CAST
SAMUEL B. BARNES - Harris/Edmund
Originally from Thunder Bay, Ontario, Samuel moved to the west coast in 2003 and finally settled in Vancouver two years ago.  Focusing primarily on film and commercial acting, Sam has gained some amount of fame as 7-11's "Pizza Guy", and has appeared in a number of micro-budget productions; most recently portraying a methadone user in Addict.  After appearing in the 7th annual Walking Fish Festival on Granville Island as Officer Pitt in the darkly satirical The City Green, Sam's love of the stage was renewed. He considers it a great honour to be in this production with such talented people.
SUSAN DALTON - Cassadra Fanny
Most recently Susan has been studying and performing with TOOBA Physical Theatre Centre (Vancouver), earning herself a Certificate of Theatre Performing Arts. With a BA(HONS) specializing in Image, Sound and Performance from Trent University (Ontario), Susan is privileged to have combined the theoretical with the practical in her one woman Corporeal Mime piece, The Leprachauns (TOOBA) and Physical Theatre piece, Your Face Goes Here (Emergency12 Festival).  Having performed in productions such as The Sound of Music (The Anne Shirley Theatre Co.), St.Joan of the Stockyards  (Theatre Trent) and A Doll’s House (Champlain Theatre) Susan is pleased to revisit traditional theatre with a great, local theatrical of Jane Austen’s influence.
JULIE FARR - Maid/ASM
Julie is very happy to be apart of Theatrics with such a wonderfully merry troop! Having just Assistant Directed and ASM'd The Vertical Hour with United Players, a lot of days this fall have been spent in this wonderful theatre space! After training at the Atlantic Theatre Company in NYC and moving to Vancouver in July, she's excited to find out what lies ahead. See her next with the UBC V-Day Vagina Monologues.
thejuliestories.blogspot.com
JAMES GILL - Edgerton/Rushworth
James Gill is delighted to appear in another of Jane's holiday theatricals, having previously appeared in Jane Austen's Holiday Fayre and Looking for Mr. Darcy.  James appeared at Jericho last season as Wilde in The Invention of Love and as Sir Jolly Jumble in The Soldier's Fortune (UnitedPlayers).
FRANCES HERZER - Philadelphia/Lady Bertram (Assistant Director)
Frances is truly delighted to be working with Joan in another Jane Austen production.  In past years she has enjoyed accompanying the cast on the harpsichord, but this time she doesn't get to touch the keys.  However,  she makes up for it!  How?  Ah!  Just sit back and enjoy another evening with the Austen family.... and wait!
KATHERINE HILL - Jane/Maria
Katherine Hill is an actor, writer, director and producer.  New to the theatre scene in Vancouver, Katherine is originally from England where which she obtained her B.A. Honours in Film & Theatre and played leading roles in theatrical productions of Macbeth, The Visit and The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui.  Since moving to Vancouver, Katherine continued her studies at The Vancouver Film School and has since worked on a number of independent films, some of which she has directed and produced.  She recently began writing screenplays and received her first nomination for best screenplay at an LA film festival.  Her latest script is currently in pre-production.  In the last few years of being in Canada, Katherine has taught acting, speech & dramatic arts and dialects and is the co-founder of EVE Entertainment Inc. established in 2009.  Her passion and determination shines through every project that she is a part of and wholeheartedly commits every step of the way.
MELISSA OEI - Eliza/Mary
Melissa is incredibly excited to be stepping into the world of Jane Austen, one of her favourite writers. Some of Melissa’s most beloved roles include Barbara Villanueva in Dogeaters , Miss Adelaide in Guys and Dolls (Studio 58), Ado Annie in Oklahoma! (TUTS), Lady Macbeth in Macbeth (Kaleidoscope), two seasons as Mrs. Mayor in Seussical! the Musical, and most recently the Mother in Love You Forever…and More Munsch (Carousel Theatre). Melissa is a graduate of Studio 58 and the recipient of the Aida Broadbent Award (TUTS) and the Antony Holland Scholarship (Studio 58), for Outstanding Performance, Professionalism, and Dedication to the craft of Theatre.
JOHN-DAVID PAPP - James/Henry
Originally from Dawson Creek, BC (nothing to do with the television show!), David had long dreamed of something bigger than the smalltown existence he had grown up in.  From an early age, he displayed a vivid imagination and a passion for constantly trying new things.  At the age of 16, he came to stay with his uncle in Vancouver and attend a 2 week acting workshop at the Vancouver Film School.  He had taken drama classes in the past but it was during that summer that he simultaneously fell in love with acting and the City of Vancouver.  David is a graduate of the Vancouver Film School Acting for Film and Television Program and, after a brief absence from the business, is back and hungrier than ever for the career that awaits him.  A special thanks to his family, friends, all the talented teachers and coaches that he has had the pleasure of working with and most of all to his Dad Ken who he misses deeply and wishes could be here to see this.
TONY REIN - Edward/Yates
A graduate of Queen's University where he majored in drama, Tony is veteran of stand-up comedy and musical theatre, having performed at Yuk-Yuks and the Limelight dinner theatre. He has played the roles of Jesus in Godspell, Nathan in Guys and Dolls, M. Argan in The Imaginary Invalid, Sonny in Grease and Willie the Space Freak in the Unseen Hand, amongst others. Tony has appeared previously on the Jericho Arts Centre stage in the recent United Players production of The Way of the World, and also is looking forward to appearing in United Players' upcoming production of Ivanov at JAC. Tony is also the writer of Archie, the Musical (book, lyrics & music), Jack the Ripper (music & lyrics) and The 3rd Degree (book. lyrics & music)
DIANA SANDBERG - Mrs. Austen/Mrs. Norris
Diana loves to sing and dance and play; growing up has never been a serious option.  Previously seen at Jericho in The Lady's Not For Burning, Women Take Power, and Regency Revels; other recent appearances include being a Dainty Little Fairy for North Shore Light Opera's Iolanthe, Gloucester for The Shakespeare Centre's King Lear, and Nan in Metro's Autumn Maneuvers.  As always, grateful thanks are due to her dear family and friends for their indulgence in her indulgences.
MELODY SCHAAL - Elizabeth Bigg/Julia
Melody Schaal hails from Toronto, where her love of theatre was  instilled at a young age. She attended Bishop's University in Lennoxville, QC  where she performed roles such as Titania in A Midsummer Night's  Dream, Desdemona in Goodnight Desdemona, Good Morning Juliet, and  Falourdel in The Hunchback of Notre Dame. After graduating with  a BA in Theatre, she returned home only to have a quick turn around and head  down to Melbourne to perform in the Melbourne International Comedy Festival,  with her sketch comedy group Toronto On Top!. Following a successful 4 week run in the festival (and after some much deserved traveling), Melody found herself in Vancouver. This is her first production with Vital Spark Theatre  and is very excited to be a part of it!
PAUL TOOLAN - Mr. Austen/Sir B./Carpenter
Paul has appeared in several Vital Spark productions, among them Socrates and By Some Divine Mistake. In addition he took part in The Invention of Love mounted by United Players this past spring. He also played in Regency Revels which which was a forerunner of  Theatrics At Mansfield Park playing as it did in the time of the New Year a few years back. It was also directed by Joan Bryans.
DANIEL UNRUH - Francis/Tom
Daniel Unruh studied theatre at UBC, where among other roles he portrayed sad-sack cannon-fodder Mouldy in The Falstaff Project and bear-proof-suit designer extrordinaire Troy Hurtubise in Bear.  He last appeared in Vancouver in Arsenic and Old Lace at the Metro Theatre as Officer Brophy.  He has just returned from completing his MA in Classics at the University of Western Ontario. He is also a playwright and director, with work performed at the Walking Fish Festival and at the Fringe. He is delighted to be living in the regency once again
PRODUCTION TEAM
JOAN BRYANS - Creator/Director
Joan is delighted to return to the Austen household once more and is reveling in its accompanying customs, poetry, prose  and song.  She is so grateful to the extremely talented bunch who make up this production team, both on stage and off, for helping her create this show for your enjoyment.  May it encourage you to read Mansfield Park and perhaps pick up a poetry book.
JOHN MEGELLA - Stage Manager
After a 12 year hiatus from theatre, Jon came to ASM for United Players' There Came a Gypsy Riding at Jericho Arts Centre.  Jon returns for his second show at JAC, Theatrics at Mansfield Park, and has the honour of working again with Joan Bryans.
PAT UNRUH - Musical Director/Musician
Pat is a specialist in early music, and has performed on viola da gamba and  medieval vielle in Canada,  the UK, France and the USA.  She is a founder-member of Anima Medieval Music Duo, and plays and arranges for Victoria's Ensemble Laude Women's Medieval Choir.  Pat is Music Director for Vancouver's Historical Performance Ensemble, a dance and theatre group specializing in the Renaissance, Baroque and 19th century periods.  She indulges her love of Renaissance and Jacobean pops with her group Light-o' Love.  Pat has been a sessional instructor in Medieval Music History at UBC's School of Music and gives frequent talks and performance workshops.  She has three cds and has been recorded on CBC.   In the past few years, Pat has enjoyed providing music for theatre, with composition and arrangements for The Cherry Orchard (Telus Theatre at the Chan Centre), The Taming of the Shrew (Savage God) The Feigned Courtesans (United Players) and several Shakespeare plays set in modern times.       
CATHERINE E. CARR - Costume Designer
This is Catherine’s fourth Vital Spark production as costume designer, having previously worked on Two Years in Nicola, By Some Divine Mistake, and Socrates on Trial.  Catherine is costume supervisor for United Players of Vancouver and has worked on many of their productions over the past twelve years, most recently as costume designer for last season’s There Came a Gypsy Riding.  Other credits include:  Lucky Stiff (Triptych Theatricals); The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui (Mentors Co-op).  Catherine is a graduate of UBC (Italian and English) and VCC`s Fashion Arts Certificate Program.
MIMI ABRAHAMS - Lighting Designer
Mimi has been designing sets and lights all of her adult life. In Vancouver, you may have seen Mary Zimmerman’s Metamorphoses (set, lights), Hoarse Raven’s Saltwater Moon (set, lights), Kindertransport (set), or various shows at the Vancouver Theatre Sports League (lights) Mimi is a graduate of the theater design-technology conservatory at Purchase College, and is always amused at the reaction she gets when she tells people that she is from New York. Mimi is at heart a nature-lover and draws much of her inspiration from Vancouver’s beautiful surroundings.
DARREN W. HALES - Sound Designer
Darren is thrilled to be working with Joan and Vital Spark once again.  Recent projects include lighting and technical direction for Evil Dead: The Musical (DSR Productions) and Flower Drum Song (VACT), lighting for Dial M for Murder (Metro Theatre), lighting/sound/technical direction for Two Years in Nicola, lighting for Birthright, sound for By Some Divine Mistake and Socrates on Trial (Vital Spark), lighting for Coram Boy and There Came a Gypsy Riding (United Players), Company (Arts Club), Hockey Mom, Hockey Dad and The Dishwashers (Arts Club 2005 Jessie Nominee).  Darren is the head electrician for the Arts Club Theatre’s Granville Island Stage.
- Props
JOE BELANGER - Set co-ordinator
With close to a half-century as a theatre patron behind him, Joe Belanger volunteered to join the construction crew at the Jericho Arts Centre.  A career as a teacher of English is not a great background for a construction crew member, but it turns out that one of the greatest assets that a volunteer can have is a half-ton truck.  After 27 years of teaching at UBC, Joe’s best-before date expired and he found himself with free time to baby-sit his six-year-old granddaughter, to work with doctoral students at SFU as an Adjunct Professor, and to import from Australia resource books for teachers of English and retail them across Canada.