Production Bios & Headshots

Brian Dougherty

STEPHEN STEPANOVITCH TSCHUBUKOV

Brian Dougherty is making his eighth appearance on the Merlyn Productions mainstage in “A Marriage Proposal”. His recent appearances include The King in “Wind of a Thousand Tales”, and multiple roles in “Ming Lee and The Magic Tree” at the 2013 Winnipeg Fringe Festival.

After once venturing briefly onto the stage with a self-written solo comedy routine for the local “Free Laughs Comedy Series”, Brian decided to pursue theatre in earnest. He enrolled in the Spring 2011 session of “STAGE ONE: Adult Theatre” at the theatre school, and performed with the class in Dramatic Showcase 2011.

Brian's first major community theatre production was with Chase & Hamill, creating multiple characters in “HEY ABBOTT! - Another Classic Comedy Tribute Show” at the 2011 Winnipeg Fringe Festival.

Behind the scenes, Brian has actively contributed his carpentry talents to the scenic departments of many productions. He was a key member of the crew that brought Castle Wrath into being for “The Wraith of Wrath” in October, and also served as the Rehearsal Stage Manager for the company's ShawFest2012 production of “Augustus Does His Bit”.

Kelsey Tuma

NATALIA STEPANOVNA

Kelsey Tuma is excited to be making her Canadian début with Merlyn Productions in “A Marriage Proposal”.

Hailing from St. Paul, Minnesota, she came to Canada to study theatre at the University of Winnipeg.

Kelsey's theatrical journey began in fourth grade with an adaptation of “Where the Wild Things Are”, and she hasn't stopped since!

She has appeared in many high school productions, and has also had the opportunity to perform with Gremlin Theatre, Youth Performance Company, and Young Artists' Initiative.

Mitch Krohn

IVAN VASSILIYITCH LOMOV

Mitch Krohn is back for his third appearance with Merlyn Productions (and second that required him to grow a moustache) in “A Marriage Proposal”. He loved playing the bumbling Lord Augustus in “Augustus Does His Bit”, and Kikushyo (probably the tallest Japanese boy in history) in “Wind of a Thousand Tales”.

Mitch, who works at Canadian Mennonite University (CMU), is currently a member of the Crosseyed Rascals Improv Troupe, and the Artistic Director of the BS Comedy Players (Musical Political Satire).

He has been performing since the ripe age of 9, and grew up entertaining relatives at family gatherings year after year. However, a Thanksgiving Day celebration is not enough to hone one's skills, and so he proceeded to get his dramatic training through the University of Winnipeg's theatre program.

Mitch has worked with many local theatre companies, including North Kildonan Community Players, Phoenix Productions, Crosswalk Players, and White Rabbit Productions. He has been seen performing in the Winnipeg Fringe Festival since 2002, and also spent a few years travelling with performance troupes.

Mitch believes strongly in local community theatre, and is happy and thankful for the opportunity to be performing as a returning member of Merlyn Productions.

Daniel Gilmour

IVAN IVANOVITCH TOLKACHOV

Daniel Gilmour is excited to be making his first appearance with Merlyn Productions in “A Tragedian in Spite of Himself”.

Daniel returns to the stage after a several-year hiatus, and appeared in two previous Master Playwright Festival productions: “Arcadia” with Theatre Incarnate in StoppardFest, and “Sexual Perversity in Chicago” with Theatre Anywhere in MametFest. He was also a regular with the Black Hole Theatre Company, both onstage and backstage, for several years.

Away from the theatre, Daniel is an Early Childhood Educator and looks after a gaggle of toddlers. He is an avid board game player, a maybe-too-obsessive sports fan, and wannabe Karaoke star.

Daniel thanks his family and friends for their love and support.

“Today is your day. Your mountain is waiting, now get on your way!” — Dr Seuss

Nicholas Curry

ALEXEY ALEXEYEVITCH MURASHKIN

Nicholas Curry is making his fourth appearance with Merlyn Productions in “A Tragedian in Spite of Himself”.

He made his community theatre début with the company at the 2012 Winnipeg Fringe Festival, and has since appeared as Stephen Wade in “The Wraith of Wrath”, and as multiple characters in “Ming Lee and The Magic Tree” at the 2013 Kids Fringe.

Nicholas has been involved in the performing arts since the age of 10, when he began taking classes at Manitoba Theatre for Young People. He later progressed to film-making courses at Prairie Theatre Exchange in 2007.

While in high school, Nicholas was part of the College Beliveau Improv Team for 2 years, and also played lead roles in two original College Beliveau musicals: “Choix Multiples” and “Au Canada”.

John Chase

DIRECTOR

John Chase is the Artistic Director of Merlyn Productions Theatre Company, and an acting instructor at the Winnipeg Theatre School. As a Winnipeg actor, director, producer and stage manager, he marked his 100th local production with “Wind of a Thousand Tales” in 2012.

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).

John's introduction to Anton Chekhov was playing Lomov in “A Marriage Proposal” while studying theatre in the 1990s, and is honoured to have the opportunity to direct four of the playwright's seven one-act works in this year's festival!

David King

STAGE MANAGER

David King is stage managing his fourth show at Merlyn Productions, and has made five previous onstage appearances with the company. He was most recently seen at the 2013 Winnipeg Fringe Festival, playing the Property Man in “Ming Lee and The Magic Tree” 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.