SUM History


Sum Theatre was born when Saskatoon theatre artists Joel Bernbaum and Kayvon Khoshkam were invited to present a staged reading of their play My Rabbi at the Belfry Theatre’s SPARK Festival in 2011. They were told they needed a company name, so they thought of one. The Sum is greater than its parts. 
Joel brought the name home to Saskatchewan and incorporated Sum Theatre in 2012. Recognizing that there was not a lot of professional theatre being made for people who did not already go to the theatre, Joel applied for a SK Arts (formerly Saskatchewan Arts Board) Independent Artists Grant to create what would become the first Theatre in the Park. When the application was successful, Joel realised he needed a collaborator and invited Heather Morrison to be Sum’s founding Artistic Producer.
Heather and Joel led the company together from 2013 - 2019. From 2016 to 2018, thanks to the support of a Creative Saskatchewan Business Capacity Grant, Charlie Peters joined the leadership team as Sum’s first Artistic Associate. In 2019, Heather lead the company for a year with the assistance of Associate Artistic Director Judy Wensel and Mentor Yvette Nolan, while Joel took an educational leave. In 2020, Heather left Sum to pursue other opportunities.
In 2020, thanks to the support of another Creative Saskatchewan Business Capacity Grant, the leadership structure of Sum Theatre began to change. Three Artistic Associates - Mackenzie Dawson, Krystle Pederson and Judith Schulz - one Company Dramaturge - Yvette Nolan - and a Producer - Laura Negraeff - joined the team. They began working in circle with a collective leadership and decision making process. It is the hope that this new structure will share power, promote diversity and insure succession planning. Joel has given notice he will be transitioning away from the company by 2024.


SUM PRODUCTION HISTORY: 

Alice In Wonderland 
A Sum Theatre Production
Adapted from Lewis Carroll by the ensemble
Produced by Heather Morrison  
Directed by Angus Ferguson
Designed by Evgenia Mikhaylova
Stage Managed by Aaron Shingoose
Featuring Joel Bernbaum, Louisa Ferguson, Kristen Holfeuer, Dalton Lightfoot,
Kaitlyn Semple
July 2013 | 17 Saskatoon Parks

Walk the Trail
A Sum Theatre Production
By Joel Bernbaum
With Music by Nathan Howe
Produced by Heather Morrison 
Directed by Joel Bernbaum
Designed by Terri Bauer
Stage Managed by Ronan Keenan
Featuring Nathan Howe, Dalton Lightfoot, Krystle Pederson, Lauren Allen
September 2013 | Patricia Roe/Mark Thompson Park

The Pied Piper
A Sum Theatre Production
Adapted from by the ensemble
Produced by Heather Morrison 
Directed by Angus Ferguson
Designed by Evgenia Mikhaylova
Stage Managed by Aaron Shingoose
Music Direction by Christina Cuglietta
Featuring Joel Bernbaum, Kristen Holfeuer, Lauren Holfeuer, Dalton Lightfoot,
Christina Cuglietta
July 2014 | 19 Saskatoon Parks

My Rabbi
A Sum Theatre Production
By Joel Bernbaum and Kayvon Khoshkam
Produced by Heather Morrison 
Directed by Julie McIsaac
Designed by Bryan Kenney
Featuring Joel Bernbaum and Kayvon Khoshkam
October 2014 | Edinburgh, Victoria, Vancouver, Saskatoon

Hercules
A Sum Theatre Production
Adapted by the ensemble 
Produced by Heather Morrison 
Directed by Joel Bernbaum
Designed by Evgenia Mikhaylova
Music Direction by Christina Cuglietta

Stage Managed by Terri Bauer
Featuring Leon Wiley, Dalton Lightfoot, Jonelle Gunderson, Christina
Cuglietta, Donovan Scheirer and Aubree Erickson
July 2015 | 21 Saskatoon Parks


The Hockey Sweater 
A Sum Theatre Production
Adapted story by Roch Carrier by Joel Bernbaum

Produced by Heather Morrison
Directed by Joel Bernbaum
Designed by Terri Bauer
Stage Managed by Grahame Kent
Featuring Gaelan Beatty, Jenna Berenbaum, Dalton Lightfoot, Donovan
Scheirer, Emma Thorpe
January 2015 | Victoria School Rink


Thicker Than Water
By Heather Morrison
Directed by Yvette Nolan
Designed by David Granger
Stage Managed by Erin Crowley
Featuring Pamela Haig-Bartley, Kris Bratton, Judy Wensel
May/June 2016 | Saskatoon, North Battleford, Moose Jaw, Regina


Little Badger and the Fire Spirit
A Sum Theatre Production
Adapted story by Maria Campbell by the ensemble

Produced by Heather Morrison  
Directed by Joel Bernbaum
Designed by Evgenia Mikhaylova
Musical Directed by Christina Cuglietta
Stage Managed by Emma Thorpe
Featuring Nathan Howe, Lancelot Knight, Joseph Naytowhow, Krystle
Pederson, Theresa Stevenson, Donovan Scheirer, Kristi Friday, Allison Jenkins
July 2016 | 23 Saskatoon Parks


The Lion and the Woodcutter
A Sum Theatre Production
Adapted Syrian folktale by the ensemble 

Produced by Heather Morrison 
Directed by Kelli Fox
Designed by Evgenia Mikhaylova
Musical Directed by Deborah Buck
Featuring Yvonne Addai, Connor Brousseau, Lancelot Knight, Krystle
Pederson, Anna Seibel, Andrew Taylor, Rana Mustafa, 
July 2017 | 25 Saskatoon Parks

Earth Diver
Adapted from an Indigenous story by the ensemble

Produced by Heather Morrison & Charlie Peters 
Directed by Joel Bernbaum & Co-Directed by Charlie Peters 
Designed by Evgenia Mikhaylova
Music by Nona Naytowhow and Ali Kharsa
Featuring Nona Naytowhow, Ali Kharsa, Colin Wolf, Megan Zong, Donovan
Sheirer, Yulissa Campos, Dakota Ray Hebert, Fred Nicholas and youth from the 
Open Door Society and White Buffalo Youth Lodge
July 2017 | George Ward Pool


Theatre on the Trail
A Sum Theatre Production
Created by Ali Kharsa, Danny Knight, Andrea Ledding, Aaron Marie
Neepoose, Ahmad Touqani, Kevin Wesaquate, Bob Wong and Respectfulchild

Produced by Charlie Peters  
Directed by Charlie Peters
Featuring Wanita Bird, Torien Cafferata, Ali Kharsa, Chelsea Mahan, Krystle
Pederson
January 2018 | Meewasin Trail


Queen Seraphina and the Land of Vertebraat
A Sum Theatre Production
By Adam Pottle 

Produced by Heather Morrison  
Directed by Joel Bernbaum and Judy Wensel
Designed by Evgenia Mikhaylova
Stage Managed by Emma Thorpe
Featuring Haley Brown, Chris Dodd, Kristel Heather Harder, Lancelot Knight, Michael
Martin, Krystle Pederson, JR Hewison, Megan Zong, Drew Mantyka
July 2018 | 27 Saskatoon Parks


#consent
A Sum Theatre Production
By Heather Morrison, S.E. Grummett, Paige Francoeur, Krystle Pederson, Greg
Ochitwa, Danielle Altrogge, Connor Brousseau, Leah Horlick 
Directed by Heather Morrison
Designed by Jensine Emiline
Stage Managed by Johanna Arnott 
Featuring Krystle Pederson, Megan Zong, S.E. Grummet, Connor Brousseau 
April/May 2019 | 13 Saskatoon Schools and Libraries 


The Young Ones
A Sum Theatre Production
Adapted from a story by Yvette Nolan by the ensemble

Produced by Heather Morrison  
Directed by Joel Bernbaum and Judy Wensel
Musical Directed by Clinton Ackerman
Designed by Terri Bauer, Jim Drake and Mike Remando

Featuring Michael Martin, Bruce McKay, Mara Teare, Amanda Trapp, Colin 
Wolf, Donovan Scheirer, Megan Zong, Mir Ali
July 2019 | Saskatoon Parks and Regina Harbour Landing


Turn, Turn, Turn
A Sum Theatre Production
Devised by the ensemble

Produced by Heather Morrison  
Directed by Judy Wensel
Designed By Terri Bauer and Taegan O’Bertos
Stage Managed by Ricardo Alvarado
Featuring Jenna Berenbaum, Yulissa Campos, Jesse Fulcher Gagnon, Danny
Knight, Krystle Pederson, Donovan Scheirer, Amanda Trapp
July 2020 | 26 Saskatoon Neighbourhoods and the City of Martensville

 Le Chandail/The Hockey Sweater
A Sum Theatre/La Troupe du Jour Co-Production
Adapted from a story by Roch Carrier Joel Bernbaum, Mac Dawson and 
company
Directed by Mackenzie Dawson and Laura Negraeff
Designed by Terri Bauer
Stage Managed by Ricardo Alvarado
Featuring Jenna Berenbaum, Lancelot Knight, Kendra Choymyn, Anthony
Foucoult, Gabriel Gosselin, Gabriel Dufresne
January 2021 | Victoria School Rink & Gocki Park Regina

Through the Window
A Sum Theatre Production
Devised by the ensemble
Directed by Joel Bernbaum and Judith Schulz
Designed by David Granger
Original Music by Gilles Zolty
Featuring Peace Akintade, Drew Mantyka, Kristel Heather Harder, Danny Knight, 
Megan Zong
March/May 2021 | 22 Saskatoon Homes and 4 Regina Homes

The Other Side of the River
A Sum Theatre Production
Adapted by the ensemble
Directed by Joel Bernbaum and Judy Wensel
Designed by Taegan O’Bertos, Miranda Hughes-McKnight and Jim Drake
Featuring Kris Alvarez, Sarah Bergbusch, Jesse Fulcher Gagnon, Nathan 
Howe, Aunya Jade, Bongani Musa, Donovan Scheirer, Amanda Trapp, Zoë Alverez
July/August 2021 | 27 Saskatoon Parks including City of Martensville, and 6 Regina Parks

wâhkôhtowin
A Sum Theatre Production 
Adapted by the ensemble 
Directed by: Joel Bernbaum and Laura Negraeff
Designed by: Taegan O’Bertos, Milaine Curé, and Laura Crossman  
Composition and Musical Direction by: Ruaridh MacDonald
Featuring: Kris Alvarez, Sarah Bergbusch, S.E. Grummett, Chris Krug-Iron, Mitchell Larsen, Krystle Pederson, Donovan Scheirer, Megan Zong
Stage managed by: Ricardo Alvarez and Johanna Arnott
May, June 2022 | 26 Saskatoon Parks including Warmen and
Martensville, and 6 Regina Parks, Indian Head, Waskesiu, Prince Albert, LaRonge