Joel Bernbaum is an actor, director, playwright, journalist and the founding artistic director of Sum Theatre. He is a graduate of the Canadian College of Performing Arts and Carleton University, where he did his Master’s Thesis on Verbatim Theatre’s Relationship to Journalism. Produced plays include Operation Big Rock, My Rabbi (with Kayvon Khoshkam), Home Is A Beautiful Word, Being Here the Refugee Project (with Michael Shamata) and Reasonable Doubt (with Lancelot Knight and Yvette Nolan). Previously for Sum Theatre, Joel has performed in Alice in Wonderland and The Pied Piper and has directed Walk the Trail, Hercules, Little Badger and the Fire Spirit, Nutana Talks, The Hockey Sweater, Theatre in the Pool: Earth Diver, Queen Seraphina and the Land of Vertebraat, The Young Ones (with Judy Wensel), The Other Side of the River (with Judy Wensel) and wâhkôhtowin (with Laura Negraeff). Joel is currently a PhD candidate in Interdisciplinary Studies at the University of Saskatchewan, where he is investigating the potential of theatre companies to strengthen cities
Krystle Pederson is a Cree/Metis Actor, singer, songwriter with an outstanding career performing all across North America and New Zealand. Krystle’s list of acting credits include: The (Post) Mistress, Little Badger and the Fire Spirit, Gabriel Dumont Wild West Show, Penelopiad, and Reasonable Doubt. Krystle is the lead vocalist for Lynx Lamour Goes to Nashville a one-woman Cree musical written and composed by Tomson Highway. Krystle has used her time off during the pandemic to focus on her music. Krystle will be heading into the studio in the fall and will be releasing her first EP in the beginning of 2021.
Born and raised in Saskatoon, Mac is proud to call the prairies home. He received his BFA in Acting from the University of Saskatchewan, and has had the pleasure of making theatre with many of Saskatoon’s theatre companies. As Associate Artistic Director at Sum, Mac is grateful to create art that serves and strengthens communities across Saskatchewan. Projects with Sum Theatre include The Young Ones (Assistant Stage Manager) and The Hockey Sweater / Le Chandail (Co-Director). Coming up, Mac will be Co-Directing Theatre in the Park 2023 alongside Joel Bernbaum.
Ricardo Alvarado (he/they) is a multidisciplinary theatre artist based in Saskatoon. Ricardo is excited to have just stepped into the role of Artistic Producer for SUM Theatre, having previously been their Stage Manager and Production Manager since 2019. He was recently awarded the People's Choice Award at the Saskatoon and Area Theatre Awards for his contributions to Saskatoon's theatre scene, and was honoured to be counted among so many inspring local artists. Ricardo regularly teaches painting to elementary school students through the Hugo Alvarado Community Art Program and recently taught a week-long drag intensive for teens at Persephone Theatre as their alter ego Puffy von Pop-n-Fresh. Select Credits: Hand to God, Little Shop of Horrors, Avenue Q, The Rocky Horror Show (Director, Ppl r Ppl Productions) / The Herd, The Fiancée, The Revolutionists, The Mountaintop, Cottagers & Indians (SM, Persephone THeatre) / Iago Speaks (SM, Shakespeare on the SK). Up Next: The Birds & The Bees (SM, Persephone/Globe Theatre Regina) / Romeo & Juliet, As You Like It (PSM, Shakespeare on the SK).
Yvette Nolan (Algonquin) is a playwright, director and dramaturg. Her work with Sum Theatre includes Thicker Than Water, Little Badger and the Fire Spirit, Queen Seraphina and the Land of Vertebraat, The Young Ones and Last Sunday. Other work includes The Tempest (Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan), Reasonable Doubt (Perspehone), The Unplugging (Arts Club; Factory; GTNT), the dance-opera Bearing (Signal Theatre), and the libretto Shawnadithit (Tapestry Opera). Her book, Medicine Shows, about Indigenous performance in Canada was published by Playwrights Canada Press in 2015. She is currently pursuing her Masters in Public Policy at Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy.
With more than 15 years as an arts reporter and on air host at CBC Radio-Canada under her belt, Britainy Zapshalla is not only an expert but also a die hard fan of Saskatchewan's entertainment scene. She's a regular contributor to CTV Morning Live and the Saskatoon Star Phoenix. Britainy loves to help people plan their entertainment calendar with her regular blog Brit's Picks. She began her work with Sum Theatre in 2015 to help spread the word about the unique and groundbreaking productions the company stages and to help connect sponsors and local donors who believe in our vision that theatre should be for everyone. Britainy lives in Saskatoon with her husband Jake and their two children William and Katie. To find out more about Britainy and her work click here. (https://britspicks.com/)