Production Bios & Headshots

Daniel Gilmour

"STAGE MANAGER"

Daniel Gilmour returns for a third run of “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”, in his eleventh appearance with Merlyn Productions!

He was first seen in “A Tragedian In Spite of Himself” for ChekhovFest 2014. Since then, he has played an ogre, a heroic side-kick, a peasant with scalp disease, and most recently, the non-human title role in “The Beggar and the Wolf”.

Other credits from around Winnipeg include “Radio Night” (2017) and “And Then There Were None” (ChristieFest 2017) with Winnipeg Mennonite Theatre; “Table Manners” (AyckbourneFest 2016) with Broken Record Productions; and “Arcadia” (StoppardFest 2007) with Theatre Incarnate.

Daniel also played a recurring role as grumpy teacher Mr Morgan for three seasons on ShawTV's award-winning series, “Millworth”. He received his training at the University of Manitoba, where he was a proud member of the Black Hole Theatre Company.

Offstage, Daniel is an Early Childhood Educator and looks after chases a gaggle of toddlers all day. He is an avid board game player, sports fan, wannabe Karaoke star, and enjoys taking naps.

Daniel thanks his friends and family for all the support.

Heather Forgie

QUEEN

Heather Forgie became the Property Mistress at Merlyn Productions in 2014. She now returns for a fourth run as the wicked Queen in “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”, making her eleventh onstage appearance with the company!

Heather's other appearances include “Wind of a Thousand Tales”, “The World of The Brothers Grimm”, “Ming Lee and the Magic Tree”, “Through the Looking-Glass”, and “Nightingale”. She stage managed for the first time while working on “The Anniversary” for ChekhovFest 2014.

In addition to being an actress, Heather is a playwright and the Artistic Director of fellow local theatre company R-G Productions.

Heather is a graduate of the University of Winnipeg's theatre and dramatic arts program, and is currently employed as a high school Drama and English teacher.

Having once upon a time taken a few years off from the acting scene to have children and establish herself as a teacher, Heather is now back full-force. She looks forward to many further creative endeavours with the company!

Kylee Kolesar

SNOW WHITE

Kylee Kolesar is making her third appearance with Merlyn Productions.

Her live theatre début was as Princess Genevieve in “Puss in Boots” at the 2018 Winnipeg Fringe Festival — a role to which she returned in November for the show's extended run at the Forrest Nickerson Theatre.

In the local film scene, Kylee has been actively involved in background roles.

She took an introductory theatre course at the University of Winnipeg, but since then, has transferred to the University of Manitoba to pursue a degree in Mechanical Engineering.

Steph Blanchette

STAGE MANAGER

Steph Blanchette is stage managing for a second time with Merlyn Productions.

Steph spends her days working as an EA, and enjoys socialising with family and friends. While shying away from being on stage in the spotlight, she finds passion working behind the scenes, shining the spotlight as stage manager.

Steph's beginnings in theatre came in the form of “The Spikey Series” in 2008. Since then, she has been part of dinner theatre fundraisers, Folklorama, and community theatre groups. She has also ventured into film projects.

Steph co-produced “Mulligan’s Island” (Winnipeg Fringe 2015) and “Once On This Island” (Shoe In Productions 2017). Other highlights are “Weirder Thou Art” (Winnipeg Fringe 2016, Toronto Fringe 2017), “Eastport” (Winnipeg Fringe 2017), “Italian American Reconciliation” (ShanleyFest 2018), and “Your Brain On Anxiety” (Winnipeg Fringe 2018).

Most recently, Steph joined Bush Party Productions working on YouTube streaming comedy “One Great City”, and Protagonista Productions for “How I Learned To Drive” (2019).

Steph enjoys working with a variety of people, learning something from everyone she meets. She is always looking to be part of the next project.

John Chase

DIRECTOR

John Chase is the Artistic Director of Merlyn Productions, and the current Chief Instructor at the Winnipeg Theatre School. As an actor, director, producer, and stage manager, he has worked on more than 125 local productions to date.

John is a veteran of theatre for young audiences, having produced classic children's titles for the past ten years, and worked extensively with Fantasy Theatre for Children for twenty seasons (1991-2011).

An alumnus of The Theatre School, John studied acting and directing in the 1990s under founder Tony Frost, from whom he inherits his methods today. While at FTC, he also directed multiple shows for its adult arm, G.D. Productions.

John began producing local theatre independently in 1997, and has staged a full season of plays with Merlyn Productions each year since 2009.

Many moons ago, he appeared in this timeless rendition of “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”, and is delighted to see it continue to entertain new generations of young theatre-goers!