Showcase

The spirit of Azimuth is forward moving, looking towards a stronger and more diverse future by investing in the growth of the next generation and supporting innovative ideas from young artists and daring ideas from established ones.

In 2009, Azimuth Theatre began the Emerging Company Showcase as a means of formalizing and defining our ongoing support of independent producers and ad hoc groups creating and presenting new work in Edmonton. Azimuth provides support and mentorship to emerging producers allowing them to keep the art-making at the forefront of their process, which can all too easily be swamped by the demands of first forays into independent production. Each engagement is unique to the needs and goals of the company and the project. We provide resources like rehearsal space, counsel and advice on practical company matters, front of house and box office support, marketing materials, a presentation fee, and/or assistance with performance venue costs.

To submit a project for consideration, please visit our submissions page.

2019-2020 Showcase (Workshop in 2019 and full production in 2020)

Impossible Mongoose presents GEF!

A psychological-thriller jazz-age musical with the paranormal at its core.

Book and Lyrics by Jessy Ardern

Music by Erik Mortimer

Conceived and Directed by Corben Kushneryk

Production Design by Alison Yanota

Created in collaboration with Kristen Padayas

Impossible Mongoose

Impossible Mongoose (IMP) is an award-winning Edmonton-based independent theatre company engaged in unearthing lesser-known theatrical gems and the creation of inventive new Canadian theatre. Founded by Corben Kushneryk in 2013, IMP expanded in 2017 with the addition of Artistic Co-Producers Kristen Padayas and Jessy Ardern.

Past Productions:

35MM: A Musical Exhibition (2013, Canadian Premiere)

Coraline (2013, Canadian Premiere)

– Winner: 2013 Edmonton International Fringe Festival Artists’ Choice Award

Harold and Vivian Entertain Guests (2015)

– Nominee: 2016 Sterling Award for Outstanding Fringe Director

The Fall of the House of Atreus (2016, World Premiere)

– Winner: 2017 Sterling Awards for Outstanding Fringe Production,

– Outstanding Fringe Director & Outstanding Fringe New Work

– Nomination: Outstanding Fringe Performance by an Actress

The Fall of the House of Atreus (2017, Revival in co-production with Blarney Productions)

Prophecy (2017, World Premiere)

– Selection: 2017 Edmonton Fringe Holdover Series

– Winner: 2018 Sterling Awards for Outstanding Fringe Production,

– Outstanding Fringe Director & Outstanding Fringe Performance by an Actress

– Nomination: Outstanding Fringe New Work

The Alien Baby Play (2018, Canadian Premiere)

The Impossible Mongoose Team 

Artistic Co-Producer/Founder/Director

Corben Kushneryk is an Edmonton-based interdisciplinary theatre artist and Artistic Co-Producer of Impossible Mongoose. Directing credits include: The Alien Baby Play, Prophecy, The Fall of the House of Atreus, Harold and Vivian Entertain Guests,  Coraline (2013 Edmonton Fringe Artists’ Choice Award), 35MM: A Musical Exhibition (Impossible Mongoose), Never, Never (Promise Productions) and You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown! (Grande Prairie Live Theatre). He has also been seen onstage in All Shook Up, Jesus Christ Superstar, 9 to 5: The Musical (Mayfield Dinner Theatre), Mamma Mia! (Citadel Theatre), Shakespeare’s R&J (Kill Your Television), The Bully Project  (Concrete Theatre/ Persephone Theatre), 10 out of 12 (Wild Side Productions), The Best Little Newfoundland Christmas Pageant Ever (Whizgiggling) and many creations with Toy Guns Dance Theatre. He holds a BFA (Acting) from the University of Alberta and is a graduate of MacEwan’s Theatre Arts Program.

Artistic Co-Producer/Playwright/Performer

 Jessy Ardern is an actor, a playwright, and an Artistic Co-Producer with Impossible Mongoose. Her writing has been seen onstage in Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Toronto, and Edmonton. She received a 2017 Sterling Award for Outstanding New Work (awarded to playwright) for Prophecy. Jessy is a graduate of the University of Alberta’s BFA Acting program, where she appeared as Clytemnestra in Iphigenia at Aulis and as Helena in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. She has been seen onstage as Procne in If We Were Birds, Margrethe Bohr in Copenhagen (Bleviss Laboratory Theatre) and as Bethany in The Alien Baby Play at the 2018 Edmonton Fringe Festival (Impossible Mongoose).

Artistic Co-Producer/Performer

Kristen Padayas is a graduate of Grant MacEwan College’s Theatre Arts Program and the University of Alberta’s Bachelor of Fine Arts Acting Program. She joined Impossible Mongoose as an Artistic Co-Producer in 2017. Select Acting Credits: On the Banks of the Nut, The Scent of Compulsion (Teatro la Quindicina), Bare: A Pop Opera (Raw Mango Theatre), Harold and Vivian Entertain Guests (Impossible Mongoose) Matt & Ben, Coast, The Goodbye Day (Theatre Transit), Working It Out (Alberta Workers’ Health Centre), Bone Wars (Punctuate Theatre), Apple (Sage Theatre), Flight Risk (Lunchbox Theatre). In 2016, Kristen was nominated for an Elizabeth Sterling Haynes award for Outstanding Achievement in Theatre for Young Audiences for her work in the Sterling award winning production of Under Cover produced by Concrete Theatre.

GEF Collaborators

Erik Mortimer – Composer

Erik is a pianist, composer, and music director based in Edmonton. He has been recognized with Sterling award for his Composition of Sleeping Beauty (Capitol Theatre) and music direction, on “The Last Five Years” (Theatre Network), and was nominated on four other occasions for “Peter and the Starcatcher” (Citadel Theatre) “Women on the Verge”, “Drat the Cat” (Plain Janes) and “Honk” (Grindstone Theatre). He has composed scores for many productions including 4 musicals at the Capitol theatre and others including productions of Thou Art Here’s and “Ron Pearson’s Mystery Wonder Show”. He has worked with the many of Edmonton’s finest artists and companies including the Mayfield Dinner theatre, Teatro la Quindicina, Concrete Theatre, Alberta Opera, Thou Art Here, Andrea House, Citadel Young Company and Rapid Fire. Erik is a versatile player who works as a studio musician, Jazz pianist and is rehearsal pianist at Edmonton Ballet.

Alison Yanota – Production Design

A graduate from the Mount Royal University Diploma in Technical Theatre and the University of Alberta MFA and BFA in Theatre Design, Alison Yanota is an artist who believes in the performance space as a form of interactive sculpture. Select Design credits include: Scorch (Bustle and Beast Theatre Company – Production Design), Premium Content (Major Matt Mason Collective – Production Design), Miss Katelyn’s Grade Threes Prepare for the Inevitable (Tiny Bear Jaws – Production Design), Mixie and the Halfbreeds (fu-GEN Theatre, Set and Lighting Design), The Lonely Diner (Vertigo Theatre – Lighting Design), A Christmas Carol (Keyano Theatre – Lighting and Costume Design), Apple (Sage Theatre – Set and Lighting Design), SCENT BAR (Ghost River Theatre – Venue Design), Seussical the Musical (Storybook Theatre – Set Design), So Dark the Sky (Workshop)(Ghost River Theatre – Set, Lighting and Costume Design), Crime Does Not Pay (Downstage – Lighting Design), Wait Until Dark (Vertigo Theatre Lighting Design), This is War (Punctuate! Theatre – Production Design).