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~ a nicole brooks vision ~
CREATIVE TEAM
Conceived, Written, Composed, Performed and Produced by
Nicole Brooks
Recipient of the Canada 150 grant ~ Canada Council for the Arts; Recipient of the 2014 BBPA Harry Jermone Arts Award
Directed by
Lezlie Wade
Lezlie is a Tom Hendry and Dora nominated writer and director. Recent directing credits include: The Twelve Pound Look (Shaw Festival) Dream A Little Dream (The Grand Theatre); Dog Sees God (Rubinoff Productions); Elegies & A Man of No Importance (Acting Up Stage Company); The Yalta Game (Shaw Festival). She was the associate director on Henry V at the Stratford Festival and assistant director on Fuente Ovejuna, As You Like It, A Word or Two and Jesus Christ Superstar. She continued to work on Superstar at the Lajolla Playhouse and on Broadway. She was also associate director/ choreographer on The Toxic Avenger for Dancap, and Love, Loss and What I Wore for Roth/Rubinoff productions. As a writer her musical adaptation of The Remarkable Journey of Prince Jen with collaborator, Daniel Green was recently work-shopped at the ASCAP DreamWorks Musical Theatre Workshop for Stephen Schwartz, Stephen Flaherty and Dick Scanlan. It also received workshops at the Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival and AMTP. Last season it was short-listed for the Tom Hendry award for best new Canadian musical and will be receiving a NYC workshop this coming Fall.
Co-Directed and Choreographed by
Anthony "Prime" Guerra
For Luminato (Past) - Associate Sound Design: Apacalypsis (2015); System Design: 1001 Nights (2011).
Other Theatre - Director and Choreographer; 2018 Fall For Dance North for "Obeah Opera 2019" (Ashe Productions); Dance Consultant: "Binti's Journey" (Black Theatre Workshop); Choreographer and Cultural Consultant: PanAmParaPanAm Games "Obeah Opera" (Culchaworks and Nightwood Theatre); Director, Choreographer and Writer: "Black Corps: War of 1812"; (Afro-Caribbean Dance Group)
Other - "Prime Dance" Ideology: Form, Feeling, Meaning bring forth Form, Feeling, Healing has uncovered the healing and spiritual aspects of dance.
Musically Directed by Grammy Nominated
Melanie DeMore
Center Stage: actor/ musical director: The Club, Company
Transact, actor
Actor in Residence-University of Texas at Austin
Music Director Taos Auditorium, Taos, NM
Melanie is a Master Teaching Artist in Music-University of California, Berkeley and a Grammy nominated recording artist, composer, conductor, vocal activist.
Costume and Set Design by
Robin Fisher
For Luminato (Past) - Role: Title of Production (Year); Role: Title of Production (Year).
Other Theatre - Set and Costumes: Torn Through Time (Manitoba Theatre for Young People), The Dining Room (Soulpepper), Avenue Q (Citadel Theatre). Costume: Mamma, Mia! (Globe Theatre). Set: Cottagers and Indians (Tarragon Theatre).
Robin is the recipient of three Dora Mavor Moore Awards and the 2015 Virginia and Myrtle Cooper Award for Costume Design. www.robinfisher.ca
Lighting Design by
Bonnie Beecher
Bonnie has designed lights for over 400 productions for theatre, opera and dance across Canada and internationally. Recent work in Canada includes Hadrian (Canadian opera), Paradise Lost (Stratford), and The Tempest (Citadel theatre). Recent international work includes Ein Sommernachtsraum (Ballett Im Revier, Germany) and Akhnaten (Dortmund Opera, Germany).
Bonnie lives in Toronto and is a member of The Associated Designers of Canada.
www.bonniebeecher.com
Sound Design by
Emily C. Porter
Other Theatre - Sound Design: 2017, 2018, 2019 Seasons (Rainbow Stage); Beauty & The Beast (The Globe, Regina); Mamma Mia, Into the Woods, Marry Poppins (Neptune Theatre).
Robert Merritt Award for outstanding Sound Design of Marry Popping at Neptune theatre, 2 additional nominations.
Produced by
Sascha Cole
Born in Toronto, Ontario and raised in Caledon, Ontario.
SOULPEPPER 2016: It’s a Wonderful Life.
OTHER THEATRE: Post Eden (Suburban Beast); Goodnight Desdemona, Good Morning Juliet (GCTC); New Jerusalem (Harold Green Jewish Theatre); The Diary of Anne Frank (Shakespeare in Action); Shakespeare’s Nigga (Obsidian Theatre); Bethune Imagined (Factory Theatre); Rock N Roll (Canadian Stage/Citadel).
FILM & TELEVISION: My One Demand, Killjoys, Remedy, Murdoch Mysteries, The Family, CBC’s The Great War.
OTHER: Graduate of BADA Midsummer Program (England), National Theatre School (Montreal). Current member of the Soulpepper Academy.
PRODUCTION TEAM
Associate Producer
Indrit Kasapi
Born in Tirana, Albania, Indrit moved to Toronto, Canada in his early teens. Indrit is an ensemble member of the award winning CORPUS Dance Projects (Les Moutons, Flock of Flyers, Nuit Blanche, Machina Nuptialis). He is the Artistic Producer for lemonTree creations and Associate Artistic Producer for Cahoots Theatre Company. With lemonTree creations Indrit most recently choreographed and directed MSM [men seeking men], (6 Broadway WorldNominations) which is set to tour the West Coast in 2017. As well he helmed the development and production of the Box Office hit, Body Politic by Nick Green, as a co-production with Buddies in Bad Times Theatre. Indrit also launched the lemonTree {studio} in 2012, a rehearsal space in downtown Toronto, that serves as a creative hub for the independent theatre community with various programs in place, including the RESIDENCY PROGRAM. Indrit is thrilled to be part of The Foundry and the Factory family.
Upcoming: Writer/Performer in The Blood Cycle Workshop (lemonTree creations); Directing the return of MSM [men seeking men] On Tour (lemonTree creations) ; Performer in the new creation (CORPUS). Indrit is a graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada.
Production Manager
Suzie Balogh
For Luminato (Past) - Role: Production Manager, Carratetillas Initaitive (by Rainer Prohaska), Luminato 2012
Other Theatre - Role: Production Manager: Lillies (lemonTree, Why Not, Buddies in Bad Times), A Blow in The Face (Bald Ego, Nightwood), Dry Powder (Evermore Theatre), I Call Myself Princess (Cahoots & Native Earth), Towards Youth (Crows & Project Humanity), Now You See Her, (Why Not, Quote Unquote, Nightwood)
Stage Manager
Kevin Bowers
For Mirvish Productions: Kinky Boots, Once, Crazy For You, Les Misérables, The Good Times Are Killing Me, Racing Demon, Oliver! Opera credits include: Carmen, Lucia di Lammermoor, Tosca, Aida (twice), Eugene Onegin, Madama Butterfly, The Barber of Seville, The Magic Flute, La Boheme. For PBS Television: Bowfire. Tarragon Theatre: Seven Stories, Democracy, Nigredo Hotel. Factory Theatre: Problem Child, Adult Entertainment. Other terrific shows include The Wakowski Brothers, Forever Plaid, Lost in Yonkers, Dee Snider’s Rock n Roll Christmas Talent and international touring with Theatre Beyond Words. Mr. Bowers holds a MA in Theatre History from University of Essex in England.
ADDITIONAL CREATIVE TEAM
Head of Props
Lisa Nighswander
Lisa Nighswander primarily works for Soulpepper for the past decade as head of the props department -- her responsibilities along with Soulpepper's props team is to research, find, buy, build the props for all Soulpepper productions. On her off time, she moonlights as singer and sometimes bass guitar player for the band Mean Red Spiders who sound can be described as a melodic pop doused in loud, fuzzy, reverb guitars. They've been together for years and are founding members of the Wavelength Music Series.
ASSOCIATES
Assistant Stage Manager
Lily Chan
Stage Manager and Assistant Production Manager: Yellow Rabbit (Silk Bath Collective); Assistant Stage Manager: FFDN at Ryerson Theatre (Fall For Dance North); Stage Manager: Much Ado About Nothing (Dauntless City Theatre); Stage Manager:Carmilla (Pointed Cap Playhouse).
Lily holds a BFA from Ryerson University. She aspires to become an astounding creator and facilitator of integrated live events.
Assistant Stage Manager
Katherine Belyea
ASM: The Crucible (Opera Santa Barbara); ASM: Nabucco,Turandot (Sarasota Opera); ASM: Bad Jews (Harold Green Jewish Theatre); SM: Arash (Modern Times/Tirgan Festival).
Production Assistant
AJ Morra
Other Theatre - Production & Stage Manager: 2017/18 & 2018/19 Seasons(Toronto Dance Theatre); Stage Manager: Dual Light(Dreamwalker Dance Company) Production Manager: Winter's Tale/Measure for Measure (Groundling Theatre)
Graduate of the Ryerson Theatre School's Performance Production program
Fight Captain
Michelle Polak
Other Theatre - Roula/Ensemble:Reflector (Theatre Gargantua), Mary/She:Trace (Vertical City), Claudia/others, I,Claudia (Crow's Theatre), Elenita/The Being: La Communion (Aluna Theatre), Titania/Hippolyta: A Midsummer Night's Dream (Shakespeare in the Ruff).
Michelle has garnered several prestigious awards throughout her career. She completed her first year of Gestalt training this spring.
Dance Captain
Teisha Gutherie-Smith
Choreographer: Mute (Infinity Arts Productions)
Performer: Evoque (Collective of Black Artists)
Performer: Long Live (REAson d’être Productions)
Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from Ryerson University
Tourism Management Diploma from Humber College
Certified Pilates Instructor
Costume and Textile Cultural Consultant
Christopher Pinheiro
Trinidadian theatrician Christopher Pinheiro is a multi-media artist and the Artistic director of Toronto-based Swizzlestick Theatre. Foundation member of Banyan Television Workshop and the Callaloo Company of MasMan Peter Minshall, his early training was with Derek Walcott’s Trinidad Theatre Workshop and the Jamaican School of Drama.
CAST (in alphabetical order)
(Sarah)
Oya/Ahosi/Buffalo: Lukumi: A Dub Opera(Watah Theatre) Antonia/Thuria: Two
Gentlewomen Of Verona (Dauntless City Theatre); Queen Nzinga: Nasty (Maelstrom
Art Collective); Frog Princess: DISENCHANTED: A New Musical (Starvox
Entertainment).
Graduate of the Musical Theatre Performance Program at St Clair College. 4 year internship at Broadway Theatre Project.
(Tituba)
Recipient of the Canada 150 grant ~ Canada Council for the Arts; Recipient of the 2014 BBPA Harry Jermone Arts Award
(Mary)
Killer Queen: We Will Rock You (Star VOX); Lion: The Wizard Of Oz (The Randolph Theatre); Effie White: Dream Girls (The Lower Ossington Theatre); Medda Larkin: Newsies (The Randolph Theatre); Sharmaine: Da Kink In My Hair(Theatre Calgary / National Arts Centre / Trey Anthony Productions)
Krystle Chance, is a songwriter/Vocalist/ producer/Actor and Music Educator from Toronto.
Krystle is a University of Toronto (Economics for Business management and urban planning) graduate. She is formally trained in Voice by the Ontario Conservatory of Music and is currently the
Vocal Program Director at The Conservatory of Music and the Arts.
(Candy)
Hairspray (Broadway); Dynamite & Lil Inez U/S, Lion King (Mirvish) Dance Ensemble, West Side Story (Stratford Festival) Francesca, The Little Mermaid (Capitol Theatre) Ensemble, Mamma Mia!; Ali (Capitol Theatre)
(Auctioneer)
Role: Heather Chandler - Heathers the Musical (We Are Here); Role: Cheryl - Evil Dead the Musical (Starvox);
Role: Queen of Hearts - Alice in Wonderland (Creativiva);
Role: Ursula - The Little Mermaid (LOT);
Role: The Witch - Into the Woods (HHT);
Graduate of the St Clair College Musical Theatre Performance program.
(Captain / Doctor)
Men's Chorus Leader, LYSISTRATA, Bard on the Beach, Vancouver
Rosemary, LONDON ROAD, Canadian Stage
Anne Marie, A DOLL'S HOUSE, Soulpepper
10 Seasons, Principal roles, Stratford Festival
BFA from UBC, Acting Faculty Member - University of Waterloo, George Brown, Fanshawe and St Clair Colleges
(Shapeshifter)
Theatre); Peter Pan/Ensemble: Shrek The Musical (Rainbow Stage); Lorraine/Ancestor: *The
Adventures of A Black Girl In Search of God (Centaur Theatre & National Arts Centre); Pearl/
Dynamite: Hairspray (Drayton Ent.)
York University: BFA Honours - Dance; META’s winner for ‘Outstanding PACT
Production’ & ‘Outstanding Contribution to Theatre’ - Chorus, for *Adventures
(Abigail Williams)
Two-time Dora nominee. Graduate of Sheridan College's Music Theatre Performance Program. For Mom & Dad.
(Shapeshifter)
Interdisciplinary artist working as a performer in dance, theatre and song. Chorographical work highlights, celebrates and honors black representation in performing arts.
Shelly Ann was born on the beautiful twin islands of Trinidad & Tobago into a family heavily involved in the arts . She started singing in church choir at the age of 4, where she quickly gained the position of lead singer, then eventually soloist. She began formal dance training at age 11 with Les Enfants dance company. She has an encyclopedic knowledge of various forms of Caribbean Folk dance styles from various islands & across Trinidad’s vast culture gleaned from years of study with many of the Keepers of the islands dance, song, & music. She has travelled the Caribbean representing Trinidad & Tobago at various dance festivals where she was also invited to teach classes ranging from beginners to advanced dancers & other artists. Shelly Ann was awarded & accepted a scholarship from the University of the West Indies to read in the program of Dance & Dance Education in 2004.
(Shapeshifter)
Currently enrolled in the Bachelor of Behavioural science program. Professional dancer with KasheDance and business owner of Ahya's Closet.
Debbie is a dancer/ choreographer, actor and Mentor Artist Educator. She began her formal dance training in 1997 as performing apprentice with Coba (Collective of Black Artists). She trained in Traditional West African, Indigenous Caribbean Folklore, Modern/Contemporary and Ballet dance forms. As a core company member, she has had the opportunity to travel and perform internationally with the company to date. In 2006, she played the leading role in her first full-length film as Harriet Tubman in Seth Adrian Harris’s “When Moses Woke” the film has since been nominated for a Gemini award. As a Mentor Artist Educator, Debbie has just completed her third and final level of the Artist-Educator Certification with the Royal Conservatory. She has been contracted for various projects with the Royal Conservatory’s Learning Through The Arts Program since 2008. Debbie has had the great honor to be commissioned by the Toronto District School Board as the Artistic Director and Lead Choreographer for the Cooperative Education Program for 2012 and has been offered the same position for the 2013 season.
(The Elder)
(ETHEKWINI LIVING LEGENDS AWARDS, Singer, guitarist, composer, lyricist, teacher and actress, (WWW.TUNOKWE.COM). Starred as PAMPATA in the Epic Movie SHAKA ZULU, as the King's Love.
(Shapeshifter)
Other Theatre - Shapeshifter: Obeah Opera (Asah Productions, Fall for Dance 2019, Panamerican Games 2015); Dancer: DJAA (Lua Shayenne Dance company-Fall for Dance, 2016). More Than My Own Skin (Jaberi Dance Theatre- Dance Ontario Weekend 2016).
Graduate of York University (BFA and MA in Dance); will begin Phd in Cultural Studies at Queen’s in September. Has presented research internationally and performed alongside a formidable list of distinguished artists from Canada and abroad, including some of Cuba’s premiere folkloric ensembles.
(Betty)
Currently enrolled in the Bachelor of Behavioural science program. Professional dancer with KasheDance and business owner of Ahya's Closet.
(Reverend Samuel Paris/Massah Bradshaw)
Other Theatre - Roula/Ensemble:Reflector (Theatre Gargantua), Mary/She:Trace (Vertical City), Claudia/others, I,Claudia (Crow's Theatre), Elenita/The Being: La Communion (Aluna Theatre), Titania/Hippolyta: A Midsummer Night's Dream (Shakespeare in the Ruff).
Michelle has garnered several prestigious awards throughout her career. She completed her first year of Gestalt training this spring.
Tringa transitions into the pop scene with the debut of her self-titled EP after 15 years of singing and acting on stage across Canada and around the world. She brings depth and passion to her music, which captures the three-dimensional, raw human experience.
Tringa was born in Gjilan, Kosovo to artist/musician parents. In 1999, at 8-years-old, Tringa and her family fled war-torn Kosovo and came to Halifax, Nova Scotia as refugees. Tringa quickly learned English and became an active member of the east-coast music, arts and culture scene as an award-winning vocalist and theatre artist. Her work garnered her a number of scholarships and she had the opportunity to study at top performing arts schools in Canada and in New York. As a solo artist, she has performed at events, benefits and award functions in Canada, the United States and in Europe.
Tringa has been featured by numerous media outlets including CTV News and CBC National as a singer that is “going places” and on international television singing in her native tongue.
(Shapeshifter)
Choreographer: Mute (Infinity Arts Productions)
Performer: Evoque (Collective of Black Artists)
Performer: Long Live (REAson d’être Productions)
Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from Ryerson University
Tourism Management Diploma from Humber College
Certified Pilates Instructor
