New Wood Buffalo theatre company announces first production
(November 4, 2021, Fort McMurray) Newly founded nistawâyâw / ᓂᐢᑕᐋᐧᔮᐤ / Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo theatre company, Swamp Rat Experience, is producing their first show, Suite Surrender by Michael McKeever in partnership with Keyano Theatre, playing March 10-12, 2022 at the Keyano Recital Theatre. Auditions will be held in January.
Swamp Rat Experience is an independent theatre company founded by artists Hanna Fridhed-Campbell and Zenon Campbell with the aim to create theatre for the love of creating.
Hanna Fridhed
“Theatre is an opportunity to connect with each other and to have fun, to do what nourishes our souls. Swamp Rat Experience is hoping to be a safe space to explore creatively, and to simply enjoy theatre both as artists and audience,” says co-founder and Director Hanna Fridhed-Campbell. “Partnering with Keyano Theatre enables us to produce high-quality, independent theatre with and for our community. We are grateful for their support and dedication to continuously keep theatre happening.”
Suite Surrender, written by Michael McKeever, takes place in 1942, when two of Hollywood's biggest divas descend upon the luxurious Palm Beach Royale Hotel to perform in a USO show - assistants, luggage, and legendary feud with one another in tow. Everything seems to be in order for their wartime performance... that is, until they are somehow assigned to the same suite! Mistaken identities, overblown egos, double entendres, and a lap dog named Mr. Boodles round out this fantastically funny riot of a love note to the classic farces of the 30s and 40s.
Zenon Campbell
“This is an incredibly well-written show, and quite frankly, it’s hilarious,” says co-founder and Set Designer Zenon Campbell. “It’s a great play to open a new theatre company with; starting things off with a laugh.”
This production is made possible by generous support from Production Sponsors FMM Law, Coldwell Banker Fort McMurray, Paul Davis, Nicholas Vardy Photography, and Stage Sponsors Canadian Tire and AKRON Engineering.
Zenon Campbell is an award-winning Actor, Writer, and Set Designer with a flair for the hilarious. He has performed in numerous local productions, including Run For Your Wife, The Odd Couple, AHOY! A Pirate’s Life For Me, Cabaret, The Drowsy Chaperone, and Lend Me a Tenor.
Hanna Fridhed-Campbell is an Actor, Director, and Arts Manager originally from Sweden. Since making Wood Buffalo her home in 2013, she has been an advocate for and supporter of the performing arts in the region both locally and provincially through her work on the boards of Theatre Alberta and Alberta Drama Festival Association, and as the previous Artistic Director for Theatre; Just Because. Her previous directing credits include Purge, Evil Dead The Musical, and numerous award-winning one-act plays.
