Creative Team Biographies

JEREMY WEBB

Role: Director Neptune: Misery, The Rocky Horror Show, Alice in Pantoland, The Woman in Black, Fully Committed, Calendar Girls, Peter Pan, Little Thing, Big Thing, Noises Off, Cinderella, Shakespeare in Love, Mamma Mia!, A Christmas Carol. Upcoming: Billy Elliot The Musical As actor: Beauty and the Beast, Great Expectations, Rexy!,The Comedy of Errors, The Wizard of Oz, Romeo & Juliet, The Producers, Beauty & The Beast (2007), Oliver, Annie, What The Butler Saw, Sylvia, Blood Brothers, Rumors, Sleeping Beauty. Other Theatre: The Hobbit (Festival Antigonish), Broadway On Argyle St, Macbeth, Under Milk Wood, Fishing, Shakespeare On Trial and A Christmas Carol (Off The Leash). Other: His BEST productions are his sons, Samuel & Dylan. www.offtheleashhfx.com

CARLA BENNETT

Role: Choreographer Neptune: 5th season. Other Theatre: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Adventures of Pericles (choreographer, Stratford); Holiday Inn (assistant choreographer, Shaw). As actor: seven seasons Stratford Festival; Holiday Inn (Shaw); Return to Grace, A Funny… Forum (Mirvish); multiple seasons Drayton Entertainment and Theatre Aquarius. Film/TV Choreography: Three Famous Footwear commercials, SEE (AppleTV), Man Seeking Woman (FXX); Pacific Rim (associate choreographer, dir. Guillermo del Toro); Degrassi: Next Class, Dreaming of a Jewish Christmas (assistant choreographer). As actor: Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, The Next Step, State Like Sleep, Warehouse 13, Hellcats, Slings and Arrows, Honey.

SARAH RICHARDSON

Role: Music Director, Band Leader Neptune: The Rocky Horror Show, Rumour Has It: the Songbook of Adele, Alice in Pantoland, Calendar Girls, Controlled Damage, Peter Pan, Frozen Jr., The Color Purple, DivaStation, Shakespeare in Love, Les Misérables: School Edition, My Side of the Country Other Theatre: Assassins, Heathers, Peter & the Starcatcher, The Birthday, 9 to 5, Company (WST); Ruthless: the Stage Mother of All Musicals, Damn Yankees (Chester Playhouse); New Waterford Boy (HEIST); Rocky Horror Show, Nunsense (HFDT) Film/TV: Moonshine (CBC) Awards: Merritt Award Winner for Outstanding Musical Direction Ruthless Training: BFA - Ryerson University, RCM Other: The Blackrats.

TAMARA MARIE KUCHERAN

Role: Set & Costume Designer Neptune: The Color Purple (Set & Costume), Peter Pan (Set) Other Theatre: Tamara is honoured to have collaborated with an extensive list of remarkable creators on stages across Canada, including the Stratford Festival and The Shaw Festival. Tamara’s teaching credits include The National Theatre School of Canada, University of Victoria, University of Winnipeg, and Michigan State University. Awards: Virginia and Myrtle Cooper Award in Costume Design (2017), Merritt Award for Outstanding Costume Design (nomination for Outstanding Set Design), Dora Award for Outstanding Costume Design (multiple nominations for Set and Costume) Training: University of Victoria (BFA), National Theatre School of Canada, University of Guelph (MA) Other: Tamara is a member of the Associated Designers of Canada. www.tamaramariekucheran.com

MATTHEW DOWNEY

Role: Projection Designer Neptune: The Rocky Horror Show [assistant] Other Theatre: Frequencies, Princess Pride and Joy (Heist), Macro Digitals:BrainStorm, Stages:Journey To the Zone, Micro Digitals: Awakening (Eastern Front Theatre) 50 Things: Where the Wild things Aren’t (Zuppa, EAC) Chimes of Bedlam, Tyrant, The Blazing World, Women Beware Women, The Duchess of Malfi, Galathea (The Villains Theatre) Rings thru Water, Fatty Legs, The Hours Turn to Nothing, Tales of the Old North (Xara Choral Theatre) Awards: Robert Merrit awards for Outstanding Technician(2014) and Outstanding Projection Design (2022) for Princess pride and Joy (Heist), Wes Daniels Design Scholarship 2015

JORDAN PALMER

Role: Co-Sound Designer Neptune: Misery, Page to Stage Series: In Lieu of Flowers. Other Theatre: Old Stock: A Refugee Love Story (2b Theatre, Merritt Nominated), Footnotes: An Evening of 3 Short Plays by Hannah Moscovitch, Joyride, The Little Years, The Woodcutter, Peter Fechter: 59 Minutes, Bone Cage (Matchstick Theatre); The Aliens (Theatre in Space); The Hydrofoil Mystery (Theatre Baddeck); The Proletariat, YAGA, Little One, Sweet Enough (Highland Arts Theatre). Training: OIART, Diploma in Audio Recording Technology.

JOE MICALLEF

Role: Co-Sound Designer Neptune: The Woman in Black, Fully Committed, The Last Five Years, Peter Pan, It’s A Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th St, A Christmas Story. Other Theatre: Eighteen (Neptune/Eastern Front); Chasing Champions, The Romeo Initiative, Habit of Murder, Our Eliza, (Ship’s Company Theatre); Litmus Road (Us vs Them). Electronic Music Design: Mamma Mia!, The Color Purple, Shakespeare in Love, Shrek, The Addams Family, Mary Poppins, A Christmas Carol, Elf (Neptune). Other: Joe lives with his family in Halifax where he runs the Neptune Theatre’s sound department. His training in theatre and sound include The Banff Centre and Sheridan College.

VICKY WILLIAMS

Role: Lighting Designer Neptune: Peter Pan, Pleasureville, The Argyle Street Kitchen Party, A Midsummer Night’s Dream Other Theatre: Observatory Mansions (Villain’sTheatre); Noises Off! (Mayfield Theatre); The Children (Keep Good Theatre Company); Miss N’ Me (Eastern Front Theatre); Fox (Villain’s Theatre); Some Blow Flutes (Homefirst Theatre Company); The Bitterest Time: The War Story of Mona Parsons (LunaSea); Pugwash, After Eepersip Disappeared, and The Romeo Initiative (Ship’s Company Theatre); King of Berlin (Doppler Effect Productions); Constellations (Keep Good Theatre Company); Bingo! (Mulgrave Road)

MATT MACINNIS

Role: Stage Manager Neptune: Christmas Carol, Wizard of Oz, La Cage Aux Folles, Beauty Queen of Leenane, Intimate Apparel, Having Hope at Home, Elf the Musical Other Theatre: Public Enemy (Canadian Stage), The Events (Necessary Angel), Evangeline, Anne of Green Gables, Canada ROCKS!, Alice Through the Looking-glass, Jesus Christ Superstar, Mamma Mia, Full Monty, Ring of Fire, Krongburg (Charlottetown Festival); Mamma Mia (Grand Theatre), Bittergirl the musical, Evangeline, Alice Through the Looking-glass (Citadel Theatre) Grease (Winter Garden Theatre), Jukebox Hero (Annerin Productions), Bend it like Beckham the musical (Starvox Entertainment). Other: Matt is excited to be home for the holidays and back at Neptune. Enjoy the show!

GINA THORNHILL

Role: Assistant Stage Manager Neptune: Actor- The Woman in Black, Fallout/ The Forest in my Room (Neptune Touring Company) SM - Neptune Theatre School’s YPCo. Other Theatre:Beyond the Sea (Mulgrave Road Theatre); Romeo & Juliet: A Drink Along (Tea Time Creation Co.); Some Blow Flutes (HomeFirst Theatre); Pugwash (Ship’s Company Theatre); Slut: The Play (LunaSea Theatre) Film/TV: Chapelwaite (CTV Sci-fi); Fizzy (Afro Viking Pictures); Diggstown (CBC); The Mist (Paramount); Feverish (Fuguists Productions) Other: Gina is also an instructor with the Neptune Theatre School, working with youth in various capacities. They are so pleased to be sharing the holiday spirit with you and this Neptune Family.

RACHEL DAWN WOODS

Role: Assistant Stage Manager Neptune: Beneath Springhill, Alice in Pantoland Other Theatre: Tell Tale Harbour, Anne of Green Gables-The Musical (Charlottetown Festival), Cost of Living, The Candidate, Sweat, A Christmas Carol (Citadel Theatre); Heisenberg, The Comedy Company, Fly Me to the Moon, Annapurna (Shadow Theatre); Million Dollar Quartet, The Ladies Foursome (Mayfield); A Winter’s Tale, Two Gentlemen of Verona (Freewill Shakespeare); Les Feluettes, The Merry Widow (Edmonton Opera); I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, Travesties, The Graduate (Segal Centre); A Christmas Carol (TNB); Dear Johnny Deere (Blyth/Lighthouse). Training: St. Thomas University, National Theatre School

REBECCA WOLFE

Role: RBC Chrysalis Choreographer Neptune: Debut Other Theatre: Choreography: The Movements (Zuppa); Til Death Do Us Part (Kick at the Dark Theatre Co-op); Observatory Mansions, Zomblet (The Villains Theatre); High School Musical on Stage, Elf The Musical Jr. (Halifax Regional Arts). Acting: Macro Digitals (Eastern Front Theatre); 4.48 Psychosis (Caravan Theatre); Young Company 2020 (Theatre New Brunswick); Penny (Alinea Theatre); PEACE Project (Transitus). Directing: Shakespeare’s Time Machine (The Villains Theatre); Elf The Musical Jr. (Halifax Regional Arts) Film/TV: Diggstown (CBC); Mr. D (CBC). Other: Thanks to my family for their endless support and to Neptune for this incredible learning opportunity!

AVERY JOHNSON

Role: RBC Chrysalis Apprentice Set Designer Neptune: Misery Other Theatre: (Dalhousie FSPA); 7 Stories, The Crucible, Capture, The Science of Joy, People, Places and Things, Dog in the Manger, Beyond Windows, Machinal Training: She is currently in her fourth and final year of study in Stage Design and Technical Theatre at Dalhousie University Other: Passionate about the power of visual communication and storytelling, Avery is eager and driven to expand her abilities and loves being able to contribute to creating magic onstage. She is thrilled to join the Neptune team and their inspiring theatre community this upcoming season.

DEVON MCCARRON

Role: RBC Chrysalis Lighting Neptune: Debut Other Theatre: Stage Management Apprentice: The Drawer Boy, Educating Rita (Watermark Theatre); Lighting Design Intern: Tell Tale Harbour, Anne of Green Gables: The Musical (Charlottetown Festival); Actor: La Calandra, Women of Troy, Love and Information, Don Juan Comes Back from the War (FSPA) Training: Fountain School of Performing Arts. Other: I’m grateful to be back in Halifax, surrounded by dear friends, and to be working with Neptune!

GWEN DAWSON

Role: Keyboard Player Neptune: Les Miserables, West Side Story, The Jungle Book, Wizard of Oz, Christmas Carol, Into The Woods, Mary Poppins, The Addams Family, Shrek The Musical, Beauty and the Beast, Mamma Mia, Frozen Jr., Little Women, How To Eat Like A Child Other Theatre: Evita, Stop The World I Want To Get Off, A Chorus Line, Rocky Horror Show, Nicholas Nickleby, West Side Story (STF), Starting Here, Starting Now (Blackbox Productions), Grease (Various), Nunsense (Various) Other: International Piano Bar Entertainer - and her Best Role Ever: Sam’s Mom!!

BRAD REID

Role: Reeds Neptune: Cinderella, Shakespeare In Love, Beauty and the Beast, Shrek the Musical, A Year With Frog and Toad, The Addams Family, Into the Woods, Sweeney Todd. Other Theatre: Pollyanna (Charlottetown Festival) Other: Crystal (Cirque du Soleil World Tour 2019-2020).

MATT MYER

Role: Trumpet Neptune: Ladies of Song & Songs of the Silver Screen with Karen Myatt Awards: Multiple ECMAs , Music Nova Scotia Awards , and a Juno Award Training: McGill University & Humber College Other: Much love to all of my teachers, colleagues, and family. Especially my wonderful partner Heather, and our daughters Diana, and Isobel.

JR SMITH

Role: Drums Neptune: Debut Rumour Has It: the Songbook of Adele: Other: JR Smith is a drummer, composer and multi-instrumentalist from North Preston, Nova Scotia. He is primarily self-made and community built and has studied at St. Francis Xavier University and Humber College. JR Smith is proud to be endorsed by Pearl Drums. He is the current drummer for the award winning Reeny Smith, and Canadian rapper and producer Classified. He has also graced the stage with the likes of Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductee and JUNO nominee and ECMA winner Myles Goodwyn, Alfie Zappacosta, David Myles, Symphony Nova Scotia, Jully Black, Measha Brueggergosman, Carson Downey, Cyndi Cain, Saint Thomas Baptist Church, and many more. He’s proud to have opened for Robert Glasper, Aretha Franklin, Lauryn Hill, Anderson . Paak, Alex Cuba, Lisa Fletcher, and many more, meeting audience expectations with performances full of genuine emotion and technical fluency.