Meet our Story City x Calgary Downtown Creators

HEARTBREAK SPEEDRUN
by Miranda Martini

Nine dates. Three prospective suitors. One broken heart. This is the run. Will you be able to speedrun your heartbreak, or is it game over for romance? This offbeat dating sim will take you to local haunts and hidden gems while telling a funny, heartfelt story about what it’s like to date with a broken heart.
Age recommendation: 16+

Written by Miranda Martini
Art by Nastassia Mihalicz
Music by Alixandra Cowman

Narrator: Briana Trotter
Birch: Aisha Kueh
Luca: Michael Vetsch
Olivia: Briana Trotter
Additional Voices: Hans Wackershauser

THE NOT-SO-SECRET DOOR IN THE BACK OF A CHINESE RESTAURANT
by Phillip Henry Wu

Secret doors have been appearing all over Chinatown. No one knows where they came from or what lies beyond their threshold. Do you have the gumption to crack this paranormal case wide open, or will you discover an even deeper mystery from those you meet along the way?
Age recommendation: General

Art by Sofiya Iurkevych
Music by Lindsey Walker

Narrator: Thalia Altura
Character Voices: Michael Vetsch
Additional Voices: Briana Trotter

CHASE
by Kevin Weir

Obsidian towers are tearing the barrier between dimensions apart, but Calgarians are going about their day-to-day lives oblivious to the cosmic crisis consuming everything around them. All Calgarians, that is, except you.
Age recommendation: General

Art by Sofiya Iurkevych
Music by Alixandra Cowman

Narrator: Hans Wackershauser
Character Voices: Briana Trotter

A SPY FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S LAB
by Alison Bloxham

Welcome, Agent 24. The City of Calgary has been threatened with a biochemical toxin set to be released into the city’s water supply in only one hour. Your mission – should you choose to accept – is to obtain an antidote from Dr. Aberrant. Proceed with extreme caution. The City of Calgary’s fate rests in your hands.
Age recommendation: General

Art by Nastassia Mihalicz
Music by Alixandra Cowman

Narrator: Hans Wackershauser
I.A.V.: Briana Trotter

MIRANDA MARTINI
Writer: Heartbreak Speedrun

PHILLIP HENRY WU
Writer: The Not-So-Secret Door in the Back of a Chinese Restaurant

Phillip Henry Wu is a writer and filmmaker based out of Moh’kinsstis, Calgary, AB. A first-generation immigrant, Phillip aims to write introspective character stories that connect with wallflowers.

A graduate of the University of Lethbridge, Phillip has worked on projects such as Fraggle Rock: Back to The Rock Season 2. They are currently participating in the Reelworld Emerging 20 Program, selected to develop their feature script My Own Funeral.

When their face isn’t buried in a laptop chugging flat whites at a local coffee shop, you’ll find Phillip buried in a book, or hiding in the movie theatre. So, a lot of denning.

KEVIN WEIR
Writer: Chase

ALISON BLOXHAM
Writer: One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Lab

Alison Bloxham (she/her) is an actor/playwright/musician/creator based in Mohkinstsis, also known as the City of Calgary. A graduate from the University of Calgary’s School of Creative and Performing Arts, Alison enjoys all things theatre; whether that be writing it, being in it, or attending it! She is very excited to be expanding the scope of her work with Story City and has enjoyed creating an adventure fun for the whole family.

Other recent writing credits include You’re Driving Me Crazy (Regina, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton Fringe 2024), Carol Taylors vs. The World (IGNITE! 2022), Feline Sapiens (IGNITE! 2022), Who TF Did It? (ND Theatre 2022).

When she isn’t writing, acting, or creating music, you can find Alison playing volleyball, enjoying some board games with friends, or most likely, at home snuggling her two adorable cats, Fergus and Tofu.

ALIXANDRA COWMAN
Musician: Chase, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Lab, Heartbreak Speedrun

LINDSEY WALKER
Musician: The Not-So-Secret Door in the Back of a Chinese Restaurant

Born and raised on Treaty 1 territory (Winnipeg), and currently residing in Amiskwacîwâskahikan (Edmonton), Lindsey Walker (she/her) is an award-winning singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, composer, and theatre performer. Lindsey’s music has been described as “achingly sincere”, and “cinematic”. As a theatre creator, Lindsey wrote the score and lyrics for ren & the wake, an original semi-immersive musical that she created with Catch the Keys Productions, as well as creating the music and lyrics for the one-man political musical Amor de Cosmos with Richard Kemick. She is currently working on her latest EP, Something Real, which will be out Fall 2024.

NASTASSIA MIHALICZ
Visual Artist: One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Lab, Heartbreak Speedrun

Nastassia Mihalicz is an illustrator and visual development artist based out of Calgary, Alberta. She graduated from the Alberta University of the Arts in 2019 with a Bachelor’s in Visual Communication Design. Inspired by fairy tales and the natural world, Nastassia combines digital and traditional art-making processes to create playful illustrations imbued with story.

Her previous clients and showcases include: the Winter 2024 carya and CAAF Community Mentorship & Studio Residency; The Speech Development Lab at the University of Calgary; The Addictive Behaviours Lab at the University of Calgary; The Ni’gweg Collective; The Naked Leaf; and Studio Y Creations.

When not drawing, she can be found haunting bookstores, volunteering, and making terrible, terrible puns.

SOFIYA IURKEVYCH
Visual Artist: Chase, The Not-So-Secret Door in the Back of a Chinese Restaurant

Sofiya Iurkevych is a visual development artist and independent animator based in Calgary. She is a graduate of Alberta University of the Arts and a member of Quickdraw Animation Society. Inspired by her love for mythology, fascination with nature, and passion for Ukrainian folklore, her work explores the surreal and fantastical interplay of characters with magical, mysterious, and dark settings. The main medium of her work is digital 2D illustration and animation with strong emphasis on mood and atmosphere.

BRIANA TROTTER
Performer: Chase, The Not-So-Secret Door in the Back of a Chinese Restaurant, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Lab, Heartbreak Speedrun

Briana Trotter is a graduate of Mount Royal University’s Theatre Arts Performance Program and has been professionally performing in Calgary for the past eighteen years. Whether it’s theatre, film, dance, commercials, voiceovers, murder mysteries, or dinner theatre, she loves performing across many mediums.

Favourite recent credits include being a spokesperson for a local Calgary tech company, singing on The History Wrangler tv show, voicing a few characters in Time Hoppers: The Silk Road video game, directing A Super Duper Mario Musical for Jubilations Junior, and playing the role of Toad, whose voice she unfortunately was not able to use in this project.

She is a mom to three amazing boys and has a fantastic, supportive husband whom she loves with all her heart. When she’s not performing, you might find her crushing huge books, volunteering in prison, or getting out into nature.

HANS WACKERSHAUSER
Performer: Chase, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Lab, Heartbreak Speedrun

Hans Wackershauser is known for his versatility as an actor whether it’s on stage, in front of the camera or behind the mic. With over a decade of experience he has played everything from sexy masochists to kitty conspiracy theorists and even timeless interdimensional beings.

Recent voice acting credits include Ducksyde Farlight 84 (Lilith Games), Noah Quinn Beneath (Camel101 Games), George Brixley Ready or Not (VOID Interactive), Zakusa Ishigame Cardfight!! Vanguard (Bushiroad), Kongor Super 10 (Young Toys)

When Hans is not voice acting you can find him playing video games or at a local brewery winning trivia with his friends. You can also see him as Romeo in the upcoming comedic sensation RIVERONA: The Complete Box Set, playing at Evergreen Theatre Spaces Jun 26 – Jul 14!

Hans Wackershauser is passionate about fostering growth in the voice over community. If you would like to learn more about the wide world of voice acting check out his Discord “The Vox Network” where he hosts Voice Acting Gyms. To see more of Hans’ work hop on over to hanswackershauser.com

MICHAEL VETSCH
Performer: Heartbreak Speedrun, The Not-So-Secret Door in the Back of a Chinese Restaurant

Michael Vetsch is an Edmonton-based actor, improvisor, and sketch comedian. A graduate of MacEwan University’s Theatre Arts program, he improvises with Rapid Fire Theatre and Sorry Not Sorry Improv – with SNS, he has co-created the format Agent Thunder: An Improvised Espionage. He is also a member of the Edmonton sketch comedy troupe The Debutantes and a player/editor on the sci-fi tabletop podcast Quantum Kickflip.
Recent credits include: Ride Lyke Hell with Nextfest, Family Heirloom and Zodiac Guardians with Edmonton StoryCity & Common Ground Arts, The Blank Who Stole Christmas with Rapid Fire Theatre, Ride The Cyclone with Uniform Theatre & SATCo (Sterling awards for Outstanding Fringe Production and Outstanding Fringe Performance by an Ensemble), Ray and Cora with Azimuth Theatre, Word Nerd with Concrete Theatre.

AISHA KUEH
Performer: Heartbreak Speedrun

THALIA ALTURA
Performer: The Not-So-Secret Door in the Back of a Chinese Restaurant

Thalia is a multidisciplinary Trans Artist based in Moh’kinsstis.
Her most notable role to date was Titania/Hippolyta in Theatre
Calgary’s production of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Her voice acting credit also include Lola, Nanay, Anak produced by Jupiter Theatre’s exp(lore) digital audio theatre experience. You can listen here: https://www.theatrejupiter.com/
explore-episode6

A graduate of The Randolph College for the Arts in Toronto, she has been privileged to perform all over the world with Princess Cruises as an entertainer. She has trained, workshopped and performed with Factory Theatre and Carlos Bulosan Theatre in Toronto. Now she performs as a drag artist with Electric Stage Series and numerous festivals in Calgary, Lethbridge and Victoria.
When not either performing, playing guitar and writing songs to keep her sanity, she’s passionate about health and wellness, collects niche fragrances and luxury handbags she can’t afford and anything in the world of fashion. Follow her on Instagram for performances updates and new crushes @thaliaaltura

SAVANNA HARVEY
Producer, Common Ground Arts Society

BELINDA CORNISH
Story Editor

Belinda is an actor and playwright based in Edmonton.
Previous playwright credits include: hiraeth (Bright Young Things/Varscona Theatre); The Garneau Block (Citadel Theatre); Category E (Coal Mine Theatre, The Maggie Tree, Sterling Award), Little Elephants (Shadow Theatre, Sterling Award). As an actor, she has appeared in many productions, and you can catch her this summer in Private Lives with Teatro Live!

Belinda is also the co-author of several acclaimed RPG adventures, notably Bookshops of Arkham and Graveyards of Arkham for Chaosium, Inc., and a passionately dedicated volunteer with WILDNorth wildlife rescue.
www.belindacornish.com