The poster for a theatrical production titled "The Moonwitch," written and directed by Stewart Lemoine, features three individuals dressed in vintage clothing holding pastries, with a backdrop of an alleyway. The poster includes details about the cast, show dates, and the venue, Varscona Theatre.
Press Release
Online Program

The Noon Witch

written and directed by Stewart Lemoine

Running: February 21 - March 9th, 2025
preview: February 20th

Starring

Ethan Lang as Sandor, Aidan Laudersmith as Anatol, Eli Yaschuk as Joszef, Nida Vanderham as Tinka, and Michelle Diaz as Dr. Katalin Vac

ABOUT

Rooted in Hungarian folklore, Stewart Lemoine’s fantastical comedy returns for its first revival in thirty years. A cast of sparkling newcomers inhabit this tale of 1920s Budapest lads who find themselves in the thrall of a snack-wielding temptress who only appears at the apex of the day. It’s a spirited jaunt from an elegant city park to the mysterious thermal springs of Transdanubia.

RUN TIME APPROXIMATELY 1 HOUR & 45 minutes plus A 15 MINUTE INTERMISSION

SPECIAL TICKETS

$25 PREVIEW TICKETS: Thursday, February 20th
PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN: Tuesday, February 25th and Tuesday, March 4th
FREE WINE & CHEESE: Wednesday, February 26th (served during intermission)
$67 DINNER AND A SHOW PACKAGE: 1 ticket to The Noon Witch, 1 appetizer and entree from Boxer Kitchen and Bar
$98 WINE AND CHARCUTERIE PACKAGE: 2 tickets to The Noon Witch PLUS 2 glasses of wine and 1 charcuterie platter at Boxer Kitchen and Bar

Two men in theatrical costumes on stage. One is dressed as an explorer with a camera around his neck, and the other as an old man with a white mustache, scarf, and holding a container. The background includes curtains and stage scenery.
Three actors on stage in a play, one dressed as an elderly man with a white beard, glasses, and a head covering, holding a bowl with a spoon; the other two dressed in vintage clothing, one holding a paper bag, standing against a backdrop of green cur
A theatrical scene with a performer in costume, wearing glasses, a red head covering, and colorful clothing, kneeling over a man lying on the ground, appearing to be in a comedic or dramatic pose on stage.
Theater scene with two actors; a woman standing and a man sitting at a table, both holding cups, on stage with colorful flowers in the foreground.
Two actors on stage reacting in surprise after a doughnut is smashed with a hand, with one actor pushing the doughnut off the table.
A theatrical scene with a man sitting on the ground looking up at a woman on a raised platform. The woman is holding a bottle and a glass, wearing a white dress, appearing to sing or speak passionately. The set resembles an outdoor forest setting wit
Man in a gray suit and woman in a white dress with a red vest sitting on a red park bench on stage with green backdrop and curtains.
Scene from a theatrical performance showing two actors, one holding a bottle of beer with spilled liquid and the other raising a hand, on a dark stage.
Person dressed in a suit, glasses, and a beret passionately performing on stage with arms out wide; a woman in a white dress stands in the background against a dark stage with forest scenery.
A man and a woman sitting on a park bench, sharing ice cream. The man is wearing a suit and a hat, smiling with a spoonful of ice cream near his face. The woman is wearing vintage clothing, a bonnet, and red vest, feeding him ice cream.
Two men on stage with exaggerated facial expressions, one wearing an apron and the other in a coat, standing behind a table with a powdered doughnut. They appear surprised or shocked.
A young man with short, curly hair wearing a patterned vest over a white shirt, smiling slightly; a young woman with short hair, wearing a beige hat and red vest, laughing behind him; a green forest background.
Two actors performing on stage, one dressed in a colorful, patterned coat with a fur collar and red head wrap, holding a rope, and the other standing behind, dressed in a gray vest and long-sleeve shirt, looking at the woman.
Two men sitting on a red park bench, one wearing a beige jacket and cap with glasses, the other in a gray vest over a white shirt, both looking serious, with a painted backdrop of hanging yellow and green decorations.
Three men dressed in vintage clothing performing on stage, with one man speaking and the other two sitting and drinking from small cups.
Two actors seated on stage, wearing newsboy caps and costumes, engaged in a theatrical performance with a textured backdrop.
A person dressed as a detective with round glasses, a tweed hat, and a pinstripe suit kneels on the floor, examining a small notepad with a concerned expression. The scene appears to be part of a theatrical performance with staged lighting, stone ste
Two actors in vintage costumes and hats perform on stage with colorful decorations in the background.
Two actors on stage, one dressed in a pink coat with a fur collar, red hat, and glasses, standing beside a streetlamp, and the other in a gray vest and khaki pants, leaning towards the first actor, in a theatrical scene with colorful background and s

CREATIVE TEAM

A close-up portrait of a woman with medium-length curly dark hair, light skin, and makeup including foundation, lipstick, and eyeliner, facing forward with a slight smile against a plain light background.

  • Michelle(she/they) is thrilled to be returning for their third production with Teatro Live! Graduate of MacEwan University’s Theatre Arts program, Michelle is a Filipino-Canadian actor and performer based in Edmonton. Previous credits with the company include The Finest of Strangers and For the Love of Cynthia. Select theatre credits include: Kisapmata (Chromatic Theatre/Lunchbox Theatre); Crescendo! (Shadow Theatre); The Wolves (The Maggie Tree/Citadel Theatre); Tell Us What Happened (Workshop West Theatre); SISTER (The Fox Den Collective); Sister Act (Mayfield Theatre); Women on The Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (Plain Jane Theatre Company); Safe & Fair: Scene at Work, Working It Out, THAT’S DANGER! (Alberta Workers' Health Centre), and The Bully Project (Concrete Theatre). Michelle would like to thank her family and friends for their endless love and support.

A young man with short brown hair smiling, wearing a burgundy long-sleeve shirt, against a dark blue background.

  • Ethan Lang is an actor, writer, and producer based in cold Edmonton, Alberta. He is delighted to join the Teatro team as Sandor. A passionate storyteller, Ethan has written and performed in several productions at the Edmonton Fringe Festival, including the acclaimed Soup and Hogan’s 16th Annual Hotdog Eating Contest and (Going) Down on Our Luck. He is currently developing new projects for 2025 through his company, Top Bunk Theatre. Ethan’s other credits include Jules in Sunday in the Park with George, Aldolpho in The Drowsy Chaperone, and Kyle in Legally Blonde, all at MacEwan University, where he graduated in 2024. He extends heartfelt thanks to his family, especially his mom, for their unwavering support. Fun fact Ethan’s mom is attending every show for this run, see if you can spot her! Ethan looks forward to sharing this production with audiences!

Black and white digital portrait of a woman with short, tousled hair wearing large round glasses and earrings, with a serious expression.

  • Leona has worked regularly with Teatro as a performer and designer since the company’s inception at the first Edmonton Fringe in 1982. Her appearances include such classic Teatro shows as Cocktails at Pam’s, and The Vile Governess and Other Psychodramas, and Pith, and she played Dr. Katalin Vac in the original production of The Noon Witch in 1995. Leona has been Teatro’s principal costume designer for four decades, and her recent company costume credits include The Woman in Black, Private Lives, The Oculist’s Holiday, Pith, Everybody Goes to Mitzi’s, Deathtrap, The Margin of The Sky, and Evelyn Strange. Her other recent credits include Clue, and Jersey Boys at the Citadel and The Drawer Boy and Tiny Beautiful Things for Shadow Theatre. She’s worked on many shows for The Mayfield Dinner Theatre including last season’s Canada Rocks: The Reboot, and the recent Flashback Fever. Leona designed costumes for the feature film Before I Change My Mind, directed by Trevor Anderson. She was honoured with a 2020 Edmonton Artist’s Trust Fund Award from the Edmonton Arts Council, and she’s a three-time Sterling Award winner for costume design. Next up for Leona at Teatro: On the Banks of the Nut

Black and white close-up photo of a woman with curly hair, looking directly at the camera with a slight smile, sitting in a car.

  • After doing Scenic Construction/Carpentry on numerous Teatro shows in recent seasons, Tiana has stepped up the company’s first official Production Manager. A graduate of Grant MacEwan University’s Theatre Production program, Tiana has spent the last two decades working in Edmonton Theatre, where extreme weather, fire, illnesses, broken scenery, aggressive prop handling, and squirrels have taught her much about problem solving and remaining calm in a crisis. Past credits include working as Production Manager for FreeWill Shakespeare Festival, Head of Lighting and Carpentry for Theatre Network, and Technical Director for Alberta Musical Theatre (formerly Alberta Opera). Her favourite show experiences include doing scenic construction for AMTC’s Pinocchio while 7 months pregnant, and building the tricky/scary sets for The Woman in Black both at Theatre Network and Teatro Live.

Portrait of a young man with curly brown hair, wearing a dark ribbed sweater, smiling slightly, against a muted green background.

  • Eli Yaschuk is thrilled to be making his Teatro Live debut amongst so many friends! He is an Edmonton-based actor, singer, and dancer, and is a recent graduate of MacEwan University's new BFA in Music Theatre Performance. Recent credits include Sunday In The Park With George, [title of show], London Road, The Drowsy Chaperone, The World Goes 'Round (MacEwan University), Die Fledermaus (Edmonton Opera), Boy Trouble (Amoris Projects), In My Room: A Cabaret/Play (Grindstone Theatre), and The Expanse Living Room Party (Azimuth Theatre). Later this season you can catch Eli performing in Radiant Vermin with Northern Light Theatre. 

Black and white portrait of an older man wearing glasses, a suit, and a patterned tie, sitting at a table with a glossy award trophy in front of him. The background is plain and dark.

  • Stewart has been writing and directing for Teatro La Quindicina since the first Edmonton Fringe in 1982. His most recent works premiered by Teatro include Love is for Poor People, A Likely Story, A Lesson in Brio, The Finest of Strangers, I Heard About Your Murder, and For the Love of Cynthia. In recent seasons, Teatro has also presented revivals of his The Oculist’s Holiday, Pith, The Exquisite Hour, The Margin of the Sky, Evelyn Strange, A Grand Time in the Rapids, Fever Land, Vidalia, Skirts on Fire, and Cocktails at Pam’s. His published work includes A Teatro Trilogy, At the Zenith of the Empire, and Witness to a Conga and Other Plays, all from NeWest Press. Stewart is a ten-time winner of Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Awards for  Playwriting, and in 2008 he was the winner of The Tommy Banks Award, presented by the Alberta Foundation for the Arts. He’s a recipient of both the Queen’s Golden Jubilee and Diamond Jubilee Medals, and in 2010 he was inducted into Edmonton’s Cultural Hall of Fame. In 2023 he collaborated with Andrew MacDonald-Smith and pianist Frances Armstrong  on a original cabaret show entitled Andrew MacDonald-Smith: My First Hundred Years, presented by Edmonton Opera. He looks forward to directing Teatro’s revival of On the Banks of the Nut, opening in May.

A young man with short hair and a beard holding a smartphone, partially covering his face, with the phone's screen showing his eye and part of his face in a mirror-like reflection.

  • Rory is a designer, performer, and theatre maker from the prairies. He attended the Theatre Arts program at MacEwan University and studied theatre design at the University of Alberta. He is a design instructor at the Citadel’s Foote Theatre School, a lighting designer for Common Ground Arts’ RISER production development projects, and the Scenic Arts Supervisor for the U of A Drama Department. Rory is also a freelance draftsman and scale model maker. Selected design credits: Is My Microphone On? (Citadel Young Company), The Immaculate Perfection… (Body Cube Arts), Hyena’s Trail (Here For Fear Collective), MINE, In My Own Little Corner, Omisimawiw, After Faust, The Debut (Common Ground Arts). Selected acting credits: Onions and Garlic, The Importance of Being Earnest, Creatures of Impulse, She's Not Him and He's Not Her, The Flying Doctor (Empress of Blandings).

A young man with glasses and dark hair, wearing a dark shirt, leaning against a brick wall.

  • Hunter is delighted to return to Teatro Live!, having previously worked on Deathtrap and Private Lives. He is an Equity Stage Manager based in Edmonton, and is a graduate of MacEwan University’s Theatre Production program. Selected previous credits include work as an apprentice stage manager on La Bohème, Candide, Rigoletto, and Count Ory for Edmonton Opera, Vanya & Sonia & Masha & Spike  for Shadow Theatre, assistant stage manager for Edmonton Opera’s Orphée+, Stabat Mater, Don Giovanni, Das Rheingold, Die Fledermaus and Bluebeard’s Castle and as stage manager of Jack and the Beanstalk and Hansel and Gretel Virtual Tour for Alberta Musical Theatre Company, and Hold These Truths for University of Alberta & Edmonton Japanese Cultural Association, and Cosi Fan Tutte for Opera Kelowna.

A young woman with curly brown hair and blue eyes looking over her shoulder at the camera, wearing a black sleeveless top, standing against a pink background.

  • Nida Vanderham is a musical theatre performer and aspiring film actor based in Edmonton, Alberta. She is super excited to be playing the titular role of Tinka in Teatro Live’s production of The Noon Witch! Her most recent credits include Wednesday in The Addams Family (Stageworks Academy), and Margot/US Elle Woods in Legally Blonde, Malvolio in Twelfth Night, June in London Road, and Kitty in The Drowsy Chaperone at MacEwan University, where she graduated in 2024. She would like to thank her fellow castmates for all of their encouragement, and her family for their huge amount of support. Enjoy the show!

A woman with wavy brown hair standing outdoors in sunlight, wearing a patterned blouse with floral designs, with trees and a car in the background.

  • Chantel made her Teatro debut with Cocktails at Pam’s in 2016 and her subsequent set designs for the company include The Oculist’s Holiday, The Exquisite Hour/Love is for Poor People, Deathtrap, A Grand Time in the Rapids, Evelyn Strange, Shockers Delight!, and Witness to a Conga, the last of which earned her a Sterling nomination. She also designed the sets for Teatro’s 2021 streaming project Lost Lemoine: Parts One and Two. She’s a freelance scenic artist and prop master who’s been working in film and theatre in Edmonton for the past 19 years. Her other set design credits include Our Man in Havana for Bright Young Things, Going to St. Ives and Mesa for Atlas Theatre, and Shadow Theatre’s Fly Me to the Moon. She’s also done scenic painting and prop work for Workshop West, The Citadel, and Edmonton Opera. In other media, she was the production designer for the Government of Alberta’s Mr. Covidhead commercials, and she did the art direction for music videos by singer Roya Yazdanmehr. She also served as production designer for feature length films produced locally by Northern Gateway Films under the Hallmark banner, and for Dept. 9’s most recent feature Souls Road.

A young man with a closely shaved head and small mustache, wearing a black V-neck sweater, smiling slightly against a dark background.

  • Aidan Laudersmith is an Alberta-based multidisciplinary performer, currently living in Amiskwaciwâskahikan, colonially known as Edmonton. He was born in Mohkinstsis, colonially known as Calgary. A 2024 graduate of the University of Alberta’s BFA Acting program, Aiden appeared in Studio Theatre productions of Indecent and Troilus and Cressida. Select theatre credits include: Witch (Bleviss Laboratory Theatre), The Oddballs Cabaret (A Very Serious Company),White Christmas (Nuova Vocal Arts), What Was Is All (Walters & Watt). He is very excited to be making his Teatro Live! debut with such fun and talented colleagues!

THE NOON WITCH team also includes:
SARON BERAKI (Technical Director)