By Elaine May based on “la Cage aux Folles” by Jean Poiret
CAST
Armand Goldman - Corey Quintane (he/him)
Albert Goldman - Mat Pilgrim (he/him)
Val Goldman - Ethan Stark (he/him)
Agador - Scott Pilgrim (he/him)
Senator Keeley - Kevin Birkholz (he/him)
Mrs. Keeley - Pamela Roz (she/her)
Barbara Keeley - Sadie Kornovski (she/her)
Katharine Archer - KB Greenhill (they/them)
Birdcage Drag Ensemble:
Minokawa Song (Victor) (she/him)
Mx. Prixx (Rose) (she/they)
Nectar Sweets (Ntara) (she/her)
Yitzack Mannipples (KB) (they/them)
JULY 19TH ONLY
Titzara Friesen (Alan) (he/him)
Cyril - Nectar Sweets
Celsius - Minokawa Song
Harry Radman - Mx. Prixx / Titzara
Photographer - Nectar Sweets
Bridget - Minokawa Song
Imelda - Nectar Sweets
Chauffer - Minokawa Song
Front of House Queens:
Pictora Secrete (he/him)
&
Gloria Booths (he/him)
CREW
Director - Mitch Krohn (he/him)
Assistant Director - Scott Pilgrim (he/him)
Stage Manager - 'Chippy' (she/her)
Choreographer - Scott Pilgrim (he/him)
We acknowledge that we are gathered on ancestral lands, Treaty 1, the traditional territory of the Anishinaabeg, Inninewak, Anishinewak, Dakota Oyate and Denesuline, and the National Homeland of the Red River Métis. We acknowledge that Winnipeg’s water is sourced from Shoal Lake 40 First Nation.
We acknowledge the harms and mistakes of the past, and we recognize the injustices the Indigenous community faces today.
To support the ongoing effort to move forward in a spirit of reconciliation and collaboration, holistic healing, and the celebration of the Indigenous Arts Community, Crosswalk Production commits to donating to Ka Ni Kanichihk Inc. to further these causes. It’s an important, yet only a small part in cultivating strong relationships with Indigenous communities. We encourage you to search and discover where you can show your support for future change.
Megwhich.
Special Thanks
- Ka Ni Kanichihk Inc - For your help with our Land Acknowledgement
- Pamela Roz - our media guru. You rock!
- Cindy & Britt - our ASL interpreters
- Evan & Max - our Fringe Venue Techs
- Theresa Thompson, Laura Warren, Karen Schellenberg
Cast in Other Shows
WE'RE TEN!
How did we get here?
A brief history of Crosswalk
In 2004, Crosswalk Players began in Landmark, MB (by Scott Pilgrim), intending to provide a quality theatre experience to the Southern MB region. It started as a dinner theatre and expanded to musicals and some off-the-wall plays. It closed in 2012.
In 2015, it was resurrected, rebranded and reworked as Crosswalk Productions.
Since then, Crosswalk has tried to focus on local theatre but will still dabble with the off-the-wall production from time to time.
A MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR
Wow! It’s been 10 years since Crosswalk Productions was resurrected from Crosswalk Players (2004-2012). New focus, new leadership, new location, and new name. Crosswalk Productions has brought a mixture of quirky (When God Comes for Breakfast, Don’t Burn the Toast-2016; The Bald Soprano-2017; The Profession-2018) and local theatre (My Frozen Heart-2019, Write, Rewrite, Repeat-2022, A Work in Progress-2023). This year, Crosswalk returns to a beloved classic: The Birdcage.
This story has been a big part of my life. The 1996 movie, an adaptation of La Cage aux Folles (1973) emerged during my formative college years. I could see aspects of myself in all the characters. It helped me become the open person and ally that I am today. Plus… who can resist Robin Williams and Nathan Lane as that dynamic duo?
This will be Crosswalk’s fourth time bringing The Birdcage to the stage, (Steinbach’s Mennonite Heritage Centre-2012, Winnipeg Fringe-2015, and Pride Winnipeg-2016 and although some of the references may be outdated, the issues this show addresses are, unfortunately, still relevant 30 years after its release.
I have had a few important communities of people in my life, and the LGBTQ+ community has been one of them. As an ally, it was so important to me that we have a predominantly LGBTQ+ cast and crew for this show. I have experienced such an outpouring of love, acceptance, and support from my LGBTQ+ friends. To me, you are heroes.
I love working with this cast, and I'm happy to call them friends, and I believe that goes both ways. Today, and every day, EVERYONE is family… Enjoy the show.
MEET OUR CAST
(FIRST NAME ALPHABETICAL ORDER)
COREY QUINTAINE (he/him). This is his 7th time performing with Crosswalk Productions, and his 4th performance of The Birdcage. He has an incredible history with comedy and theatre. This Brandon University theatre graduate is a long-time alumnus of the BS Comedy Players (since 2003) and has performed with RG Productions (Fringe 2019), Mennonite Theatre (2022), and Strokes of Genius (Fringe 2024). This is a big jump for Corey from the Drag Ensemble to playing Armand.
CROSSWALK APPEARANCES:
Cabaret-2012; The Birdcage-2012, 2015, 2016, 2025; Bald Soprano-2017; Profession-2018).
ETHAN STARK (he/him). This is his 3rd time with Crosswalk Productions. Ethan is an emerging, award-winning playwright (A Work in Progress). Ethan Stark is also a director and actor. His most recent projects include Ethan in the Room at the 2024 Fringe and Sinking Ship, a staged reading at the Gargoyle Theatre. He will also perform in this year's Fringe in FanAddict. He has also been active with One Trunk Theatre, Tara Players, Dark Horse Theatre, and Strokes of Genius. Ethan is a University of Manitoba theatre graduate and Black Hole Theatre alumnus.
CROSSWALK APPEARANCES:
Write, Rewrite, Repeat-2022; Work in Progress-2023; The Birdcage-2025
KB GREENHILL (they/them). This is their 1st time with Crosswalk. KB is excited to be involved in the Winnipeg Fringe Festival again. As a Genderqueer Bisexual, loving everything queer, they were especially excited to be involved in this project. You may have seen them in previous productions such as ACK NOW, Mercury 13, Sport of the Engineer, Antigone, or The Fabulous 4.
CROSSWALK APPEARANCES:
The Birdcage-2025
KEVIN BIRKHOLZ (he/him). This is his 4th time with Crosswalk Productions. He is a long-time alumnus of the BS Comedy Players (2004-2019), so comedy is in his blood. This is a big jump for Kevin, moving from the Drag Ensemble to playing The Senator.
CROSSWALK APPEARANCES:
The Birdcage-2015, 2016, 2025; Bald Soprano-2017
MAT PILGRIM (he/him). This is his 4th time performing with Crosswalk Productions. Mat has been involved in theatre since he was 5 years old. Highlights of his theatre involvement include Les Misérables (Jean Valjean), Elf: The Musical (Buddy the Elf), and 12 Angry men (Juror #3). He has been trained in theatre at Bethany College where he majored in Performing Arts to obtain a Bachelor of Arts degree. The joy of theatre for Mat is bringing characters to life, and he hopes that this show will bring you joy and entertainment.
CROSSWALK APPEARANCES:
The Birdcage-2015, 2016 (as Armand); My Frozen Heart-2019
Celebrant - https://pilgrimceremonies.ca
Indigenous cultural sensitivity training - https://bravingthehealing.com
MINOKAWA SONG (Victor) (he/him; she/her). This is Minokawa’s 1st time with Crosswalk Productions. Minokawa Song is a Filipino drag artist and performer living in Treaty 1 territory. Though new to the drag scene, she is no stranger to the stage! Coming from a background of both theatre and cosplay, her anime-inspired style touches on all the fun parts of self-expression, and she can't wait to share it with you!
CROSSWALK APPEARANCES:
The Birdcage-2025
MX. PRIXX (Rose) (she/they). This is Prixx’s 1st time with Crosswalk Productions. Prixx has been in a few out-of-town productions but is eager for their first crosswalk production show! They are a local cosplayer, dancer, drag performer and tattooist. Following whatever brings them joy, Mx. Prixx is always ready to bring the silly.
CROSSWALK APPEARANCES:
The Birdcage-2025
NECTAR SWEETS (Ntara) (she/her). This is her 1st time with Crosswalk Productions. She has a well-accomplished resume for both on-stage and backstage work; this is her first drag appearance. A new look and a new persona bring a new, exciting experience. She has been a delight to work with since day one.
CROSSWALK APPEARANCES:
The Birdcage-2025
PAMELA ROZ (she/her). This is her 6th time with Crosswalk Productions. With a lifelong love of performing, she is also a long-standing performer with her family’s theatre company, North Kildonan Community Players, and a repeat performer with BS Comedy Players.
You can hear Pamela on KiSS 102.3, Monday to Friday, 9am to 1pm.
CROSSWALK APPEARANCES:
The Brain from Planet X-2011; Birdcage-2012, 2015, 2016 (as Barbara), 2025; When God Comes to Breakfast, Don’t Burn the Toast-2016
SADIE KORNOVSKI (she/her). This is her 1st time with Crosswalk Productions. Sadie is a local actor and a clown at heart. Her fringe debut was in 2024’s The Ethan in the Room, and she is thrilled to join Crosswalk for her second round. She is a University of Manitoba theatre graduate and Black Hole Theatre alumnus.
CROSSWALK APPEARANCES:
The Birdcage-2025
SCOTT PILGRIM (he/him). This is Scott’s…well…millionth time with Crosswalk Productions. He was the Artistic Director of Crosswalk Players (2004-2012). This is his first time back with Crosswalk since their 2012 Fringe hit, Cabaret, in which he starred as the Emcee. Since his debut in the Fringe in 2002, when he first teamed up with Mitch, he has been active with numerous theatre companies. His stage appearances have been few and far between since 2012. Mostly, Scott has spent his time happily married to Mat, gardening, and spending time with his puppies, Scooby and Scrappy. Mitch is extremely thankful to team up with Scott again (We got some history there).
CROSSWALK APPEARANCES:
EVERYTHING-2004-2012; The Birdcage-2012 (Director), 2025
YITZACK MANNIPPLES (KB) (All Dude, Baby!). This is Yitzack’s 1st time with Crosswalk Productions. This Croatian playboy is returning to Winnipeg for this special production. Yitzack is thrilled to jive and grind for you.
CROSSWALK APPEARANCES:
The Birdcage-2025
PICTORIA SECRETE (he/him) & GLORIA BOOTHS (he/him). This is their 2nd time with Crosswalk Productions. They have been respected pillars in the Winnipeg Drag Community for 20 years! They have taken their fabulousness across our great country and around the globe (Picky & Glory take France)! Since becoming friends with Picky & Glory, they have been beacons of positivity and inclusion. They are wonderful! We’re so blessed to have gotten to know them. Life is better with Picky & Glory as part of your life.
CROSSWALK APPEARANCES:
The Birdcage-2015, 2025
ALAN FEHR (he/him). Alan will be a special guest for ONE SHOW (July 19) as Titzara Friesen (a drag persona in ALL our Birdcage performances). This is Alan’s 2nd time with Crosswalk Productions. Alan is a Fringe veteran, and you can see him this year at The Naked Mennonite. A local actor, who has been creating theatre in Manitoba’s SE region for 15 years, he’s here with a brief stop on his second countrywide Canadian Fringe circuit.
CROSSWALK APPEARANCES:
Clue-2011; The Birdcage-2025
MEET OUR CREW
(FIRST NAME ALPHABETICAL ORDER)
CHIPPY (she/her). This is her 1st time with Crosswalk Productions. She is respected professionally and personally. An accomplished stage manager who has worked with North Kildonan Community Players (since 2008), Strokes of Genius (2024), and multiple Fringe shows. Chippy is a trusted member of this crew and brings a wealth of insight, and energy. Because of her private nature, you can’t find a picture of her is anywhere (so don’t even try…she’ll kill you). The profile pic is the best AI can generate (if you know, you know) - Love her!
CROSSWALK APPEARANCES:
The Birdcage-2025
MITCH KROHN (he/him). Mitch is the current Artistic Director of Crosswalk Productions. He has been part of Crosswalk since 2005, when it was Crosswalk Players (2004-2012). In 2015, Mitch reworked it as Crosswalk Productions. This is his 4th time with the Birdcage (as Albert in 2012, 2015, 2016). He is one of the co-founders of Strokes of Genius Sketch Comedy, a playwright, improv coach, and has taught a University Theatre Ensemble course. Mitch has been performing on stage for over 40 years (crazy to think). He has acted across Canada and internationally. He was an active writer and Artistic Director for BS Comedy Players and is a 20+ year performer with the Crosseyed Rascals improv troupe. He is overjoyed to be working with a lot of his friends, and the new friends he has made during this production.
REVIEWS
THE WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
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The daughter (Sadie Kornovski) of an ultra-conservative senator (Kevin Birkholz) and his status-obsessed wife (Pamela Roz) falls in love with the scion (Ethan Stark) of drag-club proprietors (Mat Pilgrim and Corey Quintane) in this wildly enjoyable, well-cast staging of Elaine May’s treatment of La Cage Aux Folles. This is the fourth time Crosswalk has returned to the Goldmans’ club in South Beach, but the production, directed by Mitch Krohn, still feels as fresh, topical and crowd-pleasing as ever.
As the extravagant Albert, Pilgrim alone is worth the price of admission, playing the role with the self-pity of 30 Rock’s Jenna Maroney while playing up his height to rewarding ends. Ditto for Albert’s manservant Agador, whose Harvey Fierstein growl and toddling saunter are enough to send you spilling into the aisles and asking for seconds of sweet-and-sour peasant soup.
— Ben Waldman
Let me start by saying that I haven’t laughed this hard in a long time. The acting in this show was superb. The different ways that certain characters pretend to be straight at points had me absolutely in stitches, and even the over-the-top personalities (looking at you, Albert) had such genuine heart and connection within the show that they all felt REAL, no matter how silly their behaviour seemed. As someone who struggles a lot with second-hand embarrassment, I was also blown away by how well the conflict was handled. It felt like it was building toward a much more uncomfortable-to-watch climax, but it was pure loveliness from start to finish. Incredible. Absolutely incredible. Particular shout outs to Scott, Matt, and Corey. I could watch another five hours of interactions between their characters in various situations and it would still feel like it ended too soon.
- Jordan
Filling a stage with queer joy, not only in content, but in company was ambitiously orchestrated for Crosswalk Productions 10th year. A slight remount from their past production based on the 1996 film has mostly (unfortunately) kept relevant.
Audiences were enthusiastically captivated and clearly were excited to see each scene and hear every line. I found the chorus of queens, kings and everything in between to be an exciting element for the large cast, but also for transitions on a Fringe budget.
If you are searching for comedy, heart and a dose of unapologetic queer joy…venture to Venue 6.
- Stephanie
I loved this show so much that I saw it twice! I loved the movie from the 90s and enjoyed this stage production of it. The actors portraying Albert, Armand, and Agador are especially hilarious, but the whole ensemble is great. 5 stars.
- SBunny
Great performances all around!
I did not know this was adapted from a film, and I’m glad I started with this play version actually, because they were all fantastic. Loved every character. It took me a bit of time to piece together what was happening though, but once I caught on, it was purely entertaining and engaging.
- Ena
The Birdcage was such a treat! Incredible acting and loved the humour. Standout performances from all the actors, incredible stage chemistry and comedic timing.
- Mari
A Five Star show! Last night was a sell-out so get your tickets early! I have been going to and involved in Fringe shows for many years. I do not think I have ever laughed so hard for so long! In fact, my stomach hurt! The performances by the three leads, Mat Pilgrim (Albert), Corey Quintaine (Armand) and Scott Pilgrim (agadar Spartacus) were absolutely amazing. The audience roared with laughter every time Scott made any movement on stage. They were supported by a funny, outstanding cast. Most of the audience knows the story they were telling but this production directed brilliantly directed by Mitch Krohn did a wonderful job telling it. The buzz of the audience after the show demonstrated how well they had done. This is definitely a “Do Not Miss” show! Congratulations to everyone involved both on and backstage!
- Laurie
When a film is adapted directly to stage, it is hard not to compare the adaptation directly to the source material. And while no-one can match the magic created by Robin Williams and Nathan Lane in that film, this cast does a remarkable job – with the actors playing Albert and Agador being particularly inspired. All the proper beats and jokes are there and land as they should, though some of the dancing in the drag show segments is a bit unpolished. Still well worth seeing if you want a good laugh!
- Gilles
Welcome to the Birdcage!
This adaptation did not disappoint. Mat Pilgrim was a standout, his performance channeled Nathan Lane with flair, bringing the right dose of dramatics and charisma to the stage. He was truly the showstopper. The drag queens added a joyful, energetic presence! While some of the vulgar language felt excessive and a few moments seemed designed purely for shock value, the overall experience was delightful. The dancing and jokes, made for an entertaining afternoon at the Fringe. Congratulations to everyone involved both on and backstage!
- Chelsea
The most fun I’ve had in ages at Fringe! If you’re familiar with the story, you won’t be disappointed! Albert steals the show, but every character is well cast. Its 90 minutes of nonstop laughter! Highly recommend!
- JD
Absolutely fantastic!
My abs hurt from how much I laughed.
The cast was incredible, and I couldn’t imagine better people in the roles.
Awesome job!
- Kay