Kyprios

A quadruple threat. DJ, Spoken word poet, musician and actor are all professionally embedded in the DNA of kyprios. After winning a slam in NYC’s sacred Nuyorican Poetry Cafe, Kyp started his own poetry night in Vancouver and began to generate a buzz around his lyricism. Shortly thereafter, the music industry came calling. Pledging to push boundaries of sampled hip hop by utilizing live musicians, Kyp is identified by a fleshed out, full bodied musical style. The industry took notice through a variety of affirmations: 2 solo Juno nominations, 2 Juno nominations from his time with Sweatshop Union, a Gemini nomination, a WCMA nom for 'The Lap Dog EP' plus a Jessie and a Betty win from writing music for the theatre in both BC and Calgary for Crank’d and Ash Rizin’. Kyp has seen both sides of the industry. He was signed to Sony where he released 'Say Something' and has been independent since 2009 which saw his release '12:12.' His independent release propelled him into a radio competition for one hundred thousand dollars in Vancouver, called the Peak Performance Project. Against the odds, he eventually went on to claim the title and this prestigious honour. After winning the PPP, he has released an EP The Lap Dog and an LP titled The Midnight Sun. Kyp continues to tour and was recently back in the USA headlining with his group The Chaperones. His live show is unparalleled and is often heralded as one of the greats to catch for his energetic stage presence as a DJ or MC. He has made numerous appearances in television and film and has done voice work for Michael Jordan's website jumpman23.com, Tempurpedic, Vancouver Canucks, Southern Comfort, Miller, and Capital One. Recently, he has been working as a DJ/host for his own radio show entitled ‘The Push’ which has featured K-os, Esthero, Kevin Durand and more.

Anna

Gonzalez

Anna is a Cuban/Russian - Swedish grown actor, theatre/film maker and arts administrator. She graduated from the University of Glasgow with an MLitt in Theatre Practices. She loves to dance, host dinner parties and go on adventures. She is very excited to work with the Mystics team to bring this wonderful project to life.

Caleb

Dyks

Caleb Dyks (he/him) is an actor and multi-disciplinary artist, originally from Ottawa, ON (the unceded traditional territory of the Algonquin Anishinabe Nation). He moved to Vancouver in 2018 and has the privilege to work and live on the unceded traditional territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. He is a graduate of Studio 58, and currently sits on the Board of Directors at Pi Theatre. Recent stage credits include: Bobby Strong in Urinetown: The Musical (Studio 58), Serza in Anon(ymous) (Studio 58), and Ryan in Can We Fix It? (Risky Nights) (Studio 58).

Daniel

Curalli

Daniel loves storytelling in all forms. Theatre credits include Made in Italy (Arts Club); Hairspray, Mary Poppins, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, Newsies, Something Rotten (TUTS); Snow White: The Panto (Metro Theatre) Shrek: The Musical, Annie (Align Entertainment); Cry Baby: The Musical (Awkward Stage) The Safe Word, Eurydice, King Edward II (UBC). Daniel is a proud recipient of the John Emerson Memorial Scholarship, TUTS’ EV Young Award and two Ovation Nominations for Outstanding Supporting Performance. Thank you for supporting live theatre! Love to Mom, Dad, Sophia, Thomas, family and friends for their support. To God be the Glory. IT’S SHOWTIME!!!!!!!!! www.danielcuralli.com

Demi

Pedersen

Demi Pedersen is an actor, musician and educator based on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ilwətaɁɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) people. Since graduating from UBC in 2015 Demi has worked primarily as an actor and musician in the Vancouver indie theatre community. She is also a youth educator, teaching film, improv and sketch with Young Moviemakers, an award winning video and production program for children and youth. Demi is represented by Kim Barsanti at Lucas Talent. Thank you to Rachel and the team at Green Thumb for this amazing opportunity!

Donnie

Tejani

Donnie Tejani is excited to be making his debut with Green Thumb Theatre. Having worked primarily in musical theatre, Like it or Not is his first opportunity to dive into a new work and it has been a whirlwind of fun and exploration. Notable credits: Home for the Holidays (Gateway Theatre), Rock of Ages (Renegade Arts Co.) and Company (Raincity Theatre) for which he won the Jessie Award alongside his mentor and business partner, Christina Sinosich. When not designing costumes, Donnie can often be found dressing backstage on shows for the Arts Club or styling wigs for performers and drag queens as, "OMG Wigs."

Elliot

Roberts

As a recent graduate of Studio 58’s Production Program, Elliot is thrilled to be a part of the creative team for Like It Or Not as the Assistant to the Set/Props Designer! Elliot grew up in Winnipeg, Manitoba, but moved to Vancouver in 2017 to pursue her career as an aspiring costume/set designer, artist, and stage manager. Elliot feels very honoured to have the opportunity to help create a set and props that will travel across B.C. and visit so many different schools, and she hopes you enjoy the show!

Emily

Case

Emily Case is a Vancouver based actor who graduated from Studio 58, located on unceded traditional territory of the Musqueam First Nation, mid pandemic. She has been performing since her wee years in shows such as Urinetown: The Musical (Little Sally), Concord Floral (Bobby James), and Anonymous (Calista). Since graduating, she performed her original one woman show Curiosity in last year’s SKAMpede. She is so excited to join the Green Thumb family and explore our beautiful country.

Erin

Purghart

Erin Purghart is a multidisciplinary artist based in Lower Mainland, BC. Erin works predominantly as a theatre and film actor and as an improviser, but is also a singer, dancer, graphic designer, producer and drag performer. Erin graduated from UBC’s BFA in Acting program in 2021 and has since worked with companies in varying capacities including: Axis Theatre, United Players, Theatre Conspiracy, and Tightrope Improv. Instagram: @erinpurghart Website: erinpurghart.com

Isaac

Li

Isaac is an actor, director, producer based in the land of the Coast Salish peoples–Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), Stó:lō and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations. Recent acting credits include: The Code (Green Thumb); She Sells Sea Shells (United Players); Anon(ymous); Antony and Cleopatra (Studio 58); Of Mice and Men (Promethean), Cabaret; Mortified (Studio 58). Recent directing credits include: King Lear; Saint Joan (Promethean); Chicken Wings & Jell-O Shots (Studio 58). Upcoming projects: Derwent is Different (Green Thumb Theatre); Forgiveness (Arts Club).

Ivy

Charles

Ivy Charles hails from Winnipeg, MB - Treaty 1 Territory, homeland of the Metis Nation. She is now based in Vancouver, BC on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Coast Salish Peoples - Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh and Musqueam Nations. Select theatre credits include: Orlando (RMTC), Beautiful Man (Pi Theatre), East Van Panto: Pinocchio (Theatre Replacements), Urinetown, Antony and Cleopatra and Cabaret (Studio 58). She graduated from Studio 58’s theatre program as the Covid crisis began in April 2020. Ivy was the Head Coordinator of the Diversity Committee 2019/2020 and Head Facilitator 2018/2019. Ivy was awarded the Hnatyshyn Developing Artists Grant (English Theatre) 2019.

Jamie

Norris

After graduating from the Vancouver Playhouse Acting School in 1987 Jamie worked as an actor, playwright and director throughout Western Canada. Selected acting credits include: The Cripple of Inishmaan (Arts Club), Twelfth Night (Bard on the Beach), Of Mice and Men (Vancouver Playhouse), Popcorn (Sea Theatre). Selected directing credits include: The Palace Grande (Dawson City), True West (Humdinger Productions), Seven Stories (Guild Theatre, Whitehorse), Scraping the Surface (Theatre Terrific), Land of Trash (Green Thumb Theatre). Jamie also served as Artistic Director of Theatre Terrific as well as Associate Artistic Director of the Station Street Arts Centre where he created and directed "The Kids' Series". His play November took home first prize in Theatre BC's Canadian National Playwriting Competition. He has been nominated for six Jessie Richardson awards, winning twice. After directing and acting in a show in Dawson City Jamie decided to shift careers and move North. In 2007 he moved to the Beaufort Delta region of the Northwest Territories where he still lives and works as a Community Counsellor and Expressive Arts Therapist. Jamie is also a faculty instructor at Vancouver Expressive Arts. Over the years Jamie has written six plays for Green Thumb Theatre. He is grateful to the Green Thumb team for providing the opportunity to revisit the character of Derwent and update his story for a new generation of young audiences.

Jan

Hodgson

Jan is a freelance Dance and Theatre Stage Manager who has specialized in site specific works and has toured extensively, Nationally and Internationally, with large scale technical productions.

Jessica

Oostergo

Jessica Oostergo is an artist who explores Set and Costume Design for theatre and UX/UI for the digital world. Recent design credits include Morag You’re a Long Time Deid (Touchstone/Frank Theatre), Bunny (the Search Party), Clean (Neworld), How the World Began (Pacific Theatre), Kim’s Convenience (Arts Club), Lights (Touchstone Theatre), The Marvelous Wonderettes (Theatre NorthWest), Done/Undone (Bard), and Same Old Same Old (Belfry Theatre). Jessica is a three-time Jessie Richardson Award winner for significant artistic achievement in design, with a total of seven nominations. She is a member of ADC 659, and a graduate of Studio 58 and Emily Carr University of Art + Design.

Johnny

Wu

Johnny Wu is a bilingual Taiwanese Canadian interdisciplinary artists. Having graduated Simon Fraser University with a double major in Theatre performance and Criminology, his work seeks to investigate humanity through story-telling with a social justice angle. Johnny believes that story-telling, on stage or screen, is a craft rooted in compassion. It invites the participants to submerge themselves in circumstances, and experience diverse lived experiences from an empathetic mind - which is critical to the catalyzing of social change. Understanding is the key to change and story-telling is the hand that turns the key. Johnny's Theatre credits include The Pink Line: Pain Held Tight (2016) presented at the Queer Arts Festival; these Violent Delights (2017) presented at the Summerworks Performance Festival; Movement consulting for Animus Anima//Anima Animus (2019) presented at The Public Theatre in New York City; Creative consulting for Portrait of my DNA(2020) presented at PuSh international festival. Johnny also ventures into the world of film and television. His work Bunny Man placed first in the 10-minute short category and was voted as Fan-Choice for best Overall Short at the Mighty Asian Filmmaking Marathon hosted by Vancouver Asian Film Festival. Johnny can also be seen in CW’s Legends of Tomorrow and Kung Fu. Johnny is the current Vice President of the Board at PuSh International Performing Arts Festival as well as a sessional lecturer at XU – formerly known as Ryerson University.

Katey

Hoffman

As a playwright, Katey co-wrote The Surrealists, Karaoke: The Musical (Studio 58), The After Party, The New Years Party (Pull Fest), The Bush Party, The Tie Breaker (Theatre SKAM), and the critically-acclaimed The After After Party which won Vancouver’s Pick-of-the-Fringe, The Georgia Straight Critic’s Pick, the CULTCH-ivating the Fringe Award, and was nominated for a Jessie Richardson Award. Katey's coming-of-age comedy, Green Lake, was produced by Solo Collective and nominated for 6 Jessie Richardson Awards including Outstanding Production. While Katey's play for young audiences, What If, continues to tour Canada with Green Thumb Theatre, she is excited to have developed a new play with them, Like It Or Not. Katey is presently studying a Masters in Scriptwriting at the University of East Anglia. She is a graduate of Studio 58.

Kimira

Reddy

Kimira is an accomplished Artist gratefully creating and practicing her art on the unceded Coast Salish Territories. As a Set Designer, you can see her work on theatre stages around BC. She is also the Communications Director of Raven Spirit Dance. By combining her creative imagination and technical expertise, Kimira brings artists' visions into the innovative world of virtual reality. Originally from sunny South Africa, she holds an MFA in Design from UBC. Credits: Featured artist for Indian Summer Festival. VR Technician for Uninterrupted (Canada Wild Arts Society). Set Design for Catalina La O (JKJK), Himmat (Theatre Conspiracy), Peace Country (Rice & Beans Theatre); Men Express Their Feelings (Zee Zee Theatre), Ominous Sound at the River Crossing (Touchstone Theatre); In Response to Alabama (Little Thief Theatre); we the same (Ruby Slippers); Like It Or Not (Greenthumb Theatre); Zoning Out (Blackout Theater); No Child (The Arts Club). Props for Foolish Operations. More at: www.kimirareddy.com

Leslie

Dos Remedios

Leslie is so happy to be collaborating with Rachel and the entire Like It Or Not team this season. Originally from the traditional land of the Huron-Wendat, Seneca and the Mississauga of the credit (aka Toronto), she is also a graduate of York University (2008) and Studio 58 (2012). Most recently, she was the lead instructor for Carousel Theatre for Young People's Teen Shakespeare Project this past summer. Favourite credits include "Jane" in Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley, "Sam" in Thanks for Giving (Arts Club Theatre Company), and "Bap" in Baking Time (Presentation House Theatre) and "Sarah" in Lights (Touchstone Theatre).

Liam

Kearns

Liam is a queer, Vancouver-based Stage Manager and Production Manager working professionally in the arts scene. He is excited to be back working with Green Thumb after touring their production of tagged in 2015. Previous endeavours include swimming in the deep blue ocean with The Rainbow Fish (Mermaid), playing tricks in Raven Meets the Monkey King (Axis), joining in for a wild rumpus in Where the Wild Things Are (Presentation House), riding The Number 14 (Axis) and morphing into a human train for Munscha Mia (Carousel). Outside the theatre, Liam likes baking vegan treats, getting lost in a jigsaw puzzle and spending the entire day outdoors geocaching.

Lully

Villar

Maria Luiza Zenobio de Assumpção Villar Laufhütte is from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and she has been living in Canada since December 2018. Lully (as everybody calls her), is passionate about the arts in general and has been dedicating herself to it since 1994. She graduated from Filmmaking in 2005, and from Interior Design in 2010. Lully is an award-winning interior designer in Brazil. Since then, she has been also working as a Set Designer and a Props Master on TV, films, and plays. Lully graduated from Fashion and Film Makeup Design from New Image College in March 2021, and from Stagecraft and Event Technology from Douglas College in June 2022. In 2022, while studying at Douglas College, she won the International Returning Student Scholarship based on the cumulative GPA. Since July 2022, Lully has been working as an Assistant to the Creative Director at the Vancouver Horror Nights (VHN) which is a haunted attraction that operates at Coquitlam Centre throughout October and November.

Melissa

McCowell

Melissa is a theatre artist based on the traditional, ancestral and unceded lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səl̓ilwətaɁɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples (Vancouver), with a focus on Costume Design and Stage Management. She has had the pleasure of working with a number of incredible companies including After Party Theatre, Bard on the Beach, Caravan Farm Theatre, Carousel Theatre for Young People, Green Thumb Theatre, ITSAZOO Productions, Presentation House Theatre, Ruby Slippers Theatre, Studio 58, The Elbow Theatre, Theatre Replacement, Théâtre la Seizième and Touchstone Theatre. Recent credits include: Head of Backstage Wardrobe with Bard on the Beach for their 2022 Season and Costume Designer for The Code with Green Thumb Theatre. Melissa is a graduate of Queen's University and Studio 58.

Michael P.

Northey

Michael is an actor and writer, who first worked for Green Thumb as an actor in George F. Walker’s PROBLEM CHILD, nearly 20 years ago. Michael was thrilled years later, when Patrick McDonald and Green Thumb gave him the opportunity to write CRANKED!, then consequently gave him the chance to collaborate with Kyprios again on a grander scale, with the full-length, Hip Hop musical, ASH RIZIN (Produced by Green Thumb Theatre & ATP at The Enbridge festival in Calgary, 2012). Michael is happy to see the new iteration of CRANKED: The ReMix with Rachel at the helm and an exciting new cast and crew.

Montana

Lehmann

Montana Lehmann is a Mexican-Canadian artist born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba. After graduating from the University of Winnipeg (Performing Arts 2016), she went on to study at Studio 58 (2021). Montana’s first job was as a teacher assistant at Manitoba Theatre for Young People. She went on to become an educator at Prairie Theatre Exchange, Rainbow Stage, and Masterworks. Montana loves working with and learning from youth in theatre and hopes to one day be as creative, brave, and uninhibited as they are.

Nathan

Kay

Nathan Kay is a Vancouver based actor and educator. He has worked for some of the biggest companies in Vancouver and has been a part of many productions he's deeply proud of. Some of those include: BUNNY (The Search Party), KING ARTHUR’S NIGHT (Neworld Theatre), STRANGERS ON A TRAIN (Vertigo Theatre), JABBER (Neworld Theatre/Green Thumb Theatre), ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL (Bard on the Beach). While there are more, these are the ones that have shaped the type of actor and artist he wants to be, and the type of work he hopes to do. Nathan is looking forward to what he hopes is a long career of trying to bring exceptional theatre to audiences. Nathan is a graduate of Studio 58.

Nico

Dicecco

Nico Dicecco is a videographer, designer, stage manager, and technical director based in Vancouver, BC. Recent projects include stage management for Benevolence (Ruby Slippers Theatre), technical direction for The River (Myriad Dance Projects), and cinematography for In Camera (Realwheels Theatre). He has previously worked with Green Thumb Theatre as a livestream technician and sound designer for Misadventure at the Lighthouse and he is thrilled to be back doing video design for Derwent is Different.

Pamela Carolina

Martinez

Pamela Carolina Martinez is a Canadian Salvadorian actor based in Vancouver. She has a BFA in Acting from the University of British Columbia and a Diploma in Theatre Arts from Douglas College. Most recently, Pamela starred in Ashley Chodat’s Junebug, a one woman show that debuted at the Vancouver Fringe Festival. She was also featured in Yellow Belt Production's Hooray for Hazel, a comedy tv series. Pamela has previously starred in various professional theatre productions across the Lower Mainland, her most recent credits include Life Cycle (Student) with the Ignite Youth Festival at the Cultch. Hannah Moscovitch's Bunny (Lola) with Search Party Productions; it was part of the Femme Fest in The Lab which garnered excellent reviews, winning various Jessies’ awards including Outstanding Production in a Play. Like it Or Not (Leah) with Green Thumb Theatre, and The Silly Adventures of Robin Hood (Maid Marion) with The Merrie Makers. Pamela also works in film/television and voice-over work, latest credits include the lead role in Dark River Studio's The Red Knows, which won the Best Horror category through the Couch Film Festival. She was also given the lead role in a Token Blind Boxes commercial. In voice-over, Pamela narrated Charlotte Perkins Gilman's The Yellow Wallpaper which premiered on Unsigned BC 100.5fm. When she's not acting, you can find her reading a novel, strumming a tune on her ukulele, or cuddled up with her dog, Griffin.

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Rachel

Aberle

Rachel is a multifaceted theatre artist born and raised in various parts of the Greater Vancouver area, on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh-ulh (Squamish), səl̓ilwətaɁɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), S’ólh (Stó:lō), Stz'uminus, Qayqayt, sc̓əwaθenaɁɬ (Tsawwassen), Kwantlen and kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem) Peoples. As a performer, she has appeared on stages across Western Canada in a wide range of productions from new works, to classics, to musicals. As a playwright, Rachel strives to explore complex issues with humour and curiosity. In 2018, she was recognized with the Sydney J. Risk Prize for Outstanding Original Script by an Emerging Writer, for her second play, The Code. As a director, she strives to cultivate an environment that prioritizes fun and excellence in equal measure. Favourite directing credits include the world premiere of Like It or Not and co-directing the digital live-stream adaptation of Cranked for Green Thumb, and the collective creation I Know What I Saw at her alma mater, Studio 58. Rachel was selected for the 2017 Playwrights Lab at the Banff Centre, the 2020 Caravan Farm Theatre National Playwrights Retreat (sadly cancelled due to Covid-19) and was one of only 15 international artists selected for the ASSITEJ Next Generation Program at the 2018 ASSITEJ Artistic Gathering in Beijing. All training and resume credits aside, Rachel’s favourite and most important job is being a Mom to her daughter Elliot, who challenges and inspires her every day.

Riley

Hardwick

Riley (he/him) is a sound designer, actor and improviser based in Vancouver, BC, on the unceded territories of the Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh and Musqueam Nations. He is thrilled to be joining the Green Thumb season and working with such a talented team. Recent design credits include music production for Stage Write (Globe Theatre), Six of One (Studio 58), and assisting on White Noise (Savage Society). His Mary’s Wedding (Firehall Arts Centre) design was awarded the 2021-2022 Jessie Richardson Award for Outstanding Sound Design and Composition. Outside of making sounds from his laptop, you can catch Riley performing with the cast of Vancouver’s Improv Centre, playing basketball, and trying to make rent.

Samantha

Pawliuk

Samantha, a graduate of Vancouver Island University and Studio 58, is a theatre maker, a drag artist, and a settler living on the stolen land of the Squamish, Musqueam, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations. When choosing projects, Samantha prioritizes stories of underrepresented and systemically silenced communities. The most fulfilling work she does is centered on stories of queerness, transness, people of colour, disability and neurodivergence, poverty, and social and political reform.

Sarah

Rodgers

Sarah Rodgers is a theatre practitioner based in Vancouver. She received her BFA (acting) MFA (Directing) from The University of British Columbia. Sarah most recently directed for Pacific Theatre with How the World Began and before that she was up in Prince George guiding the jukebox musical: The Marvelous Wonderettes. Sarah directs for many companies in Vancouver and across Canada. Highlights: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, The Christians (Pacific Theatre); The Audience, Pride and Prejudice (Arts Club Stanley Alliance Stage); Cinderella, Hairspray (Theatre Under the Stars); Skin of our Teeth (Studio 58); Elf the Musical, Treasure Island (Persephone Theatre); Sarah loves Theatre for Young Audiences and toured all over the world in Axis Theatre’s The Number 14. Sarah is also a film/tv actor and has also appeared in Riverdale Season 3 on Netflix; Woke Season 1 on Hulu and in the films: Fall Back Down and Snatched from Mommy. Sarah is absolutely thrilled to be working for Green Thumb Theatre and guiding Jamie Norris’s brilliant play: Derwent is Different.

Scott

Button

Scott is a creator working in theatre, film & television. He was an inaugural participant of the Arts Club Theatre Company’s Emerging Playwrights’ Unit and was selected to attend the Pacific Screenwriting Program. Productions include Night Passing audio-drama (Arts Club), For Now (Green Thumb – April 2023) and Desiree AMA (Upintheair e-Volver Festival). www.scottbutton.ca

Winona

Myles

Winona is a multi-disciplinary performer from the Secwépemc Nation. She grew up working in the community and professional theatre scenes in Vancouver before going on to teach young performers. She detoured into child/youth work, obtaining a Bachelor of Education from the University of Toronto and developing programs for organizations such as the YMCA of Greater Vancouver and Ayás Menmén with the Squamish Nation. Winona is excited to fuse her two loves and bring the same joy to youth that theatre brought to her as a young girl. Winona recently rejoined the performing scene and will be appearing in the Fall in re:Naissance Opera's production of Angel's Bone.