Production Bios & Headshots

Leila Marston

HENRIETTA BREWSTER ("SUPPRESSED DESIRES")

Leila Marston worked with Merlyn Productions as Production Assistant throughout the 2009 Season, during which she appeared in four plays. Leila's other work during the year included stage management, costuming, and sound.

Her Summer 2010 hiatus from the company allowed her to produce and perform in “The Shadowy Waters” under the guise of Eternal Rose Theatre at the 2010 Winnipeg Fringe Festival. She was re-appointed to the Company Staff as Wardrobe Mistress in August 2010 – an assignment in which she looks forward to designing costumes for the Autumn productions.

Leila's initial step onto the stage was with Chase & Hamill in their 2008 Winnipeg Fringe Festival production of “HEY ABBOTT! - A Classic Comedy Tribute Show”. The experience not only encouraged her to pursue theatre in earnest, but she has since become an avid Fringe performer, appearing with the boys in “Cinderella! Cinderella!” (2009) and “Snow White the Comedy” (2010).

Offstage, Leila enjoys yoga, cynicism, and writing and delivering lengthy spiels full of multisyllabic words.

Kevin Hamill

STEPHEN BREWSTER ("SUPPRESSED DESIRES")

Kevin Hamill has been performing on Winnipeg stages for over a decade, and has dozens of shows to his credit. In February 2009, he joined the Merlyn Productions Company Staff as Technical Director, and performed in four plays last season.

Kevin has worked with a variety of other local companies, including C.G. Productions and RGI International. With Fantasy Theatre for Children, he has appeared in numerous children's productions, starred in several plays with G.D. Productions (FTC's adult arm), and become an alumnus of The Theatre School.

As one half of Chase & Hamill on the local comedy scene, Kevin can be found portraying funny man Lou Costello of Abbott & Costello fame, alongside performing partner John Chase (Bud Abbott).

Kevin made his solo directing début with the 2009 Winnipeg Fringe Festival production of “CINDERELLA! CINDERELLA!”, and co-directed “Snow White the Comedy” at the Kids Fringe this Summer.

Rachell Hodgins

MABEL ("SUPPRESSED DESIRES") & MERCENARY ONE ("WOMAN'S HONOR")

Rachell Hodgins is making her first appearance with Merlyn Productions in a big way, being cast in both “Woman's Honor” and “Suppressed Desires”.

Rachell's theatre beginnings were at Manitoba Theatre for Young People, which led to the Junior High drama program at John Pritchard School, followed by two years in the Kodiak Moments Theatre Ensemble at River East Collegiate.

Currently, Rachell is a second-year student in the University of Winnipeg theatre program. She most recently appeared in the title role of “Snow White the Comedy” with Chase & Hamill at the 2010 Winnipeg Fringe Festival, and also worked with the boys on their 2009 Kids Fringe hit “Cinderella! Cinderella!”.

When not acting, Rachell can still be found onstage, having been a singer for various bands since age 16.

Tim Beaudry

MR. FOSTER ("WOMAN'S HONOR")

Tim Beaudry is making his third “professional” appearance with Merlyn Productions in “Woman's Honor”, having played a warden, a doctor, and now, a lawyer.

Tim's theatrical début was as Warden Holt in the company's 2009 Winnipeg Fringe Festival production of “THE VALIANT”. He also portrayed Thomas Gardner in “The Stepmother” last season.

Offstage, Tim is an accomplished photographer, and has been part of the Winnipeg Folk Festival Photo Crew for 12 years.

Tim enjoys paddling competitively with his dragon boat team, “Boogie’s Draggin Butt”, and has helped them win two Championship trophies, among others.

Eric Johannson

GORDON WALLACE ("WOMAN'S HONOR")

Eric Johannson is making his first appearance with Merlyn Productions in “Woman's Honor”, and has been interested in theatre all his life.

After being involved with Manitoba Theatre for Young People as a child, Eric took a few years off stage-acting – then continued to follow the spotlight during his high school years, when he joined every dramatic production he could.

At the University of Manitoba, Eric took a break from theatre to pursue other interests, but the stage seemed to follow him at every turn. In the final two years of his first degree, he managed to become involved with the Black Hole Theatre Company. One memorable production was “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead” for StoppardFest in 2007, during which his passion about the sciences and the arts earned him the nickname “The Renaissance Man”. He graduated with the odd combination of a Bachelor of Science Minor in Theatre.

Most recently, Eric found his way back onstage as Prince Edward in “Snow White the Comedy” with Chase & Hamill at the 2010 Winnipeg Fringe Festival.

Sam Kowaluk

BOY ("WOMAN'S HONOR")

Sam Kowaluk is pleased to be making his first appearance with Merlyn Productions in “Woman's Honor”, following a busy Summer!

In July, he appeared as Bertrand and Slacker in “Snow White the Comedy” with Chase & Hamill at the 2010 Winnipeg Fringe Festival – then in August, acted in a different stage adaptation of the same fairy-tale with Fantasy Theatre for Children.

With FTC, Sam has appeared in over 30 children's theatre productions, including “Max and the Grinch”, “Cinderella”, and “Red Riding Hood” last season. He is an alumnus of The Theatre School, where he was a student of Tony Frost for six years.

Sam currently attends the University of Winnipeg, hoping to major in Theatre and Film. On camera, he will soon appear in the Farpoint Films documentary “Paper Nazis”, premièring on MTS Video On Demand this Autumn.

When not acting, Sam enjoys video games and playing with his dog. He hopes you enjoy the show!

Kris Diaz

SHIELDED ONE ("WOMAN'S HONOR")

Kris Diaz is making her second appearance with Merlyn Productions in “Woman's Honor”, having played the title role in “The Stepmother” last season.

For the past eight years, Kris has served as the Drama Teacher at Lord Selkirk Regional Comprehensive Secondary School. Productions she has directed there include “Grease”, “Alice in Wonderland”, “Oliver”, “The Crucible”, “Odd Couple”, “Annie”, and “The Matchmaker” – as well as “Footloose”, which won the Performance Award from Rainbow Stage.

Most recently, Kris appeared as The Queen in “Snow White the Comedy” with Chase & Hamill at the 2010 Winnipeg Fringe Festival. She sung in both the 2008 “Lord of the Rings” Mass Choir and the 2009 “I Believe” Mass Choir with the WSO. You may also recognise her running through a library yelling in the Regional Big Dollar commercial.

Kris is currently producing and directing “Guys and Dolls”, to be presented as this year's production at LSRCSS.

When she is not busy on stage, Kris enjoys working out, gardening and spending time with her loved ones. She thanks her family and friends for their constant support and love – “I couldn’t do the things I do without you”.

Ev Darrach

MOTHERLY ONE ("WOMAN'S HONOR")

Ev Darrach is making her second appearance with Merlyn Productions in “Woman's Honor”, having also been seen in “The Boor”, as directed by Tony Frost.

Ev has performed with Fantasy Theatre for Children since 1991. Her children's theatre credits include “Aladdin”, “Cinderella”, “Tom Sawyer”, “Snow White”, and “The Wizard of Oz”, to name but a few. Her next show with FTC is “The Haunted Castle”, playing October 25 to 29 at the Forrest Nickerson Theatre.

Other credits include various productions at the Winnipeg Fringe Festival, and for G.D. Productions (the adult arm of FTC). In 2009, Ev appeared in two plays at the GADOC 61st Annual Theatre Festival in Guernsey, U.K. The plays – “Sudoku Fever” and “You Will Write, Won't You?” – were presented by NewStage Productions of Winnipeg, who received two trophies. She recently reprised her role in “Sudoku Fever” at the 2010 Winnipeg Fringe Festival, and the Aspire Theatre in Gimli, Manitoba.

When not performing, Ev enjoys travelling, cycling, walking, and time spent with her family – especially her grandchildren.

Laura Chan

SCORNFUL ONE ("WOMAN'S HONOR")

Laura Chan is making her second appearance with Merlyn Productions in “Woman's Honor”, and is thrilled to be working with the company again after last season's “Fancy Free”.

Originally from “outside Toronto”, she hopes to make a home (and perhaps a name) for herself in the Smallest Big City in the World. Making progress towards that goal with Merlyn, she also recently had her first film experience in MTS On Demand's upcoming documentary “The Oldest Profession In Winnipeg”.

Laura thanks John for helping her access the Winnipeg arts scene, all her cast-mates for their patience and friendship, and Clay for taking over the domestic affairs while she pursues her artistic ambitions.

She hopes you enjoy the show! (Continuously!)

Natalie Fitkowsky

SILLY ONE ("WOMAN'S HONOR")

Natalie Fitkowsky is making her first appearance with Merlyn Productions, and is both honoured and excited to join the cast of “Woman's Honor”!

Her recent appearances include playing the title role in “Cinderella! Cinderella!” at the 2009 Winnipeg Fringe, and a quirky French girl in “Snow White the Comedy” at the 2010 Winnipeg Fringe, both with Chase & Hamill.

In 2008, Natalie participated in FemFest on a cabaret evening in a collective entitled “Raunch Culture”. She again performed for FemFest this year in “Generation Nexxt: An Evening of Contemporary Scenes for Young Women”.

An Education student, Natalie is currently in her fifth year of study at the University of Winnipeg, and also partakes in a variety of extracurricular activities. She has been a pianist for over 15 years, is a member of a Ukrainian vocal group called O. Koshetz Choir, and is an avid soccer player and painter.

Anna Woodward

CHEATED ONE ("WOMAN'S HONOR")

Anna Woodward is making her first appearance with Merlyn Productions in “Woman's Honor”. As a military brat with her father in the Armed Forces, she has acted from Comox, B.C., to Belleville, Ontario.

Anna started acting in Grade 5, when she played Little Red Riding Hood. Her most recent stage appearances have been in “Fiddler on the Roof” with the Victorian Operatic Society, and “Sweeney Todd” with the Belleville Theatre Guild.

In addition to performing, she has taken six years of vocal lessons, and is currently attending musical theatre classes with Café Music School.

Outside the arts, Anna is working in Winnipeg as an ECE II, having just moved from Ontario, where she completed her Social Service Worker Diploma.