Heida Arnason
Musician
Heiða is an accompanist, pianist, singer, composer, arranger, and most recently, ukulele aficionado. Her interest in music encompasses all styles and disciplines, with a particular fondness for musical theatre and jazz. A graduate of the Grant MacEwan music program (majoring in composition), Heiða went on to further her compositional studies at the University of Manitoba, where she had the opportunity to write for the amazing University Singers, for chamber groups, and for musical theatre. There, she also had a work commissioned by the Prairie Ocean Centre for the Art’s “Voice of the Lake” gala concert. She is stoked to be returning to the Alberta Opera after her past positive experiences with them (playing for their productions of “Jack and the Beanstalk” and “Puss in Boots”)…and is looking forward to keeping all these crazy actors in line.
Brian Bast
Costume Designer
An Actor, Director, Designer and Writer. Brian has been designing costumes for Alberta Opera for the last 3 years on their productions of The Frog Prince and Cinderella: for which he received an Edmonton Sterling nomination for best costumes. Brian has designed for many theatres in Edmonton and around Western Canada including Shadow Theatres, Theatre Network, Red Deer College, Grande Prairie Live Theatre, Theatre Yes, Sound and Fury Theatre and Theatre Prospero. Brian has been the resident Costume Designer for Victoria School of Performing and Visual Arts for the last 8 years. A few of his favourite productions he has designed include: Ten x Two, Suessical: The Musical, The Weir, Thoroughly Modern Millie, My Name is Rachel Corrie, As You Like It, The Music Man, Macbeth, Little Shop of Horrors, The Mercy Seat and My Fair Lady.
Brian is also a multiple Sterling Award nominee for theatre design and winner for Costume Design for Shadow Theatres 2006 production of 10 x 2. As well as the recipient of the 2007 Beta Sigma Phi Theatre Arts Scholarship Endowment.
David Findlay
Wolfgang
When dealing with actors, or any performers, you get a wacky array of personalities that stick out badly next to 'normal' people. David sticks out next to actors. Besides reveling in his second job with Alberta Opera; David competes doing Muay Thai kickboxing. He even traveled to Thailand to gain some fight experience, and came back healthy with everything attached. For several years, David has been a member of the 'whatever makes you happy' school of philosophy. This school of thought has led him to travel regularly, take up massage, work at a men's shelter, and dance away many a summer's night. Wherever he finds himself in the future, I assure you, it won't be doing what you'd expect. Before working for Alberta Opera, David had a blast in Oliver at Edmonton's Citadel Theatre, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying for ELOPE, and Titanicat GMCC (because musicals rule!!).
Maya Jarvis
Set Designer
An Edmonton-artist and graduate of the UofA's B.F.A. theatre design program, Ms. Jarvis has thrown herself headlong into theatrical projects since returning from a nine month sabbatical and expedition of Europe. She has been involved with Nextfest: Caroline's Court (2001), Sick Joke (2005), Twisted Thing (2006), No Wonder(land) (2007) and didn't stop the tradition with Night Spell (2008). Big Kahuna! Fringe productions include design for Eleanor, a giant puppet head for The Too Tall Princess, and video production for MathemAntics and MiLF. Ms. Jarvis also participated in the global live online performance 080808 Upstage Festival, designing avatars and performing for the Dadaist show Merznet.
Jenny McKillop
Little Red Riding Hood
Jenny is delighted to be working with Alberta Opera this season. Favorite recent credits include: Olivia in Twelfth Night (Studio Theatre), Bianca in The Taming of the Shrew (River City Shakespeare), Helga in A Respectable Wedding and Wanda in Wanda’s Visit (University of Alberta). Also a writer, Jenny won a Sterling Award (Best New Fringe Work- Playwrights) for her contribution to Changeroom (Pony Productions). Jenny is a graduate from Grant MacEwan Theatre Arts as well as the BFA in Acting program.
Amanda Neufeld
Mrs. Higginbottom/Virgina/Grandma Red
Amanda is super thrilled to expend some of her excess energy by appearing as three exciting characters in Alberta Opera’s production of Little Red Riding Hood! Amanda is a recent graduate of Grant MacEwan’s Theatre Arts Program, and was most recently seen as Dr. Phil (Socrates) in an original adaptation of The Cloud’s and Aurelia in The Malcontent, other recent shows include Good News, The Bacchae 2.1, The Chimes, The Cherry Orchard, and Children of Eden. Amanda is eternally grateful for all of her family and friends for their amazing support, and also for the opportunity to do what she loves best… Performing for you all!
Crystal Oleksyn
Stage/Road Manager
Crystal is very excited to be working with Alberta Opera for a second season. Last year she was the Stage/Road manager for their production of ‘Cinderella’. Prior to working with Alberta Opera, Crystal completed a diploma in Theatre Production from MacEwan Collage, where she was the stage manager for the student production of ‘Urinetown’. She also worked as an apprentice assistant stage manager with Edmonton Opera for the production of ‘The Barber of Saville’. Prior to entering the world of theatre, Crystal completed a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Alberta majoring in English and a minor in film studies.
