Breathe

Oli (they/he/she) is a queer creative passionate about music, storytelling, and what happens when you combine the two. They have a Bachelors of Music from the University of Toronto. A multifaceted artist, Oli’s creative avenues range from singing Handel’s Messiah with the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra to playing at Ness Creek with his punk band, Checkout Queens. They are so excited to be back with SUM, rocking out in parks across the province with their friends. Recent Credits Include: The Adventure of Young Turtle (So.Glad Arts), Mustard (25th Street Theatre), Peter Pan (Globe Theatre), Reel Whirled (SUM theatre).

Ed Mendez (he/him) is a multi-faceted artist based in Warman, SK in Treaty Six. Ed has spent the last decade administering Burnt Thicket Theatre, Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan, Live Five, and Gordon Tootoosis Nīkānīwin Theatre. He has also had the pleasure of acting and fight directing for all these companies, as well as 25th Street Theatre, while also finding time to perform at Persephone Theatre and SUM Theatre over the past 16 years. Ed has voiced various animated characters in TV series’ featured on CBC and CityTV, has voiced TV, digital, and radio commercials across Saskatchewan, has performed in tv and digital commercials across Saskatchewan, has performed stunts on-screen and been a stunt crew member in a host of Saskatchewan-made films. Ed would like to thank Tamara, Diego, Miguel, and Enrique for making life magical.

Katie Moore (she/her) is a talented actress, improviser, and teacher who holds a BFA from the University of Regina. Select credits include "Romeo and Juliet"/ "As You Like It" ( Shakespeare on The Saskatchewan) and" 18 Jews Order Chinese Food" (Persephone Theatre). Katie has also performed in many improv troupes and collective creation projects and is excited to spend another summer in the parks with SUM Theatre.  

Alexa (they/she) is excited to be joining SUM Theatre bringing the joy of live theatre to Saskatchewan communities. A graduate of Randolph College for the Performing Arts, Alexa is a diverse theatre artist as well as dance and musical theatre instructor at Studio One RP Dance. Select credits include: Sebastian/Choreographer in Twelfth Night (Never Never Shakespeare), Anna in Spring Awakening and Jessica/Jolene in Hand to God (Ppl r Ppl Productions), Choreographer for The Wizard of Oz and The SpongeBob Musical (Persephone Theatre School Musical Academy). Up next, Alexa is looking forward to returning as choreographer this summer for Beetlejuice Jr. at Persephone Theatre. Alexa dedicates their performances to all of the communities and young at heart. Our world is a better place with your imagination, love and creativity in it! 

John Reaney is an actor and voice over artist based in Treaty 6 Saskatoon. From a young age, he was always interested in performance, especially the voices of the cartoons he obsessed over on Saturday mornings. He also adores music, singing, composing and studying languages. Nowadays, John is currently narrating/producing the RIBUS 7 audiobook series, and is excited to take part in the upcoming Theatre in the Park season!

Cooper (he/him) is excited to join SUM after years of watching Theatre in the Park with his nephews. He has drummed with Saskatoon bands including The Weights, JJ White & the Release, and The Dissent. Cooper thinks the idea of free theatre in public spaces is awesome. He looks forward to helping tell this story through music. Enjoy the show!

Jesse Fulcher Gagnon is a Métis experimental artist whose scattered mind leaves him frequently moving between mediums. He is a theatre rat, dabbling in sound design, acting, directing, stage managing, and teaching. His work in the theatre focuses primarily on TYA projects and he has taken on such roles as a ladybug, a cow, a bison, a rock, a bug and a corner— like, the corner of a square. Outside of the theatre he holds an MFA in Studio Art and maintains a studio practice that combines performance and installations, projections and animations, or just junk food and bad jokes. He cannot wait for you to hear the music the team has come up with this year!

A Saskatoon based theatre artist, Jalisa balances many hats on their head and wears the occasional red nose on their face. Working as a Stage Manager, Production Manager, Performer, Emerging Playwright and one half of a clown duo: Oblong & Oboe. They hold a BFA from the University of Saskatchewan and have trained at the Manitoulin Conservatory for Creation and Performance. Her work has taken her to stages and parks throughout Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia and has now brought her back to Theatre in the Park! This is her second season and could not be more excited to be back.
Select work: The Olive Suitcase (Playwright, SUM Theatre’s First Monday 2024), Pot Roast (Playwright, Shortcuts), Luna (SM, 25th Street Theatre), The Adventure of Young Turtle (SM, So.Glad Art), The Velveteen Rabbit (SM, Persephone Theatre), The Unplugging (ASM, Belfry Theatre), It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play (ASM, Chemainus Theatre), Women of the Fur Trade (ASM, Globe Theatre).

Mac (he/him) 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 Artistic Director at Sum, Mac is grateful to create art that serves and strengthens communities across Saskatchewan. An avid runner, hiker, and general outdoor enthusiast, Mac figures why not take theatre outdoors too?

Projects with Sum Theatre include The Young Ones (Assistant Stage Manager), The Hockey Sweater / Le Chandail (Co-Director), Zero Gravity (Co-Director), Elder Brother and the Bison / Le Frère aîné et les bisons (Director), The Reel Whirled (Co-Director). This summer, Mac will be Co-Directing Theatre in the Park 2025 alongside Grahame Kent.

Johanna (she/her) is a proud Métis citizen, born and raised on Treaty 6 Territory. She works primarily as an actor, stage manager, director and playwright. She is beyond thrilled to be back with Sum Theatre for another summer of fun and this time she’s in the driver’s seat. Literally. That’s right. Mac, Paige and Grahame were foolish enough to give her the keys to the big truck and the Saskatchewan roads will never be the same. Just kidding. She has a very good driving record. Only 2 points off on her driver’s test, y’know? First try and everything.
Anyway.
Her recent theatre for young audience credits include: Luna (Luna; 25th Street Theatre), The Adventure of Young Turtle (Associate Producer/Associate Stage Manager; So.Glad Arts), Zero Gravity (Inhabitant/Ensemble; Sum Theatre), The Velveteen Rabbit (Actor 2/The Rabbit; Persephone Theatre).
See you in the park!

Grahame Kent - He/Him - Co-Director/Your best pal
A neurodivergent Treaty 6 based theatre artist, Grahame can be found in many places in and around theatre; working as a performer, writer, producer, designer, voice artist, editor, dramaturg, foley artist, director, administrator and stage manager.
Grahame is so very excited to be working on his first Theatre in the Park and with the added bonus of working with this team of incredible people!
Later this summer you can see some more of his directing work at Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan, where he will be assistant directing!
Grahame is also the Artistic Producer of Buttered Ghost Theatre. Grahame has been honoured with three SATAwards over his career.
If you like radio plays, check out Dr. Frightful Presents: A Podcast. Created with a bundle of incredible talent. Available wherever you listen to podcasts.
Find out more at grahamekent.com

Danielle Roy is a performer, playwright, producer, director and avid meditator. She is a graduate of the U of S B.F.A Drama Program, and the Globe Theatre Conservatory Program. She also completed her Meditation Teacher Diploma through Soul Awakening Academy. Danielle's work has been seen across Canada including her performance(s) in Breaking The Curse, Two Corpses Go Dancing, Wild Dog Waits on the Concrete Path, and most recently as Hazel Star (the palmist) aboard the Wheatland Express Excursion Train. She is an active writer and performer for The Sketchy Bandits (Saskatoons Sketch Comedy Group) and Dr. Frightful Presents: A Podcast Radio Theatre. Some of her playwriting includes: Peach (National Fringe Tour), Metempsychosis (Saskatoon Fringe), Knox & Groan (Buttered Ghost), 51 Pumpkin Patch Lane (Buttered Ghost) and most recently, Luna (25th Street Theatre).

Rowan Pantel (she/her) works with a variety of media including puppetry, printmaking, drawing, photography, installation, painting, and film. She is currently pursuing an interdisciplinary Phd that combines theatre, puppetry, and scientific research at the University of Saskatchewan, working within the Engineering Design Mutualism Lab. She holds a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Regina, and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Saskatchewan. For Puppetry she has trained with the Old Trout Puppet Workshop at the Banff Centre, and at the Eugene O'Neill Puppetry Conference in Connecticut. Past design credits include Mr. Burns (Live Five 2025) The Adventure of Young Turtle (S.E. Grummet 2024), Cakewalk (The Garrys 2023), Aiden Flyn Lost his Brother so he Makes Another (Theatre Howl 2016), and Our Four Walls (Thigh High Theatre and MuD Collective 2015). As an artist, she wants to acknowledge the benefit and gift I receive to live, create, and raise a family on Treaty 6 Territory and the homeland of the Métis.

Aiden (he/him) is a current student at USask studying acting and queer performance theory. He is super excited to work with SUM as his first professional credit, even if he is paying to be here. Aiden is an all around theatre guy, working as an actor, stage manager and occasional sound designer. Recent credits include Mother’s Daughter (Greystone Theatre), Eve and Adam (DSA Spotlight), Seeds (Greystone Theatre) and The Stalker of Bradford Woods (Saskatoon Fringe). 

Emily (she/her) is a visual artist based in Saskatoon. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art from the University of Saskatchewan in 2020, concentrating in sculpture. For now, she escapes boredom with painting, pottery and continually learning how to draw hands.

Paige (she/they) is a bona fide all-around theatre rat, born and raised right here in Saskatchewan. They have always loved the way that telling stories can help shape identity, both as individuals and as a community, and are so proud to get to help tell stories in their community and beyond. She is thrilled to join SUM as an Artistic Associate, after many years of working with the company in various capacities. Previously, they had a hand in Little Badger and the Fire Spirit (2016), The Woodcutter and the Lion (2017), Queen Seraphina and the Land of Vertebraat (2018), #consent (2019), and Zero Gravity (2023). When not in parks across the province this summer, Paige can also be found aboard the Wheatland Express for its interactive wild west shows.

Bengee (he/him) is a Trans artist and stage manager who finds himself living in so-called “Canada” thanks to Treaty 6 and the Peace and Friendship Treaty. Bengee has a diverse artistic background; from props, costumes, improv, musical theatre, dance, circus arts, stage management and beyond, you can always find Bengee working on something artistic! Select credits include: Dr Faustus: a Devised Creation (Greystone Theatre), The Music Man (Saskatoon Summer Players), The Guy Who Didn't Like Musicals (Luminaire Theatre Works).

Bio coming soon!