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Welcome to the second instalment of our “Where Are They Now” series! Today’s post features two Stratford Festival alumni, - as well as a local face who graced our stage this season.
1. Colm Feore
Colm Feore & Roman Danylo in Les Liaisons Dangereuses (1992). Photo by Trudie Lee
For Theatre Calgary: Les Liaisons Dangereuses (1992)
On Screen: Chicago (2002), Bon Cop, Bad Cop (2006), Thor (2011)
As a 13-year veteran of the Stratford Festival, Colm Feore is a household name in the world of Canadian theatre (especially on the East coast). This season he was even slated to make his return to the Festival as the lead role in Richard III. Unfortunately the global COVID-19 pandemic made for other plans, but that doesn't mean he didn't stop rehearsing.
From Romeo to Cyrano, Feore has had his fair share of leading roles on the stage, including Le Vicomte de Valmont in our 1992 production of Les Liaisons Dangereuses. With Roman Danylo as his rival Le Chevalier Danceny, Feore donned the powdered wig, leotard and épée to bring the rich playboy to life.
His career did not stop there, and since then Feore has claimed major roles both on stage and on screen. You might recognize him as Detective Martin Ward in Bon Cop, Bad Cop or Laufey in Thor, just to name a few.
2. Praneet Akilla
Praneet Akilla in Iceland (2019). Photo by Trudie Lee
For Theatre Calgary: As You Like It (Shakespeare by the Bow, 2017), A Christmas Carol (2017), Iceland (2019)
On Screen: Arrow (2018), October Faction (2020)
Taking a leap in your career can be a scary (and very rewarding) experience. Just ask Praneet Akilla, a chemical engineer-turned-actor who made his passion for performing a full-time gig in 2016. From acting in a musical theatre group at McGill, to his first production at Theatre Calgary and now a Netflix series, Praneet’s career seems to have taken an almost rocket-like velocity.
In 2017, he Or-landed the role of Orlando in our Shakespeare by the Bow production of As You Like It, and returned in November that season to play Dick Wilkins in A Christmas Carol. After other stage work at numerous theaters, and parts in Vancouver-shot series like Arrow, Praneet returned to Theatre Calgary as landlord Halim in our 2019-20 season production of Iceland.
So what’s this about a Netflix series? Well if you haven’t already, check out October Faction, a supernatural drama where Praneet has a recurring role playing Phillip Mishra, a jock with a secret.
3. Blair Brown
Blair Brown & Ed Hanson in Arms and the Man (1971-72)
For Theatre Calgary: Arms and the Man (1972)
On Screen: The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd (1987-91), Space Cowboys (2000), Fringe (2008-12), Orange is the New Black (2015-19)
Blair Brown may have been born in the United States, but her roots in Canadian theatre are storied and strong. A graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada, Brown got her start at the Stratford Festival (when it was known as the Stratford Shakespeare Festival), and spent several years on stage, including playing the role of Raina in our 1972 production of Arms and the Man (when we performed in the old QR Centre on 9th Ave). At the time, Brown was known primarily for her work at Stratford, as well as a role in the CBC television mini-series The Whiteoaks of Jalna. In true theatre fashion, where it seems that everything is connected, the script-writing for Whiteoaks was led by The Wars author Timothy Findley, and featured another player from Arms and the Man, James Hurdle.
Just a year after Arms and the Man, Brown landed her first major movie role in the Oscar-winning film The Paper Chase, and her career on screen took off. Perhaps best known as the woman behind the title role of The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd from 1986-1991, Brown has also played principal characters like Nina Sharp on Fringe, and Judy King on Orange is the New Black.