50 years of Disruption

Emilio Vieira has been part of the Birmingham Conservatory for Classical Theatre at the Stratford Festival since 2015. He has appeared on stage in three seasons at the Festival, this year in The Tempest, Coriolanus, and Napoli Milionaria! He will also appear in Tartuffe at Canadian Stage and Towards Youth at The Crow’s Theatre in early 2019.

Lilie Zendel’s career post-Theatre Department (Acting 1980) has taken her from Harbourfront Centre’s Performing Arts programmer to Artistic Director of the International Children’s Festival, and Founding Artistic Director of the du Maurier World Stage and Quay Works, a multi-disciplinary arts festival of innovative works and artists from around the world, to Executive Director of The Playwrights Union of Canada, to leading the Cultural Affairs section at the Canadian Consulate in NYC, to Toronto’s Cultural Services, to joining the Public Realm Section of Transportation where she launched StreetARToronto (StART), to her current position as an arts consultant .

Acclaimed theatre creator and Artistic Director of Theatre Rusticle, multi-talented artist Allyson McMackon [MFA Acting 1992] chronicles her journey from actor to theatre-maker and educator.

Jeff Churchill is the owner and creator of Jitterbug Boy Original Footwear, a custom shoemaking company supplying specialized footwear for theatre, film, television and circus all over the world. He traces the fascinating career trajectory that got him there with stops in Stratford, Cirque de Soleil, and Las Vegas.

Andy Cheng is a Toronto based dramaturg, actor, writer, and comedian. He was nominated for the 2014 Canadian Screen Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy for the CBC comedy special Gavin Crawford’s Wild West (2013). He currently serves as Associate Dramaturg for fu-GEN Asian-Canadian Theatre Company.

Shawna Dempsey is one of Canada’s best-known performance artists. She and collaborator Lorri Millan have created works such as We’re Talking Vulva, Lesbian National Parks and Services and Wild Ride (a carnival midway on Toronto’s Bay Street). They have been featured in women’s centres in Sri Lanka and the Museum of Modern Art, NYC. They have also published books and curated exhibitions. Dempsey is Co-Executive Director of MAWA, Mentoring Artists for Women’s Art.

Rachel Kennedy is the Professional Theatre & Education Manager at Theatre Ontario. Other recent accomplishments include producing and directing for House of Rebels Theatre, Deadman’s Tale Podcast, Epigraph Collective, Filament Incubator, Breakin’ Ground Productions, Prairie Fire Please, and Truesight Collective, as well as co-founding Unmarked Theatre and their Creme De La Femme Cabaret which recently held its third-edition event as part of Buddies in Bad Times’ Pride Programming.

Since graduating, Hamilton-born playwright, director, and dramaturg Aaron Jan has worked professionally as a creator with the Next Stage Theatre Festival, Canadian Stage, Tarragon Theatre, Factory Theatre, Fu-GEN Asian Canadian Theatre, Cahoots Theatre, Soulpepper and Native Earth Performing Arts. Recent projects include his work as a writer and director for Silk Bath Collective, whose next show, Yellow Rabbit is a part of Soulpepper’s 2018-2019 season.