Download cast and creative team

CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM
CREATIVE TEAM
Wayne Specht – Original Creator/Artistic Consultant
Wayne received his theatre training at the National Theatre School and the prestigious L'École
Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq. In 1976, he became the founding Artistic Director of Axis
Theatre Company (née Axis Mime Theatre) and has, over the last 38 years, performed in, written or
directed over 55 of the company’s productions. Wayne trained hundreds of mimes through the Axis
Mime School, many of whom participated in the over 6,000 performances that Axis Theatre Company
gave at the Via Rail Pavilion during Expo ’86. Wayne is one of the creators and original cast members of
THE NUMBER 14. A creative collaborator at heart, Wayne was instrumental in developing Axis’
production DON QUIXOTE (with The Arts Club and Centaur Theatre) and the international touring show,
FLYING BLIND, (with Australia’s Legs OnThe Wall, the Arts Club and the Belfry Theatre). He also directed
the subsequent Australian tour of FLYING BLIND. In 2005, he was part of the creative team
commissioned by Karavaan Theatre to travel to the Netherlands to create CAFÉ DIABLO, which he also
directed. Wayne was also Artistic Director of the Vancouver International Comedy Festival for five
years.
Wayne is passionate and dedicated to providing support for young and emerging artists as well as the
theatre community as a whole. He founded the Firehall Theatre in the early ‘80s, now known as the
Firehall Arts Centre. He served for many years on the board of the British Columbia Touring Council. In
2002, Wayne was honoured with a Lifetime Career Achievement Jessie Award.
Chris McGregor – Director
Chris is excited to be the newly appointed Artistic Director of Axis Theatre Company. He is a graduate of
Bishop’s University with a Bachelor of Arts in Drama and the University of British Columbia with a
Masters in Theatre (Directing). He has directed close to 100 productions all across Canada over the past
25 years. He is the recipient of three Jessie Richardson Awards; for Directing (House), Script Adaptation
(The Box) and Ensemble Acting (Pintauro Café) as well as several directing nominations including three
Jessie Richardson Awards (The Little Old Man, I Hate You on Mondays and My Game) and three Ovation
Awards (The Sound of Music, Fiddler on the Roof and The King and I). He is the recipient of the John
Moffat & Larry Lillo Award. He teaches acting and directing at The University of British Columbia,
Bishop’s University, Simon Fraser University and Langara College’s Studio 58, and at the Gotta Sing!
Gotta Dance! Summer Musical Theatre Program.
Robert Buckley – Musical Director/Composer
Bob Buckley has a diverse career as a composer, arranger, performer, producer, recording artist and
conductor. In the pop world, he has created several albums and hit songs, with the number one single
Letting Go winning him a gold record. He has conducted and arranged for major artists such as Michael
Bublé, Bryan Adams, Celine Dion, Our Lady Peace, Simple Plan and Aerosmith, to name a few. In the film
and television world, he has scored many award-winning shows for networks such as Disney, Alliance,
ABC, CBS and PBS. In the live stage world, he has composed music for contemporary dance, musicals
and large-scale worldwide events including the Olympics, the Commonwealth Games and Cirque Du
Soleil. He composed This Is My Home for Expo '86 – a song that has become a Canadian tradition. In the
concert world his orchestral compositions have been performed worldwide.
www.axistheatre.com
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CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM
Leslie Mildiner – Playwright
Leslie Mildiner is a playwright, scriptwriter, director - with a background in comedy performing. He is the
author of Axis's Theatre previous hit "King Arthur's Kitchen". Leslie is also a writing instructor who has
taught at Vancouver Film School, UBC and VCC Continuing Studies.
A couple of his past stage successes have been "Wang Dang Doodle-The Harlem Musical" (Arts Club
Theatre), "Debt-The Musical" (Firehall Arts Centre) and his award winning adaptation of George Orwell's
"Coming Up For Air" (Belfry Theatre).
Leslie has also written for numerous TV animation shows, including "Yvon of The Yukon", "Kid Vs Kat"
and "Class of the Titans". He is currently developing a new comedy web-series.
He also has two children, who have the first comments on any of his children's shows...
Shizuka Kai – Set/Props and Masks
Shizuka is an emerging puppeteer/puppet maker and set designer in Vancouver. Her credits include
Kosmic Mambo and Spring Awakening (Studio 58), Small Parts and Play With Monsters (Solo Collective),
Brief Encounters 21, Azano (Boca Del Lupo: MPS), Measure For Measure and King Lear (Honest
Fishmongers), Romeo & Juliet and Proof (Mnemonic Theatre), and Medea -Rokujo (Yayoi Theatre
Movement). She is a graduate of Studio 58 and the recipient of the Earl Klein Memorial Scholarship.
Shizuka, along with Jessica Oostergo, received a Jessie Richardson Award for Outstanding Design
Concept and Execution, for their design of Hamelin – A New Fable.
Jessica Oostergo – Costumes
Jessica Oostergo is a set, costume and props designer from Vancouver. She is a freelance artist with
skills ranging from scenic painting, producing, hat building, creative collaboration, production design and
much more. Recently she designed a number of productions including; Snapshots: A Musical Scrapbook
(Snapshots Collective), The 4th Graders Present an Unnamed Love-Suicide (Tremors/Rumble), The
Lawyer Show-Legally Blonde: The Musical (Touchstone/Carousel), 4Play: New Work by Excited Writers
(Studio 58) and the Pitman Painters (United Players). The past two summers Jessica worked as an
assistant to the Head of Wardrobe for Bard on the Beach. Over the past few years Jessica has had the
opportunity to design shows for young audiences; The Little Mermaid, Charlotte’s Web, Seussical, Into
the Woods Jr. (Betty Huff), Beauty and the Beast (Talmud Torah), and the spring festival for the
Chilliwack School of Performing Arts: Honk Jr., Basically Good Kids, The Adventure of Flat Stanley, the
Velveteen Rabbit, and The Reluctant Dragon. Jessica is a graduate of Studio 58.
Jessica, along with Shizuka Kai, received a Jessie Richardson Award for Outstanding Design Concept and
Execution, for their design of Hamelin – A New Fable.
Marlise McCormick - Dance/Movement
Directing and choreographing for dancers, actors, and circus artists, Marlise McCormick has been
delivering sophisticated projects in the arts, entertainment, film, and live event industry for more than
25 years. Amongst other projects she is currently designing and directing shows throughout the world
for Cirque du Soleil - Special Events department as well as consulting creatively with 5D Global Film
www.axistheatre.com
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CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM
Studio based in Los Angeles. Recognized for her versatility, her body of work ranges from creating
intimate, soulful solos to creating and directing powerful images performed by casts of thousands. From
Olympic Ceremonies, to Cirque de Soleil, to contemporary ballets to musicals and corporate events,
Marlise continually raises the bar. Her passion for music, storytelling, movement, and creating
emotional visual images has won her international acclaim
in South Africa, Russia, Azerbaijan, United
States, Europe, the United Kingdom, the Middle East, and Canada. Marlise lives in Vancouver and in
Montreal with her husband, musician and composer, Bob Buckley. www.marlise.ca
Breanne Harmon - Stage Manager
Breanne is very excited to be back touring with Axis Theatre, having Stage Managed the inaugural
production of Raven Meets the Monkey King in 2013 and again in 2014. A Vancouver-based Stage and
Production Manager, Breanne has worked for theatre companies across Canada, including: Arts Club,
Shaw Theatre Festival, Chemainus Theatre Festival, Blackbird Theatre, National Arts Centre,
Presentation House Theatre, Mitch & Murray Productions, Neworld Theatre, Patrick Street Productions,
among others. Some favourite Theatre for Young Audiences shows include: James & the Giant Peach
(Chemainus), Raven Meets the Monkey King (Axis), Where the Wild Things Are (PHT/NAC), Dissolve
(shameless hussy productions) and Me on the Map (Neworld). www.breannejacksonart.com
CAST
Jenny Anderson – Performer
Jenny is thrilled to be working with Axis Theatre and the cast of Hamelin: A New Fable, and doubly
thrilled to be bringing the classic tale of Hamelin to so many young audiences throughout Canada. A
native of Calgary, Jenny holds a Bachelor in Music (Voice Performance) and a Minor in Drama from the
University of Calgary/Mount Royal College. She moved to the Lower Mainland in 2006 and has since
enjoyed an active career as a singer, actor, instrumentalist, educator, conductor/music director and
composer. Recent theatre credits include Out of a Dream (Patrick Street Productions), Gay’s The Word
(Applause Musicals; Ovation Nomination, Outstanding Lead Female), The 39 Steps/Bell, Book & Candle
(Metro Theatre), Rebel Women (Vital Spark), and Secret Service (Fugue Theatre). She has composed and
will be music directing TITUS: The Light and Delightful Comedy of Titus Andronicus, with script and lyrics
by Andrew Wade, which will be making its debut at the Vancouver Fringe in September (Awkward Stage
Productions). Jenny’s other artistic pursuits include having performed in the internationally acclaimed
professional choir, the Vancouver Chamber Choir, for nine seasons. Jenny also performs frequently as a
cabaret/concert soloist throughout Western Canada, is a professional accordionist, and sings with an
Andrews Sisters-inspired quartet, The Lady Larks. Her extensive work with children and teens includes
teaching private music/group lessons for over 15 years, and assistant conducting Zing! Children’s Choir
in Vancouver for 3 years.
Theo Budd – Performer
A recent graduate of Capilano University's musical theatre program, Theo previously received his BMUS
from UBC in 2011. Since graduating from Capilano, Theo has worked on such plays as Shakespeare's
Twelfth Night (Alchemy Theatre), and local playwright Andy Garland's A-Grade (star star theatre).
Recent musical credits include: Benny in Flourishing Age Productions' Rent, Custus/Perkins in Gateway
Theatre's production of Crazy for You, and Snoopy in You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown with Play on
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CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM
Words Productions, a new theatre company that he co-founded in late 2014. Thanks to Axis Theatre and
the whole team that makes Hamelin happen. Enjoy the show!
Ian Harmon – Performer with Spring 2016 Tour
Ian has performed all over this country. Past performing credits include: 500 Words (Green Thumb
Theatre), Snow White, Munsch Ado About Nothing, Munsch To Say, Dracula and The Sunshine Boys
(Chemainus Theatre Festival), Guys and Dolls (Gateway Theatre), Suburbia (Twenty Something Theatre),
Werewolves (Pi Theatre) and Hay Fever (Presentation House). Recent directing credits include, Edges
(two monkey’s productions), The Three Munschketeers, Munsch Ado About Nothing (Beach House
Theatre), Shrek (Assistant Director-Theatre Under the Stars). Recent film and television work include,
Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chip-Wrecked and The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Cult, Working Class
Heroes and Once Upon a Time. Ian holds a BFA in acting from UBC and is a graduate of the Douglas
College Theatre Program. He also teaches drama to young artists at Arts Connection in Richmond, Stage
Coach in Langley and for The Young Actors Project. ianharmon.workbooklive.com
Britt MacLeod – Performer
Britt is a graduate of Capilano’s Musical Theatre Program. She writes (poetry, fiction, music/lyrics,
articles), acts, choreographs, dances, performs as a spoken word artist, and collaborates on several
musical projects including: Rio By Night, Red Moon and Ladybird. Rio By Night’s new LP “Yet The World”
will be released this year. Recent performances include: Crazy For You with Gateway Theatre; The
Canadian Festival of Spoken Word; BC BUDS Festival; Dances For A Small Stage (MovEnt); The Light in
the Piazza, Patrick Street Productions/Persephone Theatre; the Canadian premiere of Love/Stories: or
But You Will Get Used To It, Kinetikism Productions.
Nick Preston – Performer
Nick is an actor, musician and writer, and a graduate of the UBC BFA in acting. Since completing the
program, he has been immersed in the world of musical theatre. He recently spent the summer creating
and performing with the Theatre Royal in Barkerville, BC (McGinley Family Troupe Musical Revue,
Cariboo Gold Radio Hour). Other musicals include Dogfight (Awkward Stage), Crazy For You (Gateway),
Darling (Springboard) and Gay's The Word (Applause) for which he was awarded the 2014 Ovation
award for best newcomer. Nick was the team leader of the Chekhovies, this years winner of Awkward
Stage's 24 hour musical contest, with the piece Carry On. He co-created the piece CAEZR: 33 cuts
(rEvolver 2014), and also performed in Nine Dragons (Gateway/SceneFirst), We Are Three Sisters (United
Players) and The Seagull, Caucasian Chalk Circle, Pride and Prejudice and Hamletmachine (UBC).
Born and raised in the Comox Valley, Nick has an immense passion for the outdoors, and aims to keep
current issues in his future work. Having played piano for years, Nick loves to hone instrumental skills,
and has been playing trumpet, ukulele, banjolin, acoustic bass, guitar, harmonica and concertina over
the summer.
By the time this tour is finished, Nick will have spent 13 consecutive months playing a rat! This takes him
back to many seasons with Missoula Children's Theatre.
www.axistheatre.com
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