Sanitas
Playback Theatre
Reflecting the Heart of Your Story
Our Ensemble
Just click on a name for a picture and bio! Brie Barker ~ Scott Florence ~ Paul Gareau ~ Lori Jean Hodge Nancy Kenny ~ Lucy Lu ~ Sterling Lynch ~ Jen Vallance |
Brie Barker
Artistic Director, Conductor
Brie’s story began in 1967 in Toronto, and continued to develop in Vancouver, Toronto again, Kingston, Toronto yet again, and then Ottawa since 2008.
"My name is Brie ~ yes, pronounced like the cheese! In writing this blurb about myself, I acknowledge that it's pretty darn long and that a lot of it just might not be of interest to you. But there's only one way to find out, right?! ...
"I was a founding company member of Toronto Playback Theatre back in 2002 and it didn't take long for me to get hooked on this rich and deeply fulfilling theatrical art form. It’s my six wonderful years with that fantastic ensemble that forms the core of my experience in playback theatre. I gained additional training through the Centre for Playback Theatre in New York and was awarded their first International Fellowship in 2004. Since then I’ve become part of a global community of playback practitioners ~ people I feel truly grateful to know. Being invited as a guest performer with National Playback Theater (USA) is just one great experience that’s come from these heartfelt connections. Organizations I served through playback when I lived in Toronto include:
- Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation
- Canadian Coalition for Christians & Jews
- Centre for Addiction & Mental Health
- FedEx
- Future Shop
- Home Depot
- Hospice Association of Ontario
- Loyola Arrupe Centre for Seniors
- Ralph Thornton Community Centre
- Sunnybrook & Women's College Health Sciences Centre (Palliative Care Nursing)
- Toronto District School Board
- Toronto Housing Corporation.
“When I moved to Ottawa with my wife and then 17-month old son in the spring of 2008, I knew that playback theatre would somehow continue to be an essential part of my life. By the time the leaves were changing colour that fall, I had decided to create a new playback theatre company in my new community. I couldn’t be happier with how it’s gone so far!
“I also work as an experiential educator and coach in helping people develop authentic human communication and leadership practices in the workplace. Through this work, I've enjoyed designing/delivering programs in service to a wide variety of organizations throughout North America, including:
- Leadership Ottawa
- AstraZeneca
- Bank of America
- Bombardier
- BMO
- CIBC
- General Electric
- Hay Group
- Manulife
- Merrill Lynch
- Philips Medical Systems
- Royal & Sun Alliance
- Royal Bank
- Scotiabank
- Standard Life
- TD Canada Trust
- Watson Wyatt.
"I'm also an actor. My first Ottawa acting gig was as Howie in the 2008 production of Rabbit Hole at The Gladstone Theatre. I enjoyed the variety of my previous scripted theatre work in Toronto, which includes The Vigil Crasher, The Woodcutter in Rashomon, Wib in Criminal Hearts, Capt. Breen in Robert Fothergill's Borderline, Friar Laurence in Romeo & Juliet, and Sgt. Troughton in the British farce Run For Your Wife! I also did a lot of comedic improv, including The International All-Star Theatresports Jam in San Diego (dir. by Keith Johnstone), Neil Muscott's The Comedy Debates and a whack of gigs with Bad Dog Theatre (formerly Theatresports Toronto). On the film side of the business, I've worked in a lot of independent films along with a couple of music videos ~ Soap Box Preacher anyone? The shoots I did with Sideview Productions top my list; watch for this company in the future! I also hosted a live TV talk-show called Interact for a season, back in the day. I trained as an actor at Ryerson Theatre School and later completed my B.A. in Theatre at York University.
"As a writer, my past work includes the live theatrical component of Gift of the Gods - Wine & Revelry, a 2001 exhibit of the Royal Ontario Museum's. Currently, I'm writing a full-length play ... finishing it means I need to sit in the chair more. I also wore the hats of producer/director/writer in my former theatre company, Electric Dog Productions Inc., who were involved in promoting youth empowerment to high school audiences across Canada and to making the work of Shakespeare more accessible to teens.
“My wife and I welcomed our daughter into the world this past November ~ and she's a sleeper!"
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Scott Florence
Actor
Scott's story began in 1969 in Ottawa, and continued to develop in Sept Isles, North Bay, Kingston, Lahr (Germany), Blue Lake (California), on a tall ship that plied the waters of the U.S. eastern seaboard, and then Ottawa since 1999.
Paul Gareau
Musician
Paul's story began in 1977 in Wakaw (Saskatchewan), and continued to develop in Saskatoon, St. Boniface, Montreal, and then Ottawa since 2009.
Actor
Lori Jean's story began in 1961 in Winnipeg, and continued to develop in Lac du Bonnet (Manitoba), and then in Ottawa since 1990. Lori Jean joined our ensemble in 2010.
"My name is Lori Jean. I'm an actor, singer, musician, social activist and outdoor enthusiast. I grew up in a small town in the Canadian prairies. My father has always been one of the biggest influences in my life. He taught me the value of human connection ~ and how to play the accordian! Academically, I gravitated to the discipline of Psychology and graduated with a B.A. from the University of Manitoba. Soon after, I set off on an eastbound road trip in 1990 to help a friend move to Ottawa. She moved back to Winnipeg and I've been living in Ottawa ever since. I've worked with homeless women here and I currently work with people who live with severe mental illness.
"It was in Ottawa that my artistic side really began to take off. I was a member of The Suicide Kings, a rhythem and blues band, for several years and then I stumbled into musical theatre on a dare from a friend. Eventually, I studied at and graduated from the Ottawa Theatre School. Since then, I've worked with a number of local theatre companies and, musically, I'm currently involved in two a capella singing groups.
"A few of my favourite things are wilderness camping with my partner, Karen, and Sunny the dog, singing, contemplating the universe while gazing at the stars, giving big hugs, belly laughs while watching The Three Stooges, fighting for democracy and eating Ben & Jerry's New York Super Fudge Crunch right out the container!
"I'm very pleased to be the newest company member of Sanitas Playback Theatre ~ let the journey begin!"
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"My name is Nancy. I'm an actor, playwright, arts marketing professional ~ and a proud Acadian from New Brunswick. Growing up in a linguistically dual environment strongly influenced my views of the world and my decision to move to the Nation’s Capital ten years ago. I'm a graduate of the University of Ottawa where I received a B.A. Honours in Theatre with two additional concentrations in Political Science and Canadian Studies. Fully involved in campus life, I established the First Annual University of Ottawa Arts Week, which received national recognition in 2004-2005 by Maclean’s Magazine as one of their “Best Bets.” I'm also completing a Certificate in Conventions and Meeting Management, part-time, through Algonquin College.
"I'm a founding member of Evolution Theatre in Ottawa and currently serve as the company's Director of Communications. One day, I accidentally fell into the fields of Marketing and Promotions and I've now worked for such organizations as the University of Ottawa, the Canadian Museum of Civilization and the Canadian War Museum. Eventually, I decided to leave all that behind for a very fulfilling career as a theatre artist. However, those skills have served me well when creating press releases and other publicity materials for a variety of local theatre companies, including Breathing Time Productions, Evolution Theatre, Seven-Thirty Productions and The Gladstone.
"As an actor, I've worked with a variety of local theatre companies, including those mentioned above. I've also appeared in a number of corporate videos and independent films, the most recent of which, Death Rally, has now been released online. Recently, I've been developing my skills as a playwright to much success and acclaim. My short piece, Buds, has been produced internationally. I also created a play called No Exit Upstage which I performed in at both the Ottawa and Winnipeg Fringe Festivals.
"In my spare time, I can be found online, mostly on my blog.
"I'm a founding member of Evolution Theatre in Ottawa and currently serve as the company's Director of Communications. One day, I accidentally fell into the fields of Marketing and Promotions and I've now worked for such organizations as the University of Ottawa, the Canadian Museum of Civilization and the Canadian War Museum. Eventually, I decided to leave all that behind for a very fulfilling career as a theatre artist. However, those skills have served me well when creating press releases and other publicity materials for a variety of local theatre companies, including Breathing Time Productions, Evolution Theatre, Seven-Thirty Productions and The Gladstone.
"As an actor, I've worked with a variety of local theatre companies, including those mentioned above. I've also appeared in a number of corporate videos and independent films, the most recent of which, Death Rally, has now been released online. Recently, I've been developing my skills as a playwright to much success and acclaim. My short piece, Buds, has been produced internationally. I also created a play called No Exit Upstage which I performed in at both the Ottawa and Winnipeg Fringe Festivals.
"In my spare time, I can be found online, mostly on my blog.
Other on-going artistic affiliations:
~ Evolution Theatre (Co-Founder, Director of Communications) ~ Website
~ So You Want To Be An Actor - REDUX (blogger) ~ Website
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Lucy Lu
Actor
Lucy's story began in 1979 in Toronto, and continued to develop in St. Georges de Beauce, Lokossa (Benin), Montreal, and then Ottawa since 2009.
"My name is Lucy. I'm an art therapist, visual artist and performing artist. My professional and artistic work has focused on giving voice to the untold stories of people and communities who are marginalized in society. Playback theatre has been a medium which has given me the creative outlet that merges my passions of art, performance and authentic human connection through the stories and narratives that bring people together. I've been a part of several playback companies in Montreal since 2004, including Pluriel Playback Team, Creative Alternatives Playback and Third Space Playback, as well as performing in Unraveling Herstory - a performance created by a women’s theatre collective called Common Thread Productions. I've exhibited my artwork and performed in various theatre projects over the past ten years in Toronto and Montreal.
"I currently work as an art therapist and counsellor at Minwaashin Lodge, an aboriginal women’s support centre in Ottawa. I'm also actively involved in many professional associations promoting the creative arts in counselling, such as the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association and Association des Art-Thérapeutes du Québec AATQ."
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Sterling Lynch
Actor
Sterling's story began in 1974 in Ottawa, and continued to develop in Waterloo, Calgary, Toronto, Auckland (New Zealand), Toronto again, and then in Ottawa again since 2007.
“My name is Sterling. I’m a playwright, director, producer, actor, poet, singer-songwriter and published philosopher. My play, The Root of All Squares (co-written with Sam Varteniuk), has been produced sixteen times, by four different companies, and had its New York premiere in 2007’s Frigid Festival. I have a M.A. in Religion and Culture and a Ph.D. in Philosophy.”
Other on-going artistic affiliations:
~ Ottawa Theatre Network (Steering Committee) ~ Website
~ Movement (blogger) ~ Website
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