ABOUT

Broken Soil Theatre is a an award-winning company based out of Hamilton, Ontario. It is comprised of young artists creating socially, and artistically, progressive new work that speaks to an emerging generation of theatre-goers. The company's aesthetic puts emphasis on the co-existence of audience and performer by creating immersive theatre that is raw, present, risky, and uncomfortable.

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Michael Kras is an actor, playwright, and director. He has had pieces produced and workshopped at the Sears Ontario Drama Festival, the HamilTEN 10 Minute Play Festival, Black Box Fire's Emerging Artists Series, and the Hamilton Fringe Festival. His most recent play, For Kiera, was published in the UK literary journal Bare Fiction. Michael is a graduate of Humber Theatre School, where he trained in the acting conservatory and studied classical technique, physical theatre, and collective creation. He was also invited to become a member of the ALERT Collective, where he will continue his artistic training. Michael is a proud member of the Playwrights Guild of Canada.

With Broken Soil Theatre: Wasp's Nest (Playwright/Director, Black Box Fire), The Last Drop (Playwright/Director, HamilTEN Festival), Jamie's Gone (Playwright/Director, Hamilton Fringe Festival, winner: Best of Fringe 2013), Places (Playwright/Director, Hamilton Fringe Festival, winner: Audience Choice 2014), For Kiera (James/Playwright, Hamilton Fringe Festival)

Elsewhere: The Comedy of Errors (Humber Theatre, Original Shakespeare Project), Twelfth Night (Humber Theatre, Original Shakespeare Project), The Fight (Humber Theatre), Street Scene (Humber Theatre), This Side of Heaven (Humber Theatre), Apporaching Zero (Calm, Cool & Collective)

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR

Keynan McFedries has worked as a technical theatre specialist in all areas for over three years, beginning to hone his craft as a member of the stage crew at Westmount Secondary School which he eventually managed. He is currently studying Technical Production for Theatre and Film at Sheridan College, and served as a Venue Technician at the 2014 Hamilton Fringe Festival.

With Broken Soil Theatre: Wasp's Nest (Lighting Design/Stage Management, Black Box Fire) and Jamie's Gone (Lighting/Sound Design, Hamilton Fringe Festival, winner: Best of Fringe 2013)

Elsewhere: Shut Down/Wasp's Nest (Steeltown Players), One 'L' of a Show: A Broadway Revue (Westwing Players), Drafts (Fulcrum Theatre, winner: Best of Fringe 2012), Sweet Charity (Westwing Players), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Theatre Sheridan), Brantwood (Theatre Sheridan/Outside the March)

CREATIVE DIRECTOR/DESIGN

Megan Kras has been managing the business, promotion, and design sides of Broken Soil Theatre from the very beginning. Besides designing posters, programs, video trailers, and other promotional materials for shows, she's also taken turns as producer, stage manager, set and costume designer, photographer/videographer, and chauffer for Michael Kras (who can't drive). Megan is a graduate of the Advertising program at Mohawk College, and was recently awarded Gold at the National Advertising Awards for her original work.

With Broken Soil Theatre: Wasp's Nest (Black Box Fire), Jamie's Gone (Hamilton Fringe Festival, winner: Best of Fringe 2013), Places (Hamilton Fringe Festival, winner: Audience Choice 2014), For Kiera (Hamilton Fringe Festival)

Elsewhere: Shut Down/Wasp's Nest (Steeltown Players) and Jamie's Gone (Sears Ontario Drama Festival)

RESIDENT ARTIST (CHOREOGRAPHER/MOVEMENT COACH)

Alyssa Nedich is a choreographer and dance teacher based out of Hamilton, Ontario. Training at That's Dancing since the age of 9, Alyssa is trained in contemporary, tap, jazz, ballet, musical theatre, lyrical and hip hop. She has always had a love for the stage and theatrics, performing in a wide variety of productions herself as a dancer, singer and actress. Some choreography credits include work with Hammer Entertainment, Hamilton Theatre Inc, and Hamilton Urban Theatre.. Alyssa also choreographed and performed in the Canadian premiere of the musical Side Show. She has trained with Master Choreographers like Nico Archambault, Wynn Holmes, Todd Shanks, and Bill Hotaling. Her commercial choreography experience includes Calfornia Indie rocker’s Of Us Giants music video “Soil”.

With Broken Soil Theatre: Places (Choreographer, Hamilton Fringe Festival, winner: Audience Choice 2014)

Elsewhere: Side Show (Hammer Entertainment), Fast Food Love (Hamilton Fringe Festival), Nine (Hammer Entertainment), 9 to 5: The Musical (Hammer Entertainment), A Midsummer Night's Dream (Hamilton Urban Theatre), The Addams Family (Hammer Entertainment), Gypsy (Hammer Entertainment), Jekyll and Hyde (Hammer Entertainment), Little Shop of Horrors (Hamilton Theatre Inc)

RESIDENT ARTIST (COMPOSER/ACCOMPANIST)

Stephen Ingram is an actor, musician, composer, and lyricist. He is currently studying at Western University, majoring in piano music performance and composition under Gwen Beamish-MacMillan. Besides his work as an actor and singer in productions with Theatre Westdale, Theatre Aquarius, and Theatre Western, he is the composer and lyricist of Asylum, an original rock musical that premiered at the 2013 Hamilton Fringe Festival and earned the festival's Emerging Artist Award.

With Broken Soil Theatre: Places (Composer/Pianist, Hamilton Fringe Festival, winner: Audience Choice 2014)

Elsewhere: Asylum (Composer/Lyricist, Red Ribbon Theatre), Aspects of Love (Ensemble, Theatre Aquarius), RENT (Mark Cohen, Theatre Western), Little Shop of Horrors (Audrey II, Theatre Westdale), Les Miserables (Javert, Theatre Westdale)