CAROLE OF THE BELLES
Written/Directed/Designed/Lyrics/Mother Fowler - Trevor Schmidt
Head Ding Dong/Barbara - Jason Hardwick
Francine - Kristin Johnston
Violet - Michelle Todd
Carole - Jake Tkaczyk
Shelley - Cheryl Jameson
Photography by Justin Gambin
Graphics by Jason Hardwick
Trevor Schmidt - Director/Playwright/Mother Fowler
Trevor Schmidt is a performer, designer of set and costume, a published playwright and the Artistic Director of Northern Light Theatre, where he has been recognized for directing and designing the Canadian premieres of Carol Anne Duffy’s THE WORLD’S WIFE and Sean Graney’s THE 4TH GRADERS PRESENT AN UNNAMED LOVE-SUICIDE and received the Outstanding Production Award for the popular Canadian premiere of Elise Forier Edie’s THE PINK UNICORN. Other awards across Canada and the USA include THE WATERMELON GIRLS, and CHANGE ROOM, as well as the wildly embraced FLORA & FAWNA’S FIELD TRIP! (with Fleurette!)- co-written and created with frequent collaborator Darrin Hagen. He performed the one-man show COFFEE DAD, CHICKEN MOM, AND THE FABULOUS BUDDHA BOI by Nick Green before reprising it as part of New York’s FRIGID FESTIVAL, and originated the role of Bette Davis in the much-lauded BITCHSLAP! and received performance awards for both. He was most recently awarded the Rosie Award for Leading Male or Non-Binary award for his work in the movie ME & MR. RIGHT by the Alberta Motion Picture Industry Association. He was produced at The Greater Boston Stage Company (WE HAD A GIRL BEFORE YOU....), Shadow Theatre (ROBOT GIRLS) and his recent play MONSTRES, will be at Vertigo Theatre in Calgary in early 2026
Jason Hardwick - Head Ding Dong/Barbara
Jason is a Sterling Award winning actor and proud head Ding-Dong for these dingalings. He was last seen with 100% More Girls in Mass Debating at the 2024 Fringe. Some favourite credits include: Puck Bunnies, Crack in the Mirror, Don’t Frown at the Gown (Guys in Disguise); Elf: The Musical (Western Canada Theatre); Cinderella: A Pantomime (Capitol Theatre Fort Edmonton); First Date, All Shook Up (Mayfield); Mary Poppins (Globe Theatre). Jason is the current Artistic Director of Die-Nasty! The Live Improvised Soap Opera. Jason can also be seen at this year's Fringe in Flora and Fauna Face Their Fears with Guys in Disguise, and DieNasty! The Live Improvised Soap Opera every night at 10pm right here at the Varscona Theatre.
Kristin Johnston - Francine
Kristin is thrilled to be back again with the Whizgiggling family. Most recently she was seen in Pith! (Teatro Live), A Christmas Carol (Citadel Theatre) and MOB (Workshop West Playwrights Theatre). Other credits include: Helen (Trunk Theatre), Enough (Northern Light Theatre), for which she was nominated for a Sterling Award, Deathtrap (Teatro Live), 9 to 5 (Citadel Theatre), We Had A Girl Before You (Northern Light Theatre) and Baroness Bianka’s Bloodsongs (Northern Light Theatre) for which she was nominated for a Sterling.
Previous fringe fun includes Sterling nominated Destination Vegas (Whizgiggling), Destination Wedding (Whizgiggling), Xanadu (Uniform Theatre), Rivercity the Musical and Sterling nominated The Unsyncables (Dammittammy Productions) as well as Release the McCrackin' (Accidental Humour Co.).
Kristin thanks you for supporting live theatre and wishes you a delightful Fringe!
Michelle Todd - Violet
Back with the usual suspects at Whizgiggling for Year FIVE of fabulous Fringing - Black Widow Gun Club, Lady Porn, Destination Wedding, Destination Vegas (Whizgiggling Productions) Michelle's Fringe Heart is Bursting!
An Edmonton native, Michelle has been active in the arts community for a few decades, wearing a few hats. A graduate of MacEwan's Theatre Arts program, Michelle can also be seen with these beauties in Carole of the Belles at the Varscona who brought you last year's Fringe Hit Mass Debating (100% More Girls). Michelle also recently performed After the Trojan Women (Common Ground Arts Society), Tiny Beautiful Things, Vanya & Sonia & Masha & Spike (Shadow Theatre), Snow White (Edmonton Repertory Theatre) Skylar (Theatre Network), until the next breath (Catalyst), Open Invitation (Saint Maggie Productions), and SLUT (Northern Light Theatre). Her latest piece Hoodies was written for Concrete Theatre's Anti-Racism and Change project for Theatre for Young Audiences.
Jake Tkaczyk - Carole
Jake is an Edmonton-based theatre artist passionate about creating new, collaborative work. He holds a BFA in Acting from the University of Alberta and is defending his PhD in September. A graduate of Red Deer College’s Theatre Performance and Creation program, Jake has worked extensively as an actor, director, and educator across Alberta. Selected acting credits include Lucky Charm (Defiance Theatre / Theatre YES), Lungs, 10 Funerals (Shadow Theatre), Urinetown (Grindstone Theatre), Crack in the Mirror, Puck Bunnies, Microwave Coven, With Bells On (Guys in Disguise), Candy and the Beast (Northern Light Theatre), and You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown! (Nuova Vocal Arts). His directing credits include White Guy on Stage Talking (MUNT), Springboards Cabaret 2024 (WWPT), The Comedy of Errors (Primestock Theatre). Jake has taught at The Citadel’s Foote Theatre School, Grindstone Theatre, and Augustana University. He started MUNT where he runs a late-night cabaret every other month and was previously with Theatre Alberta and Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. He was also honoured with the AFA Young Artist Prize. Catch Jake at the Fringe this year, curating his favourite Late Night Cabaret and performing with Guys in Disguise and 100% More Girls. Jake sends love to his family, T, G, K, L, and G.
Cheryl Jameson - Shelley
Fringe is the best artistic playground, and Cheryl is overjoyed to be reunited with the Mass Debating team for another co-laboration with this incredible group of friends! Cheryl has worked with Trevor in many other productions, such as Her Mark, Marked, World's Wife, 2 Queens and a Joker, and 4th Graders Present: An Un-Named Love-Suicide, where she was a Sterling Award recipient. Some favourite local productions include: 9 to 5 (Citadel Theatre), Cabaret, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Rock and Roll Era (Mayfield Dinner Theatre), Hey! Countess (Teatro La Qundicina), The Prom (Nuova Vocal Arts) and her own The Best Little Newfoundland Christmas Pageant...Ever! (Whizgiggling Productions). Cheryl would like to thank you for supporting live theatre and hopes you have a fantastic fringe!