FAT HAM
By James ljames
New York Premiere Co-Production by The Public Theater Oskar Eustis, Artistic Director Patrick Willingham, Executive Director and National Black Theatre Sade Lythcott, Chief Executive Officer Jonathan McCroy, Executive Artistic Director
Peter Fernandes.
Photo: Lorne Bridgman
Underwritten by Jim Lawrence & David Salak and by Paul Maranger & Robert Brown
Canadian Stage has four homes spread across our great city. The Bluma Appel and the Berkeley Street Complex bookend the vibrant St. Lawrence Market Neighbourhood and run along what was once the shore of Lake Ontario. Our beautiful High Park Amphitheatre is nestled within the grassy mounds and forests of our city’s most beloved park. Our most recent addition, the Winter Garden Theatre, is located right in the bustling downtown core. Canadian Stage is grateful to be able to tell our stories on this bountiful land that we all share.
This sacred land has held story for thousands of years: stories that live in the fabric of who we are as a nation. Canadian Stage would like to acknowledge and thank the original caretakers and knowledge keepers of this territory: the Anishinaabe Nations (including the Mississaugas of the Credit), the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, and the Wendat and Métis Nations. We give thanks to the Nations recorded and unrecorded, acknowledged and unacknowledged, who also share the responsibility for this territory. We honour the Dish With One Spoon Treaty and our responsibility to peaceably share and care for the resources that surround us. We are honoured to be in this meeting place called Tkaronto that many First Nations, Inuit and Métis people from across Turtle Island call home.
David Alan Anderson Rev / Pap
Peter Fernandes Juicy
A Canadian Stage Production
FAT HAM
Cast
Raven Dauda Tedra
Virgilia Griffith Opal
Tony Ofori Tio
Creative
James Ijames Playwright
Philip Akin Director
Jacob Lin*
Sound Design
Brandon Kleiman* Set Design
Ming Wong 黄慧明 Costume Design
Laura Warren* Projection Design
Josh Vlodarchyk Head Technician, Lighting
Geoffrey Davis Dresser
Terrilyn Smith Wig Attendant
Andre du Toit* Lighting Design
Anita Nittoly Fight Director
Peter N. Bailey Dialect Coach
Ryan deSouza Singing Coach
Jaz Fairy J Choreographer
Jordan Silva Makeup Consultant
Crew
Karen Elizabeth Head Technician, Audio
Sharon Ryman Production Wig Supervisor
Nehassaiu deGannes Rabby
Tawiah M’Carthy Larry
Anna R. Kaltenbach Stage Manager
Joey Lau Assistant Stage Manager
May Nemat Allah Apprentice Stage Manager
Rais Clarke-Mendes
RBC Emerging Artist Intern Director
Gwyneth Whalen-Hughes Wardrobe Assistant
Johanna Edwards Karen Donaldson Stitchers
Thank you to Cherry Street Bar-B-Que for providing the food used in this production.
Artificial turf flooring provided by Bella Turf.
Canadian Stage is a member of the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres and engages professional Artists who are members of Canadian Actors’ Equity Association under the terms of the jointly negotiated Canadian Theatre Agreement. Stage Employees are represented by IATSE Local 58 of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees. *Indicated designers on this production are represented by the Associated Designers of Canada, IATSE Local SC659
This production is 100 minutes, with no intermission
“FAT HAM” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com
FAT HAM was commissioned by and received its World Premiere as a filmed production at The Wilma Theater, Philadelphia: Blanka Zizka, Yury Urnoy, James Ijames, and Morgan Green, Co-Artistic Directors Leigh Goldenberg, Managing Director “CREEP“
Written by:
Jonathan Greenwood, Edward O’Brien, Colin Charles Greenwood, Mike Hazelwood, Thomas Edward Yorke, Philip James Selway, and Albert Hammond. Performed by Radiohead.
Published by Sony Music Publishing and Warner Chappel Music Ltd (PRS). All rights on behalf of Warner Chappell Music Ltd administered by WC Music Corp.
“FLASHLIGHT”
Written by:
George Clinton/Bootsy Collins/Bernie Worrell Courtesy of: Bridgeport Music Inc.
Red Brick Songs
All rights reserved “TELL IT TO MY HEART”
Ernest Goldberg/Seth Swirsky
Courtesy of:
Kobalt Songs Music Publishing
Warner Chappell Music
All rights reserved
THE VIDEOTAPING OR MAKING OF ELECTRONIC OR OTHER AUDIO AND/OR VISUAL RECORDINGS OF THIS PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTING RECORDINGS OR STREAMS IN ANY MEDIUM, INCLUDING THE INTERNET, IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED, A VIOLATION OF THE AUTHOR(S)’S RIGHTS AND ACTIONABLE UNDER UNITED STATES COPYRIGHT LAW. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT:
concordtheatricals.com/resources/protecting-artists
Director’s Note
Philip Akin
I have grown to love the unexpected complexity of Fat Ham All of the humour and music wrapped around a core of yearning and searching.
What dreams we may have. What desires drive us through our lives. What could we possibly be if we had the chance to act. So it is a play that is completely human. Rich and filling. An exquisite overlay on an old story that is wonderfully realized.
Philip Akin
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David Alan Anderson – Rev / Pap
David is from the U.S., where he has appeared in regional theatres throughout the country for over 30 years, including over 50 productions at the Indiana Repertory Theatre. He is a company member of Penumbra Theatre and is a Lunt-Fontanane Fellow. Canadian credits: My Fair Lady, Candida, The Clearing, The Amen Corner, White Christmas, Gem of the Ocean, The Secret Garden, Trouble in Mind (Shaw Festival). U.S. credits include: Oedipus, the world premiere of The Reclamation of Madison Hemings (Indiana Rep), The Mountaintop (Court Theatre), West Side Story (Lyric Opera of Chicago), world premieres of Witch (Writers Theatre) and The First Deep Breath (Victory Gardens), several works from the Shakespeare and August Wilson canons. Television credits include: Chicago PD, The Chi, and Shameless. David also teaches and directs.
Raven Dauda – Tedra
Raven Dauda is a multiple award-winning artist who loves all aspects of storytelling, writing, directing and designing. Canadian Stage credits include: Miss Julie: Freedom Summer (Dora Award), Doubt, A Parable (Dora Nomination), Intimate Apparel (w/Obsidian), and Wild Dogs (w/ Nightwood). Other theatre credits include: Addicted (Dora Award/Watah), Penelopiad (Dora Award/Nightwood). The Minotaur (Dora Nomination/YPT), Da Kink In My Hair (Theatre Passe Muraille, Mirvish). Raven won an ACTRA Award for Five Days At Memorial (ABCS), guest stars in Mr. Monk’s Last Case (Critics’ Choice Nominee/Peacock) and appears in recurring roles in series such as; The Umbrella Academy (Netflix), Star Trek: Discovery (CBS), Hot Zone: Anthrax (20th TV), Hudson & Rex (CityTV), The Expanse (SyFy) and Suits (USA).
Nehassaiu deGannes – Rabby
Nehassaiu is delighted to add Canadian Stage’s Fat Ham to her recent U.S. and Canadian world premieres, including The House That Will Not Stand and Sherlock Holmes and The Mystery of The Human Heart (Shaw Festival); The High Ground (Arena Stage); Incendiary (Woolly Mammoth); and the Obie-award-winning Is God Is (Soho Rep.) Other highlights include Sweat on both sides of the border (Cleveland Play House and Theatre Aquarius), a Berkshire Theatre Award for Or, a Broadway World nomination for “Isabella” and “Pompey” in Measure for Measure, and a Wall Street Journal “Best Actor” national citation for “Esther” in Intimate Apparel (Shakespeare & Co.,) as well as principal roles at Studio Theatre DC, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre and The Stratford Festival, among others.
Peter Fernandes – Juicy
Peter Fernandes is a multi-award winning theatre creator based out of Toronto. Select credits: One Man Two Guvnors, Importance of Being Earnest, Damn Yankees, Charley’s Aunt, Christmas Carol, Russian Play, Brigadoon (Shaw); The Bidding War, Master Plan, Fifteen Dogs (Crow’s); Pollyanna (Aquarius); Kelly v Kelly (Musical Stage); Almost a Full Moon, Peter and the Starcatcher (Citadel); Love & Information, Romeo & Juliet, Midsummer, Twelfth Night, King Lear (Canadian Stage); Rose, Father Comes Home…, Alligator Pie, Incident at Vichy, The Just, Marat/Sade, Dybbuk, Spoon River, Tartuffe, Crucible (Soulpepper); Vietgone (RMTC); Jerusalem (Outside the March/Company); Charlie Brown (MTYP); Onegin (NAC/ Musical Stage); Passing Strange (Musical Stage/Obsidian). TV: 21 Black Futures, Pretty Hard Cases, Odd Squad.
Virgilia Griffith – Opal
Virgilia Griffith is an actor based in Toronto. Winner of the Meta Emerging Artist Award for Gas Girls by Donna Michelle St. Bernard. Winner of the Dora Mavor Moore awards for Outstanding Performance for Harlem Duet by Djanet Sears. She was also a Dora Mavor Moore nominee for Outstanding Female in an Independent Division for her performance of Honesty directed by Jordan Tannahill. Selected credits include: Rosmersholm (Crow’s Theatre), Three Sisters (Obsidian theatre/ Soulpepper Theatre), Our Place (Cahoots/ Theatre Passe Muraille), Queen Goneril/ King Lear (Soulpepper Theatre Company), Serving Elizabeth (Stratford Festival), 21 Black Futures (Obsidian Theatre Company/ CBC Gem), Contractions (Studio 180), Guarded Girls (Tarragon Theatre/ Greenlight Arts), Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Soulpepper Theatre), The Wedding Party (Crow’s Theatre), Other Side of the Game (Cahoots/ Obsidian Theatre), Da Kink In My Hair ( Theatre Calgary/ Nac), Up The Garden Path (Obsidian Theatre).
Tawiah M’Carthy – Larry
Tawiah M’Carthy is a Ghanaian born, Toronto based theatre practitioner, notable as a Director, Playwright, Creator and Performer. Directing credits include Here Lies Henry (Factory Theatre) Topdog/Underdog (Canadian Stage), Fairview (Obsidian Theatre/Canadian Stage), Death and the King’s Horseman (Stratford Festival) and Rihannaboi95 (Young People’s Theatre). Creator/ Writer credits include Maanomaa, My Brother (Blue Bird Theatre Collective), Yɛn Ara Asaase Ni (21 Black Futures, Obsidian Theatre), Black Boys (Saga Collectif) and Obaaberima (Buddies in Bad Times Theatre). Performing credits include Oyinyechukwu in Three Sisters (Soulpepper Theatre) and Sizwe in Sizwe Banzi Is Dead (Soulpepper Theatre). Tawiah is a multi Dora-nominated playwright and performer and Co-Artistic Director of Blue Bird Theatre Collective.
Tony Ofori – Tio
Tony is a two time Dora Mavor Award winner and Emmy Award nominee, humbled to be joining Canadian Stage for the second time since his role as Leo Ginger Taylor in Ann-Marie Macdonald’s national touring show Fall On Your Knees which won the Robert Merritt Award in 2024 for Outstanding Production. Some of Tony’s other most recent theatrical works include; Three Sisters, Wildwoman (Soulpepper Theatre) and A Public Reading Of An Unproduced Screenplay About the Death of Walt Disney (Outside The March). Some of his recent TV works include The Trades (Crave), Hudson and Rex (CTV) & Star-Trek Discovery (CTV). Recent films include; Song & Story: Amazing Grace (Oprah Winfrey Network), A Royal Queens Christmas (Hallmark) and CBS Award and IBDFF Award Winning film, Sway. Wanna know what’s next for Tony? Check him out by following him on Instagram: @Tony_Ofori or his visit his website: Tonyofori.com
Creative
James Ijames – Playwright
James Ijames is a Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, director and educator. James’ plays have been produced by Flashpoint Theater Company, Orbiter 3, Theatre Horizon, Wilma Theatre, Theatre Exile, Azuka Theatre (Philadelphia, PA), The National Black Theatre, JACK, The Public Theater (NYC), Hudson Valley Shakespeare Theater, Steppenwolf Theatre, Definition Theatre, Timeline Theater (Chicago, IL) and Shotgun Players (Berkeley, CA) and have received development with PlayPenn New Play Conference, The Lark, Playwright’s Horizon, Clubbed Thumb, Villanova Theater, Wilma Theater, Azuka Theatre and Victory Garden. James is the recipient of the 2011 F. Otto Haas Award for an Emerging Artist and two Barrymore Awards, for Outstanding Direction of a Play for The Brothers Size with Simpatico Theatre Company and Gem of the Ocean with Arden Theatre. James is a 2015 Pew Fellow for Playwriting, the 2015 winner of the Terrence McNally New Play Award (for WHITE), the 2015 Kesselring Honorable Mention Prize winner (for ...Miz Martha), a 2017 recipient of the Whiting Award, and a recipient of the 2019 Kesselring Prize (for Kill Move Paradise), a 2020 Steinberg Prize and the 2022 Pulitzer Prize in Drama. James was a founding member of Orbiter 3, Philadelphia’s first playwright producing collective. He received a B.A. in Drama from Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA and an M.F.A. in Acting from Temple University in Philadelphia, PA. James an Associate Professor of Theatre at Villanova University. @FatHamBway
Philip Akin – Director
Philip Akin is an award-winning cultural leader and has been acting and directing for 50 years. For Canadian Stage: Maanomaa, My Brother (Blue Bird Collective). The Lehman Trilogy. Directing Awards: Toronto Theatre Critic’s Award (3) Dora Nominations (12) winning in (2), My Entertainment Award (1) He has been the recipient of the Silver Ticket Award, Mallory Gilbert Leadership Award, Playwrights Guild of Canada’s Bra d’Or Award, William Kilbourn Award, The Herbert Whittaker/CTCA Award for Distinguished Contribution to Canadian Theatre.
Premier’s Award for Excellence in the Arts and Life Membership Award from Canadian Actor’s Equity Association. His legacy awards program can be found at www.bsla.ca
Jacob Lin – Sound Design
Jacob Lin 林鴻恩 is a Designer, Writer and Producer based in Tkaronto. Jacob has worked with many theatre companies including Shaw Festival, Factory Theatre, Tarragon Theatre, Buddies in Bad Times, Fu-gen Theatre, Young Peoples Theatre, Theatre Passe Muraille, The Howland Company and Crow’s Theatre. Selected credits include My Name is Lucy Barton (Canadian Stage), The House That Will Not Stand (Shaw Festival), The Wrong Bashir (Crows), Guilt (Tarragon Theatre), It’s a Wonderful Life (YPT), Withrow Park (Tarragon Theatre), Heroes of the Fourth Turning (Howland Company/Crow’s), The Hooves Belonged to the Deer (Tarragon Theatre), Prodigal (Howland Company), Post-Democracy (Tarragon Theatre) and Cast Iron (Factory Theatre). You can visit Jacob online at his website Jacoblin.ca
Brandon Kleiman – Set Design
Brandon is a set and costume designer based in Hamilton with work appearing on stages across Canada. He’s had the pleasure to design at The Stratford Festival, Drayton Entertainment, Mirvish Productions, YPT, Theatre Aquarius, The Grand Theatre, Musical Stage Co., Canadian Stage Co., The Globe Theatre, Neptune Theatre and countless other independent companies across our country. Brandon is a multiple Dora award nominee and two time winner. He also won a Merritt Award for his work bringing Viola Desmond to life in the world premier of Controlled Damage in Halifax. For more information and to see his portfolio please visit www.brandonkleimandesign.com
Ming Wong 黄慧明 – Costume Design
Ming is an award-winning Toronto costume designer working in theatre, dance, opera, and film & television for over 15 years. She is a graduate from the Ontario College of Art & Design. For Canadian Stage: The Wizard of Oz, The Inheritance, Public Enemy. Selected Credits: Kim’s Convenience, Three Sisters, De Profundiis, Sizwe Banzi is Dead, Pipeline, Soulpepper; Wights, Rosmersholm, The Wrong Bashir, Natasha, Pierre, & The Great Comet of 1812, The Master Plan, Red Velvet, Uncle Vanya, The Wedding Party, Crow’s; Salesman in China, Rent, Hamlet 911, Stratford Festival; Once, TIP, Things I Know to be True, Company Theatre/Mirvish; Peter’s Final Flight, Ross Petty Productions; Is God Is, Canadian Stage/Obsidian/Necessary Angel; Candida, Just to Get Married, Trouble in Mind, Shaw Festival; Hansel und Gretel, Canadian Opera Company; The Color Purple, Citadel Theatre/RMTC. Digital: Alice in Winterland, Ross Petty Productions; New Monuments, Luminato/Canadian Stage; Identity, Savitri, Against the Grain. Upcoming: Trident Moon, Flex, Crow’s; A Strange Loop, Soulpepper; Wait Until Dark, Shaw Festival. Other: 2021 Virginia & Myrtle Cooper Award recipient, 2 time Dora Award Winner. @mingwongdesign, www.mingwongdesign.com
Laura Warren – Projection Design
Laura Warren is a Saskatchewan-raised, Ontario-based, designer for theatre, dance, live music, and opera. Canadian Stage credits: Is God Is. Selected Credits: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (YPT); Qalb: A Journey of the Ego (1S1 Theatre); Aportia Chryptych (COC); seven methods of killing kylie jenner (Obsidian); Shaniqua in Abstraction (Crow’s/paul watson productions); No Save Points (Outside the March); Of the Sea (Tapestry/Obsidian); #34 (Globe Theatre); The Queen in Me (COC, Nightwood, Amplified Opera, Theatre Gargantua); 21 Black Futures (Obsidian/CBC Arts); Sexual Misconduct of the Middle Classes (Tarragon); In Absentia (JDdance); The Black Drum (DCC/Soulpepper); Grace, Unholy (Nightwood); Oraltorio: A Theatrical Mixtape (Obsidian/Soulpepper); Bearing (Signal Theatre).
Andre
du
Toit – Lighting Design
André du Toit is a lighting designer for live performance based in Toronto, although his designs have been seen across Canada and beyond. He has received five Dora Mavor Moore Awards for Outstanding Lighting Design. His recent designs include Last Landscape, Italian Mime Suicide, Paolozzapedia (Bad New Days); HONEY I’M HOME (Lester Trips); Qalb: A Journey of the Ego, Lady M (1S1 Theatre); Three Sisters (Soulpepper); Universal Child Care, Now You See Her, Mouthpiece (Quote Unquote Collective); speaking of sneaking (Buddies in Bad Times); Maanomaa, My Brother, Love and Information (Canadian Stage); The Queen in Me (Canadian Opera Company/Nightwood Theatre/Theatre Gargantua); Prince Hamlet, What You Won’t Do For Love, (Why Not Theatre); R+J (Stratford Festival of Canada).
Anita Nittoly – Fight Director
Fight & Intimacy Director (selected): Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Hamlet, Fairview (Canadian Stage); Stratford Festival 2024 Season; GroundHog Day (YES Theatre); CRAZE (Tarragon); A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Perchance); The Bidding War, Wights, Bad Roads, (Crow’s); Roberto Zucco, Angels in America (Buddies in Bad Times); The Retreat (Imago); Truth (YPT); Jesus Christ Superstar (Here For Now); WildWoman (Soulpepper); Hamlet (The Rose); Sexual Misconduct of the Middle Classes (TIP); Fall On Your Knees (Canadian Stage/NAC/The Grand); Counter Offence (Segal Centre). Stunt Performer/Actor credits (selected): Copenhagen, Slasher, Twisted Metal S2, Law & Order: Toronto, SEE, Star Trek: Discovery, Pretty Hard Cases, The Boys. Upcoming Theatre Projects: Stratford Festival 2025 Season. Upcoming Film/TV Projects: Star Trek: Starfleet Academy S2, Handmaid’s Tale S6. anitanittoly.com
Peter N. Bailey – Dialect Coach
Peter graduated from the Humber College Theatre Performance Program in 2003. Peter’s voice and dialect coaching credits include: Serving Elizabeth, Much Ado About Nothing, Wedding Band, Get That Hope, (The Stratford Festival), The National Theatre School of Canada, Canadian Film Centre, and Sheridan College. Peter is a member of the Patsy Rodenburg Associate Programme and is working toward his PRA certification.
Ryan deSouza – Singing Coach
Ryan deSouza is currently in his 25th season as the Associate Music Director and Company pianist at the Shaw Festival. For Canadian Stage: Side By Side By Sondheim. He most recently Music Directed Natasha Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812, for which he won a Dora Award. Ryan has created orchestrations and arrangements for new Canadian musicals including Tomson Highway’s Mary Jane Mosquito, Hawksley Workman’s Almost A Full Moon, and is currently working on a new musical version of Stuart McLean’s The Vinyl Café Ryan has worked with theatres across the country and He has worked with recording artists Jennifer Hudson, Andrea Bocelli and The Tenors. Ryan is a proud graduate of St. Michael’s Choir School.
Jaz Fairy J – Choreographer
Jaz Fairy J is an extraordinary Barbadian-Canadian multi hyphenate artist. She has worked as a choreographer and Movement Director (MD) for Canadian Theatre for the past 13 years. Her first project was under the direction of Philip Akin and Obsidian Theatre and she is thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Philip and the cast and crew of Fat Ham this year! Other choreography credits include: Death and the King’s Horseman (Stratford Festival) Da Kink in my Hair (Soulpepper Theatre & TO Live), Other Side of the Game (Cahoots Theatre), For Coloured Girls (Soulpepper Theatre), and Speaking of Sneaking (Buddies in Bad Times) MD credits include: The Brothers Size (Soulpepper Theatre), Just to Get Married (Shaw Festival), and Is God Is (Canadian Stage, Obsidian and Necessary Angel
Anna R. Kaltenbach – Stage Manager
Canadian Stage: My Name is Lucy Barton, Hamlet, Lehman Trilogy, Topdog/Underdog, Maanomaa My Brother. Other Toronto: Dana H (Crow’s), Truth (YPT), Anahita’s Republic (Bustle & Beast), King’s Playlist (Culchahworks), Bright Star (Garner Theatre Productions), CHEW (Project:Humanity). Broadway/NY: Motown, Broadway Advocacy Coalition, Broadway Inspirational Voices. Tours: Hamilton, Motown, Once, Memphis, Shrek, A Chorus Line, Mamma Mia!, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Joseph... (Tokyo). West End: Motown. Regional US: Marriott Lincolnshire, Chicago Shakespeare, Other Theatre Company, Western Stage, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance, Colorado Ballet, Opera Colorado.
Joey Lau (劉祖怡) – Assistant Stage Manager
Joey is a stage manager and multidisciplinary artist based in Toronto, Canada. After receiving her BFA in theatre production from Toronto Metropolitan University, Joey was selected as the 2020-2021 RBC Apprentice Stage Manager with The Musical Stage Company. Selected Credits: Comedy is Art (The Theatre Centre); Woking Phoenix (Theatre Passe Muraille & Silk Bath Collective); Uncovered: Fleetwood Mac And The Eagles, Uncovered: The Music Of Abba, Uncovered: The Music Of Dolly Parton, Baapii Roho, Blackout (The Musical Stage Company); Maudie: The Musical Workshop (Theatre Calgary); Yassama And The Beaded Calabash (Lua Shayenne Dance Company); Salesman In China Workshop (Stratford Festival); Alice In Wonderland (Canadian Children’s Opera Company).
May Nemat Allah – Apprentice Stage Manager
Canadian Stage: The Wizard of Oz: The Toto-ly Awesome Family Musical, Fat Ham. Other Credits: Assistant Stage Manager for Steel Magnolias (Drayton Entertainment); Apprentice Stage Manager for Women of the Fur Trade, Death and the King’s Horseman (Stratford Festival); Stage Manager for Antigonick, Everything Gone, Everything Shone, Assistant Stage Manager for Maybe Not Tomorrow, Cabaret (National Theatre School of Canada). Training: National Theatre School of Canada and the University of Waterloo. Endless love and gratitude to my family and friends!
Rais Clarke-Mendes – RBC Emerging Artist Intern Director
Rais Clarke-Mendes is a Trinidadian-Barbadian theatre artist based in Toronto, and a graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada. Rais made her directorial debut with X and Da Spirit at Theatre Passe Muraille, in association with b current performing arts. Other credits include: Assistant Director - Red Velvet (Crow’s Theatre). Rais’ performing credits include: The House That Will Not Stand, Sherlock Holmes and The Mystery of the Human Heart, The Apple Cart, and The Shadow of a Doubt (Shaw Festival). Outside of her work on stage, Rais is dedicated to arts education and community programming, partnering with organizations like the Nia Centre for the Arts to mentor and share her expertise with emerging artists.
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Jerald Lawless
Dale Lawr
Mrs. Deborah Lecuyer
Mrs. Carmen Lehman
Patty Likuski
JG Malkin
Frances Maranger
Mr. Kulin Matchhar
Kayla Mcleod
Ms. Marjorie McLeod
Jordan Merkur
John G. Myers
Faye Rhonda Newport
Emile Oliana
Ms. Maureen Parry
Denais Peluch
Carol E. Percy
Ms. Pegi Rappaport
Kimberly Robinson
John Roeleveld
Keith Rose
Craig Ruttan
Ms. Teresa Sarkesian
Judith Schwartz
Ms. Dawn Scott
Dan & Diane Sexton
Marvin Singer
Barbara Slater
Ms. Donna E. Slater
Michele A. Spencer
Mrs. Felice Spitzer
Paul B. Stewart
Elizabeth & Keith Strand
Anthony van Straubenzee
Ms. Jan Sutin
Nora Underwood
Ms. Katherine D. Vice
Mr. Brent Vickar
Martin Wade
Miss Marla Wardinger
Ms. Adena Watt
Grant Wedge
Scott Wentworth
Dianne Weinrib
Mr. Jay G. Wilson
Anthea Windsor
Sharon Zier-Vogel
Mr. Barrie W. Zwicker
Anonymous (2)
City Builders
Members
Principal
SvN Architects + Planners
Partners
Aercoustics
Castlepoint Numa
DIALOG
Diamond Schmitt
EllisDon
Enwave Energy
ERA
Harrington and Associates
KPMB
O2 Planning and Design Inc.
RAW Design
TAS
2024 Theatre Ball Supporters
Cocktail Reception
Sponsor
Black Onyx Counselling & Wellness
Media Sponsor
The Globe and Mail
Premium Table Buyers
Aird & Berlis
Castlepoint Numa
Hugh Clark
Regular Table Buyers
Alexandra Baillie
Navin Bhat
Bond Paving
Castlepoint Numa
CIBC Mellon
Ed and Fran Clark
Davies
Diamond Schmitt
Gardiner Roberts LLP
Polar Asset Management Partners
Power Corporation of Canada
Paul and Janice
Sabourin
SvN
The Mitchell Partnership Inc.
Torys LLP
Trillium Health Partners
Foundation
Veltri Wealth Management Group
Half Table Buyers
Sara Angel
David Bronskill & Mark Dilworth
Deloitte
Entuitive
Hogg Shain & Sheck Mirzaagha
Investments
Anonymous (1)
Table Selling Committee
Hugh Clark
Frances Mahil
John Montesano
Drew Sinclair
Auction Support
Estée Lauder
Show your love for Canadian Stage by making a gift today. Go to www.canadianstage.com/donate to support the work on our stages and the artists who create it.
Lifetime Giving
Canadian Stage wishes to acknowledge the generous contributions from individuals, foundations, and corporations whose lifetime financial contributions to the company exceed $100,000.
Above $2,000,000
Bram & Bluma Appel
The Bluma Appel Community Trust
BMO Financial Group
TD Bank Group
$1,000,000 - $1,999,999
Marilyn Baillie, C.M. & Charles Baillie, O.C
CIBC
Sandra Simpson
$500,000 - $999,999
BMO Harris Private Banking
Susan Crocker, C.M. & John Hunkin, C.M.
John & Nancy Embry
Imperial Oil Foundation
Ron Lalonde & Jane Humphreys
William MacKinnon
Manulife Financial
Maureen & Roger Parkinson
RBC Foundation
Scotiabank
The Slaight Family Foundation
St. Josephs Communications
Anonymous
$250,000 - $499,999
Alexandra Bailie
David W. Binet
Canada Life
Hal Jackman Foundation
The William & Nona Macdonald
Heaslip Foundation
The Henry White Kinnear Foundation
Elaine Kierans & Shawn McReynolds
Laidlaw Foundation
Trina McQueen, O.C.
Metcalf Foundation
Ontario Trillium Foundation
Jack & Judith Rose
The Sabourin Family Foundation
Sylvia Soyka
Sun Life Financial Anonymous
$100,000 - $249,999
The Azrieli Foundation
Cathy Bateman
Jill E. Black & Barry Allan
The Brian Linehan Charitable Foundation
M. Joan Chalmers C.C., O.Ont & Barbara Amesbury
Peter & Frances Chiddy
Ed & Fran Clark
Hugh Clark
Mark & Ann Curry
Deloitte Foundation
Ernst & Young LLP
Margaret & Jim Fleck, O.C.
GE Canada
Peter & Dianne Gillin
Gluskin Sheff & Associates Inc.
Sheila Goldman
Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation
Barbara Hackett & John Tory
Joan and Clifford Hatch Foundation
Hewlett Packard Canada
HSBC Bank Canada
Ken Hugessen & Jennifer Connolly
Intact Insurance Company
Ed & Ann Kerwin
KPMG Canada
Adrian Lang & Ash Taylor
Don & Marjorie Lenz
Gail MacNaughton
John & Kay McKellar
Molson Coors Brewing Company
Sandra & Jim Pitblado
Polar Asset Management Partners
Polar Foundation
Emmanuel Pressman
Timothy & Frances Price
PwC Canada
The Racioppo Family Foundation
Penny & Robert Richards
Jim Riley & Nicole Sigouin
Edward S. Rogers
Rogers Communications Inc.
Ellen & Brian Rose
Schuyler Bankes & Family
SvN
TC Energy
Tridel Corporation
Chip & Barbara Vallis
Arlene & Michael Willis
Julie, Peter & James in Memory of John David Wood
Anonymous (2)
Legacy Giving
We are grateful to the following individuals who have very thoughtfully and generously remembered Canadian Stage in their estates.
The Estate of Bluma Appel
The Estate of Kenneth C. Dawe
The Estate of John Gordon Hunter Larry Lubin
The Estate of Stanley Shaw
The Estate of Helen Joan Kates
The annual donor listing includes donations received between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024.
We have made every effort to ensure proper recognition. If, however, your name has been accidentally omitted, listed incorrectly, or misspelled, we apologize. Please notify us at donate@canadianstage.com with any corrections.
Alexandra Baillie Legacy Fund Donors
Matching and Lead Donor
$10,000+
Mark & Gail Appel
Bob & Mary Pat Armstrong
Alexandra Baillie
Marilyn & Charles Baillie
Hugh Clark
The Krstajic Foundation
Trina McQueen
Vafa Mirzaagha
Maureen & Roger Parkinson
Drew Sinclair & Liza J. Stiff
Julie Sutherland & Greg Lemaich
$5,000 - $9,999
Michael Angel and Sara Angel
Upkar & Nita Arora
Tony Baylis & Jacqueline Kirk
Navin Bhat
Burstyn Family Charitable Fund
Susan Crocker & John Hunkin
Robert Foster, C.M. & Julia Foster, C.M.
Good & Well Inc
Colin Hennigar & Justine Turner
Nina Josefowitz
Elaine Kierans & Shawn McReynolds
The Henry White Kinnear Foundation
Ron Lalonde & Jane Humphreys
John Montesano
Chip & Barbara Vallis
$100 - $4,999
David Bronskill
Adam & Gayle Burke
Doone & George Estey
Huw Evans & Kathryn Bird
Brendan Healy
Qasim Mohammad
Daniel & Sandra Sullivan
Vandana Taxali
Thanks to our 24.25 Season Sponsors and Funders
Season Sponsor and Access Partner Bluma Appel Season Underwriter
John & Nancy Embry
Dream in High Park
Lead Corporate Sponsor Foundation Support
The Westaway Charitable Foundation
Production Underwriters & Sponsors
Alexandra Baillie
William and Nona Heaslip Foundation
Paul Maranger & Robert Brown
Marilyn & Charles Baillie Family Foundation Education & Community Outreach
Lead Donor
David W. Binet
Elaine Kierans & Shawn McReynolds
Trina McQueen, O.C.
Ian & Kiki Delaney
Fabio Mascarin Foundation New Work Development Lead Donor Emerging Artists Support
Supporting Donor
Future Forward Fund Lead Donor
Ed & Fran Clark
Catherine Graham & Katy Graham Debost EmpowHer Founding Donors Janet L’Heureux
Foundation and Corporate Supporters
Marion Armstrong Charitable Foundation
Henry White Kinnear Foundation
City Builders Principal Member
Kingfisher Foundation
The Joan and Clifford Hatch Foundation
Otto & Marie Pick Charitable Foundation
FOUNDATION
HELPING COMMUNITIES THRIVE
Hotel Sponsor
Government Support
Media Sponsor
Canadian Stage
Board of Directors
Hugh Clark Chair
Sara Angel
Nimal Amitirigala
Alexandra Baillie
Navin Bhat
David Bronskill
Rupinder Dhillon Councillor Paula Fletcher
Management
Brendan Healy Artistic Director
Monica Esteves Executive Director
Daniel Bennett Director of Production and Facilities
Tanya Doroslovac Director of Marketing and Communications
Heather McMartin Director of Development and Campaigns
Beth Toombs Director of Finance and Administration
Artistic
Lynanne Sparrow Producer
Jordan Laffrenier Associate Artistic Director
Laurie Merredew Assistant Producer
Manuel Chaves Manager of Education and Community Engagement
Finance & Administration
Sunitha Rai Manager, Payroll Administration and HR Support
Kari Seppen Intermediate Accountant
Brian Parsons Senior Manager, IT Services
Ruth-Anne Yiu
Executive Assistant and Board Liaison
Adam Burke Treasurer
Colin Hennigar
Nina Josefowitz
Elaine Kierans
Frances Mahil
Fabio Mascarin
Trina McQueen
Vafa Mirzaagha
Development
Leslie Francombe
Associate Director, Corporate Giving and Partnerships
Chris Faulkner Senior Manager, Government Relations and Foundations
Luisa Kurtz Senior Manager, Individual Giving
Gillian Hoff Manager of Special Events
Marketing and Communications
Shannon Tigert
Senior Marketing Manager, Loyalty & Growth
Madison Zinger Senior Marketing Manager, New Audiences
Derek Ma
Graphic and Digital Manager
Vaishnavi Panwar Marketing Coordinator
Michael Crumpton Senior Sales Specialist
Audience Services
Conor Copeland Ticketing and Audience Services Manager
Faisal Butt Assistant Ticketing Manager
Huw Evans Secretary
Qasim Mohammad
John Montesano
Daniel Sinniah
James Spearing
Julie Sutherland
Maple Tam Vandana Taxali
Abbas Abbas
Peter Genoway
Elyssia Giancola
Mima Higashi
Alex Jackson
Mackenzie Kerr
Colette Mbariko
Seamus Murphy
Sydnie Phillips
Henrique Santsper
Sienna Singh
Mya Wong
Audience Services Staff
Production
Brayden Crawford
Technical Director
Meg Woods
Production & Site Manager
Matthew Hadley Building Operations Manager
Marshall Kidd Associate Technical Director
Kendalin Bishop Assistant Technical Director
Ian Kowalski
Production Coordinator
Mary Spyrakis Head of Properties
Janet Pym Head of Wardrobe
Chynah Philadelphia Properties Assistant
Josh Vlodarchyk Head Technician
Karen Elizabeth Head Technician
Ben Junor
House Technician
Great performances live here.
At BMO, we take pride in our local communities, and the artists that contribute to the cultural diversity and creative richness of our cities.
We are proud to be Canadian Stage’s 2024/2025 Season Sponsor and Access Partner.
Fall On Your Knees (2024). Photo by Dahlia Katz
