The Gate Theater Group Members
Robert E. Young Associate Producer/Actor
I was born in western Pennsylvania about 20 miles north of Pittsburgh the first of five children to middle class working parents. I have been involved in the performing arts since the age of 13 mostly behind the scenes.
While still in elementary school I received voice lessons for music and by high school was a noted soloist in both church and school choirs. I was chaired 12 out of 154 tenors in the Pennsylvania State choir in 1975 and toured locally with the Ambridge Area High School choir which performed throughout the state. I developed an interest in electronic sound production and drama in High School and was president of the Audio/Visual Club (notoriously known as; “King of the Geeks”) and responsible for lighting and sound for High School productions, which were conducted 4 times a year.
By my senior year I had become president of the Drama Club and was acting in local productions. Early in my teens I developed an interest in writing, especially poetry and had several of my writings published in my hometown newspaper between 1972 and 1976. This became my forte and at the end of high school I wanted to pursue a career as a writer despite pressure from friends to start a singing career. I befriended a local talent agent but then made a decision to escape … into the Navy. I made my acting debut in 1975 as “the Professor” in a High School production of “South Pacific” and fueled by this production and an insatiable desire to write short stories, I decided I would travel the world and experience all that I could, especially of Asia which I thought would be totally different from what living in America had been.
To the surprise of all who knew me then, I enlisted in the U.S. Navy, where I remained for the next 23 years. While in the Navy I have lived and traveled extensively throughout most of Southeast Asia, and including living in Thailand for the past 8 years, have lived in this part of the world 25 years. But I couldn’t get away from performing. In 1977, as a member of the Navy’s Blue-Jackets Choir I was a billed soloist on tour and performed for standing room only audiences throughout the Midwest and Northern U.S. In 1978, I found myself living an adventure in Japan where I spent significant time in off-duty education receiving college credits in Computer Science.
I grew restless, and contemplated a career in the State Department pursuing studies in foreign languages; Indonesian, Malay, Filipino and Mandarin Chinese. I was given duties as Ship’s Interpreter for 14 years. Near the end of my career, while stationed in Japan for the second time, a local theater group sprang up. I auditioned and was accepted as a member of the Yokohama Theater Group, a small amateur theater group with a Japanese/American mixture of 27 people. I contributed both as sound and lighting operator and actor. At the close of my military service I happened to visit Chiang Mai and decided I’d like to retire here.
At first I enjoyed my new found free time but after a few years became bored sitting in front of the T.V. I began working as an English teacher in a small, private school where I have been teaching about 3 years now. I never expected to work in theater again but a close friend urged me to consider an internet advertisement for a stage production; “The Dodo Bird”. Curious but skeptical I met Stephan Turner and worked behind the scenes as an assistant, to see what direction his dream would go. After its first successful run, Stephan asked me to partner with him and 2 other teachers and the Gate Theater Group was born.
Stephan’s dream of creating Chiang Mai’s first English Language theater group is a dream I share. My original skepticism has given way to complete enthusiasm. Like Stephan, I believe that quality theater can be produced in Chiang Mai. This city continues to grow both commercially and as a major center for the arts and attracts thousands of tourists and expats each year. The emotional outlet of performing in theater is a unique experience both behind the scenes and in front of an audience. Being involved in The Gate Theater Group is very rewarding and I feel privileged to be able to contribute to the Chiang Mai community and the arts.
Naveen Qayyum (Publicist/Graphic Artist)
Naveen is a communicator from Pakistan. She is a postgraduate in media studies and had been working for NGOs and media organization for human right projects. She also freelances on social justice issue, people’s movements and dialogue for print media.
She is currently based in Chiang Mai carrying out research for her documentary film project on interreligious dialogue and Muslim immigrant communities in Europe, which is a continuation of her first documentary film Talking Faith www.talkingfaith.org.
She will begin production on her second film in May 2009 in the Netherlands. Naveen has also served as Assistant Director and Stage Manager for The Gate Theater Group’s production of The Gin Game during the summer of 2008.
Joyce Matchett (Associate Director)
I was born and schooled inMinneapolis, Minnesota. My artistic side developedthrough writing children stories I called,"Grandma Stories", while sailing around the Mediterraneanfor 3 years.
Later,while living in Oaxaca, Mexico and being surrounded by known artist, inspired me to try painting. My medium was in oils and to this day, continue to enjoy painting. My first connection with theater was at the age of around 7 when I put on a play about Cowboys and Indians and charged the neighbor kids 1 cent to see it.
Now, 60 years later, I find myself at full circle. Thanks to the Gate Theater and Stephan Turner, I will be helping to keep live theater active in Chiang Mai, hopefully for years to come.
Angelica Gozar Magpantay (Property Manager)
ca was born in
Batangas City, Philippines. “Lyka” settled in Chiang Mai, Thailand last
November 2007. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Office Administration
from Divine World College of Calapan (DWCC), in Oriental Mindoro (Philippines)
where she was active in college theater specializing in local cultural
productions.
She began participating theater at the age of 14 where she performed with Divine Word Missionaries, showcasing different cultures, religion and tradition from different races around the world.
Her credits include “Bahay”, choreographer for a speech choir “The Congo” and a stage monologue of “Sisa” from Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not). She has also performed musically and now one of the pioneer of the Filipino chorale group “Seventh String”. Strange Snow is her first venture into community theater. “I love the group so much!” she said recently. “I’m looking forward of working to more productions with The Gate Theater.”
Lauren Whitehead (Graphics Artist)
Lauren is a recent graduate of Princeton University with an AB degree in
Spanish & Portuguese Languages and Cultures and certificates in Near
Eastern Studies, Latin American Studies, and Theater& Dance newly received
from Princeton's Lewis Center for the Arts. She has a knack for language
and a thirst for new cultures which have led her to Chiang Mai for the year as
a teacher of English language and dramatic literature at Payap University.
In the past, she has worked extensively in, under, behind, and above the
theater as a playwright, actress, dancer, director, stage manager, and the
occasional stint as a techie. While at Princeton, she was artistic director of
the Princeton Shakespeare Company and publicity director for the Black Arts
Theater: Drama Company, and performed/wrote/directed/assisted with over 30
shows and performances. In January 2009, she wrote, directed, and
co-produced a fantasy drama and dance fusion piece entitled "The Beat is
Sweet: La Memoria de un Sueno Quebrado," delving into the poetry, prose,
and plays of Langston Hughes and Federico Garcia Lorca. In 2006, she
interned with the Scena Theater in Washington, DC, working as a Publicity and Promotions
intern. She looks forward to an exploratory year behind the scenes at The
Gate!
Wan Mornkan (Scenic Artist/Box office)
Wan is originally from Kalasin, Thailand. She is a founding member of The Gate Theater Group and has been Box Office Manager and Scenic Artist helping to create sets for The Dodo Bird, The Gin Game, The Eight Reindeer Monologues, and Strange Snow.