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WELCOME TO CRAZECRAZE is a world premiere co-productionfrom Tarragon Theatre and Modern TimesStage Company, in association with Theatre ARTaud.1CRAZE runs approximately 90 minutes with no intermission.Content warnings: excessive alcohol use, war themes, use of prop guns, gunshots,staged violence, discussion of abortion,suggestive sexual language, haze (waterbased), fog, loud sounds, flashing lights.
CASTAugusto Bitter Buddy/AlexAli Kazmi ReneeKwaku Okyere RichieLisa Ryder JuneLouisa ZhuSelina12
Rouvan Silogix and Rafeh MahmudPlaywrights Mike PayetteDirector 郝邦宇 Steven HaoAssistant Director Ting - Huan 挺歡 Christine Urquhart*Set and Costume Designer Arun Srinivasan*Lighting Designer Maddie Bautista*Sound Designer and ComposerAnita NittolyFight Director Corey TazmaniaIntimacy Director Jeff HoProduction Dramaturg Lani MartelStage Manager Jamie AndersonApprentice Stage ManagerCREATIVE TEAM*Indicated designers on this production are represented bythe Associated Designers of Canada, IATSE Local ADC659.3
Tarragon Theatre acknowledges that we all are a part of alarger ecosystem within our community, Tkaronto, where ourtheatre lives and operates – and that we also commitourselves and energize our audiences to continually reflect onand respond to our relationship to the land around us. Thiscountry has been cared for by generations of First Nations,Inuit and Métis Nations, and the land on which Tarragon restsand is able to share this story has been cherished andprotected by the Anishnabeg, the Haudenosaunee, theWendat, and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation.Toronto is a word that originates from the Mohawk word“Tkaronto,” meaning “the place in the water where the treesare standing,” which is said to refer to the wooden stakes thatwere used as fishing weirs in the narrows of local riversystems by the Haudenosaunee and Wendat. The paths westill walk today, from Davenport to Dupont, are built on theportage trails first established and walked by Indigenouspeoples. It is in the spirit of being on the portage route that weinvoke our local Indigenous oral history – though covered upby the industrial progress of Toronto – and maintain thatthose stories are not lost. We are committed to engaging with these communities inmeaningful ways that open dialogue. We look towards arecognition of our shared humanity to create deepercommunity connection and accountability. Tarragon’srecognition of the contributions of Indigenous peoples to thisland is directly connected to our promise to meet thechallenge of Truth and Reconciliation: making ourcommitment real in our work and through our communitybuilding. Please do check out the QR codes in the lobby to find out how you can extend your support.TARRAGON THEATRE LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT4
It is so exciting to partner with Modern Times StageCompany for the first time on the World Premiere of CRAZE.Inspired by the classic Edward Albee piece Who’s Afraid ofVirginia Woolf, wrapped in the intensity of Dante’s Inferno,CRAZE meets us in our modern world and, like every greatdrama, demands that we face our choices.CRAZE - written by Modern Times Artistic Director RouvanSilogix and lauded artist Rafeh Mahmud, and directed byMike Payette - is a timely and significant partnership. It is acollaboration of minds and deep artistic alignment, acoupling of organizations, and a meeting of complementarymandates. Tarragon is Canada’s premiere theatre for the creation anddevelopment of new, contemporary plays, and part of thatwork is the exploration, and celebration of Canadian voicesin theatre. Who gets to tell stories? Which stories get to beheard? And what can the rich scope of journeys in thiscountry teach us about ourselves and each other? ModernTimes is one of the only professional theatre organizations inCanada that prioritizes immigrants, newcomers, andrefugees as part of its core mandate. We are thrilled to cometogether with an exceptional cast and creative team on thisintoxicating story. This world premiere of a play by twopotent, provocative, and intoxicating voices, and along withthe exceptional cast and creative team, we are thrilled toshare this story with you. Like a stiff drink late into the night,CRAZE will awaken buried truths and disrupt yourinhibitions. Bottoms up. Mike Payette and Lisa LiTarragon Theatre Artistic Director and Executive DirectorWELCOME TO THE SHOW5
PLAYWRIGHTS’ NOTEWe love the history of theatre and art, especially as itspreads and intermingles geographically, throughoutcultures - the philosophical, political, andsocioeconomic impacts that art and society have oneach other. We also love living-room comedies, and themagical-realist, surrealist, absurdist, (all the other ists)that have existed for centuries across the world, andemerged in the early 1900s in the European context.CRAZE is an amalgamation of blending the old with thenow - taking our ever-complicated histories from theeast and the west, and throwing them into a living room,for us to reckon with our humanity, and question what itmeans for us to be alive.We as writers are merely asking these questions whichcurrently sit at the edge of our philosophical andsociopolitical discourse - what makes us us? We maketheatre for audiences and artists alike to come togetherand engage with ideas, humanity and ourselves, andhave a great time. Without that joy, there is no theatre. Thank you sincerely for coming and supporting ourwork, and hope to see you again soon.Rouvan Silogix & Rafeh Mahmud6
Established in 1989 by iconic Persian theatre directorSoheil Parsa and Peter Farbridge, Modern Times StageCompany is an imaginative, award-winning, immigranttheatre organization that focuses on celebrating andcreating radical theatre full of imagination – involvingnarratives, stories, forms, and disciplines from across theWorld! We bring together a fusion of cultures, politics,philosophies, and artistic disciplines from across theglobe into a contemporary, globalized Canadian context.Additionally, we support artists, voices, and communitiesemanating from the Persian, Desi, Arab, Muslim, Brown,South Asian, IBPOC, LGBTQ+, and other equity-seekinggroups.Regardless of Liberal or Conservative government,Canada takes in a higher percentage of immigrants thanany other Western country, and we empower the voicesof this diverse, globalized, Canadian future.In this way, we consider ourselves the most Canadiantheatre organization of them all! A theatre that’s devotedto Canadian Futurism.OUR CO-PRESENTER:MODERN TIMES STAGE COMPANY7
Our Artistic MissionOur theatre is radical and inspirational— forms, narratives,a unique fusion of interdisciplinary arts that you’ve neverseen before on stage!Our theatre is also about bringing communities together tocelebrate and engage in the profound issues and joys ofour sociopolitical times.We are proudly, and shamefully, the ONLY professionaltheatre organization in Canada that prioritizes immigrants,newcomers, and refugees as part of our core mandate.OUR CO-PRESENTER:MODERN TIMES STAGE COMPANY8Rouvan SilogixArtistic DirectorSteph CrothersArtistic Producer & Company ManagerMahsa ErshadifarAssociate Artist & ProducerHoney HoseinyApprentice Artistic FellowNatasha AnwarMarketing AssociateLaura McCallumBookkeeperModern Times Stage Company Staff
OUR CO-PRESENTER:MODERN TIMES STAGE COMPANY9Modern Times is immensely grateful for the supportfrom:Erin C JonesDiana ManoleAhad LakhaniJaqueline MaxwellSamir DossalModern Times Stage CompanyBoard of Directors
ABOUT THEATRE ARTAUD10Theatre ARTaud is a surrealist theatre & multimediacollective run by Artists-of-Colour, formed in 2017. Presently led by Artistic Director, Rafeh Mahmud, we haveempowered and collaborated with 100+ BIPOC, new-generation and new-immigrant artists, to make sure voicesof Artists-of-Colour, LGBTQ+, female identifying, refugeeartists and other artists who are on the margins orunderrepresented in our culture. Theatre ARTaud hascreated, collaborated, and produced work with (but notlimited to), Factory Theatre, Crow’s Theatre, MammalianDiving Reflex, SummerWorks Theatre Festival, NextStageTheatre Festival, Theatre Passe Muraille, Modern TimesStage Company, The Theatre Centre, Buddies in Bad Times. Previous Work includes: The Caged Bird Sings (Aga KhanMuseum), When Life Gives You Lemons (Golden Sheafnominee for Best Short Film at CSA qualifying Yorkton FilmFestival & Victoria Film Festival), The Private Life of theMaster Race (SummerWorks), Professionally Ethnic(SummerWorks, NOW Rating, awarded for ‘BestProduction’), Grab ‘Em By The P**** (TPM Backspace),News Play (Toronto Fringe), 49th Day (Trinh Next StageFestival), In Defense of Civil Society (Sarasota Film Festival,3 Awards for Best Director & Best Editing).
AUGUSTO BITTER Buddy/AlexFor Tarragon: Debut.Selected Theatre Credits: Year of the Rat, TheMonument (Factory Theatre), Anywhere But Here(Electric Company Theatre), The Election (CommonBoots/Various), CHICHO (Pencil Kit Productions/Theatre Passe Muraille), Iphigenia and the Furies (OnTaurian Land) (Saga Collectif), Lear (GroundlingTheatre Co.), Our Town (Theatre Rusticle).Selected Film and Television Credits: Hudson & Rex(CityTV), CHICHO (Outfest Fusion), Hotel for theHolidays (Amazon), So Much Tenderness (TIFF‘22/Crave), Ezra (OUTtv), Coroner (CBC), True DatingStories (CBC Gem). Upcoming: Star Trek: Section 31 (CBS/Paramount+),Reina (Buddies in Bad Times, May 2025).Awards: Dora Award for Outstanding Performance ofan Individual (CHICHO).Other: www.augustobitter.com11
ALI KAZMI ReneeFor Tarragon: Behind The Moon.Selected Theatre Credits: New (Canadian Stage), UncleVanya (Mirvish Productions / Crow’s Theatre), Bengal Tigerat the Baghdad Zoo (Crow’s Theatre).Selected Film and Television Credits: Umro Ayyar - ANew Beginning (VR Chili Production), Law and OrderToronto (Cameron Pictures), Murdoch Mysteries (CityTv),Transplant (CTV), The Breadwinner (Cartoon Saloon),Designated Survivor (ABC), Funny Boy (Array), Beeba Boys(CBC Gem), Taken (NBC), Falling Water (ValhallaEntertainment), Baaghi (Paragon Productions), JacksonHeights (Six Sigma Plus), Badnaam (LonerangerProductions), Jaal (HUM).Awards: Dora Award nomination, OutstandingPerformance by a Lead Performer (Behind The Moon).Other: A Pakistani Canadian, trained multilingual, andmultifaceted, professional creative powerhouse of an actor/ director & producer. He was born in Karachi, Pakistan andhe now lives in Toronto, Canada where he went to TorontoFilm & Drama school and started his career again fromscratch. Hailing from a family of Creative juggernauts, it isinherent within him. He has been working successfully bothon and off camera, in the industry in Pakistan, India,Canada & USA for over 20 years in the creative fields oftheatre, television & film. He has amassed a portfolio,peppered with multi-layered, diverse characters.12
KWAKU OKYERE RichieFor Tarragon: Redbone Coonhound (co-director).Selected Theatre Credits: Choir Boy (CanadianStage); Iphigenia and the Furies (on Taurian Land)(Theatre Passe Muraille/Saga Collectif); A MidsummerNight’s Dream (Theatre Rusticle); Shove it Down MyThroat (Buddies in Bad Times/Pandemic); Portia’sJulius Caesar (Shakespeare in the Ruff); The SeatNext to the King (Minmar Gaslight).Upcoming: Richard II (Stratford Festival - AssistantDirector); Choir Boy (Arts Club); Queen Margaret(Shakespeare in the Ruff - Director).Awards: 2020 Outstanding Ensemble Doranomination for Theatre Rusticle's A MidsummerNight's Dream; 2017 Critics’ Pick Award - OutstandingPerformer in a Small Production (Seat Next to theKing).Other: Libra sun, Scorpio moon, Leo rising. Nothingbut gratitude!13
LISA RYDER JuneFor Tarragon: Orestes.Selected Theatre Credits: Helen in Helen Lawrence(Canadian Stage/Edinburgh Festival/B.A.M./Kammerspiele, Munich/De Singel, Antwerp/RoyceHall, Los Angeles/Vancouver Arts Club), Cloudy in ABlow in the Face (written by Lisa Ryder / NightwoodTheatre).Selected Film and Television Credits: Recurringcharacters on From (Paramount Plus) and Endlings(CBC), series lead on Andromeda (Global). Principalroles Mary Kills People, A Not So Royal Christmas andThe Hot Zone. Upcoming: The Darkest Dark (Young People’sTheatre), Gen V (Amazon Prime).14
LOUISA ZHUSelinaFor Tarragon: Come Home - The Legend of Daddy Hall (Fight Director).Selected Theatre Credits: A Midsummer Night's Dream(Canadian Stage ), Lady Sunrise (Factory Theatre), The SilverArrow (Citadel Theatre), Reflector (Theatre Gargantua), SexTape Project (fu-GEN Theatre).Selected Film and Television Credits: Series Regular onTransformers: BotBots (Netflix/eOne) and Rising Suns(OMNI). Recurring on My Little Pony G5 (Netflix andYouTube), Kiya and the Kimoja Heroes (Disney+), andEndlings (Hulu/CBC). You can also catch Louisa in Relax, I'mFrom the Future (Universal/WANGO Films), FUBAR (Netflix),and Ghostwriter (Apple TV+). Awards: ACTRA Award Nominee for OutstandingPerformance - Gender Non-Conforming or Female Voice(Transformers: BotBots - Netflix/eOne), Dora Nomination forOutstanding Performance - Ensemble TYA Division (TreasureIsland - Solar Stage), Fight Directors Canada Henry MarshallMemorial Award for Inspiration, Vision, and Excellence.Other: Louisa is a Certified Fight Instructor for FightDirectors Canada and teaches on faculty at George BrownCollege in both the Acting for Media Program and TheatreSchool. She is also a frequent audiobook narrator, havingnarrated 8 audiobook titles with Penguin RandomhouseAudio since completing their mentorship program in 2023.15
ROUVAN SILOGIXPlaywrightFor Tarragon: Debut. Selected Theatre Credits: Bengal Tiger at the BaghdadZoo, The Land Acknowledgement / As You Like It (Crow’sTheatre), The Caged Bird Sings (Aga Khan Museum). In Toronto, Rouvan’s work has been seen on the stagesof Theatre Passe Muraille, Buddies In Bad Times, TheTheatre Centre, Crow’s Theatre, Factory Theatre,SummerWorks Performance Festival, Next Stage Festival,and others. In Karachi, Pakistan, he was a Resident Artistat the National Academy of Performing Arts workingunder Pakistani icon Zia Mohyuddin. Awards: Rouvan is an RBC and Toronto Arts Foundationaward winner.Other: Rouvan Silogix is an award-winning, immigrantPakistani-Tanzanian writer, director, performer, andclassical pianist. His work primarily explores imaginativeforms of art, often reimagining classical texts, digging intothe profound and complex sociopolitical issues of ourtimes. Prior to joining Modern Times in 2002, Rouvan wasassociate Artistic Director (Head of New PlayDevelopment) at Crow’s Theatre, Founding ArtisticDirector at Theatre ARTaud, Writer-In-Development atFactory Theatre, and Associate Artist and Producer atMammalian Diving Reflex. Prior to immigrating to Canada,he worked professionally in New York City and Karachi, Pakistan. 16
RAFEH MAHMUDPlaywrightFor Tarragon: Debut.Selected Theatre Credits: The Caged Bird Sings (Aga Khan Museum), The Water Bureau (J.M KaplanTheatre, NYC), The Estranged Joseph Shider (ArnholdHall Glassbox, NYC), Is This It? (Naked Angels 24Hours Plays, NYC), The Mousetrap (Karachi, Pakistan).Selected Film and Television Credits: In Defense ofCivil Society (18 Festival Selections, 2 Awards, 3Honorable Mentions), When Life Gives You Lemons (7 Festival Selections, 1 Award, 4 Nominations), Good Morning America (ABC), The Queen’s Gambit(Panavision/Netflix), Marvelous Mrs. Maisel(Panavision/Amazon), Black Community Mixtapes(CTV), Jodi Arias: Bad Behind Bars (LifetimeNetwork), Virgins! (CBC).Awards: 2018 Daytime Emmy, Best Picture atCanada Shorts, Best Editing at Oregon Short FilmFestival, Urban Visions Festival Finalist, Best Directorat Georgia Shorts Festival, Canadian Screen AwardNominee for Best Short Film at Yorkton Film Festival& Victoria Film Festival.17
MIKE PAYETTEDirectorFor Tarragon: Come Home - The Legend of Daddy Hall,Cockroach曱甴, Paint Me This House of Love. Current Artistic Director. Selected Theatre Credits: Mike has worked as a director,actor and educator for many years, and in theatres from coastto coast. As an actor, he has performed with some of thecountry’s finest companies like The Citadel, Vertigo Theatre,Manitoba Theatre for Young People, Banff Centre, ArtisticFraud of Newfoundland, Segal Centre, Centaur Theatre, TheGrand, Factory Theatre, Neptune Theatre, and the NationalArts Centre, among others. Directing credits include: Blithe Spirit (Shaw Festival); ChoirBoy (Centaur, Canadian Stage/Arts Club); Harlem Duet (BlackTheatre Workshop), A Line in the Sand (Tableau D’HôteTheatre/Segal), Around the World in 80 Days (Geordie);Hosanna (Centaur); Héritage – A Raisin in the Sun (ThéâtreJean-Duceppe), along with the national tours of The TashmeProject (Tashme Prods/Centaur/Factory /Firehall) andAngélique (Black Theatre Workshop/Tableau D’Hôte/NationalArts Centre/Factory/Obsidian). He has worked on numerous audio and digital plays, includingdirecting for Obsidian Theatre’s acclaimed 21 Black Futureswith CBC Gem.Upcoming: Benevolence (Tarragon Theatre, April 2025).Awards: Multiple nominations and 2-time recipient, MontrealEnglish Theatre Awards (METAs).18
郝邦宇 STEVEN HAOAssistant DirectorFor Tarragon: Cockroach 曱甴.Selected Theatre Credits: For Directing: Death to thePrometheans (Director, Studio 180); life and death and lifeand death and life and death and life (Director,CCTA/ACMJIS); Rocking Horse Winner (Assistant Director,Tapestry Opera/Crow's Theatre); Ordinary Days (Director,Shifting Ground Collective); Heroes of the Fourth Turning(Assistant Director, Howland Company/Crow’s Theatre);Dragon’s Tale (Assistant Director, Tapestry Opera); TheChinese Lady (Assistant Director Crow’s Theatre/Studio180 Theatre/fu-GEN Theatre); A Perfect Bowl of Pho(Director, Toronto Fringe Festival/Kick & Push Festival). For Acting: Two Seasons at the Stratford Festival: Anne ofGreen Gables, Forgiveness, Romeo & Juliet, Salesman inChina (Stratford Festival); Pirithous/Wooer, The Two NobleKinsmen (Shakespeare Bash’d); Puck, A Midsummer Night’sDream (Canadian Stage); Cockroach 曱甴 (TarragonTheatre). Upcoming: Hungover Cabaret (Horseshoe Tavern);Salesman in China (National Arts Centre); Forgiveness(Stratford Festival); Anne of Green Gables (StratfordFestival). Awards: Dora Award for Outstanding Performance by anEnsemble. Other: Steven is beyond thrilled to return to Tarragon.Every. Single. Time. 19
TING - HUAN 挺歡 CHRISTINEURQUHARTSet and Costume Designer For Tarragon: Come Home - The Legend of Daddy Hall (CostumeDesigner), Cockroach 曱甴 (Set and Costume Designer).Selected Theatre Credits: The Orphan of Chao (Shaw Festival),Universal Childcare (Costume Designer, Quote UnquoteCollective), Antigone ⽅ (Set and Costume Designer, YoungPeople's Theatre), Iphigenia and the Furies (On Taurian Land)(Saga Collectif and Theatre Passe Muraille), Juno's Reward (GrandTheatre), Mulan Rouge (The Vaults, London UK), Unsafe (SetDesigner, Canadian Stage), CAN x Two Temple Place (DigitalDesigner, Chinese Arts Now, London UK), First Trimester(Performance Designer, Battersea Arts Centre.) Selected Film and Television Credits: Girl (Standby Art Director,Barry Crerar), Language (Production Designer, Per SpeculumProductions), Lifechanger (Federgreen Entertainment), Footprintson Water (The Production Headquarters). Upcoming: Blue for an Alabama Sky (Shaw Festival), Natasha,Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 (Sheridan), Feast (Tarragon),Wicked Nix (Young People’s Theatre.) Awards: Dora nominated for Outstanding Costume Design(Iphigenia and the Furies (On Taurian Land)) and Outstanding SetDesign (Cockroach 曱甴, Antigone ⽅), recipient of 'Lead By Design'bursary award (Envelope Room and Grid Iron Theatre, UK), Digitalstorytelling award - CAN x Two Temple Place (Chinese Arts Now,London UK) Other: www.urquhartdesign.com @christinetinghuanurquhart20
ARUN SRINIVASANLighting DesignerFor Tarragon: Cockroach 曱甴.Selected Theatre Credits: MixTape, Red Velvet(Crow's Theatre), Much Ado About Nothing, Love'sLabour's Lost, I Am William, Wendy & Peter Pan(Stratford Festival), Where The Blood Mixes(Soulpepper).Upcoming: Into The Woods (Royal Conservatory ofMusic), Dangerous Liasons (Stratford).Awards: 10 Dora nominations for OutstandingLighting Design in both the Theatre and Dancecategories.21
MADDIE BAUTISTASound Designer and ComposerFor Tarragon: Interior Design (Sound Designer), OurFathers, Sons, Lovers, and Little Brothers (Composer).Selected Theatre Credits: King James (TheatreAquarius), Get That Hope, Les Belles-Soeurs (StratfordFestival); seven methods of killing kylie jenner(Obsidian/Crows); Woking Phoenix (Silk Bath andTPM), Wild Woman (Soulpepper). Upcoming: Table for Two (Soulpepper); Pride andPrejudice (The Grand Theatre); Are You The One?(xLq/Downstage).Awards: 2 Dora Mavor Moore Awards for Love YouWrong Time (Outstanding Sound Design andEnsemble).Other: www.maddiebautista.com22
ANITA NITTOLYFight DirectorFor Tarragon: Debut. Selected Theatre Credits: As Fight/Intimacy Director:Stratford Festival 2024; Roberto Zucco, Angels inAmerica (Buddies in Bad Times); Bad Roads, Prodigal(Crow’s Theatre); The Retreat (Imago); Truth (YPT); JCS (Here For Now); Wildwoman (Soulpepper), Hamlet(The Rose); Sexual Misconduct of the Middle Classes(TIP), Fall on Your Knees (CanStage/NAC); CounterOffence (Segal Centre); Fairview (Canadian Stage);Trojan Girls and The Outhouse of Atreus (Outside TheMarch/Factory Theatre); Our Place (Cahoots/ TheatrePasse Muraille); The Last Wife, The 39 Steps,Successions (Centaur Theatre); Whole World (CarouselPlayers).Selected Film and Television Credits: As StuntPerformer/Stunt Actor: Law & Order Toronto (CameronPictures), SEE (AppleTV), Star Trek: Discovery (CBS),Pretty Hard Cases (CBC), Titans (Warner Bros), The Boys(Amazon), Rabbit Hole (CBS), What We Do in theShadows (FX Productions), various Ubisoft motioncapture productions. Upcoming: The Bidding War (Crow's Theatre), TheSound of Music (Grand Theatre), Fat Ham, Who's Afraidof Virginia Woolf (Canadian Stage), Stratford Festival2025, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy.23
COREY TAZMANIAIntimacy DirectorFor Tarragon: The Hooves Belonged to the Deer.Selected Theatre Credits: The Flin Flon Cowboy(Theatre Passe Muraille); Jim Watts: Girl Reporter (4thLine Theatre); I Love You,You’re Perfect, Now Change(Lake George Dinner Theatre); The Hooves Belongedto the Deer (In Arms Theatre Collective); IntimateApparel (Thousand Islands Playhouse); Bengal Tigerat the Baghdad Zoo (Crow's Theatre); Iphigenia andthe Furies (On Taurian Land) (Theatre Passe Muraille). Awards: Sterling Award Nominee (IntimacyChoreography). Other: Corey serves as an Intimacy Consultant forHart House Theatre and as an Intimacy Professionalfor academic theatre throughout the GTA. Grateful toSiobhan Richardson and Janine Waddell who havebeen instrumental in carving the path forward. 24
JEFF HOProduction DramaturgFor Tarragon: Cockroach 曱甴 (playwright), Orestes(actor). Current Associate Artistic Director.Selected Theatre Credits: As an actor: I Forgive You(Artistic Fraud / National Art Centre), trace (NAC / FactoryTheatre, b current), Prince Hamlet (Why Not Theatre,National tour: Canadian Stage, PuSh Festival, and NAC),Box 4901 (Buddies in Bad Times), camera obscura (hungryghosts) (the frank theatre/QAF, Hana's Suitcase (YoungPeople's Theatre, tour: Toronto, Montreal and Seattle),Unknown Soldier (lemonTree creations/Architect Theatre),Murderers Confess at Christmastime (Outside the March).As playwright: works include Iphigenia and the Furies (OnTaurian Land), Antigone: ⽅ , trace, and Cockroach 曱甴.Selected Film and Television Credits: Kim's Convenience(CBC), The Handmaid's Tale (Hulu), and Orphan Black (BBCAmerica). Awards: LAMBDA Literary Award 2023 for Iphigenia andAntigone - New York City, Finalist for the GovernorGeneral's Literary Award (Iphigenia and Antigone),Playwrights Guild of Canada Drama Award Finalist(cockroach), Toronto Theatre Critics Award for Best NewCanadian Play (Iphigenia); the Jon Kaplan Legacy FundAward for a Young Canadian Playwright; the Bulmash-Siegel Playwriting Award (Tarragon Theatre); nominated for four Dora Awards, and a Harold Award (House of Nadia Ross).25
LANI MARTELStage ManagerFor Tarragon: Debut.Selected Theatre Credits: Anne of Green Gables: TheMusical, Jersey Boys (Charlottetown Festival),Fairview (Canadian Stage); Manman La Mer (ThéâtreCatapulte); I Call Myself Princess, #34 (GlobeTheatre); over 30 productions at the Grand Theatreincluding A Thousand Splendid Suns, TheMountaintop, Intimate Apparel; and variousproductions with The National Ballet of Canada, FallFor Dance North, Dasein Dance Theatre Company,FLUX Dance Festival, and Opera Lyra Ottawa.Upcoming: Stage Manager for Feast (TarragonTheatre, April 2025); Stage Manager forCharlottetown Festival 2025.26
JAMIE ANDERSONApprentice Stage ManagerFor Tarragon: Debut.Selected Theatre Credits: Apprentice StageManager: Come From Away (You Are Here); TheMarriage of Figaro, Carmen, Don Giovanni (PacificOpera Victoria); I Think I'm Fallin': The Songs of JoniMitchell (The Belfry Theatre).Upcoming: Apprentice Stage Manager at the ShawFestival.Other: Jamie is a poet as well as a stage manager,with pieces published in QWERTY, ContemporaryVerse 2, Spark2Flame and Over/Exposed.27
TARRAGON THEATRE STAFF28Natasha Parsons Director of Patron Services Micaela Molina Morales Manager of Patron Services Anita Soutendam Assistant Manager of Patron ServicesDhanu Kumar Chinniah, Rahaf Fasheh, Jonnie Lombard, Alyssa Obrigewitsch, Nicole TihanyiPatron Services RepresentativesJackson NairPatron Services Representative &Family Series CoordinatorPATRON SERVICESCameron Johnston Director of Marketing and Communications MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONSMonica Bradford-LeaMarketing CoordinatorDanielle Morgan PublicistDEVELOPMENTNatalie SkovDevelopment AssistantMitsuki AmanoDevelopment ManagerLEADERSHIPMike PayetteArtistic DirectorLisa LiExecutive DirectorGerry Egan Director of Production Emma BurnettHead Scenic ArtistAlannah DzijackyHead of Props Vivian LyScenic ArtistNatalia SydorenkoAssistant LightingTechnician PRODUCTIONJaxun MaronTechnical Director Acadia WalshHead of Wardrobe Andrew Chute Head Carpenter Daniel JackobiProps BuilderDavid MalletteMainspace Technician Jeuel BalaneExtraspace TechnicianKate IngmanAssistant CarpenterChelsea SantiagoRevolve OperatorJacob Beecher, Neha Krishna, Jessica Burke-Hall, Khwahish ManraoStudent InternsJeff HoAssociate Artistic DirectorJustin Miller Artistic Producer & Greenhouse Festival DirectorARTISTIC & ADMINISTRATIONElle BaronEducation and Community Engagement InternHeather Caplap Education and Community Engagement Manager Becks Hoàng-LefrancAssociate ProducerTaylor JohnsonAdmin InternMika Wrightson-RivardAdmin and Archiving Assistant
The Wolf In The VoiceA World Premiere Tarragon Theatre production inassociation with NightswimmingCreated by Martin Julien & Brian QuirtAn exploration of the very first musical instrument…thesinger’s voice. Join Neema Bickersteth, Jane Miller andTaurian Teelucksingh for an intimate and uplifting eveningas they swap stories and songs about their struggles andtriumphs as singers, and the mystery of The Wolf in theVoice.February 4 – 23, 2025UP NEXT AT TARRAGON29
FeastA Tarragon Theatre Production Written by Guillermo Verdecchia Directed by Soheil ParsaCan one ever be truly full? From celebrated artist GuillermoVerdecchia, Feast is a biting look at a world where some aremovers and some are moved and how long we can lastwhen your family is falling apart.April 1 – April 27, 2025UP NEXT AT TARRAGON30
BenevolenceA Tarragon Theatre Production In association with Broadleaf CreativeCreated and Performed by Kevin Matthew Wong Directed by Mike PayetteFrom creator and performer Kevin Matthew Wong comes acharming and intimate story that transforms into a layeredChinese-Canadian tale spanning continents, migrations, andgenerations.April 8 – May 4, 2025UP NEXT AT TARRAGON31
After The RainA Tarragon Theatre & The Musical Stage Company Co-productionSupported by the Bulmash-Siegel FoundationWritten by Rose Napoli & Suzy WildeDirected by Marie FarsiFull of family turmoil, life’s complexities, and centredaround a devastating discovery, After the Rain is a musicalbased on a true story about the healing power of music.May 27 – June 22, 2025UP NEXT AT TARRAGON32
Government supportSPONSORS33
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35Education/community building& program supportAwards/residencies/internshipsSPONSORSHospitality sponsors
TARRAGON THEATRE BOARD OF DIRECTORS36Caroline O’Brien (Chair)Naomi Brown (Treasurer)Anne BermonteTina BrennanAdam BrykJames BuchananEdwina FollowsRoaina HyltonNaguib KevalKatherine PollockMartha RandallAdam RedishLaurence SiegelElaine StavroAnne WesselsHeather Yamoah
The Alpema FoundationThe Balfour Bowen Family FoundationThe Bulmash - Siegel FoundationThe Catherine and Maxwell Meighen FoundationThe Dudley Family FundThe Graham Family FundJackman FoundationThe Kingfisher FoundationLSRK FoundationThe Pat & Tony Adams Freedom TrustThe Paul Butler and Chris Black Foundation at Toronto FoundationThe Racioppo Family FoundationRozsa FoundationStanley Shalom Zielony FoundationStendel Family FoundationThe Steve and Sally Stavro Family FoundationThe William and Nona Heaslip FoundationThe Wuchien Michael Than FoundationThe Youssef - Warren FoundationTHANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTIVE DONORSFoundation support______________37
The Rose Directing FundThe Rose Directing Fund, developed to continue Richard Rose’s vision ofbringing excellence to the creation and development of Canadian theatreby celebrating a professional director each season. We are grateful to theindividuals whose gifts to this fund will support the future of directors atTarragon over the next 10 years.Anonymous (6)Gayle Abrams OAZSherri & William Appell in Honour ofElaine StavroW BelcherAnne BermonteAnn BlackTerry Boyle & Jim LawlorDianne BradleyNaomi BrownAdam Bryk & Melony DuranovichJames Buchanan & Julia RobertsonBeverley BurkeDerrick ChuaCarolyn & Hugh ClelandBob CrawleyLaurence DabinBrendan Dellandrea & Alissa LumsdenJudy & Richard EllenBarbara FingeroteKathleen GallagherSteve Garmaise & Sue RebickKamala Jean GopieKristine GreenawayJenny GumbsShira HartClaire HopkinsonMaureen Jennings & Iden FordRoseneath TheatreSamuel LaredoCarolyn McIntire SmythJohn & Kay McKellarMurray MoorePauline G. MorrisSuzanne Murphy Jan NoelLouisa O’ReillyJohn & Maire PercyM Angela PhillipsJoan PierreKatherine Pollock & Orysia SemotiukJ. Barbara RoseJ. Sergei SawychynSkip & Patricia ShandBulmash-Siegel FoundationBrenda & Phillip SilverElaine StavroStephanie StavroVictoria SteeleOliver StockRoss & Ann StuartKristine & Ivor ThompsonJudith TobinFrank TrotzAndrea Vagianos & Zis ParrasLine van KempenBeth WeintropAnne Wessels & Jim KitchensHeather YamoahDr. Walter YimHersh ZeifmanIn Memory of Eva SaphirIn Memory of Graham Ewart______________38
Tarragon Theatre is extremely grateful for the support of our donors, whichallows Canadian stories, education, and community to remain at the heart ofour work. Donations to Tarragon allow us to develop meaningful, enrichingstories that speak to our audiences today in an environment that welcomes allvoices and perspectives within our theatre. Individual donors__________39Premiers ($5,000+) James Buchanan & Julia RobertsonDr. Elaine StavroAmbassadors ($2,500 - $4,999)Sherri & William AppellNaomi BrownAdam Bryk & Melony DuranovichHoward CohenAndrew GillespieDon & Marjorie LenzKatherine Pollock & Orysia SemotiukRobert SherrinAdvocates ($1,000 - $2,499)Anonymous (5)Robert ArmstrongNeville AustinAnne Louise Bannon & Maggie McMillanAnne BermonteAlan & Helen BillingMaureen CavaLaurie ClarkJanet DewanBeth Driscoll & Duncan ReithPaul Butler & Chris BlackRoy EnglandShira HartSusan & Richard HornerLarry E. S. LubinJefferson & Sally MappinBarbara & Kit MoorePauline G. MorrisNoel MowatFäggie & Curt OliverMike PayetteDavid Southen & Susan CarlyleAnn & Ross StewartCollaborators ($500 - $999) Anonymous (2)K. BeckermannLisa Balfour BowenKate Bishop & Doug GerhartGeorge & Martha ButterfieldEd Cabell & Roy ForresterBob & Jane ClappBrendan Dellandrea & Alissa LumsdenJudy & Richard EllenCourtney FiddisSusan & John GoddardBrenda GrahamMark & Catherine GrahamRonald & Sherry HaynesChristopher P. JohnsonBarry JoslinKen Kessler & Martha ParrottDrs. Harriet & Andrew LyonsCaroline O’BrienSusan MoellersMurray MooreDr. Helen M. OstovichJoan PierreBill & Donna PorterCathy Riggall & Keith PotterAlmos Tassonyi & Maureen SimpsonDonald WilsonBruce Winning & Susan AbbottJudith H. WinstonPat & Gerry WoodJoanne WordhamAdvocates Cont’dBarbara E. TangneyDarlene A. VaraleauAndrea Vagianos & Zis ParrasHeather Yamoah
The Estate of Patricia Ruth HamiltonThe Estate of Kenneth Charles DaweThe Estate of Ellen (Helen) Joan KatesThe Estate of Marjorie Eileen KelleyThe Estate of Lynne Patterson_______Legacy giftsWe are grateful for donations made by family and loved ones.In honour of:Sherri and Bill Appell’s 50th AnniversaryNatasha Parson's 30th Tarragon AnniversaryTarragon Theatre is honoured to recognize the following forcommitting to support our work of rigorous play development,best possible first productions and Canadian playwrights throughtheir estate plans.Anonymous (3)Larry LubinDavid Southen & Susan CarlyleSybil WilkinsonHersh Zeifman______________Legacy society members_______Tribute giftsIf we have made any errors in the spelling, listing or omission ofyour name please accept our apologies and contact Mitsuki Amano,Development Manager at: mitsuki@tarragontheatre.comIn memory of:Abbie BuktawRobert FothergillTemma GentlesLeonard GraholmUrjo KaredaColin Krivy40Jim LawlorRichard McMillanDoug Van Hamme
Thank you to our volunteers!Stage Employees of Tarragon are represented by Local 58,Local 828 of the International Alliance of Theatrical StageEmployees. THANK YOU, ENJOY THE SHOWTarragon Theatre is an active member of the ProfessionalAssociation of Canadian Theatres (PACT), the TorontoAlliance for the Performing Arts (TAPA), and engagesprofessional artists who are members of Canadian Actors’Equity Association under the terms of the CanadianTheatre Agreement.41