Heather Close

Heather is our newly minted Development and Executive Coordinator; she’s been with us 5 months and has made an enormous impact at ATP.

She comes to us with past experience in retail management, administration and marketing. She has been volunteering for many different theatre companies over the years and has always enjoyed the experiences and the people she meets.

She is also a very talented ACAD grad (with honours!!) who actively works on her art practice in her spare time.

“I love the friendliness of the theatre community and how theatre gives us a way to experience stories that spark conversation. I took drama in high school and as a shy, anxious person, theatre was something that challenged me and brought me out of my shell. The support of my classmates and teacher made it a wonderful environment to play and learn to open up and speak publicly. That was my first experience with the welcoming environment of theatre, and has made me passionate about it ever since.”

Vicki Stroich

Vicki is the Executive Director of ATP and sets the organizational vision, working towards a resilient company that can support the artistic vision and community mission of ATP.  Throughout her 15 years at ATP, she has also had the titles Interim Artistic Director, Artistic Associate – Festival, Dramaturg, Associate Dramaturg and Assistant Dramaturg. She first started at the company as University of Calgary Intern during the 1999-2000 season, then headed off to Toronto to work in Fundraising at Harbourfront Centre for a little over a year before returning to Calgary to be Assistant Dramaturg under Vanessa Porteous (now her co-CEO) and Bob White (her mentor.)  As a dramaturg, she has also worked with different companies locally and nationally and has been able to do some really rewarding volunteer work as President of Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas (2012-2014) and now as Treasurer of the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres Board. 

Since high school, theatre has been a great passion for Vicki and it led her to a BFA Drama (UCalgary) and on to a career that has been immensely rewarding.  The value of great stories and the energy, the fellowship that theatre creates on the stage, behind the scenes and in the audience is a constant source of inspiration to her.  She has spent many years focusing on helping artists craft those stories and, more recently, she has been focusing on how to ensure there is a resilient environment for those stories to thrive and meet an audience. 

“There have been many life-changing moments in the theatre for me.  The theatre as an art form continues to shape and change my life daily.  There have been times as a performer when I have encountered strength that I didn’t know I had. There have been times as a dramaturg when I have asked a question that opened up new understanding in the creator I was working with.  There have been countless times as an audience member when I have been so moved, provoked, dazzled or delighted at a story or a performance that I left the theatre with a different view of the world than I had when I arrived.  As Executive Director there have been times when I have been reminded of how vital and important theatre can be by people who have been impacted by our work, donors like you.  I look forward to sitting with you in the audience for our 45^th Season and having some life changing moments with you.”

Kathryn Kerbes

Kathi is the Individual Giving and Special Events Manager. She started her journey with ATP as a subscriber in 1974. You’ve seen her on ATP’s stage in Who Has Seen the Wind, Half Life, Shakespeare’s Dog, The Penelopiad, and Wizard of Oz. She began producing fundraising events on a contract basis in 2010 and is just completing season 3 as our full-time Individual Giving and Special Events Manager.

She taught high school music and drama for over 20 years, was the Fine Arts Consultant with Rocky View School Division, spent 20 years as Co-Artistic Director of Shadow Productions, and is also a professional actor, having performed with many companies both in Calgary and elsewhere.

“Theatre speaks to my soul. It’s a place I can go to laugh, cry, and breathe with other engaged, passionate people. Extraordinary theatre experiences have been many; when I was 17 - in London, England, I saw John Gielgud in a production that used door and window frames - I had no idea there was such a thing as a representational set.

Again, in London, a set change during Anything Goes where I surprised myself by bursting into tears – and realized that I LOVE a good set change

Every production in which I perform gives me something to internalize – and to make me and the world around me brighter, more enlightened and extraordinary.

A recent, life changing line from the play Harvey, "In this life, you can choose to be smart or you can choose to be pleasant. For years I was smart. I recommend pleasant." 

I am honoured to have made many great friends among the members of our donor community, and know I will continue to be inspired by both the people involved with ATP and the work on the stage.”

Kajsa Erickson (pronounced Kai’-sa)

As Corporate Partnerships Associate, Kajsa loves building business relationships with community and corporate partners, and has much appreciation for the level of volunteer and donor engagement in Calgary. Having started with Alberta Theatre Projects in September 2015, she has been thrilled to connect and work with ATP’s many long-time supporters.

Over the last 16+ years, Kajsa has worn many hats in arts & culture management, working in dance, festivals, film, literary arts, and theatre, as well as with organizations such as Cirque du Soleil, Toronto International Film Festival, and the Vancouver 2010 Olympics.

She has attended the theatre all her life and, while in school, continued to love everything to do with the stage, from acting and writing to costumes; her grade 12 internship was as a dresser in The Mystery of Irma Vep at Victoria’s Langham Court Theatre. She’s worked in the arts ever since, and was delighted to come to ATP last fall, and work with a dynamic contemporary theatre company – and one that also has an internship program for grade 12 graduates!

“I was thinking about my elementary school stage debut as a wee gal inside the tail of a large snake, but I think that’s more to say that with the work I do, I prefer to be on the inside, behind the scenes in the performing arts. I’ve been fortunate to have had many notable and moving experiences as an audience member, but from various points in my career, I think I’d describe one of the key life-changing elements for me in this way. Working with an artistic team to hear their vision for a show, translating that vision – through my writing – into funding support, building relationships with supporters, working with the creative & production team to enable the show’s execution, and then (sometimes a year or more later) getting to see that work on stage – those experiences keep this journey tremendously rewarding for me. Whatever our level of connection – whether as a donor, employee, subscriber, volunteer – it’s that shared passion for theatre that keeps us involved with the organizations we love to support.”

Donor events have been a true joy this season - and that's because of you. A great party is always about the people in the room; ATP donors are the best people to have in the room! From music to deeply moving panel discussions; from rubbing elbows with season artists to laughter and gelato, you, our of circle donors, have had the opportunity to gain huge insight into the productions you support. Here are a few highlights from the 2015/2016 season:

Friendly            Relevant           Engaging         Yummy     

Sincere thanks to our 2015/2016 donor event partners:

Arcis Seismic Solutions - The Blues Can - Devour Catering - Enviros - Fiasco Gelato - Graham Guest - Patisserie du Soleil - River Cafe - Willow Park Wines & Spirits

For more information about how to attend these events, please contact Kathryn Kerbes kkerbes@ATPlive.com