Cast of The Christie Pits RiotsMEASHA BRUEGGERGOSMAN (Music Supervisor)
Motivated and hungry for new experiences, Ms. Brueggergosman’s career effortlessly embraces the broadest array of performance platforms and musical styles and genres. Measha began her career predominantly committed to the art of the song recital and has presented innovative programs at Carnegie Hall, Washington’s Kennedy Center, London’s Wigmore Hall, both the Konzerthaus and Musikverein in Vienna, Madrid’s Teatro Real, as well as at the Schwarzenberg, Edinburgh, Verbier and Bergen Festivals with celebrated collaborative pianists Justus Zeyen, Roger Vignoles, Julius Drake, and Simon Lepper.
On the opera stage, her recent highlights include the roles of Giulietta and Antonia in Les contes d’Hoffmann, Elettra in Idomeneo, Jenny in Weill’s Mahagonny, Emilia Marty in Janáček’s Věc Makropulos, Hannah in Miroslav Srnka’s Make No Noise, and Sister Rose in Jake Heggie’s Dead Man Walking. On the concert platform last season she returned to Carnegie Hall with the New World Symphony, performed Elettra in Idomeneo at Opera Atelier, Toronto, and gave a recital at the Barbican Center, London. She has also recently worked with the Orchestre de Paris, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony and New World Symphony Orchestras and conductors such as Daniel Barenboim, Michael Tilson Thomas, Franz Welser-Möst, Sir Andrew Davis, Gustavo Dudamel and Daniel Harding. |
MEASHA BRUEGGERGOSMAN
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Her first recording for Deutsche Grammophon, Surprise, includes works by Schoenberg, Satie and Bolcom and is one of the most highly regarded debut albums of recent years. Her subsequent disc Night and Dreams, which features songs by Mozart, Brahms, Strauss, Schubert, Debussy, Duparc and Fauré won several awards and her recording of the Wesendonck Lieder with Franz Welser-Möst and the Cleveland Orchestra earned her a Grammy nomination.
Off the stage, Measha is just as active: she recently released her memoir “Something Is Always On Fire” published by Harper Collins, she appears regularly on primetime TV (most recently advocating on behalf of contemporary Canadian literature); and leading Canadian children across the country in song, in celebration of the nationwide campaign for music education.
Measha Brueggergosman champions the education and involvement of new audiences and holds several honorary doctorates and ambassadorial titles with international charities.
SAM ROSENTHAL
SAM ROSENTHAL ( Artistic Director , Co-Writer, Producer ) Narrator, Horse Race Announcer
Sam is an actor, voice-over artist (samrosenthalnarrator,com), director, writer, and producer. He created the Hogtown Collective as a loving nod to his Father Joseph who grew up in Toronto and shared his passion for “Hogtown”. Hogtown ran for two seasons at the Campbell House and garnered several Dora nominations. The show featured 35 plus actors and a Jazz band where the audience could choose its own adventure. In its second season Hogtown was turned into a musical and played for 7 weeks for Toronto audiences and tourists.
Sam has also been an Artistic Director for several theatres including most recently Eastern Front Theatre in Halifax where he guided the company to 17 Merritt Nominations. He also brought the magic of Hogtown to the East Coast where a new story and group of actors created Great Harbour an Immersive Experience which played to sold out audiences at the Keiths Brewery. He also was the AD for Tribal Productions a small professional company which was the resident theatre company of the TorontoCentre for the Arts for five seasons. Tribal left its mark on the Toronto theatre scene withseveral notable accomplishments. The company presented five seasons of programming and toured many of its productions across Canada.
Sam can also be seen in The Mohel a short film that is winning multiple awards on the short film circuit. He was also nominated for his perfomance in Escape from NXVIMwhich aired this past summer.
Sam is an actor, voice-over artist (samrosenthalnarrator,com), director, writer, and producer. He created the Hogtown Collective as a loving nod to his Father Joseph who grew up in Toronto and shared his passion for “Hogtown”. Hogtown ran for two seasons at the Campbell House and garnered several Dora nominations. The show featured 35 plus actors and a Jazz band where the audience could choose its own adventure. In its second season Hogtown was turned into a musical and played for 7 weeks for Toronto audiences and tourists.
Sam has also been an Artistic Director for several theatres including most recently Eastern Front Theatre in Halifax where he guided the company to 17 Merritt Nominations. He also brought the magic of Hogtown to the East Coast where a new story and group of actors created Great Harbour an Immersive Experience which played to sold out audiences at the Keiths Brewery. He also was the AD for Tribal Productions a small professional company which was the resident theatre company of the TorontoCentre for the Arts for five seasons. Tribal left its mark on the Toronto theatre scene withseveral notable accomplishments. The company presented five seasons of programming and toured many of its productions across Canada.
Sam can also be seen in The Mohel a short film that is winning multiple awards on the short film circuit. He was also nominated for his perfomance in Escape from NXVIMwhich aired this past summer.
DREW CARNWATH
DREW CARNWATH ( Writer ) Tour Guide , Stinky Davis , Daniel, Commercial Announcer
Drew is a Toronto-based writer and performer. Upon graduating from Queen’s University, Drew continued to train and work as an actor at The American Academy of Dramatic Art in New York, followed by three seasons with The Advanced Actor’s Master Class Company at The Banff Centre for the Arts.
As a writer, Drew’s plays (including JOHNNYVILLE, GRACE AND AFTER, TOTAL BODY WASHOUT and HIDE AND SEEK) have all been produced across the country. He was a playwright-in-residence at Toronto’s esteemed Tarragon Theatre, and both JOHNNYVILLE and TOTAL BODY WASHOUT were published by Playwrights Canada Press. His play I DREAM OF THE LIVING won First Prize at The Canadian National Playwriting Competition in British Columbia and the Canadian One Act Playwriting Competition in Ottawa.
More recently Drew’s play HOGTOWN: THE IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE (co-written with Sam Rosenthal) ran for two full seasons in Toronto and was a smash hit with audiences and critics alike. In 2017 HOGTOWN was nominated for a prestigious DORA Mavor Moore Award.
Upcoming: the World Premiere of Drew’s latest play, MERCY, this February 2022 at Theatre Kingston.
Drew is a Toronto-based writer and performer. Upon graduating from Queen’s University, Drew continued to train and work as an actor at The American Academy of Dramatic Art in New York, followed by three seasons with The Advanced Actor’s Master Class Company at The Banff Centre for the Arts.
As a writer, Drew’s plays (including JOHNNYVILLE, GRACE AND AFTER, TOTAL BODY WASHOUT and HIDE AND SEEK) have all been produced across the country. He was a playwright-in-residence at Toronto’s esteemed Tarragon Theatre, and both JOHNNYVILLE and TOTAL BODY WASHOUT were published by Playwrights Canada Press. His play I DREAM OF THE LIVING won First Prize at The Canadian National Playwriting Competition in British Columbia and the Canadian One Act Playwriting Competition in Ottawa.
More recently Drew’s play HOGTOWN: THE IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE (co-written with Sam Rosenthal) ran for two full seasons in Toronto and was a smash hit with audiences and critics alike. In 2017 HOGTOWN was nominated for a prestigious DORA Mavor Moore Award.
Upcoming: the World Premiere of Drew’s latest play, MERCY, this February 2022 at Theatre Kingston.
DAN WILMOTT
DAN WILMOTT Cop One , Mel, Jason
An International Award Winning Actor, Voice Talent and Coach.
Acting credits include Umbrella Academy, American Gods, The Chris Watts Story, Shoe Addicts Christmas, Let it Snow, Supernatural, Smallville, Mean Girls, General Hospital, and the Beverly Hills Playhouse.
Stage credits include So It Goes- Written and Directed by George Walker, HOGTOWN- nominated for a DORA, Proof-“a truly heartbreaking, and a masterful and nuanced performance”.
VO clients include Fox TV, Cedar Sinai Medical Center, Real Canadian Superstore, The Nelson Mandella 90th Birthday Celebration, CMT, CTV, CBC...... and the list goes on and on.
Dan is the founder, inspiration and Class/Workshop designer of VoiceSpot.ca (Since 1996)
Oh Ya and He Wrestled a Bear!!!
An International Award Winning Actor, Voice Talent and Coach.
Acting credits include Umbrella Academy, American Gods, The Chris Watts Story, Shoe Addicts Christmas, Let it Snow, Supernatural, Smallville, Mean Girls, General Hospital, and the Beverly Hills Playhouse.
Stage credits include So It Goes- Written and Directed by George Walker, HOGTOWN- nominated for a DORA, Proof-“a truly heartbreaking, and a masterful and nuanced performance”.
VO clients include Fox TV, Cedar Sinai Medical Center, Real Canadian Superstore, The Nelson Mandella 90th Birthday Celebration, CMT, CTV, CBC...... and the list goes on and on.
Dan is the founder, inspiration and Class/Workshop designer of VoiceSpot.ca (Since 1996)
Oh Ya and He Wrestled a Bear!!!
EVAN DESJARDIN
EVAN DESJARDIN Joey
Evan Desjardins is a Toronto-based freelance audio recordist, editor and mixer. His areas of focus are music and voice over, collaborating with a diverse roster of clients including AAA games publisher Ubisoft, Choir! Choir! Choir! and Juno nominated recording artist Orville Peck.
Evan Desjardins is a Toronto-based freelance audio recordist, editor and mixer. His areas of focus are music and voice over, collaborating with a diverse roster of clients including AAA games publisher Ubisoft, Choir! Choir! Choir! and Juno nominated recording artist Orville Peck.
JANICE HAWKE
JANICE HAWKE Voice Direction / Production Coordination
Janice Hawke is the owner and Main Maniac at DemoManiacs, a demo, voice training and production company.
A classically trained actor and singer, Janice has worked as a voice actor for over 20 years, voicing commercials, animation and narration.
As a voice director, Janice has a natural ability to put performers at ease so that they are free to create their best work!
Janice is a rule breaker, a fine storyteller and has the innate ability to find just about anything you’re looking for.
(Pictured, is Janice is wearing her dads baseball jacket from Christie Pits, 1963.)
Janice Hawke is the owner and Main Maniac at DemoManiacs, a demo, voice training and production company.
A classically trained actor and singer, Janice has worked as a voice actor for over 20 years, voicing commercials, animation and narration.
As a voice director, Janice has a natural ability to put performers at ease so that they are free to create their best work!
Janice is a rule breaker, a fine storyteller and has the innate ability to find just about anything you’re looking for.
(Pictured, is Janice is wearing her dads baseball jacket from Christie Pits, 1963.)
JEROME BOURGAULT
JEROME BOURGAULT Cop Two , Al , Tony
Jerome is a Toronto-based stage and screen actor. He has been with the Hogtown Collective since its inception, appearing in the immersive production of Hogtown in 2016 and 2017 as Toronto Mayor Thomas Foster, and in Dancock’s Dance in 2017. He has also appeared in numerous stage productions in Ottawa, including Sins of the Mother (New Ottawa Repertory Theatre) and The Kings of the Kilburn High Road (Seven Thirty Productions), and has had television roles in Lost Girl, Reign, Mayday, 12 Monkeys, and Titans. Jerome is also a published author: his debut novel, The Perpetual Now, was published in 2020. He lives in Thornhill, Ontario.
Jerome is a Toronto-based stage and screen actor. He has been with the Hogtown Collective since its inception, appearing in the immersive production of Hogtown in 2016 and 2017 as Toronto Mayor Thomas Foster, and in Dancock’s Dance in 2017. He has also appeared in numerous stage productions in Ottawa, including Sins of the Mother (New Ottawa Repertory Theatre) and The Kings of the Kilburn High Road (Seven Thirty Productions), and has had television roles in Lost Girl, Reign, Mayday, 12 Monkeys, and Titans. Jerome is also a published author: his debut novel, The Perpetual Now, was published in 2020. He lives in Thornhill, Ontario.
JOHN EBATA
JOHN EBATA Sound Designer
His talents are Versatile with a capital V. He is respected in all the extended categories of musician, song writer, producer, musical director, arranger and recording engineer. Equally versatile in all musical styles from jazz to world folk songs to rock and R&B. He has become the first choice accompanist of many great singer songwriters and acclaimed to be of the very top Canadian piano-keyboardists and continues to work with artists from all parts of the world.
Recording engineer for Juno nominated Jazz albums , Black Music composer’s award for song of the year and performed and recorded with the likes of Buffy St. Marie, Morris Albert , Oscar Peterson, Jack Lenz, Waleed Abdulhamid, Smith & Dragoman , Lucy Shropshire, MaryLou Sicoly....
His talents are Versatile with a capital V. He is respected in all the extended categories of musician, song writer, producer, musical director, arranger and recording engineer. Equally versatile in all musical styles from jazz to world folk songs to rock and R&B. He has become the first choice accompanist of many great singer songwriters and acclaimed to be of the very top Canadian piano-keyboardists and continues to work with artists from all parts of the world.
Recording engineer for Juno nominated Jazz albums , Black Music composer’s award for song of the year and performed and recorded with the likes of Buffy St. Marie, Morris Albert , Oscar Peterson, Jack Lenz, Waleed Abdulhamid, Smith & Dragoman , Lucy Shropshire, MaryLou Sicoly....
JUDAH DAVIDSON
JUDAH DAVIDSON Joey
Judah is a grade seven student who studies acting and voice. TV credits include recurring roles on Slasher: Flesh & Blood starring David Cronenberg, and Sunflower, an animated children’s series produced by Nelvana. Stage credits include Randy Parker in A Christmas Story and Chip Potts in Beauty and the Beast (the LOT) , Michael Banks in Mary Poppins, and Troy Bolton in High School Musical 2 (Bravo Academy).
Judah is a grade seven student who studies acting and voice. TV credits include recurring roles on Slasher: Flesh & Blood starring David Cronenberg, and Sunflower, an animated children’s series produced by Nelvana. Stage credits include Randy Parker in A Christmas Story and Chip Potts in Beauty and the Beast (the LOT) , Michael Banks in Mary Poppins, and Troy Bolton in High School Musical 2 (Bravo Academy).
JORGE MOLINA
JORGE MOLINA Zev
Jorge is happy to be part of the Hogtown Experience production of The Christie Pits Riot. Selected theatre credits include: Hogtown, Dancock’s Dance, Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, War of the Worlds, Hamlet and A Midsummer Night's Dream. Selected Film/TV Credits include The Mayor of Kingstown, Cardinal, Suits, Rookie Blue, The Listener, and Blindness. You can currently see Jorge as a co-host of the weekly interview series SNAK at www.snaktheshow.com.
Jorge is happy to be part of the Hogtown Experience production of The Christie Pits Riot. Selected theatre credits include: Hogtown, Dancock’s Dance, Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, War of the Worlds, Hamlet and A Midsummer Night's Dream. Selected Film/TV Credits include The Mayor of Kingstown, Cardinal, Suits, Rookie Blue, The Listener, and Blindness. You can currently see Jorge as a co-host of the weekly interview series SNAK at www.snaktheshow.com.
LEAH BASSETT
LEAH BASSETT Rebecca , Ruth , Mrs. Grossman
Leah is an actress, dancer, choreographer, singer, comedian and producer, originally from Winnipeg. Her broad skill set and training has afforded her an eclectic collection of experiences, from choreographing members of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet in snowmobile suits, assistant choreographer for the Pan Am Games, playing the role of Tina Vitale in Tony and Tina's Wedding and performing in numerous Musicals at Rainbow Stage, including My Fair Lady, Anything Goes, Guys and Dolls. Since moving to Toronto, Leah has worked in film, theatre, as well as producing her own shows and teaching improv and dance workshops. She is currently working on a documentary about raising Monarch Butterflies on her farm in the city!
Leah is an actress, dancer, choreographer, singer, comedian and producer, originally from Winnipeg. Her broad skill set and training has afforded her an eclectic collection of experiences, from choreographing members of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet in snowmobile suits, assistant choreographer for the Pan Am Games, playing the role of Tina Vitale in Tony and Tina's Wedding and performing in numerous Musicals at Rainbow Stage, including My Fair Lady, Anything Goes, Guys and Dolls. Since moving to Toronto, Leah has worked in film, theatre, as well as producing her own shows and teaching improv and dance workshops. She is currently working on a documentary about raising Monarch Butterflies on her farm in the city!
MICHELLE PILLER
MICHELLE PILLER Rachel
Stage: Great Harbour (Hogtown Collective Halifax); Bluenose; Kamp (EFT / 2019 Merritt Award Outstanding Production);This Is Nowhere (Zuppa Theatre); Lunenberg; Hope and Gravity (Festival Antigonish); Hogtown (Hogtown Collective / Dora Award nomination Outstanding Ensemble Independent Musical Theatre); Street Scene (Long Reach Opera); Murder in Noirville (Orillia Opera House); I Do, I Do (Stage West Calgary); Side by Side by Sondheim (McManus Theatre); Assassins (Talbot Theatre); I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change (Tribal Productions); Nunsense (Port Stanley Theatre); Beautiful City; Possible Worlds (Hit and Run). Film and television: The Stall Boy; Designated Survivor; The Next Step; The Twelve Dates of Christmas.
Stage: Great Harbour (Hogtown Collective Halifax); Bluenose; Kamp (EFT / 2019 Merritt Award Outstanding Production);This Is Nowhere (Zuppa Theatre); Lunenberg; Hope and Gravity (Festival Antigonish); Hogtown (Hogtown Collective / Dora Award nomination Outstanding Ensemble Independent Musical Theatre); Street Scene (Long Reach Opera); Murder in Noirville (Orillia Opera House); I Do, I Do (Stage West Calgary); Side by Side by Sondheim (McManus Theatre); Assassins (Talbot Theatre); I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change (Tribal Productions); Nunsense (Port Stanley Theatre); Beautiful City; Possible Worlds (Hit and Run). Film and television: The Stall Boy; Designated Survivor; The Next Step; The Twelve Dates of Christmas.
NICHOLAS RICE
NICHOLAS RICE Samuel Sr. , Bernie , Mr. Geller
A Winnipegger, Nicholas trained at UBC and has lived in Toronto forty years. As an actor he has worked in theatres across Canada. As a supply-teacher he has taught in schools across the city, including Bickford Park which overlooks the Pits.
He dedicates his work in The Riot to the memory of Walter Cole.
A Winnipegger, Nicholas trained at UBC and has lived in Toronto forty years. As an actor he has worked in theatres across Canada. As a supply-teacher he has taught in schools across the city, including Bickford Park which overlooks the Pits.
He dedicates his work in The Riot to the memory of Walter Cole.
STEVE BAKER
STEVE BAKER Max, Nicky, Danny
Steve’s wonderfully warm and resonant voice led him to live performance and voice work when he was 13. He was classically trained at Carnegie Mellon School of Drama, in the inimitable style of Sandy Meisner, among others, which has given him great depth in his characterizations. He has appeared on the Neptune Main Stage in Halifax in Miracle on 34th Street and It’s a Wonderful Life. He has performed onstage in productions ranging from Brecht to Pinter to Shakespeare and has been voicing audiobooks since 2012
Steve’s wonderfully warm and resonant voice led him to live performance and voice work when he was 13. He was classically trained at Carnegie Mellon School of Drama, in the inimitable style of Sandy Meisner, among others, which has given him great depth in his characterizations. He has appeared on the Neptune Main Stage in Halifax in Miracle on 34th Street and It’s a Wonderful Life. He has performed onstage in productions ranging from Brecht to Pinter to Shakespeare and has been voicing audiobooks since 2012