MERGE

INNOVATION.

COLLABORATION.

ACCESS.

All photos by Kelly Baker Photography

A new Solo Chicken Productions initiative where artists with & without intellectual and/or physical disabilities and Autism create and build a new creative language and way of working.

ABOUT
MERGE

MERGE, is a group of professional artists with and without intellectual and/or physical disabilities, Autism and/or dual diagnosis, whose creative goals are to train, share skills and build a new innovative creative language. Created to ‘merge’ the two connected but often separate ‘wings’ of our company, creation and community arts.

MERGE explores the power of access to foster innovative creative work.

MERGE asks the question, “What creative innovations occur when we train, create and perform with access as the guiding principal?”

MERGE was designed to create Real Work for Real Pay* for artists who have been traditionally excluded from the employment sector. All our artists are paid equally and hired because they are the right person for the job.

* The phrases “real work” and “real work for real pay” are used as part of ongoing national and international movements in support of inclusive employment and is foundational to Article 27 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities of which Canada is a signatory. For more information see pages 3 and 15 of Michael J. Prince “Inclusive Employment for Canadians with Disabilities” http://irpp.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/study-no60.pdf

Meet the Team

Jean-Michel Cliche

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.
Veronica Grondin

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, Les Miserables and Magic Beans: The Musical. She has also been a part of two touring shows with the Spirit Project, We Are Luminous and Hearts Above Us. Veronica is the co-instructor for SCP’s Spirit Project Junior at Fredericton High School. 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

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

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.
Lisa Anne Ross

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

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). Jeffrey played Kevin the Pirate in Solo Chicken’s Magic Beans: The Musical. His Favorite Movie Is Home Alone. His Favorite Food Is Pizza. He Loves Acting And He Loves His Family And Friends.
Kyra Thomas

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 touring show Hearts Above Us and Magic Beans: The Musical. In her spare time, Kyra likes watching Barbie movies, eating pizza, and hanging out with her best friend, Chianne.