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WOODY
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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