MY SISTER’S RAGE

Yolanda Bonnell

Playwright and Director

For Studio 180: My Sister’s Rage IN DEVELOPMENT Yolanda (they/she) is a Bi/Queer 2 Spirit Anishinaabe-Ojibwe, South Asian mixed performer, playwright and multidisciplinary creator/educator. Originally from Fort William First Nation, Ontario her arts practice is now based in Tkarón:to. In February 2020, Yolanda’s four-time Dora nominated solo show bug was remounted at Theatre Passe Muraille while the published book (Scirocco Publishing 2020) was shortlisted for a Governor General’s Literary Award. In 2022, her play White Girls in Moccasins, was produced at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre as well as at the frank theatre on Coast Salish Territory. Yolanda was the first Indigenous artist recipient of the Jayu Arts for Human Rights Award for her work and won the PGC Tom Hendry Drama Award for her play, My Sister’s Rage which was produced by Tarragon Theatre, in association with Studio 180 Theatre and TO Live, in 2022. Yolanda is also a Dora-nominated actor who has performed at theatres including Native Earth, Soulpepper, NAC, Factory and the Stratford Festival. Yolanda has taught/facilitated at schools like York University and Sheridan College and proudly bases her practice in land-based creation, drawing on energy and inspiration from the earth and her ancestors.

Shandra Spears Bombay

Sandra/Soochie

For Studio 180: debut. Selected Theatre Credits: If This is The End (Windsor High School Social Justice Forum/ Native Earth Weesageechak Festival/ SummerWorks Festival Lab/ Caminos Cabaret at Rutas Panamericanos Festival); The Rez Sisters (Magnus Theatre); The Berlin Blues (Magnus Theatre); Bidaasige Kwe-Sunlight Woman (Debajehmujig Theatre Group); Please Do Not Touch The Indians (Debajehmujig Theatre Group). Selected Film and Television: Paranormal Witness; Just Another Dead Indian; Forensic Factor 5: Eclectic; Mystery in Paradise; Vegas 911; Fear Thy Neighbour; Dual Suspects 2; Motives & Murders III; Brian Orser Blame It On The Blues. Upcoming: If This Is The End (commission Blyth Festival Theatre); Ganawenjigaazo (Native Earth’s 40 Seeds For 40 Seasons program). Awards: Blame it On The Blues won the Gemini Award for “Best Music, Variety Program Or Series.” Bidaasige Kwe-Sunlight Woman won the Critics’ Choice Award for the Atlantic Fringe Festival. Other: I’m Anishinaabe from Rainy River First Nations. I’m so grateful to be part of telling Yolanda’s amazing story, and to be part of this group of story-tellers who bring love and strength to every day. Miigwetch to everyone for making this possible.

Samantha Brown

Valerie

For Studio 180: debut. Samantha Brown is an Anishinaabe and European settler actor currently living in Tkaronto. Coming from Northern Ontario to study and graduate from the York University Acting Conservatory. Selected Theatre Credits: Kamloopa (Soulpepper production); Around the World in 80 Plays: Moonlodge (Soulpepper); Oil (Arc theatre); Two Odesseys: Gállábártnit/Pimooteewin (Soundstreams and Signal Theatre); August: Osage County (Soulpepper); The Scavenger’s Daughter (Paradigm Productions); among more.

Theresa Cutknife

Stephie

For Studio 180: debut. Selected Theatre Credits: The House of Bernarda Alba (Modern Times Theatre & Aluna Theatre). Selected Film and Television: Diggstown. Other: Theresa Cutknife is a queer Nehiyaw and Puerto Rican actor, writer, curator, storyteller, and producer from Maskwacîs, Alberta located on Treaty 6 Territory and is a member of the Samson Cree Nation. She is an alumnus of The Centre for Indigenous Theatre and past participant of the Indigenous Arts Program with the Paprika Festival. Theresa has gone on to continue honing her skills as a performer, playwright, storyteller, and producer and has had the pleasure of working with companies such as Native Earth Performing Arts, The Theatre Centre, Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, and various Theatres in Tkaronto. I feel so lucky to have been entrusted with the telling of this story. Kinanâskomitin to Yolanda, Tarragon, and the whole team.

Nicole Joy-Fraser

Olivia/Livvy

For Studio 180: debut. Selected Credits: Come Home Daddy: The Legend of Daddy Hall; Seven Stories (Tarragon); Salt Baby (Theatre Aquarius); This is How We Got Here (Shaw); Müsik Das Für Ende (Crows/ Soundstreams); TOKA (Theatre Passe Müraille/ LemonTree Creations); The Rez Sisters (Stratford Festival); Having Hope: A Hand Drum Song Cycle (Talk Is Free Theatre); Ipperwash, Stag and Doe (Blyth Festival); The Hours That Remain (Magnus Theatre); A Man A Fish (Persephone Theatre); Anne of Green Gables, Evangeline (Charlottetown Festival) ; The Penelopiad (Nightwood Theatre); Disney’s Beauty and The Beast (UK Tour); Jerry Springer – The Opera (West End); Mamma Mia! (US Tour/ Mirvish). Selected Film and Television: Clarice (CBS/Global); Baroness Von Sketch (CBC); Québexit (Telefilm). Upcoming: A Hamilton Holiday (Theatre Aquarius). Awards: Dora for Outstanding Ensemble, Two Odysseys: Pimooteewin/ Gállábártnit, (Soundstreams/ Signal Theatre); Outstanding Achievement in the Performing Arts Award 2021 (Celebration of Nations). Other: As a bear clan member, Nicole is grateful to be living and sharing in the region of Onguiaahra and to have relations from both Euro-Canadian Nations and the Denezaa, Cree and Métis Nations of Horse Lake First Nation, Treaty 8.

Ange Loft

Renna/Ren

For Studio 180: debut. Selected Theatre Credits: For Zitkála-Šá (Raven Chacon/Whitney Museum of American Art); Electric Prop and Hum Freestyle Variations (Maria Hupfield/National Gallery of Canada); Material Witness (Spiderwoman Theatre/Aanmitaagzi); Hoofs (Buddies/Rhubarb); The River Speaks (Thinking Rock Community Arts); After the Fire: Based on Interviews about Idle No More (ATF Collective); Opera 33 (Yamantaka//Sonic Titan); Hansel and Gretel: A Case Study (Shadowland Theatre); Circus of Dark and Light (Clay and Paper Theatre). As Associate Artistic Director: countless community creations (Jumblies Theatre). Upcoming: Stone and Bone Spectacular (Centaur Theatre) Awards: Toronto Biennial of Art’s Programs Prize for Talking Treaties’ Dish Dances Movement Workshop, inaugural Indigenous Artist Residency recipient at Centaur Theatre, inaugural Indigenous Research Fellow Centre for Canadian Architecture. Nominee for Polaris Prize and Juno Award with Yamantaka//Sonic Titan.

Monique Mojica

Wanda

For Studio 180: debut. Selected Theatre Credits: The Unnatural and Accidental Women (NAC), Izzie M.: The Alchemy of Enfreakment, Chocolate Woman Dreams the Milky Way (Chocolate Woman Collective); I Lost My Talk; King Lear (NAC) As Dramaturg: The triptych, Re-Quickening/Blood Tides/SKEN:n’en (Kaha:wi Dance Theatre); for Ayita (Skirts Afire Festival). Selected Film and Television: Grandma Builds the Fire in Smoke Signals. Upcoming: 2023 book publication of Chocolate Woman Dreams the Milky Way: Mapping Embodied Indigenous Performance co-written with Brenda Farnell and Staging Coyote’s Dream, Vol. 3 co-edited with Lindsay Lachance. A member of the newly formed Indigenous Dramaturgy Circle at Tarragon. Dramaturg for several emerging Indigenous playwrights. Inaugural Wurlitzer Visiting Professor for 2022-23 in the Department of Theatre in the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Victoria.

Pesch Nepoose

Laney

For Studio 180: debut. Selected Theatre Credits: Mno Bimaadziwin (Orillia Opera House); Bannock Republic (Centre for Indigenous Theatre); Father Penible (Aki Studio, NEPA). Selected Film and Television Credits: Talking Treaties; Hunger. Other: so happy to be a part of this show!

Tyler J Sloane

Tash

For Studio 180: debut. Selected Theatre Credits: Crystalize (Caminos Festival 2019 – Aluna Theatre); Switch the Village (the Switch Collective); Youth/Elder’s Project (Buddies in Bad Times). As a playwright: Hummingbird (In Development – previously; Banff Centre for Arts & Creativity – Indigenous Playwrights Nest, Native Earth – Weesageechak Begins to Dance 31-32 – Annual Development Festival of Indigenous Work); Mx. (Radio Play – Alberta Queer Calendar Project). Selected Film and Television Credits: 1 Queen 5 Queers – Season 2: Episode 7, Season 1: Episode 5 and Episode 8 (Crave); Exploring the Mental Health Journeys of Young Asian-Canadians – Episode 3: ‘Tyler J Sloane – Surviving to Thriving’ (VICE). Other: Tyler J Sloane – They/Them. As an Anishinaabe (Oji-cree), Chinese, White mixed race Non-binary artist, my work emphasizes marginalized voices with an intrinsic intersectional lens and artistic framework. As a trans racial adoptee growing up in a predominantly white community, my desire to represent the beauty of experiencing racialization and queerness to translate it through stories and artistry is inherent. They are also engaged in Why Not Theatre’s ThisGen: PROVOKE Producing Fellowship. Beyond Theatre, Tyler is a multidisciplinary artist with a focus in Media Arts (Photography and Videography), Visual Arts (Mural Art, Watercolour, Mixed Media), and Performance (Burlesque, Drag, Performance Art). Ty is so honoured, humbled, and blessed to be cultivating such a healing storytelling space with such prolific Kwe, Chi-miigwech. To heal and share stories is to thrive for your ancestors and descendants.

Aria Evans

Associate Director and Movement Facilitator

For Studio 180: debut. Selected Theatre Credits: As Assistant Director / Intimacy Choreographer: Queen Goneril (Soulpepper); As Movement Director / Intimacy Choreographer: Every Little Nookie (Stratford); As Choreographer: Kamloopa (Native Earth Intimacy Choreographer and Soulpepper); As Choreographer / Director: In The Abyss (Political Movement); As Dancer / Choreographer: Finding Wolastoq Voice (Theatre New Brunswick), As Movement Coach: Bug (Manidoons Collective). Selected Film and Television Credits: As Intimacy Coordinator: La Ronde (Peach Emoji Productions). Awards: Johanna Metcalf Performing Arts Prizes – Protégé; Arts for Human Rights Awards – JAYU; My Entertainment World Critics’ Pick Awards: Theatre “Outstanding Dance Performance”. Other: Aria Evans is a queer, Toronto based, West Coast born award winning interdisciplinary artist who’s practice spans dance, theatre and film. As a public speaker, activist and creative leader Aria draws on their experiences with Afro-Indigenous + settler heritage. Aria is a certified Intimacy Coordinator and the Artistic Director of Political Movement. www.politicalmovement.ca

Victoria Wang

Stage Manager

For Studio 180: Oslo. Selected Theatre Credits: bug (manidoons collective); Solitudes (Aluna Theatre); Hilot Means Healer (Cahoots); speaking of sneaking (RISER Project); Rhubarb Festival (Buddies in Bad Times); Through the Bamboo (Uwi Collective); Dry Powder (Evermore Theatre); Four Sisters (Luminato/Theatre Centre); Hockey Sweater: A Musical (Segal Centre/NAC); Shakespeare in High Park (Canadian Stage); Older & Reckless (Moonhorse Dance); Othello (Driftwood Theatre); Binti’s Journey (Theatre Direct).

Hazel L. Moore

Apprentice Stage Manager

For Studio 180: debut. Selected Theatre Credits: 2 Pianos 4 Hands (Marquis Entertainment), The World Goes ‘Round (Nightwood Theatre), I’m Walking Here (Centre for Indigenous Theatre), Stars of Mars (Nightwood Theatre).

Rebecca Vandevelde

Set Designer

For Studio 180: debut. Selected Theatre Credits: As lighting/touring: Take D Milk, Nah? (Pandemic, Rumble, Theatre Passe Muraille); Solitudes (Aluna). As producer: Here Are The Fragments (Theatre Centre); Two Odysseys (Soundstreams, Signal). Other: Rebecca Vandevelde is an arts worker focused on design, production, installation, and curation. Rebecca builds and curates spaces, events, and experiments – like Flip the Table and Blanket Fort – with Art is Hard; works as a freelance lighting designer and production manager, and is currently the production manager at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre. Rebecca is an active member of Means of Production, a collective of PMs, TDs, and related live arts production workers.

Julia Surich

Costume Designer

Echo Zhou

Lighting Designer

For Studio 180: debut. Selected Theatre Credits: Mr.Shi and His Lover (Tarragon); Every Brilliant Thing (Thousand Island Playhouse); White Girls in Moccasins (Manidoons Collective); The Year of the Cello (Theatre Passe Muraille); Mr.Shi and His Lover (Music Picnic); I Swallowed a Moon made of Iron (Music Picnic); Cake (New Harlem Production). Upcoming: The Flin Flon Cowboy (Rendevous With Madness Festival); The Chinese Lady (Studio 180). Other: Echo is a Chinese immigrant, Tkaronto-based scenographer working in live performance. She has designed for Buddies in the Bad Times, Theatre Passe Muraille, Thousand Island Playhouse, Tarragon Theatre, Theatre by the Bay, Frog in Hand, The Theatre Centre, The Next Stage Festival, SummerWorks Festival, etc. She was also a guest artist at Sheridan College. Echo was one of Why Not Theatre’s ThisGen Fellowship cohorts in 2020. Echo is a member of the Associated Designers of Canada. www.echozhoudesign.com For Grandpa.

Miquelon Rodriguez

Sound Designer

For Studio 180: debut. Selected Theatre Credits: Sexual Misconduct of the Middle Classes, Girls Like That (Tarragon); Gem of the Ocean (Shaw Festival); An IMM-Permanent Resident (Nautanki Bazaar/RISER Festival); Henry G20 (Luminato Festival); acts of faith (Factory Theatre); She Mami Wata & The Pussy WitchHunt (The Frank Theatre/PuSH Festival); Pass Over (Obsidian Theatre/Buddies in Bad Times Theatre); The Color Purple (Neptune Theatre). Selected Film and Television: Random commercials here and there. Upcoming: Fairview (Canadian Stage); King Lear (Stratford Festival). Awards: Dora nominations for Outstanding Director & Outstanding Sound Design for An IMM-Permanent Resident; Merritt nomination for Outstanding Sound Design for The Color Purple. Other: Livestreamer as an affiliate on Twitch (TroySteel). Gamer since the age of 2.

Lindsay Lachance

Dramaturge

For Studio 180: debut. Selected Theatre Credits: Frances Koncan’s The Crows, (Gwaandak Theatre); Women of the Fur Trade (Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre); Quelemia Sparraw’s Skyborn (Savage Society); Kim Senlkip Harvey’s Kamloopa: an Indigenous Matriarch Story (Western Theatre Canada/ NAC/ The Cultch); Taran Kootenhayoo’s White Noise (Savage Society). Awards: CAPACOA (Canadian Association for Performing Arts’) “Emerging Leader in the Performing Arts” Award, Jessie Richardson Theatre Award, Significant Artistic Achievement – Large Theatre, Award for Outstanding Decolonization of Theatre Spaces and Practices, award to Kim Senklip Harvey and Lindsay Lachance for Kamloopa: an Indigenous Matriarch Story. Other: Lindsay is currently the director of the Animikiig Creators Unit at Native Earth Performing Arts and is an assistant professor in the Department of Theatre & Film at the University of British Columbia.