Production Bios & Headshots
The Boy Comes Home
An Evening of Milne
See Also: Playbill & Credits
Jump To: Tim Beaudry, Kirsten Wattis, Jonathan Lawrence, Rachell Hodgins, Anna Woodward, John Chase, Leila Marston, Brock Couch, Kevin Hamill
Tim Beaudry
OPENING ACT PLAYER / UNCLE JAMES
Tim Beaudry is making his fourth “professional” appearance with Merlyn Productions, having played a warden, a doctor, a lawyer, and now, a business mogul.
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, and Mr. Foster in “Woman's Honor” this October.
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.
Kirsten Wattis
OPENING ACT PLAYER / AUNT EMILY
Kirsten Wattis is making her first appearance with Merlyn Productions.
Some years ago on the live stage, Kirsten performed in a production of “Love Letters”, which she produced at the Park Theatre. More recently, she has acted in two local pictures with Farpoint Films: “The Oldest Profession in Winnipeg” and “The Paper Nazis”.
As a student of the performing arts, Kirsten's training includes the Onalee Ames Film Studio, as well as ongoing acting classes taught by Dean Harder.
Born and raised right here in Winnipeg, Kirsten is an outgoing girl that has always been drawn towards the arts. Having spent 15 years away from Winnipeg living her dreams abroad in Europe, she returned home to raise her family. Always a firm believer in “following your dreams and passions,” she now feels able to allow herself to pursue her passion in the Performing Arts.
Jonathan Lawrence
OPENING ACT PLAYER / PHILIP
Jonathan Lawrence is making his first appearance with Merlyn Productions.
As a recent graduate of the University of Winnipeg acting honours program, Jonathan has appeared in “The Distance From Here”, “Henry V”, and “Monsieur D'Eon Is a Woman”. He was also seen in the U of W's 2009 Fringe production of “A Doll's House”, and in “Commedia” with Skyline Theatre during Fringe 2010.
On the film scene, Jonathan appeared this past Spring in his first feature, “How To Save A Life”, and more recently in the pilot episode for sitcom “It's All About The Angle” with Karoma Productions. Both are set to première and enter the festival circuit in early 2011, and Jonathan is already scheduled to shoot several more films with Karoma Productions in the coming year.
Jonathan looks forward to all that lies ahead, and “continued work with amazingly talented and creative people”.
Rachell Hodgins
OPENING ACT PLAYER / MARY
Rachell Hodgins is making her second appearance with Merlyn Productions, and was last seen in both “Woman's Honor” and “Suppressed Desires” for this October's double-feature.
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 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.
Anna Woodward
OPENING ACT PLAYER / MRS. HIGGINS
Anna Woodward is making her second appearance with Merlyn Productions, having also performed in “Woman's Honor” this October. 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 other 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.
John Chase
OPENING ACT PLAYER
John Chase is the Artistic Director of Merlyn Productions Theatre Company. As a Winnipeg actor and director, he has produced, directed, stage managed or performed in over eighty-five productions on stage and radio, and served periodically as an acting instructor.
John has worked extensively in children's theatre with Fantasy Theatre for Children for the past nineteen seasons. He has 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.
As one half of Chase & Hamill on the local comedy scene, John can be found portraying quintessential straight man Bud Abbott of Abbott & Costello fame, alongside performing partner Kevin Hamill (Lou Costello).
John became an instant and adamant fan A. A. Milne upon his first reading of several of the author's works, and feels privileged to be able to bring one such piece to life on the live stage this evening.
Leila Marston
OPENING ACT PLAYER
Leila Marston worked with Merlyn Productions as Production Assistant throughout the 2009 Season, during which she appeared in four plays. Most recently, she played Henrietta Brewster in “Suppressed Desires” this October.
During the Summer, a hiatus from the company allowed her to produce and perform in “The Shadowy Waters” with 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 has thus far designed costumes for both 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 writing, cynicism, and delivering lengthy spiels full of multisyllabic words.
Brock Couch
OPENING ACT PLAYER
Brock Couch is making his first appearance with Merlyn Productions. Born in Balmoral, Manitoba, he found his passion for acting in high school, after being cast as Kenickie in a production of “Grease”.
Brock trained for one year at The Academy of Acting, and is currently a student of the Onalee Ames Film Studio. Thus far on the live stage, he has played Luka in “The Lower Depths” and Ferdinand in “The Tempest”, both of which were mounted by The Academy of Acting right here at the Ellice Theatre.
On the film scene, Brock played a lead role in the ABC picture “Suddenly Ever After”, and has also appeared with Farpoint Films as a client in the documentary “The Oldest Profession in Winnipeg”.
Brock is currently working as a Hockey Player on the set of “GOON”, and plans to move to Toronto in a few years in hopes of pursuing acting as a career.
Kevin Hamill
PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER
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. Most recently, he played Stephen Brewster in “Suppressed Desires” this October.
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.
See Also: Playbill & Credits