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Live theatre returning to Studio/Stage Door
Cranbrook Community Theatre is pleased to announce its 2021/2022 season. The shows feature small casts, big stories, and a return to live theatre.
The season opens on October 22 with Joan MacLeod’s ‘The Shape of a Girl’ directed by Amy Penney (pictured above).
In this one-woman show, Braidie sits on a west coast beach in B.C., speaking to her absent brother, Trevor. She recounts and comes to terms with the bullying and violence that occurred in her past. Macleod was inspired by the horrific incident that happened in 1997 – the violent murder of Reena Virk. Jelena Jensen and Cheyenne Kneller share the role of Braidie in this gritty and powerful play.
In the new year, Duncan Chalmers directs, ‘The Aliens’ by Annie Baker.
Musing about music and German American poet Charles Bukowski, KJ and Jasper make themselves at home behind a Vermont coffee shop. They befriend shop employee, Evan, and set out to teach the teen everything they know. This offbeat and touching, slice of Vermont life, show features original music.
‘Tuesdays with Morrie’ by Jeffrey Hatcher and Mitch Albom, based on the book by Mitch Albom and directed by Stephanie Kress closes out CCT’s season in the spring. After seeing his college professor, Morrie Schwartz, on TV talking about his battle with ALS, Mitch reconnects with Morrie. A simple visit turns into weekly meetings and a final class on the meaning of life. This autobiographical play is heartwarming and uplifting while dealing with the truths of a devastating disease.
“CCT is ready to welcome everyone back into our newly renovated theatre and the great thing about this season is we have three brand new directors,” said Production Manager, Jennifer Inglis. “Amy, Duncan, and Stephanie are bringing fresh ideas and perspectives to their shows. It’s going to be a great season.”
Auditions for “The Aliens” and “Tuesdays with Morrie” will be held in mid-September. Please visit CCT’s Facebook page and website (www.cranbrookcommunitytheatre.com) for dates and audition info.
CCT’s 2021/2022 season is made possible through a BC Community Gaming Funds grant.
Director Bios
Amy Penney
After graduating from Mount Baker Secondary in 1998, Penney moved to Alberta to pursue a career in theatre. Inspired by the incredible amount of young emerging talent in the Calgary theatre community, she founded Theatre BSMT in 2007. In 2017, she handed Theatre BSMT over and moved back to Cranbrook. Some of her most memorable credits include: Assistant Director for Hedwig and the Angry Inch with Sage Theatre, Assistant Director for Closer with Ground Zero Theatre/Hit & Myth Productions, Director for Snowman, Forever Yours Mary-Lou, and War with Theatre BSMT. Penney was most recently seen on the CCT stage in the fall 2020 production of “Almost, Maine.”
Stephanie Kress
Stephanie was born in St. John’s, Nfld. and was raised in Ft. McMurray, Alta. At the young age of 13 she started volunteering for community theatre. She pursued her education in the arts at Keyano College in which she studied technical theatre, specializing in stage management and theatrical design. She continued as a stage manager at The Citadel Theatre-Canada’s third largest regional theatre. Further, she studied the Master Acting Stream at Calgary’s Company of Rogues acting studio. Her most recent credits include Laura in “I’ll Be Back Before Midnight”- Cranbrook Community Theatre and assistant director for Key City Theatre’s production of “Chicago.” Currently Stephanie is studying directing and acting from The Barrow Group out of Manhattan, NYC.
Duncan Chalmers
Duncan Chalmers is excited to plunge headfirst into the Cranbrook theatre community. Born with a flair for the dramatic, Duncan has performed in plays from high school and university to community theatre, including Goodnight Desdemona, Good Morning Juliet, Dr. Faustus, The Crucible and Vanya and Sonia and Mascha and Spike (he was Spike). Duncan is now preparing to direct his second show ever, The Aliens by Annie Baker, with a cast 150% larger than his directorial debut (three from The Zoo Story’s cast of two). Duncan recently settled in Cranbrook from Ontario (by way of Quebec) and spends his time gardening and enjoying the outdoors when not pursuing his creative endeavors.
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