Early Genius Digital Program

HERE FOR NOW THEATRE

July 29 - August 12, 2026

WORLD PREMIERE www.herefornowtheatre.com 519.272.HFNT (4368)

WELCOME TO OUR 2026 SEASON I am thrilled to As the Executive welcome you to Director of Here an extraordinary For Now year of theatre.

Theatre, I am so Our 2026 season genuinely celebrates excited to be on curiosity, this journey with you. I have sat where you are courage, and the exhilarating sitting now, watching this artistry of taking bold creative company create something truly leaps. Each play in this year’s special, and I have felt the magic lineup is united by fearless that unfolds on this stage. imagination. These remarkable playwrights embrace risk in ways that feel fresh, daring, and deeply Together, we will continue our commitment to great actors, resonant. Their stories challenge thoughtful directors, strong expectations and invite us to see scripts, and performances that the world - and ourselves - from move us, now within this new perspectives. beautifully re-configured, intimate thrust space that brings As a company devoted to artists and audiences closer than developing new work, we believe ever before. theatre should be alive with possibility: a space where Thank you for believing in this work. Your support has made all boundaries are pushed, of this possible. With all of us narratives are expanded, and gathered here, sharing this space discovery happens night after night. This season embodies that and this moment, I know we will continue to create bold, powerful spirit. theatre in the Rose McQueen Performance Space, work that is I cannot wait to share these alive, daring, and deeply human. powerful stories with you.

Welcome to 2026.

Fiona Mongillo Artistic Director

Crystal L. Spicer Executive Director

EARLY GENIUS

by Steve Ross Four youngsters. All under the age of eight. All with genius IQs. Enter a substitute teacher in over his head. What could possibly go wrong?

"I was asked to write a children's play and wondered what would happen if it wasn't for children, but about them." - Steve Ross Don't miss the world premiere of Steve Ross's new play – the smash hit of our 2025 reading series!

A Note from the Artistic Director There is something truly magical about Early Genius.

When I find someone hard to take, I’ve developed a little practice: I imagine them in kindergarten. I remind myself that deep down, they are still that child and that softens something in me (most of the time).

When we did a public reading of Early Genius last summer as part of our reading series, I noticed that having kindergarten-aged protagonists shifts something in us as an audience. Our guard drops.

We begin to watch the play through the eyes of our own inner child from a time when we simply accepted and loved people for the special snowflakes that they were, before we learned to put up defenses or recognize patterns that lead us to judge them. I think that openness still exists in all of us, even if it sometimes gets buried.

These children live inside that openness, even though their warpspeed intelligence often makes them sound like adults.

This play is very funny and deeply engaging, but there is a gentle bittersweetness running underneath it. It is, in a quiet way, a story about identity, belonging, and the versions of ourselves that stay with us long after childhood ends. I find it completely hilarious, disarming and very moving.

Fiona Mongillo Artistic Director Here For Now Theatre

Show Sponsor: Arlene Jillard Production Supporters: Dr. Patrick Smith and Peter Coleridge, Jim Cressman, Karen Fleming and Kathryn Fleming, Jean Anne McLeod and David Stones, Chip and Barbara Vallis Bettianne Hedges, Broker, Sotheby’s International Realty

CAST & CREATIVE TEAM Cast Aidan deSalaiz* Percy Simmons

Madeline Elliott Kennedy* Beatrice Fielding

Kevin Krychkywich* Sub

Naomi Ngebulana* Harriet Gray

Andrew Perun* Anthony Monaldo

Creative Team Steve Ross Playwright

Sheila McCarthy* Director

Darren Burkett Lighting and Set Designer

Adam Campbell Sound Designer

Charlotte Peters* Stage Manager

Sam Snyders Associate Lighting Designer

Jennie Wonnacott Costume Designer Running Time: Approximately 75 minutes, with no intermission Because of the close, immersive nature of our theatre, we’re unable to seat latecomers once the performance has started. For the same reason, we can’t offer re-entry if you step out during the show. We invite you to arrive early, settle in, and enjoy the full experience with us.

For more information about the show and to see production photos scan the QR code:

Early Genius received development support from and was first produced by Here For Now Theatre Company in 2025/2026."

Early Genius is produced by permission of Steve Ross *The participation of these Artists is arranged by permission of Canadian Actors’ Equity Association under the provisions of the Dance-Opera-Theatre Policy (DOT).

PLAYWRIGHT’S NOTE I have long been an admirer of “smart” dialogue in plays. That word conjures up a lot of different things in people. For me, smart dialogue asks the audience to be an active participant. Don’t sit back and just enjoy yourself. Of course I want you to enjoy yourself, but I also want to challenge you to really listen to the back and forth; embrace the time shifts and even the conceit itself.

As I wrote this, I truly fell in love with each and every character. My inspiration was my seven nieces and nephews who have been making me laugh since they could put words together and continue to do so. My beautiful niece Shannon is now a teacher herself and I so appreciate her being my sounding board along the way.

As always, I can’t thank Fiona and Here For Now enough for championing new work. Not just mine, but so many writers.

Thanks for being here. Class is now in session.

Steve Ross Playwright

DIRECTOR’S NOTE Welcome to a most interesting elementary classroom filled with colour, alphabets, stuffed animals and toys. Look closer and you might wonder why Einstein’s theories and complex mathematical equations are scattered on the black board. Aren’t these students five years old? Well yes they are but they also happen to be small children with big brains with a lot to say. Enter the poor unsuspecting substitute teacher and let the games begin. Steve Ross has written an altogether original piece about human nature and all its foibles. Early Genius is both funny and devastating. Life in a nutshell really. When I first read this play I was struck by the complexities of each character and their stories. Although this piece takes place in just the classroom between 9 and 3 every day, we will discover whole worlds of huge unrequited love, unimaginable loss, misunderstandings, hilarious admissions and baby ducklings. Think back to those poor substitute teachers you had that never stood a chance. Good luck to Sub in our play with these four unusual children. He is the teacher but so are they. And Show Mary Hofstetter and David Riggs he has so Sponsor: much to learn as do we.

Sheila McCarthy Director

COMPANY BIOGRAPHIES DARREN BURKETT - LIGHTING AND SET DESIGNER Darren is thrilled to be back for the whole summer season at HFN! Previous Design work: Apples in Winter [Set, Lighting and Costume], Dinner with the Duchess [Set in a co-pro with Crows Theatre], 12 Dinners [Set], Life Without [Set and Costume], The Fox [Set] (Here For Now), Legally Blonde [Set] (Metro Theatre), Wizard of Oz [Set] (Pulse Productions), Something Rotten, Seussical The Musical [Set], Mamma Mia! [Set and Lighting] (Secondary Characters), and multiple set and lighting designs for dance and theatre schools in Vancouver. As an actor, he has worked across the globe. Many thanks to the whole HFN team for the unwavering trust in me, and his family, friends and especially Hunter for their never ending love and support!

ADAM CAMPBELL - SOUND DESIGNER Adam Campbell is a Dora-nominated composer, sound designer and musician. Originally from Summerside, Prince Edward Island, Adam has worked as sound designer/composer with Stratford Festival, Blyth Festival, Human Body Expression, Tarragon Theatre, Canadian Stage, Here For Now Theatre, Edmonton Opera, Capitol Theatre and more. Adam made his Here For Now debut as sound designer and composer for 2025’s Reproduktion, and is thrilled to join HFN for several productions this season. Adam has toured and performed throughout North America as a percussionist with TorQ Percussion Quartet and Ladom Ensemble, and regularly plays in the pit for musical theatre productions with companies such as Mirvish Productions and Stratford Festival. In 2019, Adam released his debut solo singer-songwriter album, Guess I’m A People Too, featuring a mix of folk, rock and 90’s-tinged original music. Adam currently lives in Stratford, Ontario, with his wife Alice and their cats Ninja and Nazca.

AIDAN DESALAIZ - PERCY SIMMONS Aidan is thrilled to be making his Here For Now debut!

Theatre (Selected): Into The Woods (Dora nom + Winter Garden, New Zealand tour), Company (TIFT), Cock (TIFT: International Tour), Seven seasons at Stratford Festival; The 39 Steps (Chemainus); The Best Brothers (Western Canada Theatre/TNW); The Last Five Years, Having Hope At Home (Neptune); A Christmas Carol (Grand Theatre); Spamalot (Drayton); Red, The Mousetrap (Aquarius); The Wedding Singer (Stage West - Calgary Critics nom); Sherlock Holmes (MTC); Lies My Father Told Me (Segal Centre).

Film/TV/Voiceover: Mayday, Goosebumps; Deus Ex Mankind Divided; The Virgin Cure. Training: Toronto Metropolitan University (BFA - Theatre); Birmingham Conservatory (Stratford).

COMPANY BIOGRAPHIES MADELINE ELLIOTT KENNEDY - BEATRICE FIELDING Raised running through theatre towns, Madeline Elliott Kennedy is so thrilled to be making her Here For Now debut. An actor and playwright with a focused training Viewpoints and site specific devising. She enjoys riddles, critter friendships and eating kimchi right out of the jar. Previous credits include Gloria in “Powers and Gloria” (Blyth Festival) and “Huron County Christmas Carol” (Blyth Festival)

KEVIN KRUCHKYWICH - SUB Having improvised in a field in 2020 (Instant Theatre) and directed the inaugural production in the new space last year (Stick Around), Kevin is excited to be back at HFN for his third go ‘round. A veteran of Canadian theatre, he has worked back and forth across this country; from Victoria to Halifax and most stops in between. He’s done six seasons at the Stratford Festival, toured southern England and South Africa, and spent time doing a Canadian play in Munich, Germany. Some Highlights: Paradise Lost,12 Angry Men, Death of a Salesman, Rough Crossing, Respectable, The Aberhart Summer, The Philadelphia Story, The Taming of the Shrew, Boeing Boeing, Falstaff, Guys and Dolls, The Red Priest, and of course…Look, No Hans! Love to SJ and Fran

SHEILA MCCARTHY - DIRECTOR Sheila was born in Toronto and started her musical career at The Charlottetown Festival. She has gone on to perform at many theatres across the continent including The Stratford and Shaw Festivals. She has also directed at many theatres from coast to coast including most recently Sugar Road in Gananoque. This is her third play for Here For Now after directing Myth of The Ostrich and The Rules of Playing Risk. Selected film credits include two Best Acting Awards for I’ve Heard The Mermaids Singing and Lotus Eaters, the Actra Award for Best Actress in Cardinals, and recent releases are Oscar nominated Women Talking, The Well, Anything For Jackson, Voices Of The Mother and Dancing On The Elephant. Some TV credits include Emily of New Moon for which she won Best Actress, Little Mosque On The Prairie, Umbrella Academy, Star Trek, The Miniature Wife, Copenhagen, and most recently completed YAGA which will premiere at The Toronto International Film Festival in the Fall.

COMPANY BIOGRAPHIES NAOMI NGEBULANA - HARRIET GRAY Naomi is a Toronto-based actor from Calgary. She’s performed in theatres across Canada and the States.

Theatre credits: DRACULA: A Comedy of Terrors (Segal Centre), As You Like It (Bard on the Beach/Theatre Calgary/Shakespeare Theatre Company (Washington D.C.), The Tempest: A Witch in Algiers (Shakespeare in the Ruff), Educating Rita (Watermark Theatre), Fall on Your Knees (CanStage). She trained in musical theatre at Randolph College and got her Acting MFA from the Guildford School of Acting in the U.K. When she’s not living the dream, you can find her on her yoga mat, biking everywhere, or eating ice cream. Haagen Dazs. The vanilla one with the chocolate-covered almonds.

ANDREW PERUN - ANTHONY MONALDO Andrew is ecstatic to be making his Here For Now Debut and getting to play in class again. Otherwise you'll find Andrew making lunches and trying to get his plants to grow in Rockwood where his family and evergrowing cavalcade of pets live their quietly busy lives.

Selected theatre credits: Test Drive (Festival Players); Midnight Madness (Dave Carley); Shrew (RedOne Theatre); Co-writing and performing in Nine Mile Portage (Theatre By The Bay) that ran for 3 seasons. Selected TV/Film: Welcome to Derry (HBO); Spiral (Lionsgate); The Handmaid's Tale (Hulu); The Boys (Amazon), Murdoch Mysteries (Shaftsbury); Madame CJ Walker (Warner Bros./Netflix).

Many thanks to his patient and supportive family, his incredible wife Alycia, and his wonderfully inspiring son Gryffin for lending his dad to this play for a bit

CHARLOTTE PETERS - STAGE MANAGER Here for Now Theatre debut! Elsewhere: Snow White and the Seven Tenors, Back Home for the Holidays, Elf: The Musical, Jack and the Beanstalk: The Panto (Drayton Entertainment); Wedding Band (Stratford Festival); This is How We Got Here (Green Light Arts); Sweeney Todd (Talk Is Free Theatre); Constellations (Cosmic Fishing Theatre); A Belly Full (Theatre Aquarius) and numerous workshops for new Canadian plays. Charlotte holds a BA in Drama and Creative Writing from Bishop’s University and an MA in Folklore from Memorial University. Thanks to the whole HFN crew for welcoming her. Enjoy the show!

COMPANY BIOGRAPHIES STEVE ROSS - PLAYWRIGHT Steve is in his 23rd season at The Stratford Festival, appearing in Guys & Dolls and Something Rotten. He has had the good fortune to perform around the country at most of the regional theatres. As a writer, he has had three of his plays produced at Here for Now (goldfish, Life Without and 12 Dinners) and is thrilled to continue his work with this great company. Last summer, another of his plays (Mechanically Inclined) had its world premiere at The Foster Festival in St. Catharines. Huge thanks to Fiona for all her support.

SAM SNYDERS - ASSOCIATE LIGHTING DESIGNER Sam is an emerging theatre artist from Mitchell, Ontario, glad to be back for his third season at Here For Now. Previously at HFN, Sam stage-managed Apples in Winter, Humour Me, Stick Around, The Saviour, and Paul and Linda Plan a Threesome, and sound-designed The Rules of Playing Risk. No stranger to the Rose McQueen Stage, Sam also played Aaron in last year's Forget About Tomorrow. Other acting credits include Boris Trigorin in The Seagull (Strands of the Night), Pierre in Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 (AUTS McGill), Jason in Medea (Player's Theatre) and Moe in Pomona (Moyse Hall). Sam recently graduated from McGill University with a BA in English: Drama & Theatre. Thank you, always, to his family and friends for their constant support.

JENNIE WONNACOTT - COSTUME DESIGNER Jennie has enjoyed a two-decade theatre career as a costume cutter and tailor, designer and professor. As a theatre professional that takes joy in the success of her peers, Jennie recently made the switch to a career in art administration to assist in facilitating what artists do best! Select design credits include 12 Angry Men and Steel Magnolias (Drayton Entertainment), and The Magic Flute (UWO). Jennie has surpassed 24 seasons at the Stratford Festival in wardrobe production. She is the 2016 recipient of the Pauline McGibbon award, and recently completed an MA is Arts Leadership from Queens University.

HERE FOR NOW THEATRE Founded in 2012 by Artistic Director Fiona Mongillo, Here For Now Theatre began as a pop-up company in Stratford dedicated to bold contemporary plays and underrepresented voices. With a focus on intimate, actor-driven productions, the company quickly established a reputation for fearless storytelling and powerful performances.

In 2020, while theatres across the country were closed, Here For Now launched a groundbreaking outdoor repertory season on the lawns of The Bruce Hotel. The innovative season drew national attention and critical acclaim, creating a unique gathering place for artists and audiences at a time when live theatre felt especially vital.

In the years that followed, the company continued to grow its national profile, commissioning and developing new plays while building a loyal and expanding audience.

In 2025, Here For Now opened its permanent 60-seat home in the beautifully restored Perth County Registry Office and unveiled the Rose McQueen Performance Space.

Today, Here For Now produces year-round programming that champions daring new work and the immediacy of live performance, bringing audiences together for powerful, intimate theatre in the heart of Stratford.

Fiona Mongillo | Artistic Director Crystal L. Spicer | Executive Director Marie Farsi | Interim Associate Artistic Director Siobhan O’Malley | Artistic Associate & Marketing Coordinator Adam Steinbach | Technical Coordinator Jocelyn Nicholson | Social Media & Audience Experience Coordinator Mark Uhre | 2026 Season Artwork Sara-Jeanne Hosie | Show Images Ann Baggley | Production Photography Siobhan O’Malley | Promotional Photography Jocelyn Nicholson and Fawn Adair| Trailers Tabworks | Bookkeeping & Payroll BOARD OF DIRECTORS Susan Moffat | Chair Frances O’Malley | Past Chair Alix Grice | Secretary Laura Dinner | Treasurer Jessica B. Hill | Artist Representative Dr. Patrick Smith

Coming up next in 2026 ....

2026 CONTACT US 24 St Andrew St. Stratford, ON www.herefornowtheatre.com 519.272.HFNT (4368) @herefornowtheatreco

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