2024 Directors' Showcase

The CDTPS presents its 2024 DRM402 Directors’ Showcase featuring three short plays presented over two evenings and one matinee performance in a Fringe Festival style theatrical event from November 22 to 24. The Directors’ Showcase is a capstone course which gives student directors the opportunity to flex their muscle onstage at the Playhouse. The shows also feature lighting, sound and projection designs from our fourth-year production students, and set, props, and costume designs from our fourth-year design students. 

The titles of the three productions, play descriptions, production and cast teams can be found below. There will also be an opening night reception on November 22, 2024. 

Admission is free! Reserve your ticket(s) on Eventbrite.

Shows will run at the following dates and times:
Friday, Nov. 22, 7:30 PM 
Saturday, Nov. 23, 7:30 PM 
Sunday, Nov. 24, 2:00 PM -- a talkback session will be held following this performance.

Each show is approximately 20 to 30 minutes with a total run time of approximately 1 hour 30 minutes. 

The shows will run in the following order: The Worker, Suppressed Desires, Pool (No Water).

Check out the 2024 Directors' Showcase video trailer: 

The Worker 

Poster designed by Mika Deneige 

The Worker is a dark comedy set in a near-present future. After a series of cutbacks at the Company, a worker and their partner try to manage the demands of the job without losing their heads. A satirical look at survival and human connection under the tightening fist of corporate power.  

Please note: This production contains a brief scene depicting domestic violence, including  emotional and physical abuse. This scene may be distressing for some audience members. Viewer discretion is advised. If you wish to avoid viewing this content, please feel free to step outside and rejoin us for the next play. 

Creative Team: 
Playwright: Walter Wykes 
Director: Mika Deneige 
Set Designer: Abigail Kowalski 
Costume Designer: Abigail Kowalski 
Lighting Designer: Xinyi Zhang 
Sound Designer: Casper Yang 
Intimacy Coordinator: TBD  
Stage Manager: Xinyi Zhang 
Assistant Set and Costume Designer: Adele Thomson 
Assistant Lighting and Sound Designer: Hero Emmanuel Dela Cruz 

Cast:  
The Worker: Erika Dowd 
The Partner: Grace Keeping 
The Messenger: Emily Beaubien

Suppressed Desires 

Poster designed by Athena McIsaac

Suppressed Desires satirizes Psychoanalysis, a theory developed by Sigmund Freud which involves analyzing people’s dreams and behaviours to determine their “suppressed desire.” Henrietta insists that both her husband Stephen and her sister Mabel go get psychoanalyzed. But when they finally do get “psyched,” Henrietta is shocked by the results. As psychoanalysis threatens to destroy relationships and family ties, the absurdity of their situation is taken to new heights.    

Creative Team: 
Playwrights: Susan Glaspell and George Cram Cook 
Director: Athena McIsaac 
Set Designer: Amitis Mashayekhi 
Costume Designer: Valeria MacGregor-Ordonez 
Lighting Designer: Niamh Moll 
Sound Designer: Winston Zang 
Stage Manager: Niamh Moll 
Assistant Stage Manager: Winston Zang 

Cast:  
Henrietta: Isabella Black  
Stephen: Soroosh Kahnemuyipour  
Mabel: Priscilla Dhaussy 
 

Pool (No Water) 

Poster designed by Rebecca Robitaille

“A pool. She had a pool.” Set in the 2000s, in an age shifting from physical to digital media, a friend group of artists navigate their feelings as one finds fame and success, flying above the others. For one night only the group is backkkk toooogetherrr, drinking and reminiscing, and sk-iii-nn-eeee-dippp-pinninggg. But a tragic accident puts an end to the nostalgia and begins the story of artistic ambition, jealousy, and exploitation…?  

Please note: This show contains strong language and the use of a fog machine. 

Creative Team: 
Playwright: Mark Ravenhill 
Director: Rebecca Robitaille 
Set Designer: Salma Wennekers 
Costume Designer: Salma Wennekers 
Lighting Designer: Jingyuan (Jessie) Chen 
Projection Designer: Liz So 
Sound Designer: Sichun Xia 
Stage Manager: Sichun Xia 
Assistant stage manager: Jingyuan (Jessie) Chen 

Cast: 
Artemis Riedmueller  
Tessa Kramer 
Madeleine Thompson 
Farah Fatola