WINK THEATRE: 2008

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Kessler’s dialogue and Drover’s pacing are nicely crisp and the performances are engaging. Rinaldi’s Philip is undoubtedly the star of the show, totally inhabiting the strange little brother with a lithe physicality and making his neurosis fully believable.” --Jerry Wasserman, VancouverPlays.com

“Orphans is a black comedy that ends up being sentimental—kind of like dark chocolate with a soft, gooey centre. Director Stephen Drover draws superb performances from Andrew McNee as Treat and Michael Rinaldi as Phillip. McNee is both physically and vocally inventive, continually devising fresh ways to communicate his character’s uncontrollable emotions.” --Kathleen Oliver, The Georgia Straight

“Short and sharp, Orphans is a nasty drama shot through with dark humour.” --Peter Birnie, The Vancouver Sun

“Charrois, as Harold, is sinister and saintly simultaneously--not an easy thing to make work.” --Jo Ledingham, The Vancouver Courier

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Crazily comic confrontations of three lost souls.....

Orphans, by Lyle Kessler, is a drama that follows the plight of two brothers: the emotionally volatile Treat and the sweetly naive Phillip, who were orphaned at an early age. Living hand to mouth in Philadelphia , Treat supports them both by thieving on a daily basis. This tentative existence is interrupted by Harold, a middle-aged man whose sudden appearance propels the three men into a journey of self-discovery that irrevocably twists the status quo.''Orphans'' is a product of Chicago 's Steppenwolf Theater Company: an ensemble known for the showy style and fierce physicality of its performances. In Gary Sinise's original staging, that ferocity was transported Off Broadway in 1985, where ''Orphans'' was an exercise in electric - and acrobatic - theatrics.

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TICKET INFO

Dress Rehearsal Photos - 81 images - High Res available > - Email Rebecca rebecca@titnaniaproductions.com

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Short video of the play on YouTUBE (same as video above)

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Produced by special arrangement with Samuel French Inc.

This is a Canadian Actors’ Equity Association approved Independent Artists Projects Policy production

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Director

Stephen Drover

Stephen was trained as an actor at Memorial University’s Sir Wilfred Grenfell College where he received a BFA in Acting. For two years he was an Associate Director for Theatre Newfoundland Labrador and later taught at the Neptune Theatre School in Halifax.

He attended UBC’s Theatre Program and received an MFA in Directing (The Creation – thesis production). Since then he regularly returns to Memorial as a visiting assistant professor/director (The Taming of the Shrew, Sam’s Shorts, Richard III), has assistant directed at the Stratford Festival (King John) and conducted several new play development workshops at Playwright’s Theatre Centre.

He is co-founder and Artistic Director of Pound of Flesh Theatre in Vancouver whose mandate is to produce alternative productions of classical plays. Projects include The Bond (an adaptation of The Merchant of Venice) and Macbeth.Other favourite directing credits include Skydive (Realwheels) for which he received a Jessie Richardson Award for Outstanding Direction; Romeo & Juliet (Theatre Newfoundland Labrador), Laughter on the 23rd Floor (Guild Theatre, Whitehorse), and PolitiKo (Ghost River Theatre, Calgary).

Upcoming projects include Unity (1918) at UBC and a remount of the award-winning Skydive at Theatre Calgary.

He is the recipient of the 2007 Ray Michael Award for Outstanding Body of Work by an Emerging Director.

Actor Biographies

Michael Charrois

I began acting, writing and putting on shows in 1980 with Black Box Theatre, in my hometown of Edmonton, AB.

In 1982 I studied acting and playwrighting at the Banff School of Fine Arts. From 1984 to 1987 I was enrolled in a BA Drama program at the University of Alberta. I left the University of Alberta to do an on-the-job apprenticeship with Stage Polaris in Edmonton.

For three years I was in the five-member Resident Acting Company and from 1986 to 1998 I performed in over 30 professional family and children theatre productions at Polaris.

In 1983 I started acting and producing Fringe Theatre Festival productions. I have acted in over 30 Fringe shows in over 20 years and have toured to Saskatoon and Orlando, Florida with Fringe projects. I love the Fringe because the workers control most of the means of production.

In 1988 I became an Equity member. I have performed at most of the professional theatres in my hometown of Edmonton as well as on the road. In 1992 I became a full member of Actra. I have recorded songs, performed on radio (CBC and CKUA) and on TV and in films. In 2001 I relocated to Vancouver where I currently live and work.

From 2002 to 2006 I worked at the historic Raymond Burr Theatre in New Westminster where I acted, directed and taught drama classes. I am currently acting on stage and performing in film and television.

Visit Michael's website http://charrois.com/

Andrew McNee

Andrew is thrilled to be a part of this production of "Orphans". Some of his recent theatre credits include "The Wars" (Theatre Calgary/Vancouver Playhouse), "The Triumph of Love" (Blackbird), "Hippies and Bolsheviks" (Touchstone), "A Christmas Carol", "Vincent in Brixton" "Equus" (Vancouver Playhouse), "Crime and Punishment" (NeWorld), "Merchant of Venice" and "Comedy of Errors" (Bard on the Beach). This summer Andrew will be writing and performing the piece "Trauma Bond" with Theatre Melee, and performing in "Half Life" at the Belfry theatre in Victoria in the fall. Andrew is a graduate of Studio 58. This performance is dedicated to his brother Jay.

Michael Rinaldi

Select credits include: The Dissemblers, with Touchstone/PTC; [Sic] with Theatre Skam; The Blue Horse with Caravan Farm Theatre; The Party for Tremors Festival 2007 with Theatre Melee; Pool Sharks with Skam for the Hive Festival 2006; and Lazy Susan for Theatre Melee. Sound Designs for Famous Puppet Death Scenes with The Old Trout Puppet Workshop, and The Goat, Presentation House Theatre. Currently Directing Jonno Katz's The Spy for 2008 Fringe Circuit.
Upcoming: Trauma Bond with Theatre Melee/Rumble for Hive/Magnetic North and Summer Works Toronto.

Stage Manager

Jethelo Espaldon Cabilete

Jethelo is a graduate of Theatre Humber’s technical and production program and has an extensive repertoire in production and backstage technical work. Credits in theatre, concert, and corporate productions that span three provinces, cover stage management, lighting, props, carpentry and scenic painting. Under the guidance of notable directors, such as Roy Surrette, Ellie King, Stephen Drover, Neil Scott, Susanna Uchatius, and Del Surjik, his eleven years of theatrical experience include: John & Beatrice (Pi Theatre), doGs (Theatre Terrific), Skydive (Realwheels Society), Jeffrey (Raving Theatre), Tuesdays & Sundays (Dualminds), and Dracula: The Silver Scream (The Raymond Burr Performing Arts Centre).

Special thanks to Keith for his love and support. For my
mother…

Herb Varley - Assistant Stage Manager

Herb is 24 years old. This is his first experience as an assistant stage manager. As an actor he has recently been seen in Miscellaneous Productions' Stock Characters: The Cooking Show and Headlines Theatres' production of Meth. He has also performed in The Outsiders, Eastside, and Indians on Display. He is excited to have the opportunity to do an internship for Wink Theatre.

Stephanie Bruce - Assistant Stage Manager

Stephanie is please to be out in the world of performing arts. She has just finished her second year of Capilano College ’s Technical Theatre Program and this is her first time as an assistant stage manager for a professional production. She loves theater and plans to continue on stage and off.

Set + Lighting Design

Set Designer

Kerri Norris

Kerri is an Actor, Director, Designer, Producer, Writer and sometime Dramaturg. She has an MFA in Acting from CalArts in L.A. and fancies herself a Jack-of-all-trades when it comes to theatre. (Except for lighting - she can find her light and turn them on, don't ask for much more!) Next up she'll be Directing "As You Like It", a fabulous free production in beautiful Queen's Park, New Westminster. Check out the website for Shadows and Dreams Theatre Company http://www.shadowsanddreams.org/