2023-02-09 19:302023-02-18 21:3060Canada/Eastern🎟 NAC: Is God Is
https://nac-cna.ca/en/event/30546
In-person event
An NAC presentation of the Obsidian Theatre, Necessary Angel, Canadian Stage production.
Curated by Black Theatre Workshop.
Twin sisters Anaia and Racine are on a quest for peace. And they are willing to kill for it.
She is a God to her twins, Anaia and Racine — a god of vengeance. And She will only be satisfied when their daddy is very, very dead.
The sisters are sent on a quest from the South to a sleepy California desert city to fulfill their...
It is such a gift to be diving back into live theatre with this production.
Is God Is takes the experiences of Black women and Black people and mythologizesthem, creating a story that is truly unapologetic, free, and fuelled with a kind of propulsiveaction that is so satisfying to bring to life.
What makes the play so exciting is that it challenges the idea of respectability politicsand how we expect Black women to behave in society. It further humanizes the experiencesand the complexities of how Black folk move in the world based on what we haveinherited and what we desire to become.
Is God Is is at its centre about a desire for freedom and for justice. It is about breakingthe cycles that bind us and fighting to take back the power that we are so often robbed of...
To say more would be to give too much away. Thank you so much for taking this journey with us. I hope you enjoy it.
Mumbi is an acclaimed theatre creator and director raised in Kenya and Victoria, BC and based in Toronto. She is the Artistic Director of Obsidian Theatre, Canada’s leading creator for Black Art as well as Founder/Artistic director for the experimental theatre company IFT (It’s A Freedom Thing Theatre) Theatre. Recent directing credits, Post Democracy (Tarragon), Is God Is (Obsidian/Canadian Stage/Necessary Angel) Cast Iron (Obsidian/Factory), 21 Black Futures (Obsidian/CBC Arts), Trout Stanley (Factory Theatre), The Brothers Size, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Soulpepper Theatre), We are Proud to Present (UofT Scarborough), and Oraltorio: A Theatrical Mixtape for (Obsidian Theatre/Soulpepper).
Mumbi is also the recipient of many awards including a Canadian Screen Award, a Dora Award, a Toronto Theatre Critics Award, a Pauline McGibbon Award and a Mallory Gilbert Protege Award.
Mumbi est une artiste de théâtre et une metteuse en scène reconnue, qui a grandi au Kenya et à Victoria, C.-B., et qui habite maintenant à Toronto. Elle est directrice artistique de l’Obsidian Theatre, principal lieu de création d’art noir au Canada, ainsi que fondatrice et directrice artistique de la compagnie de théâtre expérimentale IFT Theatre (It’s A Freedom Thing Theatre). Parmi ses récentes mises en scène, mentionnons : Post Democracy (Tarragon), Is God Is (Obsidian, Canadian Stage et Necessary Angel) Cast Iron (Obsidian et Factory), 21 Black Futures (Obsidian et CBC Arts), Trout Stanley (Factory Theatre), The Brothers Size, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Soulpepper Theatre), We are Proud to Present (UofT Scarborough), et Oraltorio: A Theatrical Mixtape (Obsidian Theatre et Soulpepper).
Mumbi est aussi lauréate de nombreux prix, dont le prix des Écrans canadiens, le prix Dora, le prix Toronto Theatre Critics, le prix Pauline McGibbon et le prix Mallory Gilbert Protege.
Content warning: This play includes depictions of: violence, death, murder, fire, burns, blood. As well as references of domestic violence, familial and generational abuse, and depictions and references of suicide, and emotional abuse by a parent.
Aleshea Harris’s play Is God Is (directed by Taibi Magar at Soho Rep and Ola Ince at the Royal Court) won the 2016 Relentless Award, an OBIE Award for playwriting in 2017, the Helen Merrill Playwriting Award in 2019 and was a finalist for the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize. What to Send UpWhen It Goes Down, a play-pageant-ritual response to anti-blackness, had its critically acclaimed NYC premiere in 2018 (directed by Whitney White and produced by The Movement Theatre Company), was featured in the April 2019 issue of American Theatre Magazine and received a rare special commendation from the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize. The play was subsequently re-mounted at Woolly Mammoth, A.R.T., BAM and Playwrights Horizons. Her newest play, On Sugarland (directed by Whitney White) premiered at New York Theatre Workshop in the spring of 2022. Awards: Windham-Campbell Literary Prize, Mimi Steinberg Playwriting Award, Hermitage Greenfield Prize, Horton Foote Playwriting Award, Arts and Letters Award in Literature from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Harris is a two-time MacDowell Fellow and has enjoyed residencies at the Hermitage Artist Retreat, Hedgebrook and Djerassi.
La pièce d’Aleshea Harris, Is God Is (mise en scène par Taibi Magar pour la compagnie Soho Repertory Theatre et Ola Ince au Royal Court Theatre) a remporté le prix Relentless 2016, le prix OBIE de la dramaturgie 2017 et le prix de la dramaturgie Helen Merrill en 2019, et a été finaliste au prix Susan Smith Blackburn. Sa pièce What to Send UpWhen It Goes Down, conçue comme une célébration et un rituel en réponse au racisme envers les personnes noires, a été saluée par la critique lors de sa première new-yorkaise en 2018 (mise en scène par Whitney White et produite par le Movement Theatre Company), en plus de figurer dans le numéro d’avril 2019 de l’American TheatreMagazine et de recevoir une distinction spéciale aux prix Susan Smith Blackburn. La pièce a été reprise par la suite par les compagnies Woolly Mammoth, A.R.T., BAM et Playwrights Horizons. Sa plus récente pièce, On Sugarland (mise en scène par Whitney White) a été créée au New York Theatre Workshop au printemps 2022. Aleshea Harris a reçu le Prix littéraire Windham-Campbell, le prix de la dramaturgie Mimi Steinberg, le prix Hermitage Greenfield, le prix de la dramaturgie Horton Foote et le prix Arts and Letters en littérature de l’American Academy of Arts and Letters. Elle a pu profiter de deux résidences d’artiste à la MacDowell Colony, ainsi que de retraites artistiques à l’Hermitage (Flor.), à Hedgebrook (Wash.) et à Djerassi (Calif.).
Mumbi is an acclaimed theatre creator and director raised in Kenya and Victoria, BC and based in Toronto. She is the Artistic Director of Obsidian Theatre, Canada’s leading creator for Black Art as well as Founder/Artistic director for the experimental theatre company IFT (It’s A Freedom Thing Theatre) Theatre. Recent directing credits, Post Democracy (Tarragon), Is God Is (Obsidian/Canadian Stage/Necessary Angel) Cast Iron (Obsidian/Factory), 21 Black Futures (Obsidian/CBC Arts), Trout Stanley (Factory Theatre), The Brothers Size, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Soulpepper Theatre), We are Proud to Present (UofT Scarborough), and Oraltorio: A Theatrical Mixtape for (Obsidian Theatre/Soulpepper).
Mumbi is also the recipient of many awards including a Canadian Screen Award, a Dora Award, a Toronto Theatre Critics Award, a Pauline McGibbon Award and a Mallory Gilbert Protege Award.
Mumbi est une artiste de théâtre et une metteuse en scène reconnue, qui a grandi au Kenya et à Victoria, C.-B., et qui habite maintenant à Toronto. Elle est directrice artistique de l’Obsidian Theatre, principal lieu de création d’art noir au Canada, ainsi que fondatrice et directrice artistique de la compagnie de théâtre expérimentale IFT Theatre (It’s A Freedom Thing Theatre). Parmi ses récentes mises en scène, mentionnons : Post Democracy (Tarragon), Is God Is (Obsidian, Canadian Stage et Necessary Angel) Cast Iron (Obsidian et Factory), 21 Black Futures (Obsidian et CBC Arts), Trout Stanley (Factory Theatre), The Brothers Size, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Soulpepper Theatre), We are Proud to Present (UofT Scarborough), et Oraltorio: A Theatrical Mixtape (Obsidian Theatre et Soulpepper).
Mumbi est aussi lauréate de nombreux prix, dont le prix des Écrans canadiens, le prix Dora, le prix Toronto Theatre Critics, le prix Pauline McGibbon et le prix Mallory Gilbert Protege.
Aleshea Harris’s play Is God Is (directed by Taibi Magar at Soho Rep and Ola Ince at the Royal Court) won the 2016 Relentless Award, an OBIE Award for playwriting in 2017, the Helen Merrill Playwriting Award in 2019 and was a finalist for the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize. What to Send UpWhen It Goes Down, a play-pageant-ritual response to anti-blackness, had its critically acclaimed NYC premiere in 2018 (directed by Whitney White and produced by The Movement Theatre Company), was featured in the April 2019 issue of American Theatre Magazine and received a rare special commendation from the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize. The play was subsequently re-mounted at Woolly Mammoth, A.R.T., BAM and Playwrights Horizons. Her newest play, On Sugarland (directed by Whitney White) premiered at New York Theatre Workshop in the spring of 2022. Awards: Windham-Campbell Literary Prize, Mimi Steinberg Playwriting Award, Hermitage Greenfield Prize, Horton Foote Playwriting Award, Arts and Letters Award in Literature from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Harris is a two-time MacDowell Fellow and has enjoyed residencies at the Hermitage Artist Retreat, Hedgebrook and Djerassi.
DirectorMumbi Tindyebwa Otu
Mumbi is an acclaimed theatre creator and director raised in Kenya and Victoria, BC and based in Toronto. She is the Artistic Director of Obsidian Theatre, Canada’s leading creator for Black Art as well as Founder/Artistic director for the experimental theatre company IFT (It’s A Freedom Thing Theatre) Theatre. Recent directing credits, Post Democracy (Tarragon), Is God Is (Obsidian/Canadian Stage/Necessary Angel) Cast Iron (Obsidian/Factory), 21 Black Futures (Obsidian/CBC Arts), Trout Stanley (Factory Theatre), The Brothers Size, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Soulpepper Theatre), We are Proud to Present (UofT Scarborough), and Oraltorio: A Theatrical Mixtape for (Obsidian Theatre/Soulpepper).
Mumbi is also the recipient of many awards including a Canadian Screen Award, a Dora Award, a Toronto Theatre Critics Award, a Pauline McGibbon Award and a Mallory Gilbert Protege Award.
NAC: I Think I Can Elsewhere: Intimate Apparel (Belfry), Billy Elliot, Little Shop of Horrors, To Kill A Mockingbird, Twelfth Night, The Who’s:Tommy, Fiddler on the Roof (Stratford Festival), Hair (Canadian Stage), AMidsummer Nights Dream (Dream in High Park), Calpurnia (Nightwood), Sister Act (Drayton), Wizard of Oz, Jacob Two Two meets the Hooded Fang,Cinderella: A RATtical retelling, I Think I Can (YPT), Hair (The Grand), Jersey Boys (Dancap, Dodgers). Selected Film & TV: Good Witch(Hallmark), The Kennedys (History Television), Odd Squad (PBS), Pinkalicious and Peterriffic (PBS Kids), Hailstorm (CFC) Instant Star(CTV), MR D (CBC).
Upcoming: Look for Matthew in the new season of CBC’s Pretty Hard Cases and the upcoming Showtime drama Fellow Travelers.
Training: Randolph College, The CFC Actors Conservatory. For updates, follow me on Instagram: @ItsMrMGB
Au CNA : I Think I Can. Ailleurs : Intimate Apparel (Belfry), Billy Elliot, Little Shop of Horrors, To Kill A Mockingbird, Twelfth Night, The Who’s:Tommy, Fiddler on the Roof (Festival de Stratford), Hair (Canadian Stage), AMidsummer Nights Dream (Dream in High Park), Calpurnia (Nightwood), Sister Act (Drayton), Wizard of Oz, Jacob Two Two meets the Hooded Fang,Cinderella: A RATtical retelling, I Think I Can (YPT), Hair (The Grand), Jersey Boys (Dancap, Dodgers). Au cinéma et à la télévision : Good Witch(Hallmark), The Kennedys (History Television), Odd Squad (PBS), Pinkalicious and Peterriffic (PBS Kids), Hailstorm (CFC) Instant Star(CTV), MR D (CBC).
À venir : Matthew fera partie de la nouvelle saison de Pretty Hard Cases à CBC et de la dramatique Fellow Travelers, sur la chaîne Showtime.
Toronto-based artist and graduate of the University of Windsor’s BFA Program, JD is honored to make her Ottawa debut with the National Arts Centre. JD would also like to thank her Mother, Camille, Cadence, and #BBFA for their love and support. THEATRE: Snow White - Snow White (Young People's Theatre); Is God Is - Swing (Obsidian/ Necessary Angel/ Canadian Stage); The Spectator’s Odyssey - O’dell’Inferno (DLT Theatre); Queen Goneril - Her Words Festival - Cordelia (2021); Portia’s Julius Caesar - Soothsayer (Hart House Theatre); Elbow Room - Kia (TO Fringe Festival 2019) FILM & TELEVISION: A Diva's Christmas Carol - Antonia; Good Witch; The Anniversary - Tianna. UPCOMING: Vierge - Sarah (Factory Theatre)
JD Leslie, artiste torontoise titulaire d’un baccalauréat en beaux-arts de l’Université de Windsor, est ravie de faire ses débuts au Centre national des Arts d’Ottawa. JD voudrait remercier sa mère, Camille, Cadence et #BBFA pour leur amour et leur soutien.
Théâtre : Blanche-Neige dans Snow White (Young People’s Theatre); doublure dans Is God Is (Obsidian, Necessary Angel et Canadian Stage); The Spectator’s Odyssey – O’dell’Inferno (DLT Theatre); Cordelia dans Queen Goneril (Festival Her Words, 2021); la voyante dans Portia’s Julius Caesar (Hart House Theatre); Kia dans Elbow Room (Festival Fringe de Toronto 2019). Cinéma et télévision : Antonia dans A Diva's Christmas Carol;Good Witch; Tianna dans The Anniversary. À venir : Sarah dans Vierge (Factory Theatre)
Ms. Oladejo graduated from the prestigious Humber School of Creative & Performing Arts in Toronto, having immigrated to Canada from Nigeria in her teens. Within the next few years Oyin worked non-stop in Canadian theatre - IN THIS WORLD, by Roseneath Theatre, for which she won Toronto’s top theatre award, The Dora Mavor Moore Award for Outstanding Performance; several productions for Soulpepper Theatre, including CRUCIBLE,TARTUFFE, EURYDICE, A DOLL’S HOUSE and NOISES OFF; TOMORROW LOVE with Outside the March, in which the actors were told nightly which roles they’d play by the audience and IS GOD IS for Canadian Stage.
In film and television, Oyin again bounded to the top very quickly, landing the series regular role of “Joann Owosekun” on the hit series STAR TREK: DISCOVERY for CBS, opposite Jason Isaacs, and Sonequa Martin-Green, currently in its fifth season. She also simultaneously shot the CBC/Hulu/NBC series ENDLINGS. Oyin has just returned to Canada having completed shooting the title role in the feature film ORAH, which shot in both Canada and Nigeria.
D’origine nigériane, Oyin Oladejo a immigré au Canada dans sa jeunesse et est diplômée du prestigieux programme Creative and Performing Arts du Humber College de Toronto. Après ses études, Oyin a travaillé cinq ans sans relâche dans le milieu théâtral canadien. Elle a reçu un prix Dora Mavor Moore, le plus important prix de théâtre à Toronto, pour son interprétation exceptionnelle dans In This World, du Roseneath Theatre. On a pu la voir notamment dans Crucible, Tartuffe, Eurydice,A Doll’s House et Noises Off du Soulpepper Theatre; Tomorrow Love d’Outside the March, où le public choisissait chaque soir le rôle des acteurs; et Is God Is de la Canadian Stage.
Au cinéma et à la télévision, Oyin s’est aussi retrouvée en tête d’affiche rapidement, interprétant le rôle régulier de Joann Owosekun dans la populaire série Star Trek: Discovery à CBS, qui en est actuellement à sa cinquième saison, aux côtés de Jason Isaac et de Sonequa Martin-Green. Elle a également tourné au même moment la série Endlings de CBC, Hulu et NBC. Oyin vient de terminer le tournage de Orah, filmé au Canada et au Nigeria, dans lequel elle interprète le rôle-titre.
Sabryn Rock is an award-winning actor and director who has worked across the country on both screens and stage. Most recently she can be seen leading the cast in the hit CBC/BET+ show The Porter. She can also be seen in Station Eleven (HBO Max), Departure(BBC/Global),The Expanse (Amazon), Black Mirror (Netflix), and The Girlfriend Experience (Starz). Sabryn’s theatre credits include The Royalefor which she won a Toronto Theatre Critics Award for her performance (Soulpepper), Rose(Soulpepper), Is God Is(Obsidian/Canadian Stage), Fun Home(The Musical Stage Company/Mirvish), The Last Wife (The Globe Theatre), Passing Strange (Dora Nomination; Acting Upstage), as well as Caroline, or Change (Dora nomination); and one season at the Stratford Festival. She has numerous credits in voice and animation and has narrated several audiobooks. Sabryn can currently be heard as the beloved voice of Koki on PBS Kids’ beloved animated series Wild Kratts. She is a graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada, the Birmingham Conservatory for Classical Theatre and the Actors' Conservatory at the Canadian Film Centre.
Sabryn Rock est une actrice et metteuse en scène primée qui s’est produite sur les scènes et les écrans de tout le pays. Récemment, elle a tenu un rôle principal dans la populaire série The Porter, diffusée à CBC et BET+. Elle a aussi joué dans Station Eleven (HBO Max), Departure (BBC et Global), The Expanse (Amazon), Black Mirror (Netflix) et The Girlfriend Experience (Starz). Au théâtre, parmi ses collaborations mentionnons : The Royale (lauréate du prix d’interprétation des critiques de théâtre de Toronto; Soulpepper), Rose (Soulpepper), Is God Is (Obsidian et Canadian Stage), Fun Home (The Musical Stage Company et Mirvish), The Last Wife (The Globe Theatre), Passing Strange (nomination aux prix Dora; Acting Upstage) ainsi que Caroline, or Change (nomination aux prix Dora); et une saison au Festival de Stratford. Elle a pris part à plusieurs projets de voix, d’animation et de narration de livres audio. Elle prête actuellement sa voix au personnage de Koki dans la célèbre série d’animation pour enfants Wild Kratts, à PBS Kids.
Elle est diplômée de l’École nationale de théâtre du Canada, du Birmingham Conservatory for Classical Theatre et du Actors Conservatory du Canadian Film Centre.
Savion Roach is an artist and performer from Scarborough, ON. Born to parents from St. Vincent, he grew up in a household filled with music and dance. As a youth, he explored the performing arts with the New Conservatory of Music before attending Wexford Collegiate School for the Arts. Roach graduated from the National Theatre School of Canada, where he had the opportunity to learn from artists like Jackie Maxwell , Quincy Armorer, Brenda Bazinet and more. Away from theatre, he creates original music under the artist name SAATURN.
Selected stage credits: Gloria (ARC Stage and Crows Nest Theatre) ; Is God Is (Obsidian Theatre / Necessary Angel / Canadian Stage) ; Choir Boy (Canadian Stage)
Savion Roach est un artiste et comédien de Scarborough, Ontario. Né de parents originaires de Saint Vincent, il a grandi dans un foyer rempli de musique et de danse. À l’adolescence, il a exploré les arts du spectacle au New Conservatory of Music avant d’étudier au Wexford Collegiate School for the Arts. Il est diplômé de l’École nationale de théâtre du Canada, où il a eu la chance d’apprendre aux côtés d’artistes comme Jackie Maxwell, Quincy Armorer, Brenda Bazinet et plus encore. Lorsqu’il n’est pas en train de jouer au théâtre, il compose de la musique sous le nom d’artiste SAATURN.
Parmi ses collaborations au théâtre, mentionnons : Gloria (ARC Stage et Crows Nest Theatre); Is God Is (Obsidian Theatre, Necessary Angel et Canadian Stage); et Choir Boy (Canadian Stage).
Born in Barbados, Alison is an accomplished award-winning actor, director and producer whose professional career began in 1981 when she performed with the Pelican Players, Canada’s ‘first multicultural community theatre company’. Since then she has worked with theatre companies across Canada and in Barbados including the Green Room Players, Stage One Productions, Theatre Calgary, Young Peoples Theatre, Canadian Stage and the Stratford Festival. Her most recent theatre credits include “TheItSo Happen Suite” (Diasporic Arts Productions), “Alleluia Pork Chops!” (The Gap Theatre) “Cast Iron” (Nightwood Theatre), “The Polished Hoe” (Obsidian Theatre, Canada and the Frank Collymore Hall, Barbados) and her award-winning performance as Lena Younger in Soulpepper Theatre’s production of “A Raisin in the Sun”.
Alison is also proud to have been a part of Obsidian Theatre Company’s ground-breaking series 21 Black Futures and, most recently, their live audio version of Cast Iron, co-produced with Factory Theatre.
She has directed theatre productions for the Company of Sirens, LKTYP, the Saidye Bronfman Centre, the National Theatre School of Canada, Neptune Theatre, Black Theatre Workshop, Obsidian Theatre Company and the National Cultural Foundation of Barbados.
Alison has a long and diverse list of film and television credits which run the gamut from feature films to made for TV movies to recurring principal roles on long running episodics. Just a few of those titles include “An Accidental Friendship”,“Bloodletting and Miraculous Cures”, “This is Wonderland”, “Da Kink in My Hair”, “Dark Water”, “Honey”, “Talk to Me”, “How She Move”, “Hit for Six”, “You Kill Me”,“Naturally Sadie”, the web series “Valemont” and “Vigilante – The Crossing”.
An acclaimed voice actor, Alison was the voice of Storm on the animated series “The X-Men” and the voice of Scarlett on “Delilah and Julius”.
Alison has received five Dora Award nominations for acting and has won two. She is also the proud recipient of a Harry Jerome Award and a Salute to the City Award for her contribution to the Arts in Toronto, a George Luscombe Award for Mentorship and an Award of Excellence from the Caribbean Tales Film Festival.
She is a Founding Member of the Obsidian Theatre Company (Toronto) and served as Artistic Director from 2000 – 2006.
Alison is Founding Artistic Director of Diasporic Arts Productions (Barbados) and a Producer with The Gap Theatre (Barbados).
Né à la Barbade, Alison est une actrice, metteuse en scène et productrice primée, dont la brillante carrière a commencé en 1981, lorsqu’elle s’est jointe à la Pelican Players, la première compagnie de théâtre communautaire multiculturelle au Canada. Depuis, elle a joué avec des compagnies de théâtre de partout au Canada et de la Barbade, dont Green Room Players, Stage One Productions, le Theatre Calgary, le Young Peoples Theatre, la Canadian Stage et le Festival de Stratford. Ses plus récentes collaborations au théâtre comprennent TheItSo Happen Suite (Diasporic Arts Productions), Alleluia Pork Chops! (Gap Theatre), Cast Iron (Nightwood Theatre), The Polished Hoe (Obsidian Theatre, Canada et Frank Collymore Hall, Barbade) et Lena Younger dans A Raisin in the Sun du Soulpepper Theatre, rôle pour lequel elle a reçu un prix.
Alison est fière d’avoir pris part à la série avant-gardiste 21 Black Futures de l’Obsidian Theatre et, plus récemment, à leur version audio en direct de Cast Iron, coproduite par le Factory Theatre. Elle a mis en scène des productions théâtrales pour la Company of Sirens, LKTYP, le Centre Saidye Bronfman, l’École nationale de théâtre du Canada, le Neptune Theatre, le Black Theatre Workshop, l’Obsidian Theatre et la National Cultural Foundation of Barbados. Au cinéma et à la télévision, on a pu la voir dans des longs métrages, des téléfilms et des séries télévisées majeures, où elle a campé plusieurs rôles principaux récurrents. Parmi ses collaborations, mentionnons : An Accidental Friendship,Bloodletting and Miraculous Cures, This is Wonderland, Da Kink in My Hair, Dark Water, Honey, Talk to Me, How She Move, Hit for Six, You Kill Me,Naturally Sadie, et les séries WebValemont et Vigilante – The Crossing. Talentueuse actrice de doublage, Alison a prêté sa voix à Storm dans la série d’animation The X-Men et à Scarlett dans Delilah and Julius.
Alison a reçu deux prix Dora et cinq nominations à ces prix pour son travail d’interprétation. Elle est aussi l’heureuse lauréate du prix Harry Jerome, du prix Salute to the City pour sa contribution au milieu des arts de Toronto, du prix George Luscombe du mentorat et du Prix d’excellence du Festival international du film CaribbeanTales de Toronto. Elle est membre fondatrice de l’Obsidian Theatre (Toronto) et a agi à titre de directrice artistique de la compagnie de 2000 à 2006. Alison est la directrice artistique fondatrice des productions Diasporic Arts (Barbade) et productrice au Gap Theatre (Barbade).
Micah Woods is an Actor of Trinidadian decent who hopes to influence the black theatre/television community through a body of work that is meant to inspire audience members while bringing awareness to the presence of colourism within the industry. Micah is a graduate of both the York University Acting Conservatory 2018 and the 2021 class of the Stratford festival Birmingham Conservatory. Through these programs he has been apple to tackle roles including, but not limited to, Dido in Dido, Queen of Carthage directed by Peter Hinton (York University), Lysander in A Midsummer Night's Dream directed by Peter Pasyk (Stratford Festival) and Danny in Hamlet 911 directed by Alisa Palmer (Stratford Festival). He has tackled various styles of performance since his performing days in his hometown of Ajax, Ontario, and is excited to be a part of this years 2023 remounted production of Is God Is by Aleshea Harris. Micah is currently looking forward to his NAC debut and is preparing for his 4th season at the Stratford Festival of Canada.
Micah Woods est un acteur d’origine trinidadienne qui souhaite influencer la communauté noire au théâtre et à la télévision par l’entremise d’œuvres voulant inspirer les membres du public tout en les sensibilisant à la présence du colorisme au sein de l’industrie. Micah est diplômé du Acting Conservatory de l’Université York (2018) et du Conservatoire Birmingham du Festival de Stratford (2021). Grâce à ces programmes, il a notamment pu obtenir les rôles de Dido dans Dido, Queen of Carthage, mis en scène par Peter Hinton (Université York), Lysandre dans A Midsummer Night's Dream, mis en scène Peter Pasyk (Festival de Stratford) et Danny dans Hamlet 911, mis en scène par Alisa Palmer (Festival de Stratford). Depuis ses débuts au théâtre dans sa ville natale d’Ajax, Ontario, il s’est essayé à divers styles d’interprétation, et il est heureux de participer à la reprise de la production Is God Is d’Aleshea Harris en 2023. Micah est impatient de monter sur la scène du CNA pour la première fois. Il se prépare aussi à sa quatrième saison au Festival de Stratford du Canada.
Michael Wamara is a Toronto-based artist raised in the downtown core with Ugandan roots. Michael first fell in love with acting at the age 8 when he stepped foot in the presence of Young People’s Theatre. His goal since then has been to unapologetically share vulnerability and honesty in every space he is in, whether it’s through his East-African heritage or the street’s of Toronto. Selected Theatre Credits: The Spectator’s Odyssey O’dell’Inferno (DLT/Luminato), Is God Is (Obsidian/Necessary Angel/Canadian Stage). Film/TV: On TheRox (Warner Bros.), Portraits (Filmcoop Inc.), Wake (Oscar Qualified/Last Frame Prod.), Counterfeit (CF Prod.)
Michael Wamara est un artiste d’origine ougandaise ayant grandi au centre-ville de Toronto. Michael est tombé amoureux du métier d’acteur à l’âge de huit ans, lorsqu’il est entré pour la première fois au Young People’s Theatre. Depuis, son objectif est de communiquer sans réserve sa vulnérabilité et son honnêteté partout où il se trouve, que ce soit à travers son héritage est-africain ou dans les rues de Toronto. Parmi ses collaborations au théâtre, mentionnons : The Spectator’s Odyssey O’dell’Inferno (DLT et Luminato) et Is God Is (Obsidian, Necessary Angel et Canadian Stage). Au cinéma et à la télévision : On The Rox (Warner Bros.), Portraits (Filmcoop Inc.), Wake (Oscar Qualified et Last Frame Prod.) et Counterfeit (CF Prod.).
Ken MacKenziehas been a freelance designer and educator for the past 15 years. Ken’s award-winning set, lighting, costume, and video designs have appeared on stages across Canada, the United States and Europe. Ken has been a resident artist at Soulpepper Theatre company as well as the Young Centre for the Performing Arts. Ken has also been a collaborator and performer on several productions including Other Jesus, with Public Recordings, as well as Alligator Pie, Animal Farm and e.e. cummings: (re)birth in Song with Soulpepper Theatre Company. Ken has won multiple Dora Mavor Moore Awards and has been nominated for awards across Canada. Since 2017 Ken has been the president of the Associated Designers of Canada and has been one of the founding members of IATSE local ADC659. Since the fall of 2021, Ken has begun a faculty position at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon teaching in the department of Drama.
Ken MacKenzie est un concepteur de décors, d’éclairage et de costumes primé, qui a travaillé partout au Canada et aux États-Unis. Parmi ses collaborations, mentionnons : Sweat (décors), et Romeo and Juliet et Midsummer Night’s Dream (décors et éclairage) (Canadian Stage); Sherlock Holmes and the Raven’s Curse (décors, Shaw Festival); Stars:Together (décors et éclairage, Crow’s Theatre); et Almighty Voice and his Wife (décors, Soulpepper Theatre). Ken est professeur à l’Université de la Saskatchewan, à Saskatoon, et président de la l’Association des designers canadiens, section locale ADC659.
Raha is a performer, theatre designer, and educator. Select lighting design credits: Brothers Size (Dora Nomination), as well as multiple concerts (Riverboat, Route 66, and The Big Easy) for Soulpepper; Aurash for Modern Times, Lubafor Canadian Stage (co-designed with Rob Thomson). Select projection design credits: House of Dreams, Tale of Two Cities, Visions & Voyages, and Circle of Creation for Tafelmusik; Der Freischutzfor Opera Atelier. Raha was co-recipient of the Siminovitch Protege Award, and has been nominated for three Dora Mavor Moore Awards for lighting design and as a playwright. Active as a musician and performer, she is front-woman and singer/bassist of Bad Luck Woman & Her Misfortunes, a Slaight Resident Artist at Soulpepper Theatre, and has music directed several projects including Snow White at Young People’s Theatre, Kensington: A Musical (co-written by Raha) at Sheridan College, and the Velveteen Rabbit at Carousel Players. She teaches lighting design at Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson).
Raha est une interprète, conceptrice de théâtre et éducatrice. Parmi ses conceptions d’éclairage, mentionnons : Brothers Size (nomination aux prix Dora) et des concerts (Riverboat, Route 66 et The Big Easy) pour Soulpepper; Aurash pour Modern Times; et Luba pour Canadian Stage (collaboration avec Rob Thomson). Conceptions de projections : House of Dreams, Tale of Two Cities, Visions & Voyages et Circle of Creation pour Tafelmusik; et Der Freischutz pour Opera Atelier. Colauréate du Prix de la protégée Siminovitch, Raha a été en nomination à trois reprises aux prix Dora en tant qu’éclairagiste et dramaturge. Également musicienne et interprète, elle est la leader, la chanteuse et la bassiste du groupe Bad Luck Woman & Her Misfortunes. Elle a été artiste en résidence Slaight au Soulpepper Theatre et directrice musicale pour plusieurs projets, dont Snow White au Young People’s Theatre, Kensington: A Musical (coécrit par Raha) au Collège Sheridan et Velveteen Rabbit au Carousel Players. Elle enseigne la conception d’éclairage à la Toronto Metropolitan University (anciennement l’Université Ryerson).
Ming is a Toronto costume designer, stylist, and wardrobe technician.She has worked on a variety of projects ranging from dance, theatre,film, and television. Canadian Stage: New Monuments, Unsafe, Life After.
Selected Credits: Pipeline (Soulpepper), Orphans for the Czar, Julius Caesar, The Wedding Party (Crow’s Theatre), Hamlet 911 (Stratford Festival); Trouble inMind, Just to Get Married (Shaw Festival), Hansel und Gretel (Canadian Opera Company),Every Day She Rose (Nightwood Theatre), The Color Purple (Citadel Theatre/RMTC)DIGITAL: Alice in Winterland (Ross Petty Productions), Sāvitri (Against the Grain), Alice inWonderland (Bad Hats Theatre/Soulpepper) AWARDS: Ming is the proud recipient of the2021 Virginia & Myrtle Cooper Award ONLINE: www.mingwongdesign.com
Originaire de Toronto, Ming est conceptrice de costumes, stylistes et technicienne aux costumes. Elle a travaillé sur divers projets dans le domaine de la danse, du théâtre, du cinéma et de la télévision. À la Canadian Stage : New Monuments, Unsafe et Life After.
Autres collaborations : Pipeline (Soulpepper), Orphans for the Czar, Julius Caesar, The Wedding Party (Crow’s Theatre), Hamlet 911 (Festival de Stratford); Trouble in Mind, Just to Get Married (Festival Shaw), Hansel und Gretel (Compagnie d’opéra canadienne), Every Day She Rose (Nightwood Theatre), The Color Purple (Citadel Theatre et RMTC) Projets numériques : Alice in Winterland (Ross Petty Productions), Sāvitri (Against the Grain), Alice in Wonderland (Bad Hats Theatre et Soulpepper). Prix : lauréate du prix Virginia & Myrtle Cooper 2021. Site Web : www.mingwongdesign.com (anglais seulement).
Jennifer Toohey a dialect coach, director, performer and educator, is thrilledto be dialect coaching her first show with Obsidian Theatre Company.Jennifer is in her third season as a dialect coach at The Shaw Festival ofCanada, where coaching credits include: The Russian Play, Man andSuperman, Sex and Victory. Other coaching credits: The Curious Incident of the Dog in theNight Time(All for One Productions); Tribes, Superior Donuts, The Authentic Life of Billythe Kid, Between Riverside and Crazy, Miss Bennett: Christmas at Pemberley(Road LessTravelled Productions);Detroit ’67(Paul Robeson Theatre); Table Manners and Mrs. Warren’sProfession(Mad Cow Theatre). Jennifer is an Associate Professor of theater at SUNYBuffalo State College and is a proud member of Canadian Actor’s Equity and the Voiceand Speech Trainer’s Association.
Jennifer Toohey, répétitrice linguistique, interprète et éducatrice, est ravie de collaborer pour la première fois avec la compagnie Obsidian Theatre à titre de répétitrice linguistique. Jennifer entame sa troisième saison en tant que répétitrice linguistique au Festival Shaw du Canada, où elle a notamment collaboré à : The Russian Play, Man andSuperman et Sex and Victory. Autres collaborations : The Curious Incident of the Dog in theNight Time (All for One Productions); Tribes, Superior Donuts, The Authentic Life of Billythe Kid, Between Riverside and Crazy, Miss Bennett: Christmas at Pemberley (Road Less Travelled Productions); Detroit ’67 (Paul Robeson Theatre); Table Manners and Mrs. Warren’sProfession (Mad Cow Theatre). Jennifer est professeure agrégée de théâtre au SUNY Buffalo State College, et membre de la Canadian Actor’s Equity Association et de la Voice and Speech Trainer’s Association.
Thomas Ryder Payne is a composer and sound designer for theatre, danceand film.
For Crow’s Theatre: Bad Roads, The Master Plan, Perceptual Archaeology, Red Velvet, Uncle Vanya, Orphans For The Czar, MixTape, Julius Caesar, A&R Angels, Boy In The Moon, Wedding Party, The Watershed, Someone Else.
Other Theatre: Designs for Stratford, Festival Shaw Festival, Mirvish, Productions Soulpepper, Canadian Stage, Tarragon Theatre, Factory Theatre, Theatre Passe Muraiile, Young People’s Theatre, Modern Times Stage Company, Aluna, Theatre Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, Theatre Gargantua, Nightwood Theatre, Toronto Dance Theatre, National Arts Centre, Centaur Theatre, Theatre Calgary, Great Canadian Theatre Company, Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, and many others.
Education/Training: Studied composition with James Tenney, Honours BA, York University.
Thomas Ryder Payne est compositeur et concepteur sonore pour le théâtre, la danse et le cinéma. Il a notamment travaillé pour les organisations suivantes : le Centre national des Arts, le Festival de Stratford, le Festival Shaw, Mirvish Productions, le Soulpepper Theater, la Canadian Stage, le Tarragon Theatre, le Factory Theatre, le Theatre Passe Muraille, le Young People’s Theatre, le Crow’s Theatre, Modern Times, Aluna, Buddies in Bad Times, le Nightwood Theatre, le Toronto Dance Theatre, le Theatre Calgary, la GCTC et le Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre. Thomas a reçu quatre prix Dora Mavor Moore et 25 mises en nomination.
Laura Warren is a Saskatchewan-raised, Toronto-based, designer fortheatre, dance, live music, and opera. Projection design credits include: Is God Is (Canadian Stage, Obsidian Theatre, Necessary Angel); 21 Black Futures (Obsidian Theatre/CBC Arts); Sexual Misconduct of the Middle Classes (Tarragon Theatre); In Absentia (JDdance); Pomegranate (Pomegranate Opera); The Black Drum (Deaf Culture Centre/Soulpepper); Grace (NightwoodTheatre/Crow’s Theatre); Unholy (Nightwood Theatre); Oraltorio:A Theatrical Mixtape (Obsidian Theatre/Soulpepper); Bearing (Signal Theatre/Luminato); Frescobaldi and the Glories of Rome, Illuminations, A Medieval Christmas (Toronto Consort); Le Nozze di Figaro (Toronto City Opera); No Strings (Attached) (Pink Pluto/Eventual Ashes/Buddies in Bad Times).
Originaire de la Saskatchewan et vivant aujourd’hui à Toronto, Laura Warren est conceptrice pour le théâtre, la danse, les spectacles de musique et l’opéra. En tant que conceptrice de projections, elle a collaboré à : Is God Is (Canadian Stage, Obsidian Theatre, Necessary Angel); 21 Black Futures (Obsidian Theatre et CBC Arts); Sexual Misconduct of the Middle Classes (Tarragon Theatre); In Absentia (JDdance); Pomegranate (Pomegranate Opera); The Black Drum (Deaf Culture Centre et Soulpepper Theater); Grace (Nightwood Theatre et Crow’s Theatre); Unholy (Nightwood Theatre); Oraltorio: A Theatrical Mixtape (Obsidian Theatre et Soulpepper Theater); Bearing (Signal Theatre et Luminato); Frescobaldi and the Glories of Rome, Illuminations, A Medieval Christmas (Toronto Consort); Le Nozze di Figaro (Toronto City Opera); et No Strings (Attached) (Pink Pluto, Eventual Ashes et Buddies in Bad Times).
Jennifer is a fight director, stage combat instructor, actor, and voice artist. She is incredibly proud to be among the fierce, talented, passionate team assembled for Is God Is a second time around. "Twin? Damn." Selected Credits: Three Women of Swatow, Theory, Girls Like That (Tarragon Theatre), The Nether (Coal Mine/Studio 180), Poison (Coal Mine), Hello Bertha, Talk To Me Like The Rain And Let Me Listen, Rococo, Lithuania (Shaw Festival), Boeing, Boeing, Perfect Wedding (Magnus Theatre) King Lear, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, Taming of the Shrew (Shakespeare Bash’d). As an actor, Jennifer has appeared in theatres across Canada including; The Shaw Festival, Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, The Citadel, Canadian Stage, St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival, Shakespeare Bash’d, Harold Green Jewish Theatre Company, The Grand Theatre, among others. She is currently working on Fairview with Canadian Stage and Obsidian Theatre.
Jennifer est chorégraphe de combats, instructrice de combats scéniques et artiste de voix. Elle est incroyablement fière de faire partie de l’équipe déterminée, talentueuse et passionnée de Is God Is pour la deuxième fois. « Des jumelles? Merde! » Parmi ses collaborations, mentionnons : Three Women of Swatow, Theory, Girls Like That (Tarragon Theatre), The Nether (Coal Mine et Studio 180), Poison (Coal Mine), Hello Bertha, Talk To Me Like The Rain And Let Me Listen, Rococo, Lithuania (Festival Shaw), Boeing, Boeing, Perfect Wedding (Magnus Theatre), King Lear, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, Taming of the Shrew (Shakespeare Bash’d). En tant que comédienne, on a pu voir Jennifer sur les scènes de tout le pays, notamment : au Festival Shaw, au Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, au Citadel, à la Canadian Stage, au St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival, à la Shakespeare Bash’d, à la Harold Green Jewish Theatre Company et au Grand Theatre. Elle travaille actuellement sur la pièce Fairview avec la Canadian Stage et l’Obsidian Theatre.
Jaz ‘Fairy J’ Simone, formerly known as Jasmyn Fyffe, is a Barbadian-Canadian multi hyphenate artist based in Toronto ON. She started her career in 2007 and for the past 15 years has been building her career as a performance artist, choreographer, movement director, dancer, singer/musician, outside eye/creative mentor, group facilitator and more recently, handmade skincare small business owner.
She made her debut as a movement director and choreographer for theatre in 2011, working under the direction of Philip Akin and Obsidian Theatre. In 2017 she worked with Soulpepper Theatre as the Co-Choreographer for “For Coloured Girls” under the direction of Djanet Sears. In 2019 she had the opportunity to work under the direction of Mumbi Tindyebwa as the Movement Director (MD) for “The Brother’s Size” and she made her return to the theatre post pandemic, working with Mumbi again as the MD of “Is GOD Is”(2022) through Obsidian Theatre, Canadian Stage and Necessary Angel Theatre.
This Jaz made her debut with Stratford Festival as the Choreographer for “Death and the King’s Horseman” under the direction of Tawiah BenEben Mfoafo-M’Carthy. In addition, she also made her debut at the Shaw Festival as the MD for Just to Get Married directed by Severn Thompson. She was the co-choreographer for Bahia Watson & Liza Paul MASHUP pon di road and her solo “open light” was presented by the Yensa Dance Festival created by Lua Shayenne Dance Company.
Jaz ‘Fairy J’ Simone, anciennement connue sous le nom Jasmyn Fyffe, est une artiste barbadienne-canadienne polyvalente vivant à Toronto. Elle a amorcé sa carrière en 2007 et au cours des 15 dernières années, œuvré comme artiste de la scène, chorégraphe, chorégraphe de mouvements, danseuse, chanteuse et musicienne, conseillère externe et mentore artistique, animatrice de groupe et, plus récemment, propriétaire d’une petite entreprise de produits pour la peau faits à la main.
Elle a fait ses débuts en tant que chorégraphe de mouvements et chorégraphe au théâtre en 2011, sous la direction de Philip Akin, au Obsidian Theatre. En 2017, elle a travaillé pour le Soulpepper Theatre en tant que co-chorégraphe de For Coloured Girls, mis en scène par Djanet Sears. En 2019, elle a eu la chance de travailler comme chorégraphe de mouvements avec Mumbi Tindyebwa pour The Brother’s Size. Après la pandémie, elle a retrouvé Mumbi dans le cadre de la production Is God Is (2022) de l’Obsidian Theatre, de la Canadian Stage et du Necessary Angel Theatre.
Jaz a collaboré pour la première fois au Festival de Stratford en tant que chorégraphe de Death and the King’s Horseman, mis en scène par Tawiah BenEben Mfoafo-M’Carthy. Elle a aussi travaillé comme chorégraphe de mouvement au Festival Shaw pour la production Just to Get Married, mise en scène par Severn Thompson. Elle a été co-chorégraphe de MASHUP pon di road de Bahia Watson et Liza Paul, et son spectacle solo, open light, a été présenté au Yensa Dance Festival, créé par la Lua Shayenne Dance Company. Elle a également été chorégraphe lors du 20e anniversaire de Da Kink in my Hair. Elle est ravie de participer à la reprise de Is God Is au Centre national des Arts.
daniel jelani ellis is a multidisciplinary artist rasied in Jamaica.His art practice includes performance-installation creation, playwriting,dub poetry, and acting. danjelani challenges colonial cultural authority byexamining and exploring the ways this authority clashes, connects, andintersects with Afro-diasporic traditions and methodologies. His artistic work is Afrocentricand celebratory. danjelani is passionate about arts-based community organizing forsocial justice. As a Black queer immigrant he is committed to celebrating those of us wholive within the margins.I live in Toronto where I work for Obsidian Theatre Company as the Metcalf Artistic Director Intern. I also steer ad-hoc entity Groundwork Redux - an ever-evolving gathering of artists and projects - creating original art, performance, and community activations. www.groundworkredux.com Theatre credits include: as performer: The First Stone (New Harlem Productions, Buddies in Bad Times, GCTC), The Bridge (2b, Neptune, Obsidian) receiving a Merritt Award nomination for outstanding performance in a supporting role, Risky Phil (YPT), A Midsummer Night's Dream (Pacific Opera Victoria); as playwright and co-producer: speaking of sneaking (Why Not, Groundwork Redux) receiving five Dora Mavor Moore Award nominations including outstanding new play, outstanding production, and outstanding performer.
daniel jelani ellis est un artiste multidisciplinaire né en Jamaïque. Sa pratique artistique comprend la création de performances-installations, l’écriture dramaturgique, la poésie dub et l’interprétation. danjelani remet en question l’autorité culturelle coloniale en examinant et en explorant les façons dont cette autorité se heurte, se relie et correspond aux traditions et aux méthodologies des diasporas africaines. Son travail artistique est axé sur l’Afrique et sur la célébration. danjelani se passionne pour les communautés artistiques qui travaillent en faveur de la justice sociale. En tant qu’immigrant noir queer, il s’est engagé à célébrer les personnes marginalisées. Danjelani habite à Toronto et est directeur artistique stagiaire Metcalf au Obsidian Theatre. Il dirige aussi l’entité ad hoc Groundwork Redux, un rassemblement d’artistes en constante évolution, à l’origine d’œuvres d’art, de performances et d’actions communautaires (www.groundworkredux.com).
Au théâtre, en tant que comédien, il a notamment collaboré à : The First Stone (New Harlem Productions, Buddies in Bad Times et GCTC); The Bridge (2b, Neptune et Obsidian Theater), où il a été finaliste au prix Merritt pour son interprétation dans un rôle de soutien; Risky Phil (YPT); et A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Pacific Opera Victoria). En tant que dramaturge et coproducteur : speaking of sneaking (Why Not et Groundwork Redux), pièce pour laquelle il a reçu cinq mises en nomination aux prix Dora, y compris dans les catégories de la meilleure nouvelle pièce, meilleure production et meilleure interprétation.
Em is a stage manager for theatre and experimental performance based in Tkaròn:to. Selected Credits include: Cockroach曱甴 (Tarragon Theatre); 2 Pianos 4 Hands(Marquis Entertainment / Mirvish); Is God Is(Obsidian Theatre / Necessary Angel / Canadian Stage); Cast Iron(Obsidian Theatre / Factory Theatre); 21 Black Futures, Pass Over, School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play, hang(Obsidian Theatre); Century Song, Infinity(Volcano Theatre); Underneath It All(New Harlem Productions); Art(Soulpepper); It Comes in Waves(Bluemouth Inc / Necessary Angel); You Are A Field, Lady Baby, Portrait(The Dietrich Group); The Men in White(Factory Theatre); Tributaries(LuminaTO 2017); Freedom Singer (Project:Humanity); We Keep Coming Back(Selfconscious Theatre); Counting Sheep(SummerWorks 2015); M’dea Undone(Tapestry Opera).
Em, de Tkaròn:to, est régisseuse de théâtre et de représentations expérimentales. Ses collaborations comprennent : Cockroach 曱甴 (Tarragon Theatre); 2 Pianos 4 Hands (Marquis Entertainment et Mirvish); Is God Is (Obsidian Theatre, Necessary Angel et Canadian Stage); Cast Iron (Obsidian Theatre et Factory Theatre); 21 Black Futures, Pass Over, School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play, hang (Obsidian Theatre); Century Song, Infinity (Volcano Theatre); Underneath It All (New Harlem Productions); Art (Soulpepper); It Comes in Waves (Bluemouth Inc et Necessary Angel); You Are A Field, Lady Baby, Portrait (The Dietrich Group); The Men in White (Factory Theatre); Tributaries (LuminaTO 2017); Freedom Singer (Project: Humanity); We Keep Coming Back (Selfconscious Theatre); Counting Sheep (SummerWorks 2015); et M’dea Undone (Tapestry Opera).
Ada Aguilar is so excited that her NAC debut is presenting you Is God Is and being backstage againafter nearly 3 years of virtualand hybrid theatre/film projects and cancelled productions that never madeit to the stage, likeSolaris(Canadian Stage) and Blacktop Sky(Obsidian Theatre/Crow’s Theatre). Notable past credits: virtual stage manager, The Lab, 2021-2022(Stratford Festival); White Girls in Moccasins(Manidoons/Buddies in Bad Times); Spectators’ Odyssey– o dell’Inferno(DLT/Luminato Festival); The Runner(Human Cargo *2019 Dora Mavor Moore Award winner);School Girls; or, The African Mean Girls Play(Obsidian Theatre/Nightwood Theatre *2019 Dora Mavor Moore Awardwinner); Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train, August: Osage County, 88 Keys; Father Comes Homefrom the Wars (Parts I, II, III) (Soulpepper); The Wedding Party(Crow’s Theatre/Talk Is Free Theatre).Ada is a proud graduate of Glendon College’s English and Drama Studies with Honours and York University’s Concurrent Education Program.
Ada Aguilar est très heureuse d’être de retour dans les coulisses après plus de deux ans à travailler sur des projets virtuels ou hybrides au théâtre et au cinéma, et à des productions qui n’ont jamais pu être présentées sur scène, comme Solaris (Canadian Stage) et Blacktop Sky (Obsidian Theatre et Crow’s Theatre). Parmi ses collaborations les plus importantes : The Lab, 2021–2022 (en ligne, Festival de Stratford); White Girls in Moccasins (Manidoons et Buddies in Bad Times); Spectators’ Odyssey– O’dell’Inferno (DLT et Festival Luminato); The Runner (Human Cargo, prix Dora Mavor Moore 2019); School Girls; or, The African Mean Girls Play (Obsidian Theatre et Nightwood Theatre, prix Dora Mavor Moore 2019); Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train, August: Osage County, 88 Keys; Father Comes Homefrom the Wars (Parts I, II, III) (Soulpepper); TheWedding Party (Crow’s Theatre et Talk Is Free Theatre).
Rehearsal Assistant Stage Manager
Jennifer Newnham
Jennifer is very excited to be joining the team for Is God Is once again as a part of the stage management team. Jen had a hand or two in the first production of Is God Is in 2022, working with Ada and Emilie in the rehearsal hall, as well as working in the scenic paint department. As a technician who works in many departments in theatre, corporate and dance events, Jennifer has yet to meet a show she did not want to be a part of, and working on this wild ride of a show is no exception.
Many thanks to both Ada and Em, for the invitation to come join them in rehearsals of this show whenever they needed an extra hand. Jen is thrilled to be a part of this revolutionary show's journey, and hopes you enjoy watching the show, as much as she enjoyed working on it.
Love always to Steve, Thom, Zoe, Joey and Sam
Jennifer est très heureuse de se joindre de nouveau à l’équipe de Is God Is, en tant que membre de l’équipe de régie. Jen a collaboré à la première production de Is God Is en 2022, avec Ada et Emilie en répétition ainsi qu’avec le service de peinture scénique.
En tant que technicienne polyvalente, œuvrant autant au théâtre, en danse que pour des événements d’entreprise, Jennifer a toujours été enthousiaste devant les projets qu’on lui proposait, et certainement à l’idée de travailler pour ce spectacle mouvementé.
Merci beaucoup à Ada et Em de m’avoir invitée à me joindre à elles pendant les répétitions du spectacle lorsqu’elles avaient besoin d’un coup de main. Je suis enchantée de prendre part à ce spectacle révolutionnaire et espère que vous aurez autant de plaisir à y assister que j’en ai eu à y travailler.
Avec tout mon amour pour Steve, Thom, Zoe, Joey et Sam.
Projectionists, Wardrobe Mistresses, Masters and Attendants are members of International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 471.
NAC English Theatre is a member of the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres and engages professional Artists who are members of Canadian Actors’ Equity Association under the terms of the jointly negotiated Canadian Theatre Agreement.
NAC English Theatre Team
Managing Director
David Abel
Artistic Director
Nina Lee Aquino
Technical Director
Cynthia Shaw
Community Outreach Lead
Rose-Ingrid Benjamin
Learning Coordinator
Aimee Bouchard
ASL Interpreter Consultant
Carmelle Cachero
Marketing Strategist
Bar Clement
Communications Strategist
Sean Fitzpatrick
Senior Producer
Alexandra Lunney
Senior Marketing Manager
Bridget Mooney
Associate Producer, Artistic Projects
Judi Pearl
Company Manager
Samira Rose
Administrative Coordinator
Monika Seiler
International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees
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