Stone Soup Productions to Present WAITING FOR THE PARADE, 11/7-17

A new Hudson-based theatre company, Stone Soup Productions, presents the Canadian classic Waiting for the Parade by John Murrell at the Hudson Village Theatre from November 7 to 17, 2013.

Between 1939 and 1945, five women from very different backgrounds are thrown together to aid in the war efforts of the Second World War at home in Canada. Their paths collide as the war creates an inescapable vortex and each tries to survive in her own way, through tears, laughter and comradeship. The wounded were not only the soldiers on the front lines but also the people they left at home to wait ...

Stone Soup Productions, founded by Donna Byrne, Karen Burgan and Irene Osprey, exists to promote women of all ages in all aspects of theatre. Without excluding their thespian brothers, the company will focus on producing plays with a female majority cast. Waiting for the Parade, a Canadian masterpiece written in 1977, is the company's first production. It was brought to their attention by Irene Osprey who said, "We loved the script and with five female leads, it was a tailor-made to suit our mandate. Forming and running a company takes energy and commitment but we are up for the challenge."

John Murrell - Playwright

John Murrell is an American born Canadian playwright. Born in Texas in 1945, Murrel moved to Alberta to escape the draft after graduating from Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas with a BFA in 1968. Once in Canada, he continued his studies at the University of Calgary. In 2002 he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada and awarded the Alberta Order of Excellence. In 2008, he received the Governor General's Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement, for which he was the subject of a National Film Board of Canada animated short by Cam Christiansen entitled The Real Place. Mr. Murrell currently lives in Calgary.

Donna Byrne - Director

Donna has directed over 16 plays, including her own play, The Widow Schwartz, produced by Hudson Players Club in 2012. She is a professional actor and a member of Playwrights Guild of Canada. Most recent film credits include: Billy's mom in Sorry (LWF Productions), Bobbi Joe Williams in Inheriting Trouble (Investigation Discovery Channel) a Standard Life TV commercial (Multi Media/CTV), and a teacher in Zombie Boy (PSA for the Leave Out Violence (L.O.V.E) Foundation).

Karen Burgan as Marta

Karen has been involved with theatre for many years either performing on stage or working back stage as a stage manager. She has performed with the Hudson Music Club, The Wowcats, the Hudson Village Theatre, The Hudson Players Club, Theatre Panache, Womp Productions, Room to Grow Productions and Lakeshore Players.

Cristina Cugliandro as Catherine

Cristina Cugliandro is a Master's graduate from RADA and Birkbeck University in London, England as well as an Honours Theatre graduate from Bishops University. Now back in Montreal after three years abroad, this inaugural production marks her first home front project.

Irene Osprey as Janet

Irene, originally from Scotland, came to Canada ten years ago. She is a professional actor in film and theatre. Selected theatre credits include, Countess Henslowe in Elizabeth Rex (Table D'Hote Theatre, Segal Centre), Charles in Joan of Arc (NTS), Ethel in On Golden Pond (Hudson Players Club), M'Lynn in Steel Magnolias (Lakeshore Players), Rose in The Riversmead Affair (Theatre Panache) and Goody in Beauty and the Beast (Hudson Village Theatre). Recent film credits include The Will and Being Human.

Stevie Pemberton as Eve

Stevie Pemberton is a Montreal-based actress and graduate of Dawson`s Dome Theatre Program. Her acting credits range from playing Janet in The Rocky Horror Show (Shayne Gryn and Mainline Theatre) to Puck in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night`s Dream (McGill University English Drama & Theatre department).

Debbie Wrenshall as Margaret

Debbie has a diploma in Theatre Production from John Abbott College, and trained as both an actor and director in workshops with Centaur Theatre's former Artistic Director, Gordon McCall. Past credits include BeLinda Blair/Flavia Brent in Noises Off, Myra in Deathtrap, and Claire Ganz in Rumors. Directing credits include Romeo and Juliet and Private Wars by John McLure, for Hudson Players Club.

Chris Brown designed the set and Darlene Reynolds the props. Joel Fox is the lighting designer and Karen Pearce designed the costumes. Cristina Cugliandro also doubles as the stage manager.

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