Stageworthy

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 threatening to topple the entire kingdom as soon as he gains it...

Richard III is William Shakespeare's most lovably evil villain, as renowned for his charm as for his horrific acts. His scheming politician archetype is seen to this day in dramas such as House of Cards and Game of Thrones, and, far too often, in real life as well.

Richard III plays until March 24 at the Staircase Theatre.
The Staircase Theatre 27 Dundurn Street North Hamilton.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/make.art.theatre
https://makearttheatre.weebly.com

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 Deliverance

Instagram: @bryce_hodgson

Charlie Kerr (Co-writer, Hogan)
Charlie Kerr is an actor, a musician and a playwright. His extensive work in these three fields has awarded him recognition last year as a 'Star To Watch' according to Variety Magazine, E! Canada and the Whistler Film Festival. He recently starred in 'Lost Solace' directed by: Chris Scheuerman (due out this year) and 'Ice Blue' directed by: Sandi Somers (currently doing it's festival run). "After Wrestling" is the third play he has written together with Bryce Hodgson, the other two being "Piranha Club" which premiered in Vancouver and "Kill Your Parents In Viking, Alberta" which premiered in Toronto as a collaboration with The Storefront theatre. He wants to thank everyone at Factory theatre, and everyone involved with Blood Pact, but mostly whoever is reading this program. You could be anywhere in the world right now, and you're here with us, we appreciate that. Enjoy the show.

Twitter:@mattandsamsbro
Instagram: @mattandsamsbrother

After Wrestling
When your best friend kills himself and Facebook stalking your ex-girlfriend just ain't what it used to be, look no further than rolling in duck feces and living in the park. Unfortunately for Hogan, his sister and the cops don't share his same enthusiasm for DIY self-help.

After Wrestling is a slacker-comedy turned suicide-mystery that finds itself in a booze- and grief- fuelled magic realism debate on love, life, and after-death.

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/BloodPactTheatre/

AFTER WRESTLING

Written by Bryce Hodgson and Charlie Kerr
Directed by Bryce Hodgson
February 24 – March 18, 2018

World Premiere

Factory Studio Theatre, 125 Bathurst Street
Starring Gabe Grey, Charlie Kerr, Libby Osler, Anthony Shim
Tuesday - Saturday @ 8pm, Sunday @ 2pm

Single tickets start at just $20 for previews and range from $30-$50 for regular performances

Student, Arts Worker and Senior prices also available

Purchase in person at Factory, 125 Bathurst Street, visit factorytheatre.ca or call 416.504.9971

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*

• Episode 2/The Middle Part - May 9-19, 2018 - *MAY 10th OPENING*

• Episode 3/The Last Bit - July 18-28, 2018 - *JULY 19th OPENING*

Tickets for INCH OF YOUR LIFE: Episode 1/The Pilot are on sale TODAY at www.artsboxoffice.ca

The Theatre Circuit was created with the intention of producing work that celebrates and highlights the artistic diversity of Toronto; cultivating an artistic hub in which to nurture, support, and promote Toronto-based theatre artists; fostering a community in which emerging, established, and returning theatre artists can connect and develop fruitful creative partnerships; and, engaging and entertaining the people of Toronto while attracting broader audiences to support local theatre productions.

Also as part of its first season is THE LAST PERFORMANCE by Hole in the Wall Productions starring Jonathan Sconza & Steven Vlahos and directed by Ceridwen Kingstone.

The Theatre Circuit is comprised of founding members Massimo Pagliaroli (Artistic Director) and Carlo Vitelli (Managing Director), and Susan Lock, Alex Clay, Ceridwen Kingstone, Jonathan Sconza, Steven Vlahos & Andrea Healey (Resident Artists & Associate Producers).

www.thetheatrecircuit.com
@theatrecircuit

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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 Stories/ Theatre Calgary/CanStage (Betty Mitchell award nomination), In the Next Room Tarragon/MTC, Florence Gibson's I Think I Can YPT/National Arts Centre, Our Town/Two Planks and a Passion (Merrit Award nomination), Blithe Spirit/Soulpepper. Logging 8 Dora nominations for acting over the years Melody also co created the musical Mimi with Rick Roberts and Allen Cole for the Tarragon Theatre in 2009.

www.melodyjohnson.ca
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Melody-Johnson-214058295823079/
Tickets to Person of Interest: http://www.tarragontheatre.com/show/person-of-interest/

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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 Scholarship for dedication and outstanding ability. ​Co-founder of Criminal Girlfriends.

http://www.emmeliagordon.com/
Twitter: @emmmmelia
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emmeliagordon

Wes Berger
Fierce will be the fourth World Premiere production of a play by George F. Walker for which Wes has served as director, after Parents Night (CrazyLady), The Bigger Issue (CrazyLady) and, most recently, The Chance (Leroy St Theatre). Wes also directed Walker's Criminal Genius (Lyndesfarne Theatre Projects) and acted in first productions of Walker's plays, The Ravine (Lyndesfarne Theatre Projects) and The Damage Done (Canadian Rep). Other directing credits include Rukmini's Gold (Red Betty), The Beauty Queen of Leenane (Connemara Collective), Scenic View (ECT), Larger Than Life: The Musical (Ghostlight Projects), Speed-the-Plow (Theatre Proteus), and his own play, FOOL (SummerWorks Festival). Wes also served as director and dramaturge for his partner Sarah Murphy-Dyson’s play The Naked Ballerina (SOULO Festival, In The Soil Festival, Toronto Fringe Festival) for which he was cited by NOW Magazine for Outstanding Direction.

Fierce
Two women. A retired professional woman, arrested while wandering in traffic is found to be under the influence of a potent "drug cocktail." She is ordered by the court to undergo treatment, and placed in a clinic run by a psychiatrist who has her own difficult history. A volatile 75-minute encounter, fuelled by painful revelations - and their mutual distaste of politeness - provocatively ensues.

Filled with Walker's trademark ferocious and finely-honed wit,Fierce stars Vancouver / Toronto / Montreal actor and performance artist Marisa Crockett as the psychiatrist Maggie and Vancouver's Emmelia Gordon (two-time Jessie Richardson award winner making her Toronto debut) as her patient, Jayne. These two starry-eyed drifters met while taking an acting workshop with the playwright. Kindred spirits, the two women created Criminal Girlfriends to produce this edgy comedy, born out of a common desire to make intense, punchy theatre happen in intimate spaces

http://www.criminalgirlfriends.com/

Criminal Girlfriends proudly presents the world premiere of
Fierce by George F. Walker
Directed by Wes Berger
Starring Marisa Crockett and Emmelia Gordon

Previews February 15 & 16, Opens Saturday, February 17 and runs to March 3, 2018
Red Sandcastle Theatre, 922 Queen St. East, Toronto
Monday-Saturday @ 8pm (except no show on Monday February 26); Sunday matinee on February 25 @ 3pm

Ticket Prices: February 15 & 16 Previews & February 25 Matinee - Pay-what-you-can

Regular Run: February 17-March 3 - $25 (Arts Workers/Students/ Seniors $20 and Youth 25 & under $15)
Tickets at: https://fiercetoronto.brownpapertickets.com/

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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 Contracts Chair. He is also on a number of other theatre boards.

Outside of theatre, Chris is also very active in national politics. In 2015, Chris ran in the federal election as the Green Party’s candidate in Toronto-Danforth, advocating for the cultural issues he is passionate about. His campaign resulted in the best showing for the Green Party in the GTA and surrounding area, and was recognized as one of the strongest campaigns run nationally.

Twitter: @christolley

Laura Mullin is a playwright, director and producer, and the Co-Artistic Director of Expect Theatre and The Spark Collective. She graduated from York University with a bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre before forming Expect and Spark with Chris Tolley. She has created and produced several highly acclaimed productions with Tolley that have toured nationally and internationally.

Selected writing and directing credits: Romeo/Juliet Remixed (5 Dora award nominations, winner of Outstanding Choreography), EXPECT/ Spark; Tunnel Runners, CBC Radio; STATIC, Harbourfront Centre’s World Stage Festival; AWAKE, Next Stage Festival; AWAKE The Short Film; Rapid Eye Movement & To The Kid That I was, Nuit Blanche; One Sleepless Night, International Festival of Authors; Allowance (in development); Burusera, Watermark Theatre (national 21 city tour & to be published in the Playwright’s Guild Short Play Anthology); History of Visual Sources (short story).

Awards & Commissions: Toronto Arts Foundation Award (short listed 2009 & 2013); Harbourfront Centre’s inaugural Fresh Ground Commissioning Award; Dora Award nomination for Outstanding Production for Romeo / Juliet Remixed (General Theatre category), Ontario Arts Council’s Creator’s Reserve from Nightwood Theatre (2013) and Crow’s Theatre (2015) for Allowance, Watermark Theatre Commission of Burusera for Canada 300’s national tour (2015).

Twitter: @expectlaura

PlayME

Expect Theatre has created an exciting new initiative that celebrates the best of Canadian Indie Theatre on a national and international scale. The project helps raise the profile of Canadian playwrights by highlighting new works through a series of podcasts, making it accessible to audiences worldwide.

PlayME is transforming the way we experience Canadian theatre, by taking a bold and innovative approach to disseminating plays. The podcast features distinguished actors, and focuses on current and relevant scripts geared to the growing “on-demand” audience.

Expect’s Artistic Directors, Laura Mullin and Chris Tolley are spearheading this project, in partnership with organizations such as The Toronto Fringe Festival and the Playwrights Guild of Canada.

http://www.playmepodcast.com/
http://expect.org/
Twitter: @expecttheatre

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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:@katsandler
Instagram: ksandler24

Donna-Michelle St. Bernard
Donna-Michelle St. Bernard aka Belladonna the Blest is an emcee, playwright, administrator and agitator. She has worked as a dramaturge with Keith Barker, Celia Green, Fiona Rae Clarke, Camila Diaz Varela, Joseph Tisiga, Tylor Pennock and The Movement Project. DM is emcee in residence at Theatre Passe Muraille and playwright in residence at lemonTree Creations. Upcoming: Forbidden with Afarin Mansouri for Tapestry

54ology.wordpress.com
Twitter: @BelladonnaNHP

Bang Bang
A white playwright uses the shooting of an unarmed young Black man by a police officer as a “jumping off point” for his hit play that is soon to be adapted into a major movie. As Hollywood comes knocking for the writer, he makes a surprise visit to the home of the officer involved. With Sandler’s trademark wit, BANG BANG traces the impact of what it means to be inspired by true events. Bang Bang runs January 27–February 18, 2018 at Factory Theatre.

Tickets:https://www.factorytheatre.ca/2017-18-season/bang-bang/
Twitter:@FactoryToronto
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FactoryTheatreTO/

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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 the Advisory Board for the Canadian Stage GYM program and a graduate of the joint acting program at UofT and Sheridan College.

JAMES WALLIS
James has been a Shakespeare fan all his life, having performed with Resurgence Theatre Company as a teenager and again as a professional later in his career.

After graduating from Ryerson Theatre School, James jumped right into the big bad world of commercial work and film & television acting. He has been seen in a number of national commercials, including spots for Boston Pizza, Honda, and Expedia. Also, he has appeared on The Jon Dore Show, XIII: The Series and in a number of feature films including: And Now A Word From Our Sponsors and The Movie Out Here.

In 2010, James co-founded Shakespeare BASH’d with his wife, Julia. For the company, James has directed staged readings of Romeo and Juliet (2010), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2011), Edward II (2015), and Volpone (2017), as well as the full productions of Romeo & Juliet, Love's Labour's Lost, Macbeth, The Merry Wives of Windsor, and Twelfth Night. He played Petruchio in the company's Best of Fringe winning production of The Taming of the Shrew in 2012 and the remount in 2015, and played Benedick in their sold-out production of Much Ado About Nothing in the 2013 Toronto Fringe. In addition, here are some of James’ selected theatre credits: A Midsummer Nights’ Dream, Shakespeare’s Magic, and The Taming of the Shrew (Theatre by the Bay), Danny, King of the Basement (Roseneath Theatre, US Tour), Sleeping Beauty (Sudbury Theatre Centre), Paradise by the River (Shadowpath Theatre).

James just completed his second season at the Stratford Festival as part of the Michael Langham Workshop for Classical Directing. There he has assistant directed Macbeth, Bunny, and Romeo and Juliet.

Shakespeare BASH'd presents
Richard III
by William Shakespeare

February 6-11, 2018
at the Monarch Tavern (12 Clinton St)

Shakespeare's epic drama about a powerful villain manipulating his way to the crown is given a barroom staging by Shakespeare BASH'd.
You don't want to miss this bare-bones, visceral, and all too relevant production.

Tickets on sale now at www.shakespearebashd.com
$20 online
$25 at the door (pending availability)

SHOWTIMES:
Tuesday, February 6 - 7:30pm
Wednesday, February 7 - 7:30pm
Thursday, February 8 - 7:30pm
Friday, February 9 - 7:30pm
Saturday, February 10 - 2:00pm
Saturday, February 10 - 7:30pm
Sunday, February 11 - 2:00pm

Directed by Julia Nish-Lapidus

Featuring: Cosette Derome, Jade Douris, Jennifer Dzialoszynski, Suzette McCanny, Shalyn McFaul, Drew O’Hara, Trevor Pease, Catherine Rainville, James Wallis, Kelly Wong, Joseph Zita

Associate Director: Megan Miles
Stage Manager: Christopher Brackett
Fight Director: Nate Bitton
Movement Coach: Brad Cook
Marketing Design: Kyle Purcell

Website: www.shakespearebashd.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShakespeareBASHd/
Twitter: @ShakesBASHd
Instagram: @ShakesBASHd

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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/

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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 Movies Bitchy Gay Men and My Criterions, a journey through his film collection.

https://myoldaddiction.com/
BGM: Bad Gay Movies Bitchy Gay Men
My Criterions

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