Meet THE TEAM

 

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OUR STAFF

Anita Smith (she/her) - Artistic & Executive Director

Anita SmithAnita (she/her) is an actor, director, producer, and mother who is also the Artistic & Executive Director of 25th Street Theatre. An active member of the Saskatoon theatre community, Anita is proud to have directed The Art of French Cooking (25th Street Theatre); J. CaesarAs You Like ItDone Undone (Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan); The Birds and the Bees, and The Invisible Girl (Persephone Theatre). She appeared in The RevolutionistsBoeing Boeing, Trout Stanley, Quick Bright Things (Persephone Theatre); Fruitcake (25th Street Theatre); The Penelopiad (Ferre Play Theatre); Twelfth Night, The Winter’s Tale, and Love’s Labour’s Lost (Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan) among others. A passionate feminist, Anita is a founding member of Ferre Play Theatre whose productions of The Penelopiad and Breaking the Curse received a combined seven SATAwards. Anita is proud to be a three time nominee for the SATAward for Excellence in Direction, a recipient of the YWCA Young Woman of Distinction Award and a recipient of the SATAward for Excellence in Leadership.

Philippa Williams (they/she) - Community Relations Manager & Festival Manager

Philippa WilliamsPhil (they/she) is an actor, administrator, scenic painter, production manager, and all-around 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”. Select performance credits include: Hamlet, Done/Undone (SoTS), Lear (GTNT/LTDJ/NNS), Avenue Q, The Rocky Horror Show (Ppl r Ppl Productions); Sweeney Todd, Into The Woods (SSP).
Above all else, Phil 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/they) - Operations Manager

Katie Blackburn-DustKatie Blackburn-Dust is a Lighting Designer, Stage Manager, and Arts Administrator based on Treaty 6 territory in Saskatoon, SK. Katie holds a BFA with Honours in Acting from the University of Saskatchewan, but is happy to have found her home in the theatre behind the scenes – more specifically, in the booth. Select lighting credits include Hamlet, As You Like It (Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan), The Art of French Cooking (25th Street Theatre), and A Winter’s Tale: Season of Light (in collaboration with children of the Jim Pattison Hospital Foundation, Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan site lighting). As a Stage Manager, Katie has worked with theatres across Saskatchewan such as Globe Theatre, Persephone Theatre, Dancing Sky Theatre, 25th Street Theatre, and Live Five Independent Theatre. Katie is proud to be a recipient of the SATAward for Outstanding Emerging Artist and a nominee for the SATAward for Excellence in Design. When not in the theatre, you can find Katie obsessing over some Star Trek or somewhere on a horse! 

Drew Mantyka (he/him) - Production Manager

Drew MantykaDrew Mantyka (He/Him) is a Saskatoon based actor, director, playwright, physical theatre creator, and producer. 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 has appeared as an actor in many productions such as Measure for Measure (The Coterie), Through The WindowQueen Seraphina, and The Land of Vertebraat (SUM Theatre). Drew is also an emerging director who has directed plays including Rooftops, Zastrozzi The Master of Discipline, and The Unforgettables (Live Five). In the theatre Drew can also be found writing, choreographing, and producing to his heart’s content. Drew would like to thank his family and most importantly his wife and cat for supporting him in all he does.

Britainy Zapshalla (she/her) - Media Publicist

Britainy ZapshallaWith 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.

Izzy Smith-Gauld (she/her) - Company Morale Manager

Yip yip, bark bark bark. Ruff.

Meryl Sweep (they/them) - Office Maintenance Manager

Meryl Sweepvvvvrrrr. vrrrrr. vrr vrrrrr.

OUR BOARD

As a registered non-profit in the province of Saskatchewan, 25th Street Theatre is overseen by an elected board of volunteer directors who are caretakers of the organization.

Jennifer Nairn - Chair

Jennifer Nairn has been a teacher with Saskatoon Public Schools since 2006, and has a passion for both teaching and the arts. As an enthusiastic supporter of theatre in Saskatoon she has directed many school plays, taught theatre classes at Persephone and is now a proud member of the 25th Street Theatre board.

Jennifer strongly believes in the positive influence theatre can have on youth and that the arts are such an important piece in a young person’s education.

Jennifer grew up in small town Saskatchewan where her love of theatre and the arts was born. She then moved to Saskatoon to attend the University of Saskatchewan, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts with a major in English and her Bachelor of Education, and has lived here ever since.

Clare Middleton - Vice Chair

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.

Wes Gramiak - Treasurer

Wes is employed at Veterans Affairs Canada after retiring from a rewarding 31 year career with the Canadian Armed Forces.  His interest in performing arts was fostered during his years volunteering in various capacities with the Saskatoon Fringe beginning in 2002.  He joined the Board of Directors in 2019 and is presently the Treasurer of 25th Street Theatre.

He gained valuable board governance experience by serving in a variety of positions up to President with the boards of the Central Saskatchewan Military Family Resource Centre (2004 – 2011) and Greystone Community Association (2006-2014).  His focus is on community engagement, governance, and fiduciary responsibility.

He has earned two degrees from the University of Saskatchewan: Bachelor of Arts (History) and Bachelor of Education.  He is the recipient of the Saskatchewan Centennial medal and Saskatchewan Protective Services medal.

Wendy Li - Secretary

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 - Member at Large

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 - Member at Large

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 - Member at Large

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 25th Street Theatre organization.

EMPloyment opportunities

25th Street Theatre is committed to providing a safe environment for its staff, volunteers, and patrons.

Thank you for your interest in working with us, we are not currently hiring for any positions. Stay tuned!

Questions? E-mail us at info@25thstreettheatre.org

 

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