SOPHIE GAREAU-BRENNAN // Élise // Sophie Gareau-Brennan is a franco-albertan artist and educator who is as passionate about theatre as she is for visual arts. After completing her BA Honours in Drama at the University of Alberta, Sophie worked as an instructor at the Foote Theatre School (Citadel Theatre), the Art Gallery of Alberta, L’UniThéâtre, and Workshop West Playwrights’ Theatre. During her career, Sophie has been a part of many productions, including Trash Gala, Sugar Bath, Where did you Go, Husk (Orange Girls), Tin (Mischief Managed), as well as Alice au pays à l’envers and Michelle et ses VRAIS pouvoirs magiques (L’UniThéâtre). Sophie loves creating new artistic experiences such as participating in Fabula-fabulis with her play Maurice l’orignal et son aventure hivernale. She has also worked on numerous activities such as Comm Ground Arts Society’s Found Festival, NextFest, and the New Works Festival as well as a new podcast We Watch Food. Sophie is very thankful to be part of the Élise contre l’extinction totale team and wishes to thank the whole cast and crew to have contributed to such a fantastic experience!

JACOB HOLLOWAY // Amal // Jacob is an Edmonton based actor and drag performer. Past credits include Loud Stone in Eurydice (University of Alberta), David in Harun (In Arms Theatre Collective), Performer in Working It Out (Work Plays Program), William Barfée in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Uniform Theatre), Jarvis in the world premiere of Colleen Murphy's new play Bright Burning (Studio Theatre), Maria in The Government Inspector (Studio Theatre), Guy in God's Ear (Studio Theatre), John Wilkes Booth in Assassins (Loose Ends Theatre), and Ken in Red (Fred Skeleton Theatre Company). Jacob received the award for Best Supporting Actor for his work in Red at both the Ozone Theatre Festival and the BC Mainstage Theatre Festival. Jacob has a BFA in acting from the University of Alberta.

ANNA-CLAURIC GOUANDJIA // Mme Langevin // Anna-Clauric Gouandjia is an actress born in Montreal, Québec. She came to Alberta to immerse herself in English to be a fully bilingual actress. She graduated from the intensive acting program at Ambrose University where she learned different tools to become a more grounded actor. She has the chance to work with amazing people like Barrett Hillman as her teacher in Meisner and Method acting techniques and Karl Sine as her stage combat teacher. Anna-Clauric was in the last Ambrose University play performances, As It Is in Heaven by Arlene Hutton directed by Kate Newby and Women in Parliament by Aristophanes directed by Jeremy Mason. In Montreal, she had the opportunity to study in theatre in a College called Saint-Laurent. As her final project there, she directed John Arden’s Live Like Pigs, playing the role of Rachel in this same production. She also had a contract for the last season of the prime-time television show 30 vies, on Radio-Canada (CBC), in Québec, where she appeared as a new trouble maker student.

JOËLLE PRÉFONTAINE // Director, choreographer // Actor, playwright, director, singer, dancer and educator, Joëlle has performed throughout Canada in English and French. She is a graduate from Red Deer College with a diploma in Theatre Performance as well as a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting and a Masters of Fine Art in Theatre Practice, both completed at the University of Alberta. Since this past winter, she is the Artistic Director and Co-General Manager of L’UniThéâtre. Joëlle was the costume designer for their production of Fabien Cloutier’s Billy (Les Jours de hurlement) this past October and will direct La Fille du facteur by Josée Thibeault in March. She is also the Director of Education at Workshop West Playwrights Theatre. In her free time, Joëlle loves gardening and creating vocal music with her loop pedal.

KERRI STROBL // Set + Costume Design // Kerri is a multi-disciplinary artist whose practice encompasses design, visual art and installations. She has worked across Canada, the United States and Europe. She has a Diploma in Musical Theatre from Grant MacEwan, a BFA majoring in Studio Arts from Concordia University in Montreal and also studied at the École nationale supérieure des beaux-arts de Lyon in France. Kerri has recently returned to her beloved native city is thrilled to be working with this wonderful team that has united for Élise contre l’extinction totale at L’UniThéâtre!

DAVE CLARKE // Sound Design + Music // Dave is an Edmonton musician, writer, actor and sound designer. He has composed music for theatre, film, dance and multi-media for over three decades. His family opera, Songs My Mother Never Sung Me, performed in English and American Sign Language, premiered in Edmonton in February 2019. His play for young audiences That’s Danger! (Alberta Workers’ Health Centre) continues to tour junior high schools. Dave was the sound guy on CBC Radio’s The Irrelevant Show for seven years. Dave looks forward to composing music for The Tempest (Citadel Theatre) featuring hearing and Deaf actors, in April 2019.

Recent designs include The Cardiac Shadow (Northern Light Theatre), The Comedy Company (Shadow Theatre), Constellations (Alberta Theatre Projects) and The Comedy of Errors (Freewill Players).

PAULA HUMBY // Playwright // Paula Humby is a bilingual actress, musician and writer based here in Edmonton. In 2012, she completed the University of Alberta’s Bachelor of Fine Arts. She was recently seen in Skirts on Fire (Teatro la Quindicina), Hamlet and Comedy of Errors (Freewill Theatre Festival), and A Christmas Carol (Theatre Calgary). With L’UniThéâtre, she has performed in Les Blues des Oubliées and Les Sept peurs d’Émilie. Paula is currently completing an after-ed degree in education at the Campus Saint-Jean. She therefore decided it was the perfect time to combine her two passions, theatre and education, to write a play for young audiences! Élise contre l’extinction totale is her first play for young audiences and she feels fortunate to share it with so many kids during the tour this spring!

JAKE BLAKELY // Stage Manager // Jake is thrilled to be coming back to work with the team at L’UniThéâtre again this season. He recently got his BFA in Stage Management from the University of Alberta and stage managed Billy (Les Jours de hurlement) by Fabien Cloutier at L’UniThéâtre this past October. As a proud Franco-Albertan/Ontarian, he’s excited to be able to travel across the provinces of Western Canada on tour to share the art of theatre in his mother tongue with francophone and francophile youth. He spent his own childhood as a student at the francophone school Sainte-Marguerite-Bourgeoys in Calgary and later moved to Edmonton to pursue post-secondary studies in theatre. Over the past five years, Jake has had the pleasure of working with companies such as Edmonton Opera, Opera NUOVA, Theatre Network, Catch the Keys Productions, and Punctuate! Theatre. He’d like to thank his family for having encouraged and inspired him to work and live in French every day. Photo: Mat Simpson

CLAUDIA KULAY // Assistant Director // Claudia is a student at the University of Alberta who is completing her third year of a BA in Drama. Past acting credits include the ABBEDAM productions of The Skriker by Caryl Churchill and Rhinoceros by Eugène Ionesco. A few design credits include fawn, Shadowlands, and At the Mercy of the Waves for the New Works festival as well as Loveplay by Moira Buffini (ABBEDAM). Élise contre l’extinction totale is her first experience as assistant director.

MICHAEL MACHAN // Production Manager // Born and raised in Edmonton, Michael has had a passion for theatre and the Edmonton theatre community since a very young age. Originally a performer, while studying theatre at the University of Alberta, he was exposed to the magic of tech and production. He fell in love with it, and proceeded to attend MacEwan University in Theatre Production. Michael has worked on festivals in Edmonton in various capacities including as Technical Director and has freelanced for various companies and shows for the last two years. During this time, he had the pleasure of working frequently with L’UniThéâtre.