Social Media: On Twitter: @evanisdowling, On Instagram: @evanagram

Mini-Bio:

Evan Dowling

This is Evan’s debut appearance on Odyssey’s stage. Previous productions include: Iphiginea in Taurus as a “dancer.” For the COC; Tiki-bikini-beach-paradise-party-a-go-go “Big Tuna”, Toronto Fringe & Next Stage Festival, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Hart House Theatre; High Fidelity the Musical (CA premier), Bruce Springsteen, Hart House Theatre; and Smile, Big Bob Freelander Randolph Academy.

Working for Odyssey:

Evan: This is my first year at Odyssey Theatre, I’m thrilled. Ever since I learned about Odyssey, it reignited a huge passion for Commedia that I had in school. I’m over the moon. This is something that’s kinda been on my list. It’s friendly, it’s fun, it’s freeing.

Working in or with Masks:

Evan: In school, I took a Theatre History course and started to develop a real interest in Commedia. Then for our presentation at the end of the year, I actually got to take part in a performance. We went out, we found masks, and I played Pulcinella. So there was a group of us and we just kind of played around for the audience. It was really fun. As part of my experiences with The Game of Love and Chance, it was the first time I’ve had plaster all over my face [for a theatre show]. It was exciting just knowing a mask was being made specifically for me, for my face. It gave it a new level.

Most Influential Actors/Actresses:

Evan: I can probably do my top three: Bruce Willis. I know a lot of people probably wouldn’t agree with that but I love him. I love Gary Oldman, and finally, Dustin Hoffman. Although you might say this about a number of actors, all three of these professionals have a quality that doesn’t allow you to take your eyes off of them. They just draw your focus no matter what they’re doing.

Ideal Gig – No Limits:

Evan: I have two on my list along with [of course] Commedia. I’d love to play a superhero or action hero. It’s killing me because superhero movies are huge right now and there’s not many left; there’s still Fate and The Vision. So I’d love to be doing something where I’d get to jump over flames or be shooting a gun. The other one is a TV gig: a series, a well-written series, for example The West Wing.

Hobbies, Interests, and Skills:

Evan: I enjoy climbing, whether it’s just wall climbing, rock climbing, scaling objects that probably shouldn’t be scaled. While I don’t have the athleticism to do Parkour, I would really love to, and it’s that sort of rush that I get just out of climbing. I do a lot of bouldering and things like that. I play guitar, I play drums, music in general, really. And, actually, I just recently got into mixing a little bit. I was running the music and sound for a dance competition where they had a whole DJ set-up. I sort of had to teach myself, but I’m getting okay at it. A couple of people have asked me where they could get my “album!” While I was flattered I very awkwardly said ‘I’m not good enough for an album yet.’ I really am not, but maybe, I got lucky a couple times.

OTHER SKILLS – Dance: Intermediate Jazz, Ballet, Tap, Hip Hop. Instruments: Percussion: Drum kit, Djembe, Bhodrun, Concert Drumming, Hand Percussion and Auxiliary. Dijeridoo, Intermediate Guitar, Piano, Human Beatbox. Accents: Scottish, Northern Irish, Parisian French, Indian, Eastern European. Athletics: Rock Climbing (and Belay), Swimming, Cycling, Hockey,Street Hockey, Track & Field, Running, Volleyball, Baseball, Un-armed Stage Combat, Diving, Water Sports, Football. Improv, Lifeguard and Swimming Instructor Certification, Bartending, Juggling. Driving: Standard/Automatic, Experience driving Dirt-bikes, Scooter, Go Carts.

Social Media: on Facebook

Mini-Bio:

Jody Stevens

Jody’s greatest and most fulfilling role to date is that of “Mommy.” Here are just a few of her past favourite productions: The Taming Of The Shrew (Atlantic Theatre Festival), Fighting Words, The End Of Civilization (Factory Theatre), Mary’s Wedding, Salt-Water Moon, and Rabbit Hole (Sudbury Theatre Centre).

Working for Odyssey:

Jody: I actually worked with [director] Andy [Massingham] a few years ago now. He was a dancer in a show that I was doing. So we know each other, in a kind of casual friend manner. Knowing how he worked, I’m really looking forward to the experience. And I’m anticipating it’s going to be a really high energy, physical fun show. I’m anticipating it’s going be a really, really wild physical, and sweaty, lovely experience.

Working in or with masks:

Jody: I’ve worked with mask with Mermaid Theatre which is a puppet theatre in Nova Scotia. I’ve worked with them twice, once would have been at least a decade ago. And the other time, maybe seven years ago, I guess.

Most Influential Actors/Actresses:

Jody: I used to watch a lot of old, old movies with my Dad growing up. So, I guess my earliest influence would’ve been Katherine Hepburn. She piqued my interest in the whole thing. There are no artists in my family. I don’t come from a long line of artists. I grew up in a fishing village in Nova Scotia so we weren’t exposed to a ton of theatre. But, my Dad was a huge movie buff and loved, loved, loved Golden Age black and white film and I loved them, too. And, I think that’s got to be where it started.

Ideal Gig – No Limits:

Jody: Quick answer, easy answer, would be – great script. Preferably, working with a talented bunch of friends, ‘cause I sure know a lot of great talented people in the business. And, if we had a healthy budget! Great script, good friends, healthy budget, that would be my ideal gig. I’ve gotten to do Juliet, in Romeo and Juliet, over in England; it would’ve definitely been one on my list. I read Saltwater Moon when I was in Theatre school, and because I’m from the East coast, and because I’m from a small fishing village, I really wanted to do that show and I was able to do it. There’s been a couple of roles that, when I was a younger actor, I was like, “aw wouldn’t that be great,” and a couple of those, you know, came true.

Hobbies, Skills, and Interests:

Jody: Special interests would be my kids. My special interest right now, at this point in my life, is definitely my kids, my girls. I have two girls, my oldest Parker is 2 years and three months, and my youngest Lucy is 10 months old. I did do a show where I had to play a female boxer, and actually had to learn how to box.

OTHER SKILLS – Neutral Mask, French Canadian Accent, Trumpet, Soccer, Boxing, Voice: Alto

Social Media: on Facebook

Mini-bio:

Stephanie Izsak

Working for Odyssey:

Stephanie: Odyssey and Ottawa theatre have always been very congruent in my mind. It has been a company I’ve always wanted to work with. I have a great relationship with Jan Irwin and so I grew to know a lot about the company through her. I was lucky enough to be a part of the workshop for They All Do It a few years ago- very exciting, and I got a little insight into what Odyssey is about.

Working in or with Masks:

Stephanie: It’s such a unique muscle, the mask. I’ve done some work at Studio 58 with my instructor Wendy Gorling who studied at the Jacques Lecoq School in Paris. We touched on character mask, half mask-among others. It’s always something that I’ve found a lot of joy in. However, in this production it’s foreign territory to be working off of the mask without wearing a mask. I’m excited and am anticipating that moment, that experience.

Most influential actor/actress:

Stephanie: I’ve worked with Andy [Massingham] before and he is always so generous and nurturing. I’ve been lucky, you know- a lot of talented people have been very kind to me, and I’m so grateful for that. The student never really dies, the observer- not in this field, not for me. Its one of the graces of this industry- you cant help being enriched by the people you work with.

Ideal Gig – no limits:

Stephanie: I’m big on collaborating and on original work. I’m a writer as well so right now I’m craving the idea of seeing an original piece go all the way, seeing it from all sides. And you know, other than that, a little sitcom on CTV on the side would be nice. Or a Molson commercial, just to pay the bills. And get free beer.

Hobbies, Interest and Skills:

Stephanie: Well what I do the most of is writing and running. I also to do a lot of yoga and pretend that I can play the harmonica. I did a musical version of The Tempest with Bob Dylan, Bob Marley and The Stones’ music. I played Aerial, who was based on Bob Dylan and Mick Jagger, and as Dylan I had to learn how to play the harmonica. But that was a few years ago. I can still manage the chorus of Blowin’ In The Wind. That counts, right?

OTHER SKILLS – Dialects: British (Liverpool), North American Standard, American South (Massachusetts) Dance: Jazz, Tap, Irish, Contemporary, Swing, Hip Hop, skating, trampolining, cartwheels and handstands.

Social Media: On Twitter @ZacharyCounsil, www.zachcounsil.com, Facebook, and on LinkedIn

Mini-Bio:

Zack Council

Zach is a Rideau Award nominee based in Ottawa, and has recently appeared in Lonely Bear (Garkin Productions) at the Ottawa Fringe Festival, Cyrano De Bergerac (Plosive Productions) and as one of the most mischievous clowns in The Thirty-Nine Steps (SevenThirty Productions) at the Gladstone Theatre.

Working for Odyssey:

Zach has been a member of Odyssey Theatre’s in-house ensemble Lazzi Lazzi for the past couple years. Last year, he worked with Odyssey on a production directed by Laurie Steven called The Meaning of Life; it was a ‘reality theatre’ project done in May 2011, which ran at the main branch of the Ottawa Public Library. Commedia characters would peruse the library and members of the public could, and would engage them and attempt to figure out what they were doing there. These bystanders would sometimes even help the characters with achieving a personal quest. Zach anticipates working on The Game of Love and Chance will be HOT and fun and hot but also fun [because of the summer heat and costumes].

Zach: I am really looking forward to it, and I am particularly excited to be working with Andy [Massingham].”

Working in or with Masks:

Zach: My drama teacher for grade 11/12 would choose a few students who were real diehard theatre fans, and who she thought might pursue it professionally, to take part in a series of workshops. A gentleman named Riley Stewart, on behalf of Odyssey Theatre, was putting on Odyssey’s Expressions Workshop. This was my first introduction to mask work and I thought it was really fascinating. Funny enough, a particularly memorable mask that was used during the workshop, from a show called Moonlight Mischief was a mask I would later use during my time with Lazzi Lazzi, that would have been almost 9 years prior. Since then I’ve gone to theatre school and had a lot more training in it, and have done many workshops with Alix Sideris and Laurie Steven. Alix was the driving force that got me into masks, her passion and guidance sparked inspiration in me and from there it just kind of blazed.

I was also privileged to take some great physical theatre workshops with a gentleman named David Gaines who was a professor at Jacques Lecoq School in Paris where he taught mask, movement and improvisation. He was amazing; he has a mask-clown show called Seven by One Samurai in which he basically does a one-man reenactment of the film Seven Samurai using Commedia style masks that fit in his jacket/kumamoto. The masks would come out of invisible like pockets, allowing him to seamlessly switch from character to character. He was quite remarkable and I had an opportunity to train with him while I was touring across Western Canada.

Most influential actor/actress:

Zach: Most influential? Hmm, there’s a couple, well it’s kind of a tie. My dad is a pretty inspirational guy, he was an actor for many years, and he even made it to Off-Broadway at one point. He lived and worked in New York for many years, so all the stories he told me, and watching him perform on stage was really interesting. I’ve also been following the footsteps of an Ottawa actor named Kris Joseph, I find his story about coming into the professional theatre world and his personal journey to be pretty cool. He worked a high-tech job that made him miserable for years, and then one day he decided to give acting a shot, and he did; soon after he made it to the NAC resident acting company and now he’s in Edmonton doing shows like The Three Musketeers. Not only have I had the pleasure of working with him, but I also know him a little more intimately because he worked for my father’s dinner theatre company for many years. For me, he’s been kind of a “reality check,” because sometimes when you’re looking at a career as an actor you ask yourself “do I really have a shot, a chance of making a living at this?” I say to myself, well Kris did it, and dad did it, and there’s a lot of other local professionals that are clearly doing it, so yes it is possible.

Ideal Gig – no limits:

Zach: LOL. Alright, my ideal gig would be… hmm…Broadway! Leading role, musical, that would be awesome. I did Thirty-nine Steps for last year’s season opener at the Gladstone, it was easily one of the most fun shows I’ve ever done. That might be a fun show to do on Broadway. Also, I kind of feel I’d make a great Hunchback of Notre Dame. I couldn’t really tell you the ideal role for me to play, there’s just too many out there I could never make a call.

Hobbies, Interest and Skills:

Zach: I’m a huge nerd, into comic books, board games and all sorts of stuff. I’m also a magician for hire. Magic is an interesting pursuit; all good magic is theatre, hence why I find it such a fascinating art. The magic I like condenses all the elements of great theatre into the palm of a spectator’s hand. You’re creating a story and a miracle together.

OTHER SKILLS: Various Dialects, Directing, Teaching, Stage Combat – Hand to Hand, Fencing Saber, Fencing Epee, European Broadsword, Kenjutsu [Japanese Katana]. Physical Acting IPerformance (mime, animal, clown etc.), Singing (Tenor), Magic (Stage, Close up, Parlour), Makeup Artist, Special FX Design – Prosthetics, Blood & Gore, Puppets, etc.

Social Media: On Twitter @DanielJackB, @DUPuppetry for Dutch Uncle’s twitter feed

Mini-bio:

Daniel Briere

Daniel is thrilled to appear in his first production with Odyssey Theatre this summer. Born and raised in Calgary, AB, Daniel trained at the National Theatre School of Canada in Montreal. Since graduating in 2007, Daniel has made Toronto his home, and has travelled to perform in Winnipeg, Calgary, Kingston, Blythe, and Peterborough. His puppet company Dutch Uncle Puppetry has an artist residency with Theatre Passe Murraille in Toronto, where they are currently developing their first full length show.

Working for Odyssey:

Daniel: This is my first time working for Odyssey Theatre, I’m thrilled to be participating in this show. Prior to participating in this production, I had met Andy before and really have dug his work and was thrilled to have a chance to audition for the Company. I’m really excited about doing the Commedia work, working with masks and working outside all summer long. Plus, I’ve never spent more than a day or so in Ottawa, so that will really be exciting.

Working in or with Masks:

Daniel: I’ve done a little bit of it in the theatre school, I’ve done some Shakespeare with mask work. I was mostly playing the straight man, surrounded by a bunch of goof balls. Again, in The Game of Love and Chance I’m not to be masked. I’m really interested in seeing how that interaction will happen, and how I can inhabit the same kind of world as the masked characters.

Outside of this production, I work as a puppeteer, which is kind of an extension of this type of work, using similar kind of techniques; masks like puppets are objects that help you transform, and get out of your own body, and take on something new.

Most influential actor/actress:

Daniel: Gary Oldman! He’s different in every role he does, he completely changes physically, vocally, even emotionally from film to film. I’ve always admired his work.

Ideal Gig – no limits:

Daniel: One that comes immediately to mind, is to work as part of the company at the Shaw Festival. I love Noël Coward! And I really think their Company is ‘wicked,’ I’d love to do some of that stuff.

Hobbies, Interest and Skills:

Daniel: I have a Puppetry Company called Dutch Uncle Puppetry in which I am Co-Artistic Director. We’re about two years old, and are based in Toronto and are currently working on our first full-length feature play. We’ve done some videos for YouTube, and are preparing some film projects, as well. Our last show was a cabaret with all puppet numbers, lots of slapstick and goof ball stuff; we also did a film noir show that was performed with hand puppets, so I guess I talk to puppets a lot, and talk with puppets. 

OTHER SKILLS: Piano (Grade 8 Conservatory), Juggling, Snowboarding, Dialects, Stage combat, Musical composition

Social Media: on Twitter @CGRalph

Mini- bio:

Chris moved full-time to Ottawa in 2007 after giving up a life at sea on board icebreakers. In addition to leading a busy actor’s life, full of many memorable shows, he is the Director of Programming at the Ottawa Theatre School.

Chris Ralph

Chris has taught voice and acting at York University, University of Ottawa and Algonquin College.

Working for Odyssey:

Chris: Twenty years of working in stuffy theatres and little dingy studios — and finally, I will be rehearsing and performing outside! This has long been a dream of mine and I thank Odyssey for the opportunity to work with your legendary theatre company!

Working in or with Masks:

Chris: I fell in love with mask work at theatre school and use it a lot even when working on non-mask related characters. Put on a mask and your mind, body, voice and imagination runs free.

Most influential actor/actress:

Chris: I saw the legendary comedic stage actor Heath Lamberts play Cyrano. My Grade 8 eyes never left him. Oh, to be able to make someone cry and laugh at the same time like Heath could.

Ideal Gig – no limits:

Chris: The Producer’s Max Bialystock on Broadway. “We got the wrong play, the wrong director, the wrong cast. Where did we go right?”

Hobbies, Interest and Skills:

Chris: I spent almost ten years working in the Antarctic and the Arctic on icebreakers. I worked on several IMAX movies and have walked among millions of penguins.

Special skills: Mask, Movement / Dance, Viewpoints / Suzuki, Dialects, Singing

Odyssey Theatre is proud to announce their cast roster for this year’s summer production of Marivaux’s The Game of Love and Chance, directed and adapted by Andy Massingham. These very talented thespians have all been chosen for their ability to keep up with the frenetic pace that’s sure to come with Andy’s high energy script. From now until July 26th you will also get to know them a little better through our 6 Part Series.

Stephanie Izsak

Written by Pierre de Marivaux in the 18th century, The Game of Love and Chance is the classic story of two upper-class lovers who are matched together at the behest of their respective fathers.

Jody Stevens

The independent and free-willed Sylvia (played by Stephanie Izsak) decides to swap roles with her servant Lisette (Jody Stevens) in order to uncover the true identity of her prospective husband, the amorous and sentimental Dorante (Daniel Briere).

Daniel Briere

Unbeknownst to Sylvia, Dorante has engaged in the same plan with his own rambunctious domestic, Arlequin (Evan Dowling).

Evan Dowling

When Orgon (Chris Ralph) and Mario (Zachary Counsil), Sylvia’s father and brother, find out about Dorante’s plan as well as the burgeoning romances between nobles and servants alike, frenzy and commotion ensue as the lovers slowly reveal their character and desires.

Chris Ralph

From July 26th – August 26th, Odyssey Theatre invites audience members to a truly unforgettable experience filled with spectacle, hilarity, and romance.

Zack Council

Odyssey Theatre: Describe the character you play in Janet Irwin’s They All Do It.

Charlotte Gowdy: Lili is a romantic at heart with very strong moral principles. She is an avid reader & sees her life through a lens of Victorian melodramas. She is torn between upholding faithfulness to her absentee boyfriend and succumbing to her more carnal desires. So desperate to be good and to do the right thing, she is at times rigid to the point of craziness. Lili is full of lust, will power, intelligence and youthful innocence.

Odyssey Theatre: What’s been the most memorable moment on the set of They All Do It?

Charlotte Gowdy: Honestly, the most memorable moments have been with the wonderfully talented cast.

Odyssey Theatre: Do you have any advice for young singles and/or couples?

Charlotte Gowdy: Always be true to yourself…especially in love & relationships.

Odyssey Theatre: You’ve featured in a number of great plays over the years. We’re curious to know; what upcoming projects do you have lined up after They All Do It?

Charlotte Gowdy: Up next I’ll be in British Columbia for 6 weeks performing with Theatre NorthWest in a play called “Ivor Johnson’s Neighbours“. It’s set in small-town Nova Scotia in the 1950′s and follows a neighbourhood of loveable misfits. I’ve worked at TNW in the past and I’m really excited to return!