.:: Executive Committee ::.

Marsh Murphy, Chair  

Marsh has been working with media arts organizations in western Canada since the mid-nineties, in a variety of capacities. He's currently the Executive Director and Film Programmer of Metro Cinema, and the President of AMAAS (the Alberta Media Arts Alliance). He also writes about the media arts, and is working on an experimental documentary about an abandoned gas station, which he thinks will be more interesting than it sounds.. 

John Hudson, Vice Chair

John is the Artistic Director of Shadow Theatre and the Executive Director of The Varscona Theatre. He has directed over 70 productions in his career including many Canadian premieres of outstanding international work. He has developed a committed new play development program with the primary focus on emerging playwrights and premieres a new Canadian play in his season almost every year. 

During his time at Shadow the company has garnered over 60 Sterling nominations for outstanding work in the Edmonton Theatre community, winning in virtually every category. In his work with The Varscona he has lead the theatre since 1996 and the building is now one of the busiest in Canada with 350 performances a year with 30,000 people coming through the doors. The theatre has one of the largest demographics of any theatre, with children’s theatre, improv. for teenagers and the smart sophisticated plays of Shadow and Teatro la Quindicina. As an actor he has worked with most of the professional companies in the province. He sat as a board member of The Old Strathcona Business Association for 3 years as their arts representative and is part owner of one of the finest video stores in the country, The Videodrome, which caters to people looking for the best in foreign and alternative cinema. John lives in Edmonton with his wife playwright, actor, speech pathologist, Sandy Paddick and their two daughters Charlotte and Isabella.

Kevin Mott, Secretary-Treasurer 

Kevin Mott was born at a very early age in Montreal, moving to Edmonton in 1979.  He has practiced law in Edmonton since that time and is a Crown Prosecutor with Alberta Justice.  He is a board member of the Free Will Players, ELOPE Musical Theatre and a part of the organizing committee of and usually one of the actors in the annual Legal Community Theatre fundraising project known affectionately as Players de novo.  He likes being on stage, not just going to meetings.  He will sing at almost any opportunity.  Kevin is married and has 2 children in university.

Eva Cairns, Past Chair

Originally trained in classical dance, Eva has worked primarily with dance and theatre, with a specialization in touring. Before moving to Edmonton she worked with Judith Marcuse Dance Company (Vancouver), Montreal-based O Vertigo Danse, and Harbourfront Centre in Toronto. She was the General Manager for Shadow Theatre in Edmonton from 2001 to 2005 and the Edmonton Associate for the 2004 Magnetic North Theatre Festival in Edmonton. She has been the Managing Producer for Catalyst Theatre since April 2006. Eva has also provided project development assistance to independent theatre artists in Edmonton. 

.:: Members at Large ::.

Amber Borotsik

Originally from rural Manitoba, Amber has studied contemporary dance, contact improvisation and Flamenco throughout Canada, the United States and Spain. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting from the University of Alberta in 2001 and now works as both a contemporary dance and theatre artist.  Amber is the founder /Co-Artistic director of the creation based company Dammitdance Theatre whose premier production, Scythe, received two Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Awards (Outstanding Choreography, Outstanding Independent Production).  Amber has performed across Canada, the United States and Panama with Tania Alvarado, Synergy Improv, Mile Zero Dance, Eko Dance, Sheldon Casavant, Firefly Theatre, Ishtar Circus Arts, The Maggie Tree, Citadel Theatre, Northern Light Theatre, Scarface, Red to Blue Performance, Nakai Theatre, Workshop West Theatre, Shadow Theatre and Artistic Fraud Theatre of Newfoundland among others.  In 2004 Amber founded The Expanse Movement Arts Festival with Azimuth Theatre artistic producer Murray Utas and now serves as its Festival Director. 

Jenifer Christenson

Jenifer is the Managing Director, Marketing Services at Edmonton Economic Development Corporation leading a team to support the marketing and communications functions for all divisions, including Edmonton Tourism, Economic Development, Edmonton Research Park, Shaw Conference Centre and corporate office.  She has been involved in the industry for over 20 years working in various  sectors including tourism, small business, fundraising, publishing, non-profit, government, retail, oil & gas, agriculture, property management, education and entertainment.  She has won numerous awards for her work, been instrumental in the promotion of the city’s festivals, launched a national best seller and developed and managed a youth at risk program which gained federal recognition. 

James DeFelice

James DeFelice is a Professor Emeritus from the University of Alberta where he taught in the Department of Drama for 34 years. He helped to train generations of actors and directors for the professional theatre as well as teaching graduate seminars in Irish, British, and Canadian theatre and undergraduate classes in dramatic literature and performance.  He has worked in the professional theatre as a director, actor, playwright, and dramaturge.  His screenplays include the Canadian classic,  Why Shoot the Teacher , for which he received an Etrog (Genie), and  Angel Square , co-written with Anne Wheeler.   Among his honours  are the Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Lifetime Achievement Award in Theatre;  Lifetime Achievement Award at the Mayor’s Celebration of the Arts, and induction into the Edmonton Cultural Hall of Fame. 

Darrin Hagen

Darrin Hagen is an award-winning writer, composer, actor, television host, as well as Canada’s most notorious drag performer. He was the first Drag Artiste in Canada to host a national television series. Hagen was honoured with the Rosie Award (Alberta Motion Picture Association) for best Male Host, for his work on the show "Who's on Top?". He was nominated again for Best Male Host for season 2.

Hagen’s first one-man/woman play, The Edmonton Queen: Not A Riverboat Story, was awarded an Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Award for Outstanding New Work in 1997. It has since been reworked and published in book form (now in an expanded and revised Anniversary Edition from Brindle & Glass Publishing), and is being taught in gender studies and QueerLit programs across Canada. He has become a regular speaker at universities and colleges, delivering keynote addresses at several international conferences on gender diversity and sexual health.

Hagen has received 5 Sterling Awards for his work in Edmonton Theatre.  He has composed music for almost every theatre company in town.Guys in Disguise productions have played in Ottawa, Toronto, Orlando, Winnipeg, Meacham, Regina, Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer, Vancouver, and Whitehorse. Plays by Hagen have also been produced in Seattle and Key West.

Hagen has written (or co-written) almost 20 plays.

Ted Kerr 

Ted Kerr is an Edmonton based writer, artist and actionist whose work primarily focuses on queerness, HIV / AIDS and expression. He was a founding member of Exposure: Edmonton’s Queer Arts and Culture Festival and was HIV Edmonton’s first ever Artist in Residence. In 2006 he was named Shell Chemical Scotford’s Artist in Residence. The following year he was awarded an Exploration Grant as part of Edmonton’s designation as the Culture Capital of Canada. He writes regularly for XTRA.ca and is a bi-weekly contributor for VUE Weekly’s Queermonton column.

Cadence Konopaki

Cadence is currently one of the senior technicians for Rapid Fire Theatre; working on their weekly shows, their international improvisation festival, Improvaganza, their provincial high school festival, WildFire, as well as many of their shows at the Edmonton Fringe.  She has also worked closely with the improv show Scratch, one of the most toured improv shows in the world.

Cadence is a producer and board member for HighWire Films, a local independent film company.  She’s proud that their last two feature films have been show in a number of countries and resulted in nominations to the AMPIA awards.

Terry Lusty

Terry Lusty, B.Ed., is a Metis historian, cultural advocate, writer/journalist, poet, former high school teacher, mentor, singer, storyteller, photographer, actor, and more. Terry Lusty has devoted over 40 years work-history with Aboriginals and non-Aboriginals particularly in relation to culture, history, social activity, etc. During this time he has served on numerous boards and committees, including provincial Ministerial ones on education and culture.

Gina Moe

Gina is an Alberta based stage manager, with majority of her work being in the city of Edmonton.  Recently Gina has taken on a year round position with the Edmonton International Street Performers Festival as the festival’s Assistant Artistic Producer. Gina has enjoyed a diverse career, working for both small collectives to large regional theatres, not for profit and commercial companies. Gina is a 2 time winner of the Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Award for Outstanding Achievement in Production.

Heather McRae

Heather McRae is the Branch Manager of Strategic Services with the City of Edmonton Community Services Department.  She is currently involved in the implementation of the Art Of Living plan, the creation of the Edmonton Heritage Council and is overseeing the creation of Edmonton’s People Plan-The Way We Live.   Heather holds an undergraduate degree in Urban Geography from Carleton University and a M. Sc. in Public and Social Policy from Edinburgh University.

Tim Paetkau

After 13 years in the classroom, Tim Paetkau is currently the Music Consultant and Drama/Dance facilitator for Edmonton Public Schools. He received his Master of Education from the University of Alberta with an emphasis on music and phonemic awareness. Tim sings with the Greenwood Singers as his musical outlet. He also currently sits on the Steering Committee of the Cappies of Greater Edmonton and the Advisory Committee of the Kiwanis Music Festival.

Nicole Reeves

Nicole is the Education Business Manager for the Art Gallery of Alberta.

She also currently sits on the Board for Harcourt House Artist Run Centre (WESCAN Society) as Exhibition Chair. Other arts organization involvements + appointments have included: Celebration of Women in the Arts (disbanded), Mayors Awards for the Arts; Submissions Juror and Grant Submissions Juror; RBC Undergraduate Grant Program.

Nicole began her education with a Diploma in Fine Arts from GMCC. She then attended the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (NSCAD), simultaneously completing her BFA and B. Education in Art Education.

Nicole has been an arty downtown dweller for 15 years and doesn’t see that changing anytime soon.

Aidan Rowe

Aidan Rowe is Assistant Professor of Visual Communication Design/Interactive New Media at the University of Alberta. He holds degrees from the University of Alberta, University of Westminster and Goldsmiths College.  Recent practice-based work explores human computer interaction, net.art, and information aesthetics. His professional practice focuses on information design and new media, recent clients include  Net-A-Porter.com , Sony, Vogue, Matthew Williamson and Jimmy Choo. He has taught design in Canada and the UK and has delivered papers, presented work and ran workshops in the UK, Canada, Scotland, Austria, Germany, Hong Kong, Poland, Korea, the US and Japan.

Richard Tosczak 

Richard Tosczak is a figurative sculptor, firefighter, and personal trainer. While studying at the University of Alberta, he pursued further artistic training in the Loire Valley with Martine Vaugel, first director of sculpture at the New York Academy of Art. More recently, Richard has studied in São Paulo with Israel Kislansky. Richard’s work includes a public art commission in William Hawrelak Park. His bronze sculptures are currently represented by the Art Rental and Sales Gallery at the Art Gallery of Alberta. Beyond his sculptural practice Richard has co-founded and chaired two community-based arts organizations, Aggregate Visual Arts and the Association of Traditional Capoeira Regional better known as the Capoeira Academy.