Stageworthy

“I am the son of two tribes. I am the daughter of one birth. I am the spirit of many nations. I am a child of mother earth.” B’atz’ Recinos was born and raised on Turtle Island with mixed Maya roots from Iximulew (Guatemala). A creator, performer, advocate, and Harold Award recipient for the performing arts of Tkaronto. Their commitment to equitable and diverse practices within the arts has led them to speak at YouthREX and several other panels and publish articles with NOW, Intermission Magazine, and contribute to The Director’s Lab book published by Playwright Canada Press. A trained facilitator, B’atz’ has delivered various workshops on diversity, inclusion, art and self-care with youth, artists, and communities across Ontario. Their extensive experience in the performing arts led them to found Creative Mafia. Instagram: @chwenkan Support Stageworthy: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/stageworthy Send us your feedback online: https://pinecast.com/feedback/stageworthy/49a99839-c022-409f-864e-c55471aff065

Sukhpreet Sangha is a theatremaker, lawyer, poet, and barfly. After studying theatre and English at the University of Waterloo, she studied law at Osgoode Hall, and has since questioned that decision regularly. She spends her days working in legal education at a non-profit dedicated to youth and her nights, well, wouldn’t you like to know. Sukhpreet is co-Artistic Director of Informal Upright Theatre Collective. You can also read some things she writes here and see some things she tweets here. Sukhpreet invites you to find out more about “Yellow Bellies” (and perhaps even buy it!) here: http://theatreofthebeat.ca/yellow-bellies. Support Stageworthy: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/stageworthy Send us your feedback online: https://pinecast.com/feedback/stageworthy/6c1afab6-1c57-45c8-bf5e-d297c6867db0

Kitoko (Kit for Short) is a Black, Non-binary, disabled emerging multidisciplinary performance artist, media artist, and community artist. They’re a graduate of the Theatre/ Film studies and Multimedia studies at McMaster University (which they both love and regret) and the APT program at Generator (currently no regrets). Kit’s primarily interested in creating performance-based work that challenges the notion of binaries, and explores lateral violence and power dynamics within marginalized communities. Their work is rooted in social justice, anti-oppression, accessibility, #femmeaesthetics, and the pursuit of messiness. It’s best described as a chaotic poetic collage. www.kitoko.ca Instagram: @kitokomai Twitter: @Kitokomai Support Stageworthy: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/stageworthy Send us your feedback online: https://pinecast.com/feedback/stageworthy/f4c75dc4-da9f-498b-ac85-d9e473b39fca

HAUI is a multi-disciplinary entrepreneur of many artistic trades including performance, directing, design & visual arts. He was born in the United Kingdom to mixed Caribbean, Taino/Arawak and European heritage. Howard is a graduate of Ryerson Theatre School. To date has worked at the Stratford Festival as an assistant director as part of the inaugural bud’s program (part of the Michael Langham Director’s Workshop Presentation) He has worked at Canada’s Shaw Festival as an actor and designer, National Arts Centre as an assistant director, directing/design intern at the Grand Theatre; Montreal’s Black Theatre Workshop, Ottawa’s Great Canadian Theatre Company and Neptune Theatre as a designer, and performed with Native Earth Performing Arts, Cahoots Theatre, Paper Canoe Projects, and Factory Theatre. His work as a filmmaker emphasizes history and how it can inform our current sociopolitical climate. He hopes to continue building a practice in telling stories of his heritage, marginalized cultures not at the

Camille is a graduate of Sheridan’s College’s Musical Theatre program. Theatre highlights include RENT, High School Musical, Hairspray, and The Book of Mormon. Twitter: @camilove90 Instagram: @camilove90 Support Stageworthy: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/stageworthy Send us your feedback online: https://pinecast.com/feedback/stageworthy/c2d82076-154b-451e-a6c7-ee51999359a2

Emerjade Simms is a Jamaican-Canadian actor and storyteller. She is a graduate of the Acting program at the University of Windsor and holds a BFA degree. Emerjade is also a 2016/17 graduate of the Mechanicals program at Factory Theatre. In her career as an actor so far, she has worked with many wonderful people and companies. Select theatre credits include Peter Pan (Bad Hats/Soulpepper), School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play (Obsidian/Nightwood), Wounded Soldiers (4th Line), The Bird Killer (Let Me In). Television credits include Forbidden, Fear They Neighbor, See No Evil and Paranormal 911. Emerjade enjoys napping in her down time and thanks her family for inspiring her daily. Twitter: @emerbabe Instagram: @em.er.jade Support Stageworthy: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/stageworthy Send us your feedback online: https://pinecast.com/feedback/stageworthy/9624c812-3ff3-4eba-9846-d85e83b85d45

Laura Caswell is Neptune Theatre’s Director of Education, and has been a part of Neptune for over a decade playing various roles on stage (including 5 witches!) as well as a director and choreographer. Laura trained in Musical Theatre in New York City and London, England earning a Masters in Performance through the University of East Anglia. She has also trained extensively in improv, puppetry, voice work, singing, dance, acting, and film and television. Laura has worked as an artist and educator at theatres all over the country. Support Stageworthy: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/stageworthy

As a triple-carded professional actor (ACTRA, UdA, CAEA), Carolyn has been gracing the stage and camera in various theatrical productions, TV and movie spots. Altera Vitae Productions is her own theatre production company, a non-profit organization where each theatrical presentation is partnered with a community organization whose mandate is similar to the theme of the play. Altera Vitae Productions aims to assist the community organization with its public awareness program. As a singer, Carolyn fronted the band DD Swank and, for four years, sang under the pseudonym of Mama B, singing in French, English and Spanish. As an actor, Carolyn Fe has been gracing the stage and camera in various theatrical productions, TV and movie spots since 2005! Her theatrical appearance was in Dora Award Winner’s, Audrey Dwyer, play called “Calpurnia” in 2018. With sold out shows and thrilling reviews on Carolyn Fe’s, she was awarded for 2018 Best Supporting Actress by the esteemed Toronto Theatre Critics’ Award for her role as

Sarah Rankin is an actor educator, and the director of the Fundy Fringe. This year, the Fundy Fringe proceeded with their festival to produce an exciting digital/in person hybrid festival. Twitter: @sarahrankin03 www.fundyfringefestival.com Twitter: @fundyfringefest Support Stageworthy: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/stageworthy

Monica Ogden (she/they) is an award-winning disabled Filipina, Polynesian, British storyteller, actor and comedian. Her Lilang migrated from Illocos Sur, Philippines in 1966, and she is now an uninvited visitor in the unceded territories of the Lekwungen and W̱SÁNEĆ peoples. Her solo show Monica vs. The Internet: Tales of a Social Justice Warrior ( ★★★★★ Winnipeg Free Press, ★★★★★ Saskatoon Star Phoenix) directed by K.P. Dennis toured 6 cities across Canada in the summer of 2019, toured to Second City Toronto, and was recently featured on CBC Arts with the National Theatre School #ArtApart series. Their next show 100 YT GUYS IN AN HOUR is currently in residency with the Belfry Theatre, and the Tremors Festival with Rumble Theatre Twitter: @monicaogden12 Instagram: @monicaogden12 K.P. DENNIS is a black, non-binary, multi-disciplinary artist, producer, director, and activist. They were the 2016 Youth Poet Laureate of Victoria and are currently the artistic director of COLORQODED, QTI2POC arts collective. In 201

Ken Hall is a Canadian Comedy Award Winner (Best Breakout Artist) and multiple CCA nominee. He is also one half of the award winning sketch/improv/clown duo 2-MAN NO-SHOW along with his comedic soulmate Isaac Kessler. Ken has appeared on Conan and has had the pleasure of working for Cirque Du Soleil. Ken teaches improv, clown and public speaking at The Second City. You can catch Ken on TBS’s People of Earth as Jeff The Grey, and on Netflix’s The Umbrella Academy as Herb. www.thekenhall.com Twitter: @thekenhall Support Stageworthy: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/stageworthy

Mumbi is an acclaimed theatre creator and director raised in Kenya and Victoria, BC and based in Toronto. She recently won a Dora Award for her Outstanding Direction of The Brothers Size, which also won for Outstanding Production. Mumbi is the Artistic Director of Obsidian Theatre. She is the Founder/Artistic Director of the experimental theatre company IFT (It’s A Freedom Thing Theatre) Theatre and also recently directed the critically acclaimed plays: Trout Stanley (Factory Theatre), Here are the Fragments (The Theatre Centre/The ECT Collective), Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Soulpepper) and Oraltorio: A Theatrical Mixtape (Obsidian/Soulpepper). Mumbi is also the recipient of a Toronto Theatre Critics Award, an Artistic Director’s Award (Soulpepper), a Pauline McGibbon Award , a Mallory Gilbert Protege Award, a Harold Award, and has been twice nominated for the John Hirsch Directing Award. She is a graduate of Soulpepper Academy, York University and University of Toronto as well as Obsidian Theatre’s Mentor/Ap

Aaron Jan is a Hamilton born and Toronto-based director, playwright, dramaturg and community builder. Aaron has worked as a creator with the Stratford Festival, Factory Theatre, Tarragon, Native Earth Performing Arts, Fu-GEN Asian Canadian Theatre, Canadian Stage, Theatre Aquarius and Hart House. With his company, SILK BATH COLLECTIVE, Aaron has sold out critically acclaimed tri-lingual plays at the Next Stage Theatre Festival and Soulpepper. Aaron is the 2019 winner of the Ken MacDougall Directing Award and is a co-founder of Porch Light Theatre, a company dedicated to paying and training the next generation of Hamiltonian theatre artists. A highly sought after teaching artist and collaborator, Aaron is a graduate of Generator's Artist Producer Training Program and is dedicated to making his hometown a place where professional artists can make new work and be compensated fairly for it. https://aaronchihojan.wixsite.com/home Twitter: @afatchineseboy Instagram: @afatchineseboy Support Stageworthy: https://tips

Natasha Strilchuk was born in Malaysia, was raised in King’s Lynn, England and Regina, Sk and is now a Toronto based artist. She is a proud graduate Randolph College of the Performing Arts and is an accomplished, multi versatile artist. She was recently chosen as a 2019/2020 participant for Neptune Theatre’s, RBC Chrysalis Project, in the director’s unit. Natasha is being mentored by AD Jeremy Webb in his production of Calendar Girls in early 2020. On top of her acting endeavors, she is very excited to learn about the art of directing and will continue to develop her own choreography as well. Some her favourite credits include: The North American Premiere of Bend it like Beckham (Bluma Appel Theatre), Chicago (Globe Theatre), Mamma Mia (Neptune Theatre), Guys & Dolls, Romeo & Juliet (Stratford Festival), Romeo & Juliet (CBC/Stratford HD), Motives and Murder (Cineflex Productions). Represented by daCosta Talent. Twitter: @tashastrilchuk Instagram: @natashakstrilchuk Support Stageworthy: https://ti

Reba Terlson is a multidisciplinary artist based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She is a graduate of the University of Winnipeg with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Performance and the PTE@ PTE program. Recent credits include L’armoire with Cercle Moliere, Theatre By The River’s Wine and Words, One Trunk Theatre’s Stage Frights. She produces, writes and acts in her theatre company, It’s All Relative Productions which has mounted three Winnipeg Fringe Productions. Her 2018 show, One Date City, received glowing reviews and four stars from the Winnipeg Free Press. Her Winnipeg Fringe play, Filter This, landed her on Virgin Radio’s Top 100 Fascinating Manitobans of 2017. In 2018, she mentored under Mel Marginet, artistic director of Theatre By the River. She is a member of an Emerging Creators Unit that specializes in devised theatre for Manitoba Theatre for Young People under the guide of Andraea Sartison and Rick Chafe. Reba is a strong advocate for more inclusion and diversity in theatre. Twitter: @rebajesse Instagram:

Spencer Streichert is an actor (of stage and screen), producer, stunt man, and comedian, of Metis, German and Nordic descent, living in Calgary, AB. Growing up performing in community theatre and rodeoing, he began his film career in 2012 shadowing stunt coordinator Daniel Skene on the sci-fi thriller "Stranded". After moving to Calgary in 2014, he began to learn various filmmaking techniques through NUTV, and studied acting & creative writing at the University of Calgary. Spencer has independently recorded and released 3 stand-up comedy albums, was a Canadian Comedy Award nominee in 2018, and is a 6x Best of Calgary nominee (Best Comedian 2018/2019, Best Actor & Best Filmmaker 2019/2020 ). He has been a team member on 2 Telus Storyhive funded digital shorts "Lust in the Time of Heartache"(2014) and "Red Water Valley"(2018). In 2019 Spencer produced "A Goog Night Sleeps" which just began its festival run at the Varese International Film Festival, and directed an experimental short "Emote" Which began

Velvet Wells is a Black, velvet voiced autistic queer entertainer from Toronto. He is a stand-up comedian, actor, and musical improviser. He is lauded for his authenticity, originality, and quick wit. In 2014, Velvet graduated from the Second City Toronto’s inaugural Musical Improvisation Conservatory. Velvet is the co-founder of two successful troupes: The Dandies and OverDude. For the last 8 years, The Dandies have created fandom themed improv shows across Canada, including opening for William Shatner. Improv-drag-rock n’ roll duo OverDude just released Hell Toupee, their greatest hits EP on Bandcamp. In 2019, he touring his critically acclaimed solo Fringe production Personal Demon Hunter; the sequel is being launched in 2020 as part of Fringelivestream. Twitter: @VelvetDuke Instagram: @thevelvetduke Personal Demon Hunter: Divine & Conquer Velvet Wells (he/him) returns as motivational guru Velvet Duke to be your Personal Demon Hunter. Through personal stories of Black Joy, conversations and improvised

Landon Walliser is a director, producer, and publicist from Regina, Saskatchewan. Past credits include Love, Loss, and What I Wore (Producer, Co-Director, Publicist | The Women’s Company), Philistines (Assistant Director | University of Regina & Rose Bruford College), Small Boy Dreams (Publicity, Curtain Razors & International Tour), Terry Pratchett’s Mort (Director & Publicity | The Blue Room Company), and Young Frankenstein: The Musical (Assistant Director | Prairie Skies Musical Theatre). He is the recipient of two BroadwayWorld awards for his work on Love, Loss, and What I Wore (Best Play & Best Touring Show) at the Edmonton International Fringe Festival. He currently works as the producer and store manager for The Women’s Company. Twitter: @LandonWalliser Instagram: @LandonWalliser The Women’s Company Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/womenscompanyregina/ Instagram: WomensCompanyRegina Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/TheWomensCompany Support Stageworthy by contributing to their Tip Ja

Joylyn Secunda is a Vancouver based actor, dancer, singer, and puppeteer. She is a BFA Acting graduate from University of British-Columbia and has studied clown at the Manitoulin Conservatory for Creation and Performance. She has performed her solo physical comedy, The Moaning Yoni, 50 times in cities across Canada. Highlights from her recent tour include performing for audiences of 600 people at the Vancouver Island MusicFest, receiving a 5-star review in the Edmonton Journal, and having a sold-out run at the Vancouver Fringe Festival. When she isn’t performing, Joylyn leads community engaged theatre projects for seniors (Theatre Terrific and Arts & Health), teaches puppetry, physical theatre, and storytelling to school groups at the Evergreen Cultural Centre, and instructs yoga classes at various studios. Since 2017 she has been a puppeteer in the Cassie & Friends educational puppet show. Twitter: @JoylynSecunda Instagram: @joylynsecunda Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joylynsecundaproductions Yo

Kelly Wolf is a Theatre Maker, a Set and Costume designer and an Artist Educator who is interested in exploring ways that design can augment the theatrical experience. She has created designs for many theatres across Canada ranging from small independent companies to the major festivals. Most recently designing Berlin Blues at the Blyth Festival and A Christmas Carol at the Grand Theatre. Upcoming: Hook Up a new opera with Tapestry Music Theatre and Hare and Tortoise with Carousel Players. Recent work has taken her into the realm of site specific theatre creation. Kelly has worked in collaboration to create One Small Drop, inspired by the textile workers of the Imperial Cotton Company and In Sight investigating the effects of a stroke and perception at the Art Gallery of Hamilton. Her most recent site-specific collaboration, HERE, took Kelly to Barton St in Hamilton to explore gentrification and change in that neighbourhood. Recent designs include: Pantalone’s Palace and Top Girls (Brock University) Waiting R