Warnock | Kw’at’el/Mouse
Lindsay is a Jessie-nominated performer based in Vancouver, BC. She holds a Bachelor of Performing Arts from Capilano University. Favourite credits include Deb in Elf the Musical (Persephone Theatre), Lydia in Pride and Prejudice (Chemainus Theatre Festival) and The Student in Godspell (Arts Club). You can also find Lindsay on TV as the host of STIHL TIMBERSPORTS CANADA (TSN). When 5-year-old Lindsay discovered Iroquois and Cherokee heritage deep within her family lineage, she marched to her school and signed her and her brother up for the Aboriginal Program SD35 in Langley, home of the Stó:lō peoples. The community opened their arms to educate and love the two children who wanted to know more about themselves and the people whose land they lived on. They also provided incredible support during a time of tragedy in the children’s family. It’s a huge honour for Lindsay to be part of Th’owxiya and share indigenous stories to children across Canada.
Merewyn Comeau | Spa:th/Bear
Merewyn Comeau is performing with Axis Theatre for her second time, and is delighted to be taking on the role of SPA:TH this tour! Merewyn is a professional musical theatre performer who lives and works on the unceded territories of the Squamish, Musqueam, & Tsleil-Waututh First Nations in Vancouver, B.C. She is of Métis and Western European heritage, and a recent graduate of Capilano University’s Musical Theatre program. Her select credits include: Th’owxiya: The Hungry Feast Dish (Axis Theatre), Elephant and Piggie’s “We Are in a Play!” (Carousel Theatre), Les Filles du Roi (Urban Ink/Fugue Theatre), and Sedna (Urban Ink/Caravan Farm Theatre).
Margo Kane | Voice of Th’owxiya
Cree-Saulteaux performing artist, Margo Kane is the Founder and Artistic Managing Director of Full Circle: First Nations Performance. For over 40 years she has been active as an actor, performing artist and community cultural worker. Her desire to share artistic performance that has meaning for her people is the catalyst for her extensive work, travels and consultation within Indigenous communities across Canada and abroad. Moonlodge, her one-woman show, an Indigenous Canadian classic, toured for over 10 years nationally and internationally. The Sydney Press (AU) during The Festival of the Dreaming praised it as being ‘in the top echelon of solo performance.’ She developed and runs the annual Talking Stick Festival and an Indigenous Ensemble Program in Vancouver.
Recent performance and directing credits include Bah Humbug! An adaption of the Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens for Vancouver Moving Theatre and SFU Cultural Programs, Thanks for Giving by Kevin Loring at Arts Club Theatre in Vancouver, Burning Vision by Marie Clements in Barcelona for the Grec Theatre Festival and Artistic Director for the City of Vancouver’s Canada150+ summer Festival, The Drum is Calling. She has received an Honorary Doctorate of Letters in 2016 from the University of the Fraser Valley, a Mayor’s Arts Award in Theatre in Vancouver, a 2017 GVPTA Career Achievement Award at the annual Jessie Theatre Awards in Vancouver and most recently the Order of Canada from the Governor-General.
Jillian Perry | Stage Manager
Jillian is a graduate of the University of the Fraser Valley. Past Stage Management and Assistant Stage Management highlights include Th’owxiya: The Hungry Feast Dish (Axis Theatre), Elbow Room Café (Zee Zee Theatre and The Cultch), Jesse award winner for best lighting design O’wet/Lost Lagoon (Alley Theatre) touring Canada with Chelsea Hotel The Songs of Leonard Cohen also Only Drunks and Children Tell the Truth, Dead Metaphor, Proud and Urinetown the Musical (Firehall Arts Centre), Jessie award Best Small Theatre production winner Terminus, 5@50 (Zee Theatre and Ruby Slippers), My Funny Valentine, Nelly boy and Whale Riding Weather (Zee Zee Theatre). For Axis Theatre, Jillian has worked on Somebody Loves You, Mr Hatch, Robinson Crusoe + Friday, and she is now thrilled to be working with Axis once again on Th’owxiya: The Hungry Feast Dish.
Photo and bio sourced from the VPL website.
Joseph A. Dandurand | Playwright
A member of Kwantlen First Nation located on the Fraser River, Dandurand has been a storyteller since he was a young man. His talent and passion for words and sharing stories has followed him through the many journeys of his life.
An accomplished poet, playwright, researcher, archaeologist and proud father of three children, Dandurand received a Diploma in Performing Arts from Algonquin College and studied theatre and direction at the University of Ottawa. He has produced several plays for adults and youth, including works as the Playwright-in-Residence for the Museum of Civilization in Hull in 1995 and a radio script, St. Mary’s, produced by CBC Radio in 1999.
He is also the author of twelve books of poetry, including I Want (Leaf Press, 2015), Hear and Foretell (Bookland Press, 2015) and The Rumor (Bookland Press, 2018). His latest title, SH:LAM (The Doctor), will be released by Mawenzi Press in April 2019.
Chris McGregor | Director
Chris McGregor has a Bachelor of Arts in Drama from Bishop’s University and a Masters in Theatre in Directing from the University of British Columbia. Chris has taught physical theatre, Commedia dell’arte, mask and Red Nose Clown at the University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, Bishop’s University and Studio 58. He has directed more than 60 productions across Canada and has won four Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards and nominated for four Ovation Awards for directing. Chris began as the Artistic Associate with Axis Theatre Company in 2014 and was appointed Artistic Director in 2015.
Chris has directed the Axis Theatre's touring production of Hamelin: A New Fable, Robinson Crusoe + Friday and the world premieres of Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch, Th’owxiya the Hunger Feast Dish and The Troll Grandfather.
CREATIVE TEAM
Written by Joseph A. Dandurand
Directed & Dramaturgy by Chris McGregor
Set, Props, Mask, Painting & Costume Design by Jay Havens
Original Composition by Marguerite Witvoet
Sound Design by Stephen Bulat
Recorded Hang Drum by Jerrett Plett
Mask Carving and Background Design by Carrielynn Victor
Feast Dish Carving by Steven Beaver
Original Feast Dish Carving by Earl Moulton and Don Froese
