Amanda Goldberg
Artistic Producer
Brianne Jang
Managing Director
Brianne was born in Edmonton, Alberta and has been involved in the theatre world since she was young. After graduating from the Theatre Arts Program at Grant MacEwan University, Brianne was fortunate to have the opportunities to travel around the world. She is co-founder of Poiema Productions, a local non-profit theatre company that has kept her busy writing, producing, and acting. She is also the co-founder of the photography company, BB Collective. Brianne has a passion for bringing theatre and live performances to life. She continues to love learning more about each aspect of the creation process as she takes on different roles in the community, and is so excited to be on board with SkirtsAfire Festival since 2016!
Brianne Jang
Managing Director
Amanda Samuelson
Assistant Managing Director
Amanda Samuelson (she/her) is a writer, actor, and producer currently based in Amiskwaciwâskahikan, colonially known as Edmonton. She was born and raised in Grande Prairie, Alberta, where her passion for theatre began. She is a 2019 graduate of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts BFA program, with a major in Theatre and a minor in Creative Writing. Upon graduating from NYU, Amanda moved to Amiskwaciwâskahikan / Edmonton and has been living and working in this incredible city ever since!
Amanda’s plays have received recognition in festivals and competitions locally, nationally, and internationally. She produced her full-length play, Pressure, at the 2022 Edmonton Fringe Festival. Other producing experience includes the New Mythic Works Series with the Thousand Faces Festival and Theatre Prospero.
Amanda teaches Playwriting to teens at the Citadel and Free Arts Society. She also volunteers at Prosper Place / Canadian Mental Health Association leading a writing workshop twice a month. She loves giving others the opportunity to fall in love with writing the way that she has!
Amanda is incredibly excited to be a part of the SkirtsAfire team as the Assistant Managing Director.
Amanda Samuelson
Assistant Managing Director
Rae McCallum
Technical Producer
Rae McCallum
Technical Producer
Artist Adopted by Lyle Trytten & Elizabeth Fair
Vanessa Wilson
Artist Liaison & Festival Coordinator
Vanessa is a musician, actor, and arts administrator, performing and serving many different roles in the Edmonton arts community. She sings in a variety of musical projects including her folk duo Wren, Keat Aaron and the Swells, and with Halley’s Club house bands, The Million Dollar Dreamers and The Architeks. Alongside Vanessa’s passion for performing is her work in arts administration – this is her second year as Partnerships Coordinator with SkirtsAfire, and she has also worked administratively with Theatre Network and Silver Skate Festival Society. Vanessa co-runs a monthly songwriter series, Sunhouse Sessions, and in 2019, co-founded Headspin Theatre alongside two collaborators. Through this operative, she’s been able to take the role of actor, vocalist, playwright, and producer. She’s excited to continue to find innovative and creative ways to make art and tell stories.
Vanessa Wilson
Artist Liaison & Festival Coordinator
Alyson Dicey
Volunteer Coordinator
Alyson Dicey is an Edmonton based producer/artist and graduate of the BFA Acting class of 2012 at the University of Alberta. She is a founding member of Girl Brain Sketch Comedy and is proud to write and perform with a troupe that celebrates and promotes the strength of women. Alyson is also an artistic associate of the Edmonton immersive theatre company, Thou Art Here Theatre and a producer with Punctuate! Theatre. During the summers, Alyson can be found at the Edmonton International Fringe Festival in her role as KidsFringe Coordinator. Alyson believes strongly in encouraging young women to take on leadership roles, set and achieve goals, and develop confidence in their voices and abilities.
Alyson Dicey
Volunteer Coordinator
Katie Hudson
Festival Videographer
Katie Hudson
Festival Videographer
Linh Dang
Front of House Manager
Linh Dang
Front of House Manager
Elka Eisenzimmer
Front of House Supervisor
Self-describing as having no artistic talent, except maybe managing a budget in an Excel spreadsheet, Elka is passionate about enabling those who do! Her arts administration experience includes coordinating volunteers, handling logistics, and engaging stakeholders through her work at multiple festivals, including Country Thunder, the Regina Folk Festival, LitFest Alberta, and The Edmonton Folk Music Festival. She is thrilled to be joining the SkirtsAfire team for a second year!
Elka Eisenzimmer
Front of House Supervisor
Amorena Bartlett
Deaf Consultant
Amorena Bartlett (she/her) is a queer Deaf consultant and ASL coach from Amiskwaciy Waskahikan, colonially known as Edmonton. Some productions she has been involved with include Songs My Mother Never Sung Me (Concrete Theatre); Glass Washrooms (NIUBOI, Chinook Series); Ren & the Wake (Catch The Keys Productions); First Metis Man of Odesa
Amorena Bartlett
Deaf Consultant
Carly Neis
Accessibility Consultant
Meet Carly(she/they)! She’s an actor, playwright, producer, and arts advocate with Cerebral Palsy, based in Edmonton. Carly graduated from MacEwan University’s Arts and Cultural Management program and completed the Azimuth Theatre Mentorship and Apprenticeship Program.
Their passion lies in creating amazing new works, musicals, and ensuring that storytelling is accessible to all.
Carly has been involved both as a creator and on stage recently, including “In My Own Little Corner,” which won a Sterling Award for Outstanding New Play. The play explores finding your person, what trust means, and balancing joy and grief. As well as “Tune to A,” a play for young audiences that teaches them to see past limitations and recognize potential.
When Carly’s not performing on stage, she puts her skills to use as a disability/access consultant. She uses her lived experience to curate accessible experiences and spaces for everyone. She’s worked with some great companies in this regard, including Citadel Theatre (Relaxed Performance Consultant & Venue Audit), Azimuth Theatre (Expanse Festival – Access Coordinator), and CBC (PUSH – Season 1, Canada’s First major-network primetime series featuring a leading cast with disabilities).
She’s overjoyed to be collaborating with SkirtsAfire again this year!
If you want to learn more about Carly’s work, check out www.carlyneis.com.