Stageworthy

Stephen Near is a playwright and performer from Ottawa, ON and a graduate of York University. His plays have been performed across Canada in such festivals as the Ottawa Fringe, the Toronto Fringe, the Hamilton Fringe, New Ideas, and Summerworks. He is an alumnus of the Sage Hill Writing Experience and the Banff Centre and has studied playwriting with Linda Griffiths, David Copelin, Daniel MacIvor, Brian Quirt, and Beverley Cooper. In 2015, Stephen established the First Stage Series of new play development at the Players Guild of Hamilton. Stephen is a member of the Playwright’s Guild of Canada and the Theatre Aquarius Playwrights Unit. Recent writing credits include Monstrous Invisible (Theatre Aquarius), Interface (2011 Hamilton Fringe – New Play Contest 1st Prize), Plain Speak (2012 HamilTEN Festival), Test (2013 Hamilton Fringe – New Play Contest 2nd Runner-Up), The Conspiracy of Michael (2014 Hamilton Fringe), and Finding Mr. Right (2015 Hamilton Fringe). He lives in Hamilton with his wife Leanne, daught

#ShakesbeersShowdown is where Toronto’s hottest indie Shakespeare companies face-off in a battle of winner-takes-all, loser-drinks-most, as contestants cold read scenes from Shakespeare’s notoriously-hard-to-read First Folio. The rules are simple: if you screw up, you drink! The winner is crowned the revered Shakesbeers Showdown Heavyweight Champion (complete with championship belt), and the losers…get a lot of beer. All funds raised go towards the 2018 Shakespeare-In-Hospitals Program, set to launch this fall. INTRODUCING YOUR 2018 COMPETITORS: Spur-Of-The-Moment Shakespeare CollectiveShakey-Shake and Friends Theatre CompanyShakespeare in the RuffSkipping Stones TheatreTheatre By CommitteeShakespeare BASH'dTheatre ARTaud The Reviewers The People AndStratford Festival LET'S GET READY TO RRRRUMBLE! **************************<wbr />********** Spur-Of-The-Moment Shakespeare Collective is proud to present the seventh annual Shakesbeers Showdown: Jurassic Bard April 27th, 2018 at918 Bathurst Centre for Cul

Set in and around the Princess Margaret Hospital, the story of Alan and Moira exposes the harsh realities of the solitude and fears that accompany cancer treatment with brutal honesty and wry humour. Pettle’s writing comes from a place of awful familiarity, as he explains in his forward, "It’s July 15, 1995, and I’m back in the hospital - radioactive iodine therapy, cancer treatment’s answer to solitary confinement. Why did I write this play? I wrote it to survive days like this. [...] I wrote it not only for those who have passed on to other journeys, but for all those who remain in Therac corridors everywhere. People that are not just statistics in flimsy pamphlets or black numbers on manila envelopes, but individuals with brilliant minds and raging spirits, with awe-inspiring courage and beautiful children."It was the personal connection to this story that brought this production into existence and provides the motivation to engage in the realities of the content beyond the story-telling. As well as donati

These awesome indie theatre creators sat down with host Phil Rickaby as part of the first Indie Theatre Creators Roundtable: Christel Bartelse, Victoria Urquhart, Victoria Velenosi, and Janelle Hanna. Christel Bartelse is an Actor, Comic, Writer, Teacher, and Solo Show creator living in Toronto. She is a graduate of the Second City Conservatory Program, Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts and has studied Clown extensively with John Turner & Michael Kennard (Mump and Smoot) as well as Sue Morrison, Philippe Gaulier and Francine Cote.She had the pleasure of performing with Mump and Smoot in “Something” at the Westbury Theatre in Edmonton. She is a member of Faustwork Mask Theatre/Prologue for the Performing Arts and performs the show The Mask Messenger in schools regularly. In 2008 she developed her first solo show “CHAOTICA” which went onto to win numerous awards and garnered rave reviews. She developed 2 other solo shows “ONEymoon” & “Significant Me” and all three solo shows have been nominated f

Since moving to Toronto in the fall of 2014, Sri Lankan tenor Asitha Tennekoon has firmly established himself as a versatile singer, performing in a wide range of repertoire. He won the Dora Award for Best Male Performance as Paul in Tapestry Opera’s Rocking Horse Winner and earned glowing reviews as Gernando in Haydn’s L’Isola disabitata with Voicebox: Opera in Concert.Asitha recently starred in Edith Smyth’s The Boatswain’s Mate with Opera 5, and in 2018 debuts as Polidoro in Scarlatti’s Erminia with Opera Lafayette in Washington and New York.Asitha shared the stage with soprano Erin Wall in Songmasters Recital Series and has appeared as a soloist with Toronto Bach Festival, Theatre of Early Music, Ottawa Bach Choir and Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra.Twitter: @asithatennekoon Instagram: asithatennekoonStageworthy:https://www.stageworthypodcast.com Twitter @stageworthyPod Facebook: http://facebook.com/stageworthyPod

Ryan M. Sero is a professional actor and writer. Past roles include Herbert Milk (A Modicum of Freedom), The Raccoon (Inbetween Places), Sancho Panza (Don Quixote), Mephistophiles (Doctor Faustus), Romeo (Romeo & Juliet: An Escapist Comedy), and Don John/ Don Pedro (Much Ado About Nothing). Plays he has written include A Modicum of Freedom, Romeo & Juliet: An Escapist Comedy, The Cheese, Miracles Don't Come Cheap, and the upcomingFor 'Daws to Peck At - which will be part of the Pearl Company's StaycationFestival in August. He frequently works with Decoder Ring Theatre (an online audio drama group), Artword Theatre, and The Mysterious Players (improv murder mysteries). He is the artistic director of Make Art Theatre. Richard III At the end of the War of the Roses, Richard feels miserable. He wants nothing more than the crown won by his brother, Edward IV. He sets out to take the crown by force and cunning, fueled by his envy and pride. He weaves a spider's web of lies, turning allies into enemies, and

Bryce Hodgson (Director, Co-Writer, Co-Set Designer) Bryce is a graduate of the Neighbourhood Playhouse in New York City, co founder of the Blind Pig Theatre in Vancouver, long time member of the Godlight theatre company (NYC) and Artistic director of the Blood Pact Theatre. Bryce writes, acts, and creates music for theatre productions. Bryce also shoots pictures, makes zines and over the years has played in many different punk bands. Theatre credits include In the Heat of the Night, Deliverance, (Godlight) Much Ado About Nothing (Unit 102), Piranha Club (Blood Pact), Kitty Kitty Kitty, Suburbia, This is our Youth, and Frankenstein (Blind Pig). Some TV and Film credits include The Killing, Kid Cannabis, Supernatural, Farely Legal, Diary of a Whimpy Kid, Falling Skies and is currently has a regular role on the series iZombie which is about to start production on its 4th season.In 2015 he was nominated for a drama desk award for his work in DeliveranceInstagram: @bryce_hodgsonCharlie Kerr (Co-writer, Hogan) Cha

Massimo Pagliaroli is a graduate of York University’s Directing program and has been working as an actor, writer and director for over fifteen years. Playwriting credits include Cheapskate (a winner in the 2005 Toronto Fringe New Play competition) Happy Together and Young Couple in Love. His current project, Inch of Your Life, was workshoped in Toronto and received it's U.S premiere at Edgemar Theatre in Santa Monica, California. He is a co-founder of The Theatre Circuit and currently serves as it's Artistic Director. Instagram: massimillions Massimo Pagliaroli's INCH OF YOUR LIFE: EPISODE 1 was the comedy hit of 2016's Toronto Fringe Festival, receiving the coveted “Patron's Pick”. INCH OF YOUR LIFE: THE TRILOGY stars eight of Toronto's rising stage stars: Luis Fernandes; Antonino Pruiti; Alex Clay; Ceridwen Kingstone; Giovanna Pandullo; Brandon Knox; Jonathan Sconza; and Jack Everett. The performance dates for INCH OF YOUR LIFE: THE TRILOGY are: Episode 1/The Pilot - March 7-17, 2018 - *MARCH 8th OPENING*Ep

Having performed from her hometown of Brantford, Ontario to Singapore, Melody has enjoyed moving from dramatic to comedic roles for over the last twenty years. Soon after graduating with a BFA from York University’s Theatre Performance program she began work with now Artistic Director of the Tarragon Theatre, Richard Rose on the Manitoba Theatre Centres’ The Glass Menagerie. Melody then became one of a core group of actors with Necessary Angel Theatre Company. The group dedicated themselves to bringing new Canadian plays to life, (It’s All True, Swollen Tongues, and The Piper). Having worked with many of Canada’s most respected theatre companies, Melody has originated many memorable theatre roles such as Sugar in Claudia Dey’s Trout Stanley for Factory Theatre, Olive/Eva in Jason Sherman’s It’s All True for Tarragon Theatre and a Dora win for the titular role of Mercy in Little Mercy’s First Murder/Tarragon-Shaw Festival. Other favourites include: Assassins for Talk is Free/Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, 7 St

Emmilia Gordon Emmelia is a Vancouver actor making the big leap into the Toronto theatre scene. Fierce will be her first semi professional debut in Toronto and couldn’t have ask for a more supportive and kick ass team. She is two time Jessie Richardson award winner (New Canadian Kid, Green Thumb Theatre & Dissolve, Shameless Hussy Productions) Acting credits include: Lady Parts (Pi Theatre); The Food Project (Theatre by Committee); Perter and the Starcatcher, (Arts Club Theatre); Proud, (Firehall Arts Centre (Jessie nominated)); Dirty Old Woman (wet ink collective); Fat Pig (Short, Sharp & Pointy); Measure for Measure (Honest Fishmongers/Pacific Theatre); The After Party (Sum Theatre/Pull Fest); Twelve Angry Men (Hardline Productions); She’s also had the pleasure of being co-creator, alongside Pippa Mackie, of the touring Fringe hit The Progressive Polygamists and an improviser in The Life Game created by Keith Johnstone. Emmelia is a graduate of Studio 58 and the recipient of the Antony Holland Schol

Chris Tolley is a writer, director and producer, and the Co-Artistic Director of Expect Theatre. After graduating from York University he teamed up with Laura Mullin, and together they have created award-winning multi-disciplinary productions that have toured across Canada and the US.Chris’ work has been nominated for five Dora Awards in the General Theatre category, and has been shortlisted twice for the Toronto Arts Foundation Awards. In 2006 both Chis and Laura won Harbourfront Centre’s inaugural FreshGround commissioning award.His most notable works include Romeo/Juliet REMIXED (Toronto and Philadelphia), STATIC (World Stage Festival) and AWAKE (Next Stage Festival). Other work with Mullin include the CBC Radio drama, The Tunnel Runners, and the short film, AWAKE.Most recently, Chris and Laura launched PlayME, a national digital theatre dedicated to producing Canada’s most innovative theatre works distributed globally via podcasts.He sits on the Board of the Playwrights Guild of Canada and serves as the C

Kat Sandler Kat Sandler is a writer, director and the Artistic Director of Theatre Brouhaha. She has directed twelve of her original plays in the last six years, including Toronto Best of Fringe hits Bright Lights, Punch Up and Help Yourself (winner of the New Play Contest), Delicacy(Summerworks Spotlight Award), and Liver, Cockfight and Retreat (Storefront Theatre). Other directing credits include Big Plans, 27 Wagons Full of Cotton, Cabaret, and The Goat, or Who is Sylvia. She was a member of the Tarragon Playwrights Unit, where she developed, Mustard (Dora Mavor Moore Award, Outstanding New Play) and is currently the Canada Council Playwright in Residence at Tarragon. She was the 2015 recipient of NOW Magazine’s Audience Choice Award for Best Director and Best Playwright. Kat is a graduate of the Queen’s University Drama Program.Twitter:@katsandlerInstagram: ksandler24Donna-Michelle St. Bernard Donna-Michelle St. Bernard aka Belladonna the Blest is an emcee, playwright, administrator and agitator. She has

JULIA NISH-LAPIDUS Julia is an actor, director, and producer, as well as a Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director of Shakespeare BASH'd, where she has produced all of the company's productions. She has worked as the Managing Director of Common Boots Theatre and is now part of the team at The Theatre Centre. For Shakespeare BASH'd, Julia has directed The Comedy of Errors, and assistant directed The Changeling. She has also performed in many BASH'd productions, including The Taming of the Shrew, Romeo & Juliet, Macbeth, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Hamlet, Twelfth Night, and Volpone (staged reading). Selected Additional Credits: Talk to Me Like the Rain and Let Me Listen and This Property is Condemned (Director, The Playwright Project), Modern Love (Co-Creator, Next Stage), As You Like It (Text Coach, Theatre By the Bay), and as an actor OVER, See Bob Run (Theatre Caravel), reasons to the pretty (The Labute Cycle), The Forest (Red One Theatre Collective), Dublin Carol (Fly on the Wall).​ Julia is a member of th

Franny is an actor and playwright based in the GTA. She has performed her award-winning original work in Toronto, Hamilton, Oakville,, Stratford, Winnipeg MB, Saint John NB and New York City. She is returning for a second season at the Port Stanley Festival Theatre this summer. www.frannymcb.com Twitter: @franny_mcb Instagram: franny_mcb Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/frannymcb/Stageworthy:http://www.stageworthypodcast.com Twitter @stageworthyPod Facebook: http://facebook.com/stageworthyPod

Bil Antoniou has been performing for a number of years, amassing a number of interesting experiences that resulted from his decision to say yes to everything. Among them are appearing in Tom Stoppard's Arcadia at Hart House (his favourite), singing Thenardier in Les Miserables at Honest Ed's on their closing weekend, a few stints as Jesus and a Pharisee on a wagon and making love to pots and pans in the middle of Michigan. Along the way he decided to take his love of writing and seriously and began writing plays, which thus far have resulted in four productions that, despite having forced him to say yes to fewer other projects, have gone well, including The Best Men at Bread and Circus in 2011, Operation Impervious at the 2011 Toronto Fringe Festival, and two productions in 2015 at Red Sandcastle Theatre, We Say Such Terrible Things and Heart of the Storm. Between theatre gigs, he spends his free time writing film reviews for his blog, MyOldAddiction.com, or editing one of his two podcasts, BGM: Bad Gay Movie

Audrey Dwyer has been a theatre artist, teacher and mentor for over fifteen years. She was a mentor for the Summerworks Leadership Program and led the program in 2012 and 2013. She was the Assistant Coordinator and Educator for Nightwood Theatre’s Write from the Hip program from 2008 to 2010. She has taught improvisation with TIFF and leads screenplay courses for young women. Her theatre credits include: Blue Planet (YPT), One Thing Leads to Another (YPT – Dora Awards for Outstanding Ensemble and Outstanding New Play), Patty’s Cake (Carousel Players – Dora Award Outstanding Play), Danny, King of the Basement (Roseneath Theatre). She won The Cayle Chernin Award for Theatre (Playwriting) in 2015. Audrey was the Associate Artistic Director of Nightwood Theatre and was the Artistic Director of Cow Over Moon Children’s Theatre. Audrey graduated from The National Theatre School.Calpurnia A hilarious and provocative look at class, race, and appropriation, Calpurnia invites us into an outrageous and unexpected evenin

EmmaClaire Brightlyn is an actor arrived in Toronto. With an MA in Classical and Contemporary Text Performance from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, EmmaClaire has spent the last 8 years performing and making work in the UK. She has been a company member with Ipdip Theatre, creating engaging work for under 4 year olds and the big people who come with them, as well as an actor with Playwright’s Studio Scotland, workshopping new pieces of theatre. In 2012, EmmaClaire was part of the multi-award winning short film, Notes and has been involved with the production company Worrying Drake and director John McPhail ever since. Most recently she was seen as Apemantus in Timon of Athens, and Goneril in Queen Lear with Bard in the Botanics, Scotland’s largest Shakespeare Festival.EmmaClaire also works internationally as a Fight Director and Instructor.http://www.emmaclairebrightlyn.com/ Instagram: emcbrightlyn

Originating from Niagara, Jess McAuley is a Brock University graduate (theatre studies, honours) with a passion for devised theatre, writing, and pushing the bounds of adventure on stage.Her recent credits with New Twist include Peter Panhandler (co-creator/producer, 2017), Guilty Pleasures (writer/director, 2016). Previously, Jess has worked with Something-Something Productions for the 2013 production of The Rocky Horror Show (Usherette/Janet), Fragmentos (Maria Chambers, Brock University, 2013), and collaborated with NeXt Theatre Company in The Arab Spring Monologues (2013).Jess is taking the next steps with New Twist in touring the company with her first ever solo show - to premiere in the London Fringe Festival (2018). Currently untitled, the show is a true coming of age story, beginning in high school and all the way to graduation; it’s a story of finding love and closure while navigating through her depression and melancholy. Though she is a lover of fiction and adventure, Jess has morphed the show into

Victoria Urquhart is a Toronto-based actor and director from Caledon. She is also a graduate from the University of Windsor’s 2010 B.F.A. Acting Program. This training has helped her to develop a focus on marrying Physical Theatre Practices with Classical Text. This fascination, combined with her leadership and organizational skills developed through working six consecutive summers at a residential camp have led her to a passion for directing, and the creation of The Spur-Of-The-Moment Shakespeare Collective in Toronto. Through the SOTMSC, she has directed, produced, and sometimes performed in several community projects, including the Shakespeare-On-The-Subway Project, several sessions of Shakespeare-In-Hospitals, and JULIUS CAESAR PROJECT, garnering 4 N’s from NOW magazine at the 2014 Toronto Fringe Festival. Other theatre credits include: Waiting for Alonzo with Empty Box Theatre (2015), Teach Me with Newborn Theatre, and Macbeth with Hart House Theatre.Do not miss Spur of the Moment Shakespeare-in-Hospital

Lucy Eveleigh is the Executive Director of the Toronto Fringe Festival, and has been the Managing Director of the Toronto Fringe for the last five years, after two years as the General Manager for the SummerWorks Performance Festival and three years as the General Manager of the Pleasance Theatre in London, England. Her extensive knowledge of theatre administration and company management, and her passion for the mandate of the Fringe movement, make her the ideal candidate to lead this organization into its 30th year and beyond.@eveleigh_lucyToronto Fringehttps://fringetoronto.com/@Toronto_FringeStageworthy:http://www.stageworthypodcast.com Twitter @stageworthyPod Facebook: http://facebook.com/stageworthyPod