Artists

Edmonton (Treaty 6) born poet and spoken word artist Shima Robinson (she/her) embodies, with every poem, the ancient meaning of her chosen pen name. Dwennimmen is the name of an ancient African Adinkra symbol, which means strength, humility, learning and wisdom. It is no surprise, then, that this veteran of the Alberta poetry community uses a searing intellect and dynamic precision-of-language to create poetry which ushers her readers and listeners toward greater understanding and poignant reflection. For Dwennimmen, poetry has long been a compass, a salve, an anchor and guiding light. She uses the potential and force of poetry to uncover the full range of her cerebral, linguistic and spiritual fortitude. This is why her every poem and performance testifies to an emerging power and wisdom, an authentic, deeply human potency which she hopes to pass on to listeners and poetry-lovers around the world.

Composer, مصطفى رفيق (Mustafa Rafiq – he/him), Fijian-Canadian artist living & working in Edmonton.

Mackenzie Brown (she/her) is a First Nations Cree woman from the Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation, currently residing in Amiskwaciwaskahikan, Edmonton. She is a performer, drummer, tourism entrepreneur, philanthropist and advocate for at-risk youth in the Edmonton area. Mackenzie and her mom perform as “Warrior Women”. They drum and teach around Alberta for the Northern Alberta Teachers Conference, the annual Jasper Dark Skies Festival, Youth Dream Catchers Conference, Canada Day, Aboriginal Day festivities and more. Along with drumming, Mackenzie is also an avid acrylic artist and traditional First Nations crafts artisan. Her art has been featured in the Pump House Gallery, the Edson Gallery Museum, the Gray Gallery Grant MacEwan, recognized for the Alberta Indian Arts and Crafts Award of 2017, featured for the Alberta Business Competition 2017 and sold to people travelling world wide at Jasper Park Lodge. She is the recent recipient of the 2019 Esquao Award for Children’s Future, 2019 Indigenous Woman of the year from the Alberta Assembly of First Nations and Top 30 under 30 From Alberta Corporation for Global Cooperation 2020.

Paula Laroche Humby (she/her) is an Edmonton-based multidisciplinary theatre artist. Recently, she appeared in Almost, Maine (The Vanguard Theatre Collective), Skirts on Fire (Teatro la Quindicina) and wrote Élise contre l’exctinction totale, a TYA play that went on tour to schools across Western Canada. Paula has been creating site specific works with her husband Ben Stevens since 2016, when they co-wrote Emily Etterson’s Economical, Eco-Friendly Water Service (For Charity)! for SKAMpede in Victoria, British Columbia. Paula was mid-rehearsals for her directorial debut, Martine à la Plage, at L’Unithéâtre when the pandemic broke out. She has been itching to get back to work ever since, and is super thankful that Found Fest was able to adapt in order to keep making art in unexpected places!

Working as a performer and a playwright, Ben is an active creator of new theatre in Edmonton. His written work includes But Hark, A Voice! (Thou Art Here Theatre), Emily Etterson’s Economical Eco-friendly Water Service (For Chairty!) (SKAMpede), The Van (Found Festival), Brake, Home Video (Heartmeat), Herbert, and If I Had a Horse (Ben, Dave, Steve). With Thou Art Here Theatre, Ben has created various site-specific collections, adaptations, and full-length productions of Shakespeare’s work. Recent acting credits include A Christmas Carol (Citadel Theatre), Two Gentlemen of Verona, The Winter’s Tale (Freewill Shakespeare Festival), and Gordon (Theatre Network).

Cynthia Jimenez-Hicks (she/her) is a Filipino-Canadian actor, sometimes playwright, sometimes producer and sometimes educator. She was born and raised in Edmonton on Treaty 6 Territory. Most recently in Edmonton Cynthia was seen in the new adaptation of A CHRISTMAS CAROL at the Citadel Theatre. Cynthia’s current play in development is TUNE TO A (co-written with Carly Neis, co-created with Cameron Kneteman), a TYA play advocating for disability representation and allyship in theatre. Cynthia is a graduate of the acting program at NTS.

Helen Belay (she/her) is an actor and storyteller that has been playing with words and obsessed with all things beautiful since she was a wee babe in Bedford, England. A graduate of the University of Alberta’s BFA Acting program, you may have recently seen her in The Blue Hour (SkirtsAFire Festival), her Sterling-nominated turn in The Society of the Destitute Presents Titus Bouffonius (Theatre Network), Cinderella (Globe Theatre), Vidalia (Teatro La Quindicina), Concord Floral (Edmonton Fringe), Middletown, All For Love, Lenin’s Embalmers (Studio Theatre).

Morgan Yamada is an actor, fight choreographer, arts educator and collective creator, born and raised in Edmonton. She feels lucky to be part of YEG’s theatre community, as well as a graduate of the University of Alberta’s BFA Acting program and an Advanced Actor Combatant with Fight Directors Canada! Some of her recent work as an actor includes Glory – 2019 National Tour & Original Production (Western Canada Theatre & ATP ) | Joan & Talbot (Thou Art Here – Kaleido Festival 2019)| Giant, Scent Bar (Ghost River Theatre) | Dead Centre of Town – 2018, 2016 & 2015 (Catch the Keys Productions) | Bello (Concrete Theatre & L’Unithéâtre) | The Bully Project, Under Cover (ConcreteTheatre) | Peter and the Starcatcher (Citadel Theatre). She has also had the lovely opportunity to create as a fight choreographer and arts educator with companies both locally and nationally. Currently, she is curating Trickster Theatre’s – Tricksters At Home Series. She is so excited to learn from such an amazing group of inspiring people!

When Kate (she/her) is not treading the boards, she spends her time living her other passion as a makeup artist for weddings, headshots, and family photoshoots

Marshall (he/him/they/their) is a Two-Spirit Actor, Director, Playwright, Podcaster, and Drag Performer from the Kainai Nation in Treaty 7! He has a special interest in theatre for social change having been involved in various project locally and internationally aimed at using artistic practices for community development. Marshall is thrilled to be returning to Found Festival this year as part of the creative teaching team for #NewSkills!

Tasana Clarke (they/them) is an Edmonton based prairie boy and co-founder of Pepper’d, a Black arts facilitation organization. Born and barely raised in small-town Alberta, Edmonton has become their home.

Tasana’s goal of establishing Edmonton as a hub for creation and community for Black creatives is multi-faceted and ever-evolving. Dedicated to nurturing the Black arts community, their work is fuelled by astrology, Afrofuturism, and Emergent Strategy practices.

Daliso Mwanza (he/him) is a local ethnographer and arts organizer. As a co-founder of Pepper’d, Daliso has been involved in the creation of events and projects with a multitude of Black creatives in Edmonton. Looking back to his Zambian heritage, he works towards honoring his ancestors and helping other artists make those same connections.

Currently pursuing his Masters in Visual Ethnography, Daliso’s work and research are fed by his desire to create more opportunities for leisure for Canada’s Black community.

Pepper’d is a Black arts organization focussed on developing opportunities and resources in Edmonton for Black creatives. Co-founded by Tasana Clarke and Daliso Mwanza, Pepper’d has established itself as an adaptable community collective that strives to provide a wide array of supports. By working with other Edmonton organizations, Pepper’d has led many successful events that have provided platforms for artists from many artistic disciplines. As the organization evolves, they hope to establish permanent roots to continue supporting and drawing attention to the future of Black arts in Edmonton.

Connor (he/him) has nurtured a lifelong passion for theatre and accessibility, beginning in grade school with simple skits and continuing into his young adulthood with his first professional engagement as a rookie improvisor at Rapidfire Theatre. More recent work includes serving as the Deaf Consultant for Concrete Theatre’s production Songs My Mother Never Sung Me (2019) and various roles in Canada’s only Deaf arts festival, Sound Off (2017-19). In June 2020, Connor premiered his first independent performance, The Invisible Practice, during Nextfest’s 2020 season which took place online amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

Michael Bradley (he/him) is a theatre creator returning now to the (small) stage after a five year hiatus, during which he has focused on directing, writing, and teaching. Michael is a graduate of the MFA in Directing at the University of Alberta, and teaches acting classes at the Citadel Theatre’s Foote School.

Nicole St. Martin (she/her) has been seen on Edmonton stages for a number of years now in both English and French. She was last seen in The Blue Hour with Skirts Afire Theatre, a performance for which she has been nominated for this year’s Sterling Awards. She was also nominated last year for her performance in Sweat at the Citadel
Theatre.

Luc Bradley (he/him) is the ten year old son of Nicole and Michael, and this is his first theatre collaboration with his parents. Last year he performed the role of Jojo in his school’s production of Seussical: The Musical. He has also played the role of Puck in an abridged summer camp version of A Midsummer Nights’ Dream. Luc is an avid gamer, and during this pandemic has begun creating Fortnite gaming content. His Youtube channel (Jenga350) can be found here . Don’t forget to Like and Subscribe!

Nic Juba (he/him) is the sound designer for the production, and has been working remotely with our family to help make the show. Nic is a freelance theatre technician/sound designer for productions and events in the greater Edmonton area, including his work at the Myer Horowitz theatre, Fort Edmonton Park, St. Albert’s Arden Theatre/International Children’s Festival, Edmonton’s International Fringe Festival, and the Freewill Shakespeare Festival. Thank you and enjoy the show.

Elise CM Jason (them/them/theirs) is a queer, mixed race, multi-disciplinary artist living and creating in amiskawaciy (Edmonton, Alberta). In their practice, they are particularly interested in the intersection of visual art, installations, and creating devised performances.

DJ Dooshima is an Afro-Canadian DJ based in Calgary, Alberta who is focused on the celebration and exploration of Afrocentric electronic soundscapes.

HJ (AKA Hood Joplin) is a DJ, music producer, organizer, (and sometimes vocalist) from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Growing up in the Southside neigbourhood of Millwoods.

Saw Whet Records is a Treaty 6-based record label dedicated to shedding light on the incredibly resilient, passionate, and innovative experimental music growing out of the Prairies with vinyl released in short runs and housed in lovingly handmade packaging.

DJ Gulzar is Host of “From Here We Go Sublime” on CJSR 88.5 FM, Gulzar’s knowledge runs deep. Expect the unexpected and keep a notepad handy for the track ID’s!

Omar (he/him) is a Lebanese Canadian poet, writer, and incoming University of Calgary PhD student based in Edmonton Alberta.  Omar’s work is centred on nostalgic memories of home, oppression, and the navigation of living in a colonized space as the son of immigrant parents.  He is inspired by the work of local poets and has competed in several spoken word competitions.  Omar has an English Master’s from York University, and his work has recently been published in the first issue of Lida Literary Magazine.

Saint (they/them) is a Black, nonbinary, queer Muslim with a fire in their belly. They’ve fostered a growing passion for their community through reading works by bell hooks, Angela Davis, Audre Lorde, Michelle Alexander and countless others, thanks to years at working at a well known book store. Currently working on a psychology and art history degree and through their art, Saint hopes to reach their community to affect positive change.

Sara CS is Sara Campos-Silvius (she/her) a queer and mixed race Latinx artist in Edmonton, Alberta, in Treaty 6 territory. She is a playwright, screenwriter, and poet, as well as an actor, singer-songwriter, emerging filmmaker, and graduate of MacEwan University’s Arts & Cultural Management Program. Her performances include appearances at the Chinook Series, Dirt Buffet Cabaret, Nextfest, the Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival, and many more. She has also danced with the integrated dance group CRIPSiE since 2013.

Ryan James Summers  aka Some-Sum is an Edmonton born spoken-word poet and freestyle artist. He started writing at the age of sixteen and began to freestyle whilst living on the streets of Edmonton at age seventeen. Throughout his journey he became submersed in hip-hop culture which became the foundational component of his ability to freestyle. He realized that his passion for spoken-word as an art form could be used to express himself. This realization stemmed from an influential peer’s perception of his writing style, delivery on the mic and engagement with listeners.

Inspired by various artists including Saul Williams, Robert Nesta Marley and Michael David Larsen “Eyedea”, he found himself with a calling to combine both spoken-word and hip hop into its own unique and collective art form. His abilities as a wordsmith and eclectic taste in musical culture led him to experiment by combining this art form with diverse instrumentals. Some-Sum has the desire to leave an imprint of his art and authentic self on the world and in doing so empower others to discover their purpose and truest self.

Timiro Mohamed (she/her) is a spoken word poet, poetry editor for the literary magazine: The Drinking Gourd and Edmonton’s youth poet laureate. Her practice is rooted in responsible storytelling, centers Black Femmes, and celebrates her many identities.

Gabby Bernard (she/her) is an Edmonton based actor, and graduate of both the University of Alberta’s BFA Acting and MacEwan University’s Theatre Arts programs. As an artist, Gabby is especially invested and interested in creation of new work: she wrote and performed NUKE at the Thousand Faces Festival in 2019, and, alongside Erin Pettifor, is co-creator of Lady Be Good, a series of satirical feminist skits, performed at Play the Fool, NextFest and Odd Wednesday.

Simone A. Medina Polo (she/her; they/them) is a Latinx interdisciplinary scholar and artist based out of Edmonton, Alberta whose interests focus on psychoanalysis and philosophy as they pertain to emancipatory projects. Through her artistic and communities endeavors, Simone has been a curator and organizer for lectures, dialogues, panels, visual art exhibits, music shows, and festivals – some examples include her affiliations with the Chess House Arts Collective, her role in the production of Endless Bummer 2019, the run of various series of events for the Sewing Machine Factory as an interdisciplinary community outreach, and her curation of night club events for Nextfest. Many of her essays and presentation write-ups are available on her Medium blog @MichelFoucko.

Maura Penn (She/Her) has been in and out of the Edmonton theatre scene since 2005. At one point, she called herself an actor, but these days, you’re more likely to find her stage managing and administrating. She is currently taking her Bachelor of Professional Arts in Human Services through Athabasca University, with the goal of returning to the theatre community as a counselor. Past stage management credits include Robin Hood: A Christmas Pantomime (Capitol Theatre), Dr. Jekyll & Mr Hyde – The Radio Play (Capitol Theatre), Cinderella: A Christmas Pantomime (Capitol Theatre), The Effects of Gamma-Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds (Plain Jane Theatre), and The Odyssey (No Bones Theatre). A huge THANK YOU and much love to Kate Ward, co-creatrix of The Quaranteens, and all the teenagers who participated in the project. You make the world a better place. Be safe, be well.

Kate Ward (she/her) has had a love of the stage since her debut in 1980 in her very first dance recital. Over the years she has danced, sang, acted, and played in orchestras and bands on many stages, in different countries around the globe, in nothing that made her famous. After a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis in 2010 Kate abandoned the stage but has recently found a new love behind the scenes. Since 2018 she has co-hosted with Maura, and produced the Unrefined Mettle Podcast. A big shoutout to Maura for providing courage, and to the teens who are so brave sharing their stories that we can all look back on in years to come.

Accredited in 2019, hot girl accounting is two hot girls curating fiscally frenetic art and music events in amiskwaciy/yeg.

Born in Rwanda, Edmonton Hip Hop artist Ntwali (he/him), has spent years honing his art and has developed a unique sound and message that has made him a beacon of positivity that the community looks up to. Drawing inspiration from artists like 2pac, Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole and Nipsey Hussle, Ntwali has crafted his own sound while inspiring people through his passion and dedication towards spreading a positive message through his music. He uses his voice to shed light on issues within our community that he is passionate about, Ntwali is an activist who isn’t afraid to share his views no matter the size of the crowd or the people receiving his message. He is a lyricist intent on curating a sound that embodies both the melody of the music and the significance of old school hip hop.

Matthew Wood (aka Creeasian), is the founder of the Sampler Café and CypherwildYEG initiatives, as well a multi-disciplined practitioner of the arts. Matthew is an indigenous and hiphop practitioner who lives in Edmonton, Alberta and has utilized his experience to deliver arts programming and education with a focus on skills development and
youth engagement within the community for over 15 years. Matthew practices traditional grass dance and breaking, DJs and produces music and he shares his knowledge through educational arts programming, workshop delivery and live music performance. He is currently working on educational curriculum development, music production projects and touring as a dancer for Juno-award winning group A Tribe Called Red.

In the Ojibway language, the word Zoongide’ewin means “bravery, courage, the Bear Spirit.”

Bleached Wavves is the first true document of what has been dubbed “moccasin-gaze,” a tongue-in-cheek nickname for the amalgamation of Monkman’s shoegaze influences with traditional First Nations music. Like My Bloody Valentine’s Loveless, a record that changed everything for him, Zoon pushes forward that famously quixotic, effects laden sound with a distinctive, new approach.

Christina (she/her) is so excited to make her debut at Found Fest, and share some beautiful stories from a distance! She would like to say thank you a million times to Common Ground Arts Society, Ben Stevens, and Paula Humby for dreaming big and making this piece happen. Christina is an emerging theatre artist hailing from Edmonton. She is inspired and invigorated by multi-disciplinary theatre, music and art. She is a recent grad of the University of Alberta’s BFA Acting Program. Christina’s recent credits include: Positive (In Arms Theatre/Nextfest), Shakespeare’s Dog, Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again. (Studio Theatre), For One Night Only (Razor Babes Productions), The Winter’s Tale/Two Gentlemen of Verona (Freewill Players), A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Hot L Baltimore (University of Alberta), But Hark, A Voice (Thou Art Here Theatre), The Shape of A Girl (Haven Theatre Society) and Concord Floral (Citadel Theatre/Young Company).

“(…) endless confidence and skill, with varying moods and tempi.” (Keith Black, Winnipeg Free Press). Exhilarating and exuberant, Audrey Ochoa exemplifies an artist who has dedicated herself to expertise while remaining light-hearted. A rising star and a fixture of the Canadian music scene, she is decidedly captivating
and original.

Jake Blakely (he/him) is a queer Franco-Albertan/Ontarian stage manager based in Edmonton (for three more weeks). He holds a BFA in Stage Management from the University of Alberta and has had the pleasure of working with several companies during his time in Edmonton, such as L’UniThéâtre, Punctuate! Theatre, Opera NUOVA, Edmonton Opera, Catch the Keys Productions, Blarney Productions, Theatre Network, Fringe Theatre Adventures and Common Ground Arts Society. This is Jake’s fourth year working on the Found Festival and he simply could not be more thrilled to be back at it with the exquisite Found team.

Kristi (she/her) is the co-founder and co-Artistic Director of The Maggie Tree and the outgoing Co-Artistic Producer of Azimuth Theatre in Edmonton, AB. Her one-woman show, Woody, will be part of an Ontario Presents tour to Kitchener, Waterford, and Fergus in the spring of 2021. Acting credits include Candide (Edmonton Opera); The Silver Arrow, A Christmas Carol, and Alice Through the Looking Glass (Citadel Theatre); The Invisible: Agents of Ungentlemanly Warfare (Catalyst Theatre); Mr. Burns: a post-electric Play (You are Here Theatre/Blarney Productions); The Bad Seed, The Jazz Mother, Pith!, The Scent of Compulsion, and The Ambassador’s Wives (Teatro la Quindicina); The Hollow (Vertigo Theatre); Small Mouth Sounds, 10 out of 12, and Passion Play (Wild Side Productions); Irma Voth (Theatre Network); Christina/Philippe (Northern Light Theatre); The Sound of Music (National Arts Centre); Comedy of Errors, Hamlet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, King Lear, Romeo and Juliet and Love’s Labour’s Lost (Freewill Players); The Snow Queen and Apocalypse Prairie (Azimuth Theatre); The Supine Cobbler, Monstrosities, Age of Arousal, Hroses: An Affront to Reason, Folie à Deux, and Hunger Striking (The Maggie Tree).

Sheldon Elter (he/him) – theatre credits include: The Ministry of Grace (Belfry Theatre), Eday (Serial Collective), After The Fire/BEARS (Punctuate! Theatre), Winter’s Tale/ Two Gentleman of Verona (Freewill Players), Christmas Carol (Citadel Theatre), The Comedy Company (Shadow Theatre), Crazy For You (Citadel Theatre/Theatre Calgary), Evangeine (Confederation Centre of the Arts/Citadel Theatre), Alice Through The Looking Glass, One Man Two Guvnors (Citadel Theatre), Tartuffe, Sound of Music, Enron (National Arts Centre). Sheldon was a Top 14 finalist on Canadian Idol, 2006. TV credits: Hank Williams’ First Nation, CAUTION: May Contain Nuts (Gemini, and Canadian Comedy nominated writer) and Delmer and Marta (APTN). Member of the ukulele rock band sensation, The Be Arthurs.

Poet. Playwright. Producer. Megan Dart minds her p’s (but not always her q’s). Alongside her sister Beth, Megan is the co-Artistic Producer of Common Ground Arts Society (CGAS) and the co-Festival Director of CGAS’ flagship event, Found Festival. Megan is also the co-Artistic Producer of award-winning indie company Catch the Keys Productions, best known for its site-specific, immersive theatre creations. Recent playwrighting credits include VAULT (Catch the Keys Productions & Fringe Theatre, premiering February 2021, recipient of the 2021 Westbury Family Fringe Theatre Award); Fossegrim & Nøkk (Alberta Opera; created for the inaugural 2018 New Musical Program); Charlie Horse (shortlisted for the 2018 Alberta Playwrighting Competition); Dead Centre of Town (annual, Catch the Keys Productions; recipient of a 2017 Award of Excellence in Interpretation from Interpretation Canada), and Ursa Major (Catch the Keys Productions & Workshop West Playwrights’ Theatre, nominated for four Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Awards, including Best New Play). Megan is also the Communications Specialist with Fringe Theatre, a collective member of The Edmonton Poetry Brothel, and a past member of the Edmonton Slam Team. Megan was named one of the Top 100 Women in Business by the Wanderer Online, and is a University of Grant MacEwan Distinguished Alumni.

Kunji Mark Ikeda (he/him) aims to redefine narratives of the body and show how physical communication can lead to physical, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing. Ikeda is the Artistic Director of Cloudsway Dance Theatre and was a founding ensemble member of Making Treaty 7 and DSW’s Dance Action Group, and is the former Artistic Director of Momo Movement (Calgary’s mixed-ability dance company). He has multiple Betty Mitchell award nominations for performance and choreography. Ikeda’s fearless political works have examined toxic masculinity, artistic political manipulation, and the Japanese Internment of WWII.

In February 2020 Ikeda was invited into the rehearsal process of Akram Khan’s work with the English National Ballet, and was named an Artist in Residence at the Banff Centre 2019. Ikeda is actively researching the dramaturgy of dance performance though Albertan, Canadian, and international contexts. Highlights of this study include taking part in the inaugural Dance Dramaturgy program at the Banff Centre with Ruth Little and Liz Lermon, and a three-week L’AiR Multidisciplinary Residency in Paris, France.

Lady Vanessa Cardona (she/her) is a Caleña, Columbian, first generation immigrant artist and community builder. She started her artistic career in Windhoek, Nambia and currently lives in Amiskwaciwaskahikan (Edmonton) Treaty 6 Territory.

Lady graduated with a BFA and specialization in theatre and development from Concordia University. She is a mentor of a refugee leadership group called Newcomers are Lit, officially known as the Canadian Council for Refugees Youth Network.

Most recently garnering the 2018 Canadian Individual Poetry Slam Champion Title, Lady has toured and competed around Canada promoting her art as an Edmonton local artist and proud member of the Breath in Poetry Collective. She features in the chapbook Water published by Glass Buffalo. Lady is currently working on her upcoming book La Sangre Llama.

Lady believes in the healing powers art provides for our community. Healing is not polite. Art allows us to be the ​frankest versions of ourselves so that we may strengthen our souls, minds, and the community around us. Art is where we come together through unity of purpose.

Kate Kosinski (she/they) is an Edmonton based arts administrator, occasional barista and stationary enthusiast. Kate receieved her Arts Management Diploma from MacEwan University and is currenty pursuing a degree in Social Work. Through past work with Nextfest, Fringe Theatre Adventures, The Manor Productions, Good Women Dance Collective, and Alberta Avenue Community League, she has developed a love for community centred art. Kate is over the moon to be joining the Found Fest team for her second year.

Elijah J Smart (he/him), or Eli, is a Script Writer, Poet and Improv savy teenager apart of the Alexandra Writers Centre Society youth programs. He has been a member of the arts community for around 5 years now and is exited to share his work for the Quaranteens project.

Hi I am Jaxson and I use the he/them pronouns. I enjoy acting as well as directing and I also spend my free time writing or reading poems and stories.

My name is Jesse Macdonald, I’m 16 years old, I live in Springbank Alberta and just finished my tenth grade at Springbank Community High School. I’ve never done anything like this before, but I have been a part of Calgary Dirty Laundry (a professional improv group) for four years now, so I’m quite familiar with acting. (Don’t, worry, I don’t always look as mad as I do in my headshot)

Hey! My name is Eve (She/Her) and I’m a 10th grade student in Calgary Alberta. I go to Western Canada High School and love the arts. I’m an avid walker/ hiker and a dog lover. Getting involved in community activities is a passion of mine along with sociology and political activism.

My name is Kiki Ayudo (She/Her) I’m 16 years old, living in Calgary. I like writing, theatre, and photography because I believe art is the easiest way to spread messages, and I like to go with whatever happens when it happens (also known as “the flow”), which is a lot of what happened the day I filmed for this project.

There’s not a lot for me to say about myself that would interest anyone, so support the black lives matter movement. You matter. Vibe on.

Madi May (she/her) is a playwright, actor and sometimes director. Recently, she wrote and acted in The Leftover Comedy Special, wrote You Got Me? and put those plays up in Nextfest. She was a co-captain of her improv team at Ainlay this year, and was a part of the Vanguard Improv Group. Last year, she wrote and directed Pas De Deux for Nextfest; it was the first time a play she had written had gone up on stage. She is a member of the Citadel’s Young Playwright Company, and graduated high school this year.

My name is Pax Woodard (She/Her), I’m 15, and I’m a writer. I’ve always been passionate about the arts, social activism, and the environment, and I use my writing to speak and express myself on those topics. I am as well a very proud Slytherin, and I think that speaks a lot about me!

Building a relationship based on vulnerability and trust instead of physical presence is a completely new concept for me, and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to do this work in such a welcoming and warm environment. It is truly an incredible opportunity, and I am so thankful to have had the chance to co-create with Juniper Moon Productions!

Thaea Penn (She/Her) is a multidisciplinary artist who enjoys sketching and painting with watercolours and gouache. She is going into Grade 10 in Edmonton, and in her free time, she enjoys playing Minecraft with pals from all over the world. She loves math and science, and is excited for new experiences in the next school year – whatever they may look like.