Stage Door News
Stage Door News
Theatre 20 announced its new leadership team:
Theatre 20's new artistic Director is Stratford and Broadway veteran David Keeley. David originated the role of Sam in the Broadway production of Mamma Mia. While in New York, Johnathan Demme cast him opposite Meryl Streep in The Manchurian Candidate. A veteran of The Stratford Festival, David has played everything from Jud in Oklahoma to Flores in Fuente Ovejuna, the first Spanish Golden Age play produced at The Festival. Other Stratford credits include, Hamlet, Coriolanus, My One and Only, The Trojan Women, Richard III, Palmer Park and The Three Musketeers. David won a Dora Award for his portrayal of Lockstock in Canadian Stage's production of Urinetown. Other theatre credits include the North American premiere of True Love Lies at Factory Theatre, Romeo and Juliet, directed by Robert LePage, Tuesdays With Morrie at Theatre Aquarius, The Wrong Son at the NAC, Les Misérables at Western Canada Theatre, Rock of Ages and Billy Elliot both for the Mirvishes. David was also in Theatre 20's inaugural production of Bloodless: The Trial of Burke and Hare and Theatre 20's recent production of Company. Film and TV credits include: "Rookie Blue", "Missing", "King of Siam", "XIII/The Series", "Haven", "The Listener", "Cracked", "Saving Hope", "The Barrens", "Murdoch Mysteries", "Copper", "Republic of Doyle". As a composer, his songs have been featured in such shows as "Due South", "Little Mosque on The Prairie" and Paul Gross's feature film, "Passchendaele".
Nora McLellan (Associate Artistic Director)
Nora McLellan, a longtime staple of both the Shaw and Stratford Festivals, joins David as Theatre 20's Associate Artistic Director. Nora has worked all over North America, including 26 seasons with the Shaw Festival and Stratford Festivals combined. Select Shaw Festival productions include St. Joan, The Skin of our Teeth, The Women, The House of Bernarda Alba, Mrs. Warren's Profession and Gypsy. Select Stratford Shakespeare Festival productions include George F. Walker's new musical King of Thieves, Oklahoma!, Cabaret, Pentacost, The Trojan Women and The Matchmaker. Nora is a four-time Dora Award nominee for Uncle Vanya, Farther West, Robin Hood and winner for Music for Contortionist; and a three-time Jessie Award winner for Road and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Nora trained in New York with Uta Hagen and recently went back to receive teacher training in Hagen technique at the HB Studio in NYC. In 2015, Nora will be in Canadian Reps production of How Do I Love Thee at Berkeley Street Theatre, and the Canadian premiere of Morris Panych's play The Shoplifters at Theatre Calgary. Recently Nora has guest starred on Orphan Black and Saving Hope and has a recurring role on Killjoys, a new Space/Syfy series that will air in 2015. Other favourite musical roles include A Little Night Music, Merrily We Roll Along, Hello Dolly, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Drowsy Chaperone and Theatre 20's recent production of Company.
Brian Goldenberg (Executive Director)
Theatre 20 welcomes Brian to the team as Theatre 20's first Executive Director. He has worked as a Business Consultant for Dancap Productions, the Director of Business and Development for the Herbert H. Carnegie Future Aces Foundation, Assistant Producer with Acting Up Stage Company, Artistic Director/Producer for Vanier College Productions at York University, and most recently, the founding Artistic Producer for Angelwalk Theatre, an 11-time Dora Mavor Moore nominated company specializing in Off-Broadway style musical theatre. Select Angelwalk Theatre productions include the Canadian premieres of I Love You Because, Ordinary Days (with Winnipeg Studio Theatre), and Stars of David (with Harold Green Jewish Theatre Company); the Toronto premieres of Altar Boyz and [title of show]; RENT creator Jonathan Larson's Tick Tick Boom (with Newface Entertainment) and the hit Off-Broadway musical, I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change (with Koogle Theatre Company). Brian has performed for many years on piano, trumpet and voice, and has worked extensively as a music director and music arranger for various musical theatre productions and choirs. As a songwriter, Brian won first-place in an In Front Magazine Music Contest and wrote the music and additional lyrics for the Herbert H. Carnegie Future Aces Foundation Theme Song. His original musical, Seven of Us, made its Toronto debut in the 2010 Toronto Fringe Festival. Brian holds a BFA (Music) from York University and a MBA with specialization in Arts and Media Management from the Schulich School of Business.
Founding Artistic Director of Soulpepper Theatre Company, today released details about Winter Waves, two days of free family programming at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts on Jan. 2 and 3, 2015. Winter Waves, part of Soulpepper's inaugural Family Festival, gives families an opportunity to explore Soulpepper's interactive spaces and enjoy a wide range of fun, free, and creative activities and performances. Relax with Bedtime Stories read by artists, including Alligator Pie author Dennis Lee, celebrate the talents of Torontonians with Virtuosic Toronto, learn how to make and record cinematic sound effects, or enjoy movies and hot chocolate in the Young Centre courtyard. Music, theatre, film and more, for the whole family to enjoy. Events run from 2 to 7:30 p.m. on both days. Visit soulpepper.ca or call 416.866.8666 for more details.
Winter Waves will feature performances and curation by Soulpepper Resident Artists and special guests, including: Waleed Abdulhamid; Leah Cherniak; Ins Choi; David Cox; Dennis Lee; Ken MacKenzie; Miranda Mulholland; Andrea Nann; Gregory Oh; Jon Drops Reid; Mike Ross; Gregory Sinclair; William Webster; and the Young Centre City Choir.
The Family Festivals ticketed stage lineup continues this month with Michael Shamata's beloved adaptation of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol until Dec. 27; and Ins Choi's Kim's Convenience until Dec. 28. The Conjuror from master magician David Ben will run from Dec. 30 to Jan. 3, including multiple showtimes during Winter Waves.
FREE WINTER WAVES ACTIVITIES: JANUARY2 & 3, 2015
Bedtime Stories: Curl up to an intimate bedtime-inspired song, poem or performance.
Playrooms: See, hear, draw, touch, watch, sit, play, and interact in Soulpepper’s playrooms. Two interactive environments have been designed for families to experience and enjoy. Light, sound, and unexpected materials (bubble wrap!) make for a stimulating and creative way to play.
Stories and Sounds: Starting at 4:30 p.m. on both days, kids of all ages can become storytellers through sound, in a winter soundscape recording workshop.
Virtuosic Toronto: In this Soulpepper favourite, film, sound and live performance capture an unforgettable portrait of Toronto.
Wee Concerts: Sing along as Soulpepper Artists present concerts the whole family will enjoy.
Winter Sound Waves: Experience sounds of the season - old and new - from the Young Centre City Choir.
Winter Walk-In Cinema: As the sun begins to set, family-friendly films will play on Soulpepper's outdoor courtyard big screen, complete with heaters and hot cocoa to keep guests cozy while enjoying a movie - or two!
Photo: Joseph Ziegler and Anton Gillis-Adelman. ©2012 Cylla von Tiedemann.
2014-12-18
Toronto: Theatre 20 announces its new leadership team