Apply to the 23/24 Playwrights Unit now! Chromatic Theatre is so excited to Introduce our 2023/24 Playwrights Unit Cohort! Take some time and get to know each playwright Program Alia Sofia Mara Nakota Tech & Design Actors Directors Stage Manager: Sabrena Shah Baigzada Tech/Design help: Natalia Cortes Dramaturg/ Producer: Kodie Rollan Tania Alvarado Filsan Dualeh Sunny Faust Amy On Tiffany Thomas Keshia Cheesman Javier Vilalta Marshall Vielle Jenna Rodgers Roma Inspired by the playwrights time as a transient muralist working at and living in a Roman Hotel, “Roma” follows a series of intimate, confrontational, and often humorous events shared between international guests and workers. Narrated by a jaded yet brutally honest Turkish handyman, the hotel's longest-standing resident, who critically observes how love and connection flourish in defiance of language, culture, and time barriers. Alia Aluma is an award-winning artist, designer, and writer who works in various industries, including academia, philanthropy, and creative. She has lived, worked, and studied on three different continents, gaining notable experiences with the fashion and fine art networks of Hong Kong, as a muralist in Italy, a fashion photographer in England, and creative director, curator, and designer in Calgary, AB. With three degrees from top ranked global universities, Alia also devotes a great deal of time to education as a public speaker, guest instructor, or mentor in her fields of study: Art & History, Communications, Commerce, Film, and World Culture. Her global and enriching experiences have lent her toward a pursuit in philanthropy where she works with organisations that support youth through mentorship and fundraising, and is in the early stages of starting the Aluma Scholarship Foundation with her father, a leader within his community, and twin brother, while also donating hundreds of hours to in-kind services annually. @aliaaluma Death and The Poet Death and grief are parts of life we can’t escape, no matter how fast we run. In this theatre and movement show, we follow the Poet as they navigate encountering, accepting, and eventually befriending Death. Drawing from the playwright’s Mexican cultural understanding of Death, this show is a love letter to living, grieving, and making art to make sense of the world. Content Warning: explicit descriptions of death, mentions of sexual and gender violence, mentions of suicidal ideation Sofia Huarte Aguilar (they/them) is a first generation Mexican immigrant residing in Moh’kins’tsis, and pursuing a combined degree in Drama and Philosophy at the University of Calgary. Also an activist and a student organizer, Sofia’s artistic and academic practice revolves around constructing radical pedagogical tools for performance. They are deeply passionate about diversifying the theatre, and utilizing it as a critical tool for liberation. Their recent acting credits include Argonautika, directed by Randi Edmundson at the SCPA, and Hookman, directed by Jenna Rodgers and produced in collaboration with Chromatic Theatre and the SCPA. @sofia_huarte18 The Eaten A bachelorette party rents a house in the country for a weekend of salacious revelry. However, unknown to them, the owner of the house has different, more sinister plans in mind. The party goes rapidly sideways in this absurdist dark comedy. Content Warning: Misogyny, Misogynistic/derogatory language, Profanity, Transphobia, Sexual content and language, and Violence Mara Teare is an emerging interdisciplinary artist. Originally from Saskatoon, she has recently found a new artistic home in Calgary. She made her Calgary debut as Mowgli in Alberta Theatre Projects production of The Jungle Book. Graduating from the National Theatre School of Canada's acting program, Mara is dedicated to amplifying marginalized voices through her work. She's eager to develop her skills as a writer. Her stage credits include; The Jungle Book (Alberta Theatre Projects), Crypthand (Gale Force Theatre), Cymbeline (Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan), Everybody, Indecent (National Theatre School), and Young Ones (SUM Theatre). Additionally, she has written one previous play sad girls watch The Princess Bride. @marateare Tale of Two Spirits ‘Tale of Two Spirits’ is a weird, potentially confusing, and funny story about the friendship and connection of two souls, Sunny and Starr, in a universe filled with supernatural wonder and chaos Content Warning: Strong Language Nakota Starr Tobias (they/them) is a Queer Trans Two-Spirit Indigenous actor and playwright currently residing in Calgary, Alberta but is from Treaty 6 Territory, and is Nakota Sioux/Anishinaabe Ojibwe. They are in their 3rd year of a Bachelor in Fine Arts degree, mainly focusing on acting but interested in writing as well. They aim to tell stories of joy, connection, and love through the lens of their intersectional identities, whether this is through bringing it to life as an actor or being the one to write the story themself. Which has motivated and encouraged them to write their play Wild Spirits, that is somewhat based on one of their friendships and has aspects of their personal experience entwined within. They also strive to inspire and uplift the generations to come, and bring forth representation they never had growing up. @theweirdonamedkoda

Apply to the 23/24 Playwrights Unit now! Chromatic Theatre is looking for applications from writers/creators who identify as being Indigenous, Black, or a Person of Colour from all levels of experience for our eight annual Playwrights Unit. At Chromatic Theatre we are dedicated to developing and supporting work by and for the wide breadth of cultural diversity that exists in our province. We are excited for the seventh iteration of our Playwrights Unit that will bring together IBPOC playwrights/creators from Mohkins’tsis (Calgary) and surrounding areas, with the aim of strengthening our community, and investing in new Canadian plays. If you have any questions about the application or have barriers to applying through this google form, please contact Artistic Director, Kodie Rollan at kodie@chromatictheatre.ca Deadline: August 31, 2026 Please send applications through this Google Form If you have any questions, feel free to contact our Artistic Director, Kodie Rollan, at kodie@chromatictheatre.ca PDF Posting As a part of the Chromatic Theatre Playwrights Unit, you will: Attend one digital group meet and greet in September 2026 Attend a total of eight group workshops between November 2026 - May 2027 Receive up to seven one-on-one dramaturgical sessions with Artistic Director, Kodie Rollan Receive a workshop of your script with an ensemble of actors between May 31st - June 12th, 2027 Receive a public, in-person reading of your script, performed by an ensemble of professional actors, culminating at the end of the May 31st - June 12th, 2027 workshop weeks. (Playwrights will be required to be available during these two weeks). Build community with other racialized writers Receive an honorarium of $1,000 CAD (+GST if applicable). Applications Accepted via Google Forms Within it, applicants must answer questions pertaining to: A description of the writing project you will be working on as part of the playwrights unit Why you would like to be part of the Playwrights Unit, what you hope to get out of the residency, and why you think you’d be a good fit to work with Chromatic Theatre. (Applicants are encouraged to read our organization’s mandate so they can be aware of the work that Chromatic Theatre does). Applicants will also be asked to upload one (1) PDF document including Your CV (maximum 2 pages) A writing sample that is a maximum of 15 pages. We also welcome writing samples from other mediums (essays, short stories, poetry, etc.). Accessibility If written applications present a barrier for you, please contact us and and we can determine an alternate application option (including but not limited to in-person/ digital meeting, voice recordings, video submissions, etc.) Note Please note that applicants do not need to apply with a complete draft of a play. You can apply even if you have an idea of a play/ live theatre creation in mind! Please note that at this time we are only considering local artists as we are unable to financially support any travel or accommodations throughout the residency, including the in-person workshops. If you have any questions, feel free to contact our Artistic Director, Kodie Rollan, at kodie@chromatictheatre.ca

A Co-Production by Chromatic Theatre & Handsome Alice Theatre Runs October 28, 2026 - November 7, 2026 The Victor Mitchell Theatre at the Pumphouse Theatre (2140 Pumphouse Ave SW, Calgary, AB T3C 3P5) Tickets Inspired by the chilling folktale of St. Nicholas and the Evil Butcher, Little Elves is a bold new musical that reimagines a centuries-old legend through a contemporary lens. After escaping the clutches of a murderous butcher, three young elves find themselves hunted in a town where prejudice outweighs justice and survival demands impossible choices. Blending haunting folk-inspired music, striking puppetry, dark humour, and powerful storytelling, Little Elves transforms a familiar legend into an unforgettable tale of resilience, identity, and the stories history chooses to tell. As truth becomes increasingly blurred, the musical asks a haunting question: when the world is determined to see you as the villain, how far will you go to survive? Set around the warmth of a campfire yet steeped in gothic folklore, Little Elves reinterprets the original miracle of St. Nicholas by centering three young Asian women whose act of self-defence is rewritten as legend. Rather than a simple tale of good and evil, the musical examines who gets to tell history, whose lives are deemed worthy of saving, and how myth can be used to justify injustice. Through its richly textured score—drawing from folk, country, and contemporary pop influences— and its evocative visual world of eerie puppets and folklore-inspired design, Little Elves explores themes of justice, vengeance, systemic racism, abolition, faith, and the enduring legacy of anti-Asian discrimination in Turtle Island (North America). Both thrilling and deeply moving, it invites audiences to question the myths we inherit and the truths we choose to believe. Performances (Three tiers of tickets - $15, $20, $50 + showpass fees) Wednesday, October 28 @ 7:30pm - OPENING NIGHT Thursday, October 29 @ 7:30pm Friday, October 30 @ 7:30pm - BROWN OUT NIGHT PERFORMANCE • Learn More Saturday, October 31 @ 2:00pm - ACCESSIBLE & MASKED PERFORMANCE Saturday, October 31 @ 7:30pm Tuesday, November 3 @ 7:30pm Wednesday, November 4 @ 7:30pm Thursday, November 5 @ 7:30pm Friday, November 6 @ 7:30pm Saturday, November 7 @ 2:00pm - ACCESSIBLE & MASKED PERFORMANCE Saturday, November 7 @ 7:30pm - CLOSING NIGHT CAST: Selina Wong - Colette Safia Comtois-Mohamad - Toni Isabella Pedersen - Abby Raeff Fontaine - the Butcher/ the Bishop/ the Constable MUSIC TEAM: Kathy Zaborsky - Production Music Director & Pianist Gus Rendell - Guitar & Banjo player Tobi Sinclair - Percussionist Seanne Buenafe - Copyist CREATIVE TEAM: Kodie Rollan - Book writer/ Lyricist/ Co-Director Alixandra Cowman - Composer/ Lyricist/ Sound Designer Jenna Rodgers - Co-Director/ Dramaturg Serena Lemire - Stage Manager Sabrena Shah Baigzada - Assistant Stage Manager Ajay Badoni - Production Manager/ Technical Director Julia Kim - Set & Costume Designer Ali DeRegt - Puppet Designer Lyall Jovie - Lighting Designer Brianna Johnston - Fight Director Jocelyn Mah - Movement Consultant Abigail Monarrez - Puppet Assistant & Puppeteer Meg Farhall - Producer

Chromatic Theatre is a theatre company that develops, supports, and creates space for racialized theatre artists in Moh'kins'tsis (Calgary). Learn More Get Involved Charitable Status Update Learn More Call For Board Members Learn More Past Shows Learn More Hucksterland Learn More Learn More Kisapmata Learn More Learn More Sign Up STATIC: A Party Girl's Memoir Learn More Contact Us Directly! Artistic Director Associate Producer Marketing General Email Name* Email* Subject* Write a message* Send Subscribe to Our Newsletter Enter your email here Sign Up Thanks for submitting!

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Kodie Rollan Artistic Director Kodie Rollan is a Philippine-born, Scarborough-raised, Mohkinstsis (Calgary)-based playwright, dramaturg, lyricist, arts leader and producer. He is a passionate community-builder and always aims to create spaces for shared storytelling and arts equity within the nonprofit sector. As a storyteller, Kodie is drawn towards explorations of justice within racialized bodies and how we can move towards more abolitionist futures. He is proud to have worked with a variety of theatre companies in both Alberta and Ontario in a variety of capacities. Some of these companies include Downstage Theatre, Alberta Theatre Projects, Lunchbox Theatre, Swallow-A-Bicycle, Alberta Workers Health Centre, fu-Gen Theatre, Carlos Bulosan Theatre, Prime Mover Theatre and The Musical Stage Company. He has also worked on a national scale as a dramaturg in his previous role as the Associate Dramaturg at the Banff Playwrights Lab. Select Playwright credits include: G_OAT Debate featured as part of Lunchbox Theatre’s 2024 Stage One Festival of New pLAYS, The Watchdog Society featured in staged readings with Chromatic Theatre and Carlos Bulosan Theatre, Destination Wedding! Co-created with Jennifer Villaverde and Maria Aragon presented by Sheridan College and The Musical Stage Company, and Alberta Kitchen Party co-created with Alixandra Cowman, Anna Dalgleish, Daniel Fong, Jeremy Carver James, Joe Slabe, and Emiko Muraki, with contributions from Darcy Evans, Tiffany Thomas, and Tenaj Williams presented at Alberta Theatre Projects. Alberta Kitchen Party received two Betty Mitchell Award wins for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble, Outstanding Music Direction, and Outstanding Production of a Musical. Kodie is also one of the recipient of Theatre Alberta’s 2023 Michelle Dias Community Service Award. Select Dramaturgy credits include: Static: A Party Girl’s Memoir by Ashley King, Kisapmata by Bianca Miranda, which won the Oustanding New Play Award at the 2024 Betty Mitchell Awards. He received his Bachelor of Arts (Honours) and his Masters in Arts Leadership from Queen’s University. He is currently the Artistic Director of Chromatic Theatre. As an arts educator, he is currently a facilitator of the Rozsa Foundation’s arts management and education programs, and has been a sessional instructor with the University of Calgary. Contact

Past Project Archive 2015 Playwrights Lab Medea Cowboy vs. Samurai Back to Past Projects

The Reading Rainbow Reading Rainbow: Support Us Chromatic Theatre’s “Reading Rainbow” is a play reading series exclusively for artists of colour. The purpose is to bring BIPOC folx in Calgary’s community together to share space, one afternoon at a time. We will sit together and read a play (generally by a culturally diverse artist), then chat about the play, and get to know one another. It’s an exercise in getting familiar with the canon of culturally diverse works in Canada, and in building community. This is a drop in group – there is no obligation to attend every session. We are generously hosted by Mike Tan Photography, but have currently adjusted to meet digitally due to COVID-19 gathering restrictions. We meet quarterly to read good plays, hang with good people, and enjoy good food together. Sign Up for The Reading Rainbow below! *we ask that only members of the BIPOC community sign up Sign Up Here!

Board Members Call For Chromatic Theatre is currently looking for dedicated, community-minded individuals with a passion for theatre and the arts to join our board of directors. The Chromatic Theatre board of Directors is an advisory board providing governance support to the company. If you are interested in being part of Chromatic Theatre’s board of directors, please email your CV and a one-page cover letter outlining why you are interested and what you would like to learn and contribute as a member of the board to kodie@chromatictheatre.ca ABOUT THE COMPANY Chromatic Theatre is a Moh’kins’tsis (Calgary) based theatre company that invests in, develops, and supports the work of racialized (IBPOC) artists for racialized communities. Our mandate is to develop and support diverse voices that contribute to an artistic landscape reflecting the spectrum of diversity we see across our country. We do this by creating opportunities for diverse artists and marginalized community groups through the arts and building bridges that span the societal issues and mechanisms that divide us based on cultural identity. We are looking to engage with individuals who: Share the values of labour-centric anti-oppression Have a passion for the creation of care-based environments, especially in the arts/ non-profit sector Have a passion for theatre or an interest in the arts sector in Moh’kins’tsis (Calgary) as a whole Is interested in deepening its practice in decolonization, equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility from a policy and culture-setting standpoint Share a passion for racialized storytelling Can be a strong advocate and champion for the organization’s work and overall culture Prior experience on a board of directors, particularly with organizations or startups that have scaled up their capacities, is an asset but not a requirement. Strong interpersonal skills are a requirement for this position. Roles & Responsibilities Board members are expected to: Be in attendance at 4 - 6 board meetings throughout the year Provide care-centred leadership, governance, and oversight on the theatre company’s activities Be an advocate for the greater community to hold the organization’s leadership accountable to its community-based values and practices. Be an ambassador for the theatre by representing Chromatic Theatre within the community and championing their work Download PDF Download Plain Text Please note that incoming board members will receive onboarding support upon joining the board. The position will remain open until July 1st, 2025 or until suitable candidates are found. This is a volunteer position. If you are interested in being part of Chromatic Theatre’s board of directors, please email your CV and a one-page cover letter outlining why you are interested and what you would like to learn and contribute as a member of the board to Kodie Rollan Kodie@chromatictheatre.ca

10 Years of Chromatic Theatre To mark this monumental milestone, we’re hosting a season-long fundraiser to raise $10,000 throughout our 26/27 10th anniversary season! #10kfor10Yrs Donate! A note from our Founding Artistic Director & Our Current Artistic Director: It's hard to believe that it's been 10 years since Chromatic incorporated. Reflecting on the past decade, I'm incredibly proud of the community of exceptional racialized artists who have contributed their brilliance to our organization. There's such a wealth of talent and generosity in Mohkinstsis and Chromatic has been an incredible avenue through which to meet new people. Theatre is all about building connections through storytelling - and you are all a part of Chromatic's story. Our very first production was almost 12 years ago in the fall of 2014. "Cowboy Versus Samurai" by Michael Golamco - we didn't really know what we were doing, but we had some grant money, an idea, and trust in each other. Perhaps this is the seed of all theatre? We know more now than we did then, but we have a long way to go. There are more stories to tell, more brilliant artists we want to uplift, and more change we want to see in the world. I can't wait to see what Chromatic does in the next 10 years! Jenna Rodgers, Founding Artistic Director It is such an incredible honour to usher in Chromatic’s 10th season! Having grown with the company within my tenure as artistic director, I can’t help but feel proud of our steadfast commitment to the community of racialized artists we have in this city. The past ten years is a true testament to reality that Moh’kins’tsis (Calgary) has a home for racialized artists to share their stories with their communities, and our work is not liability or a “risk”, but rather an opportunity to truly connect with one another. Like many artists, Chromatic Theatre gave me my start. It gave me the opportunity to grow, to dream, and most importantly, to be the artist I’ve always dreamed of being. These are the very same intentions and feelings that we hope to continue evoking as we look towards the next ten years and beyond. We are grateful to all the artists, audiences, and partners who have joined us on this journey. We are humbled by all the stories we have encountered and gotten to share on our stages and in our programs. The roots we are building in this city would not be achieved without the dedication and passion of all of you who are part of Chromatic’s community. So with that, thank you to our community for your continued support. Thank you for making Chromatic a beacon for racialized artists to proudly shout, we are here and our stories matter. Kodie Rollan, current Artistic Director

Jesse Del Fiero Early Career Artist Jesse Del Fierro is a queer, non-binary, Filipinx – Canadian actor, director and theatre creator with the privilege to work in both Moh’kinstsis on Treaty 7 Territory and on the unceded territories of the Coast Salish peoples colloquially known as Calgary AB and Vancouver BC respectively. They hold a BFA in Theatre Performance from Simon Fraser University, and have collaborated on works presented at PuSh International Performance Art Festival, SummerWorks, Audain Gallery and rEvolver Festival amongst others. Their work focuses on centering the artist and valuing process over product and consent over consensus as a radical form of decolonizing their practice – acknowledging that this is a life-long process. Intersectionality is their only reality. As a recipient of BC Art’s Council Early Career Development grant 2020, Jesse is currently under the mentorship of Jenna Rodgers of Chromatic Theatre, and Jivesh Parasram of Rumble Theatre to further develop their skills as director, dramaturg, collaborator and overall badass artistic leader. As Jesse always says, “Honesty is the policy and so is screaming.” Contact

Rebecca Comer Acting Associate Producer Rebecca Comer (she/her) is a theatre creator, performer, and educator. She holds a master’s degree in Theatre Studies from the University of Calgary’s School of Creative and Performing Arts. Her artistic practice includes playwriting, performance creation, and acting. Her focus is on creating work for Black audiences, often exploring vulnerability through autobiographical storytelling. Contact