AARON CRAVEN – Artistic Director, Playwright
Instantaneous Blue is Aaron’s first full-length play. He’s also developing a TV pilot script, Yakima, winner of the top TV drama pilot in the 2022 Scriptation screenwriting contest. Aaron has also written several short films which have screened in festivals worldwide.
A busy actor, he has worked on stages and studio lots throughout North America over the last two decades. Selected theatre: Snowflake, Lungs, Smart People, Detroit (Mitch and Murray Productions), Wilde Holiday Shorts (Chemainus Theatre) and Gaslight (Hudson Theater, Los Angeles). Film/TV: Winning Time, The Dresden Sun, NCIS, iZombie, Legends of Tomorrow, Tim Burton’s Big Eyes. Aaron also coaches actors at The Working Actors Gym in Vancouver.
Dedicated to Mom and Dad. Inspired by Kate and Charlie. You’re all in my heart deeper than memory could ever reach.
DAVID MACKAY – Director
David is grateful to be back in Vancouver working with Mitch and Murray Productions. Previous directing credits with the company include Smart People, Speed the Plow, Becky Shaw, Lungs (2013) and Race. David has also directed at the Arts Club Theatre, Jitters, Peter and the Starcatcher, Venus and Fur, Boeing, Boeing and The Importance of Being Earnest. He spent 14 seasons with Bard on the Beach directing As You Like It, The Comedy of Errors, Twelfth Night Troilus and Cressida and played numerous clowns, swains and bearded villains. David now lives in Manhattan Kansas, where he serves as the Director of the Theatre Program at Kansas State University. He recently developed a workshop program with veterans and Shakespeare called ACTION TO THE WORD.
PATTI ALLAN – Playing Judith
Patti is thrilled to be making her Mitch and Murray debut with this tremendous team of artists in this compelling piece. She is a five-time theatre award recipient; Leo Award nominee and recipient of the Brian Linehan online award (Best Actress, Short film).
Patti has been involved in Theatre, Film/TV, radio and voice-over work for over thirty years, with a multitude of credits to her name. She is also committed to Theatre in Education, and is passionate about teaching both young people and seniors alike.
An avid champion of new works, Patti is proud to be involved in the world premiere of Instantaneous Blue – a piece that inspire consideration and discussion of this crucially important subject matter.
Dedicated to loved ones who have gone before…
ERIC BREKER – Playing Gerontologist, Paramedic, Various
Eric is excited to return to the stage after a 15 year hiatus alongside this amazing cast and crew of Instantaneous Blue. With over 25 years of film and TV experience, you may have seen him in the TV series Devil in Ohio, Virgin River or on guest star appearances on Stargate, Smallville and X-Files. Eric is happy to be a husband, dad, brother and friend.
LESLIE DOS REMEDIOS – Playing Grace/Reyna
Originally from the traditional land of the Huron-Wendat, Seneca and the Mississauga of the Credit (aka Toronto), Leslie is a graduate of York University (2008) and Studio 58 (2012). They recently completed an Artistic Associate Internship with Green Thumb Theatre and is currently a member of the 2023/23 cohort of the Arts Leadership Program. Leslie is also set to direct the premiere production of For Now with Green Thumb in the Spring of 2023. Favourite acting credits include “Performer 1” in Me Love Bingo!: Best in Snow,”Jane” in Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley, “Sam” in Thanks for Giving (Arts Club Theatre Company), “Sarah” in Lights (Touchstone Theatre), and “Bap” in Baking Time (Presentation House Theatre).
CHARLIE GALLANT (he/him) – Playing Edward
Charlie is grateful to once again work with Mitch & Murray after debuting with Becky Shaw in 2013. Elsewhere, Charlie has four seasons at the Shaw Festival, seven seasons at Bard on the Beach, and performances across Canada in companies such as Terra Bruce, the Stratford Festival, RMTC, Citadel, Theatre Calgary, Vancouver Playhouse, Rumble, Greenthumb, and Belfry. Recent highlights include Benevolence (Ruby Slippers/Pacific Theatre), the film Done/Undone by Kate Besworth (BOTB), Noises Off and Dolly Parton’s Christmas Carol (Arts Club).
Voice Over: Paw Patrol: The Movie, Pinkalicious, Screen Time. Film/TV: Good Witch, Murdoch Mysteries, The Strain, Fringe, Percy Jackson: Lightning Thief. Training: Studio 58, McIlroy & Associates.
Charlie moonlights as a photographer, musician, and director. @charlie_byrd.
OLIVIA HUTT – Playing Sara
Olivia Hutt is a Canadian actor living in Vancouver. She is honoured to play and engage as a settler on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) , Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlil̓ilw̓ ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) First Nations. Last seen at Bard on the Beach; Lysander in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2022).
As a theatre artist she has worked for companies and producers such as Bard on the Beach, ITSAZOO Productions, The Cultch, Green Thumb Theatre and YPT- A Jessie Richardson Award winner, a collaborator, dramaturg, teacher and advocate of constructively decolonizing theatre today.
TOM MCBEATH – Playing Bob
Tom’s 50 year career may suggest high mileage but he’s a well serviced and maintained entity and operates as a reliable, and may I say, enjoyable older model. albeit with the usual dents and scratches. A 50 year survivor. Eligible for collector status. Considered a CLASSIC.
He’s been a Vancouver based actor since 1975 working across most of Canada with over 130 stage credits. His three “best actor” Jessies include the first “best actor” Jessie awarded in 1983. He works in the film and TV industry appearing in productions ranging from THE BEACHCOMBERS 40 years ago to 21 JUMP ST., STARGATE SG1, etc., to today’s RIVERDALE. Thank you to Karin…my biggest supporter.
JESSE MILLER – Playing Police Officer, Paramedic, Care Aide, Various
Born and raised in rural Saskatchewan, Jesse moved to Vancouver to pursue his ambitions as an actor in 2010. While living on the West Coast, he has gained valuable experience working on various productions and in different capacities . He has had the pleasure of working on the stage previously with “Dead Money” a riveting three cast, one act theatre production that was featured in Granville Island’s Brave New PlayRites Festival. Recently Jesse was the lead in “Inevitable”, a dark hyperbolic silent short film about conformity and the loss of love and connection in our modern world. The movie was highly acclaimed after being accepted into the Vancouver Lift Off Film Festival. As a professional in the industry, Jesse is always excited to explore and continually expand the foundation of his craft.
CHENGYAN BOON – Lighting and Sound Designer
Chengyan is a Vancouver-based live event designer and technical director. He is most often found at the Scotiabank Dance Centre, as technical director for the Faris Family Studio. He is thrilled to be back as lighting and sound designer with Mitch and Murray Productions, having done design work previously on Smart People, Lungsand Snowflake. Recent credits include: Rebel Grace (Dumb Instrument Dance), Wakey Wakey, The Mountaintopand The Messiah (Pacific Theatre) and Mad Forest (Douglas College). Chengyan is a graduate of the UBC BFA Theatre and Production program and a member of IATSE ADC 659. He is grateful to live and work as a guest on the traditional and unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
DAVID ROBERTS – Set Designer
David completed his MA in scenography in London and Prague and since has designed shows across Canada and the UK. He brings an artist’s aesthetic to his search to find the visual essence of a piece. He is most proud of the contribution he has made over the years to the productions presented by Mitch and Murray. Recent stage work includes Butcher for Prime Cuts Collective, Mama Mia for the Arts Club, Kill Me Now for Touchstone, Body Awareness, Lungs and Snowflake for Mitch and Murray Upcoming in 2023 is Crazy For You for Royal City Musical Company David is a multiple Jessie nominee and winner, has been nominated for the Canadian Film and Cinema and Leo awards and is a member of the Associated Designers of Canada.
JAMIE SWEENEY – Technical Director, Production Manager
Jamie Sweeney is a technical director, a production manager, a technician, a designer, an artist, a performer, and all the other ways she can find herself deeply involved in the world of theatre. She is currently living, working, and creating on the unceded traditional Coast Salish Territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations.
JENIFER DARBELLAY – Costume Designer
Jenifer Darbellay has designed for theatre and performance for many years. She has been blessed to work with Arts Club Theatre, Gateway Theatre, UBC Theatre Department, Theatre Calgary, Alberta Theatre Projects (Calgary), Lunchbox Theatre, Decidedly Jazz Danceworks (Calgary), University of Calgary Theatre Department, Mount Royal College Theatre Department (Calgary), Two Planks and a Passion Theatre (Nova Scotia), Tarragon Theatre (Toronto), Veritgo Theatre, Ground Zero Theatre, and others. She is thrilled to be a part of this production with Mitch and Murray Productions. Jenifer has received three Betty Mitchell Awards (Alberta) and one Merritt Award (Nova Scotia) for Outstanding Costume Design. She works, paints and lives in Vancouver with her family. Xo
KELSEY RAEANNA – Properties Master.
Kelsey was born and raised in Saskatchewan and moved to Vancouver to attend Capilano University, where she completed her diploma in technical theatre. Kelsey continued her theatre studies at UBC, where she focused on paint, props, and set design. Previous credits include head of paint for Coriolanus and Oil (UBC theatre), Assistant head of paint and props for A Chorus Line, Macbeth, and 9-5: The Musical (CapU Theatre), scenic painter for Bard on the Beach 2022, and Arts Club, as well as various positions as head of props for numerous shows around the lower mainland.
JULIE MURPHY (she/her) – Intimacy Director and Fight Director
Julie is a professional intimacy director, violence choreographer, and movement coach currently based in Vancouver, BC. Julie is the resident fight & intimacy director for Get Off the Stage Productions theatre company; was the first fight director for Canada’s elite horror attraction DARK (Fort Edmonton Park); and was the first intimacy director for a Studio 58 main-stage show (Metamorphoses; The Rocky Horror Show). Julie is a certified school teacher in the province of Alberta, a graduate of the Royal Academy of Dance (Adv II); and actor combatant working towards her Advanced-level certification with the Academy of Fight Directors Canada. Julie is the founder and creative director of Proximity Movement, a company which offers workshops and choreography for ensemble-based, trauma-informed theatrical intimacy and violence.
SUSAN CURRIE – Stage Manager
Welcome to the Show! Susan is a BC based Stage Manager living and creating on the lands of the Coast Salish Peoples, who drives across the country to work in other Territories. For Mitch and Murray Productions: Snowflake, Lungs, Body Awareness. Select productions: On Golden Pond; Sleight of Mind; Mary’s Wedding; The Light in the Piazza; The Bonds of Interest; The 39 Steps, Lion in Winter, Dancing at Lughnasa, How I Learned to Drive, Anne of Green Gables, Footloose, Angels in America – Part 1 & 2; Hamlet, King Lear, Coriolanus, The Foreigner, Million Dollar Quartet, The Nether, Midsummer Night’s Dream, Beggar’s Opera, Mozart & Salieri, Anne of Green Gables, Footloose, Big, Happy Place, Refuge; Straight White Men…To Name a Few
TAYLOR MACKINNON – Assistant Stage Manager
Taylor is thrilled to be a part of this production ofInstantaneous Blue. Taylor is a proud graduate of the Technical Theatre program at Capilano University. They have previously worked on Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls(Carousel Theatre for Young People),Lights(Touchstone Theatre),We the Same(Ruby Slippers Theatre),Steel Magnolias(Boone Dog Productions),The Twelve Dates of Christmas(The Arts Club), andJoseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat(Gateway Theatre).
TERESA TROVATO – Publicist.
Teresa Trovato has twenty-three years of experience as a publicist in the arts and entertainment industry. Based in Vancouver, B.C., she has worked on national events including festivals, music tours, and comedy tours. Over the past seven years, Teresa has turned her focus to the arts and has worked for various organizations including Firehall Arts Centre, MADE | NOUS, Mitch and Murray Productions, SFU Woodward’s Cultural Programs, Some Assembly Theatre Company, and more. www.teresatrovato.com
KATE CRAVEN – Operations.
This is Kate’s seventh show behind the scenes for Mitch and Murray Productions.
A theatre and film / tv actor, select theatre credits include LUNGS (Mitch and Murray Productions), Bull (Made it Ma Productions), The Money Shot (A MPD Collective), Here to Eternity (Company E), Chicago, Les Miserables (NTC). Select film / tv credits include Family Law, The Good Doctor, Loudermilk, Batwoman, Chesapeake Shores, When Calls the Heart, Motive, Nutshells, Aurora Teagarden Mysteries, Message in a Bottle, Sweet Baxter Mountain.
Kate is also a burgeoning writer and has developed four screenplays, two stage plays and is working on a series for television.
*What an honour to witness this show from the seeds of thought to the page and onto production. I’m immensely proud of you AC and I’m deeply moved by your vulnerability. Good things love, very good things await.
