Meet our staff and board

Phil (they/she) is an actor/scenic painter/production manager/theatre rat who grew up in England and Egypt. Some say they left home after the stress of Brexit greyed their hair. Others say they’re being denied Canadian citizenship due to a disinterest in poutine. But almost everyone agrees that they “need a real winter jacket”. Phil is best known for their time as General Manager of Saskatoon Summer Players, as well as their performances in The Rocky Horror Show, Avenue Q (Pplrppl Productions); Sweeney Todd, Into The Woods (Saskatoon Summer Players). Above all else, she is passionate about building better theatre practices, where every worker is valued as much as their work. It’s a value she knows Anita equally shares and is one of the many reasons she loves working at 25th Street Theatre.

Katie Blackburn-Dust (she/her) is an emerging theatre artist living and working on Treaty 6 territory. She holds a BFA in Acting from the University of Saskatchewan, though loves to wear many hats in theatre – including lighting design and stage management. Recent projects include: The Herd, Stones in his Pockets (Lighting Apprentice – Persephone Theatre), A Winter’s Tale: Season of Light (Lighting Designer – Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan Site Lighting), Jonas and Barry in the Home, Jack and the End of the World, and The Curst (Stage Manager – Dancing Sky Theatre). Catch Katie’s work as a lighting designer this summer with Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan’s As You Like It. When not in or around the theatre, you can find Katie obsessing over some Star Trek or somewhere on a horse. She is thrilled to be back at 25th Street Theatre for the 2023 Fringe and can’t wait to work with the coolest volunteers around. See you at the Fringe!

Drew Mantyka (He/Him) is a Saskatoon based actor, director, playwright, physical theatre creator, and producer. Drew is also the Co-founder of Saskatoon theatre company Wonder City Collective and is the president of Live Five Independent Theatre. Drew is delighted to be doing anything related to theatre, working in the world that fills his soul. When not doing theatre Drew can be found teaching his cat to hunt toy fish, pretending to be sick for medical students and admiring pictures of baby ducks. Drew would like to thank his family, his wife and his cat for supporting him in all he does.

Jalisa is a Saskatoon-based theatre artist, balancing many hats on their head and wearing the occasional red nose on their face. Working as a Stage Manager, Production Manager, Performer, Emerging Playwright and one-half of a clown duo: Oblong & Oboe. They hold a BFA in Acting from the University of Saskatchewan and have trained at the Manitoulin Conservatory for Creation and Performance. Her work has taken her to stages and parks throughout Saskatchewan, Alberta and BC. She has been a part of the Saskatoon Theatre scene for 10 years in different capacities, working with 25th Street Theatre, Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan, SUM Theatre, Persephone Theatre, and Hardly Arts: Short Cuts Festival. Happy Fringe to all!

Jenna is excited to take on the role of volunteer coordinator this summer! Having prior experience with fringe both as a performer and a volunteer, she is excited to work with the folks who make The Fringe come alive! She is a recent graduate from the University of Saskatchewan with a B. Ed from the College of Education. Currently, she is a substitute teacher with Saskatoon Public Schools. She has had a passion for the arts since she was young and looks forward to working alongside the volunteers and artists this summer! She is excited to see new faces and continue to work with the amazing volunteers from years past! Application for volunteers are open now!

With two decades of experience in mainstream media, first as a reporter and on-air host and then as a publicist and communications specialist, and a lifetime as a fan of live performance and creativity, Britainy Zapshalla is proud to be part of the 25th Street Theatre team as it continues to reimagine the possibilities of theatre with the Fringe Festival and mainstage shows.

As graduate of the University of Regina School of Journalism, Britainy quickly made a name for herself working with CBC Saskatchewan as a community and features reporter, on-air host and arts specialist. From the Junos Awards to the Brier, Provincial and Federal Elections to the Canadian Country Music Awards she knows what it’s like to work at major events, live on national tv.

When she left the CBC, Britainy decided it was time to put her experience to work in the community. In addition to 25th Street Theatre, her clients include the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra, Dancing Sky Theatre, Sum Theatre, the Saskatoon Summer Players, the Station Arts Centre, Sum Theatre, the Red, White, & You! Comedy Tour, Persephone Theatre, The National Arts Centre and many independent artists throughout our province.

Britainy continues to work within the mainstream media as a freelance contributor. She is seen regularly on CTV Morning Live and has written for the Saskatoon Star Phoenix, Toast Magazine and her own arts blog britspicks.com.  Britainy also works as a media educator with organizations like the Saskatoon Public Library and the Global Gathering Place to teach them how to put their best foot forward in the interview setting.

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BFA in Acting U of S, MFA in Creative Writing UBC, Clare has been working in and around theatre for the past several decades. A founding member of Live Five, she has held various artist-in-residence positions around the province. Clare loves to teach adults and kids alike and spent nearly 8 years at the Saskatoon Public Library doing storytimes and puppet shows for Library goers. She got her start writing and performing plays at the 25th Street theatre Hericane Women’s theatre Festival over 20 years ago and spent some years doing Fringe theatre in Saskatoon and across Canada. Her present focus is on writing plays and Dramaturgy. She lives in Saskatoon with her husband, two kids and three dogs.

Wendy is a Chinese queer woman who was born and raised on Treaty 6 Territory in Outlook, Saskatchewan. She received her Bachelor of Education in 2015 and did not take the traditional classroom route after graduating but instead took her skills to provide workshops to non-profits, businesses, and corporations about 2SLGBTQ topics. She is now the Equity and Inclusion Coordinator at Saskatchewan Intercultural Association.

Greg Burroughs was raised in Saskatchewan and graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with a Bachelor of Science.

Upon returning to Saskatoon, after living in British Columbia and Nicaragua, he volunteered in various Saskatoon community organizations.  He was an avid supporter of the Saskatoon Fringe Festival and those experiences led him to join 25th Street Theatre’s board in 2014 and has been the Chair since 2020.

Greg is a strong believer in the importance of the arts to reflect, inform and entertain our society and is excited about the future of this organization.

Morag Embleton Kimpton was born and raised in Saskatoon and graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Marketing and Finance. A twenty-five-year sales professional, she has worked in several fields including food service and OTC pharmaceuticals.

Morag has been involved with several volunteer boards including her children’s SCC and fundraising committees and twelve years with the Brevoort Park Community Association as Indoor Coordinator and Events Coordinator.

Morag has always been a strong supporter and believer in the arts and that the world would be a far less magical place without them. She is looking forward to helping continue that magic in Saskatoon by joining the 25th Street Theatre board.

Nathan Sgrazzutti is a recent Saskatoon transplant having moved North from Regina only a couple of years ago. Nathan is a legal professional specializing in Employment, Labour, and Corporate Law with Seiferling Law. Nathan holds a B.B.A. with a major in Finance, and expects to complete his Juris Doctor in Spring of 2024. Alongside a history of board governance participation, Nathan enjoys performing live onstage in various musical theatre productions, playing rugby with the Saskatoon Gophers RFC, and relaxing at home with his cat, Cher. Nathan is ecstatic to have the opportunity to lend his unique background and governance experience to the 25^th Street Theatre organization.