Strokes of Genius
How it all started
Strokes of Genius Comedy was formed by Mitch Krohn & Dianna Rasing (both Stroke survivors). They met in their first play together in 1994 (Yup, a way back). In 2016 Dianna had a Stroke, and two weeks later, Mitch had a Stroke. Dianna immediately suggested they needed to create a play called ‘Different Strokes.’ After some musings and writings, Strokes of Genius was BORN!
They started performing sketch comedy about their stroke effects and recovery experiences with Sick + Twisted in 2018 and performed their first fringe show in 2019.
Writing jokes about the serious, yet absurd world of stroke recovery has been a big part of their therapeutic journey through rehab. They found it was better to laugh about their situations than to cry about them.
Find Crew Members in other Shows:
Cyan Gargol
Writer & Director
Where We Fly from Hospital Beds
(Cy-Fi Studios)
Venue # 1
Erin Kaatz
Improvisor
This is a...
(Crosseyed Rascals)
Venue # 23
Megan Krohn
Performer
On Tidy Endings
(Pilgrim's Pieces)
Venue # 8
Mitch Krohn
Improvisor
This is a...
(Crosseyed Rascals)
Venue # 23
See Our Friends
Venue 1
Our Father - Stark Raving Theatre
Rocky Horror - Dramatic Theatre
Venue 3
PANIC - NKCP
A Kid Napping- Goofballs Collective
Venue 8
Happy Valley - Cripplethreat
Who’s Gonna Push Your Wheelchair?
Karin Fekko
Venue 9
Bullheaded - Chronically Ch(ill) Productions
The Power of Ignorance - Chris Gibbs
Venue 12
Brilliantly Awkward - Adam Schwartz
Onwards! - Big Empty Barn Productions
Venue 13
Winnipeg is a Lie - Portage & Mayhem
Venue 23
Unresolved - Cactus Theatre Co.
The Mistress of Wholesome
R-G Productions
Venue 28
The Taming of the Shrew
Indifferently Reformed
Venue 29
The Naked Mennonite: Genesis
Real Live Entertainment
Past Performances
Find our shows / sketches on
YouTube.
Cast
*Captain Ted * * * Mitch Krohn (he/him)
*First Officer Tu * * * Cyan Gargol (they/them)
*Doctor Weis * * * Rae Gunn (they/them)
*Ensign Abby Roads * * * Willow Rosenberg (she/her)
*Major Tom Scales * * * Travis Taylor (he/him)
*Comms Officer Chatters * * * Corey Quintaine (he/him)
*Anne Droid * * * Dianna Rasing (she/her)
*SFX Tech Foley * * * Greg Funk (he/them)
*SFX Tech Pipp * * * Erin Kaatz (she/her)
*Computer Voice * * * Fiona Smith (she/her)
*Red Alert Voice * * * Ethan Stark (he/him)
Crew
*Co-Director * * * Madelyn Molnar (she/her)
*Co-Director * * * Megan Krohn (she/her)
*Stage Manager * * * Chippy (she/her)
*ASL Interpreters * * *
*Cindy Boscow (she/her)
*Shannon Graham (she/her)
*Sheryl LaVallee (she/her)
*Tessa Rogowski (she/her)
*Dramaturg * * * Ethan Stark (he/him)
*Dramaturg * * * Fiona Smith (she/her)
Please join us using deaf - applause (yay/hands-waving)
A Message from the Playwright
In the fall of 2024, I was again invited to join RealWheels (now Glitch) Theatre’s disabled playwright circle. This time, like in 2022, I collaborated with eight other playwrights from across Canada to bring Captain Ted: Disabled Astronaut to life.
This play, like the first, started out as stupid fun. I’m a sci-fi fanatic; if it’s in space, I’m interested. What I wasn’t prepared for was that this play represented my struggles with self-esteem, self-doubt, and feeling that I constantly need to prove my abilities to myself and others. Especially as it pertains to being a person with a disability trying to find their way in the workforce. A sentiment that I’m sure many disabled persons face.
I am so thankful and excited about the cast and crew assembled. It’s a mixture of disabled and able-bodied actors. I'm also happy that there is a vast LGBTQ+ representation in the cast and crew. We have created, laughed, and stuck together through some challenging times. Some of our cast and crew have dropped out because of illness and life circumstances, but we persevered (and had to do some rewrites).
Due to the aforementioned losses, unfortunately, we were unable to include ASL in the show. A loss I’m personally sad about, but a loss that could not be remedied. I’m happy that ASL interpretation can still be provided for all our shows. However, if you do not see the interpreters at a particular show, it is because their services were not required by anyone in the audience.
Throughout this adventure together, my respect and admiration for this cast and crew have grown over time. The amount of support and trust they have shown me, I feel, I will never fully be able to reciprocate. But I will try. A captain is only as good as the ones who surround them.
I hope you enjoy the show as much as we enjoyed the adventure of bringing it to the stage.
Special Thanks
*Megan Krohn * * * Love you! Thanks for believing in me and for joining me on another adventure.
*Manitoba Arts Council * * * For believing in this project enough to graciously provide funding.
*University of Winnipeg Department of Theatre and Film * * * For aiding in the provision of accessible rehearsal space.
*RRC Polytech * * * For the use of such wonderful chairs.
*Sick + Twisted Theatre * * * for showing us that our theatre dreams were not over after a disability, and specifically, Debbie Patterson who brought most of us together.
*Dianna Rasing * * * fellow Stroke of Genius founder. You know what you did! No better partner for this second time round. Thanks.
*RealWheels (Glitch) Theatre * * * for giving me another opportunity to write this zany idea.
*One88 * * * for the venue space and support. It's always a pleasure to perform here.
*Multiple people who helped me form this script:
Fiona Smith, Ethan Stark, Willow Rosenberg, Travis Taylor, Chantal Guénette, Natasha Nadir, Anna Burkholder, Garvin Chan, Daphne Finlayson, Kate McArthur, Sarah Shepherd, D-Lishus Walton, Len Koberstein, Niigaan James Sinclair, Heather Bjorklund.
Cast Bios
(Alphabetical Order by First Name)
Corey Quintaine
COREY QUINTAINE (he/him) is thrilled to be back with Captain Ted for another adventure after sailing the seas in the 2024 Disabled Pirate play. Corey has been performing for over 35 years with numerous companies, including Crosswalk Productions, Winnipeg Mennonite Theatre, R-G Productions, and The BS Comedy Players. He is a Brandon University theatre graduate, with his most recent role being Armand in the 2025 Winnipeg Fringe hit ‘The Birdcage’.
Cyan Gargol
CYAN GARGOL (they/them) is an actor, stage manager, playwright and director currently pursuing an acting honours degree at the University of Winnipeg. They have performed with Sick + Twisted Theatre and this is their first time with Strokes of Genius (SoG). They have written and directed the 2026 Fringe play “Where We Fly from Hospital Beds”. As a lifelong Trekkie, Cyan is excited to be part of Captain Ted's crew on their space adventure!!
Dianna Rasing
DIANNA RASING (she/them) is a returning cast/crew member from the 2024 Disabled Pirate play. She has performed with Sick + Twisted since their first cabaret in 2017, doing stand-up comedy and sketches that she’s developed with her Strokes of Genius partner, Mitch Krohn. Mitch & Dianna first met and worked with each other in 1996 with Phoenix Productions. Since surviving her stroke, she has dabbled in Dance, Stand-up, and Playwriting. Although having a stroke has not been the best experience to date, it did bring Dianna into the fold of the disability theatre community. Dianna is thrilled to be playing alongside Mitch, once again!
Erin Kaatz
ERIN KAATZ (she/her) is excited for the chance to join the crew for this adventure. This is Erin's first time working with Strokes of Genius (SoG). This also marks Erin’s first time in a stage production and the Fringe. Mainly an improv performer, Erin can be found performing with the Crosseyed Rascals improv troupe. She hopes this foray to the stage will open the door to further opportunities.
Greg Funk
GREG FUNK (he/him, they/them) is joining Strokes of Genius (SoG for the first time. Fresh off their Fringe debut with R-G production's sellout 'Lysistrata', Greg is thrilled to return to the Fringe Stage for the next instalment of the Captain Ted saga. After all, how often does one get to combine their love of acting and improv with outer space drama!
Mitch Krohn
MITCH KROHN (he/him) is one-half of the co-founders of Strokes of Genius (SoG) and playwright of this year’s fringe production of CAPTAIN TED: DISABLED ASTRONAUT. Mitch has been performing on stage for over 40 years (crazy to think). He has acted around Canada and internationally. He served as Artistic Director for BS Comedy Players and is currently the Artistic Director for Crosswalk Productions. He is a 20+ year performer with the Crosseyed Rascal improv troupe, and an avid Sci-fi fanatic. He is happy to don the mantle of CAPTAIN TED once again. He can’t do a Captain Kirk impression, so don’t expect one.
Rae Gunn
RAE GUNN (they/them) is a queer, disabled, two-spirit Métis person in Treaty 1 territory who has been active in the theatre community since 2022 with several disability focused performances. They are a returning cast member from the 2024 Disabled Pirate play. They have performed alongside SoG in many Sick + Twisted theatre shows. After showing a flash of brilliance and vibrancy in a non-speaking role in 2024, they will be front and centre.
Travis Taylor
TRAVIS TAYLOR (he/him) is a longtime alumnus of BS Comedy players and has a great eye for comedy. This is his first time working with Strokes of Genius (SoG), and he was instrumental in creating the Major Scales character, acting as a writing consultant. This is his first-ever Fringe appearance.
Willow Rosenberg
WILLOW ROSENBERG (she/her) is an award-winning, disabled, queer, neurospicy performer, standup comedian, writer, artist, and storyteller from the UK (sort of) currently based in Winnipeg on Treaty 1 territory. Through her production company, Willow Roots Productions, Willow has written, produced, and performed two solo shows in the Winnipeg and Edmonton Fringe festivals. She won a Jenny Award for her 2025 Winnipeg Fringe play ‘A Lesbian in the Kitchen’. This is her first time working with Stroke of Genius, and she is so excited to bring Ensign Roads to life!
Crew Bios
Madelyn
Megan
MADELYN MOLNAR (she/her) and MEGAN KROHN (she/her) are our DIRECTORS. Strokes of Genius (SoG) is very happy and excited to welcome them for this year’s fringe production of CAPTAIN TED: DISABLED ASTRONAUT.
This is Maddy’s first time with SoG. She is a neurodivergent, trans lesbian settler woman from amiskwaciwâskahikan, who has lived most of her life on Treaty One land. She has directed for Crosswalk Productions, and served as the Assistant Artistic Director of BS Comedy Players. She also served BS Comedy as their Tech Director, and as a long standing script writer. She most recently was the board chair for Theatre by the River. She brings with her a comic wit that can only be described as brilliant, quirky, and chaotic and a commitment to making theatre a safe place for everyone to create art.
Megan has lived the stroke experience as a caregiver, but being married to the playwright is not what brings her to the production. She has a great eye for details, and long history in the theatre. She is a former BS Comedy sketch director, and has directed many other projects. This is Megan’s second time with SoG, her first was the 2019 sketch comedy Fringe show. She has been living with the Captain Ted adventures since they started in the pandemic.
The Maddy & Megan tandem brought this show to the next level.
SM Chippy
SM ‘Chippy’ (she/her) is respected professionally, and personally. She is an accomplished stage manager who has worked with North Kildonan Community Players (since 2008), and multiple Fringe shows. Chippy is a trusted member of this crew and brings a wealth of insight, and energy to the Strokes of Genius (SoG). Because of her private nature, not a picture of her is available, so the profile pic is the best AI can generate (if you know, you know).
Fiona
Ethan
FIONA SMITH (she/her) and ETHAN STARK (he/him) served as dramaturgs. Mitch has worked with Fiona, and Ethan on many projects.
This is Fiona’s first time with Strokes of Genius, but she has been an avid fan of Captain Ted since first working with Mitch in the 2022 RealWheels Disabled Playwright Circle. Fiona is a mixed-race immigrant, GRT (Gypsy/Roma/Traveller), queer, neurodivergent, award-winning professional writer and artist. She holds an M.Ed. (Athabasca U.) and B.A. Advanced: English/Theatre/Film from U. M./Black Hole Theatre. Fiona makes art, writes poetry, plays, and for the past 3 seasons, pantomimes for Sick + Twisted Theatre. Collaborating with playwrights in discovering/strengthening their voices/scripts is joy. She is a shameless Trekkie, with two kids who have Trekkie names. While no Majel Barrett, Fiona has long dreamed of being the voice of a star ship’s computer.
Ethan is an award winning playwright, performer, director, and stage manager. Yup, he does it all, and is really good at it. He performed in the 2024 Disabled Pirate play, and was part of the Disabled Astronaut lay through the 2024 RealWheels Disabled Playwright Circle. He has been working closely with Mitch since performing with Crosswalk Productions in the 2022 Fringe. Since then, He has launched his own theatre company, Stark Raving Productions, and has written and produced two fringe shows – ‘Ethan in the Room,’ and ‘Our Father’ (in the 2026 Fringe).
Cindy
Sheryl
Shannon
Tessa
CINDY BOSCOW (she/her), SHANNON GRAHAM (she/her), SHERYL LAVALLEE (she/her), & TESSA ROGOWSKI (she/her) are our ASL INTERPRETERS for this year’s fringe production of CAPTAIN TED: DISABLED ASTRONAUT. They are returning interpreters from the 2024 Pirate play, and they are beloved members of our wacky crew of interplanetary misfits. Their inclusion in the show has evolved past their professional talents. They have a great enthusiasm for this show, and have been a great support. Their faces, talents, and innovation both augment the show experience and light up the production. We couldn’t imagine the show without them.
Fluffy
FLUFFY. Okay, so you actually won’t see Fluffy on stage. She was a nuisance, always walking across the laptop while writing. Why not immortalize her as the Eye-horn? She HATES wheelchairs! So do the Eye-horns. Real story, Fluffy won’t let anyone in a wheelchair even touch her. Sad... she is Mitch’s cat. Mitch is a wheelchair user. Oh well... at least Mitch has three more cats that don’t care about the wheelchair.