ABOUT US:

Hoarse Raven Theatre (est. 1992), the producers of Vancouver's runaway hit, Tony n' Tina's Wedding (Jessie nominee), is an ambitious, small company operating without any government funding under the co-artistic direction of Michael Fera and Tanja Dixon-Warren.  In January 2006 they secured the lease on the Queen Elizabeth Theatre Restaurant, which now operates as their primary performance venue renamed The Other Space.

Past productions include the world premiere of Alley Cats – the Musical  (partnering with Megakins Theatrical Productions  and starring  Lea DeLaria and Rex Harrington),  the 2003/04 and  2004/05 Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards, the 2005 Making a Scene Conference for Theatre Professionals,  the  Canadian premieres of Terrence McNally’s Corpus Christi, Brian Friel’s Molly Sweeney (Jessie nominee) and Alistair Elliot’s translation of Medea. Other productions include Angels in America Parts I & II , Hedwig and the Angry Inch (Jessie nominee), acclaimed actor Antony Holland in Sharing Shakespeare, Balthazaar and the Mojo Star (Jessie Nominee), The Belle of Amherst , three heads talking, Shakin’ Not Stirred, Macbeth, Stay Carl, Stay, and Teechers.  A number of these productions enjoyed remounts and toured to several communities within British Columbia.

Hoarse Raven Theatre is thrilled to be producing the North American premiere of The Mother of All the Behans in their 2006 season. Their ongoing production, Tony n' Tina's Wedding celebrated its eleven year anniversary in July 2006 and has played to more than 600,000 patrons.

The company was formed to showcase the talents of theatre professionals who, due to the precarious employment situation of the arts, often need to "create their own work to have work." The company also aims to produce shows that entertain and appeal to a wide range of audiences while experimenting with different styles and genres.

Hoarse Raven Theatre is a member of the Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance, The Alliance for Arts & Culture, Tourism Vancouver and is a Supporting Member of PACT (Professional Association of Canadian Theatres). The company has received a number Jessie Richardson Theatre Award nominations and was awarded the prestigious Vancouver Board of Trade ‘Business and the Arts Award’. Co-Artistic Directors Tanja Dixon-Warren and Michael Fera were 1998 recipients of Business in Vancouver's 40 under 40 Award - naming them as two of the top business people in Vancouver under the age of 40.

Hoarse Raven takes its name from Lady Macbeth as she awaits the entrance of Duncan: "The raven himself is hoarse that croaks the fatal entrance..."

For further information, please write to us:
Hoarse Raven Theatre
1160 Rossland Street
Vancouver BC
V5K 4A1
Tel (604) 258-4079
Fax: (604) 253-4690
Email: info@hoarseraven.com
Or visit our website www.hoarseraven.com

Tanja Dixon-Warren, Artistic Producer

Artistic Producer (Hoarse Raven Theatre) /
Co-Director (Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding)

Since graduating in 1987 from UBC with a BFA in Acting, Tanja has been wearing many hats and working as a theatre artist in Vancouver.  In 1993 she and her husband, Michael Fera founded Hoarse Raven Theatre (HRT) as a means to create work for themselves and fellow artists. 

Aside from managing HRT and overseeing the ongoing antics of Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding, Dixon-Warren co-directs the large production, produces all HRT productions (Angels in America 1 &2, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Corpus Christi, Balthazaar and the Mojo star, three heads talking et al) accepts other freelance producing/directing positions, tries to reconcile ‘business' with the 'arts', juggles two children and continues, whenever possible, to get on stage herself.  She produced the 6th annual MAKING A SCENE conference (which she chaired and programmed for the previous 5 years) and has produced and co-directed the JESSIE RICHARDSON THEATRE AWARDS in 2003/04 and 2004/05.  She and Michael also jointly directed productions of Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding in Winnipeg and Edmonton.  She acted as advisor and co-producer on the world premier of Alley Cats – the Musical, and is looking forward to both producing and acting in HRT upcoming Mother of All the Behans in 2007.  She has recently taken on the task of managing and programming HRT’s new home THE OTHER SPACE at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre.

Favorite roles include Hannah Pitt, The Rabbi and Ethel Rosenburg in Angels in America 1&2,  Mary in Broken , Martha in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolfe, Anna in A Boston Marriage, Dr. Livingstone in Agnes of God, Dad (et al) in the Fringe and touring hit Motherload, Emily Dickinson in The Belle of Amherst, Irene in A Lady of Letters, Leslie in Her Big Chance, Amanda in Private Lives: Polonius in the Haunted House Hamlet, Solange in The Maids, Hobby in Teechers and the title roles in both Medea and Molly Sweeney. Along with playing numerous character’s inHRT’s long running Tony n ‘Tina’s Wedding, she originated the role of Maddy for the Vancouver production. 

Dixon-Warren’s present and past community work includes:

• President - Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance. 
• Member of the Board – Quintessence Musical Theatre Projects.
• Co-Chair - GVPTA’s annual Making a Scene Conference for Theatre artists and sat on both the Programming Committee and Hospitality Committee.
• Committee Member – World Theatre Day Celebrations
• Greater Vancouver Alliance for Arts and Culture, participating as a speaker in their Search Program – telling her story and providing advice and inspiration to artists.
• Works with the Vancouver School Board (since 1993)in the Career Preparation Program
• Fundraises throughout the year for various non-profit organizations including Theatrecares, The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, and The Canadian Diabetes Association.
• Past Board Member – First Vancouver Theatrespace Society (Vancouver Fringe Festival)
• Jury Member (Theatre for Young audiences)  – Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards

Dixon-Warren is the recipient of the 40 Under 40 ‘Business in Vancouver’ Award recognizing her as one of the outstanding business people in Vancouver.  She has been nominated for number of Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards  - as an actor and producer (Outstanding Performance by an Actress in A Lead Role [Molly Sweeney and Broken]  Outstanding Production TYA {Balthazaar And The Mojo Star} and Significant Artistic Achievement [Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding]).  She has been recognized twice with nominations for the YWCA’s Woman of Distinction Award.

Artistic Director (Hoarse Raven Theatre)
Co-Director (Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding)  

Michael is a self-employed director who has been working in Vancouver for over 20 years.  In 1992, he and his wife, Tanja Dixon-Warren, co-founded Hoarse Raven Theatre as a means to create work for themselves and fellow artists.  Aside from his duties as Co-Artistic Director of HRT, Michael co-directs the ongoing Vancouver production Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding and has directed all HRT productions to date.  He also continues to accept freelance work in all facets of theatre.

Favorite directing credits include the Canadian premieres of A Boston Marriage, Dancing in the Light, Corpus Christi, Molly Sweeney and the Alistair Elliot translation of Medea.  He also directed Angels in America 1 & 2, Alley Cats, the Musical,  the 2003/04 and 2004/05 Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Balthazar and the Mojo Star, Tartuffe, three heads talking, The Herbal Bed, The Belle of Amherst, Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding (Seattle, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Vancouver), Romeo and Juliet, The Maids, Macbeth, Life After Hockey, Teechers and a variety of original plays (co-written and conceived by Michael) for the Ailanthus Achievement Centre.   A number of these shows have received Jessie nominations and have been mentioned in the lists of the top 10 shows of the year by both the Vancouver Sun and the Vancouver Courier.  Michael is looking forward to directing the  North American premiere of  The Mother of all the Behans - slated for 2007.

Michael can often be found working the bar at HRT’s new home -  THE OTHER SPACE at the QE.

For nine years Michael held the position of Artistic Executive Director for Ailanthus Achievement Centre where he worked with inner city youth using Theatre as a tool to build character and self-esteem.

Michael and Hoarse Raven Theatre work closely with the Vancouver School Board in their involvement in the Career Preparation Program.  He is a recipient of the 40 Under 40 Business in Vancouver Award recognizing him as one of the outstanding business people of the year and Hoarse Raven Theatre have received a number of Jessie Richardson Theatre Award nominations (Significant Artistic Achievement, Outstanding Production and Outstanding Performance). Hoarse Raven Theatre was the 1997 recipient of the Vancouver Board of Trade “Joint Venture” Award.