Shannon Adams
Hot Box Girl

Vancouver's newcomer, Shannon Adams, is a graduate of Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts in Toronto. Favorite credits include Gabriella in High School Musical 2 (URP), Honeybelle in the Broadway workshop Something Rockin in Demark (9 Capricorn), Millie in Thoroughly Modern Millie (RAPA). Shannon is honored to be apart of the talented cast and crew of Guys and Dolls. She would love to thank her family and friends for all their love and support!!

Meghan Anderssen
Agatha

Meghan was most recently seen as Ruthie/Ned in Bat Boy (Patrick Street Productions) and as Linda in Evil Dead (Down Stage Right). Other past credits include: Miss Dorothy in Thoroughly Modern Millie and Annie Oakley in Annie Get Your Gun (TUTS); Cowgirl in Somewhere in the World (Charlottetown Festival); Minnie Fay in Hello, Dolly! (RCMT); and the Vancouver Urban Tap Squad. Meghan is a UBC graduate (B.A. in Dramaturgy).

Norma Bowen
Costume Designer

Guys and Dolls marks Norma's 36th show as an Associate Artist at Chemainus Theatre Festival. Norma gratefully acknowledges Crystal and Mary and the Wonderful Women of the Wardrobe for their infinite patience in the face of creative indulgence. Past favorite designs include Little Women and Anything Goes.

Robin Boxwell
Sound Designer

Robin is pleased to be a part of the Chemainus Theatre family once again. He has recently been working on The Syringa Tree with TheatreOne as sound designer and Mr. Pim Passes By for Chemainus Theatre Festival. Chemainus Theatre Festival credits include South Pacific, Hay Fever and Oklahoma! Robin will be working on the Vancouver Island Children's Festival in Nanaimo as Production Manager and as Technical Director for Theatre BC's MainStage Festival in Maple Ridge. Robin would like to dedicate this production to Sarah. Enjoy the show!

Jonathan Bruce
Nicely Nicely Johnson

Jonathan Bruce is happy to be returning to Chemainus after a 10 year hiatus. He was last seen in the touring production of Tent Meeting. In the years since he has played numerous roles on the large and small screens. Notable film roles: Elf, Two For The Money. On TV: Supernatural, Smallville, and Frasier. In his spare time he has been a featured tenor for the Universal Gospel Choir in Vancouver.

Timothy E Brummund
Harry the Horse

Timothy is honoured to be making his Chemainus debut with such a talented cast! His theatre highlights include Bat Boy (Patrick Street Productions), the voice of Audrey II in Little Shop of Horrors (Arts Club Theatre/Citadel Theatre), I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change (Gateway Theatre), Dr Neville Craven in The Secret Garden (Stage Polaris), U/S Bill Austin/Sam Carmichael in Mamma Mia!! Timothy dedicates this show to his dear friend John R Weir and to his late friend Wayne Nickles, a 6' 5" big Jule with a kind and gentle heart.

Darren Burkett
Gambler/Featured Dancer

Darren is thrilled to be back at Chemainus Theatre Festival after playing Will Parker in Oklahoma! Selected theatre performances include Snail in the Jessie Award nominated production of A Year With Frog and Toad (Carousel Theatre), White Christmas and Beauty and the Beast (Arts Club), A Chorus Line, West Side Story and The Music Man (RCMT), Annie Get Your Gun and Footloose (TUTS). He would like to thank his family and friends for their unconditional love and support.

Abe Burrows
Playwright (1910 - 1985)

After studying to be a doctor and an accountant, Abe Burrows had a career in sales before becoming a successful radio script writer and writer/performer of musical parody numbers. His first Broadway libretto was Guys and Dolls, co-written with Jo Swerling, with a score by Frank Loesser. Among the musicals for which he provided librettos are Make A Wish, Can-Can and Silk Stockings (both with scores by Cole Porter), Say, Darling, and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (which he also directed). His non-musical plays include Cactus Flower (wrote and directed) and Forty Carats (directed).

Robert Clarke
Nathan Detroit

This is Robert's first appearance at the Chemainus Theatre Festival, and he couldn't be more excited. Theatre highlights include: the Baker in Into the Woods for Patrick Street Productions, which was also directed by the talented Peter Jorgensen; Donnie in the premiere production of The Foursome (Theatre on the Grand); and three seasons with The Shaw Festival in Ontario. Robert has also enjoyed playing a number of scientists, teachers, and butlers in the film and television world. Now he finally gets to play a "no goodnick". Sorry Mom!

Andrew Cownden
Rusty Charlie/Mission Band

Andrew is extremely happy to have a job that does not somehow involve bussing tables or bagging groceries. He has a Diploma in Performing Arts from the Canadian College of Performing Arts (CCPA) in Victoria, BC. Recent theatre credits include various productions with Western Canada Theatre, Kimberley Summer Theatre, and Barkerville's Theatre Royal. Recent television credits include nearly microscopic roles in episodes of Eureka and Exes and Ohs.

Janet Gigliotti
Miss Adelaiden

A summer in beautiful Chemainus with a fantastic group of people - Janet considers herself very lucky! Most recently she was seen playing a Turtle for Carousel's Jessie Award nominated production of A Year With Frog & Toad. Select credits: Les Misé rables (Arts Club), Seussical (WCT), Mamma Mia! (Mirvish), My Way (Globe), Ado Annie in Oklahoma! (Port Hope), The Rainmaker (Stage Centre), Ten Lost Years (Alumnae Theatre), Nellie in South Pacific, and Rosie in Bye Bye Birdie (TUTS).

Jeff Harrison
Lighting Designer

He has designed over 50 shows in Vancouver and internationally and has been nominated for 4 Jessie Richardson Awards for his work. He is a graduate of SFU's School for the Contemporary Arts and attended the Banff Centre for the Performing Arts. Past design credits include: Batboy - Patrick St. Productions, Robin Hood - Carousel Theatre, Oklahoma! - Chemainus Theatre Festival. Jeff is a member of the Associated Designers of Canada.

Sheanna B. James
General Matilda B Cartwright/Hot Box Girl

Sheanna is a graduate of the theatre programs of Queen's (BAH) and Monash (MA). Past credits include Mama Rose in Gypsy (QMT), Ophelia in Hamlet, Titania/Hippolyta in A Midsummer Night's Dream and Diane Drake in You Are Here (Project X), directing Shady Ladies, a trilogy of plays, for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival (Synchrocity), vocal directing The Last Five Years (Single Thread), and choreographing A New Brain (QMT). For EFB.

David Leyshon
Sky Masterson

For Chemainus Theatre Festival: Debut. Most recently: This Could Be Love (Lunchbox Theatre), Evelyn Strange (Vertigo Theatre). Other credits include: My Mother's Lesbian Jewish Wiccan Wedding (Mirvish); An Ideal Husband (Theatre Calgary); Little Shop of Horrors (Persephone Theatre); Hamlet (Stratford Festival); seven seasons with The Shaw Festival, including roles in The Importance of Being Earnest, Major Barbara, Misalliance, High Society; Blood Brothers (Theatre Aquarius); The Fantasticks (Theatre Calgary).

Frank Loesser
Composer/Lyricist (1910 - 1969)

One of America's great composer/lyricists, Frank Loesser began his songwriting career during the Depression contributing songs to Broadway revues and nightclub acts. From 1936 to 1948 he worked in Hollywood writing such songs as "A Slow Boat To China," and the 1949 Oscar-winning song "Baby, It's Cold Outside." In 1948 Loesser was approached to write music and lyrics for Where's Charley?. This led to Loesser's next show, the hugely influential and successful Guys and Dolls. His other shows include The Most Happy Fella and the Pulitzer Prize-winning How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.

Neil Maffin
Lt. Brannigan/Mission Band

Neil is a long time New Yorker, now a resident of Quadra Island, and made his Chemainus debut in Strindberg's Easter and has also appeared at the Belfry Theatre and Bard on the Beach. New York highlights include the Broadway production of Salomé, as Sloane in Entertaining Mr. Sloane at CSC and the Sum of Us at the Cherry Lane. Neil has guest starred on numerous TV shows, including Law & Order S.V.U. and Dead Like Me.

Karyn McCallum
Scenic Designer

Karyn is thrilled to be working with the wonderful creative team here in Chemainus, recently having been designing sets and costumes in Toronto and for Peter Pan at the Globe Theatre Regina. In Vancouver Karyn designed for Blackbird Theatre, Shameless Hussies, Presentation House and the Gateway, receiving 4 Jessie Award nominations. In 2006 the Victoria Critics Choice was awarded to her design for Metamorphosis at the Phoenix Theatre.

Megan Morrison
Sarah Brown

Megan enjoys a busy career working in both theatre and opera. She is thrilled to be making her Chemainus Theatre Festival debut in such a wonderful show. Recent credits include Dorabella in Così fan tutte (Burnaby Lyric Opera), Tromler in Der Kaiser von Atlantis (City Opera Vancouver), Rapunzel in Into the Woods (Patrick Street Productions) and Marlene Dietrich in Marlene Cabaret (Mirateca Arts). www.meganmorrison.org

Meghan Morton
Stage Manager

This is Meghan's thirteenth show in Chemainus and she is, as always, very excited to be involved in another Chemainus Theatre Festival production! Meghan completed her apprenticeship at Chemainus Theatre Festival and Western Canada Theatre (Kamloops). Her favorite shows for Chemainus include Hay Fever and The Woman in Black. She would like to thank her Chemainus Theatre family for being so wonderful to her, as always.

Kerry O'Donovan
Musical Director

Kerry is a singer, pianist and musical director. Direction credits include work for Carousel Theatre, Gateway Theatre, Patrick Street Productions, Capilano College and University of British Columbia. Most recently The Full Monty for Persephone Theatre in Saskatoon. Kerry has also worked extensively as an accompanist, including work for Arts Club Theatre, The Centre, Vancouver Playhouse, Gateway Theatre, Royal City Musical Theatre, Theatre Under the Stars, Lions Gate Studios, Royal Caribbean International, Comedy Network, Showtime/HBO, and the CBC.

Gordon Roberts
Arvide Abernathy/Associate Musical Director/Percussionist

Gordon has been a professional performer for over forty years. With his baritone/bass character voice he has become a mainstay at the Arts Club, Vancouver Playhouse, Waterfront Theatre, and with Royal City Musical Theatre. He is overjoyed to return to Chemainus Theatre Festival after performing and drumming in Little Women, as Alfie Doolittle in My Fair Lady and in last year's Oklahoma!. He lives in Lynn Valley with his beautiful wife Marni.

Damon Runyan
Author (1880 - 1946)

Damon Runyon was a newspaperman and writer. He was best known for his short stories celebrating the world of Broadway in New York City that grew out of the Prohibition era. He spun humorous tales of gamblers, hustlers, actors, and gangsters. The musical Guys and Dolls is based on two Runyon stories, The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown and Blood Pressure.

Colin Sheen
Benny Southwest

Colin Sheen is a graduate of the Musical Theatre program at Capilano College and is enthused to be a part of Chemainus' Guys and Dolls. Some recent credits include: Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Vancouver Playhouse), Rhythm on the Rails (Train Tracks Productions), West Side Story (Royal City), Gypsy (The Arts Club), My Fair Lady (Gateway) and has also briefed the stage of Maxine's Hideaway. He would like to thank his parents, Jo-Ann and Peter, for their unwavering support.

Jo Swerling
Playwright (1897 - 1964)

Jo Swerling worked as a newspaper and magazine writer in the early 1920s. He was brought to Hollywood by Columbia Pictures chief Harry Cohn in 1930. His dozens of screenplays in the 1930s and 40s include Platinum Blonde, Behind the Mask, Once to Every Woman, The Pride of the Yankees (for which he received an Academy Award nomination), Lifeboat, Leave Her to Heaven, and It's a Wonderful Life. Swerling returned to Broadway in 1950 to co-write the book for Guys and Dolls for which he won a Tony and a New York Drama Critics' Circle Award for his effort.

Melissa Young
Big Jule/Hot Box Girl/Assistant Choreographer/Dance Captain

Melissa is thrilled to be returning to Chemainus! Recent credits include: Beauty and the Beast, The Producers, Gypsy, (Arts Club); Into the Woods, (Patrick Street) and the films Freshman Father and Dark Waters of Crime. Choreography credits include: Oklahoma!, The Wizard of Oz, (Chemainus Theatre Festival) The Comedy of Errors (Bard on the Beach) Frog and Toad and Seussical (Carousel). Melissa has been nominated for five Jessie Awards. She currently heads the Drama Department at Belmont Secondary.