Production Bios & Headshots

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

The Ellice Theatre, March 22 to 26, 2013

See Also: Playbill & Credits


Jump To:  Scott AustinHeather ForgieMylène ChicoineJohn ChaseDavid KingDean DuncanSam Kowaluk

Headshot for Scott Austin

Scott Austin

STAGE MANAGER

Scott Austin is excited to be making his first appearance on the Merlyn Productions mainstage, and previously appeared as Doctor Fobwatch when the Winnipeg Theatre School presented “The Beast in The Bag” last March.

As a veteran of children's theatre for nearly a decade, Scott is an alumnus of Fantasy Theatre for Children and The Theatre School, where he was a student of director Tony Frost, and also played roles in a variety of FTC mainstage titles, including: Edmund Pevensie in “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” (2005), Huck Finn in “Tom Sawyer” (2009), and – a personal favourite – Jim Hawkins in “Treasure Island” (2008).

Scott has also had the pleasure of appearing in the Winnipeg Fringe Festival three times under the direction of local author Ron Blicq of R-G Productions: first in the Kids Fringe with “The Popsicle-Stick Wand” (2006) and it's sequel “The Battle of the Wands” the following year, and more recently in “Choosing Home” (2011), which was then toured to Gimli Summer Theatre and presented alongside Merlyn Productions' own “Suppressed Desires” in a co-operative double-feature.

An amateur singer and aspiring writer, Scott is eagerly anticipating a future career in voice acting, with intentions of attending the University of Winnipeg Theatre and Film program this Autumn.

Headshot for Heather Forgie

Heather Forgie

QUEEN

Heather Forgie is making her second appearance with Merlyn Productions, having played a variety of characters in “Wind of a Thousand Tales” in December.

In 2012, Heather appeared in her first-ever Winnipeg Fringe Festival as Evie in “Shades of Grey” with R-G Productions. Most recently, she worked with Resonator Theatrical, playing Alice in “The Last of Sheila” for SondheimFest 2013.

Heather is a graduate of the University of Winnipeg's theatre and dramatic arts program, and is currently employed as a high school Drama and English teacher.

Having once upon a time taken a few years off from the acting scene to have children and establish herself as a teacher, Heather is now back full-force. She looks forward to many further appearances with the company!

Headshot for Mylène Chicoine

Mylène Chicoine

SNOW WHITE

Mylène Chicoine is making her second appearance with Merlyn Productions, having played Lilith Marne in “The Wraith of Wrath” last October.

Most recently, she worked behind-the-scenes as Stage Manager of “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” with Kiss the Giraffe Productions for SondheimFest 2013. Mylène's other appearances include “The Plague Doctor's Daughter” with One Bird Walking Theatre at the 2012 Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival.

Currently, Mylène works as a teaching assistant at the MTYP Theatre School. Holding an integrated education degree with a minor in theatre from the University of Winnipeg, she hopes one day to land a job as a high school drama teacher.

Headshot for John Chase

John Chase

DIRECTOR

John Chase is the Artistic Director of Merlyn Productions Theatre Company, and an instructor at the Winnipeg Theatre School. As a Winnipeg actor, director, producer and stage manager, he recently marked his 100th production with “Wind of a Thousand Tales” in December.

John is a veteran of theatre for young audiences, having produced multiple Kids Fringe best-sellers, staged 2011's “Through the Looking-Glass”, and worked extensively in children's theatre with Fantasy Theatre for Children, both on and behind the FTC mainstage for twenty seasons (1991 - 2011). He directed multiple shows for G.D. Productions (FTC's adult arm), and is an alumnus of The Theatre School, where he obtained five years of formal training under Tony Frost in the early-to-mid 1990s.

John founded Merlyn Productions after his Co-Artistic Director at C.G. Productions departed Winnipeg in 2000, and has produced full seasons of plays at the Ellice Theatre, Winnipeg Fringe Festival, and other local venues since 2009. As one half of Chase & Hamill on the local comedy scene, John can also be found portraying quintessential straight man Bud Abbott of Abbott & Costello fame, alongside performing partner Kevin Hamill (Lou Costello).

Today, he is delighted to be reviving a long-standing FTC favourite for its first run on the Merlyn Productions mainstage!

Headshot for David King

David King

PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER

David King stage managed both “The Wraith of Wrath” and “Wind of a Thousand Tales” last season, and has made four previous appearances with Merlyn Productions. He was most recently seen at the 2012 Winnipeg Fringe Festival, playing the Shoemaker in “The World of The Brothers Grimm” at the Kids Venue.

For more than twenty years, David has been involved in both amateur and professional theatre, and has worn many hats, including acting, set construction, and stage management, with theatre companies in Toronto, Ontario and Cornwall, Ontario, as well as Wichita, Kansas.

On the film and television scene, David has been involved in several films and commercials shot locally in Winnipeg.

Headshot for Dean Duncan

Dean Duncan

REHEARSAL STAGE MANAGER

Dean Duncan has made four previous appearances with Merlyn Productions. He was most recently seen in the final two shows of the 2012 Season, playing Doctor Findlay in “The Wraith of Wrath”, and Janos the Peasant in “Wind of a Thousand Tales”.

Behind-the-scenes, Dean took on the position of Assistant Stage Manager for the Ellice Theatre re-mount of Chase & Hamill's “HEY ABBOTT! - Another Classic Comedy Tribute Show”, and just completed stage managing “Youth Showcase 2013” for the Winnipeg Theatre School earlier this week.

Starting back in high school, Dean played Frank Gilbreth Jr in “Cheaper by the Dozen”. After years of unexpressed interest in theatre and a brief foray into stand-up comedy, he auditioned for Merlyn Productions in Autumn 2011.

Born in Winnipeg and growing up in Churchill, Dean returned almost a decade ago to explore broader horizons.

Offstage, Dean enjoys reading, cooking, and sarcastic observations on life, in general.

Headshot for Sam Kowaluk

Sam Kowaluk

ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER

Sam Kowaluk has made four appearances with Merlyn Productions since the 2010 Season.

Most recently, he played Humpty Dumpty in “Through The Looking Glass” in December 2011, and reprised multiple crazy characters in the Ellice Theatre re-mount of Chase & Hamill's “HEY ABBOTT! - Another Classic Comedy Tribute Show”, as originally presented during the 2011 Winnipeg Fringe Festival.

Sam is a six-year alumnus of Fantasy Theatre for Children and The Theatre School, where he also appeared in over 30 mainstage productions, including “Snow White”, “Cinderella”, and “Max and the Grinch”.

He is currently in his third year at the University of Winnipeg studying theatre and film, and is also the Assistant Director for the Musical Theatre Program at Dakota Collegiate. There, Sam worked on “The Wizard of Oz” in 2011, “Cinderella” in 2012, and will reprise his duties for this year's as-yet unannounced show.


See Also: Playbill & Credits

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