Board of Directors

The Swamp Donkey Musical Theatre Society is run by a Board of Directors comprised of volunteers who are elected at our Annual General Meeting in the fall. Meet our Directors for the 2023-2025 seasons!

Founder & President: Trisha Gizen

Trisha is a long-time resident of Bragg Creek. In her youth, she was involved in community musical theatre and recognized the benefits performing arts provide to both participants and the greater community. She founded the Swamp Donkey Musical Theatre Society in order to provide musical theatre performance and educational opportunities in Bragg Creek. In addition to her volunteer work with Swamp Donkey Musical Theatre, she is an avid community volunteer and has served on a number of volunteer boards in the community including the Redwood Meadows Community Association, the Bragg Creek Community Association, and the Banded Peak School Council. Trisha earned a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Alberta.

Vice President: Mackenzie Walsh

Treasurer: Gordon Baux

Gordon became actively involved in the theatre community by following his wife and children’s the love of music and theatre. Gord’s previous served on boards of Storybook Theatre and Cochrane Minor Hockey.

Secretary: Gemma Mousley

Director: Jason Evans

Director: Trevor Scott Milford

Trevor has a PhD (Carleton University) and MA (University of Ottawa) in Criminology and joins Swamp Donkey from Canmore, where he works as an Evaluation Manager with Indigenous Services Canada.

Director: Melissa Wang Jackson

Melissa Wang Jackson is a lyric soprano, and sings with Calgary Opera, in the chorus and in roles such as Barbarina in the Marriage of Figaro, Sister Catherine in Dead Man Walking, the Page in Rigoletto, and Shepherd Boy in Tosca. With Cowtown Opera company, highlights include First Lady in The Magic Flute, Miss McLennan in the world premiere opera Annie Davidson, Bottle, in the North American premiere of Will Todd’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, and Donna Anna in Who Killed Don G?. Melissa loves being a part of the Swamp Donkey Musical Theatre Society, and played Mary in the 3-woman musical, Vanities- The Musical and Hannah in The Spitfire Grill Musical.

Melissa enjoys performing as a guest soloist with choirs and orchestras, including Kantorei, the Dutch Canadian Choir, the German Men’s Choir, VoiceScapes, the Calgary Civic Symphony, and Rocky Mountain Symphony Orchestra. Melissa sings with Festive Voices, a Christmas Quartet every winter and sings for services at McInnis and Holloway Funeral Homes.

Melissa believes strongly in the importance of arts in the community. She volunteers regularly, often in a fundraising role, for arts organizations. She is proud to be on the Swamp Donkey Musical Theatre Society board and is a board member of the Rocky Mountain Symphony Orchestra Society. Last year, she cofounded the Nightingale Arts Collective, which is an inclusive, creative, and collaborative community for performing artists in Calgary.