2021 Resident Artists
The inaugural Necessary Angel Theatre Company Artistic Residency program launched in January 2021 with Alana Bridgewater, Carlos Rivera, and Michaela Washburn as the company’s 2021 Resident Artists.
The year-long Necessary Angel Artistic Residency was developed to support the voices of outstanding artists as they explore theatrical storytelling at the edge of their artistic practice. The 2021 Artistic Residency began on January 4, and includes: a $10,000 bursary for each artist, artistic and administrative support from Necessary Angel towards the development of new work, and regular peer-to-peer artistic roundtables.
“For our inaugural residency I am excited to work with three mid-career artists whose work I have followed and admired for years. I have had the pleasure of witnessing the power of Alana, Carlos and Michaela’s storytelling and I am thrilled that Necessary Angel can travel with them on their artistic journey. l cannot wait to see where their storytelling takes us this year.”
Necessary Angel Theatre Company acknowledges and thanks the following for their support: Canada Council for the Arts; Ontario Arts Council; the Toronto Arts Council; and BMO Financial Group.
Artists’ Thoughts on Residency
“I’ve had the honour of being a part of an artist residency that has nurtured my writing, opening me up to the possibilities of expanding my role as a storyteller and curator. The collaborative and supportive nature of the team allowed room for breath and time without pressure of deadlines. I am truly grateful to be a part of the inaugural artist residency and look forward to working alongside Necessary Angel in the coming years. ”
“It is an extreme privilege and honor to be supported for another year as one of Necessary Angel’s Artists in Residence. Resilience seemed an appropriate theme to embrace for 2021, however, little did I know that a debilitating health diagnosis would find me unpacking it on a fundamental level of existence, let alone as an artistic exploration. After twenty years of living my dream, I was suddenly faced with the stark possibility that my career as a performer and creator might be forever changed. Fortunately with the support of my fellow Artists in Residence, along with Alan and Gail’s reassurance and encouragement, I was able to reframe the experience and reclaim my identity as an artist. In no small way, this residency saved me. I was seen and heard, supported and emboldened, and am once again being given the incredible fortune of professional, artistic, and financial resources to explore what it means to be a storyteller. It is my goal to take this generous opportunity to share the story of what is happening now, and how to make the most of it, as now is truly the only moment that we have. ”
Learn more about our inaugural Resident Artists:
Alana Bridgewater
Alana Bridgewater is a Toronto actor and singer, who is best known for her role as ‘Killer Queen’ in the Mirvish rock musical We Will Rock You.
She recently made her debut at the Signature Center on 42nd Street in NYC with the prestigious Soulpepper Theatre Company in Spoon River and First Ladies. Other Soulpepper Theatre credits include the title role in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Rose – A Musical, Idomeneus, Porgy & Bess, Riverboat and the Global Cabaret Festival.
Other theatre productions have included Shrek and The Wizard of Oz (Grand Theatre) and Hairspray (Charlottetown Festival).
Alana's film and television credits include ‘Hannibal’, ‘Dino Dan’, ‘Lost Girl’ and ‘Mysticons’. She is the voice of Mr. King Dice in the hit video game ‘Cuphead’. She received a Gemini nomination for CBC’s “Gospel Christmas”, and recently has sung backup vocals on tour for Johnny Reid and Corey Hart.
IG: @alanabridgewatermusic
Twitter: @alanabeemusic
Website: www.alanabridgewater.ca
Carlos Rivera
Carlos Rivera is a director, choreographer, and a performer, originally from Mexico City. He graduated from the National Theatre School in 2018 and is currently enrolled in the MFA in Directing for Theatre at the University of Ottawa. Carlos has worked and collaborated with several companies across Canada, including Red Sky performance (Toronto), Globe Theatre (Regina), Raven Spirit Dance (Vancouver), MT Space (Kitchener), Puente Theatre (Victoria), and Ondinnok (Montreal). Currently, he is developing his first play, The Little Rooster, through an artistic residency with the support of Necessary Angel in collaboration with Aluna Theatre.
He is continuously working on numerous artistic projects as a performer and director.
Michaela Washburn
Michaela Washburn is a Métis artist of Cree, French, Irish, and English ancestry. Hailing from the prairies, Michaela is now based in North Bay. Her pronouns are she/her/they/them, and he/ him when they’re in drag. Washburn’s craft spans theatre, television, film, spoken word, writing, hosting, clown, improvisation, stand-up and workshop facilitation. Select theatre credits include: This Is How We Got Here (Native Earth), Almighty Voice and His Wife (Soulpepper), Guarded Girls (Tarragon/Green Light Arts), Grace (Nightwood), La Bête, Animal Farm (Soulpepper). An award-winning artist for her multifaceted performance as Métis leader Louis Riel in Confederation & Riel (VideoCabaret/Soulpepper), Michaela has also garnered multiple nominations including the K. M. Hunter Artist Award for Theatre and the Ontario Arts Council Indigenous Arts Award. Her performance and written work has been shared internationally; including festivals and stages in Wales, Aruba and across Canada and the United States. Film and television credits include: Burden of Truth, Baroness Von Sketch, Just One Word, The River You Step In. A proud member of CAEA’s elected national council, Michaela is humbled and honoured to be a storyteller, and acknowledges her current privilege to make art at such an extraordinary time in humanity’s existence. She is deeply grateful to Necessary Angel for this incredible opportunity and hopes to use it to serve the community well.
