Meet Our Team: Publicity and House Managment

How did you find out about the Ensemble Project? Did you see a poster somewhere? Read it in a newspaper? See it on Facebook? Twitter? Through your sister's ex-boyfriends third cousin twice removed?

Hopefully,  it's because of the publicity surrounding the project and the play.

Kirstin Shale and Jessica Milliken, Publicity and House Management Team. This was the day we had our first meeting as Publicists. And the only photograph of the two of us together. 

This is where I come in. I am one half of the Publicity and House Management Team. What do we do? Kirstin says it perfectly,

"We put butts in seats and make sure those butts have the best experience possible."

Promotion, marketing, tickets, lobby, posters, communications with various outlets, blog, social media, programs, ushering, you name it, we have or are attempting to do it.

Kirstin hard at work! Photograph by JI Milliken. 

My partner in crime, is Kirstin Shale. She is a Bachelor of Arts student with a double extend minor in Theatre and Geography.The most exciting aspect for Kirstin has been

"Being able to break out of the UFV mould and do something a little different."

Her biggest challenge? 

"Not having a "grown-up" there to tell us what we're supposed to be doing."

Kirstin designed our program and contacted several media outlets with a press release. 

I need lots of room to work, apparently.
Photograph by Kirstin Shale. 

And me? Well that's one secret I'll never tell. Okay, it's not that big of a secret. 

My name is Jessica, and I am an English Major with a concentration in Creative Writing and an Extended Minor in Theatre, with hopes of becoming an English Honour student next semester. Grad 2017! And then a Master's or five. For this project I work Publicity and House Management with Kirstin, where we spend our time dripping in emails and communications and on various social media wishing we could duplicate ourselves. 

The hardest thing on this project has been - well, everything. We are the only department in the project without a faculty member versed in our area. We are on our own. Doing something neither of us have ever done before. You're reading this now, though, so clearly I've done something right?

The most exciting thing was when I learned that the playwright herself, Trina Davies, was retweeting my blog posts. And when Playwrights Canada tweeted about us. That was pretty sweet. 

My advice to you, and to every soul on this earth: Be your own cheerleader. It's okay to be proud of who you are and what you've accomplished. No one knows your struggle or pain, or overwhelming sense of purpose when something in your life clicks, like you do. If you don't cheer for yourself, who else will?

And that's our team folks! 

Thank you for reading and sticking with me. We open in three sleeps. I can't wait.

-JI Milliken

Meet Our Team: Lights, Sound, Projections, Set, Props.

Lights! Camera! Action!

Or in theatre:   Lights, go. Sound, go. Projections, go.

Meet our Set and Props Designer, Nicole Janisch, Sound and Lights Designer, Geneva Perkins, and Projections Designer, Noel Funk.

Aren't they majestic?

Nicole Janisch, Geneva Perkins, Noel Funk. Photograph by Kirstin Shale. 

Nicole is an English Major/Theatre Extended Minor student graduating this June. Nicole is designing the set and props, which means Nicole is is creating the physical world of the play. She says,

"For this, I chose to focus on a few key set pieces and use them to create the multiple locations needed, as well as using those pieces for multiple purposes."

Beautiful chairs.
Photograph by Nicole Janisch

Because we are only sixteen people, Nicole not only designed the set and props, but built them as well (With the wonderful help of other Ensemble students.) Her biggest challenge has been doing it all in a short amount of time. 

"This is the tightest timeline I’ve ever worked with, but I’m glad for the opportunity. With the build, there was a short time available for us to be in the shop and make all our pieces. Thanks to the incredibly wonderful staff and volunteers, the set was completed exactly as envisioned."

These set pieces play many different parts.
Photograph by Nicole Janisch. 

Nicole Janisch is excited about creating a show that is up to us. We have the freedom to design and create this show anyway we want, but without the budget.

"With this, we’ve really had to focus on the essentials needed for the show, and have had to make sure that everything that goes onstage exists for a reason. During the design process it made me revise and revise until we had a cohesive design that would work within the parameters of our budget."

Nicole encourages fellow and future students to become involved and gain experience is as many ares of theatre as you can. Everything helps. 

Geneva Perkins is hoping to graduate this semester with an English Major - Drama Concentration, and a Theatre Extended Minor. Geneva is responsible for the lights and sound of this production.

"I worked with the directors and my other classmates to create the overall look and feel of the show. Light and sound play a huge part in establishing the mood of the play."

The most exciting thing for Geneva has been combining both tech elements. 

"I get to combine both areas of my design, light and sound, [and] create exciting theatrical moments."

She has never designed lights or sound before, and Geneva finds this her biggest challenge, as every step is new to her. She's thankful to have experienced students and staff for support.

Her advice to students is simple,

"Get your pre-req’s and talk to an academic advisor. Just do it." 

That's advice I could have used a few years ago.

Noel Funk helping out with set build.
Photograph by Nicole Janisch

Noel Funk is an upper level Theatre student working as our Projections Designer. This is his second time working with projections, but his fist time working with projections he didn't create himself.

Noel's biggest challenge with the project was working with space:

"I can only project inside the space that the machine can hit. What I can put in that space, however, is nearly infinite. What a projection designer does is enhance the rest of the design elements.

"My goal with this design was to enhance the theatre as much as possible in order to bring the space, time, and location of the show to life. To do this I took the most simple route and built separate projections for each location. This way the audience (that’s you!) has an easier time of knowing what location the characters have traveled to."

I can't wait to see this stage come to life.



A challenge for all of us has been time management, something we all know well. We juggle this production, the other two department shows, our classes, work, community theatre, home life, and some of us even attempt social lives, it's amazing we get anything accomplished.

What's that old saying? When you rest you rust.

We only have one more area of the production for you to meet, Publicity/House Management team, and that's where I come in.

-JI Milliken

Meet Our Team: Actors

As the designers, crew, builders, publicity, we work endlessly, tirelessly, to make sure that these three have the time of their lives while they bring this story to life for you. 

Outside of attending every rehearsal, physically and mentally, the actors also keep detailed journals of rehearsals, notes, character notes, their acting process, script notes, blocking, everything that goes on through their heads and their characters head in a single moment. These students are currently living two lives, holding two histories, two personalities, two sets of fears, two sets of dreams. And they do it beautifully. 

Delaney Bergstrom as Lena.
Costumes/Hair/Makeup: Desiree Hale
and Trudy-Bridgette Smith.
Photograph: Tony Funk. 

Delaney Bergstrom is playing Lena, the beautiful twenty-something mistress, Delaney's first lead role. She's not sure what's bigger, the amount of lines or the personality Lena packs behind her. 

"Lena is a handful and I love her."

Delaney is working through her Bachelors Degree with an English Major and a Theatre Extended Minor, noting to me she is a lifelong student. Professional students, I tell you, it's the big thing right now. Her biggest challenge, crying on cue.... that should peak your interest in the show.

Delaney left me with some of the words she lives by as her advice.

"In gentleness there is strength."

Delaney Bergstrom as Lena, Reilly Ellis as Markus.
Costumes/Hair/Makeup: Desiree Hale and Trudy-Bridgette Smith.
Props: Nicole Janisch. Photograph: Tony Funk 

Reilly Ellis is Markus, our male lead.

He is a Bachelor of Arts student with a possible graduation date of 2017. He is excited about working in this new space, the CEP studio is a unique space to us and it has such a different feeling. Just performing in this space sets this show apart from the UFV mainstage production. 

Actors in rehearsal. Photograph by JI Milliken. 

Reilly's biggest challenge intrigues me, 

"Taking the extra time to rehearse the overlapping lines in the play has been very difficult, since two to three actors are talking simultaneously and requires full memorization of lines and attentive reflexes."

Interesting, Reilly, very interesting. He reminds us, "Do not forget who you are and what you are striving for."

Reilly Ellis as Markus, Emily Eggert-Botkin as Karin.
Costumes/Hair/Makeup by Desiree Hale and Trudy-Bridgette Smith.
Set/Props: Nicole Janisch. Photograph by Tony Funk. 

Emily Eggert-Botkin is stepping into the shoes of Karin, our hopeless romantic with great hair. Emily is working through a Bachelor of Fine Arts, with double extended minors in Theatre and Creative Writing, with graduation plans of 2018.

This is also Emily's first lead role,

"just the size of the part and the amount of time it takes to create a fully fleshed-out character and memorize so many lines is demanding, but worth it."

BTS at our Publicity Photo Shoot.
Photographer, Tony Funk, works with Delaney, Reilly and Emily.
Costumes/Hair/Makeup: Desiree Hale and Trudy-Bridgette Smith.
Set/Props: Nicole Janisch. Photograph: Kirstin Shale. 

She is excited to be working on the first ensemble project. We're making history. Emily tells us, 

"Do what you're passionate about and pursue your dream career! All the hard work and long hours will be worth it if you're doing something you love."

Reilly Ellis as Markus, Delaney Bergstrom as Lena and Emily Eggert-Botkin as Karin.  
Costumes/Hair/Makeup: Desiree Hale and Trudy-Bridgette Smith. 
Set/Props: Nicole Janisch. Photograph: Tony Funk.

Reserve your tickets!

The trouble is, you think you have time. Sure, we don’t open until next year... but opening night is only 14 days away! 

Time to start reserving your tickets. Email ufvromeoinitiative@gmail.com with your name, number of and type of ticket, and performance dates. This is a reservation for tickets, tickets will then be available at the door for purchase, where our box office is cash only. 

Reserved tickets will be held until 5 minutes before the show starts. 

Not sure what day you can make it? That’s okay too, tickets are only being sold at the door for this production. Make sure to come early, as we have limited seating. 

Tickets are 12$ for adults, and 10$ for students and seniors, cash only. 

To remind you, the performance dates are as follows. 

Thursday Jan. 14th @7:30pm. 

Friday Jan. 15th @7:30pm. 

Saturday Jan. 16th @7:30pm. 

Sunday Jan. 17th @2:00pm. 

Can’t wait to see you and share our production with you. 

Meet Our Team: Management, Production and Stage

Coordinating a production is no easy task. Just scratching the top of the list there is scheduling, budget management, meetings, rehearsal reports, show reports, paper work like you wouldn’t believe, stage blocking, and knowing and understanding each area of a theatrical production. 

It takes a team of highly organized and dedicated individuals to effectively manage a show.

For the Ensemble Project, we call them Team Eli. Eli Funk has untaken the enormous task of Production Manager, and Eli Moores is rocking the script as Stage Manager.

Production Manager, Eli Funk, and Stage Manager, Eli Moores. Photograph by Kirstin Shale. 

Eli Funk and his schedule. Photograph by Kirstin Shale 

A Production Manager is responsible for realizing the visions of the producer and director (and in our case, the class) within the constrains of technical possibility and budget.

Funk is an English major drama concentration, with an extended minor in theatre and, as of last week, has finished his final course and is set for graduation. He’s been on stage, off stage, and around the stage, but this is his first time as Production Manager. His biggest challenge? Everything.

“The whole job, none if it is easy…my process is to throw dates at a wall and hope something sticks.”

Funk is our master scheduler, communicator, and keeper of the funds.

Eli Moores spikes the stage floor. Photograph by Kirstin Shale. 

Everything that goes on in a rehearsal, this man knows. His job is to make sure that the show they are creating in rehearsal, is the same show the designers are designing for. 

Moores is working on a sociology major with a minor in theatre and this his is first time Stage Managing a production, which is a new challenge on its own. He also finds challenge in working in a space away from the main theatre, away from the comforts of home. 


His words of advice:

"Theatre will teach you many useful skills, if not it will teach you how to tie knots or fold paper origami."

-JI Milliken

BTS: Publicity Photo Shoot

BTS Photos from our Publicity Photo Shoot!

We had our Publicity Photo Shoot this week, and while the official photos will not be released until a later date... we were able to sneak some behind the scenes photos! Okay, maybe not sneak, it's what we are here for!

Assistant Director, Phay, helps with actor Emily Eggert-Botkin's hair as Costume and Hair&Makeup Designers Desiree Hale and Trudy-Bridgette Smith watch their designs come to life. Photograph by Kirstin Shale. 

Costume/Hair/Makeup Team Desiree Hale and Trudy-Bridgette Smith. Photograph by Kirstin Shale. 

Actor, Reilly Ellis, preps for the camera. Design by Desiree Hale and Trudy-Bridgette Smith. Photograph by Kirstin Shale. 

Photographer Tony Funk works with the actors, Emily Eggert-Botkin, Delaney Bergstrom, and Reilly Ellis. Costumes/Hair/Makeup: Desiree Hale and Trudy-Bridgette Smith. Set Design: Nicole Janisch. Photograph by Jessica Milliken

Photographer, Tony Funk works with the actors, Emily Eggert-Botkin, Delaney Bergstrom, and Reilly Ellis. Costumes/Hair/Makeup: Desiree Hale and Trudy-Bridgette Smith. Set Design: Nicole Janisch. Photograph by Jessica Milliken

The costumes were hung with care, in hopes that opening night soon would be there.
Photograph by Jessica Milliken. Costume Design by Desiree Hale and Trudy-Bridgette Smith. 

-JI Milliken

Meet Our Team: Costumes/Hair/Makeup Designers

What to wear, what to wear, what to wear? It's a question some people ask everyday, and a question some people never ask. Your outfit can be a representation of who you are, or who you'd like to be; a statement, your way of communicating to the world without saying a word. Or sometimes its just the clothes you pull from the bottom of your closet.

But to a Costume Designer? Clothes are everything. A Costume Designer must work to create the illusion that the actors, are not the actors, but the real living people of the play. They sprinkle a little magic.

Meet the Costume/Hair&Makeup Team: Desiree Hale and Trudy-Bridgette Smith.

Desiree Hale and Trudy-Bridgette Smith. Photograph by Kirstin Shale. 

Design Meetings. Trudy-Bridgette and Desiree
present their designs. Calvin's hat makes an appearance.
Photograph by yours truly. 

Desiree is working through the Theatre Diploma program, with her passion and dream job in costume design. This is Desiree's first taste of costume designing and the most exciting thing for her is getting to analyze and deduce characters through what clothes they wear. 

"There is a lot less of "Does this look good?" and a lot more of "Is this something the character would actually dress themselves in?" and I've had a bunch of fun answering that question."

There seems to be a trend in everyone's biggest challenges in Ensemble. Schedules and timing. As well, Desiree says her challenge is keeping on top of paperwork, and research, and learning the process. You'd think we were all new to this or something?

Her advice to you?

"Following your dreams it's 110% worth it...Hone your skills and find ways to incorporate the things you love most into a career path, and you will find happiness within your work."

Desiree and Trudy-Bridgette go over final details
at the Publicity Photo Shoot. Photograph by Kirstin Shale. 

Trudy-Bridgette is studying Theatre and Psychology with plans to graduate in 2018. Also a first-time designer, Trudy-Bridgette is excited about the opportunity the students have been given for the Ensemble Project. 

Time, time, and time. Trudy-Bridgette finds the challenge in using the limited time the team has both off-stage and on-stage, and finding costumes that were quick to build, and quick to change between scenes. 

Her words of wisdom:

"Plan things well in advance. Stick to your schedule and remember to have fun while getting the job done!"

These lovely ladies got the first chance to see their designs realized at the Publicity Photo Shoot this week. It really was magic. 


-JI Milliken