Below are a list of all the incredible judges we’ve had at Monologue Slam.
Adrian Colussi – Writer/ Producer/ Director
Adrian Colussi is a Writer/Director/Producer based in Toronto. He worked as Story Editor and Writer on prime time sitcoms The Jane Show (Global/Shaw), and ‘da Kink In My Hair (Global/Shaw). He helped create MTV Canada’s flagship entertainment show, E2, and was Head Writer. He was a Senior Writer for Newsworld International. He also wrote hundreds of monologues for CBC’s long running interstitial program performed by international celebrity guest hosts.
Born March 31st in Wrexham, North Wales, UK, and with Barbados heritage, Adrian Holmes, the eldest of three boys, grew up in Vancouver and now makes Vancouver and Los Angeles his home.
In 2010, Holmes appeared opposite Halle Berry as her love interest Clifton in the feature film “Frankie and Alice.” The film, which had a limited release, went on to be nominated for a Golden Globe and win two NAACP Image Awards including Best Film.
Aisha Porter-Christie – Writer/ Producer/ Director
Aisha Porter-Christie spent her formative years in rural Jamaica – drawing stick figure comics and writing pop star fan-fiction. She’s come a long way since then. A graduate of Ryerson University’s RTA School of Media, and Columbia University’s Film MFA program, she has worked in various areas of the entertainment industry and her award-winning short films have screened at festivals worldwide. As a television writer, her credits include the critically acclaimed sci-fi drama ORPHAN BLACK, FRANKIE DRAKE MYSTERIES, SHADOWHUNTERS, RANSOM and BRIARPATCH. She is also Supervising Producer and writer on the Netflix series THE GIRLS ON THE BUS.
Amanda Rosenthal – Agent
Amanda Rosenthal has been passionately representing actors for almost 15 years. In May of 2000, she opened the doors to her own agency, Amanda Rosenthal Talent Agency, Inc. Since then the agency has grown to include an office in Montreal, and an amazing team of agents. Always keeping a small and very selective roster has allowed her to focus on managing and nurturing the careers of her clients in Canada and the US. As a result, the ART Agency has become one of the most prestigious agencies in Canada with internationally recognized clients.
Amber Mackereth – Actor
Amber is trained actor, dancer and singer. She is a 2x Toronto Monologue Slam Champion. She recently performed in the smash hit “Becoming Burlesque,” which premiered at the 2015 Fringe Festival in Toronto. Her film appearances include Chicago (2002), Behind Closed Doors (2008) and At Lunchtime: A Story of Love (2011).
Andrea Kenyon – Casting Director
In the late 1970’s, Andrea began to work her way up in the casting business starting out as a Casting Assistant for Montreal film projects produced by Astral Films. In 1989, she launched Andrea Kenyon & Associates to provide casting services with the distinct stamp of her vision and personality. In 1993, Andrea teamed with, her longtime friend, and Fine Arts Major, Randi Wells. Since then, casting feature films, television movies and series, they have had the opportunity to work with several prominent Canadian & American Directors, Producers, and Studios. In 2004, Andrea, along with two of her peers, was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Casting for a Miniseries for ‘THE REAGANS’. In 2011, Andrea & Randi won their first Gemini Award, after three nominations, for the Casting of the 3rd Season of the Canadian television series ‘DURHAM COUNTY’.
Ashely Hallihan – Casting Director
Ashley Hallihan is an established Casting Director with her fingers on the pulse of the Toronto film industry, with projects spanning feature films, television, music videos, commercials, and everything in between.
Ashley has taken Hallihan Casting from ‘local upstart’ to ‘trusted Toronto mainstay’ over the past several years, having earned the trust of the film community through both her talent expertise and commitment to collaboration. Covering much more than merely sourcing talent, Hallihan Casting matches the right people with the right projects, advising beyond the audition room and developing the trusting relationship inherent in taking any project from concept to screen.
Ashley invests herself fully in every aspect of the industry, working with creatives to find their ideal project and assisting them as they realize their vision. Be it serving as a juror at the Canadian Screen Awards or producing her own projects independently (such as the Award-Winning short film “Next Stop”), Ashley prides herself on being aware and abreast of any up-and-coming talent, in every corner of the business.
Anne Mroczkowski – Actor
Anne Mroczkowski is a Canadian TV reporter and news anchor. She is the former co-anchor of Global News Hour, along with Leslie Roberts.
She is a Gemini-award winning television journalist, beginning her career at Global TV, then moving on to Citytv’s CityNews (formerly CityPulse) newscast inToronto.
Annie is also a successful actor who’s done commercials, voice overs and most recently a role in Ricky Gervais’ new Netflix film “Special Correspondents”
Bryan Misener – Agent
Bryan Misener is an agent at The Characters Talent Agency, the largest agency in Canada, which has been in business for over 40 years. Bryan has been there for almost 16 years, which means he started working there when he was 12. Originally from Winnipeg, Bryan moved to Toronto to pursue an acting career. After forays in to Second City, stand-up, writing and performing Fringe shows, commercials and bad MOW’s, he realized he would be happier on the business side of ” the biz”. He is fortunate to represent some of the best actors in the country, with lead roles in feature films, series (both live action and animation) and theatre. He likes to brag. A lot.
Carly Granovsky – Casting Director
A Montreal native, Carly Granovsky graduated from McGill University with a Bachelor’s degree in Education. Her strong interest in storytelling led her to enroll in acting workshops at the Edgemar Center for the Arts as well as the Meisner technique under Jacqueline McClintock. She gained considerable experience casting short films and working as a casting assistant for The Montreal Casting Company. After assisting some of the leading Canadian Casting Directors, Carly relocated to Toronto and set up the eponymous Carly Granovsky Casting.
Carly has a keen eye and an intuitive sense when it comes to finding talent. With nine years of experience casting films, television, and commercials, she brings her unique perspective and sharply honed vision to each project. Carly uses her creativity and ability to draw out genuine and authentic audition performances to bring one’s vision to life. Sought after for her expertise and dedication, Carly is known to elevate productions by discovering and developing exceptional and diverse casting.
Candice Elzinga – Casting Director
Candice is a four-time Emmy nominee, based in Vancouver. Candice has been responsible for casting some of the leading feature films, television series, and MOWs shot in Western Canada. A trained actor, with a BFA in acting from the University of Alberta, Candice brings a profound understanding of the acting process to her work. Boasting a keen eye for new talent, she has earned a reputation for her in-depth knowledge of the Canadian acting community, as well as her knack for bringing a fresh, innovative eye to the projects she casts.
Carmen Kotyk – Casting Director
Carmen Kotyk is an award winning Casting Director who has garnered a reputation for casting excellence within Canada and abroad. Her recent credits include Grudge Reboot (Sony Pictures, Ghost House Pictures) Run (Lionsgate), Channel Zero (Universal) and A Dog’s Journey (Amblin, Universal).
Carmen opened up The Abby in February of 2018 with the intention of “upping the game in Winnipeg” while providing a familiar space for the acting community to flourish. One of her first jobs in Winnipeg was a television series which was mandated to cast as many Manitoba actors as possible. She rose to that challenge, casting in excess of 170 MB actors over the course of the 22 episode series which in turn grew the local talent base to what we see today.
Carmen Kotyk is the only Professional working in Canada who has cast extensively in every market in the country and has been a member of the Casting Directors Society of Canada since 2000.
Chantria Tram – Creative Director
Chantria is an actress, acting coach and speaker. She was awarded a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre from Concordia University.
Chantria has taught at Concordia University, at the Sears Ontario Drama Festival, Downsview Secondary School, the Young People’s Theatre in Toronto and was awarded artist in residence at the Oral History and Digital Storytelling Centre in Montreal, leading an unprecedented joint community-University project. She has worked with participants from various backgrounds and experience; Undergraduate, Graduate and PHD students, youths, career councilors, career and life coaches, IT professionals, therapists, event planners and people in the creative field such as directors, actors and producers.
Charles Roy – Artistic Director, Co-Founder of The Classical Theatre Project
Charles is a director, writer, and producer who co-founded and is the Artistic Director of The Classical Theatre Project – Canada’s fastest growing producer of classical theatre. Through CTP, Charles’ productions have garnered Dora nominations, six North American 40-city tours and a total audience of well over a million people.
One of Canada’s leading young theatre artists, Charles has also established a freelance career, directing and producing over 100 productions for such companies as Pleiades Theatre, Mirvish Productions, the World Stage Festival and many others. In 2015, he signed a two-picture deal with Netflix, optioned a screenplay with Warner Brothers, and signed a multi-film deal with Stephan Shelansky and Unreal Media (creator of TV’s Spartacus, etc.).
Cheryl Nembhard – Playwright, Speaker, Actor, Author and Songwriter
As a Playwright, Director, Producer and Composer, Cheryl has dedicated her life to presenting God’s love in creative, cutting edge and bold ways. Her Gospel Musical ‘My Brothers Keeper’ which focuses on child molestation & abuse, debuted at the prestigious Music Hall in Toronto.
Former Artistic Director for Toronto City Mission, developing arts programs for at risk youth, Cheryl has now taken on a global focus as she and her Executive team have now begun the ground work to launch ‘My Sisters Keeper’-a Missions initiative that will raise funds and awareness for Women and Children suffering across the globe. She recently won the Award of Excellence Humanitarian award in Toronto, recognizing her efforts.
Clé Bennett is a two-time Gemini award winning actor, known mostly for his outstanding performances in the mini-series Guns and in the HBO series The Line. The versatile performer’s credits range from international features such as Barney’s Version; to television hits Shattered, and Lost Girl; to animated programs, including the Total Drama Island franchise, and various other voice over work. Most recently, Clé can be seen starring in the fourth season of CTV’s hit drama Flashpoint, as Rafik Rousseau. This January makes his professional theatre debut on the Soulpepper stage, as he takes on the challenge of playing four characters in Ins Choi’s Kim’s Convenience, directed by Weyni Mengesha.
David Sparrow – Actor, Writer, Producer, President of ACTRA Toronto
An actor, writer and producer, David Sparrow’s career began in 1990 with Toronto’s The Second City. Since then he has appeared in over 100 film and TV roles, including Serendipity, Star Trek Voyager, 16 Blocks and Corner Gas, and has worked with dozens of household names, including Julie Andrews, Bruce Willis, Christopher Plummer and Richard Gere. He has been featured in dozens of TV commercials, radio spots and many cartoons.
An award winning writer, he has written radio & TV spots, short and feature films, sketch comedy, stand-up, a children’s book, corporate websites and content for CBC Radio and CITY TV. As a director and producer, he has three short films, a feature, commercials and a number of corporate/industrial projects to his credit.
David Rotenberg – Teacher/Director
David Rotenberg has been a master acting teacher for over 20 years. He has directed on Broadway, in many major regional theatres, for television, and he has published six novels, including the Zhong Fong detective series, all of which are available at your local bookstore or online. The series is in the process of being optioned for film.
David has taught at York University, the National Theatre School of Canada, the Shanghai Theatre Academy, the University of Cape Town, and Princeton. He regularly teaches professional classes in Montreal, Vancouver and Halifax. He directed the first Canadian play in the People’s Republic of China.
Dean Armstrong is an actor and coach for performers in Film + TV. Some of his clients include Nina Dobrev (THE VAMPIRE DIARIES), Miley Cyrus (HANNAH MONTANA), Devon Bostick (THE 100), Kevin O’leary (SHARK TANK), Marshall Williams (GLEE), Cristine Prosperi (DEGRASSI: TNG), Jacqueline MacInnes Wood (THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL) and Daytime Emmy winner Brittany Allen (ALL MY CHILDREN).
Founder and School Director of Armstrong Acting Studios and creator of ActEd Online, Dean also serves as a screen test advisor, pre-production and on-set acting coach for various networks and feature film production companies including NBC, SHOWTIME, DISCOVERY + PARAMOUNT PICTURES.
Deirdre Bowen – Casting Director
Deirdre Bowen is an experienced casting director, whose credits include Baron Von Sketch Show, hit comedy Kim’s Convenience, Departure, Little Dog, Caught and The Kennedys After Camelot.
Diane Kerbel – Casting Director
Diane Kerbel is a veteran casting director, whose credits include Murdoch Mysteries, World Without End, The L.A. Complex, The Thing, Too Late to Say Goodbye and numerous others.
Eion is known for his performances in the critically acclaimed HBO miniseries Band of Brothers, and the long-standing television drama ER. Some of his film credits include Fight Club, Almost Famous, Center Stage, and Mindhunters. He also co-starred with Antonio Banderas in the HBO original movie, And Starring Pancho Villa As Himself.
He has won, and been nominated for numerous awards, and is the recipient of a Day- time Emmy for his Outstanding Performance in the movie Life of the Party. More recently, Eion has received acclaim for his role on the popular series ‘Once Upon a Time.’
Ennis Esmer came to Toronto from Ankara, Turkey at the age of three. He trained in theatre at York University and sketch/improv at Second City, while doing standup comedy at clubs in Toronto. His standup work led to a gig as host and creative consultant of The Toronto Show, an hour-long showcase of Canadian music and comedy. During the show’s 120-episode run, Esmer performed with some of the best in Canadian comedy, including Dave Foley and Sean Cullen. Esmer returns to the role of ‘Oz Bey,’ partner to a telepathic paramedic, on season two of The Listener. Esmer also recently has had roles in television series such as The Listener, Wipeout Canada, Covert Affairs, Billable Hours, The L.A. Complex, and a guest star turn in Ken Finkleman’s upcoming series Good Dog.
Farid Yazdani – Actor, Producer, Writer and Host
Farid Yazdani is a Canadian actor, producer and writer. He is best know for his role on Suits (NBC/USA) and is the creator and star of Day Players.
A graduate of the School of Creative and Performing Arts in Toronto, he quickly began to book roles in Television & Film. He can be seen guest staring in shows such as Odd Squad (PBS), My Babysitter’s a Vampire (Disney) and XIII: The Series (Showcase). His most recent achievements include winning the coveted Toronto Monologue Slam, a member of Factory Theatre’s Mechanicals Conservatory & winning “Best Actor – Leading Role” at the Indifest Film Awards in Los Angeles for his role on Day Players.
Greta Papageorgiu – Acting Coach
Greta Papageorgiu is a Toronto based instructor of the Meisner Technique. She studied under Jacqueline McClintock and at The Neighbourhood Playhouse in New York City before opening up her own studio in Toronto: Meisner With Greta. She has assisted and led acting workshops in Toronto, Montreal, Winnipeg, Amsterdam and Munich. This fall she is returning to teach an Advanced Repetition Class at the Munich Film Academy. Her next Toronto session will run in October 2014. For more information about Greta, the class and Meisner Technique please visit her website: meisnerwithgreta.ca
Hannah Antaki – Casting Associate
Hannah works in casting, the only profession that allows her to truthfully use work as an excuse to stay home and watch TV. A dropout of both preschool and law school, she loves Montreal bagels, Harry Potter, and conversations about diversity.
Ilona Smyth – Casting Director
Ilona Smyth is one of the most experienced and connected Casting Director in Ontario Canada. She has been casting for more than 9 years, working on over 40 projects across North America. Ilona has cast such feature films as; House at the End of the Street (Jennifer Lawrence), February (Emma Roberts, Lauren Holly, Kiernan Shipka) There Are Monster (Zoe Kazan, Scott Speedman), Clown (Jon Watts) Television Series; Michael: Tuesdays & Thursdays (Don McKellar), Best Laid Plans (Peter Moss), many movies of the week (Lifetime Network), commercials for major corporations (Ford Canada, A&W, Nordstrom etc) as well as independent features. Ilona was nominated for a 2015 Canadian Screen Award in Best Achievement in Casting for the CBC prime-time Series The Best Laid Plans. Ilona has worked one-on-one with directors Osgood Perkins, Bryan Bertino, Mark Tonderai, Peter Moss, Jim Allodi, Joe Ruben, Jon Watts, Don McKellar, Patricia Rozema, Alison Mclean to name a few. She has a strong working relationship with Canadian agencies as well as the top agencies in the US. Ilona is always working alongside a director in realizing their vision and bringing their characters from page to reality.
Jonathan Oliveira – Casting Director
Jonathan Oliveira is a casting director at RDC & Associates Casting for the past 5+ years. A graduate from the Toronto Film School, Jonathan started with a brief stint in commercial casting, followed by several years at a talent agency gradually working his way into Film/Television Casting. From pilots/episodics, to features, to video games, Jonathan has developed a strong range of casting experience. Jonathan’s dedication to the industry is without question as he devotes countless hours encouraging young talent, producers, directors, and writers in developing their skills. His work and standards are always of the highest quality and his keen eye and drive to succeed has led to creative casting on features like “Pacific Rim”, “The F Word”, “Crimson Peak”, “Carrie”, “Poltergeist” and such television series as “The Strain”, “Covert Affairs”, “Hannibal” and many more. All the while Jonathan is a Casting Director in his own right and has cast several television series and feature films under JWO Casting. He recently became a member of the Casting Society of America and has started co-casting projects with Robin Cook. With hundreds of episodic credits and a few dozen features films under his belt, at just 31, Jonathan looks to have a lasting career within the film and television industry.
Jason Knight – Casting Director
Jason Knight is a Toronto based casting director. Some recent credits include: Michael McGowan’s ‘Still Mine’, Sarah Polley’s ‘Stories We Tell’ & ‘Take This Waltz’, Vincenzo Natali’s ‘Splice’, Atom Egoyan’s ‘Chloe’, Ruba Nadda’s ‘Cairo Time’, Sook-Yin Lee’s ‘Year of the Carnivore’, and George A. Romero’s ‘Survival of the Dead’.. Jason and his partner John Buchan won the 2010 Gemini Award for Best Achievement in Casting. Jason is a casting director in residence and mentor for the Canadian Film Centre’s Actors Conservatory and also currently serves as the casting consultant for CBC Television where he and John oversee all casting for the scripted programming.
Jeff Seymour has been an acting coach for 34 years. He began his career in the entertainment industry in 1979 in Los Angeles, California and began teaching in 1980. Early on, while working in television as an actor, he designed and built The Gnu Theater which went on to become one of LA’s most awarded and respected theaters. Jeff directed and produced all the shows there. He spent 11 years in Canada working in the film and television industry and starred in three different T.V. series, including Jeff Ltd, which he co-created and cowrote. Jeff was one of the directors and executive producers. He has won the Canadian Emmy and has been nominated a total of four times. He has traveled the country as well as in Canada and Australia teaching his highly successful Acting and the Business seminars.
Jennifer Holness – Producer/ Writer/ Director
Jennifer Holness is an award-winning writer and producer of scripted and factual TV and films. Jen recently co-created the TV drama series Shoot The Messenger for CBC about cops and journalists that goes to camera summer 2015. She co-wrote and produced the two-part CBC miniseries, Guns, staring Elisha Cuthbert and Colm Feore that won five Canadian Screen Awards, including a shared best writing award for Jen. She also co-created, wrote and produced the thirteen-part comedy series She’s The Mayor for Vision TV.
Jen’s feature film producing credits include Home Again with co-writer and director Sudz Sutherland. The film stars Tatyana Ali, Lyriq Bent and CCH Pounder and won the prestigious PAFF–BAFTA Festival Choice Award. The film was also nominated for two Canadian Screen Academy Awards and a Director’s Guild of Canada nod for Best Directing. Jen also produced and co-wrote the story for the feature Love, Sex and Eating the Bones that won 9 festival awards including the Best First Canadian Feature at the Toronto International Film Festival and was nominated for a trifecta of Genies – Best Feature, Best Writing and Best Directing.
Joseph Marcell – Actor
Actor and comedian best known for his role as Geoffrey Butler, the iconic butler on the NBC sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air from September 1990, until it ended in May 1996. Born in Saint Lucia, he moved to the United Kingdom when he was nine years old, and grew up in Peckham, South London. Marcell lives in Banstead, Surrey.
Jesse Griffiths – Casting Director
A graduate of Ryerson Theatre School with a BFA in Theatre Performance, Jesse has appeared on stages and screens across the country. Over the years, he has had the opportunity to work with some of the busiest and most respected Casting Directors in Toronto as a Casting Assistant and Casting Associate. In 2018, Jesse opened Jesse Griffiths Casting (JGC) with the goal of combining his passion for the arts, knowledge of local talent and the desire to develop and nurture the next generation of artists.
Kate’s love of film goes back to a childhood raised on a ranch in rural Saskatchewan, watching black-and-white classics on late-night television or seeing films at the local Dreamland Theatre. The first film she ever saw? The Wizard of Oz at the age of four!
She has worked in a variety of areas in film and television: on-camera as an actor; and on set behind the scenes as both a production assistant, locations co-ordinator and a prop assistant. She also delved into the world of film and television distribution, and has a producer-like role at a film-funding agency.
Kerri Craddock – Director of Programming for TIFF
A resourceful member of the TIFF team since 2007, Kerri is the Director of Festival Programming and knows exactly what goes into getting every film into each year’s Festival lineup of over 300 films. How? Well, she’s the one who sees it all and gets it done. Imagine experiencing the Festival you know and love, all the glitz and glam– and no doubt, all the sweat and tears– through her eyes! Kerri has regularly represented TIFF at fellow respected film festivals, including Sundance, Berlin and Cannes.
Outside of the Festival, Kerri has sat on the 2013 jury for the Philadelphia Film Festival Feature Documentary Competition, and the 2012 Features panel for TIFF Canada’s Top Ten Film Festival held annually every January at TIFF Bell Lightbox.
Krista Morin – Actor/Toronto Monologue Slam! Champion
Krista Morin, born in Ottawa, Ontario, is one of Canada’s fastest rising stars. She trained in theatre at the University of Ottawa, achieving her Bachelor of Arts with Honours. Krista already has a pretty extensive resumé, which includes a long list of Television, Film and Theatre performances. Her film and television credits include 9 Types Office, Shockwave, The Perfect Boss, and A Nanny’s Revenge to name a few. Her Theatre credits include Nutty Bar, Saturday Night Live (Hollywood), Birdbath and Miss Julie, a role for which Krista received critical acclaim. Krista has won the Toronto Monologue Slam! a record 4 times and currently holds the record for most wins, most consecutive wins and highest margin of victory. This feat is even more impressive when you consider that out of the nearly 100 actors that have performed in the Toronto Monologue Slam, only 7 have worn the belt.
Larissa Mair – Casting Director
Larissa Mair has been involved in the arts on many different levels for over 20 years. Larissa began as a casting assistant and associate with Stephanie Gorin, and eventually moved to Jigsaw Casting where she opened the film and TV division. In 2010 she created her own casting company in Toronto; Larissa Mair Casting & Associates, and has a great team of people working with her.
Jenny Lewis and Sara Kay – Casting Directors
Jenny Lewis and Sara Kay have been in business together for fifteen years. Their full service Casting Company started small focusing on indie films, short films and even some reality and host casting. After over a decade together and three CSA awards, they are firmly entrenched in the Canadian Casting scene. While they still always make time for indie films and up and coming filmmakers, the majority of their work lies in series and feature films.
Won the inaugural Gemini for Casting in 2006 for Heyday
Nominated for a Gemini for Rent A Goalie in 2007 and 2008
Nominated for a Gemini for Todd and the book of Pure Evil in 2011
Won the inaugural CSA for Casting in 2013 for Todd and the Book of Pure Evil
Nominated for Best Achievement in Casting CSA 2013 for The Firm
Nominated for Best Achievement in Casting CSA 2015 for The Best Laid Plans
Nominated for Best Achievement in Casting CSA 2016 for Bitten
Nominated for Best Achievement in Casting CSA 2017 for Letterkenny and Frontier
Nominated for the 2018 CSA for Best Achievement in Casting for Letterkenny
Won the 2019 CSA for Best Achievement in Casting for Letterkenny
Lewis Baumander – Coach, Director
Over the past 37 years Lewis has directed over 100 plays across Canada in such theatres as the Tarragon and the Manitoba Theatre Centre (including Hamlet with Keanu Reeves). He built and ran Skylight Theatre in Earl Bales Park for 10 years where he directed many Shakespeare plays and other classical theatre pieces. He has also directed Television and a Feature Film. He has been a casting consultant on several TV series and an on-set Acting Coach for more than a hundred TV episodes and four Feature Films. Lewis has directed, taught and/or coached actors such as Eric McCormack, Michael Rappaport, Malcolm McDowell and Stacey Keach.
Lewis founded the Lewis Baumander Acting Studio where he teaches weekly group classes year-round, and coaches actors individually on a daily basis. Lewis considers himself fortunate to have had so many talented and special actors pass through his Studio. He takes no credit. He just feels honoured to have been a part of their success.
Lewis is also the owner of Casting Central, having purchased it in 2012. Casting Central is Toronto’s full service casting facility making it the one stop location for all your casting needs. www.castingcentral.ca
Mandy May Cheetham – Actress/Writer/Producer
Mandy May Cheetham was born in Toronto, ON the daughter of motorcycle drag-racer turned boat-painter turned balloon-tire-bicycle collector turned apprentice junkologist turned hipster carpenter Bob Cheetham and event planner turned boat-hostess turned hot-tub and tanning-bed sales woman turned landscape designer Jennie Robertson. Many of her parents friends warned them all their dashes (-) would result in their child turning out to be a slash (/), and they embraced that premonition heartily. Her relentlessly innovative parents lived in many wonderful parts of the city including spending two years on a 35 foot Chris Craft with no engine named Dockside which they parked at the foot of Toronto’s York Street.
Since 2011 Mandy has appeared in over 60 projects as an actress and writer in commercial, TV, film, stage, stand up and improv jams and has been recognized by Funny or Die as a member of their community (the funny part, not the die part). She has lived in NY, LA and Toronto and continues to change cities as often as her parents changed jobs.
Meagan Allison-Hancock – Agent
Experienced talent agent with a demonstrated track record helping actors find success in the film and television industry. A leader in artist management and progressive career building. Innovative thinker, bold negotiator, and creative-minded professional. Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Art History and Film Studies from University of Victoria.
Maggie Dunlop was born and raised in downtown Toronto. After attending St. Clement’s School, she finished her formal education at Riverdale Collegiate. She previously directed the commercial talent division while working at a first-rate Toronto talent agency. She has also freelanced as a production liaison and possesses extensive office management skills. Maggie’s vibrant personality and keen sense of irony keeps her popular with peers and clients alike.
Marissa Richmond – Casting Director
Marissa Richmond, owner of Marissa Richmond Casting, is currently the casting director on the CTV/ION/CBS series Flashpoint. She was the casting director for the CTV pilot Stay With Me, and did casting for all 3 seasons of the highly acclaimed series Durham County, as well as the anthology series Bliss, both produced by Back Alley Films. Recent highlights of the past year include casting the Heroic Film Company series How to be Indie, the Cookie Jar Pilots Mudpit, as well as the Family Channel series Debra! She was thrilled when the Gemini Awards honoured her with nominations in 2008, 2009, 2010 & 2011 for Best Achievement in Casting for Durham County and Flashpoint respectively. She won the Gemini Award in 2011 for Season 3 of Durham County. Her featured work includes Show Me, and 19 Months. Marissa was also the casting director on the MOW’s After the Harvest, Lucky Girl, Scorn, and Murder Most Likely. Other previous casting projects include the dramatic series Due South, the hip hop dramatic series Drop the Beat, and the critically acclaimed award winning series Straight Up. Marissa has just completed her eleventh season as Casting Director-in-Residence at the Canadian Film Centre.
Marjorie Lecker – Casting Director
Gemini Nominated Casting Director Marjorie Lecker has had a prolific career. With over 17 years experience in casting, her credits include the series 24HR Rental, Ruby Skye: P.I. and movies like Casino Jack, The Returned, Swearnet, Sticks And Stones, The Good Shepherd, Solo and Exit Humanity, to name a few. Marjorie’s eye for new and seasoned talent is impeccable. More importantly she understands character in its relationship to story, the most important quality of any casting director. She also brings a humanity and color to her work which makes her choices delicious for any filmmaker. Marjorie was a nominee at the 2006 Gemini Awards for Best Achievement in Casting for the CBC miniseries “Canada Russia ’72.”
Marjorie Malpass – Actor, Writer and Corporate Coach
With 25 years of professional acting spanning TV, Radio, Film, and Live Theatre, Marjorie brings a varied skill set to Malpass Park.
Marjorie began her acting career at 14 with a tiny part in the CBC film “The Private Capitol.” She then went on to tour internationally with Axis Theatre’s “The Number 14” which included stops in Italy, Finland, Denmark and on Broadway. Other highlights include playing three different stalkers in one year for a play, a tv show and on film. Marjorie is also the voice of the first ever female Mini Wheat.
Marla Bender is an accomplished agent with 17 years of experience representing actors and 23 years in the entertainment business. Marla grew up in an entertainment family counting an announcer and casting director among them. At an early age Marla set her sights to be in the business and earned a degree with honours at Seneca in Television and Radio Broadcasting. Familiarizing herself in many areas, Marla has experience in both Television and Radio, Casting Direction, Commercial and Jingle Production and has had exposure to many areas of the industry. She takes a personal hands on approach with her talent believing that all clients have worth and that only with proper nurturing can an actor’s talent be realized. Currently, Marla is the owner and president of The Talent Tree agency specializing in a custom built roster of fresh diverse new faces for an ever-changing client demand.
Marsha Chesley – Casting Director
Marsha Chesley has been a casting director for more than thirty years and has worked in every medium: feature films, movies-of-the-week, dramatic series, sitcoms, corporate videos, and commercials.
Instrumental in creating the Gemini Award for Best Achievement in Casting, Marsha was nominated for the award in its inaugural year for her work on the CBC series This is Wonderland. She then won the award in 2009 for her work on The Line. She was nominated a third time in 2011 for the TMN series Living in Your Car.
Marsha’s television series include King for Shaw Media, and the acclaimed Little Mosque on the Prairie for CBC. Other recent credits include a film about the life of Canada’s first Prime Minister called John A: The Rivals and a rare involvement in documentary, Air India 182, written and directed by Sturla Gunnarson for CBC. In four seasons (52 episodes) of the Global television series Blue Murder, she garnered twenty-five Gemini nominations for actors. In three seasons of the critically-acclaimed series This Is Wonderland, also written by George F. Walker and Dani Romain, 29 actors were nominated for Gemini awards.
Melissa A. Smith – Casting Director
Marsha Chesley has been a casting director for more than thirty years and has worked in every medium: feature films, movies-of-the-week, dramatic series, sitcoms, corporate videos, and commercials.
Melissa A. Smith is a casting director and owner of Melissa A. Smith Casting Inc. and MAS Acting Studios in Sudbury. Melissa was named one of Playback Magazine’s 5 To Watch in 2016. She is a member in good standing of the Casting Directors Society of Canada. Originally from Sudbury, Ont., Melissa received her start in the industry as an actor. After graduating from Sudbury Secondary School, Melissa was invited to Toronto to work in the casting office for the Showcase series “King.” Melissa trained with two of Canada’s top casting directors before branching off and opening Melissa A. Smith Casting Inc. in 2013. Melissa’s credits include: “Cardinal,” Seasons 1, 2 and 3; “Indian Horse,” “Bad Blood,” “Letterkenny,” “What Would Sal Do?,” “Away From Everywhere” and “Two Lovers and a Bear.” In 2014, Melissa returned home to Sudbury opened MAS Acting Studios. The studio is a training facility and testing ground for local talent.
Michael Gordin Shore – Acting Coach
With over 40 years of training and real world experience on stage as well as in front of and behind the camera, Michael Gordin Shore is a Film/TV/Theatre actor and Triple Award Winning Independent Film Producer dubbed by numerous press outlets “One of Canada’s Top Audition Coaches” and “One of Canada’s Most Appreciated Acting Teachers”. He holds degrees in Theatre Majoring in Acting from both John Abbott College in Montreal and Simon Fraser University’s School of the Contemporary Arts in Vancouver, he has been a part of over a hundred plays including over 40 new Canadian plays, plus he has numerous ACTRA, IATSE, DGC, Casting, and Producing Credits. Since arriving in Toronto, he has performed on stage as Ben Cohen in Steve Martin’s The Underpants, and just finished a run at Passe Muraille as Alan in Nicholas Kazan’s very dark Blood Moon. As a Film/TV actor he can be seen in White Chicks, Stargate SG-1, Psych, Steven King’s The Dead Zone, Postal, among many others and his independent film work has been featured in festivals around the world. He plays Uncle Matt on the award winning webseries Kid’s Town, and will soon be seen in Lifetime’s The Greatest Christmas Party Ever. As a theatre/film/TV coach with clients in NY, LA, Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, and Ottawa, Michael has helped countless actors to earn their first or their hundredth credit, and his clients, who range in age from 6-70, can be seen regularly in much of the stage and on-camera work we produce from coast to coast.
Michèle Lonsdale Smith – Mentor, Actor, Director
Michèle Lonsdale Smith studied at the New York Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute, has since acted in feature film, television, and theatre projects over 23 years, and co-founded the Lyric School of Acting in Vancouver in 2001. She was the owner/operator and senior instructor for a decade. She then founded Lonsdale Smith Studios in 2011 and Lonsdale Smith & Company (LS&CO) in 2014. Directing credits include: Tennessee Williams’ Night of the Iguana, Eric Bogosian’s Sex Drugs Rock and Roll, Lion in the Streets by Judith Thompson, Miss Julie by Strindberg, Dutchman by Amiri Baraka and co-wrote, with a brilliant cast, The 21st Floor. She also directed the stage version and co-wrote the award-winning feature film, A Winter Tale. She helmed The Dreamer Examines his Pillow by John Patrick Shanley and the company mounted the production in NYC for a “one-night only” command performance for the esteemed playwright himself. Michèle prepares actors for roles in film, television and stage, and serves as set acting coach on Canadian and American productions. She regularly travels to cities in the U.S., Canada and the UK to conduct classes. In 2014, LS&CO held its inaugural intensive retreat in Jamaica, which is now an annual January adventure. Michèle is the recipient of the 2013 Women in Film and Television award for Leadership in Education.
Mimi Kuzyk – Actor
She is one of Canada’s most highly regarded actors; her film credits include Camille opposite Siena Miller and James Franco, Miramax’ The Human Stain, starring Anthony Hopkins, Nicole Kidman, Ed Harris and Gary Sinise; the sci-fi thrillers Final Cut with Robin Williams, Jim Caveziel and Mira Sorvino, and The Day After Tomorrow featuring Dennis Quaid and Jake Gyllenhal; Lea Pool’s Lost And Delirious, which earned Ms. Kuzyk a Genie nomination for Best Supporting Actress; On Television Ms. Kuzyk has been seen in guest-starring roles on such hit shows as CBS’ Ghost Whisperer, Cold Case and NCIS as well as ABC’s Castle. In Canada her guest spots include Insecurity and The Listener. She is well recognized for her role as “Detective Patsy Mayo” on Hill Street Blues, and as Jimmy Smits’ potential love interest on L.A. Law. She is also well known to Canadian audiences for her regular roles in CBC sitcoms Sophie and Our Hero. Her performances as “Rita Kapeli” in the CBC drama Little Criminals, and as “Deputy Chief Kay Barrow” in Blue Murder earned her Gemini nominations for Best Supporting Actress. The Winnipeg, Manitoba native also performed recurring roles in Global TV’s Traders as well as guest-starring roles on The Chris Isaak Show and The L Word.
Nicole Hilliard-Forde – Casting Director
Nicole Hilliard-Forde is an independent casting director and producer for film and TV. As a media professional supported by a career spanning 15 years in casting, Nicole manages all aspects of content development, production, stakeholder management and film financing for Motel Pictures Inc. across of slate of projects. Nicole is a member of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Los Angeles, the Casting Society of America and is a graduate of the Canadian Film Centre’s Producer’s Lab.
Oluniké Adeliyi – Actor/ Co-Founder of Monologue Slam Canada
Olunike Adeliyi is an Actor, producer and Co-Founder of Monologue Slam Canada. She has studied her craft at The Canadian Academy of Method Acting, continued her studies at the Professional Actors Lab working with one of Canada’s well known artistic directors, David Rotenberg and is also a graduate of The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City. She has performed in theatres throughout Canada and the U.S playing leading roles in, “Blue Window”, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, “Children’s Hour”, “Jitney”, and Michael Cristofer’s play “The Shadow Box” . Olunike has also lent her talents to television and film including Saw 3D, French Immersion and CTV’s Flashpoint.
Rachel-Lea Rickards – Founder and Artistic Director of the Broadway Bound Theatre Academy, Actor, Producer and Columnist for Sway Magazine.
Rachael-Lea Rickards is a Playwright, Actor and Producer of the hit play “I am NOT a Dinner Mint”. Involved in the arts for over 18 years, she started her career out in sketch comedy. Being an original da Kink in my Hair cast member, she has traveled to New York, L.A and London England with the show.
Rachael-Lea was a writer on Season II of da Kink in my Hair and is currently the relationship columnist for Sway Magazine and most recently the Founder and Director for The Broadway Bound Theatre Academy, Canada’s First Triple Threat Performance Academy for students of color.
Rae Ellen – Director/ Actor/ Performance Coach
Following almost a decade of acting in Alberta, Rae Ellen left Calgary to pursue her MFA-Acting at York University, and has lived and worked in Toronto ever since. Acting gigs include roles in the celebrated feature film “Tkaronto” (The Breath Films) and the Toronto Fringe hit “Bluebeard” (GromKat). Rae Ellen works in film and TV as an on-set Voice/Acting Coach, with recent gigs on “Transporter” (HBO), “Frenemies” (Disney) and “XIII: The Series” (Showcase). As a Theatre Director, Rae Ellen directed Celia McBride’s “Anatomy Of A Broken Love Affair” for Vintage Productions at Summerworks (Best Director, Ensemble, Production – NOW Magazine) a critically acclaimed workshop production of Neil Labute’s “Fat Pig” with her company Geek Girl, and the Dora Award nominated production of Jason Long’s “Offensive Fouls” for Hustle n’ Bustle Theatre Co. (Outstanding Performance by an Actor – Colin Doyle; Outstanding Production). She was also recently honored with a nomination for the John Hirsch Director’s Award. When Rae Ellen isn’t on-set or directing a show, she is the Voice Technique Mentor for the CFC’s Acting Conservatory, teaches weekly group classes at The Professional Actors Lab, and works as a Performance Coach with the Senior Leadership Team of the largest union in California.
Ron Leach – Producer, Director, Casting Director
Most noted as a producer, award-winning director and acting coach. In partnership with Brian Levy, Ron is one of Canada’s leading casting directors of independent film, television, theatre and commercials.
In the past four years, Ron has directed 10 international award-winning short films and is currently preparing to shoot his 11th film Fadeaway in September.
His directorial endeavour GAYBASHER, premiered at the Boston LGBT Film Festival in May, prior to being included in the Cortes Metrage in Cannes 2014. In September, it screened at Cinema Diverse in Palm Springs, and in competition at Oaxaca Intl Film Festival in October Ron was awarded the Humanitarian Award for GAYBASHER’s startling response to the subject of bullying and homophobia. He is the Producer of the acclaimed feature-length documentary film, SHURTLEFF, based on the legendary author, teacher, and casting director Michael Shurtleff, and AUDITION, the four part instructional series on acting, and recently produced the Canadian Premier of Neil LaBute’s IN A FOREST DARK AND DEEP, at Toronto’s Theatre Passe Muraille.
Salvatore Antonio – Actor, writer, director and educator
With numerous credits in television, film, and theatre, he currently can be seen in a regular role on the CTV/NBC series ‘Saving Hope’, playing Victor Reis. He plays a supporting role in Brandon Cronenberg’s film ‘AntiViral’ set for release this fall. He is also the Artistic Director of Armstrong Acting Studios, and the lead instructor of the Acting for Camera component of the National Theatre School of Canada –– of which he is also a graduate. He has been a playwright in residence at Buddies In Bad Times Theatre, Tarragon Theatre, and Factory Theatre. His first published and produced play; ‘In Gabriel’s Kitchen’, earned him the title of Finalist for the prestigious Governor Generals Award for Drama. This past April he wrote and directed his own creation, “The Sheets” for the Harbourfront Centre.
Sandra Gillis is an agent and one of the owners of Premier Artists’ Management Inc. Premier opened its doors to talent over 30 years ago and represents talent across Canada and the United States for Film and Television, Theatre, and commercials. Sandra loves guiding and building careers of actors that have passion and does it with professionalism and patience.
More information about Premier Artists’ can be found at www.premierartists.ca
Sarah Sheps – Casting Associate
Sarah Sheps is currently the Casting Associate at Mann Casting. She is a proud member of the Casting Director’s Society of Canada and passionate about all things casting. She has been in the business for the last 10 years and has assisted many Toronto casting directors, but is happy to call Mann her home. She is graduate of Sheridan College’s Music Theatre program and spent her past life touring Canada, the US and Europe with many children shows including Strawberry Shortcake Live, Dora the Explorer and Franklin the Turtle. She is extremely passionate about Toronto’s talent and hopes to be casting them forever.
Shasta Lutz – Casting Director
Shasta owns the joint. She built the company from scratch. In 1996. Solo. Under Shasta’s wing, clients are assured access to the best negotiator in town who is expert in all the rules of engagement, all the while benefiting from her long-standing industry relationships. Her thumbprint is on every aspect of each casting experience: aiming for best performers turnout, ever mindful of budgets, and always creating space for fresh faces.
Sophie Ann Rooney – Actor/ Director/ Coach
One of Toronto’s top coaches Sophie Ann Rooney teaches the Strasberg method as well as influences from her years teaching and training in Europe’s most reputable establishments. Rooney was a teacher at Bilingual Acting Workshop New York & Paris, the American University of Paris and Lyric School of Acting in Vancouver. She trained directly under Lee Strasberg’s protege Amy Werba for 4 consecutive years, assisting, teaching alongside Werba. Whilst living in Paris, Rooney trained in a full-time Stanislavski School L’Atelier International de Theatre de Blanche Salant as well as with Valerie Landsburg, Larry Moss and Steppenwolf’s Larry McGowan. In England trained at Central School of Speech & Drama and Oxford School of Speech & Drama.
Rooney is also an award winning filmmaker, her short film ‘Fallen Fighter’ was picked up by Oscar Contender Chicago International Children’s Film Festival and went on to screen at over 20 film festivals around the world and won numerous awards including the Kodak award in Paris. Her film ‘Bollywood Beckons’ was awarded Best Foreign Film in New York. Her feature film EASTER is in development with Producer Lauren Grant Clique Pictures (Picture Day/Wet Bum) and look out for the Webseries she is developing with Sterling to be shot in 2015.
Stepanie Gorin – Casting Directors
Stephanie Gorin, C.D.C., C.S.A., has been casting for over 20 years. In 2014 she won an Artios & Emmy award for the mini-series Fargo. Selected Features include: Race, Cas & Dyl, Home Again, The Art of the Steal, The Story of Luke, Dead Before Dawn, Red Lights, Repo: The Genetic Opera, Saw II – VII, How She Move, The Stone Angel, The Poet, Citizen Duane, American Pie IV & V, Godsend, Co-casting: Edwin Boyd, Hairspray, Get Rich or Die Tryin’, Take The Lead, Chicago. Selected Television series include: Taken, Heroes Reborn, Shadowhunters, Copper, Hemlock Grove, The Borgias (Season I-3 Canada), The Tudors (Season II & III Canada, in which she received two Emmy nominations), The Border (Two Gemini nomination), Being Erica (Gemini nomination), The Listener (Season II-IV), Call Me Fitz (Season III), Missing, Degrassi, Instant Star, Sue Thomas F.B. Eye, Recent M.O.W.s: Rocky Horror Picture Show, Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town, The Don Cherry Story I & II, Guns, Camp Rock I & II, Sea Wolf, Knights of South Bronx, Shania, Martha Behind Bars, Stepping Up, Once Upon a Mattress & Cheetah Girls. Numerous Theatre credits include North American premieres of The Wizard of Oz, The Sound of Music, Dirty Dancing, We Will Rock You, The Lord of the Rings and Mamma Mia (3 companies). Canadian premieres of Kinky Boots, Les Miserables, WarHorse, The Railway Children, Rock of Ages, The Lion King, Rent, Beauty and the Beast, Jane Eyre, Crazy For You and Miss Saigon.
Stephen Park – Actor/Director/Teacher
Stephen Park is an Actor, Director and Teacher. Stage Credits include What then must we do?,Ashes, The 21st Floor, Dark, Twelfth Night Bent, Lion in the Streets, The Scaffolds, Body and Soul, and Julius Caesar. His film work includes Lead roles in Grace, official se- lection of The Sundance Film Festival and winner of the Jury prize at the Gerardmer Festival du Fantastique; the award winning Canadian feature film “Everyone” and the multi-Gemini Award wining miniseries “The Englishman’s Boy.” Television credits include recurring roles on Murdoch Mysteries, Stargate- SG1 and Cold Squad. Stephen has also appeared on “V,” “DaVinci’s Inquest,” “Godiva’s,” “Intelligence” and “The Listener,” among others. Stephen is the Instructor and Studio Manager of Lyric East.
Sudz Sutherland – Writer/ Director/ Executive Producer
Sudz Sutherland (Writer/Director) works on both sides of the fence as a freelance writer and director for TV dramas and feature films. Sudz’s latest feature film, Home Again, won the prestigious PAFF‐BAFTA Festival Choice Award in Los Angeles and was recently nominated for Best Direction from the Directors Guild of Canada (DGC). Home Again is the follow up to his multiple award winning and Genie nominated debut feature film Love, Sex and Eating the Bones. Sudz is developing two new feature films, Operation Red Dog and Colour Blind. He is currently in pre-production on ‘Shoot the Messenger,’ his first Dramatic series co-created with writer/producer Jennifer Holness airing on the CBC.
Sudz directed The Phantoms, which won an International Kids Emmy. He also won a Canadian Screen Award for Best Direction for the TV movie as well as garnering a Director’s Guild of Canada Best Direction nomination. The Dream Street Pictures project aired in Fall 2012 on CBC.
Sudz also co-created his first television series, the half-hour comedy She’s The Mayor with Jennifer Holness and Min Sook Lee. He also wrote and directed several episodes. The show received numerous critical nods and is distributed by BBC WorldWide.
Susan and Sharon Forrest – Casting Directors
After originally being drawn to the world of theater, finding herself working in the television industry was a bit of a surprise for Susan Forrest. While being a theatre director was always her dream and what she went to school for, it was a meeting she had while working as a waitress that led her into the world of casting. Forrest quickly found her niche there and founded her own casting company, Forrest & Forrest, with her sister Sharon. She has since had a hand in casting many of the TV series we know and love such as Mary Kills People, Saving Hope, Rookie Blue, Heartland, X Company and Orphan Black, as well as new series Burden of Truth and The Detail.
2018 Nominees for Best Achievement in Casting for Mary Kills People at the CSA Awards.
Raised in a household of performers, Tovah Small was immersed into the world of theatre, film, and television at a very early age. She began her career as a casting associate in 2009 after attending Queens University. Her keen eye for talent was honed working with Toronto’s top Casting Directors on such series as Suits (USA Network), Flashpoint (CTV/CBS/ION), and Hannibal (NBC), and feature films including Cosmopolis (Dir. David Cronenberg), Bang Bang Baby (Dir. Jeffery St. Jules) and Regression (Dir. Alejandro Amenábar). After five years in casting, Tovah further established herself at The Characters Talent Agency, nurturing their many award-winning, internationally renowned performers. She is thrilled to be joining the exceptional team at Meridian Artists.
Trey Anthony – Producer/ Writer/ Director
Award winning playwright, executive producer, actor, creator, and stand-up comedian Trey Anthony, is known for the groundbreaking production ‘da Kink in
My Hair. Critics have referred to Anthony as “The Oprah of the Canadian theatre scene!” Anthony is the first Black Canadian woman to write and produce a television show on a major prime time Canadian network.
She is a former television producer for the Women’s Television Network (now W) and a writer for the Comedy Network and CTV. ‘da Kink in my Hair, theatrical play, was Dora nominated and has received critical acclaim, and broken box office records wherever it has played. The play is also the recipient of four NAACP Theatre awards and was the first Canadian play to be produced at the Princess of Wales Theatre, Canada’s largest commercial theatre. It was named as one of the top ten plays in Canada’s theatrical history! ‘da Kink has been seen in California, in London, England and recently made it’s New York debut at Tisch School for the Arts at New York University. Trey is a contributing writer to the Toronto Star.
Vladimir Jon Cubrt – Performer, Musician, Writer and the Founder of the Theatre Company Zocalo Toronto
Vlad’s recent on-screen credits include “Dreemer,” “Nikita,” “Against the Wall and King.” Under the Zocalo Toronto Umbrella Vlad has produced and starred in stage productions “The Weeping Salsa” (2009) and “Flin Flonning” (2007), both of which he wrote. Zocalo Toronto’s third show, “Samkon & Francis Go Swimming” just closed it’s world premiere run as part of the 2012 Toronto Fringe Festival. Vlad wrote and directed. Other recent stage credits include – Dance: Shagara Moon’s “The Red Shoes” at the George Ignatieff Theatre, Freestyle’s “The Arrogant Princess,” Drama: “Sara’s Cave” at the Brampton Heritage Centre, “Don’t Dress For Dinner” at the Limelight Dinner Theatre. Visit www.zocalotoronto.com to find out more about Vlad or his stage company.
Weyni Mengesha – Writer/Director
Mengesha is the Toronto director who helped shape the most successful Canadian play of the noughties (da Kink In My Hair), then was behind the scenes of what’s shaping up to be the most successful Canadian play of this decade (Kim’s Convenience). She’s proved adept with pre-existing plays, too, at the Tarragon Theatre and Soulpepper.
On October 11, 2018 it was announced that Weyni Mengesha is the new Artistic Director of Soulpepper Theatre Company in Toronto, Canada.
Award winning director Weyni Mengesha started her career directing ‘da Kink in my Hair’ across North America and in London, helping build it into an international sensation; and composing its Dora-nominated score. The show went on to make history, selling out some of the largest houses in the country and becoming a national television show.
William MacDonald – Actor, Teacher, Director
William MacDonald has performed in over 200 film/tv/theatre productions since leaving theatre school in 1992. Most recently he was seen on stage as MacBeth in Sterling Theatre’s production of “MacBeth”. This winter he was seen on the big screen as Frank in Atom Egoyan’s “The Captive”, which was selected for competition for the Palme D’or at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival.
He has performed dozens of guest starring roles in tv, most recently for “Hemlock Grove”, “Saving Hope”, “Rookie Blue”, “Haven”, “Bomb Girls”, “The Listener”, “Copper” and “Good God”.
He performed leading roles on stages across Canada for the past 25 years, as well as directed over a dozen plays, produced 2 feature films, and wrote 2 plays that had successful runs.
William teaches Shakespeare classes, Scene Study, and On Camera Craft at a studio on Richmond Street West.
For more information on his classes, please visit his website at : www.williammac.ca