1. Who are you? Jillian Keiley (BFA Directing 1994): I’m lucky. And I’m exhausted. I’m a mom and an artistic director, a wife and friend, sister and daughter, a director and sometimes a producer and sometimes a writer. I have only ever been out of work once, and I was only fired once. It wasn’t a …
Author Archives: earmstro
4 Questions: Alan Filewod
Alan Filewod (Theatre Studies ’76) joins us to talk about his journey in Theatre, from his time starting out at York to his time as a theatre professor at the University of Guelph. This article is the third in our series 50 Years of Disruption, in celebration of the Department of Theatre’s 50th Anniversary. In it, …
4 Questions: James Roy
James Roy began his career in 1975 at the age of twenty-two when he founded the Blyth Festival. This theatre in small town Ontario was one of the first to specialize in producing new Canadian works, and remains one of the most successful theatres in Canada today. Between 1980 and 1986 James was Artistic Director …
Spotlight on Alumni: Adriana Dimitri
Adriana Dimitri (B.F.A Production and Design, 2013) has spent her time since graduation working as a stage manager in theatre and opera. She has also worked around the world at the Prague Quadrennial, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and The Centre for Opera Studies in Italy. Before deciding to move away from theatre, Adriana worked on …
4 Questions: Bessie Cheng
Bessie Cheng is a playwright, actor, and theatre creator. She graduated from York in 2016 in Theatre Studies, with specializations in Devised Theatre and Playwriting. We talked with her about her experience at York, and the development of her show, Silk Bath.
Spotlight on Alumni: Sadie Epstein-Fine
Sadie Epstein-Fine (Devised Theatre/Playwriting 2016) began her theatre career by Co-Directing Eraser at the Toronto Fringe with other York grads. Because of this show, Sadie became an associate artist with Theatre Direct, and is now developing Eraser for school audiences. She went on to work as the Education Coordinator at Theatre Direct, and is now …
Theatre @ York 2018–19: Disruptors
Disruptors innovate. Disruptors interrupt. Disruptors infiltrate. This season, Theatre@York presents plays that focus on the impact and influence of people who are agents of change. Sometimes unconventional, always challenging, these are characters who will never leave well enough alone. The Reading Group, made up of fifteen students from acting, production/design and performance creation & research …
Spotlight on Alumni: Kevin Woolridge
Kevin Woolridge (MFA Directing/Creation 2017) has kept quite busy since graduating. Some highlights include: Assistant Director for the NAC touring production of Tartuffe, Associate Artistic Director for the Isle aux Morts Theatre Festival, NL provincial tour of his one man show, All The Birds in Their Bird Houses, and Props Master for Into the Woods, …
Spotlight on Alumni: Oksana Sirju
Oksana Sirju (BFA Acting 2017) is a graduate of York University’s Department of Theatre and has continued working in Theatre as a member of the Stratford Festival Company and their Birmingham Conservatory. Since graduating she has appeared in various commercials and booked a reoccurring role on CBC’s Workin’ Moms, playing the role of Elle. You …
