SAP
By Rafaella Marcus
When a woman tells a lie to her girlfriend, a seed is planted that grows in the darkness. Now roots are cracking through the pavement and branches are coming in at the windows. As she starts to see things that no one else can, she becomes the focus of some seriously unwanted attention.
Sap is a queer urban fable about passion, power and photosynthesis.
SEPTEMBER 11 - 19, 2026
“Ovid’s transformation myth gloriously retold”— The Guardian
Artist Team:
Hera Nalam
Liz Whitbread
Elio Zarrillo - Director
Grace Morningstar - Musician & Original Composition
David Oro + Hazel Venzon - Production Design
Chase Winnicky - Intimacy Director
Zoë Leclerc-Kennedy - Stage Manager
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Producers - Mel Marginet, Derek Leenhouts, Lara Rae and Chris Sousa
This is a Canadian Actors’ Equity Association production under the Festival Policy.
Content Warning:
This production contains:
- Language
-Violence
-Sexual Content & Simulation
-Sudden loud sounds
-Drinking
Artist Bios
Hera Nalam
Hera, a true inter-disciplinary artist whose craft transcends boundaries. With a soul of endless curiosity, Hera has woven her magic within the threads of music, theater, film and fashion. Born and raised in the Philippines, Hera first came to Treaty One Territory in 2011. Hera attended the University of Winnipeg and acquired her Bachelor of Arts with Honours for Theatre and Film Performance in 2019. She wowed audiences with her charm when she first performed on school productions at university such as Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, Concord Floral and Time and The Conways (University of Winnipeg). Coming out of University, she was quick to book performances all over the city of Winnipeg in theatres including The Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, Prairie Theatre Exchange, Shakespeare in the Ruins and Manitoba Theatre for Young Audiences. She also dabbles into film and was last seen on screen on Winnipeg's hit Rom-Com of 2020, screening in over 8 theatres across Canada, I Propose We Never See Each Other Again After Tonight when she debuted on film as the lead actress. Hera received high praise from critics all over Canada including the Winnipeg Free Press, The Globe and Mail as well as the National Post. Hera’s performance also earned her a spot in iHeart Radio Ace Burpee’s list of Most Fascinating Manitobans of 2020.
Liz Whitbread
Liz Whitbread (she/her) is an actor, director, dramaturg and administrator currently based on Treaty Six in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. A graduate of the University of Winnipeg Honours: Acting Program, she is absolutely thrilled to be back in her hometown working with other queer artists on a strange, queer story. Her ultimate goal is to craft a creative career that aligns with her personal values of intersectionality, accessibility, community, joy, and challenging social norms.
Some of Liz’s notable recent acting roles include: Sara Jane Moore in Assassins (sorry/grateful theatre); Rita in Educating Rita (Persphone Theatre); Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Thomas Mowbray/The Duchess of York in Richard the Second (Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan); Lucy in A Bronte Without Genius (Planter Box Productions), for which she received a 2023/24 Saskatoon and Area Theatre Award for Excellence in Performance; and Anne de Burgh in Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley (Persephone Theatre). Love always to Kat.
Grace Morningstar
Grace Morningstar is a cellist, composer, and collaborator dedicated to advancing contemporary Canadian music. She holds a Master of Music in Cello Performance from the University of British Columbia, where she studied under renowned artists Eric Wilson and Janet Steinberg.
With a passion for celebrating and promoting new Canadian works, Grace actively partners with living composers and fellow artists to craft performances that push creative boundaries. Her versatile career spans serving as a cellist-composer for devised theatre companies, premiering commissioned works by contemporary composers, performing with professional orchestras, and contributing as a guest artist on numerous recordings.
Beyond the concert hall, Grace is a co-founder of Grace Notes Events, Niagara and Ottawa’s premier wedding string ensemble, blending artistry with exceptional service. She maintains a thriving private studio dedicated to nurturing the next generation of cellists and is also a passionate DJ, constantly exploring new sonic landscapes.
Her work can be further explored at: www.gracemorningstar.ca
Elio Zarrillo
Elio Zarrillo is a prairie-born queer who spends their days making art with and for their loved ones. Originally from Treaty 1 territory, they are currently based on the unceded lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations, having recently completed an MFA in Creative Writing & Theatre at the University of British Columbia. They work all over the country as a playwright, poet, arts educator, actor, director, and dramaturg. In addition to Sap, exciting recent prairie projects include directing an intimate backyard production of Brave Hearts by Harry S. Rintoul, and the continued development of their new play PEACHES, which will be featured at the upcoming TPM/PTE/MAP Work in Progress: A Festival of New Plays in May 2027!
Zoë is thrilled to be back working with Theatre by the River on this production of Sap. Zoë previously worked with TBTR on the Stage Management team of Fiji and inside the revolve for Constellations. Zoë mostly works as a Props Builder and Buyer for Royal MTC and Rainbow Stage, but has Stage Managed with Royal MTC, MTYP, and Manitoba Opera. Thank you to TBTR for producing engaging and queer works!
Zoë Leclerc-Kennedy
Chase Winnicky
After starring in Theatre by the Rivers highly successful production of Fiji last summer, Chase is thrilled to be back as the Intimacy Director on Sap! A proudly queer artist based here in Winnipeg, Chase has worked on countless productions across Canada and internationally as a performer and creative. His most recent credits include swinging Frozen (Globe Theatre), originating the role of Jerry in The Perfect Man (Gargoyle Theatre) and intimacy directing As You Like It (Shakespeare in the Ruins). Immediately following this rehearsal process he’ll be flying out to Edmonton to assistant direct Murder on the Orient Express (Citadel Theatre). Chase is a graduate of both Randolph College for the Performing Arts and IDC’s Intimacy Professional Accelerator Program. Thank you for supporting indie theatre! For more visit www.chasewinnicky.com
ACCESSIBILITY
Our venue is on the second floor of ArtSpace, at 100 Arthur Street. There are lifts at each staircase into the building.
Sap is performed in the round, and any seat can be removed to accommodate wheelchairs.
Bathrooms are gender neutral. An Access Script will be available, simply request it from our volunteers.
Further questions? Please connect with us at theatrebytheriver@gmail.com.
Thank you to our generous funders and sponsors for this production
