Past Productions

by Lara Schmitz

A World Premiere presented by Verb Theatre in Association with Reckless Daughter Creative.

Ravonna believed she had killed her sister.

But when she tampers with a consciousness experiment, she discovers something far stranger: her sister’s soul - and the soul of her former mentor’s wife, are trapped inside the body of a starling bird. With time running out, Ravonna and Dr. Sandra Beetle must put aside their bitter history and attempt the impossible - sending Ravonna’s consciousness into the starling itself. Once inside, Ravonna encounters a labyrinth of memories and secrets that threaten to unravel everything she thought she knew.

Brought to life in a stunning world premiere, The Starling Effect will offer Calgary audiences a rare chance to see science fiction live on stage. For the first time, Verb Theatre will be working in association with the up and coming collective Reckless Daughter Creative to bring you this non-stop thriller.

Winner of the 2022 Alberta Playwrights Network Novitiate Prize

Cast
RAVONNA - Lara Schmitz
LARK - Caleigh Crow
AMELIA - Bronwyn Steinberg
SANDRA - Esther Purves-Smith

Creative Team
PLAYWRIGHT - Lara Schmitz
DIRECTOR - Kathryn Smith
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR - Madeleine Taylor-Gregg

STAGE MANAGER - Raynah Bourne
ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER - Frances MacDonald
SET DESIGN - Julia Kim
LIGHTING DESIGN - Ajay Badoni
ASSOCIATE LIGHTING DESIGN - Anton deGroot
SOUND DESIGN & COMPOSITION - Kristin Eveleigh
COSTUME DESIGN - Jolane Houle
FIGHT & INTIMACY DIRECTOR - John M. Knight
HEAD OF PROPS - Abigail Monarrez
PUPPET BUILDER - Ali DeRegt

PRODUCTION MANAGER - Lowen Carlson
PUBLICIST - Aldona B Creative

VERB ARTISTIC DIRECTOR - Kathryn Smith
VERB ARTISTIC ASSOCIATE - Camille Pavlenko
RECKLESS DAUGHTER CREATIVE - Madeleine Taylor-Gregg
RECKLESS DAUGHTER CREATIVE - Zoë Arthur

Poster by Beau Strong

When a hefty tax on gay marriage is the new norm, a group of queer friends struggle to navigate new filters on love, friendship, marriage, and existence. Lavender marriage skyrockets in popularity leaving this group of friends to grapple with discomfort, come to each other’s aid, and reckon with their loved ones being federally audited for “romantic fraud”.

Lavender Marriage is a dark comedy that follows seven characters, two of which have entered a lavender marriage with one another, as they darkly, and hilariously, try to come to terms with how to exist with dignity and pride in a newly challenging world.

Workshop Cast
CATHERINE - Shea Morrison
DINAH - Joyce Kabengele
NEIL - Ciaran Volke
RENEE - Zoë Arthur
STEVEN - Michael Rolfe
SUZANNE - Kat Arifin
TIMOTHY - Charlie McNeil

Reading Cast
CATHERINE - Shea Morrison
DINAH - Joyce Kabengele
NEIL - Ciaran Volke
RENEE - Zoë Arthur
STEVEN - Conrad Belau
SUZANNE - Kat Arifin
TIMOTHY - Eve Beauchamp

Creative Team
DIRECTOR - Madeleine Taylor-Gregg
DRAMATURG - Eve Beauchamp
DRAMATURG - Shea Morrison
DRAMATURG - Ruby Swan

Poster Artwork by Mackenzie Bedford

Workshop supported by Lunchbox Theatre’s Brown Bag Residency Program.

The Coming Out Monologues 2025

Calgary Queer Arts Society’s The Coming Out Monologues invites audiences and participants alike to experience the power of Queer voices and their heartfelt, painful, hilarious, personal, and connected stories.
Once again, Reckless Daughter partnered with CQAS to facilitate storytelling workshops culminating in three shows of monologue performances.

Cast of Storytellers 2025

SHOW ONE
Michelle
Dayn
Venessa
Jon
Charlie

DRAG SINGS LIVE GUESTS - Holtasoli & Kenna Burima

SHOW TWO
Ame
Jerry
Sam
Anthony
Eva

DRAG SINGS LIVE GUESTS - Ashtray Williams & Kenna Burima

SHOW THREE
Heather
TR
Chloe
Cece

DRAG SINGS LIVE GUESTS - Mx. Jendr & Kenna Burima

HOST - Marhsall Vielle

Poster Design & Photos by Wilmer Aburto

Revry TV aired the first-ever Drag King competition show in 2025, King of Drag, and we couldn’t have been more excited!!

We hosted a watch party and drag show at Aroma Cafe Bar featuring local Alberta Drag Kings! The nights were casual, fun, community-minded, and, of course, full of KINGS!

FEATURED DRAG KINGS/ARTISTS:
Osmo Cis
King Neptune
Winah Dinah
King Dong
Brad Diesel
Rudy Tuesday
Ashtray Williams
Top Silog
Shane Onyou
Shay Nanigans
Oliver Twirl
Moses Motors
El Rey del Sol

Poster designed by El Rey del Sol

Calgary Queer Arts Society’s The Coming Out Monologues invites audiences and participants alike to experience the power of Queer voices and their heartfelt, painful, hilarious, personal, and connected stories.
In 2024, Reckless Daughter partnered with CQAS to facilitate storytelling workshops culminating in three nights of monologue performances.

Cast of Storytellers 2024

NIGHT ONE
Riley
Rufi
Alex
Ruby
Odeh

HOST - Kylee Roman
MUSICAL GUEST - Robert Adam

NIGHT TWO
Kait
Dustin
Daphne
Jaime
Beck
Shone

HOST - Adora Nwofor
MUSICAL GUEST - Zenon

NIGHT THREE
Ivan
Maggie
Andrea
Morgan
Charlotte
Nakota

HOST - Marhsall Vielle
MUSICAL GUEST - KP Smith

Photo by Shannon Johnston (@me_onlylouder)

The Way We Burn is a searing look at an alternate now where abortion is punishable by burning at the stake. 7 characters navigate life, family, friendship and survival in a community where resources and information are slim.

Workshop/Reading Production Team 2022:
DIRECTOR - Conrad Belau
STAGE MANAGER - Megan Jovie
SOUND DESIGNER/COMPOSER - Alixandra Cowman

Cast 2022:
ALICE - Alex Watz
COREY - Zoë Arthur
LYNN - Maggie Mackenzie
NELL - Madeline Hunter Smith
PETRA - Kendra Hutchinson
SKIP - Maya Green
TARA - Filsan Dualeh

Production/Devising Team 2024:
DIRECTOR - Madeleine Taylor-Gregg
STAGE MANAGER - Elizabeth Houghton
COSTUME DESIGNER - Paige Prystupa
SOUND DESIGNER - Ruby Swan
LIGHTING DESIGNER - Abby Weeks

Cast/Devisers 2024:
ALICE - Katelyn Morishita
COREY - Ruby Gaudet
LYNN - Joti Janda
NELL - Charlotte Hurdman
PETRA - Joyce Kabengele
SKIP - Mariza Iturbe-Becerril
TARA - Zoë Arthur
ALICE UNDERSTUDY - Madeleine Taylor-Gregg

Photo by Sean Dennie

Reckless Daughter partnered with Aroma Cafe Bar in Marda Loop and local Drag King Sensation El Rey del Sol to produce a hilarious fun-filled morning with delicious food and disco bops.

HOSTED BY:
El Rey del Sol

FEATURING:
Angelina Starchild
Dmitri Dmitria
Dogiichow
Noble Oney

Poster designed by El Rey del Sol

HEARTACHE is a collectively created melodramatic comedy about the dysfunctions in love, family, and friendship. Constance is only a mother, after all; how much could her children possibly ask of her? How much could she possibly ask of them? Watch the family unravel and attempt to "RESET".

Devising Team/Cast 2023:
DIRECTOR/FACILITATOR - Madeleine Taylor-Gregg
REHEARSAL STAGE MANAGER - Jelena Minshall
SOUND DESIGNER - Ben Gaudet
SOUND/LIGHTING TECHNICIAN - Shannon Murphy
LIGHTING MENTOR - Ajay Badoni

JAMIE - Zoë Arthur
SARA - Amy Sawka
JONAH - Keith Boniol
FRANK - Ben Gaudet
ERROL - Simon Tottrup
CONSTANCE - Madeleine Taylor-Gregg

Photo by Sebastian Rueda Montes