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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. 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: September 22, 2025 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 October 2025 Attend a total of eight group workshops between October 2025 - May 2026 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 June 9 - 14, 2026 Receive a public, in-person reading of your script, performed by an ensemble of professional actors, culminating at the end of the June 9 - 14, 2026 workshop week. Artistic Directors from the Calgary community will be invited to this showcase. Build community with other racialized writers Receive an honorarium of $1000 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 will also be asked to upload one (1) PDF document including Your CV (maximum 2 pages) A writing sample that is a maximum of 20 pages. We also welcome writing samples from other mediums (essays, short stories, poetry, etc.).

Meet Chromatic Theatre's new 2025 Playwrights Unit Cohort! Melanee Murray-Hunt, Kathleen Faith Ballangan, and Jessica Szeto. Join us for our playwrights unit staged readings! at Theatre 1308 (1308 Edmonton Tr.) Friday - June 12, 2026 at 7:30pm featuring Lucky Essentials by Yan Zhu & Caliban by Sunny Sky Faust Saturday - June 13, 2026 featuring Get Back Home by Ziga Poromon & all the colours of a rupture that shook me to life by Pam Tzeng $10 + ticket fees Ticket Link ABOUT THE PIECES Get Back Home by Ziga Poromon A university student working as a security guard at the Canadian Global Founders Museum encounters a lost woman wandering a private West African exhibition floor after hours. They must help the woman get back home, until she tells them that she is from the exhibitions grand painting. About the playwright Ziga is an Irish-Nigerian-Canadian actor, poet, and writer who is passionate about performing and entertaining audiences. She has written for musical artists, various websites and publications, and is currently developing her first short film. Ziga was part of the 2022 RBC Emerging Playwrights Mentorship Program and received a certificate in Performing Arts from NYU Tisch School of Arts. She has more than 5 years of experience performing in theatre, piano, film, TV, and commercials. She's an undergrad student at the University of Calgary majoring in Law and Society with a minor in Sociology. ᑕᐱᒪᔩᑲᐱᑎ by Sunny Sky Faust ᑕᐱᒪᔩᑲᐱᑎ is an adaptation of The Tempest written by William Shakespeare that focuses on Caliban's character and story by rewriting the humanity back into his character. The play explores what it means to be caught between the binaries of race, gender, and sexuality. How do we find belonging? Why do we make the choices we make? How do we stay true to ourselves? About the playwright Sunny Sky Faust (They/Them) is an emerging Indigiqueer and Two-Spirit artist, writer, and actor. They come from a mixed Indigenous and European heritage with their Woodland Cree roots stemming from Driftpile Cree Nation in Treaty 8. Currently, Sunny resides in Treaty 7 territory. Their passions revolve around the performing and visual arts as they hope to apply themself to both gain new experiences and community. Thus, Sunny wishes to continue their growth as a well-rounded artist to then return the support they have received on their path. all the colours of a rupture that shook me to life by Pam Tzeng all the colours of a rupture of that shook me to life is both a performance installation and a celebration of life memorial event. is a communal gathering to honour the experience of friend breakups. is an invitation to connect to reflect to be with others and collectively hold in awe and reverence, the love and grief held in friendship breakups to witness and/or participate in offerings that acknowledge and create openings for what remains to move and transform. About the playwright Pam Tzeng 曾小桐 (they/she) is a second-generation Taiwanese-Canadian choreographer and interdisciplinary artist based in Mohkinstsis, Treaty 7 Territory. Led by their embodied curiosities, Pam take pleasure in extremes to craft honest, visceral and animated performances and immersive installations. Their work is evolving collection of intimate reflections on the politics of our individual, relational and collective bodies. At the creative heart of their practice is the question: What becomes possible in the felt space of knowing each other as different and the same? For more about what Pam cares about, does and has made or contributed to visit: pamtzeng.com Lucky Essentials by Yan Zhu Lucky Essentials follows the storeowner of a Chinatown Gift Shop on the verge of collapse as she comes up with various schemes to attract business during the booming time of Calgary Stampede. These schemes are viewed by her young employees as morally gray or even outright wrong as they try their best to do damage control. As each character navigates their own path through right and wrong, will they be able to come together to save the gift shop and their jobs About the playwright Yan (she/they) is an actor, writer, director, and filmmaker. As a Chinese settler in Mohkintsis, she aims to use storytelling to explore aspects of her identity and to dramatize and reimagine the world around her. Her process seek to humanize everyday people in her proximity. Outside of messing with different mediums of storytelling, she can be found at your local basketball court, shooting hoops and breaking ankles (maybe). Or otherwise stuffing her face with delicious food and hanging around wherever there's community and good weather. Directors Daniel Fong Get Back Home Valerie Planche ᑕᐱᒪᔩᑲᐱᑎ Gina Puntil all the colours of a rupture that shook me to life Linda Kee Lucky Essentials Actors Devyn Byfield Jocelyn Mah Shasha Shi Sebastian Saloman Arriagada Marshall Vielle in ᑕᐱᒪᔩᑲᐱᑎ Behind The Scenes Abby Monarrez Technical Direction Kodie Rollan Dramaturg Ana Mulino Dramaturg Mentee

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!

Little Elves Book & Lyrics by Kodie Rollan Music & Lyrics by Alixandra Cowman 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) About the Show: Little Elves is a new horror-holiday musical, loosely based on the folktale of St. Nicholas and the Evil Butcher. The original folktale recounts one of St. Nicholas' first miracles where he rescued three children from a butcher's house. It was said that the butcher had cut up the three children and put them in a salting tub and St. Nicholas, by the grace of God, pulled each child out whole and brought them back to their families. Little Elves reimagines this story by transforming our protagonists to three young Asian children, and asks the question, "what if they made up this entire folktale to justify killing their captor from a racist town whose laws would see their act of self-defense as heartless murder?" Within the story, knowing that we see these characters conspire to find a way to cover up their crime and escape from a town that is not so welcoming to them. A reimagining of a folk tale gone wrong, Little Elves brings the audience into a world of lies, deceit and desperation. It explores a variety of intersectional themes among which are interrogations of "justified" vengeance, BIPOC relationships to religion, our ideals of justice, abolitionist interventions within cycles of violence, and the longstanding history of anti-Asian policies and sentiments in Turtle Island (Canada). The music of this piece is deeply rooted in a variety of folk, country, and pop sounds. The overall aesthetic of the piece really leans into the folktale/ spooky stories by the campfire vibe. Overall, this piece asks, "when the odds are stacked against you, what will you do to survive Confirmed Team Members: CAST: Selina Wong as Colette Safia Comtois-Mohamad as Toni Isabella Pedersen as Abby Raeff Fontaine as the Butcher/ the Bishop/ the Constable MUSIC TEAM: Kathy Zaborsky - Production Music Director & Pianist 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 Ajay Badoni - Production Manager/ Technical Director Julia Kim - Set & Costume Designer Ali DeRegt - Puppet Designer Abigail Monarrez - Puppet Assistant & Puppeteer Meg Farhall - Producer

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Winners and Losers by James Long and Marcus Youssef Adapted by Valerie Planche, Makambe K. Simamba and Jenna Rodgers Presented in association with Swallow-a-Bicycle Theatre and Arts Commons Presents Winners and Losers is one part game, one part conversation that leans into our universally flawed human logic, and the desire to win at all costs. Valerie Planche and Makambe K. Simamba, two powerhouse performers at different stages of life and careers, debate whether people, places or things – Robin Williams, camping, Meghan Markle, private schools – are winners or losers. This exploration of female friendships leads us down a spiralling path of staunch sisterhood and deep-seated difference. As the discussion gets personal, how far is too far when confronting deep-seated beliefs? Based on the Governor General Award-nominated text by Marcus Youssef and James Long, this homegrown adaptation – re-written and re-cast with an all-female team – premiered to rave reviews at Toronto’s SummerWorks Performance Festival! “The elemental nature of this show (there is no set, just a simple folding table and two chairs) requires big, engaging performances. Planche and Simamba deliver, making this remount a clear winner.” – Now Magazine “Retained both the humor and all the edge of the original.” – Mooney on Theatre “Lively and revealing work” – Mooney on Theatre “The affection between Planche and Simamba is palpable, and the play is gripping when it’s emotionally bare” – Globe and Mail Back to Past Projects

Cowboy versus Samurai Cowboy Versus Samurai is a modern-day comedic take on the Edmond Rostad classic, Cyrano de Bergerac. Our protagonist Travis Park is the only Korean American in the dusty cowboy town of Breakneck, Wyoming. When the beautiful and clever Veronica Lee moves to town to fill the post of science teacher, he’s immediately smitten – until she reveals that she only dates white men. Travis must choose whether to ally with the “cowboy”: the handsome gym teacher, Del; or the “samurai”: best friend, and militant Asian of unknown origin, Chester. He must choose between the Asian and the American within himself in the pursuit for love that may only be as real as the love letters he writes on behalf of someone else. Produced by Chromatic Theatre Direction by Jenna Rodgers Production Stage Management by Olivia Brooks Set and Costume Design by Jennifer Lee Arsenault Lighting Design by Ian McFarlane Sound Design by Kyle Hinton Cast: Mike Tan Travis Richard Lee Hsi* Chester Carmela Sison* Veronica Mat Glessing Del *Members of the Canadian Actors Equity Association Back to Past Projects

Samuel Kugbiyi Artistic Director Mentee Samuel Kugbiyi is a multidisciplinary artist, storyteller and arts administrator who blends writing, voice acting, visual arts and technical skills such as audio editing, sound design, and directing to create impactful narratives. As a versatile creative, he has contributed his talents to a range of projects, from theatre and film, to radio and audio dramas and to animation. Samuel had his art exhibition in Calgary in December 2024 with the Emmedia Gallery & Production Society. Notably, Samuel was the voice of the beloved character Toye in the animated worldwide phenomenon “Iyanu" which is airing on Showmax , ITVX, HBO Max and Cartoon Network. Samuel also published his book “Grim Africana” an African horror anthology in the summer of 2025. In 2019, Samuel co-founded SAK Productions, a media production company dedicated to crafting stories that inspire and connect audiences. Through this venture, he has partnered with esteemed organizations like UNESCO and Global Rights, contributing to projects that resonate on a global scale. Samuel is also currently enjoying his residency at Chromatic as an Artistic Director Mentee. Contact

Chromatic Theatre offers a variety of Anti-Racism facilitation specifically for arts organizations. We are a team of artists with a myriad of training who specialize in workshops that can help your team assess individual and organizational equity. Anti-Racism Facilitation Chromatic Theatre offers a variety of Anti-Racism facilitation specifically for arts organizations. We are a team of artists with a myriad of training who specialize in workshops that can help your team assess individual and organizational equity. We are justice-minded, and have received training from artEquity , Zenev and Associates , and the Ad Hoc Assembly . We aim to integrate artistic practice into all facets of our work. If you aren’t sure what you need or what it costs, please be in touch. We can work to customize an offering, and tell you more about our fees. Contact Us Workshops From half-day to week-long, we can customize a workshop to your organization’s needs. Our teams of two-facilitators can lead groups of up to 40 participants. Events Our facilitators are trained in public speaking, particularly around intersections of identity, equity, justice, anti-racism, and creative practice. We are also open to speaking to Boards of Directors. Consultation Looking for a deeper dive? One of our facilitators can do an organizational assessment and help you connect with the right people and tools to build a comprehensive plan tailor-built for your needs.

The Green Line April 3, 2030 During the Lebanese Civil War, Naseeb wants his sister to withdraw from her university studies and move to the mountains. But Mona is secretly falling in love with her classmate Yara. Forty years later, Rami, a Lebanese Canadian student, comes to Lebanon to bury his father, Naseeb. That night, he meets Zidan, a drag queen at a queer Beirut nightclub and things take an unexpected turn. Past and present braid together in The Green Line’s contemplation of how memories are inherited or erased. This is a co-production between Downstage Theatre & Chromatic Theatre. Cast and Creative Team Makram Ayache: Playwright / Rami / Naseeb Filsan Dualeh: Yara Ryan Abd’u’llah Hooper: Zidan / Fifi Sepidar Yeganeh Farid: Mona Jenna Rodgers: Director Chris Austman: Sound Design & Original Music Ajay Badoni: Lighting Design Abbie Brokenshire: Costume Design Assistant Alia Shahab: Set Design Jordan Wieben: Costume Design Aldona Barutowicz: Publicist Jesse Del Fierro: Assistant Director Adam Kostiuk: Production Manager / Technical Director Evan Medd: Dramaturg Donna Sharpe: Stage Manager Back to Past Projects

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