Music by Jeff Unger
Book and Lyrics by Farren Timoteo

The Cast and Creative team

Kohen Foley
Mr Millar/Ava Chandelier/Ace Sinclair/Ensemble

Kohen Foley (he/him) is an Edmonton based actor and recent graduate of MacEwan University’s BFA program. Originally from Medicine Hat, Alberta, Kohen is super excited for this year's fringe festival! He has been doing fringe for the past 3 years and is excited for the future. He would like to recognize the incredible talented people he gets to share the stage with. He hopes you enjoy the show!

Previous Credits include: Greg, A Chorus Line, Leaf Coneybear, 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Sandy Dean, Brigadoon, Balaga, Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812, Beleaguered Geek, Heathers, and Squidward Tentacles, The SpongeBob Musical

Avery Pryzswitt
Mrs. Miller/Ensemble

Avery Przyswitt (she/her) is delighted be performing with AMTC as Peggy Miller in this year's touring production of Rumpelstiltskin! As a graduate of the University of Victoria with a BFA in Theatre (Performance & Stage Management), Avery has a hard time choosing between being onstage, behind the scenes, or in front of the camera, sooooo naturally, she's decided to do all three.

A lifelong lover of storytelling and human connection, Avery is happiest when she's creating, collaborating, and making people laugh. When she's not performing, you can find her painting (@aavsart_), working with children, travelling, gardening, or singing and dancing wherever there's an excuse to do so. She is especially passionate about arts education and creating joyful, inclusive spaces where young people can feel confident being exactly who they are.

Her credits include Romeo and Juliet (Romeo), Pork and Beans: Attorney's at Law (Telly Porter), Twelfth Night (Feste), 100 Years of Broadway (Cast/Dance Captain), The Importance of Being Earnest (Deputy Stage Manager), Ally Anne the Musical (Jenny), Vinegar Tom (Fury), Spring Awakening (Assistant Stage Manager), and Horse Girl (Dead Mom).

Avery is thrilled to be hitting the road with AMTC and cannot wait to share a little magic, mischief, and Rumpelstiltskin with audiences across Alberta!

Jayden Leung
Skip Goldman/Secretary/Ensemble

Jayden Leung is a Chinese-Jewish Canadian actor and singer based in Edmonton, Alberta. He is a proud graduate of the BFA program in Music Theatre Performance at MacEwan University. Jayden has experience in film, including directing and co-creating an original short film, “Breaking and Entering My Heart”

He is passionate about video editing and content creation, and looks forward to continuing to grow as an artist. Jayden is thrilled to be working with a such a talented group of artists, and is excited to share this production with the youth of Alberta!

Select credits include Heathers, Natasha…Great Comet of 1812, Carrie, and A Chorus Line(MacEwan University); Next to Normal (Miles From Broadway Theatre Co.); Avenue Q (Foote InThe Door Theatre); 27 Pictures, Voldemort…Musical Parody, and Bat Boy: The Musical (Fringe Theatre).

Ellen Chorley
Director

Ellen is an Edmonton-based playwright, producer, director, and arts educator who brings a deep passion for working with youth and emerging artists. In addition to joining AMTC as Artistic Director, she is the Artistic and Festival Director of Nextfest Arts Company, Academy Director of the Theatre Network Summer Academy, and Students’ Club Facilitator at the Citadel Theatre.

Through her company, Promise Productions, Ellen has written and produced over thirty new plays for young audiences, including the Sterling nominated “Princess Confidential” and “Birdie on the Wrong Bus,” and the Sterling Award-winning “Murielle.” Her work has taken her across Alberta, including writing three science-based musicals for Evergreen Theatre, touring with Centre Stage Theatre, and collaborating with Youth Theatre Canada, Concrete Theatre, Heritage Park, and Capitol Theatre. She has also served as Playwright in Residence for several Alberta schools.

Ellen’s writing has been featured in the Edmonton Fringe Anniversary Program and in Edify Magazine. She is a recipient of the Nextfest Emerging Artist Award, the Alberta Literary Award for Drama for “Everybody Loves Robbie,” and the Edmonton Artist’s Trust, and was named one of Edmonton’s Top 40 Under 40.

Ellen believes theatre has the power to spark joy, build empathy and understanding, and inspire collaboration and teamwork. She is honoured to join AMTC and to help bring theatre to students all over the province!

Cathy Derkach
Musical Director

Cathy is both grateful and thrilled to be joining the amazing Alberta Musical Theatre Company team and to be immersed in the wonderful music of Jeff Unger! Cathy is blessed to be working and thriving as a Theatre Artist, for nearly four decades, here in her home base of Edmonton  on Treaty 6 territory as well as across the country and beyond. She is always excited to be  involved in many different productions, projects and gigs and create with so many amazing artists and Theatre Companies.  Recent credits : Cocktails At Pam’s, The Occultist’s Holiday (Teatro Live!), Autumn (Shadow Theatre), Bluebeard’s Castle (Edmonton Opera), A Gentleman’s Guide To Love And Murder (Grindstone Theatre), Jupiter, Joni Mitchell’s Songs of a Prairie Girl (Theatre Network), A Christmas Carol (Citadel Theatre), Billy Bishop Goes To War (Edmonton Repertory Theatre).

Cathy is also an accomplished pianist and works as a Sessional Instructor at MacEwan University in the Musical Theatre Performance Program as a Vocal Coach/Accompanist/Music Director and also at Concordia University.

Recent credits: The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical, The Theory of Relativity, Something Rotten, Into The Woods, Company and many, many others. 

Upcoming: A Christmas Carol (Citadel Theatre), Billy Bishop Goes to War (Workshop West).

Cathy is a two time Sterling Award recipient for both acting and musical directing

Hope you enjoy Rumpelstiltskin!

Caitlin Grant
Musician

Caitlin Grant is an energetic and passionate musician and educator. Her love of performing and arranging music began at a young age, where she would boot up her Nintendo 64 and learn the music by ear with her friends. This led Caitlin to her current career as both a pianist and wind player. As an active member of the music and theatre communities, she has credits as a teacher, arranger, accompanist, music director, vocalist, and pit musician. Caitlin's goal is to always create a memorable and moving experience that brings joy to her audience.

River Bandzul
Stage Manager

River is so excited to be Stage Managing Rumpelstiltskin and to be working with AMTC for the first time! They hold a BA in Music & Drama from Concordia University of Edmonton, having focused on classical cello and stage management, then branching to theatrical design.
Previous SM credits; Spectacle Annuel: Peter Pan (La Girandole), The Theory of Relativity , Deep Dive (CUE), As One , When The Sun Comes Out (NUOVA). Previous
Apprentice SM credit; Much Ado About Nothing (Freewill Shakespeare).

Previous ASM credits; A Gentleman’ s Guide to Love & Murder , Die Harsh 2024-2025, The Rocky Horror Show (Grindstone).

Previous Tech credits: Festival TD for the Fine Arts Festival of Performance & Research in 2026 and House Tech 2024-2025 (CUE), Lighting Designer/Production Assistant for La Rondine (Good Mess Opera).

Thank you for supporting theatre for young audiences and all of the emerging artists in Rumpelstiltskin! Enjoy the show, and-a here we go!

Leon Schwesinger
Set Designer

Leon is an Edmonton based Technician, Designer and Maker who holds an MFA in Design and Technical Theatre from the University of Calgary. Leon is an Assistant Professor of Theatre Production at MacEwan University and spends his time off campus designing and building scenery. Recent design credits include Brigadoon (NUOVA), The Laramie Project (Actors Workshop Theatre), and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (MacEwan).

Rae McCallum
Lighting Designer

Rae McCallum is a production manager, technical director, Sterling Award–nominated lighting designer, technician, and educator based in Edmonton. She recently began working as a sessional instructor at MacEwan University, teaching lighting and production management. She currently serves as the Technical Producer for Skirts A Fire Theatre Festival, the Production Manager for the Alberta Circus Arts Festival, and the Assistant Production Manager for Catalyst Theatre.

 Rae has been an active member of the Edmonton backstage community for over a decade, working with companies including Fringe Theatre Adventures, Northern Light Theatre, Shadow Theatre, Citadel Theatre, Freewill Shakespeare Festival, and Christie Lites, as well as the University of Alberta. She has extensive experience leading production teams, managing complex festival environments, and fostering safe, collaborative workplaces.

Rae also serves on the board of the Canadian Institute for Theatre Technology (CITT/ICTS) Alberta Section, where she advocates for professional development, safe work practices, and the continued advancement of the theatre community. She is also a member of the Safe Stages subcommittee, working to update Safe Stages’ best-practice guidelines.

Logan Stefura
Costume Designer

Logan is a non-binary designer, playwright, performer based in Amiskwaciwâskahikan, colonially known as Edmonton, Alberta. Favorite credits include Costume Designer for Cry-Baby (Uniform Theatre), Production Designer and Playwright for DMV (fEarless Joe Theatre), Costumes for How Patty and Joanne...Winter Dance Competition (Northern Light Theatre) Props/Set & Costumes for Reign Check (Walters & Watt), Props/Set/Puppets/SFX & ASM for Evil Dead: The Musical (SATCO), Young Turtle in The Adventure of Young Turtle (So.Glad Arts & Azimuth Theatre, Persephone Theatre), Robert in the Drowsy Chaperone (Citadel Theatre Young Company), ASM for Xanadu (SATCO & Uniform Theatre) and Production Designer for Into The Woods Jr., James and the Giant Peach, Once Upon A Mattress and Crazy for You (Sky's the Limit YT).

Levi Salvador
Stitcher

Levi is an Illustrator and textile artist based in Edmonton, originally From Kitchener/Waterloo, Ontario. Levi is a graduate of the Honorary Bachelor of Illustration program at Sheridan College and has begun to work more frequently in the theatre world, working as a design assistant and stitcher for Cry-Baby (Uniform Theatre), DMV (fEarless Joe Theatre) and Reign Check (Walters and Watt). Levi has also designed posters and artwork for fEarless Joe Theatre, Sky's The Limit Youth Theatre, Walters and Watt and the Horizon Players. Levi's Embroidery work has been featured in the Neilsen Park Creative Centre - Be Creative: Pride 2024 Exhibition in Toronto as well as The Society of Illustrator's - Student Scholarship Exhibition 2024 in New York City.

Lily Bansema
Stitcher

Lily Bansema is a recent graduate of Macewan University's BFA in Theatre Production where she focused on developing her skills in wardrobe, props and scenic painting. She hopes you enjoy the show! Select credits include: Macewan - Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812 (Props lead), Carrie (Wardrobe lead), A Chorus Line (Paint lead). Top Bunk Theatre - Practically Perfect Pitch (Assistant stage manager). Freewill Shakespeare Festival - Much Ado About Nothing (Wardrobe stitcher), Something Rotten (Wardrobe stitcher). 

Hunter Luth
Production Manager

Hunter is an Edmonton-based stage manager, technical director, and production manager.

Selected previous credits include production manager and technical director for Rapunzel and Cinderella (Alberta Musical Theatre Company), stage managing Jack and the Beanstalk, Hansel and Gretel and One Person Hansel and Gretel (Alberta Musical Theatre Company), stage manager for Cosi Fan Tutte (Opera Kelowna), CTRL-ALT-DEL (Concrete Theatre), Deathtrap, Private Lives, The Noon Witch, and The 39 Steps (Teatro Live!), assistant stage manager for Das Rheingold, Don Giovanni, Carmen, Stabat Mater and Orphée+ (Edmonton Opera).

Tiana McLean
Technical Director

As graduate of Grant MacEwan University's Theatre Production program, Tiana has spent the last two decades working in Edmonton Theatre, where extreme weather, fire, illnesses, broken scenery, aggressive prop handling, and fighting squirrels have taught her much about quick problem solving and remaining calm in a crisis. She is the Director of Production at the Varscona Theatre as well as the Production Manager/Technical Director for both Teatro Live! and Shadow Theatre.

Past credits include Production Manager for the Freewill Shakespeare Festival, Head of Lighting and Carpentry for Theatre Network at the Roxy and Technical Director for Alberta Musical Theatre Company.  Tiana is the recent recipient of Elizabeth Haynes Sterling award for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Production. Tiana loves hotdogs and her family! (in that order)

Farren Timoteo
Book and Lyrics

Farren Timoteo is an Edmonton-based playwright, lyricist, actor, and director. He previously served as Artistic Director of Alberta Musical Theatre Company, where he wrote and directed many productions for young audiences, including Rumpelstiltskin, Rapunzel, Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Pinocchio, Sleeping Beauty, The Steadfast Tin Soldier, and Hansel and Gretel.

His other writing credits include the Teatro Live! musicals Everybody Goes to Mitzi's and The Infinite Shiver, both of which he co-authored and directed, and Made in Italy, his acclaimed solo play, which he has performed across Canada since 2016.

Farren's work has been recognized with four Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Awards, a Jessie Richardson Theatre Award, a Betty Mitchell Award, a Calgary Theatre Critics' Award, and a BroadwayWorld.com Award. In 2015, he was named one of Avenue magazine's Top 40 Under 40 in recognition of his artistic contributions to Edmonton. He currently serves as Artistic Director of Teatro Live!

Jeff Unger
Music and Lyrics

Over the course of his long career, Jeff established himself as an important creative voice in Alberta, entertained millions of students and adults across Western Canada, and watched the company grow into a major force in school touring. He has co-authored and composed music for sixteen original fairy tale adaptations including Cinderella, The Frog Prince, Rapunzel, Puss in Boots, The Red Shoes, Snow White, Little Red Riding Hood, Hansel and Gretel, Jack and the Beanstalk, Pinocchio, Sleeping Beauty, Aladdin, and Rumpelstiltskin.

His musicals, and efforts as a Musical Director, have been recognized by the Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Awards many times, and in 2012 he received the award for Outstanding Original Score for his work on Pinocchio. In 2010, after more than a decade touring his works, Jeff became an Artistic Director of Alberta Opera, a position he held until his passing in 2015.