Rebecca Northan
Encyclopedia
Rebecca Northan is a Canadian actress, improviser, theatre director, and creative artist. She is known for playing the hippie mother Diane Macleod on the CTV
& The Comedy Network
sitcom Alice, I Think. Rebecca Northan was born and raised in Calgary
, Alberta
. She is a graduate of the University of Calgary
, and an alumna of the Loose Moose Theatre
Company where she did her improv
training with Keith Johnstone
.
Northan has been improv
ising and working as an actor for many years, and in 2004 she was nominated for a Gemini Award
for "Best Ensemble in a Comedy" for The Comedy Network’s The Joe Blow Show. Northan is also a five-time Canadian Comedy Award nominee for "Best Female Improviser". She has made several appearances at the Montreal
Just For Laughs
Comedy Festival in the World Improv Games, and was recently a member of The Second City
Toronto mainstage cast in Good's Good, Evil's Bad. She has also appeared as a guest host on CBC
's This Hour Has 22 Minutes
, as well as having appeared in the feature films: The Rocker
, and Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium
. Rebecca also co-stars in the Showcase series The Foundation
, directed by fellow Calgarian, Michael Dowse
.
As an actress, Northan has worked in theatres across Canada including Theatre Calgary
, Manitoba Theatre Centre
, Fringe Theatre Adventures (Edmonton), Quest Theatre (touring theatre for young people) and Alberta Theatre Projects
where she appeared in the Fall Ensemble and playRites, a festival of new Canadian Work. In Toronto
, Northan was nominated for a Dora Mavor Moore Award
for "Best Actress" for her work in Eric Woolfe's Jack the Ripper play, Dear Boss. When not performing Northan also works as producer/director and is currently directing the comedy troupe The Imponderables
. She also directed the 2006 Toronto Fringe Festival
smash hit The Burning Bush. Rebecca recently married her longtime partner, multi-talented entertainer Bruce Horak.
Rebecca and Bruce Horak are also collaborators on the live theatrical show, This is Cancer!, a comedy which brings the character of Cancer to life in order to address the modern audience's current cancer
concerns.
When not performing, producing, or directing - Rebecca also teaches Keith Johnstone
's approach to improvisation in private workshops. She has also been a guest faculty member in the Department of Drama at the University of Calgary
.
In the summer of 2007 Rebecca created a performance piece for the Harbourfront Centre
's Spiegelshow called, "Blind Date" - an improvised turn in which Northan chooses a member of the audience to perform with her as her blind date. This subsequently evolved into a 90 minute performance that, to date, has played at both the Loose Moose Theatre
, and the World Stage Series at Harbourfront Centre
in Toronto, to sold out crowds. In December 2010, the show was a sell out in NYC and received rave reviews. She also played Ellie Applebaum in the film Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium
.
CTV television network
CTV Television Network is a Canadian English language television network and is owned by Bell Media. It is Canada's largest privately-owned network, and has consistently placed as Canada's top-rated network in total viewers and in key demographics since 2002, after several years trailing the rival...
& The Comedy Network
The Comedy Network
The Comedy Network a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Bell Media specializing in comedy programming.The channel operates two time shifted feeds, East and West ....
sitcom Alice, I Think. Rebecca Northan was born and raised in Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
. She is a graduate of the University of Calgary
University of Calgary
The University of Calgary is a public research university located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1966 the U of C is composed of 14 faculties and more than 85 research institutes and centres.More than 25,000 undergraduate and 5,500 graduate students are currently...
, and an alumna of the Loose Moose Theatre
Loose Moose Theatre
The Loose Moose Theatre Company , is a theater company based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It was co-founded in 1977, by Keith Johnstone and Mel Tonken. LMTC has an international reputation for developing the theatrical style of improvisation and specifically the work of Keith Johnstone...
Company where she did her improv
Improvisational theatre
Improvisational theatre takes many forms. It is best known as improv or impro, which is often comedic, and sometimes poignant or dramatic. In this popular, often topical art form improvisational actors/improvisers use improvisational acting techniques to perform spontaneously...
training with Keith Johnstone
Keith Johnstone
Keith Johnstone is a drama instructor whose teachings and books have focused on improvisational theatre and have had a major influence on the art of improvisation.-Education:...
.
Northan has been improv
Improvisational theatre
Improvisational theatre takes many forms. It is best known as improv or impro, which is often comedic, and sometimes poignant or dramatic. In this popular, often topical art form improvisational actors/improvisers use improvisational acting techniques to perform spontaneously...
ising and working as an actor for many years, and in 2004 she was nominated for a Gemini Award
Gemini Award
The Gemini Awards are annual television broadcasting industry awards in Canada.First awarded in 1986, the Geminis celebrate the achievements of TV members of the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. Essentially, it presents awards for the best television productions in Canada. Awards are...
for "Best Ensemble in a Comedy" for The Comedy Network’s The Joe Blow Show. Northan is also a five-time Canadian Comedy Award nominee for "Best Female Improviser". She has made several appearances at the Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
Just For Laughs
Just for Laughs
Just for Laughs is a comedy festival held each July in Montreal, Quebec, founded in 1983. It is the largest international comedy festival in the world.- Information :...
Comedy Festival in the World Improv Games, and was recently a member of The Second City
The Second City
The Second City is a improvisational comedy enterprise which originated in Chicago's Old Town neighborhood.The Second City Theatre opened on December 16, 1959 and has since expanded its presence to several other cities, including Toronto and Los Angeles...
Toronto mainstage cast in Good's Good, Evil's Bad. She has also appeared as a guest host on CBC
CBC Television
CBC Television is a Canadian television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster.Although the CBC is supported by public funding, the television network supplements this funding with commercial advertising revenue, in contrast to CBC Radio which are...
's This Hour Has 22 Minutes
This Hour Has 22 Minutes
This Hour Has 22 Minutes is a weekly Canadian television comedy that airs on CBC Television. Launched in 1993 during Canada's 35th general election, the show focuses on Canadian politics, combining news parody, sketch comedy and satirical editorials...
, as well as having appeared in the feature films: The Rocker
The Rocker (film)
The Rocker is a 2008 American comedy directed by Peter Cattaneo, starring Rainn Wilson, Josh Gad, Teddy Geiger, Emma Stone, Christina Applegate and Jason Sudeikis...
, and Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium
Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium
Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium is a 2007 film written and directed by Zach Helm. The film stars Dustin Hoffman as the owner of a magical toy store, and Natalie Portman as his store employee.-Plot:...
. Rebecca also co-stars in the Showcase series The Foundation
The Foundation (TV series)
The Foundation is a Canadian television sitcom, airing on Showcase in the 2009-10 television season.Created and produced by Michael Dowse, the show stars Mike Wilmot as Michael Valmont-Selkirk, the crooked and corrupt director of a philanthropic foundation. The cast also includes Martin Sims,...
, directed by fellow Calgarian, Michael Dowse
Michael Dowse
Michael Dowse is a Canadian film director.Born and raised in London, Ontario, he was trained as a film editor. His first full-length movie, FUBAR was shot on a digital camera with a tiny budget, but was selected by the Sundance Film Festival and screened on the prestigious midnight slot, which had...
.
As an actress, Northan has worked in theatres across Canada including Theatre Calgary
Theatre Calgary
Theatre Calgary, theatre company in Calgary, Alberta, established as a professional company in 1968.-History:The origin of the company dates back to the 1940s, when students of Betty Mitchell, a drama teacher at Calgary's Western Canada High School, established an amateur group known as "Workshop...
, Manitoba Theatre Centre
Manitoba Theatre Centre
Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre is Canada's oldest English-language regional theatre. Next to the Stratford and Shaw Festivals, MTC has a higher annual attendance than any other theatre in the country...
, Fringe Theatre Adventures (Edmonton), Quest Theatre (touring theatre for young people) and Alberta Theatre Projects
Alberta Theatre Projects
Alberta Theatre Projects is a Canadian theatre production company, founded in 1972, based at the Martha Cohen Theatre in Calgary, Alberta....
where she appeared in the Fall Ensemble and playRites, a festival of new Canadian Work. In Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Northan was nominated for a Dora Mavor Moore Award
Dora Mavor Moore Award
The Dora Mavor Moore Award is an award presented annually by the Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts which honours theatre, dance, and opera productions in Toronto. Named after Dora Mavor Moore, who helped establish Canadian professional theatre, the award was established on December 13, 1978...
for "Best Actress" for her work in Eric Woolfe's Jack the Ripper play, Dear Boss. When not performing Northan also works as producer/director and is currently directing the comedy troupe The Imponderables
The Imponderables
The Imponderables is a Canadian sketch comedy troupe based in Toronto. They are the winners of the Canadian Comedy Award for Best Sketch Troupe.The troupe originated in Hamilton, Ontario...
. She also directed the 2006 Toronto Fringe Festival
Toronto Fringe Festival
The Toronto Fringe Festival is an annual theatre festival, featuring uncensored plays by unknown or well-known artists, taking place in the theatres of Toronto. Several productions originally mounted at the Fringe have later been remounted for larger audiences, including the Tony Award-winning...
smash hit The Burning Bush. Rebecca recently married her longtime partner, multi-talented entertainer Bruce Horak.
Rebecca and Bruce Horak are also collaborators on the live theatrical show, This is Cancer!, a comedy which brings the character of Cancer to life in order to address the modern audience's current cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
concerns.
When not performing, producing, or directing - Rebecca also teaches Keith Johnstone
Keith Johnstone
Keith Johnstone is a drama instructor whose teachings and books have focused on improvisational theatre and have had a major influence on the art of improvisation.-Education:...
's approach to improvisation in private workshops. She has also been a guest faculty member in the Department of Drama at the University of Calgary
University of Calgary
The University of Calgary is a public research university located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1966 the U of C is composed of 14 faculties and more than 85 research institutes and centres.More than 25,000 undergraduate and 5,500 graduate students are currently...
.
In the summer of 2007 Rebecca created a performance piece for the Harbourfront Centre
Harbourfront Centre
Harbourfront Centre is a key cultural organization on Toronto, Ontario's waterfront, situated at 235 Queen's Quay West. Established as a crown corporation in 1972 by the federal government to create a waterfront park, it became a non-profit organization in 1991. Funding comes from corporate...
's Spiegelshow called, "Blind Date" - an improvised turn in which Northan chooses a member of the audience to perform with her as her blind date. This subsequently evolved into a 90 minute performance that, to date, has played at both the Loose Moose Theatre
Loose Moose Theatre
The Loose Moose Theatre Company , is a theater company based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It was co-founded in 1977, by Keith Johnstone and Mel Tonken. LMTC has an international reputation for developing the theatrical style of improvisation and specifically the work of Keith Johnstone...
, and the World Stage Series at Harbourfront Centre
Harbourfront Centre
Harbourfront Centre is a key cultural organization on Toronto, Ontario's waterfront, situated at 235 Queen's Quay West. Established as a crown corporation in 1972 by the federal government to create a waterfront park, it became a non-profit organization in 1991. Funding comes from corporate...
in Toronto, to sold out crowds. In December 2010, the show was a sell out in NYC and received rave reviews. She also played Ellie Applebaum in the film Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium
Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium
Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium is a 2007 film written and directed by Zach Helm. The film stars Dustin Hoffman as the owner of a magical toy store, and Natalie Portman as his store employee.-Plot:...
.