The following members have been nominated to stand for election to the Theatre Alberta Board of Directors:

Richard F. Grafton

Richard has been teaching Theatre and Dramatic Arts at Medicine Hat High School since 2012.  

His mission is to teach students to embrace theatre tradition and explore innovation in the arts.  Mr. Grafton has directed over 10 theatre productions at MHHS, with the next two opening in 2017.   He established the annual Pilot Lights Theatre Festival, in connection with the AHSDFA. He has produced SKETCH comedy nights, Whose Lunch Is It Anyway? Improv shows, and countless class productions. 

Previously, Richard was involved in theatre ministry at Foothills Alliance Church, Calgary, as a performer and director. He also founded The Paperback Stage, a TYA company that specialized in stage adaptations of literature. While in Lethbridge, he performed in several University theatre productions, taught Summer Drama Camps,  improvised with Desperate Jester Theatre, and performed at the Empress Theatre in Fort Macleod. Richard continues to perform in Medicine Hat with Thesbos Theatre, Firehall Theatre, and Medicine Hat Musical Theatre.  

From thought-provoking productions to zany musicals; from classical plays to fostering new Canadian works, Richard Grafton continues to support the creation of theatre in his school, his community, and his province. 

Jenna Rodgers

Jenna is a mixed-race Director and Dramaturg based in Calgary. She is the Artistic Director of Chromatic Theatre – a company dedicated to producing and developing work by and for diverse artists. She is a Co-Producer of the Calgary Congress for Equity and Diversity in the Arts (CCEDA), and is the Associate Dramaturg at the Playwright’s Colony at the Banff Centre. 

Recent Directing credits include: Lunchbox Theatre (Let the Light of Day Through) Chromatic Theatre (10-Minute Play Festival; Cowboy Versus Samurai;Parched); and Common Ground (Beneath the Skin). Assistant Director: Lunchbox Theatre (In on It; Book Club; Epiphany; What Gives?!); Downstage (A Bomb in the Heart); Tarragon Theatre (Carried Away on the Crest of a Wave); and fu-GEN Theatre (Ching Chong Chinaman; Yellow Fever). 

Beyond the Banff Centre, Jenna has had the pleasure of dramaturging work at the Kennedy Center, Lunchbox Theatre, Chromatic Theatre, and fu-GEN Theatre. Jenna holds a MA in International Performance Research from the universities of Amsterdam and Tampere.

Michelle Thorne

Michelle is a Director, Producer, and Actor based in her home community of Wood Buffalo, AB. Recent directing credits include Steel Magnolias (Keyano Theatre Company), Fanny & Manny Tie The Knot (Theatre; Just Because), The Most Massive Woman Wins (Theatre; Just Because- 2015 ADFA Regional Best Director Award), and Louis and Dave (Theatre; Just Because- 2014 ADFA Regional Best Director Award, Provincial Best Production Award).

Michelle holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dramatic Arts from the University of Lethbridge. She is co-founder and co-artistic director for Wood Buffalo’s newest theatre company, Theatre; Just Because. Upcoming projects include The Fantastic Mr Fox (in partnership with SECPA), The Awesome 80s Prom (in partnership with Waypoints), and The Other Side of the Pole for Keynao Theatre Company.

Michelle has also participated in the Wood Buffalo arts community as the Program Manager for Arts Council Wood Buffalo, Front of House manager for Keyano Theatre, as well as an Artist Educator for Learning through the Arts, and the Keyano DramaForce program.

Troy Emery Twigg

Troy is an artist who works in theatre and dance as a choreographer, performer, storyteller, and educator. He is from the Kainai Blackfoot Nation in Southern Alberta.

His work has been presented internationally and nationally from Vancouver (Dancing on the Edge) to Halifax (Prismatic) and almost everywhere in between. He was an Artist-In-Residence at Banff Centre for the Arts for several projects including the February 2013 exploration of the initial idea of Making Treaty 7 with 18 artists from the area. His work on Itahpoyii has toured and landed at the Fluid Festival in Calgary in October 2015.

Troy is based in Southern Alberta, and is currently working on a couple of projects including Dancing the Universe in Flux based on the Native Paradigm lectures of Dr. Leroy Little Bear and the MT7/Quest Theatre collaboration creating an elementary school version of Making Treaty 7. Troy was recently appointed the Artistic Director of Making Treaty 7 Cultural Society.