A Tea Party with a Twist
Get ready for a hilarious evening of improvised comedy as three incredible women take the stage! Three Ladies stars two Rapid Fire alum; the sharp-witted Belinda Cornish (artistic director at Teatro Live), and the ever-hilarious Jana O’Connor, (star of CBC’s The Irrelevant Show), joined by a special guest. As they gather for a cup of tea and some gossip, each juicy bit of conversation becomes the spark for spontaneous scenes, wild characters, and side-splitting comedy. With no script and no filter, these three ladies turn gossip into pure improv gold. Expect the unexpected, and don’t miss this tea-fueled laugh fest!
Who Are the “Third” Ladies?
Check out this line-up of remarkable talent, who will be joining Jana & Belinda on these dates!
Feb 7 – Beth Graham
Feb 8 – Joleen Ballendine
Feb 14 – Jocelyn Ahlf
Feb 15 – Michelle Todd
Feb 21 – Kristin Johnston
Feb 22 – Senator Paula Simons
Beth Graham is an actor and playwright. As an actor, she has appeared on stages across the country and toured internationally to the UK, Australia, and the United States. Selected acting credits include The Oculist’s Holiday (Teatro Live), Nevermore (Catalyst Theatre), Pride & Prejudice, Alice Through the Looking Glass (Citadel Theatre), The Drowning Girls (national tour). Beth was recently the Lee Playwright-in-Residence at the University of Alberta. Her latest play, Mermaid Legs, premiered at the Skirtsafire Festival last March, and will be published this fall.
Joleen Ballendine is a writer, actor, improviser, and educator, based in Treaty 6 Territories. Joleen has been an integral part of Canada’s third oldest improv company, Rapid Fire Theatre since 2009, currently holding the role of Director of Outreach and Welcome. She spearheaded the Outreach program in 2011 and since then has continued to grow the company’s reach in the community. She works closely with Indigenous youth using improv and comedy to tell their stories.
Comedy has allowed Joleen to travel across North America and on six European tours, entertaining audiences, and leading workshops. Her work extends to various television and web series, including being a finalist for the National Screen Institute’s Totally Television program in 2020. Noteworthy collaborations include partnerships with CBC, Aboriginal Peoples Television Network and Mosaic Entertainment. Recently, she proudly joined the Historica Canada family by penning her first Canadian Heritage Minute on Mary Bonnie Baker, currently airing.
Jocelyn is a writer, actor, singer and educator. She has performed with Teatro Live! The Mayfield Dinner Theatre, The Citadel, The Plain Janes and Ft. Edmonton Park to name a few. She was a contributor to CBC’s The Irrelevant Show. She currently teaches teens to write and perform at A. Blair McPherson School. Go Mighty!
Michelle can’t wait to hear the tea, ahem share tea with these two beauties! An Edmonton native, Michelle has worn many hats in the arts community for over 25 years. A graduate of MacEwan’s Theatre Arts program, Michelle recently performed in After the Trojan Women (Common Ground Arts Society). Other credits include Tiny Beautiful Things, Vanya & Sonia & Masha & Spike (Shadow Theatre), Black Widow Gun Club, Lady Porn, Destination Wedding, Destination Vegas (Whizgiggling Productions), Mass Debating (100% More Girls), and performing with Northern Light Theatre, Edmonton Repertory Theatre, Theatre Network, Catalyst, and Saint Maggie Productions). Her latest piece Hoodies was written for Concrete Theatre’s Anti-Racism and Change project for Theatre for Young Audiences.
Kristin is an Edmonton based performer and instructor, and a graduate of the Theatre Arts Program at Red Deer College and the Canadian College of Performing Arts in Victoria, BC. Her local credits include A Christmas Carol, 9 to 5, and Sense and Sensibility at the Citadel, the latter as part of the Citadel/Banff Centre Professional Training Program. Kristin has appeared in MOB at Workshop West, Helen with Trunk Theatre and Pith and Deathtrap at Teatro Live. She’s also appeared regularly with Northern Light Theatre, where her credits include Enough (Sterling Award Nomination), We Had a Girl Before You, Baroness Bianka’s Bloodsongs (Sterling Award Nomination) and Origin of the Species. Kristin’s many Fringe credits include The Black Widow Gun Club, Destination Wedding and Destination Vegas with Whizzgiggling Productions, Mass Debating with 100% More Girls, Rivercity the Musical and The Unsynchables with Dammittammy Productions and Release the McCrakkin for Accidental Humour Co. Kristin can be seen next in Dance Nation as part of the SkirtsAfire festival and in The Odd Couple at Teatro Live.
The Hon. Paula Simons represents Alberta in the Senate of Canada. Born and raised in Edmonton, she last appeared onstage as Yente, in her high school production of Fiddler on the Roof. Paula was appointed to the Senate in 2018, after a long and distinguished career in journalism – including several years as a theatre reviewer and arts producer for CBC radio. In 2015, she was commissioned to write a children’s play for Concrete Theatre’s Sprouts Festival. The resulting musical, Onions and Garlic, which she wrote in collaboration with librettist Celia Taylor and composer Dave Clarke, was remounted at the 2017 Edmonton Fringe, to sell-out houses and rave reviews. These days, however, she is primarily engaged in the theatre of the absurd known as parliamentary politics.
