The University of Winnipeg’s Department of Theatre and Film is proud to boast the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre’s Warehouse stage production of David Yee’s among men included a heavy UWinnipeg presence. It was a co-production with Theatre Projects Manitoba.
The among men production team had a direct connection with UWinnipeg, with 65 per cent as either a faculty member or graduate of the program. This includes the lead actors, alum Eric Blais and Tom Keenan, who are “Winnipeg actors at the top of their game,” described by the Winnipeg Free Press.
I was very well served in my liberal arts education at UWinnipeg.
Tom Keenan
Keenan began his UWinnipeg journey with courses in classics, before realizing he wanted to be an actor, and declaring his Bachelor of Theatre and Film, Honours.
“It was a very specific moment during my acting class that I realized I wanted to be an actor,” shared Keenan. “I was very well served in my liberal arts education at UWinnipeg. A wide range of study and experience makes for a better actor.”
The UWinnipeg team also included faculty members Adam Parboosingh, Set Designer; Rick Skene, Fight Director (retired); Tom Soares, Dialect Coach. UWinnipeg alumni included Suzie Martin, Director; Christine Leslie, Assistant Director; Joyce Licup, Assistant Set Designer; Anika Binding, Assistant Lighting Designer; Ridge Romanishen, Stage Manager; and Jazz Marcelino, Apprentice Stage Manager.
“Knowing there were so many connections to UWinnipeg’s Theatre and Film program working on this wonderful script and production offered an extra incentive during the process,” shared Parboosingh. “Beyond collaborating with Suzie for almost a year on this project, having our theatre and film graduates contributing in the creation of this production is rewarding.”
Martin, who graduated from UWinnipeg with her Bachelor of Arts, Honours, in Theatre and Film, is currently the artistic director for Theatre Projects Manitoba.
“Theatre Projects Manitoba is proud to be the company that bridges UWinnipeg grads into the industry, as it was for me over a decade, before I became the artistic director,” said Martin. “We love the longstanding connection Theatre Projects Manitoba has with UWinnipeg.”
Christopher Brauer, Chair of the Department of Theatre and Film, is very proud of his faculty and graduates who are active in the theatre and film industry in Manitoba and across the country.
“I don’t know if people realize the impact our graduates have on the cultural life of Manitoba,” said Brauer, “When you see a five-star reviewed show at one of the biggest regional theatres in the country created by UWinnipeg Theatre grads, not to mention that the entire props department and a large portion of the set department at the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre are also grads, it really brings home the strength of our program at UWinnipeg, and is something to celebrate.”
