Wesley McKenzie graduated from York University in 2014 with a BFA in Theatre Production. Since graduation, he has been designing light, sound and video for theatre and opera in Toronto. We catch up with him in this Spotlight on Alumni to get his take on his experience at York, and his advice for new students to York.
Author Archives: loflorn
2016-17 Season Advisory Panel
We are delighted that the following artist/scholars have joined our Advisory Panel for the 2016-17 season, which has the thematic focus Extraordinary Lives: Difference and Ability. Sage Willow Sage Willow is a local multidisciplinary queer non-binary Deaf artist and educator. Aside from their community work, they also provide performance interpreting in ASL for the local community, …
York U Theatre Alumni at the Doras
The Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts’s Dora Mavor Moore Awards are presented annually to honour outstanding theatre, dance, and opera productions. This year’s gala takes place Monday June 27 at Harbourfront Centre. York University students, faculty and alumni received over 24 nominations, recognizing their remarkable talent and contributions to Toronto’s vibrant arts scene.
The acclaimed double bill Botticelli in the Fire & Sunday in Sodom, a Canadian Stage production collaboration with the Department of Theatre racked up seven nominations, including Outstanding Production and Outstanding Direction for Matjash Mrozewski and Estelle Shook, who took the helm as part of their MFA in Directing in Collaboration with Canadian Stage.
Professor Teresa Przybylski received two nods – Outstanding Scenic Design for Hedda Gabler with and Outstanding Costume Design for The Death of the King.
Click here for a list of York University connected nominations.
Spotlight on Alumni: Victoria Stacey
Victoria Stacey (BA Hons 2014) studied Devised Theatre and Directing at York. At the same time, she also volunteered for Theatre Direct, a professional Theatre for Young Audiences company in Toronto. Since graduating, she’s been working for them, and now holds the title of Artistic & Education Associate and Drama School Coordinator.
Spotlight on Alumni: Katharine Noyes
Katharine Noyes (BA Devised Theatre 2014) worked as a teaching assistant and teacher for Young People’s Theatre shortly after graduating from our program. Last February, she was accepted into the Artist in Community program at Queens University’s Bachelor of Education program, and started her Consecutive Education program there in May 2015. We caught up with her to hear about her experience while a student in the Devised Theatre Program at York.
Spotlight on Alumni: Andrew Markowiak
Andrew Markowiak is a graduate (BA 2014) of York University’s Department of Theatre, where he trained in Playwriting, Directing and Devised Theatre. Since graduating, he has primarily worked as an actor in film and television, recently appearing in FX’s Man Seeking Woman alongside Jay Baruchel, and Discovery’s Close Encounters.
Spotlight on Mishka Thébaud
Mishka Thébaud graduated from York University in 2013 with a BFA in Acting. The graduating class of the acting conservatory took part in the Theatre Ontario Showcase, which helped Mishka to get an agent right out of school.
Spotlight on Alumni: Fiorella Pennano
A theatre, film and television actor, Fiorella Pennano (BFA Acting 2013) came to York as an international student and is now a real working professional. She was born in Lima, Peru and came to Toronto in 2009 for her BFA. She was nominated in 2010’s Toronto My Theatre Awards for Best Ensemble along her classmates for …
Spotlight on Alumni: Emilio Vieira
Emilio Vieira graduated York University in 2014 with a BFA from the Acting Conservatory. That summer he performed in Canadian Stage’s Shakespeare in High Park, as Lucius in Titus Andronicus directed by Keira Loughran and as Charles the Wrestler/Lord Amiens in As You Like It directed by Nigel Shawn Williams. From there Emilio continued to pursue work in classical …
Spotlight on Alumni: Beryl Bain
Beryl Bain (BFA Acting 2005) is currently performing in The Grand Theatre, London’s production of The Mountaintop by Katori Hall to rave reviews. The play is a fictional account of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, the famous American civil rights leader, on his last day on Earth before he was assassinated in Memphis on April 4, …