Centre Stage Artists

Bonnie Gratz - Director   Founder and Artistic Director of Centre Stage Theatre, Bonnie Gratz is an award winning teacher, author, playwright, actor, and director of over 50 plays performed throughout Alberta. Bonnie has worked with many great companies including: Workshop Theatre, Fringe Theatre Adventures, Walterdale Theatre, Citadel Theatre, Rapid Fire Theatre, Loose Change Films, Principle Theatre Players, Loose Moose, Storybook Theatre, and Peak Theatre Players. Bonnie most recent directing credits include: Wrecked, Munschapalooza!, Seesaw, her My Favorite Fairy Tales, A Hero For All, Leaps and Bounds, The Subject of My Affections, and she was jazzed to write and perform in her original Fringe play The Venus Of Milo, AB with co-author Mary-Jean Uszy at the 2006 Calgary Fringe. In February Centre Stage will present the world premiere of her new work A Most Dangerous Game.

Adrienne Smook - Actor  Adrienne Smook is a new face to Calgary.  She spent the 2003/2004 theatre season as a member of the Theatre Junction ensemble.  She appeared in The Constant Wife, Boy Gets Girl, The Edible Woman, and she received a Dr. Betty Mitchell Award nomination for best supporting actress for her role in The Optimists.  Watch for her in Get Away at ATP’s 2005 PlayRites Festival, and Sage Theatre’s The Trestle at Pope Lick Creek.  Adrienne has worked as a drama instructor for Quest Theatre, the Citadel Theatre’s Foote Theatre School, and for the past five years, has been an instructor for the River City Shakespeare Festival’s ‘Camp Shakespeare’.  Adrienne is a graduate of the University of Alberta’s BFA acting program (2002), and the American Conservatory Theatre’s Summer Training Congress (1998).

  Mary-Jean Uszy - Actor / Musician    Mary-Jean is an accomplished actress, musician, and singer who has performed in numerous theatre and musical productions throughout Alberta, including Calgary Opera, Alberta Theatre Projects, Maenad Theatre, Principle Theatre Players, Green Fools, Hidden Insanity Theatre and Centre Stage Theatre.  Mary-Jean is musical director for Bunnicula and recently starred in the Ignite Festival show The Dirty Goddess.  She also co-wrote the The Venus of Milo, AB which debuted at the 2006 Calgary Fringe Festival.                                        www.myspace.com/mjthediva 

Trevor Matheson - Actor    Trevor is a graduate of the Mount Royal Theatre Arts Program.  This is Trevor’s second show with Centre Stage Theater, as he appeared as Lyle in Wrecked last Winter.  Other Selected theatre credits include, Fabian in Twelfth Night, Messenger from King Henry VI Part III, Claudio/Verges in Much Ado About Nothing with The Shakespeare Company, and Japeth in Not Wanted on the Voyage with Mob Hit Productions.  He will next be seen as Romeo In Shakespeare Company’s Romeo & Juliet.  Trevor’s day job is playing the Artistic Liaison at Heritage Park.  He is a native Calgarian and a big Flames fan at heart.

Truus Verkley - Actor & Instructor    Truus Verkley is very excited to be working with Centre Stage theatre this year as both an actor and instructor. After a summer in the Yukon filled with can-can dancing and filming commercials she is very excited to be back in Calgary. Catch her performing in Springboard Dance's E - Merge festival this October as well as in Downstage's birds and stone series in February. Truus also runs her own theatre company, check out www.puddleofmudproductions.com.

Christina Hardie - Actor   Christina, an Edmonton native, graduated from the MacEwan Theatre Arts program in 2005. While at school she was involved in Into the Woods, Candide, Pride and Prejudice as Miss Caroline Bingley, Forty Second Street, The Acharnians and Baby at the Edmonton Vie va la Fringe in 2004. After graduation, Christina performed in and wrote for the Edmonton based sketch comedy troupe Slow Children Playing. She was a Silly Girl and Dancing Napkin in Beauty and the Beast and even tried her hand backstage- stage managing and designing the cowboy/western musical Johnny Guitar. Her most exciting and notable role this past season was as Audrey in Oh Canada Eh’s production of Little Shop of Horrors in Canmore- a dream that came true so early in her career but one she hopes to have again. And again. And again.

Christina would like to that all her loved ones who have always supported her, all the friendly faces in Calgary who have made this city seem more like home and everyone at Centre Stage who have given her this exciting opportunity! 

Peter Aitchison - Actor   Peter is a graduate of and an administrative assistant at the Playhouse North School of Theatre as well as an ensemble member of Coldwater Theatre. Peter has been trained in Improv at the legendary Second City training center in Toronto. He has been seen in Sage Theatre’s Ignite Festival and Epiphany Productions presentation of Lone Star as of late and is also a member of the sketch comedy group the Never Nudes as a writer, actor and improviser and will be performing with them this fall.

Mitch Snyder - Actor    Mitch is very excited to have the opportunity to work with Centre Stage Theatre this season.  He is a recent graduate of Playhouse North Theatre School (Formerly Rocky Mountain College) here in Calgary.  He's been keeping busy this past year having done several shows as well, he's enjoyed the opportunity of being on several movie sets.  Besides this show he's looking forward to working with Coldwater Theatre this coming year as a member of their ensemble.  He's really looking forward to taking this show on the road with his cast mates and entertaining all the kids out there. 

Cliff Kelly - Actor & Instructor    Cliff Kelly is very excited to be participating in Bunnicula –The Musical and working as an instructor starting in January.  Cliff loves performing in front of children because of the unpredictable nature of shows and the magical atmosphere that is always created.  

Amy Dettling - Stage Manager     Amy is thrilled to be working with such a positive group of people on a season that is packed with fun! Centre Stage Theatre has been one of the most supportive theatre companies Amy has ever had the pleasure of working with. Amy is also working on some other exciting projects this year including: Assistant Director to Kelly Reay for Sage Theatre's production of Hedwig and the Angry Inch and playing the role of Steph in theatre bsmt's production of One Good Marriage. Amy is the Artistic Director for theatre bsmt which is a new theatre company focused on supporting emerging talent. Amy would like to thank her loving family who have always been so supportive and Chris, for his unending love and encouragement.

Kevin Currie - Film Promotion / Production / Editing    Kevin has been involved with theatre in Calgary for 15 years, usually as a stage manager.  He was an Apprentice Stage Manager for Theatre Calgary, directed The Rocky Horror Show and Hedwig and the Angry Inch, for FRC Hot.  He designed the lighting and sound for Wrecked, Munschapalooza! as well as stage managing for Centre Stage Theatre, Reservoir Dogs for Swingdog Productions, and many others.  He is currently working on the long running show, High School Reunion for Smooth Moves Productions and directing/stage managing Puppets For Peace.  Check out Kevin’s rockin’ Bunnicula trailer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fu-IVVu4WLI

Derek Gratz - Production Design / Sets  Derek is an internationally recognized designer with 16 years experience in stage, graphic, and product design.  Holding a Masters in Environmental Design from the U of C, as well as a undergrad degree from the Art Centre College of Design in Pasadena California, he was worked with numerous theatre groups and has developed creative stage solutions for more than 20 productions.  Derek also designs and produces props and promotional material for Centre Stage. Derek presents at conferences throughout North America, and has worked as a sessional Professor at the University of Alberta and is an Adjunct Professor of Design at the University of Calgary.

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