romeo & juliet - cast
Aris Athanasopoulis - Paris
It's an absolute pleasure for Aris to be working with Shakespeare Bash'd on this production of Romeo & Juliet. Past selected theatre credits include: The Railway Children (Mirvish/Marquis Entertainment), Bash (Stop Signs Optional), Theatre of the Film Noir (Atlas Stage Productions Canada).
Past selected film and television credits include: Love, Rosie (Christian Ditter feature), The Firm (NBC), Whiskey Business(CMT), and Rookie Blue (ABC).
Look out for Aris in the March theatrical production of New Jerusalem directed by Mitchell Cushman for the Harold Green Jewish Theatre Company at the Toronto Centre For The Arts: Studio Theatre. Aris would like to express his gratitude to his teachers, colleagues, friends, and family for their love and wonderful support.
Past selected film and television credits include: Love, Rosie (Christian Ditter feature), The Firm (NBC), Whiskey Business(CMT), and Rookie Blue (ABC).
Look out for Aris in the March theatrical production of New Jerusalem directed by Mitchell Cushman for the Harold Green Jewish Theatre Company at the Toronto Centre For The Arts: Studio Theatre. Aris would like to express his gratitude to his teachers, colleagues, friends, and family for their love and wonderful support.
Sochi Fried - Capulet's Wife
Sochi grew up in New York City and Ottawa and is currently based in Toronto.
She most recently played Célimène in The Misanthrope with The Guild Festival Theatre and performed in One Little Goat's English language world premiere of The Charge of the Expormidable Moose at Tarragon Theatre. Other theatre credits include: Engaged at the Rhubarb Festival (dir. Leora Morris); A Midsummer Night's Dream (Citadel Theatre); The Trojan Women (dir. Alexandra Seay); Swoon! (dir. Jason Maghanoy); Hedda Gabler (dir. Jane Carnwath); Richard III (dir. Jeremy Hutton); Yichud(Seclusion) (dir. Aaron Willis and Richard Greenblatt); Dead Cat Bounce (dir. Molly Thom).
Sochi is a graduate of the 2012 Citadel/ Banff Centre Professional Theatre Program, Ryerson University's Theatre School, and the American Musical and Dramatic Academy. She participated in Labyrinth Theater Company's (NYC) Summer Intensive Ensemble this past June.
She most recently played Célimène in The Misanthrope with The Guild Festival Theatre and performed in One Little Goat's English language world premiere of The Charge of the Expormidable Moose at Tarragon Theatre. Other theatre credits include: Engaged at the Rhubarb Festival (dir. Leora Morris); A Midsummer Night's Dream (Citadel Theatre); The Trojan Women (dir. Alexandra Seay); Swoon! (dir. Jason Maghanoy); Hedda Gabler (dir. Jane Carnwath); Richard III (dir. Jeremy Hutton); Yichud(Seclusion) (dir. Aaron Willis and Richard Greenblatt); Dead Cat Bounce (dir. Molly Thom).
Sochi is a graduate of the 2012 Citadel/ Banff Centre Professional Theatre Program, Ryerson University's Theatre School, and the American Musical and Dramatic Academy. She participated in Labyrinth Theater Company's (NYC) Summer Intensive Ensemble this past June.
Jesse Griffiths - Friar Laurence
Jesse is excited to be back in a bar working with his best friend.
Past credits include: Richard III, The Two Gentlemen of Verona (Shakespeare in the Ruff), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Citadel Theatre), Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet (Resurgence Theatre Company), Rabbit Hole (Gladstone Theatre), As You Like it, Two Gentlemen of Verona (Brampton Theatre Festival), Dora nominated Macbeth (Classical Theatre Project), Escape from Grace and Best of Fringe winner Taming of the Shrew (Toronto Fringe Festival), The Unseen Hand (Paved Productions), Measure for Measure, Caucasian Chalk Circle, As You Like It (Ryerson Theatre School) and co-directed Alex McCooeye’s Saving Fats (The Playwright Project).
Jesse is a graduate of Ryerson Theatre School and a past participant of the Banff/Citadel Professional Theatre Program. I would like to give my heartfelt thanks to my family and friends for all of their support.
Past credits include: Richard III, The Two Gentlemen of Verona (Shakespeare in the Ruff), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Citadel Theatre), Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet (Resurgence Theatre Company), Rabbit Hole (Gladstone Theatre), As You Like it, Two Gentlemen of Verona (Brampton Theatre Festival), Dora nominated Macbeth (Classical Theatre Project), Escape from Grace and Best of Fringe winner Taming of the Shrew (Toronto Fringe Festival), The Unseen Hand (Paved Productions), Measure for Measure, Caucasian Chalk Circle, As You Like It (Ryerson Theatre School) and co-directed Alex McCooeye’s Saving Fats (The Playwright Project).
Jesse is a graduate of Ryerson Theatre School and a past participant of the Banff/Citadel Professional Theatre Program. I would like to give my heartfelt thanks to my family and friends for all of their support.
David Mackett - Prince/Peter
David's most recent credits include Cold Comfort (Fly on the Wall Theatre/Toronto Fringe), Inge Snapshots (The Remnants/Toronto Fringe), This is How We Got to Here (Staged Reading/Stratford SpringWorks Festival), and The Taming of the Shrew (Shakespeare Bash'd). Other credits include After the Fall (Equity Showcase), The Weir (MacKenzieRo), Aftershock (SummerWorks), Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead (Touchmark Theatre), and Half Life (Rose Theatre). In the US, he has appeared Off-Broadway with the Willow Cabin Theatre Company, and with TheatreWorks/USA, Kentucky Rep., and The Arts Trust.
David is a graduate of Circle in the Square Theatre School (NYC) and completed his Classical Theatre Training at London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.
David is a graduate of Circle in the Square Theatre School (NYC) and completed his Classical Theatre Training at London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.
Tim MacLean - Montague/Friar John
Selected Theatre: Inge Snapshots (Toronto Fringe 2013), The Emotionalists (SummerWorks 2010), Stella Luna (U.S. National Tour),Two Gentlemen of Verona, As You Like It, MacBeth, Twelfth Night, Much Ado About Nothing,All's Well that End's Well (4 seasons, Shakespeare in the Square) As You Like It (Acropolis Theatre, London) Peter Pan, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Stage West)
Selected Film and Television:"Murdoch Mysteries" (CBC),"Haunted Houses II"(A&E),"White Elephant"(Home Again Productions)
Etc: Tim is the co-host of the popular "The Last Cast on Earth"podcast (available on iTunes and www.thelastcast.ca). Tim is a graduate of George Brown Theatre.
Selected Film and Television:"Murdoch Mysteries" (CBC),"Haunted Houses II"(A&E),"White Elephant"(Home Again Productions)
Etc: Tim is the co-host of the popular "The Last Cast on Earth"podcast (available on iTunes and www.thelastcast.ca). Tim is a graduate of George Brown Theatre.
Milan Malisic - Mercutio
This is Milan’s third Shakespeare Bash'd and is thrilled to be back working on classical text. Milan is a RTS grad and holds an MFA from The Academy for Classical Acting. He has been a regular Toronto Fringe performer, had done numerous short films, episodics and you can see him costar alongside Golden Globe winner Dylan Mcdermott in an upcoming thriller called FREEZER, set for release in 2014.
Julia Nish-Lapidus - Nurse
Julia is so excited to be joining Shakespeare BASH'd for another production.
She is a Toronto based Actor and producer, working as the Managing Director of Theatre Columbus and the Artistic Producer of Theatre Caravel, where she co-curates the company’s popular new-works event, Sea Change. As an actor, Julia recently performed the title roles in Daniel MacIvor’s See Bob Run (Theatre Caravel), and 2012 Best of Fringe winner The Taming of the Shrew (Shakespeare BASH’d), as well as the appearing in the 2013 Shakespeare BASH'd production of Much Ado About Nothing.
She is a member of the Advisory Board for the Canadian Stage GYM program and a graduate of the joint acting program at UofT and Sheridan College. For more info on her work, visit www.TheatreColumbus.com.
She is a Toronto based Actor and producer, working as the Managing Director of Theatre Columbus and the Artistic Producer of Theatre Caravel, where she co-curates the company’s popular new-works event, Sea Change. As an actor, Julia recently performed the title roles in Daniel MacIvor’s See Bob Run (Theatre Caravel), and 2012 Best of Fringe winner The Taming of the Shrew (Shakespeare BASH’d), as well as the appearing in the 2013 Shakespeare BASH'd production of Much Ado About Nothing.
She is a member of the Advisory Board for the Canadian Stage GYM program and a graduate of the joint acting program at UofT and Sheridan College. For more info on her work, visit www.TheatreColumbus.com.
Kelly Penner - Romeo
Kelly is so SO happy to be back working with his friends at Shakespeare Bash'd.
Previously Kelly played Hortensio for Bash'd in The Taming of the Shrew. Other credits include Laertes in Hamlet, Brown in Maid for a Musket (St Lawrence Shakespeare), Piotr in The Russian Play (Spiel Players), Sebastian in Twelfth Night (Written on Water), The Railway Children (Mirvish/Marquis), An Ideal Husband, The Doctor's Dilemma (Shaw Festival), Silvius in As You Like It (Rose Theatre).
After leaving his home town of Kingsville to play soccer, Kelly trained in the University of Windsor’s Acting Program.
Previously Kelly played Hortensio for Bash'd in The Taming of the Shrew. Other credits include Laertes in Hamlet, Brown in Maid for a Musket (St Lawrence Shakespeare), Piotr in The Russian Play (Spiel Players), Sebastian in Twelfth Night (Written on Water), The Railway Children (Mirvish/Marquis), An Ideal Husband, The Doctor's Dilemma (Shaw Festival), Silvius in As You Like It (Rose Theatre).
After leaving his home town of Kingsville to play soccer, Kelly trained in the University of Windsor’s Acting Program.
Kyle Purcell - Benvolio
Kyle hails from Calgary, Alberta and now calls Toronto home. He is a graduate of the Ryerson Theatre School and is thrilled to be working with Shakespeare BASH'd again.
Select credits include: Man in Tender Napalm(Phantasmagoria Collective/ SummerWorks); Claudio in Much Ado About Nothing (Shakespeare BASH'd/ Fringe); Malcolm in Macbeth, Friar Laurence in Romeo and Juliet (Shakespeare at Play); Pompey in Antony and Cleopatra(Theatre Elusive); Demetrius in A Midsummer Night's Dream (Rose Theatre); Staples in Finer Noble Gases (The Bleeker Theatre/ SummerWorks).
Kyle is a founding member of the Phantasmagoria Collective, with whom he recently presented the acclaimed Canadian premiere of Tender Napalm, by Philip Ridley, at SummerWorks. Check out phantasmagoriacollective.com for details on upcoming projects.
Select credits include: Man in Tender Napalm(Phantasmagoria Collective/ SummerWorks); Claudio in Much Ado About Nothing (Shakespeare BASH'd/ Fringe); Malcolm in Macbeth, Friar Laurence in Romeo and Juliet (Shakespeare at Play); Pompey in Antony and Cleopatra(Theatre Elusive); Demetrius in A Midsummer Night's Dream (Rose Theatre); Staples in Finer Noble Gases (The Bleeker Theatre/ SummerWorks).
Kyle is a founding member of the Phantasmagoria Collective, with whom he recently presented the acclaimed Canadian premiere of Tender Napalm, by Philip Ridley, at SummerWorks. Check out phantasmagoriacollective.com for details on upcoming projects.
David Ross - Capulet
David is thrilled and overflowing with joy at the prospect of working with Wally, Robby and the gang on Romeo & Juliet, his fourth Shakespeare Bash’d production : Don Pedro - Much Ado About Nothing; Grumio, Vincentio - Taming of the Shrew; and Capulet - staged reading ofRomeo and Juliet.
Past work includes : Richard III (Shakespeare in the Ruff); Brave Hearts(Harry Warren Theatre, Brooklyn); Waiting for Godot; I Had a Job I Liked. Once. (Sudbury Theatre Centre); Wild Abandon (Theatre Caravel); Romeo & Juliet (Signing the Bard, Kennedy Cathy MacKinnon); Frankie & Johnny (Apuka Theatre); Half Life; Two Gentlemen of Verona;As You Like It (Brampton Theatre Festival); King Lear (Hart House); Macbeth (Classical Theatre Project).
After leaving his engineering career and his hometown Mennonite community David trained in the University of Windsor’s BFA Acting Program. As always, he would like to thank his family and friends for their support of his wonderful career !
Past work includes : Richard III (Shakespeare in the Ruff); Brave Hearts(Harry Warren Theatre, Brooklyn); Waiting for Godot; I Had a Job I Liked. Once. (Sudbury Theatre Centre); Wild Abandon (Theatre Caravel); Romeo & Juliet (Signing the Bard, Kennedy Cathy MacKinnon); Frankie & Johnny (Apuka Theatre); Half Life; Two Gentlemen of Verona;As You Like It (Brampton Theatre Festival); King Lear (Hart House); Macbeth (Classical Theatre Project).
After leaving his engineering career and his hometown Mennonite community David trained in the University of Windsor’s BFA Acting Program. As always, he would like to thank his family and friends for their support of his wonderful career !
Hallie Seline - Juliet
Hallie Seline is a Montreal/Toronto-based actor and is thrilled to be joining Shakespeare BASH’d in this production as Juliet.
A graduate of the joint Acting, Theatre & Drama Studies program at Sheridan College and the University of Toronto, her most recent credits include Mayday (Season 13, Cineflix), Oliver! (Artful Dodger, Port Hope Festival Theatre), Under the Same Sun (Documentary - Skin Deep Productions) and Mr. Marmalade (Fly By Night Theatre).
She is also the Co-Founder and Editor in Chief of inthegreenroom.ca, a Toronto theatre website dedicated to be “a space for artists to connect off stage”.
A graduate of the joint Acting, Theatre & Drama Studies program at Sheridan College and the University of Toronto, her most recent credits include Mayday (Season 13, Cineflix), Oliver! (Artful Dodger, Port Hope Festival Theatre), Under the Same Sun (Documentary - Skin Deep Productions) and Mr. Marmalade (Fly By Night Theatre).
She is also the Co-Founder and Editor in Chief of inthegreenroom.ca, a Toronto theatre website dedicated to be “a space for artists to connect off stage”.
Jeff Yung - Tybalt
Jeff is excited to join the incredibly talented cast and crew of Romeo and Juliet.
This past summer Jeff performed as part of The 6th Man Collective in Rebound: Live for the Summerworks: Live Art series. Previous work includes. The Story (Theatre Columbus), Sex Tap Project (fu-Gen Theatre), Shotgun Wedding (Carlos Bulosan Theatre), Pu-Erh (k'Know Theatre), The Forbidden Phoenix (YPT, MTYP), Banana Boys (fu-Gen Theatre), and The Unseen Hand (Bleecker Theatre).
Jeff is honoured to bring new energy to such a beautiful play. Enjoy the show!
This past summer Jeff performed as part of The 6th Man Collective in Rebound: Live for the Summerworks: Live Art series. Previous work includes. The Story (Theatre Columbus), Sex Tap Project (fu-Gen Theatre), Shotgun Wedding (Carlos Bulosan Theatre), Pu-Erh (k'Know Theatre), The Forbidden Phoenix (YPT, MTYP), Banana Boys (fu-Gen Theatre), and The Unseen Hand (Bleecker Theatre).
Jeff is honoured to bring new energy to such a beautiful play. Enjoy the show!
ROMEO & JULIET - CREW
JAMES WALLIS - DIRECTOR
James is a native of Newmarket, Ontario. He cut his teeth at Resurgence Theatre Company in Newmarket beginning as a teenager, where he performed in Romeo and Juliet, Love’s Labour’s Lost, and Measure for Measure. This began his professional love of Shakespeare, which has endured throughout his career. He was able to return again to Resurgence years later to play Benvolio in a production of Romeo and Juliet, directed by his good friend and mentor Lee Wilson, in 2009.
James attended Ryerson Theatre School where he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting, which was a pivotol in the building of his philosophies on acting and the theatre.
After finishing school, James jumped right into the big bad world of commercial work and film & television acting. He has been seen in a number of national commericials, including spots for Boston Pizza, Honda and Expedia. Also, he has appeared onThe Jon Dore Show, XIII: The Series and in a number of feature films including: And Now A Word From Our Sponsors and The Movie Out Here.
In 2010, James founded Shakespeare BASH’d in order to take responsibility for his creativity by producing the plays of Shakespeare and his contemporaries in the city of Toronto. For the company James has directed staged readings of Romeo and Juliet (2010) and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2011). He played Petruchio in the company's Best of Fringe winning production of The Taming of the Shrew in 2012 and played Benedick in their sold-out production of Much Ado About Nothing in the 2013 Toronto Fringe.
In addition, here are some of James’ selected theatre credits: A Midsummer Nights’ Dream, Shakespeare’s Magic and The Taming of the Shrew (Theatre by the Bay), Danny, King of the Basement (Roseneath Theatre, US Tour), Sleeping Beauty (Sudbury Theatre Centre), Paradise by the River (Shadowpath Theatre).
James is a very proud Torontonian and Shakespearean who hopes to always be working in some way on the plays of “the immortal Bard.”
James attended Ryerson Theatre School where he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting, which was a pivotol in the building of his philosophies on acting and the theatre.
After finishing school, James jumped right into the big bad world of commercial work and film & television acting. He has been seen in a number of national commericials, including spots for Boston Pizza, Honda and Expedia. Also, he has appeared onThe Jon Dore Show, XIII: The Series and in a number of feature films including: And Now A Word From Our Sponsors and The Movie Out Here.
In 2010, James founded Shakespeare BASH’d in order to take responsibility for his creativity by producing the plays of Shakespeare and his contemporaries in the city of Toronto. For the company James has directed staged readings of Romeo and Juliet (2010) and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2011). He played Petruchio in the company's Best of Fringe winning production of The Taming of the Shrew in 2012 and played Benedick in their sold-out production of Much Ado About Nothing in the 2013 Toronto Fringe.
In addition, here are some of James’ selected theatre credits: A Midsummer Nights’ Dream, Shakespeare’s Magic and The Taming of the Shrew (Theatre by the Bay), Danny, King of the Basement (Roseneath Theatre, US Tour), Sleeping Beauty (Sudbury Theatre Centre), Paradise by the River (Shadowpath Theatre).
James is a very proud Torontonian and Shakespearean who hopes to always be working in some way on the plays of “the immortal Bard.”
ERIC DOUBLE - ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
Eric couldn't be happier to be working with Shakespeare BASH'd again. His previous work with the company includes directing both the 2012 Best of Fringe winning production of The Taming of the Shrew (Toronto Fringe) and the sold-out 2013 production of Much Ado About Nothing (Toronto Fringe). He also made masks for their staged reading of A Midsummer Night's Dream.
Eric is also the Artistic Director of Theatre Caravel, where he co-curates their quarterly new works evening Sea Change and has directed their productions of See Bob Run & Wild Abandon, Modern Love (Next Stage 2012) and co-directed Talk to Me Like the Rain.../This Property is Condemned (The Tennessee Project).
He is a graduate of the joint acting program at U of T and Sheridan college, is currently a member of the Advisory Board for the Canadian Stage Gym program, and is an avid mask maker. For more on what he does, visit www.ericmakesmasks.com.
Eric is also the Artistic Director of Theatre Caravel, where he co-curates their quarterly new works evening Sea Change and has directed their productions of See Bob Run & Wild Abandon, Modern Love (Next Stage 2012) and co-directed Talk to Me Like the Rain.../This Property is Condemned (The Tennessee Project).
He is a graduate of the joint acting program at U of T and Sheridan college, is currently a member of the Advisory Board for the Canadian Stage Gym program, and is an avid mask maker. For more on what he does, visit www.ericmakesmasks.com.
Jennifer Dzialoszynski – Fight Director
Jenn is thrilled to be working with the fabulous cast and crew of Shakespeare Bash’d once again. She was also the Fight Director for the Best of Fringe winning production of The Taming of the Shrew (Toronto Fringe 2012). Jenn has been training, teaching, and directing fights for theatre since 2006, and is a member of The Academy of Dramatic Combat. Some previous fight direction credits include productions for Ryerson University, Humber College, York University - Glandale College, Beacon Theatre, and others. Jenn was the stunt coordinator for the TIFF film Picture Day, and has been a stunt performer featured in such television shows and films as; XIII The Series, Aaron Stone, Orphan, and Child Wild.
Also a theatre actor, look to see Jenn on stage this winter in the title role of Jane Eyre at MTC. Some previous credits include; The Taming of the Shrew, Macbeth (Canadian Stage), Gone with the Wind (MTC), August: Osage County (The Citadel), Harvey, Half an Hour (Shaw Festival), Kindertransport (Harold Green), for which she received a Dora Mavor Moore Award nomination, and Hana’s Suitcase (The Grand), among others.
Also a theatre actor, look to see Jenn on stage this winter in the title role of Jane Eyre at MTC. Some previous credits include; The Taming of the Shrew, Macbeth (Canadian Stage), Gone with the Wind (MTC), August: Osage County (The Citadel), Harvey, Half an Hour (Shaw Festival), Kindertransport (Harold Green), for which she received a Dora Mavor Moore Award nomination, and Hana’s Suitcase (The Grand), among others.
Shera Everett Singh - Stage manager
Shera is eager and energized to have the opportunity to work with the extremely talented and passionate cast and crew of Shakespeare Bash’d. With a background in film production and event coordination, Shera is thrilled to have the opportunity to again participate in the passionate world of theatre.
Previous credits include Assistant Stage Manager - Rabbi Sam (Teatron Theatre); Producer – Express (2009), Laughing Out Loud (2011), Edit > Undo (2013) (all for Chakra Films); Co-Founder and Coordinator – Cuttin’ It For Cancer (arts awareness initiative and fundraiser in association with the Canadian Cancer Society); Wardrobe/Assistant Art Department – Love You Forever (Chakra Films, 2006).
As a graduate of York University with a Bachelor of Arts in Film History, Theory and Criticism, Shera is a lover of all art forms and relishes the opportunities to engage in all aspects of production in the creative community. Special thanks to 3030 for hosting in their wonderful venue! Break a leg! Enjoy the show!
Previous credits include Assistant Stage Manager - Rabbi Sam (Teatron Theatre); Producer – Express (2009), Laughing Out Loud (2011), Edit > Undo (2013) (all for Chakra Films); Co-Founder and Coordinator – Cuttin’ It For Cancer (arts awareness initiative and fundraiser in association with the Canadian Cancer Society); Wardrobe/Assistant Art Department – Love You Forever (Chakra Films, 2006).
As a graduate of York University with a Bachelor of Arts in Film History, Theory and Criticism, Shera is a lover of all art forms and relishes the opportunities to engage in all aspects of production in the creative community. Special thanks to 3030 for hosting in their wonderful venue! Break a leg! Enjoy the show!
ROB KRASZEWSKI - PRODUCER
Rob Kraszewski is a Toronto based cultural entrepreneur. Joining Shakespeare BASH'd in the Spring of 2012, Rob produced the sold out Fringe Festival hit, The Taming of the Shrew, and came back to do it all again in 2013 with Much Ado About Nothing. He's excited to continue the streak with Romeo and Juliet this November.
A fan of all kinds of art forms, Rob spends his days working with the Executive team at the Toronto International Film Festival, where he works closely with the CEO, Executive Director and COO, CFO, and Board of Directors. Working with the Executive Team, Rob has developed a keen sense for arts management, and loves applying this knowledge to his work with Shakespeare BASH'd.
A fan of all kinds of art forms, Rob spends his days working with the Executive team at the Toronto International Film Festival, where he works closely with the CEO, Executive Director and COO, CFO, and Board of Directors. Working with the Executive Team, Rob has developed a keen sense for arts management, and loves applying this knowledge to his work with Shakespeare BASH'd.