The Cast

MARK FRIEBE - Co-Owner / Performer

Markus's career began almost 15 years ago as a bartender in a small dinner theatre in Vernon, B.C. One night, one of the male leads failed to show up for the performance, and the owner of the dinner theatre said to Markus, "Here are the costumes, here's the script, you're on in ten minutes!" He hasn't left the stage since. Markus became an icon, and perhaps the most integral member to ever grace the stage of that dinner theatre, elevating its success to a level unimagined by its founder, and now former owner, Marilyn "Maz" Gering. During his career, he has portrayed literally hundreds of hilarious characters ranging from a lonely poinsettia plant named Percy to The King of Rock and Roll himself. As well as being an unmatched performer, Markus’ understanding and execution of comedic timing is unbelievable. Markus's talents have been appreciated all across Canada, as he toured with "The Legends of Rock and Roll" as Elvis Presley to sold-out crowds everywhere. He frequently crosses the border into Alberta to perform at several different venues throughout the province, and has developed an enormously dedicated following there as well. Markus has also appeared on numerous television shows and commercials, but his first and foremost love is the stage. His most proud accomplishment, on an already long list, is the opening of The Giggle Dam Dinner Theatre - a long time dream that has finally come true!

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SHEILA SHARMA - Co-Owner / Writer / Director / Performer

For anyone who has seen a Giggle Dam show, you might wonder what kind of warped brain could possibly come up with the outrageous and witty material performed on their DAM stage. Well, voila, here she is, the wacko herself. Sheila spent many years honing her psychosis in a myriad of roles and genres that range from singing blues & jazz in smoky pubs to sacrificing what was left of her sanity to the now defunct Maz & Me’s TM. She travelled B.C and Alberta performing in theatrical productions around the two provinces when she realized that the only way for a performer to have a steady gig is to create one for yourself. As an accomplished singer, actor, comedienne and the successful writer of hilarious parody & sketch material, Sheila decided that she would package up her skills and join forces with her true love, the lower mainland’s undeniable "King" of comedy, Mark Friebe - and alas, The Giggle Dam was born. Since their DAM opening in 2001, Sheila has written & directed some of the funniest politically incorrect musical comedy shows ever performed on a stage anywhere. Since the birth of her two beautiful daughters, she is anxiously waiting to see if they have inherited any twisted traits that may have been passed on by herself and equally disturbed husband, Mark. Pray for these children, they’re doomed.

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BRAD LOVELL - Performer / Promotions & Marketing

Brad Lovell has a long history of performing rock’n’roll. Fresh out of high school he hit the road fronting a myriad of big hair bands during the eighties. Moving to Vancouver in 1988 he fell into the fronting job for the local band ‘Metropolis’, a band that became highly sought after on the club circuit due to their musical prowess and comedic approach. After the ‘Metropolis’ era, Brad landed at a bizarre entertainment venue that lent itself to Brad’s spastic style of comedy and music performance. Years of screaming over a loud band had honed his voice to a perfect ”I gargle with razor blades” tone. Then somebody said “ You know...you got a kinda big nose, if you cut your hair you could probably do a pretty good Rod Stewart impersonation.” Desperate for a buck Brad cut his hair, shaved his face and pulled out all those old spandex outfits he’d been keeping in the garage and PRESTO...ROD ‘O’ RAMA! Brad looks forward to writing and producing a platinum album of his own material one day, however accepts the fact that his CD will most likely end up as a drink coaster on a ‘Trading Spaces’ episode. Until then he is very happy sitting on the edge of the comedy brink at the Giggle Dam and tries diligently to raise his 2 kids so they won’t be as weird as he is.

Marketing Enquiries Email: [Email Me]

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JON LUNDQUIST - Performer / Drummer

“Jonman” was born and raised in the thriving metropolis of Enderby, BC. He taught himself the drums and began playing professionally at the ripe old age of 14. After graduating high school and criss crossing Canada with far too many musical acts to mention, he received a call from his high school buddy Markus Friebe asking if he was ready for a real job. When Jon replied “Hell no!” Markus offered him the chance at a whole new career in comedy revue dinner theatre. After 22 years, thousands of shows and hundreds of characters, Jon leapt at the chance to return to his first love, playing the drums. (Don’t worry, he’ll still pop up on stage every now and then!) Jonman is married to the beautiful Cassandre and has 3 children and 2 grandchildren. His hero is Lem Motlow and he worships at Jonny’s Church of Rock n Roll. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ThatDamJonGuy and join his facebook fan club at www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=2249020996. Keep The Faith!

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Sonia Stirling - Performer
Sonia’s grateful to be back working with her favorite people.
Unlike a couple other cast mates ( former and present) ,Sonia has not had the chance to be on a Canadian reality TV show, however, she is in her first year of  the journalism program at BCIT. She is not sure where her new career will take her….TV news? Entertainment? Editing? But her love of performing live will always lead her to a stage of some sort, when she’s not broadcasting.  This is Sonia’s second turn as a fulltime college student. The first ,was 10 years ago studying vocal jazz at Grant MacEwan. This is Sonia’s fifth Dam show and she’s hoping if she “schticks” around long enough, there may be a Giggle Dam reality show haha!

 

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EAMONN MORRIS - Keyboards

Eamonn started playing piano at age 4 under the tutelage of his father, the choirmaster of his pastoral village in rural Ireland. However when the lad began experimenting with strange chords unfamiliar to the pater familias, he was quickly packed off to the local nuns for a cure. After several years of ‘going for baroque’, and having his knuckles soundly rapped along the way, rock and roll came a knockin' and he began to worship at the altar of Jerry Lee Lewis and Floyd Kramer among others. Having played with some of Ireland’s biggest names in the folk and carbaret circuits, Eamonn came to Canada several years back with the Irish showband Killarney "for a six month tour". He has been kept busy ever since with long stints as arranger/ keyboardist at the likes of the Blarney Stone in Gastown and, later, the legendary Unicorn Pub. He also taught classical piano in Vancouver for several years and, along with his wife Cheryl Finn, he has written several educational works for piano students. Eamonn comes to Giggledam fortuitously having tripped over a shiny Giggledam flyer on his way to the pub, learned to play the entire Giggledam show in a week and then presented himself for work.

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Ashley Bishop - Performer

Ashley Bishop made her ground breaking acting debut in a little musical entitled Fully Alive at Maplewood Elementary. She played the role of ‘Ashley’, a role that was written specifically for her because of her captivating audition singing ‘I’m a Little Teapot’. Quickly after the director said that she had to have Ashley in the show even if there wasn’t a part there for her. From then on the world only looked bright for this young hopeful performer. She was soon playing ‘Pink Two’ a chorus kid in Joseph and the Amazing Techni-Colored Dream Coat at the Ford Centre which opened the doors to ‘Ensemble’ in Anything Goes. Ashley attended Capilano College where her acting chops got a work out in such roles as ‘The Butterfly’ in The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, ‘Communist’ in The Measures Taken, and part one of five of ‘The Yellow Brick Road’ in their musical The Wiz. (That last role was a difficult one as she was in gold lamé spandex and on a scooter the entire show.) Now Ashley resides at the Giggledam Theatre hob-knobbing with the best in their field and enjoying every single second she gets. This is her very first show with the Giggledam and to this she says: “This looks like the beginning of a beautiful friendship!”

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Michaela Scott - Performer

Michaela has always yearned to be in the spot light since a young age, not even a toddler’s harness could hold her back. She just recently graduated from the 3 year Musical Theatre Diploma Program at Capilano College. (Although according to Sheila and Mark you must FORGET EVERYTHING taught in theatre school to survive at the Dam) A Character actor to the core, Michaela has had the opportunity to grace the stage as many different characters ranging from a bratty child, to a raunchy whore and even a uni-tard, helmet wearing porcupine.  She is absolutely delighted to be working at the Giggle Dam as she never imagined someone would actually pay her to run around in hideous outfits accosting random strangers in the night. Sorry Mom and Dad…

 

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Rene Picard – Sound/Lights/Positive Thinking

Rene is a perpetual optimist. Ask him how he is and he will unequivocally state “It’s the best day of my life.”  He comes to us from a lifetime in the music business operating in just about every capacity imaginable. Multi faceted and always up, Rene is the perfect ‘Teckie’ to join the ranks here at the Giggle Dam.

 

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