MERGE

Jean-Michel Cliche (he/him) is a theatre artist of Lebanese and French-settler descent. He is passionate, intuitive and resourceful. After almost a decade of being involved with Solo Chicken shows, He is now the Associate Artistic Director of Solo Chicken Productions. His favourite things to do at work are teaching improv and fight direction (but grant writing is okay too!). He loves playing games of all kinds, including video games, board games, and tabletop roleplaying games.

Raúl Márquez Gaitán is a theatre artist, contemporary dancer and educator born in Seville, Spain. Raúl studied theatre at School of Dramatic Arts in Seville, contemporary dance at Andalusian Dance Centre and has a Major in dance from SEAD (Salzburg Experimental Academy of Dance). He has performed as an actor and dancer in numerous companies and projects along Europe (Spain, Austria, Wales, UK...). Raúl has over 12 years of experience working as a contemporary dance teacher in Danza Mobile, an art centre for people with intellectual disabilities in Seville. He strongly believes in the power of art to improve the life of everybody and the power of chocolate ice cream to turn over a bad day.

Veronica Grondin is a diligent, romantic, bright, and calm performing artist. She has been a part of many musicals such as Mamma Mia, Grease, Cinderella, and Les Miserables. She has also been a part of two touring shows with the Spirit Project, We Are Luminous and Hearts Above Us. She equally loves her family, pizza pockets, and singing her heart out. Her favorite movie is Frozen and the quote “You can’t marry a man you just met” (Elsa) really tickles her. She wants you all to know that she is over-the-moon excited about Frozen 3 coming in 2026.

Sydney Hallett (she/her) is an energetic, enthusiastic dance and theatre artist based in Fredericton, NB. She currently works as a musical theatre Choreographer at St. Thomas University and Theatre New Brunswick’s Theatre School, as well as working as an independent actor and dancer. She has been working and training with Solo Chicken Productions since 2017, recently acting in their production of Fruit Machine, and is excited to now be a MERGE artist! She likes adventure, warm sunny patios, and has been known to enjoy some space fantasy.

Kaylee MacNeil (she/her) is an actor, makeup artist, and facilitator who loves drinking Dave Mathews and getting caught in the rain. She is an honest, charismatic, and tenacious artist-type who loves the beach, ice cream, and camping in the highlands of Cape Breton island. She studied fine arts and dramatic literature at St. Thomas University and has been a part of the Solo Chicken team since aiding in the launch of the Spirit Project in 2019. You may have seen her face recently in productions like Hearts Above Us (Solo Chicken Productions), Much Ado About Nothing, or Mr. Information (Black Box Productions). Kaylee is passionate about accessibility in arts, vibrant colours, and her family- especially her two cats; Miss Bliss and Baby.

New Brunswick based artist, Cass MaZ (she/her) is a determined, resilient, hard working, maybe hilarious, visual artist and budding comedian. She dabbles in all kinds of mediums from acrylic to alcohol inks, but lately her favorite is gouache. Cass goes to church and attends some Bible studies, gets to the gym two times a week, does improv and stand up, attends a local market on the weekend as a vendor and has been a volunteer with The Spirit Project and L’Arche since 2022. She is a graduate of the New Brunswick College of Craft & Design, has been featured in the magazine 'Created Here' and has done stand-up at Maybee’s Brewery and York County Cider. Cass wants to share that MERGE is propelling her forward and ‘melting her icy heart’.

Lisa Anne Ross (she/her) is funny, lively and determined and believes in ‘holding on tightly and letting go lightly’. She is a theatre artist who loves to explore new ways of working and is the founder and Artistic Producer of Solo Chicken Productions. When she isn’t working on cool theatre projects you can find her skiing, going to the gym, reading great books and eating yummy food. She loves her family and friends, and she is jazzed to be working with the MERGE artists creating magic.

Jeffrey Saunders (he/him) is charming, intelligent and laid back. Jeffrey was A Member Of Act One Pickering-Ontario Community Living For 2 And A Half To 3 Years Where He Performed: High School Musical (Troy Bolton), Grease (Danny Zuko), The Polar Express (A Kid On The Train) And (Almost Mamma Mia) (Harry). His Favorite Movie Is Home Alone. His Favorite Food Is Pizza. He Loves Acting And He Loves His Family And Friends.

Kyra Thomas (she/her) resonates with the Taylor Swift quote “I got this music in my mind saying it’s gonna be alright”. She is an awesome and cute artist who loves to paint, draw, act, sing, and dance. Kyra has been a member of the Spirit Project since September 2021 and has performed in its latest touring show, Hearts Above Us. In her spare time, Kyra likes watching Barbie movies, eating pizza, and hanging out with her roommate, Annie and her best friend, Chianne.