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Playwright
Rhonda Apetagon is an Indigenous playwright and artist from Northern Manitoba. A proud member of Norway House Cree Nation, she focuses on bringing authentic Indigenous stories and northern lore to the stage. Her work is characterized by atmospheric storytelling and deep explorations of community and connection. In developing the concept for In the Shadow Beyond the Pines, she participated in the Pimootayowin Creators Circle under the mentorship of Governor General Award-winning playwright Ian Ross. Her previous work includes the play Maybe This Afternoon, which was featured in the 2022 Pimootayowin staged readings. Beyond her creative practice, she has served as the Executive Director of the Kinosao Sipi Minisowin Agency, demonstrating a career-long commitment to supporting First Nation families and reclaiming the traditional practices that foster community healing and long-term resilience.
Director / Dramaturg
ROYAL MTC First engagement.
OTHER THEATRE (selected) Directing: Snow White, Celestial Bodies, Beyond Belief, Jordan, The Wolves – META for Outstanding Direction, Megalodon, Perfect Storm, POOF, Selfie (Geordie Theatre). Assistant Directing: Every Brilliant Thing (Segal/Hudson Village). Acting: The Assembly (Porte Parole/Crow’s); Louis Riel (Rustwerk); Art, Feather Gardens (Hudson Village); Halloween Tree (Geordie Theatre); The Flood (Imago); Theatre for One (Centaur); The Breathing Hole, Treasure Island, Romeo and Juliet (Stratford). Playwriting: The Velveteen Rabbit (Geordie 2Play Tour); Feather Gardens – META winner for Outstanding New Text (Hudson Village); Wardo (Repercussion/Native Earth); Sonny’s Way (developed at NTS and Native Earth’s Weesageechak Begins to Dance).
TV Acting: Watio in Mohawk Girls (APTN).
ET CETERA Jimmy’s biggest role is Dad to daughter Indigo and partner to Tania who continue to support his life as a professional make-believer. Kinanaskomitin.
Set Designer
ROYAL MTC Murder for Two, among men (with TPM), Yaga, Bang Bang (with Belfry), Buying the Farm (tour).
OTHER THEATRE Scenery Design: The Undeniable Accusations of Red Cadmium Light (PTE); Frozen, Ma-Buhay! A New Musical (Rainbow); Gas Light (Magnus); Pals, or Scenes from a Friendship (WJT); Twelfth Night, Shakespeare’s Will (SIR); The Prom (Dry Cold). Lighting Design: Ponderosa Pine (PTE); Narrow Bridge (WJT); Antigone (Sick + Twisted); Salt Baby, Lunenburg (Magnus). Scenery and Lighting Design: A Gentlemen’s Guide to Love and Murder (Dry Cold).
TEACHING Associate Professor of Theatre Design in the Theatre and Film department at the University of Winnipeg.
ET CETERA Adam’s ongoing support comes from his wife Tamara and three kids (Mackenzie, Keaton and Harrison) and dog Coco. He is a member of the Associated Designers of Canada.
Costume Designer
ROYAL MTC ELEVATE: Manaaji’idiwin, The Comeback, The Secret to Good Tea.
OTHER THEATRE Blue Beads and Blueberries, Frozen River (MTYP); Tuesdays with Morrie, A Pickle, Pals (WJT); Owl Calling (Root Sky Theatre).
FILM The Nest (National Film Board of Canada).
TRAINING Fashion Design and Apparel Production (MC College); Indigenous Haute Couture Residency (Banff Centre for Arts).
ET CETERA Always a pleasure to work with Royal MTC! Miigwetch/thank you.
Lighting Designer
OTHER THEATRE Stone and Bone Spectacular (Centaur); Cottagers and Indians (Thousand Islands Playhouse); Salvage the Wrecked, Verdigris (NTS); A Midsummer Night’s Dream (John Abbott College Theatre). Assistant Technical Director: Pawâkan Macbeth (Akpik). Lighting Design Associate: Jordan (Geordie). Assistant Set Design: Feather Gardens (Hudson Village).
TRAINING Graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada, John Abbott College and artistic associate at Geordie Theatre.
ET CETERA Bri is a Kanien’kehá:ka theatre artist from Kahnawà:ke who aims to bring more opportunities to her community. Niá:wen Jimmy for having me on the team and for the inspiring way you work. I am grateful.
Sound Designer & Composer
ROYAL MTC ELEVATE: Manaaji’idiwin, The Secret to Good Tea.
ET CETERA 2021 Juno Nominee, 2020 Leo Award Winner for Composer of the Year for Best TV Movie and 1/2 of the multi-award-winning and nominated group Burnstick. Jason’s many accolades also include 2015 Indigenous Music Award winner, 2010 APCA’s Winner, 2009 Jessie Richardson and Dora Nominee, 2007 Juno Nominee and 2006 CAMA Award Winner. A Cree Musician, Singer-Songwriter/Composer based out of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Jason’s musical expression has found its voice in his collection of original vintage 1920s Weissenborn lap slide guitars.
Fight Director
ROYAL MTC Fight Director: Hockey Mom Hockey Dad (Regional Tour), Elf – The Musical, The Secret to Good Tea, New. Assistant Fight Director: The Rez Sisters. Actor: Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, The Three Musketeers, Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley, A Christmas Carol, Alice Through the Looking-Glass.
OTHER THEATRE Fight Director: Volare (PTE). Actor: Jersey Boys (Arts Club); The Three Musketeers (Citadel/Arts Club); A Chorus Line, Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, Little Shop of Horrors, Les Misérables, The Producers (Rainbow); Another Way Home (WJT); A Little Night Music, The Addams Family (Dry Cold); Reefer Madness, American Idiot, Avenue Q (WST); Danny and the Deep Blue Sea (The Keep Theatre).
FILM Actor: Psycho Killer (New Regency); Polarized (Enlightenment Productions); Christmas by Starlight, Merry and Bright (Hallmark).
TRAINING Fight Directors Canada Intermediate Level, Bachelor’s in Vocal Performance from the U of M, Rainbow Stage Training Intensive.
ET CETERA Darren dedicates this performance to his late father, Gary.
Knowledge Keeper
ET CETERA Jhaik Windy Hair is from Cowessess First Nation in Southern Saskatchewan. Jhaik has two daughters and one son, three granddaughters, four grandsons and one great-grandson. Jhaik loves his family as well as his culture. He enjoys adventures with family. Also enjoys learning languages of other First Nations and is fluent in Plains Cree and Saulteaux. He attended University of Regina in the late 1990s earning a degree in Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics. His love for languages and teaching, sharing life lessons, and stories continues each day. He has participated as a storyteller for RIIS From Amnesia, a feature documentary, on the Regina Indian Industrial School, and for The Beacon Project: Stories of Qu’Appelle, a documentary to screen on CBC. He was also a language consultant for the National Film Board short documentary Stories are in our Bones.
Cultural Support
Erin McGregor is a Euro-Settler/Red River Métis writer currently living in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She is also a seasoned professional in the field of Indigenous rights and reconciliation, having worked with and for Métis and First Nations communities in various capacities for over 25 years. Erin obtained a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from the University of British Columbia in 2022. Her first collection of poetry, What Fills Your House Like Smoke (Thistledown Press, 2024) was longlisted for the Gerald Lampert Award, shortlisted for an Indigenous Voices Award, and was a finalist for a High Plains International Book Award.
Apprentice Director
ROYAL MTC Apprentice Director: King James. Apprentice Stage Manager: The Mountaintop.
OTHER THEATRE Stage Management: Macbeth (Black Hole Theatre Co.); Ma-Buhay! The Road to Rainbow Stage (Winnipeg Fringe); Ma-Buhay! A New Musical (Rainbow); Art Holm Series 9 (Art Holm); Rizal workshop (NAC Creators’ Intensive). Directing: The Theory of Everything (Black Hole Theatre Co.); The Gallery Wall (Winnipeg Fringe).
TV Maria and the Mennos (YesTV).
ET CETERA Key is also the Communications and Patron Experience Manager at Theatre Projects Manitoba. Also, special thanks to Robbie Playter!
Stage Manager
ROYAL MTC ASM: Elf – The Musical, Casey and Diana (with TA), Clue (with Grand). Apprentice SM: Yaga, Into the Woods, Network, The Rez Sisters, Orlando.
OTHER THEATRE SM: Merrily We Roll Along (Dry Cold); Hansel & Gretel, Castor et Pollux, Mansplaining Division (MUO); Looking Glass, Season Launch 22/23 (WCD). ASM: Bring It On: The Musical (The Globe); Narnia (Bad Hats/MTYP). Apprentice SM: The Wizard of Oz (Rainbow). Apprentice Lighting Designer: Narrow Bridge (WJT). Production & Tour Coordinator: Seven Visions digital school tour (Sarasvàti). Associate Producer/Sound Design: Othello (Echo). SM/Production Assistant: FemFest 2019 & 2020 (Sarasvàti). Seasonally, the Performer Services Manager for the Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival.
TRAINING U of W Bachelor of Arts Honours – Stage Management, Production and Design. Creative Manitoba Mentorship in Stage Management 2020/21. Mentorship funded by Associated Designers of Canada in Lighting Design 2022/23.
ET CETERA As always, couldn’t do it without my partner, Matt, and cat, Zella.
Apprentice Stage Manager
ROYAL MTC Apprentice Stage Manager: Elf – The Musical, Little Women.
OTHER THEATRE Stage Management: Daredevils, Bloodsuckers! The Musical (Winnipeg Fringe); Kiyanaan Indigenous Theatre Festival (Echo Theatre); Oh, the Humanity and Other Good Intentions (U of W); On the Edge, Concert Hour Ballet, Dance Spectrum (RWB School). Apprentice Stage Management: Merrily We Roll Along (Dry Cold); Romeo & Juliet (RWB); The Little Mermaid (Rainbow).
TRAINING University of Winnipeg Theatre & Film Department.
ET CETERA Recipient of the Jean Murray – Moray Sinclair Scholarship. A huge thank you to everyone at Royal MTC. Thank you to my family, friends and mentors for your love, support and guidance.
Shane
ROYAL MTC First appearance.
OTHER THEATRE This is How We Got Here – nominated for Outstanding Performance (Persephone); Powwow: A Theatrical Production (Gordon Tootoosis Nikaniwin Theatre); Thunderstick (Globe Theatre); Hawk or How He Plays His Song (Onelight Theatre).
FILM/TV Host on The Feather News (APTN); Tim Fontaine in Acting Good (CTV).
Dale
ROYAL MTC The Secret to Good Tea.
OTHER THEATRE Of Mice and Men (Maples Rep Theatre); Where the Blood Mixes (Teesri Duniya Theatre); The Ecstasy of Rita Joe (WCT/NAC); King Lear (NAC); Only Drunks and Children Tell the Truth (Magnus Theatre); Crazy Dave Goes To Town (Centre for Indigenous Theatre); Red Forest (The Young Vic); One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (Alliance Theatre/Crucible Theatre/Flint Rep Theatre); Cottagers and Indians (Persephone/Thousand Islands Playhouse); Feather Gardens (Hudson Village Theatre); Salt Baby (TA); Beautiful Scars: The Musical (TA/upcoming NAC); Mischief (Neptune/Tarragon).
TRAINING York University – BFA Honours (Film & Video). Centre for Indigenous Theatre’s (CIT) full-time conservatory – Indigenous Theatre School.
ET CETERA META Award nomination for Feather Gardens (Hudson Village Theatre), a Wilde Award (Flint Rep Theatre) and Broadway World Award (Alliance Theatre), both for his role in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Jeremy is originally from the community of Neyaashiinigmiing, Ontario. Chi-Miigwetch! jeremy-proulx.com
George
ROYAL MTC Michael in The Secret to Good Tea.
OTHER THEATRE Almighty Voice and His Wife – Dora Nomination for Outstanding Performance, Where the Blood Mixes, King Lear, Our Town (Soulpepper); Hamlet (CS); The Secret to Good Tea (Grand/NAC); The Donnellys Trilogy, Quiet in the Land, Sir John A: Acts of a Gentrified Ojibway Rebellion, Powers and Gloria, Cottagers and Indians, Ipperwash (Blyth); This is How We Got Here (Native Earth Performing Arts).
TV Two seasons as Garth on the cult television series Metropia.
ET CETERA James Dallas Smith is a performer with Ohsweken Mohawk (Turtle Clan) from the Six Nations of the Grand River and Scottish/Irish heritage. He’s thrilled to be returning to Royal MTC.