Bios:
BARRIE BAKER (Willy)
Barrie Baker has been part of theatre in the Nanaimo area off and on for over 20 years. He is presently a member of The Yellow Point Drama Group and will put on his director's hat on with their spring production. Barrie has had a wide range of roles, but never that of an animal. When Brian March showed him the script for Fireweed and then offered him the role of Willy, the salty dog, he felt a certain affinity to the character. "No dog costume," said Brian. Baker agreed. He says working with the cast and crew has been another fine experience.
BILL MINER (Ted)
Bill received his training under Antony Holland, Catherine Caines, and Don S. Williams at their Film and Theatre School in Vancouver, and further instruction at Studio on the Drive. He has worked in independent films, commercials, and comedy shows, as well as the Vancouver Fringe Festival. He has appeared in the Island Musical Theatre production of The Fantasticks, for Ponomo Productions in You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown and numerous old-time radio plays, and at Western Edge in the The Kitchen Sink, Screen Play, Dreamland Saturday Nights and the New Waves Festival.
NICOLE BUSBY (Carly)
Nicole has previously been seen at Western Edge Theatre in productions of Boston Marriage, How I Learned to Drive, Shakespeare's Will, the world premiere of Night of Shooting Stars, The Odd Couple, and Dreamland Saturday Nights. She is also well-known to Nanaimo-area audiences for her appearances at Chemainus Theatre (The Miser), Vancouver Island University (Dark of the Moon), and the Gabriola Theatre Centre (Intimate Exchanges, Absent Friends, among others). Nicole has trained at York University, the Stanislavsky Summer School in Cambridge, Mass., the Gabriola Theatre Centre, Nanaimo's Spotlight Academy, and the Vancouver Island University Theatre Dept.
BRIAN MARCH (Playwright, Director, Man)
Brian is in his sixth season with Western Edge. Previous directing credits here include The Kitchen Sink, How I Learned to Drive and the premieres of Night of Shooting Stars and The Engineers, as well as Fortinbras at Nanaimo Theatre Group and Ten Little Indians with the Yellow Point Drama Group. He is also owner of the dinner theatre company Mystery Unlimited, based in London, Ont., for which he has written dozens of scripts. As an actor Brian has appeared at Western Edge in The Engineers and The Goat, and with the Nanaimo Theatre Group in Blood Brothers and Last of the Red Hot Lovers. His play Parlour Games was seen last year at the One Act Play Festival in Qualicum.
SHERRI McLEAN (Woman)
Sherri makes her Western Edge debut in Fireweed, but she has been seen in numerous area theatre productions, including The Good Game at Lady Smith's Little Theatre, and Picasso at the Lapin Agile, Don Juan in Chicago,, and Last of the Red Hot Lovers for the Nanaimo Theatre Group. She has also won Best Actress awards at the Theatre BC Festival for Miracle Mother and Criminal Hearts, and the Best Supporting Actress Award for Dangerous Liaisons. Sherri has also appeared in films including The Fog and Pure Drunk Cowboys, and on television in Danger Bay and Alienated.
