Meet the Freedom 85!
Creative Team
DEBRA HALE
Actor & Playwright
Debra's extensive performance career includes The Ladies Foursome (Alberta and Ontario) On The Other Side Of The World (Factory Theatre-Next Stage) the two-actor shows Sexy Laundry (1000 Islands Playhouse; Port Hope Festival); Norm Foster's Storm Warning (Lighthouse, Magnus, Theatre In Port, and Toronto's Walmer Centre) and Freedom 85! (nine theatres). Other favourite shows include Something Drastic (Tarragon Extra Space), the role of Constance Ledbelly in Goodnight Desdemona, Good Morning Juliet (Magnus Theatre), the title role in Shaw's Annajanska's (Factory Studio) and the spicy Ginger Reed in Lanford Wilson's Book of Days (Toronto). In addition to numerous other theatre credits, Debra has appeared in dozens of commercials and several independent films. She has also penned and produced four scripts for stage — the edge-of-your-seat thriller I Won't Tell a Soul, the comedic Heads Will Roll, the poignant, yet quirky, multi-character Freedom 85!, and the zany recipe for theatrical hilarity, Chow Bella.
Actor & Playwright
Debra's extensive performance career includes The Ladies Foursome (Alberta and Ontario) On The Other Side Of The World (Factory Theatre-Next Stage) the two-actor shows Sexy Laundry (1000 Islands Playhouse; Port Hope Festival); Norm Foster's Storm Warning (Lighthouse, Magnus, Theatre In Port, and Toronto's Walmer Centre) and Freedom 85! (nine theatres). Other favourite shows include Something Drastic (Tarragon Extra Space), the role of Constance Ledbelly in Goodnight Desdemona, Good Morning Juliet (Magnus Theatre), the title role in Shaw's Annajanska's (Factory Studio) and the spicy Ginger Reed in Lanford Wilson's Book of Days (Toronto). In addition to numerous other theatre credits, Debra has appeared in dozens of commercials and several independent films. She has also penned and produced four scripts for stage — the edge-of-your-seat thriller I Won't Tell a Soul, the comedic Heads Will Roll, the poignant, yet quirky, multi-character Freedom 85!, and the zany recipe for theatrical hilarity, Chow Bella.
ANDREA RISK
Actor
Some of Andrea's favourite stage credits include Jacqueline in Don't Dress for Dinner and Mary in the Canadian premiere of Caught in the Net with Trevor Bannister (Victoria Playhouse Petrolia); Judy/Mother in The Uninvited Guest (Tarragon's Extra Space); Lucienne in A Flea in Her Ear (Drayton Festival); Maria in Lend Me a Tenor (King's Warf Theatre); Judith in Boeing Boeing with Peter Scolari (Stage West); Rosemary in It Runs in the Family (St. Jacob's Schoolhouse); Susan in Bed Among the Lentils (First Stages); and over 500 performances as Barbara DeMarco in seven separate productions of Shear Madness.
Actor
Some of Andrea's favourite stage credits include Jacqueline in Don't Dress for Dinner and Mary in the Canadian premiere of Caught in the Net with Trevor Bannister (Victoria Playhouse Petrolia); Judy/Mother in The Uninvited Guest (Tarragon's Extra Space); Lucienne in A Flea in Her Ear (Drayton Festival); Maria in Lend Me a Tenor (King's Warf Theatre); Judith in Boeing Boeing with Peter Scolari (Stage West); Rosemary in It Runs in the Family (St. Jacob's Schoolhouse); Susan in Bed Among the Lentils (First Stages); and over 500 performances as Barbara DeMarco in seven separate productions of Shear Madness.
KATHRYN MACKAY
Director
Kathryn is an original founding member of the Thousand Islands Playhouse and currently serves as its associate artistic director. For the Playhouse, she has directed The Girl in the Goldfish Bowl (the inaugural Playhouse production for the Firehall theatre), Trying, The Drowsy Chaperone, Perfect Pie, The Red Priest and The Russian Play and Essay. Kathryn is also an associate director of Guerilla Cabaret, an international women's theatre collective comprised of artists from the UK, Canada and the US for whom she has directed Hope (New York) and Between Drinks (Los Angeles). She is the former artistic director and general manager for Theatre Kingston and her directing credits there include How I Learned to Drive, The Passion, The Shape of a Girl, Perfect Pie and The Garbage and the Flowers.
Director
Kathryn is an original founding member of the Thousand Islands Playhouse and currently serves as its associate artistic director. For the Playhouse, she has directed The Girl in the Goldfish Bowl (the inaugural Playhouse production for the Firehall theatre), Trying, The Drowsy Chaperone, Perfect Pie, The Red Priest and The Russian Play and Essay. Kathryn is also an associate director of Guerilla Cabaret, an international women's theatre collective comprised of artists from the UK, Canada and the US for whom she has directed Hope (New York) and Between Drinks (Los Angeles). She is the former artistic director and general manager for Theatre Kingston and her directing credits there include How I Learned to Drive, The Passion, The Shape of a Girl, Perfect Pie and The Garbage and the Flowers.
JILLIAN REES-BROWN
Stage Manager
Adding insight to her work as an actor and director, Jillian's stage management credits include To Distraction by Michael Ripley (this summer's Toronto Fringe Festival); On the Verge (Magnetic North); Rex Deverell's Across the River; and I Oughta Be In Pictures. Jillian was also production stage manager at Stephenville Festival in Newfoundland (six productions; one which she also directed) and sings with the a cappella trio Daughters of the Rock with whom she celebrates her Newfoundland heritage.
Stage Manager
Adding insight to her work as an actor and director, Jillian's stage management credits include To Distraction by Michael Ripley (this summer's Toronto Fringe Festival); On the Verge (Magnetic North); Rex Deverell's Across the River; and I Oughta Be In Pictures. Jillian was also production stage manager at Stephenville Festival in Newfoundland (six productions; one which she also directed) and sings with the a cappella trio Daughters of the Rock with whom she celebrates her Newfoundland heritage.
JENNIFER KASPER
HI-D Theatre Production Manager & Lighting Designer
Resident LX, SM and TD for Hi-D Theatre including Freedom 85 (New York) and Something Drastic (Tarragon), for 30 years Jennifer has been building it, lighting it and giving it sound -- mostly on cue! She has toured North America extensively and recently did the LX design for TBW's Gifts from the Heart (Courthouse Theatre).
HI-D Theatre Production Manager & Lighting Designer
Resident LX, SM and TD for Hi-D Theatre including Freedom 85 (New York) and Something Drastic (Tarragon), for 30 years Jennifer has been building it, lighting it and giving it sound -- mostly on cue! She has toured North America extensively and recently did the LX design for TBW's Gifts from the Heart (Courthouse Theatre).
STEVE COLLINS
Co-producer/Media Contact
In addition to his full-time gig as supervising E.N.G. editor at CTV News, Toronto, Steve has co-produced and assisted with media relations for Something Drastic (Tarragon Extra Space) and Storm Warning (Walmer Centre Theatre). An avid theatre-goer, Steve has an extra special connection with Freedom 85 -- the show was inspired by his mother, Sybil Collins, who was an ATS driver in WW II Britain.
Co-producer/Media Contact
In addition to his full-time gig as supervising E.N.G. editor at CTV News, Toronto, Steve has co-produced and assisted with media relations for Something Drastic (Tarragon Extra Space) and Storm Warning (Walmer Centre Theatre). An avid theatre-goer, Steve has an extra special connection with Freedom 85 -- the show was inspired by his mother, Sybil Collins, who was an ATS driver in WW II Britain.
LIZANNE MADIGAN
Hi-D Theatre Communications Consultant
A passionate and seasoned storyteller, Lizanne enjoys working with creative and innovative thinkers with entrepreneurial spirit and energy. Chief Buzz Maker and Founder of Buzz Maker Media, she is a communications and project management professional with a diverse skillset -- originally honed in theatre and developed through progressive media and marketing positions. Lizanne maintains a keen interest in engaging content strategy, leveraging traditional editorial and marketing learnings with the skyrocketing growth of digital and social media platforms.
Hi-D Theatre Communications Consultant
A passionate and seasoned storyteller, Lizanne enjoys working with creative and innovative thinkers with entrepreneurial spirit and energy. Chief Buzz Maker and Founder of Buzz Maker Media, she is a communications and project management professional with a diverse skillset -- originally honed in theatre and developed through progressive media and marketing positions. Lizanne maintains a keen interest in engaging content strategy, leveraging traditional editorial and marketing learnings with the skyrocketing growth of digital and social media platforms.