ABOUT THE SHOW

Driving Me Crazy, a notable new play by Linda A. Carson and Suzanne Ristic received honourable mention in the 2019 National Theatre B.C. Playwriting competition. It has received several staged readings since (Kay Meek Theatre, Gibson’s, Off the Page, Nanaimo’s Theatre One, and North Vancouver’s Bodacious reading series) and was met by resounding laughter and applause.  

Driving Me Crazy is about a family and their relationships with each other as experienced through their vehicles.  Inspired by stories from three generations, Driving Me Crazy, follows Liz, a grandmother fighting to keep her driver’s license, her independence and her voice in society. Liz is surrounded by her family: a son and daughter-in-law who are addicted to their cars, a granddaughter who is passionate about the environmental fight against oil guzzling vehicles, and a grandson on his way to learn hard lessons about drinking and driving. Anyone who has driven a car, been driven in a car, or been driven mad by their own family will laugh, cry and gasp. 

Presented by Serendipity Theatre in association with the PHT Creative Hub Live audience at Presentation House Theatre, North Vancouver, BC 

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

ROY SURETTE* – Director  

Roy was Touchstone Theatre’s Artistic Director from 1984 to 1997. He returned in July 2017 after twenty years: ten where he enjoyed island living as Artistic Director for the Belfry Theatre in Victoria and ten at the helm of Montreal’s Centaur Theatre in Montreal where he was Artistic & Executive Director. Much of his career has involved championing new work and Canadian playwrights. He has received multiple awards as a director, has directed across Canada, including for National Arts Centre, Canadian Stage, Shaw Festival, The Arts Club Theatre, The Vancouver Playhouse, Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, Theatre Calgary, Axis Theatre, Carousel Theatre and in Scotland and Australia. Roy is thrilled to work with many dear lifelong friends and with some great emerging artists on this joyful project. 

LINDA A. CARSON – Co-Writer  

Linda, a graduate of Studio 58, has been a professional theatre artist for 35 years. She has acted in theatres across Canada and written several plays, including Dying to Be This, Mom’s The Word (Co wrote) George And Martha (Adapted from James Marshal), Here to Hear, Jack and the Bean, and So How Should I Be. Her most recent acted credits are Where The Wild Things Are (PHT), Halfway To The North (Miracle Theatre) and Learning and Forgetting (PHT). Linda is very excited to see Driving Me Crazy up and on the road! She thanks Suzanne Ristic (BIG TIME!), PHT Creative Hub, Kim Selody, Nicola Cavendish, and this gifted team of theatre artists. Finally, Linda thanks her family, particularly her mom, Isabel and son Timothy who’s stories are in this play. 

SUZANNE RISTIC* – Co-Writer, Kara and Reilly  

Suzanne Ristic has worked in theatre, film and television for almost 50 years, in Vancouver and across Canada.  Her most recent credit was performing the role of Emilia in Western Gold’s production of Seventeen.  She is a founding member of Angry Actors Co-op who, in the 80’s, produced the Jessie award winning play Danny and the Deep Blue Sea for which Suzanne received Best Actress.  Angry Actors brought other successful productions to Vancouver including Suzanne’s first foray into writing collectively- Famous Dead Stories We Just Made Up and later the premiere of Suzanne’s first full length play, Poor, in 2014.  She is very grateful to have had the opportunity to work with her friend, Linda A. Carson, in the creation of Driving Me Crazy and yes! they did drive each other crazy from time to time-nothing a glass of wine couldn’t smooth over.  She’d like to thank the beautiful men in her life: Jay, Jean and Max who continually provide her with inspiration, in the car and out.   

ELLIE KING* – Liz 

Ellie King was born and raised in England where she made her stage debut aged 2 ½.  She immigrated to Canada in1982. On stage she is perhaps best known for her signature role ‘Shirley’ in ‘Shirley Valentine’. She also works in TV & film, both live action and animation most recently voicing ‘Lujanne’ in the hit Netflix series ‘the Dragon Prince’. Ellie was the Founding/Managing Artistic Director of the Raymond Burr Performing Arts Centre and of the Royal Canadian Theatre Company, from which role she retired in 2022. She now looks forward to spending more time on stage rather than behind the scenes, and dedicates all her work to her amazing family and to her dear late husband Geoff King. 

MEREWYN COMEAU – Sylvie 

Merewyn Comeau (she/they) is a multidisciplinary artist who lives and works on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations in “Vancouver, B.C.” A graduate from Capilano University’s Musical Theatre Program, Merewyn’s select theatre credits include: Echoes of the Homesick Heart (Western Canada Theatre), Th’owxiya: The Hungry Feast Dish (Axis Theatre), Elephant and Piggie’s “We Are in a Play!” (Carousel Theatre), Les Filles du Roi (Urban Ink/Fugue Theatre), and Sedna (Urban Ink/Caravan Farm Theatre). She hopes you enjoy the show! 

DYLAN FLOYDE – Sam

Dylan is very excited to be working with the Driving Me Crazy team for this world premiere. Thank you to everyone involved for making it a great experience and thank you to the creative team, and cast for being so welcoming, and supportive. Dylan is a recent grad of Studio 58. Dylan’s other recent credits include: Willy (The Sea, Slamming Door Collective); Antony (Antony and Cleopatra, Studio 58) Cliff (Cabaret, Studio 58).  

BRIAN LINDS* – Doug 

Brian was last seen in Glory (Chemainus Theatre). Selected Vancouver credits include;  Reverberations (Presentation House), Driving Miss Daisy, August: Osage County, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee , The Patron Saint of Stanley Park and It’s A Wonderful Life (Arts Club Theatre). Other credits include; A Christmas Carol, Art, Patience (Belfry), All My Sons, Waiting For Godot, Brighton Beach Memoirs (Blue Bridge). Countess Maritza (Pacific Opera), A Christmas Story, Hilda’s Yard, Harvest (Chemainus Theatre), Sexy Laundry (Theatre Northwest). 

GISELLE CLARKE-TRENAMAN* – Stage Manager 

Giselle has roots in the Toronto theatre community and holds a B.F.A. Hons in Theatre from York University.  She has worked with CanStage/Volcano Theatre on the acclaimed Another Africa as well as The National Arts Centre/Young Peoples Theatre’s production of i think i can.  Now a resident of Vancouver B.C., she was recently nominated for a Jessie Award for her work in Stage Management.  She has worked with Presentation House Theatre, Carousel Theatre, Goh Ballet, SoulPepper, Highlands Opera Studio and Opera Atelier to name a few.  She is also on the Black Theatre Caucus 101 Black Stage Managers Celebration list. Since 2014 Giselle has been the Production Coordinator at Presentation House Theatre in North Vancouver helping artists and companies from all over the world realize their visions. 

She sits on the Board for Nova Dance and is the Founder of Black History Matters. 

BRAD TRENAMAN – Lighting Designer  

Vancouver: Magic Hour (Electric Company/Presentation House/Innovation Lighting), Salmon Girl (Jessie Award – Raven Spirit Dance), Redpatch (Jessie Nomination – Hardline Productions / Arts Club), Mortified (Studio 58), Baking Time and Where the Wild Things Are (Presentation House Theatre), The Events (Pi Theatre), Before Dawn (Lamondance). Toronto: Shakespeare in High Park (Canstage), CATS (NuMu Productions), His Holiness The Dali Lama  (Skydome). Las Vegas: Matt Dusk (Hilton) and Menopause the Musical (Luxor). Touring: The Stepcrew, magician Ted Outerbridge, National Chinese Acrobats. He is a writer for Professional Lighting and Production Magazine and a member of Associated Designers of Canada. Currently pursuing a Masters in Sustainable Theatre Design at York University. www.batlighting.com 

PAM JOHNSON – Set/Costume design 

Pam is thrilled to be creating with so many great friends both new and old. Pam has been designing professionally for over 42 years. Her designs have travelled throughout Canada, United States, UK, Australia and Japan. In 2012 she was honoured with a Vancouver Career Achievement Award. Pam has designed over 24 productions for Bard on the Beach and had taught at Studio 58 for over 25 years. She has designed for most theatre companies large and small throughout Canada. Her recent credits include, The Birds for Pacific Opera Victoria, Forgiveness, and  Talking Turkey for the Arts Club.  

JEAN BRAZEAU – Co sound designer/composer 

Jean Brazeau is an electronic composer and performer based in Vancouver, B.C.. While his current work is focused on sounding lost and dying electronic instruments, he previously found success producing electronic dance music. His album, Friendly Chemist – Touch of Jupiter (2015) was a galvanizing force for the publisher 1080p, helping establish the identity of the label while procuring hundreds of thousands of streams across various platforms. As an extension of his practice, Jean is a director at Deep Blue, an experimental sound studio in Vancouver where he co-curates a program of sound based performances. 

Julian Selody – Composer/Sound Design 

Julian Selody started his life in beautifully rainy Vancouver, His friend showed him a saxophone when he was 13 and he has been addicted ever since. Julian completed his undergraduate degree at Humber College, (Toronto) where he met some of his closest friends and musical collaborators. Julian splits his time between Toronto and Ottawa where he pursues creative music of all types. He currently tours with the Lemon Bucket Orchestra, plays with Orkestra Kriminal and leaps across the ocean to hit it with his Greek brothers and sisters in the Agios Lavrentios Brass Band.  

When Julian is not working on music he is in the wilderness, where he gathers advice and great knowledge from  the birds. He dreams of learning everything our feathered friends have to say and incorporate it into his creative pursuits, from the melodious burblings of the Wood Thrush to the guttural glooks of the Bittern. Whether it is Bach, Balkan, or Bird(song), Julian approaches music with open ears, mind, and heart.         

*The participation of this Artist (these Artists) is arranged by permission of Canadian Actors’ Equity Association under the provisions of the Dance Opera Theatre Policy (DOT).

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SINGLE TICKETS ON SALE!

Adults: $45 | Seniors: $38 | Students: $16