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Now Playing:

Matt & Ben

 

This Is Our Youth

MATT & BEN

Huge hit in NY and later LA, Matt & Ben looks at the relationship between
Matt Damon and Ben Affleck when they were writing Good Will Hunting, but
they are both played by women. macIDeas will be taking over the Poor Alex
Theatre in Toronto for 7 weeks, September 30 to November 14, 2004 with this play.

website: www.MattandBenThePlay.com

Press Release: August 5, 2004
WOODY HARRELSON, JASON LEWIS
AND MATT & BEN TAKE TORONTO BY STORM THIS FALL

 

THIS IS OUR YOUTH (Remount)

Remount of huge hit in Toronto last fall, planned for September 2 - October 2,
2004, with Woody Harrelson coming back to direct, and a new exciting
cast. Great timing, as the run is over the Toronto International Film
Festival. For all relevant information on the production, please visit the website.


website: www.ThisIsOurYouth.ca

Press Release: July 20, 2003
WOODY HARRELSON TO DIRECT KENNETH LONERGAN'S PLAY THIS IS OUR YOUTH IN TORONTO

 

This Is Our YouthWOODY HARRELSON (Director)
Woody Harrelson won Academy Award, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild Nominations as Best Actor for his critically-acclaimed portrayal of controversial magazine publisher Larry Flynt in Milos Forman's drama, THE PEOPLE VS. LARRY FLYNT. Other films include PLAY IT TO THE BONE, THE THIN RED LINE, THE HI-LO COUNTY, ED TV, WAG THE DOG, WELCOME TO SARAJEVO, KINGPIN, NATURAL BORN KILLERS, INDECENT PROPOSAL and WHITE MEN CAN'T JUMP. Harrelson next stars opposite Pierce Brosnan and Salma Hayek in Brett Ratner's AFTER THE SUNSET, due out in November 2004. Most recently, Harrelson wrapped filming on director Mark Mylod's, THE BIG WHITE, with Robin Williams and Holly Hunter, and Richard Linklater's, A SCANNER DARKLY, with Keanu Reeves, Robert Downey, Jr. and Winona Ryder.

Harrelson's environmental activism marries his film efforts in Ron Mann's GO FURTHER, a road documentary following Woody and friends on their bicycle journey down the Pacific Coast Highway from Seattle to Santa Barbara.

In addition to his film work, Harrelson first endeared himself to millions of viewers as a member of the ensemble cast of NBC's long-running hit comedy, CHEERS. For his work as the affable bartender Woody Boyd, Harrelson won an Emmy in 1988 and was nominated four additional times during his eight-year run on the show.

Beginning in 1999, Harrelson revived his commitment to return to the theatre by directing his own play, FURTHEST FROM THE SUN at the Theatre de la Juene Lune in Minneapolis. He went on to work in the theatre every year since, following next with the Roundabout's Broadway revival of the N. Richard Nash play THE RAINMAKER in 2000, Sam Sheperd's THE LATE HENRY MOSS in 2001, John Kolvenbach's ON AN AVERAGE DAY opposite Kyle MacLachlan in London's West End in the fall of 2002, and in the summer of 2003 Harrelson directed the Toronto premiere of Kenneth Lonergan's THIS IS OUR YOUTH at the Berkeley Street Theatre.


KENNETH LONERGAN (Playwright)
Kenneth Lonergan was most recently represented on London's West End by THIS IS OUR YOUTH. He has been represented in New York by LOBBY HERO (Playwrights Horizons, John Houseman Theatre, Drama Desk Best Play nominee, Outer Critics Circle Best Play and John Gassner Playwrighting nominee, and included in the 2000-2001 Best Plays annual), THE WAVERLY GALLERY (Williamstown Theatre Festival, Promenade; 2001 Pulitzer Prize runner-up) and THIS IS OUR YOUTH (Drama Desk Best Play nominee). LOBBY HERO recently completed a successful run on the West End. He co-wrote the film GANGS OF NEW YORK, which garnered a WGA and Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay. His film, YOU CAN COUNT ON ME, which he wrote and directed, was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Screenplay, won the Sundance 2000 Grand Jury Prize and the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award, the NY Film Critics Circle, LA Film Critics Circle, Writers Guild of America and National Board of Review awards for Best Screenplay of 2001, the AFI awards for Best Film and Best New Writer, as well as The Sutherland Trophy at the London Film Festival. He is a member of Naked Angels.


JASON LEWIS (Dennis)
With his natural charisma, innate acting ability and brooding good looks, Jason Lewis brought heat to the final season of SEX & THE CITY. In 19 of 20 episodes this season Lewis portrayed the love interest of Samantha (Kim Cattrall), becoming integral to a series-culminating storyline with just the right mix of comedy, drama and sexual tension. Lewis affirmed that there was "great chemistry" between him and the award-winning "Sex" cast.

After leveraging his good looks early in his career, Lewis honed in on his true passion: acting. His first small role in television led him not immediately to more work, but rather to a desire to improve his craft out of the gate. Working with a top acting coach, Lewis developed his technical skills through "active self-evaluation" while enjoying the "cathartic" experience of emotional immersion. He attributes his work ethic to his grandparents, who were also a major influence on his love of movies and reading.

After a few guest starring roles, Lewis portrayed an introverted advertising executive in the romantic comedy KIMBERLY (HBO and Showtime), a "rash and gregarious" palace guard in the period adventure THE KINGS GUARD, and an anti-terrorist special agent in the action film THE ELITE (HBO and Showtime). Disillusioned with both the process and creative malaise of Hollywood, however, Lewis sold his house in California and underwent another form of catharsis: a three-month sabbatical with his dogs, camping in parks across the U.S. and Canada. Refreshed and recommitted, he embraced his craft again in New York, finding a more satisfying professional environment. Lewis' first audition proved the value of self-reflection, flooring the producers of SEX & THE CITY, and landing one of the most sought after roles on either coast.

Lewis will next be seen starring in the independent films MY BOLLYWOOD BRIDE, THE JACKET and THE VISION. He will star next on stage in Toronto in THIS IS OUR YOUTH.

KATHARINE ISABELLE (Jessica)
A native of Vancouver, Katharine Isabelle began acting at an early age. Her big screen debut came in Joel Schumacher's critical success, COUSINS, (starring Ted Danson and Isabella Rossellini), playing Rossellini's daughter. Memorable guest appearances in such television series as THE X-FILES, DAVINCI'S INQUEST and SMALLVILLE followed. American audiences began to take notice of Isabelle after her performance in the teen thriller, DISTURBING BEHAVIOR, and a memorable turn opposite Al Pacino in Christopher Nolan's suspense hit, INSOMNIA. However, it would be her starring role as "Ginger" in GINGER SNAPS and its lucrative indie hit sequels that would give her cult status among genre fans. Katharine is also a hot commodity on the independent film scene, with starring roles in such films as FALLING ANGELS, ON THE CORNER and TURNING PAIGE.

MARCELLO CABEZAS (Warren)
Marcello is a performer, producer and a writer. He is the Artistic Producer of macIDeas, an emerging production company with interests in theatre, film and television. Visit www.macideas.com for more information.

After spending various years studying in New York City at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre, and the Ensemble Studio Theatre's Professional Writing Internship, Marcello enjoyed success on the stage, starring in the well reviewed two hander, WC, which went on to win an Overall Excellence Award at the 2000 New York Int'l Fringe Festival, and LOVE LABOUR'S WON, winner of the Best Ensemble Cast at the 2000 Vital Works Festival. Still in New York, Marcello starred in various independent shorts and features that won various awards, including WOMEN DON'T EAT MEAT, the recipient of the 2001 Pioneer Theatre Audience Award. Marcello also shot two independent pilots in New York: NEWTON FUZZY and NO SLEEP 'TIL BROOKLYN. He also worked in the reputable PSNBC space on CRESCENDO FALLS, a hilarious soap-opera farce that went on to be one of the more successful runs of that season.

While in New York, Marcello's travels also took him to being a casting assistant for the Emmy Award winning casting office of the HBO series SEX & THE CITY, which very much opened his eyes to the world of television and casting.

Back in Toronto, Marcello has worked on many projects in all mediums as an actor. After gritty principal roles in the FOX series TRACKER with Peter Mensah, and the award-winning series BLUE MURDER, Marcello starred with Megan Dunlop (Parsley Days) on a feature called SNOWBALLS IN HELL. He also starred in FUN WITH ROOFIES, a quirky short from Genie Award-Winning Director Naomi McCormack which screened at the Female Eye Film Festival in Toronto, and DONALD, an experimental short directed by Eric Etebari, one of the stars of TNT's WITCHBLADE.

Marcello really brought attention to his work with a powerful portrayal of VLADECK, Jodi Miller's disturbing fictional account of a real life fatal beating of an innocent boy. Marcello played the title role in this demanding roller coaster of a one-man show. Reviews overwhelmingly applauded Marcello's "brilliant Dora-deserving performance", and said that his "vigour and sensitivity" made this one of the top theatrical shows of 2002. Letters from students and teachers alike called the performance "life changing".

Marcello was also one of the producers for VLADECK, and was responsible for raising the capitalization needed for production, including public, and private sector, and corporate sponsorship.

With a national tour pending, Marcello and macIDeas decided to accept an offer from Chum Television (Canadian Learning Television) to option the script and shoot the VLADECK NATIONAL TELEVISION SPECIAL, produced with the assistance of indie star Carolyn Newman and MuchMusic's David Hyde. The production was shot in January 2004, and aired on Canadian Learning Television on March 6th. Subsequent airdates were on Court Television Canada (April 4) and Book Television (April 11). CLT is also selling the special to other English markets, and looking at packaging it for mass distribution to schools and youth groups across the country. Marcello served as a consulting producer on this project.

Marcello starred and was the Executive Producer of the Canadian Professional Premiere of Kenneth Lonergan's, THIS IS OUR YOUTH, Directed by Woody Harrelson, September 18-October 18, 2003 in Toronto. Visit www.thisisouryouth.ca for more about the show. This critically acclaimed production may likely be remounted in Fall 2004 in Toronto.

Here is what Woody Harrelson said about Marcello:

" I have immense respect for Marcello because he is more than a terrific producer and actor- he is able to make dreams a reality."

Here's what some of the critics said:

" Cabezas does a fine job with the less showy part of nerdy, needy Warren… (he) earns our sympathy and admiration by the end of the play. His chemistry with Filippo is excellent, and the scenes between the two of them crackle with electricity… (Delver's) makeout scene with Cabezas is convincingly hot." Variety

" At first, ( Cabezas ) seems monochromatically nerdy, but as time goes on, we discover the shades of nuance that Cabezas can introduce. One minute you want to punch his lights out, the next you want to hold him until he stops shaking. It's a fine subtle job." Toronto Star

" (Cabezas as Warren) is thoughtful…and lucid. His two scenes with Jessica (Delver) are….beautifully outlined in writing and performance." National Post

" All three actors do fine work, with Cabezas showing wonderful moments as the man-boy craving acceptance." eye weekly

"…warmly played by sad-eyed Cabezas, klutzy Warren emerges as the boyish, sympathetic hero." Toronto Sun

"…Cabezas gives an excellent performance as Warren that grows in power throughout the evening… (he) shows that as passive as Warren may seem, he is constantly evaluating himself and those around him and finding he is not an idiot his best friend thinks he is." Stage Door

" Cabezas plays Warren with an amazing sense of foolishness and impulsiveness and occasional surprisingly sensitive lucidity…a shy sexiness…Cabezas gives him a lazy drawl that makes his wry remarks even funnier, and his is a tender portrait of one who nurses a private wound in his soul." Stage and Page

Marcello recently starring in a prestigious Bravo Fact! project with notables Allegra Fulton, and Lindy Booth. CHOKE, written by Sean Reycraft (Chalmers Award Winner and Executive Story Editor for the Eleventh Hour, Degrassi) and helmed by David Hyde (Award Winning Commercial and MuchMusic Director). It has been accepted for entry into the 2004 Toronto International Film Festival and the 2004 Palm Springs Short Film Festival. It was Marcello's vision that initiated this project, and he did serve as an associate producer.

Marcello, along with four other macIDeas partners, will be producing through macIDeas the NY hit play, MATT & BEN, September 30- December 12, 2004, a THIS IS OUR YOUTH remount in September/ October, 2004 and the Neil La Bute play, THE MERCY SEAT, in spring 2005.

Marcello has also served as a production consultant for Crate Productions sold out production of Stephen Belber's, TAPE, the Young Company's production of Matt Austin's, IN BETWEEN, and has led two successful, over-subscribed Producing Workshop Seminars at Theatre Ontario.

Marcello's writing credits include NOWHERE TO TURN, produced at the reputable Ensemble Studio Theatre in New York, and a number of projects in development, including a class/race struggle piece entitled KASIMBA.

Marcello is currently represented by Dana Crackower at ETM in Toronto.

MICHAEL GIANFRANCESCO (Set Designer)
Michael studied design for the theatre at The Banff Centre for the Arts and Concordia University. Recent productions include: COMEDY OF ERRORS (costumes, Festival of Classics), LE PORTRAIT DE MANON and LA VOIX HUMAINE (Opera Ontario), THE LARAMIE PROJECT (set, Studio 180), A GIFT TO LAST (set, Neptune Theatre), richardthesecond (Nation of Aslan), CANDIDE (costumes, University of Western Ontario). Opera work includes ALCINA (with Astrid Janson, University of Toronto), THE MAGIC FLUTE SCHOOL TOUR (Canadian Opera Company), STREET SCENE (Wilfrid Laurier University), LA CALISTO, EURYDICE (Opera McGill). Michael recently completed his fourth season at the Stratford Festival designing sets and costumes for THE TRIUMPH OF LOVE at the Studio Theatre.

DANA OSBORNE (Costume Design)
(No bio at this time.)

KIMBERLY PURTELL (Lighting Design / Resident Director)
Kimberly is a Toronto based lighting designer and director. She is the resident lighting designer for da da kamera and began collaborating with them in 2000 with their production of IN ON IT (Dora nomination). She has also worked on da da kamera's productions CUL-DE-SAC, BEAUTIFUL VIEW and YOU ARE HERE. Other design credits include DR. CHEKHOV: WARD 6, CHEKHOV LONGS…In the Ravine (Dora nomination), and CHEKHOV'S SHORTS (Dora nomination) for Theatre Smith Gilmour, THE SCRUBBING PROJECT for The Turtle Gals and Native Earth, THIS IS OUR YOUTH and VLADEK for macIDeas, ANTIGONE and JOAN for Red Red Rose Theatre, PHAE for Collective Architecture and Variété for BMH Shift. Most recently she was the assistant lighting designer for the Toronto production of Hairspray! Recent directing credits include ANIMAL MUSIC, BANGKOK, past Fringe hits PARALYSIS (2000), and THE CONTRACT (2001), SHOOTING PENGUINS (SummerWorks 2003), and most recently, UNTITLED (SummerWorks 2004). She is co-artistic director of Straw Dogs with actor/playwright Ryan McVittie.

LYON SMITH (Sound Designer)
Lyon has been making music in Toronto for over 20 years. Select sound design credits include: Jennifer Tarver's production of ANGELS IN AMERICA, LITTLE DRAGON and TRIAD (Summerworks 2002), and MARTIAN SUMMER, THE PHOENIX RIDES A SKATEBOARD, MISHA, and ROUNDABOUT for Theatre Direct Canada. Upcoming: his band purplecar will be featured on a Cure tribute album, covering the song Fascination Street. Lyon also works as an actor, recently performing in Theatre Passe Muraille's, THE DRAWER BOY, and as a member of the Blyth Festival's 2003 season. He voices characters on the hit Cartoon BEY-BLADES and the popular video game RESIDENT EVIL ZERO.


CLARE BERMINGHAM (Stage Manager)
Clare is excited to be a part of this wonderful project, working with such a talented and creative team. Her most recent work has taken her to Theatre Passe Muraille as Apprentice Stage Manager for UNITY (1918), to CanStage as Apprentice Stage Manager for BLUE/ORANGE, and to Theatre Orangeville as Assistant Stage Manager for OUTLAW, CAROL'S CHRISTMAS and DEAR SANTA. Additional stage management credits include Stage Manager for THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD, LES BELLES SOEURS (RAPA), and ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE (Symphony in the Barn). A special thanks to J.P. Robichaud, Stage Manager of the 2003 production, for sharing his knowledge, notes and secrets.

LYNANNE SPARROW (Production Manager)
As a graduate of the Technical Production program at the National Theatre School of Canada and from Ryerson University in Radio and Television, Lynanne has worked in theatre and film for the past eight years. Past productions include, YOU ARE HERE, by Daniel MacIvor; Six Stages Festival Toronto 2001, 2003; Six Stages Festival -Prague, Berlin and Glasgow 2002; and recently the feature film WILBY WONDERFUL by Daniel MacIvor. Working with Producer Sherrie Johnson, Lynanne was also the associate producer for da da kamera.

CAMILLE HICKMAN (Casting Consultant)
Camille resides in New York City. She was the Associate Casting Director for SEX & THE CITY from Season 3 through Season 6. Other credits include: Co-Casting Director for the first season of ABC's HOPE AND FAITH, starring Kelly Ripa and Faith Ford, Associate Casting Director on the Fox series THE STREET, Co-Casting Director on a New York-based episode of MONK, and Associate Casting Director for the feature SUPER TROOPERS.

REBECCA BROWN (Consulting Director)
Rebecca received her training as a director at New York University's, Tisch School of the Arts, where she was a three-year recipient of the Tisch School of the Arts Trustee Scholarship.

Selected credits include: MOON STORIES and richardthesecond (Dora Nomination) for Nation of Aslan, POPULAR and THE BUTLER ENTERS for the Rhubarb! Festival, RAVE THEATRE at System Soundbar, WESTERN at the New York Fringe, SEDER for the Ashkenaz Festival and THE TEENAGE GIRL DIARIES at The Factory Theatre Studio, GIVING IT UP by Hannah Moscocvitch and Sarah Martyn's SHEROES.

Rebecca was the resident director for THIS IS OUR YOUTH in the fall of 2003.

Rebecca is the 2003 recipient of the Ken MacDougall Director's Fund Award.

Producers

MATTHEW BASSETT (Producer)
Matthew Bassett is President of Eaglecrest Capital Corporation, a merchant banking company that offers its clients corporate finance advice, strategic capital and liquidity options. www.eaglecrestcapital.com Matthew oversees the strategic direction of the company and its various client investments. Currently Matthew is a board member of Delta One Capital Corp and serves as Chairman of macIDeas. Matthew was a Producer for the 2003 & 2004 production of THIS IS OUR YOUTH in Toronto and was one of the Producers for the Bravo Fact! CHOKE, which was awarded entry into the prestigious 2004 Toronto International Film Festival, the 2004 Palm Springs Short Film Festival, and the 2004 Woodstock Film Festival. Matthew will be serving as Producer on the upcoming production of MATT & BEN, and will be developing with Carolyn Newman a new short film trilogy titled Leo.

MARCELLO CABEZAS (Producer)
Marcello is a performer, producer and a writer. He is the Artistic Producer of macIDeas, an emerging production company with interests in theatre, film and television. Visit www.macideas.com for more information.

After spending various years studying in New York City at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre, and the Ensemble Studio Theatre's Professional Writing Internship, Marcello enjoyed success on the stage, starring in the well reviewed two hander, WC, which went on to win an Overall Excellence Award at the 2000 New York Int'l Fringe Festival, and LOVE LABOUR'S WON, winner of the Best Ensemble Cast at the 2000 Vital Works Festival. Still in New York, Marcello starred in various independent shorts and features that won various awards, including WOMEN DON'T EAT MEAT, the recipient of the 2001 Pioneer Theatre Audience Award. Marcello also shot two independent pilots in New York: NEWTON FUZZY and NO SLEEP 'TIL BROOKLYN. He also worked in the reputable PSNBC space on CRESCENDO FALLS, a hilarious soap-opera farce that went on to be one of the more successful runs of that season.

While in New York, Marcello's travels also took him to being a casting assistant for the Emmy Award winning casting office of the HBO series SEX & THE CITY, which very much opened his eyes to the world of television and casting.

Back in Toronto, Marcello has worked on many projects in all mediums as an actor. After gritty principal roles in the FOX series TRACKER with Peter Mensah, and the award-winning series BLUE MURDER, Marcello starred with Megan Dunlop (Parsley Days) on a feature called SNOWBALLS IN HELL. He also starred in FUN WITH ROOFIES, a quirky short from Genie Award-Winning Director Naomi McCormack which screened at the Female Eye Film Festival in Toronto, and DONALD, an experimental short directed by Eric Etebari, one of the stars of TNT's WITCHBLADE.

Marcello really brought attention to his work with a powerful portrayal of VLADECK, Jodi Miller's disturbing fictional account of a real life fatal beating of an innocent boy. Marcello played the title role in this demanding roller coaster of a one-man show. Reviews overwhelmingly applauded Marcello's "brilliant Dora-deserving performance", and said that his "vigour and sensitivity" made this one of the top theatrical shows of 2002. Letters from students and teachers alike called the performance "life changing".

Marcello was also one of the producers for VLADECK, and was responsible for raising the capitalization needed for production, including public, and private sector, and corporate sponsorship.

With a national tour pending, Marcello and macIDeas decided to accept an offer from Chum Television (Canadian Learning Television) to option the script and shoot the VLADECK NATIONAL TELEVISION SPECIAL, produced with the assistance of indie star Carolyn Newman and MuchMusic's David Hyde. The production was shot in January 2004, and aired on Canadian Learning Television on March 6th. Subsequent airdates were on Court Television Canada (April 4) and Book Television (April 11). CLT is also selling the special to other English markets, and looking at packaging it for mass distribution to schools and youth groups across the country. Marcello served as a consulting producer on this project.

Marcello starred and was the Executive Producer of the Canadian Professional Premiere of Kenneth Lonergan's, THIS IS OUR YOUTH, Directed by Woody Harrelson, September 18-October 18, 2003 in Toronto. Visit www.thisisouryouth.ca for more about the show. This critically acclaimed production may likely be remounted in Fall 2004 in Toronto.

Here is what Woody Harrelson said about Marcello:

" I have immense respect for Marcello because he is more than a terrific producer and actor- he is able to make dreams a reality."

Marcello recently starring in a prestigious Bravo Fact! project with notables Allegra Fulton, and Lindy Booth. CHOKE, written by Sean Reycraft (Chalmers Award Winner and Executive Story Editor for the Eleventh Hour, Degrassi) and helmed by David Hyde (Award Winning Commercial and MuchMusic Director). It has been accepted for entry into the 2004 Toronto International Film Festival , the 2004 Palm Springs Short Film Festival and the 2004 Woodstock Film Festival. It was Marcello's vision that initiated this project.

Marcello, along with four other macIDeas partners, will be producing through macIDeas the NY hit play, MATT & BEN, September 30- December 12, 2004, a THIS IS OUR YOUTH remount in September/ October, 2004 and the Neil La Bute play, THE MERCY SEAT, in 2005.

Marcello has also served as a production consultant for Crate Productions sold out production of Stephen Belber's, TAPE, the Young Company's production of Matt Austin's, IN BETWEEN, and has led two successful, over-subscribed Producing Workshop Seminars at Theatre Ontario.

Marcello's writing credits include NOWHERE TO TURN, produced at the reputable Ensemble Studio Theatre in New York, and a number of projects in development, including a class/race struggle piece entitled KASIMBA.

Marcello is currently represented by Dana Crackower at ETM in Toronto.

STEVEN MOORE (Producer)
Steven brings a wealth of production and administration experience to macIDeas. With a background in stage management, Steven has overseen numerous hit musicals and theatre productions at Toronto's top theatres, including the Poor Alex Theatre, Factory Theatre, Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, Tarragon Theatre and the Canadian Stage Upstairs. In the fall of 2002, he moved to Opera Atelier, where he currently works as Administrator and Producer of Special Events, working with show budgets of $1.5 million, and helping oversee all of their productions at The Elgin Theatre. Steven has also branched out into live music and currently produces and manages the incendiary Sandra Caldwell in a monthly show at The Pilot in Yorkville. Steven was a producer for the 2002 production of VLADECK and the 2003 & 2004 production of THIS IS OUR YOUTH in Toronto.

DERRICK CHUA (Producer)
One of the most notable and respected theatre personalities in Toronto, Derrick is an entertainment lawyer as well as being an award-winning independent film and theatre producer. He has been the producer on a number of theatrical productions including most recently two new musicals, SLEEPLESS by Denis McGrath and Scott White, and WAITING FOR TRUDEAU: The Return of the King by Brett & Racheal McCaig. Derrick's productions have garnered over 25 Dora nominations between them, and include: Studio 180's productions of Moises Kaufman's THE LARAMIE PROJECT directed by Joel Greenberg; Theatre Gargantua production of (nod) written by Rick Roberts and directed by Jacquie P.A. Thomas; macIDeas' production of Kenneth Lonergan's THIS IS OUR YOUTH directed by Woody Harrelson; Marion de Vries' award-winning idiot; Denis McGrath and Scott White's TOP GUN! THE MUSICAL; Nina Aquino and Nadine Villasin's MISS ORIENT(ED) directed by Guillermo Verdecchia; The Great Hailey production of Jay Teitel's THE TEENAGE GIRL DIARIES directed by Rebecca Brown; Gregg Taylor's PROMETHEUS UNPLUGGED and BLACK JACK JUSTICE for Decoder Ring Theatre; and Vincent de Tourdonnet's SNAPPY TALES (composers: Allan Cole, J. Douglas Dodd, Stephen Eddins, Jim Kass) for Theatre Non Nobis. Upcoming are remounts of two of his award-winning productions, POOCHWATER by Mike McPhaden and LITTLE DRAGON by Keira Loughran, both playing at the Theatre Passe Muraille Mainspace as part of this year's season. Also upcoming (or happening as you read this) is the New York premiere of TOP GUN! THE MUSICAL, playing as part of the New York Musical Theatre Festival.

Derrick has been profiled in The Globe and Mail, the Toronto Star, The Lawyers Weekly, Now Magazine and eye Weekly. He is currently President of the Toronto Fringe Festival, past-President of the Toronto Theatre Alliance, and sits on the Boards of the Dora Mavor Moore Awards, Cahoots Theatre Projects and Shakespearience. As an entertainment lawyer, his clients have included a number of theatre companies, independent film & television production companies, bands, publishers, multimedia / high tech companies and artists / performers of every kind. He can be contacted at (905) 707-0090 or at dchua@pathcom.com.

CAROLYN NEWMAN (Producer)
Carolyn has worked as a producer and reporter for both traditional and new media for the last seven years. She has received a CAB national award for creating the most innovative creative and business concept in Canada called RENEGADZ, a multi-platform for teens by teens for independent news and current affairs communication system. Following that, RENEGADZ TV received a national television license from the CBC for 13 episodes. Carolyn has also developed and sold television properties to both Alliance Atlantis and ChumCity. Most recently Carolyn has worked for CBC as an associate producer for children and youth programming researching and developing new television show concepts for the teen demographic. Carolyn has also worked as a CBC radio reporter, she has created the CBC Moncton Website and has also worked for the CBC Online News division specializing in teen news.

Previously, Carolyn worked and interned for CTV as a news producer, writer and reporter in Saskatoon, Toronto and Washington, D.C. She is currently a producer for GIRLZ TV, a Millennium/ YTV property. Carolyn was as a producer for the 2003 & 2004 production of THIS IS OUR YOUTH in Toronto, and was one of the producers for the Bravo Fact! CHOKE, which has just been awarded entry into the prestigious 2004 Toronto International Film Festival, the 2004 Palm Springs Short Film Festival, and the 2004 Woodstock Film Festival.

LERON COHEN (Producer)
Through his company, Strategic Leverage, Leron Cohen provides business development, financial investment and technology consulting to early stage businesses focusing on the new media and entertainment industries. Together with an extensive network of associates in the fields of technology, marketing and finance, Leron is able to offer new businesses comprehensive solutions in achieving their business development goals. Drawing on a venture capital and investment banking background, Leron provides growing business ventures with financial reporting, fundraising and investment structuring services. Leron's clients include numerous companies in the new media, Internet technology and live entertainment industries, including RCB Entertainment, the New Yorker Theatre and Corey Ross Productions Inc.

Leron was as a producer for the 2003 & 2004 production of THIS IS OUR YOUTH in Toronto.


MICHAEL RUBINOFF (Producer)
Recently produced the Toronto premiere of the Off-Broadway comedy, GAME SHOW, at the Jane Mallett Theatre. Other credits include the Toronto premiere of THIS IS OUR YOUTH, A CHORUS LINE, FREE TO BE...YOU AND ME and EVITA at the St. Lawrence Centre for the Performing Arts, a remount of FREE TO BE...YOU AND ME at the Vaughan City Playhouse, SIDE BY SIDE By Sondheim at the Poor Alex Theatre and the ongoing CITYSCAPES CABARET SERIES. Before producing full time Michael was a lawyer with Goodman & Carr. For more information visit www.mrubinoff.com.


COREY ROSS (Producer)
Corey Ross formed Corey Ross Productions Inc. in 1995, presenting a series of concerts and theatrical events by international artists in Toronto, Montreal, and Ottawa appealing to Canada's multicultural communities. Artists included Israel's David Broza, Italy's Zucchero, and Cuba's Tropicana. Venues he has worked with include the Music Hall, Winter Garden Theatre, Ford Centre, Convocation Hall, Massey Hall, Roy Thomson Hall, the Hummingbird Centre, and Montreal's Place Des Arts.

In 1999, he produced the family-oriented First Night New Year's Eve Festival at Harbourfront Centre, presenting over 200 performances by 1000 artists over a 12-hour period. Next, he was contracted to produce the 1999/2000 season for the Corporation of Massey and Roy Thomson Hall. This season was the most profitable season in the organization's 125-year history. Artists booked included Bryan Adams, Diana Krall, Tito Puente, Destiny's Child, George Carlin, and Oscar Peterson. Ross also presented Broadway and TV star Mandy Patinkin at Toronto's Hummingbird Centre in 1999. This performance was Patinkin's most profitable show ever in Canada. In addition, it raised over $150,000 for charity.

Ross then took a year hiatus to complete his MBA in marketing at York University. In 2001, Ross served as marketing consultant for the concert by international opera star Andrea Bocelli at Toronto's Air Canada Centre. This show grossed over $3 million, setting records for the highest ticket prices and largest gross for a single artist and single performance ever in the Canada.

Ross has created corporate events and promotions for corporate clients including Ford, Dairy Farmers of Canada, Sprint Canada, Replay Jeans, and Labatt Breweries.

Ross's work creating events for charities has raised millions of dollars for Jewish charities, leukemia, cancer, and homeless youth. He is also vice-president of the non-profit organization Artists Against Racism, which was awarded the 2001 United Nations Humanitarian Award for its work promoting tolerance.

Ross's 2002 productions were a rare performance by Arabic pop superstars Khaled and Hakim at Massey Hall, and a return engagement for Mandy Patinkin at the Toronto Centre for the Arts. 2003 projects included the Dora Award (Canada's Tony) winning ROMEO AND JULIET REMIXED and the Canadian production of the New York and West End hit play THIS IS OUR YOUTH, directed by Hollywood superstar Woody Harrelson.

In 2004, Ross was selected to run a national promotion for EMI Music, and by the city of Toronto to program a series of shows for the Toronto Centre for the Arts featuring artists such as Sandra Shamas and Whoopi Goldberg.

Upcoming projects include a theatre project created by Canada's top theatre director Robert Lepage, a new speaker series based on A&E's popular TV show Biography, and a special event series featuring Hockey Legends, headlined by Wayne Gretzky.

DEE SHIPLEY (Associate Producer)
Dee Shipley's credits include: actor, theatre producer, event producer, soundtrack producer, audio engineer, voice director, vocal coach, and casting director, most recently specializing in celebrity voice casting for animated features and television. Much of Dee's experience comes from many years in New York City, where she first began working in the entertainment industry after completing graduate studies in Performance and Commercial Producing. Career highlights include directing the Off-Broadway production of the Canadian play WAITING FOR THE PARADE, co-producing the Broadway production of Tennesse Williams' NOT ABOUT NIGHTINGALES, and raising a million dollars for not-for-profit theatre in Canada. In Toronto, Dee has worked with Soulpepper Theatre Company and as the Director of Casting for Nelvana Ltd., a Corus Entertainment Company.

Dee has worked as a Casting and Voice Director and Celebrity Talent Negotiator for Gemini, Genie, and Emmy Award winning productions which have aired on CBC, MTV, Teletoon, Nickelodeon, the WB, YTV, CTV and W, amongst others.

As a Producer, Casting, and Voice specialist, Dee has worked on over a dozen theatre productions, 20 animated series, three TV specials and three features.

Dee is the owner of Dee & Company, a creative consortium located in downtown Toronto and servicing both Canadian and international productions.

RICK GERRITS (Associate Producer)
Over the past 12 years, Richard has worked in a variety of positions in film, television and theatre. He started out as a production assistant on music videos and commercials for Revolver Films. He stayed with Revolver until it was merged with Partners Film Company. He then formed his own production company, Fixion Films, which produced documentary and reality films. Some notable productions were RAGE!, with noted child psychologist Serge Leclerc, which has been utilized by many high schools as well as Crimestoppers International. He also produced: THE LAST SUPPER: AROUND THE WORLD AND BACK, which chronicled the exploits of Canadian indie band, The Last Supper, as they toured across North America, Europe and parts of the Middle East. Richard then became a talent agent for The Core Group Talent Agency in Toronto. He has recently moved into the theatre world and is excited to be working with macIDeas on THIS IS OUR YOUTH as well as the upcoming MATT & BEN. Richard would like to thank JW for his constant support and advice!

KATE MEEHAN (Associate Producer)
Kate is thrilled to be on board as an associate producer in the remount of THIS IS OUR YOUTH. Also an actor, Kate found herself enchanted with producing as well through the development of Crate Productions, a theatre company focusing on naturalistic plays and site-specific locales she founded in August 2003 with fellow actor Chris Reynolds. Kate comes to THIS IS OUR YOUTH on the heels of Crate's highly successful and critically acclaimed debut production TAPE, which ran for an unprecedented 10 weeks at the Gladstone Hotel. Called "the surprise success of this winter's theatre season" and garnering 4 star reviews from both the Toronto Star and Eye Weekly, Kate also received a Dora Mavor Moore Award nomination for her performance. In addition to her producing role in both THIS IS OUR YOUTH and MATT & BEN, look for Kate starring in and co-producing Crate's much anticipated sophomore production, BLACKBIRD, a dark, tragic and harrowing tale about life and love coming Winter 2005.

CHRISTOPHER REYNOLDS (Associate Producer)
Chris is an actor who ventured into theatre production when he founded Crate Productions with friend and fellow actor Kate Meehan. Together they produced and acted in the critically acclaimed Canadian premiere of Stephen Belber's TAPE, which was presented each night in an actual hotel room at the Gladstone Hotel in Toronto. His screen credits include several short independent films, including BLUE BEACH, which has been broadcast on CBC's Zed TV and Canadian Reflections. Most recently, Chris completed his first feature film, playing a lead role in the indie sci-fi thriller CHANNEL ZERO. Upcoming: Chris is co-producing and starring in Crate's next show, BLACKBIRD, by Adam Rapp.

HILARY DOYLE (Associate Producer)
Hilary Doyle is a graduate of Northwestern University's theatre program in Evanston, IL, and holds a concentration in business from the same school. She has worked in theatre and film in New York City, Chicago and Toronto, and has been a member of Second City's National Touring Company since 2003. Hilary has performed in THE ICE CREAM MAN COMETH, CANADIAN IDLE and BEING LIBERAL MEANS NEVER HAVING TO SAY YOU'RE SORRY for the Touring Company, in addition to BUSH LEAGUE OF JUSTICE, ARMAGET-IT-ON and INVASION FREE SINCE 1812 for the Mainstage. In Toronto, she has also worked as an actor with the Canadian Film Centre and with Crow's Theatre. She served as an Associate Producer on Spoke Productions' Canadian Premiere of FULLY COMMITTED, starring Mark McKinney, and also as a freelance associate for Spoke's co-production of THE SHAPE OF THINGS with CanStage. She freelances as a writer and editor in the city, and volunteers her time with a small think tank examining Canadian policy issues. She is thrilled to be working with macIDeas.

 


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