Board of Directors

JANINE ANDREWS

Bio pending...

DAVID CASKENETTE

Bio pending...

EVA CAIRNS

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Eva Cairns has been working on the administrative side of dance and theatre since 1988. Her first eight years were spent in the field of tour management and touring market development for Judith Marcuse Dance Company (Vancouver) and O Vertigo Danse (Montreal). She started working with theatre during three years at Harbourfront Centre in Toronto where she was assigned to special international projects and was the Administrator for Performing Arts. In Edmonton, Eva has been the General Manager of Shadow Theatre, the Edmonton Associate for 2004 Magnetic North Theatre Festival, and worked with several independent artists and theatre companies providing grant writing services and mentorships. She came to Catalyst as Interim General Manager in April 2006 and was seduced, despite herself, into staying.

JONATHAN CHRISTENSON

As artistic director of Catalyst Theatre, Jonathan has directed, written, composed and occasionally performed in more than sixteen original productions including such critically acclaimed works as Hunchback, Nevermore, Frankenstein, The Blue Orphan, The House of Pootsie Plunket, Songs for Sinners, The Abundance Trilogy, Carmen Angel and Elephant Wake.

His productions have been seen at more than 45 different theatres across England, Scotland, Wales, Australia, the United States and Canada, including such preeminent venues as The Barbican in London, The Traverse in Edinburgh, The Playhouse in Liverpool, The Tron in Glasgow, The New Victory in New York, The Winter Garden & Bluma Appel Theatres in Toronto, Theatre Calgary's Max Bell, The Citadel's Shoctor Theatre in Edmonton and the Vancouver Playhouse. His work has also appeared at such festivals as the London International Festival of Theatre (LIFT), Le Carrefour international du théâtre (Quebec City), and PuSh (Vancouver). His work on these productions has been recognized with numerous Sterling Awards (Edmonton), a Betty Mitchell (Calgary), two Fringe First Awards (Edinburgh), one Herald Angel Award (Glasgow) and two City of Edmonton Awards of Excellence.

He brought more than fifty Edmonton-based artists together for the interdisciplinary performance events JAM, Twelve and Fusion: Let There Be Light (for which he received a special Sterling Award for Outstanding Theatrical Event); he co-created two installation works (Paper Flight Cocoon Storm and Love + Love); and he co-founded and curated Catalyst's international performance series Blind Dates that presented the work of cutting edge theatre companies from Russia, Ireland, England and South Africa to Edmonton audiences.

In 2006 Jonathan was selected as one of Alberta's one hundred prominent theatre artists of the past one hundred years by Alberta Playwrights Network and in 2011 was named one of Alberta's "Fifty Most Influential People" by Alberta Venture, the province's leading business magazine.

Jonathan has taught in the M.F.A., B.F.A. and B.A. Programs at the University of Alberta's Department of Drama, where he completed a Master of Fine Arts (Directing) in 1996.

His first children's book, Maximilian's Mistake (illustrated by Bretta Gerecke), will be published in time for Christmas.

BRENDA INGLIS

Is a lifetime participant and supporter of the arts. At present she work as a stitcher for several local theatre companies. In the past, she has designed sets and costumes, worked in a gallery, done retail display, worked in interior design and volunteered in many capacities with galleries, theatre groups and festivals. Brenda believes strongly in the value and benefits that arts and culture brings to a community and individuals within a community.

LIZ LEPPER

Liz has been a project manager with Bottom Line Productions, an Edmonton-based arts marketing company, since 2005, where she works with a wide variety of the cultural clients, including Fringe Theatre Adventures, the Edmonton International Jazz Festival, CKUA, Mercury Opera and the Cosmopolitan Music Society. Liz also teaches publicity and marketing for Grant MacEwan University’s Arts and Cultural Management program. A couple years after moving to Edmonton, Liz fell in love with Catalyst’s 2007 production of Frankenstein. She is thrilled to travel into Catalyst’s weird, wonderful world and to be working with its enthusiastic, innovative team.

RENA LIVINIUK

Rena holds a Bachelor of Arts (English and philosophy) and is currently completing her MBA at the University of Alberta (expected 2012). Since 2007, she has been employed as a project coordinator at a small local consulting company which specializes in providing information and services related to crude oil quality.

As an active member of the Edmonton Mayfield Rotary Club, Rena has managed and participated on multiple community-based service projects. She has been a fan of the Catalyst since 2007, when she first experienced Frankenstein.

MICHAEL MCNICHOL

Michael McNichol is a third year law student at the University of Alberta, where he is also involved with Canadian Lawyers Abroad. Graduating from Victoria School of the Performing and Visual Arts (where he studied acting, music, and directing), Michael has always had a keen interest in theatre, even working as a critic for several years. He’s been an enthusiastic member of the Catalyst audience since Frankenstein.

SUE QUON

A dentist by day, Dr. Sue Quon enthusiastically works Edmonton's theatre scene by night. In addition to Catalyst's Board, she also sits on Boards for Firefly Theatre and the Free Will Players. She volunteers her time at many of the Edmonton theatre companies including ( but not limited to) Roxy, and Teatro. In 2009, she was nominated for a Mayor's Award for Outstanding Individual Contributions to the Arts. When she's not volunteering for a box office or beer tent, or selling Twizzlers at a concession, you might find her cruising on her motorcycle, caring for her four cats, or polishing her 100-plus collection of shoes. If you can't find her, she's probably watching theatre or hockey in some far-off place. So far, she's been to 142 cities in 17 countries.(and counting).