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.
Past Performances
Find our shows / sketches on
YouTube.
Andrea von Wichert
Andrew Teeluck
Corey Quintaine
Dianna Rasing
Ethan Stark
Jen Gieg
Joanna Hawkins
Jordan Phillips
Mitch Krohn
Rae Gunn
Tim Beaudry
Shannon Sheryl Tessa
SM Chippy
Quincy
Cast
* Captain Ted - Mitch Krohn (he/him)
* Deadeye - Joanna Hawkins (she/her)
* Gull - Dianna Rasing (she/her)
* Casey - Tim Beaudry (he/him)
* Chloe - Jen Gieg (he/she/them/other)
* Greg - Andrew Teeluck (he/him)
* Jessie - Ethan Stark (he/him)
* Syd - Rae Gunn (they/them)
* Terry - Corey Quintaine (he/him)
* Whispers/Parrot - Jordan Phillips (he/him)
Crew
* Director - Andrea von Wichert (she/her)
* Stage Manager - Chippy (she/her)
* ASL Interpreters:
* Shannon Graham (she/her)
* Sheryl LaVallee (she/her)
* Tessa Rogowski (she/her)
Please join us using deaf - applause (yay/hands-waving)
A Message from the Playwright
Way back during the pandemic, I came up with this idea; Let's put a wheelchair in a crazy scenario, like a pirate ship. Skip forward a few years, and I was selected to be part of Realwheels Theatre’s Disabled Playwright Circle, and with help from playwrights across Canada, Captain Ted was born! After that, I worked with many different disabled artists (most in the cast) who had more experience with disabilities depicted in the play. We all worked together to form the content and characters.
To be honest… I wrote the ‘Captain’ for myself because I have missed the chance for a role that isn’t more than just a roll-through. There have been opportunities, but they are few and far between, as they can be for many disabled artists.
The play identifies a variety of disabilities, and it gives some insight into how we may overcome our daily struggles. However, it is not an instruction manual on how to deal with a person with disabilities. Best behaviour, when you learn of a person’s struggles with a disability, ASK how to help before jumping in. We appreciate your willingness to help but also ask for your respect to let us try.
I am so thankful and excited about this diverse cast and crew (a mixture of disabled, able-bodied and LGBTQ+ representation). I'm grateful for the cast and crew’s belief in me, and I’m so touched that they all have embraced this adventure as their own. I really can’t thank them enough.
Captain Ted started as an idea to play a fun role in a zany comedy, but it grew to be so much more. I hope you enjoy the show as much as I enjoyed the adventure of bringing it to the stage.
Special Thanks
* Megan Krohn - for all your support, love, believing in me, and putting up with me… even when you didn't want to hear about it.
* Dianna Rasing - fellow Strokes of Genius founder. Oh…you know what you did!
* Joanna, Shannon, Sheryl, and Tessa - For your ASL coaching and patience (when we didn’t always get the ASL right for the millionth time), and for giving us our ASL character names. It’s the extra icing on the cake to learn some ASL as part of this adventure.
* 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.
* Vocal Image Ensemble Winnipeg (VIEW) - For providing Audio Description Services, and subsidizing our description show.
* Realwheels Theatre - for the opportunity to try and write this zany idea.
* One88 - for the venue space and support. It's always a pleasure to perform here.
* Never Settle Creations - For the great T-shirts, and wonderful service. Shop Local!
* Multiple people who helped form the script:
Dianna Rasing, Jordan Phillips, Andrew Teeluck, Ethan Stark, Andrea von Wichert, Chippy, Joanna Hawkins, Jonah Simmonds, Aidan Zeglinski, Kimmy Zeglinski, Anna Burkholder, Jennifer Burgmann, Sharon Liu, Sam Macphee-Pithcher, Natasha Nadir, Seely Quest, Fiona Smith, Victoria Urquhart.
Cast & Crew Bios
Andrea von Wichert (she/her) our DIRECTOR. Andrea has a very impressive history with arts and with theatre experience in directing, acting, and writing in Manitoba and internationally. SoG first worked with Andrea with Sick + Twisted Theatre in 2018. She has worked with Creative Manitoba, Manitoba Theatre for Young People and Rainbow Stage. Her peers greatly respect her reputation, and she brings amazing creative insight and energy to our production.
Andrew Teeluck (he/him), who was a part of SoG first fringe show in 2019. Andrew has a background in comedy from performing on stage with BS Comedy Players, and Strokes of Genius.
This is Corey Quintaine's (he/him) first time performing with Stokes of Genius (SoG) but he has an incredible history with comedy and theatre. This Brandon University theatre graduate is a long-time alumnus of the BS Comedy Players (since 2003) and has performed with Crosswalk Productions (2012-Cabaret, 2015-Birdcage, and 2018-Bald Soprano), and RG Productions (Fringe 2019), and Mennonite Theatre (2022).
Dianna Rasing (she/them) is Strokes of Genius (SoG) co-creator. Mitch & Dianna first met and worked with each other in 1996 with Phoenix Productions. She has since worked quite extensively with Tara Players, Sick + Twisted Theatre, and many Fringe productions. Since surviving her stroke, she has dabbled in Dance, Standup, and playwriting. She brings a wealth of stage, film, ASL, and comedy experience to this production.
Ethan Stark (he/him) is a strong performer and award-winning playwright for his play at the 2023 Winnipeg Fringe. This Fringe he will also be producing his new play with his maiden voyage of Stark Raving Productions. He has also been active with One Trunk Theatre, Tara Players, and Dark Horse Theatre. Ethan is a University of Manitoba theatre graduate and Black Hole Theatre alumni.
Jen Gieg (she/he/them/other) is a very talented performer who is currently studying theatre at the University of Winnipeg. They have experience with Crosswalk Productions 2023 Fringe show. They were very active alumni of the Black Hole Theatre for their years studying theatre at the University of Manitoba.
Joanna Hawkins (she/her) is a deaf comedian is a part of the 100 Decibels Deaf Comedy Troupe and is a respected actor in Manitoba. SoG has had the fortune of working with Joanna on multiple projects with Sick + Twisted Theatre. She has extensive theatre experience on stage, as well as film. We have been blessed with the ASL instruction she has given us, and the grace and generosity teaching us more and more.
This is the first time Strokes of Genius (SoG) has worked with Jordan Phillips (he/him) since meeting him in 2017 when he performed with Sick + Twisted Theatre. Jordan has an extensive theatrical background with Theatre by the River, North Kildonan Community Players, and Indifferently Reformed (for whom he directed a production of ‘The Tempest’ in the 2023 Fringe), among others.
Mitch Krohn (he/him) is one-half of the co-founders of Strokes of Genius and playwright of CAPTAIN TED: DISABLED PIRATE. Mitch has been performing on stage for over 40 years (crazy to think). He has acted around Canada and internationally. This is his first play in 20 years, but he was an active writer with BS Comedy Players. He has acted as Artistic Director for BS Comedy Players and is the current Artistic Director for Crosswalk Productions. A 20+ year performer with the Crosseyed Rascal improv troupe, and avid Monty Python fanatic, he brings a crazy wackiness as CAPTAIN TED.
This is Rae Gunn's (they/them) first time with Strokes of Genius (SoG) but has performed alongside SoG in many Sick + Twisted theatre shows. They bring a flash of brilliance and vibrancy to the non-speaking, but quite involved, role.
Tim Beaudry (he/him) is another first-timer performing with Stokes of Genius (SoG), but he has a lot of stage experience. He has performed many shows with Merlyn Productions and is a long-time alumnus of the BS comedy Players. He brings a delicious grumbly ‘excitement’ to the role.
Shannon Graham (she/her), Sheryl LaVallee (she/her), & Tessa Rogowski (she/her) are our ASL interpreters. They have brought with them great enthusiasm to the show. They have quickly become beloved members of the rag-tag crew of wacky misfits. Their inclusion in the show has evolved past their professional talents. It’s a pleasure to see their faces light up the production. We couldn’t imagine the show without them.
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).
Quincy is an honorary crew member. You may hear his name yelled out in battle. Black cats are good luck on a ship.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sailors%27_superstitions#Cats
