Team

Mac Brock (he/him) is your friendly neighbourhood queer prairie playwright and producer. He loves big events and wild ideas: Mac has been the Events & Production Coordinator for Nuit Blanche Edmonton, the Market Director for Edmonton Christmas Market, and an Event Producer for Regina’s Cathedral Village Arts Festival alongside his own personal theatre work. As an administrator and consultant he has supported organizations like Edmonton Fringe Theatre, Rapid Fire Theatre, the Edmonton Heritage Council, Concrete Theatre, and more.

His play Boy Trouble was nominated for Outstanding Fringe Production and Outstanding Independent Production at the Sterling Awards, he is currently working on a love letter to prairie queers in a new commission from the Citadel Theatre, and he’s written a bunch of other gay nonsense too. He has written public art tours, produced podcasts, curated cabarets, and many weird jobs in between. Basically, he’s a big words and numbers (and lists) guy.

macbrock@commongroundarts.ca

Whittyn Jason (they/them/theirs) is a queer, non-binary, mixed-race artist of South African and Ukrainian descent. They live and primarily create in amiskwacîwâskahikan (colonially known as Edmonton), where they work as a scenographer/lighting designer and Festival Director for Found Fest (Common Ground Arts Society). Whittyn is a member of the ADC, and holds a BFA in Theatre Design from the University of Alberta.

whittynjason@commongroundarts.ca

Sarah Emslie (they/she) is a queer theatre and circus artist based in amiskwaciwâskahikan, Treaty 6, where Sarah has worked in arts administration and production since 2017. They are the incoming Creative Director of Pandoric Productions, a roving performance company with whom then have been stiltwalking professionally for nearly 6 years. Sarah is an avid gardener and crafter, most recently they’ve taken up crochet.

sarahemslie@commongroundarts.ca

Shannon Lin (she/her/hers) holds a BFA in Dance and has been a dance teacher, performer, and choreographer for independent and interdisciplinary projects. She has taken on odd jobs in administration, events and production, and is passionate about moving to music and typing things.

Kat Evans (she/her) is a freelance professional Artist, Designer, Creator, Producer, PM/TD, Technician and Stage Manager based in Amiskwaciy-Wâskahikan (Edmonton, Alberta) on Treaty 6 Territory, Metis Regional Council 4. She holds a BFA in Theatre Design from the University of Alberta, and is the Co- Founder of The October People Productions. She specializes in practical SFX and immersive design for theatre, film, and escape room experiences. Since 2011, Kat has also been a core creative team member of the Dead Centre of Town Collective, with Catch the Keys Productions.

In addition to stand-alone productions, Kat is involved in several festivals and presentation series throughout the year, including The Edmonton International Fringe Festival, RISER Edmonton, and Play the Fool Festival. She is a Sterling Awards nominee in the categories of Outstanding Lighting Design (Freaky Green Eyes) and Outstanding Individual Achievement in Production (Production Manager).

kat@commongroundarts.ca

Jennie Emms (she/her) is based out of Edmonton, Alberta with a background in event production and stage management. Most recently, she was Associate Producer for Fever Labs Inc. launching the Candlelight Concerts Series in cities across Western Canada and Northwest USA. She is a graduate of the UofA Technical Theatre program specializing in Stage Management. Select theatre credits include: The Pillowman (Theatre Yes), E-Day (Theatre Network’s Performance Series/The Serial Collective), After Miss Julie (Lodestar Theatre/Edmonton International Fringe Festival), The Birthday Party (Lodestar Theatre/Edmonton International Fringe Festival) and Rig Pig Fantasia (Wishbone Theatre/Edmonton International Fringe Festival). She is thrilled to transition from her role as Production Assistant to the position of Production Manager for Found Festival 2024 presented by Common Ground Arts Society.

Frances Girard (they/them) is a settler and artist on Treaty Six in what is colonially known as Edmonton. As a full-time dabbler and part-time daydreamer, they are happiest when they get to make magic happen. I am honoured to be a part of the Found Festival team and can’t wait to see how it grows in the future. Stay safe and take care friends!

Giulia Romano (she/her) is a director, performer, creator, writer, and educator. Giulia is currently living and creating in amiskwacîwâskahikan (colonially known as Edmonton) and she is a recent graduate of the University of Alberta with a Bachelor of Arts (Drama) and Bachelor of Education. She is a passionate theatremaker and is particularly interested in devised movement-based, collaborative theatre pieces. Currently, her directing focuses on new works from other emerging artists. Beyond directing, she spends time in theatre administration working with companies such as Found Festival, Opera NUOVA, and ABBEDAM Productions. When not in the theatre, she enjoys driving around the city with friends and family while singing along to her favorite songs. You can catch her new play Spin Cycle at the fringe this summer.

Tynan (he/him) has worked with Common Ground since its second Found Festival and loves doing “computer stuff” in the arts scene.