GRADUATES 2016

GUIFRÉ BANTJES-RÀFOLS Guifré Bantjes-Ràfols is a Catalan-Canadian, who grew up in Saskatoon, SK. He has been involved with the theatre his whole life, working both on and offstage. Selected GBTS Credits: Parker in Lady Windermere’s Fan, Bartley MacCormick in The Cripple of Inishmaan, Alsemero in The Changeling, Touchwood Sr. in A Chaste Maid in Cheapside, and Jeremiah in Mad About Munsch. Other Credits Include: Lazarus in Lazarus and his Beloved (Broken Hill Theatre) and Hector in Double Néfaste (La Troupe Du Jour). He also had the pleasure of being Apprentice Stage Manager for 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (WYRD Productions / KIDOONS). He would like to thank the Saskatchewan Arts Board for their generous support.

JAKE DEETH Jake is an actor and singer, born and raised in Sudbury ON. Selected credits include, The Baker in Into The Woods (Sudbury Secondary School), Five in Black Dog: 4 vs. The World (Sudbury Theatre Centre), Lou Birdds in Mad About Munsch, Big Daddy in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Amintor in The Maid’s Tragedy, The Cardinal in The Duchess of Malfi, Billy in The Cripple of Inishmaan (George Brown Theatre), Georg in Spring Awakening, Herod in Jesus Christ Superstar, Benny in In The Heights, Javert in Les Miserables, Fyedka in Riddler on the Roof, Will in American Idiot (YES Theatre). Upcoming: Semyon in The Suicide, directed by Mitchell Cushman. Jake Deeth is currently the resident artist of YES Theatre. Jake would like to thank his friends and teachers for challenging him, and his family for their endless support.

CHRISTOPHER FULTON Christopher began his performing career in the 2006 production of Oliver! at the Stratford Festival. He attended Etobicoke School of the Arts where he double-majored in musical theatre and dance. Selected George Brown credits include: Mr. Dumby in Lady Windermere’s Fan, Monticelso in The White Devil, Littlewit in Bartholomew Fayre and Bartley in The Cripple of Inishmaan. Other selected theatre credits include: Jimmy in No Horse Town (SCSS), Milton in Words, Words, Words (SCSS), William in Fall of the House of Usher (SCSS), Roger in Rent (ESA), Riff in West Side Story (ESA), Shoeless Joe in Fosse (ESA), Tunny in American Idiot (YES Theatre) and Benvolio in Romeo and Juliet (Old Flame Brewing Co.) Christopher will play Egor in George Brown’s upcoming production of The Suicide.

JILLIAN HANSON Hails from Woodstock, New Brunswick where she was an original member of Valley Young Theatre Company from 2006-2011. Jillian studied English and Theatre at St. Thomas University, graduating in 2013 with a BA in English with a concentration in Drama and a Music/Spanish double minor. Along with being involved in the theatre community during her four years at St. Thomas, Jillian was also a member of the alto saxophone section in jazz ensemble 'STU Jazz'. She appeared in Courting, featured at the Short Short Play Festival this past summer. GBTS Credits: Lady Jedborough (Lady Windermere's Fan), Helen (The Cripple of Inshmaan), Sugar (Trout Stanley),The Duchess (Duchess of Malfi), Lady Kix (Chaste Maid in Cheapside), Sarah (Mad About Munsch), Maggie (Cat on a Hot Tin Roof). STU credits: Aniko (Caucasian Chalk Circle), Maisie.

SHEILA INGABIRE ISARO Sheila is a multi-disciplinary artist hailing from Bujumbura in Burundi. She came to Toronto at a very young age and fell in love with the theatre. Selected George Brown credits include Evadne (The Maid's Tragedy), Catherine (Suddenly Last Summer), Joan Trash (Bartholomew Fair), Maria (Generous), Lady Jane Drummond (Letters Of Arbella Stuart). Other credits include Simba (Lion King: The Musical, MGRC).

SEAN JACKLIN Sean grew up in Perth, Ontario before attending the University of Guelph where he graduated in 2013 with a BA(Honours) in Theatre Studies. Recent acting credits: Lady Windermere's Fan and The Cripple of Inishmaan (George Brown College), Wait Until Dark and Barefoot in the Park (Classic Theatre Festival), Mad About Munsch (George Brown College),Never Swim Alone (emerGENce), I'm Thinking About Thinking About Crying (Theatre Ramen), Asterion (Patria Cycle), The Last Ringmaster (Act5), The Good Doctor and Love and Anger (The University of Guelph). Playwriting credits: Pillar of the Community (The Ward One Acts), A Mugging Guide for the Rich and Successful and In The End . . . (The University of Guelph One Acts).

ZARA JESTADT Zara is an actor and singer from Toronto. She graduated from the Musical Theatre program at the Etobicoke School of the Arts, and then pursued a BA in Psychology and Theatre Studies from McGill University, before continuing her training at George Brown. Favourite GBTS projects include: Mrs. Erlynne (Lady Windermere’s Fan), Kate Osbourne (The Cripple of Inishmaan) Theresa (The Crackwalker), Ursula (Bartholomew Fair). Other credits: Mary (Lazarus and His Beloved, Broken Hill), Elsa/Countess (Duotang Chesterfield Mystery LIVE, Toronto Fringe 2015), Referee (Never Swim Alone, Toronto Fringe 2014), Mrs. Lovett (Sweeney Todd, McGill AUTS), Joanne (Company, Players’ Theatre). She is absolutely ecstatic to be embarking on this adventure with her talented colleagues and cannot wait to see what comes next.

SHANNON MURPHY Shannon Murphy is an Alberta grown actress now residing in Toronto. She attended the University of Calgary and received a Bachelor of Kinesiology (Distinction) with a minor in Drama. George Brown credits include: Lady Agatha Carlisle (Lady Windermere’s Fan), Eileen (The Cripple of Inishmaan), Sandy (The Crackwalker), Beatrice (The Changeling), Ensemble (Mad About Munsch). University of Calgary credits include: Philomele (The Love of the Nightingale), Delilah Rose Johnson (Ernestine Shuswap Gets Her Trout), Cordelia (Lear's Daughters). This February she will be appearing as Margarita in The Suicide directed by Mitchell Cushman, a project she is very excited to embark on with her graduating year.

BRANDON NICOLETTI Brandon was born and raised in Mississauga, ON, where he graduated from Cawthra Park’s Regional Arts Program. Selected GBTS credits: Mr. Hopper (Lady Windermere’s Fan), Billy (Cripple of Inishmaan), Bernard (Theatre of the Film Noir), De Flores (The Changeling), Quarlous (Bartholomew Fair), Sir Oliver (A Chaste Maid in Cheapside), Mr. Sobbington (Mad About Munsch), Chicken (Kingdom of Earth), and Iago (Othello). Other Theatre: Jeffrey in Jeffrey (Capricorn 9), Ben in Leaving Home (Cawthra Park), and Romeo in Romeo and Juliet (Cawthra Park). Web: Tim in Andy and the Upside (Gorilla Milkshake Productions). In 2014 Brandon produced and directed a production of Never Swim Alone for the Toronto Fringe Festival, which won awards for Outstanding Production, Ensemble, and Direction from NOW Magazine.

CASSANDRA POTENZA Born and raised in Winnipeg, Cassandra takes pride in being a triple threat performer with an extensive dance, singing and theatre background. After landing her first professional job in Rainbow Stage’s Footloose, Cassandra chose to move to Toronto to further pursue her career in the performing arts. Previous George Brown credits include: Maudlin (A Chaste Maid in Cheapside), Blanche (A Streetcar Named Desire), Titania (A Midsummer Night’s Dream) and Miss Swan (Mad About Munsch). Cassandra is thrilled to be playing the role of Serafima in George Brown’s upcoming production of The Suicide.

JACK RENNIE Jack Rennie is an actor and dancer from Toronto. He has acted, fight directed, and danced throughout Europe, Asia, and the Unities States, including at the prestigious Salzburg Festival in Austria and the Chateau de Versailles in France. At the Toronto Fringe Festival he originated the role of 'Duke' in the smash hit Bremen Rock City, which received rave reviews by Richard Ouzounian and has since been picked up by the Charlottetown Festival for their Young Company. Most recently, he played 'Lord Darlington' in George Brown Theatre School's production of Oscar Wilde's Lady Windermere's Fan and is excited for the rest of a great season with his classmates.

BRINA ROMANEK Brina grew up in Barrie, Ontario and is thrilled to be part of this year’s graduating class at George Brown. Not only has Brina trained as an actor, but she has also trained in dance and singing throughout her life. Favourite roles at George Brown include: Beatrice, The Changeling; Julia, Generous; and Juliet, Romeo and Juliet. Recent theatre credits include: Theatre By the Bay (Macbeth, Munsch Ado About Nothing), The Delawanna Inn (Stella’s Search by Starlight). Film & TV: Bitten. Other: Brina is a recipient of the Barrie Arts Award for Most Promising Youth.

MICHAEL RUDERMAN Michael Ruderman was born and raised in Toronto and is currently in his final year at George Brown. He holds a BA in Psychology and English from McGill University, where he performed in numerous shows, including Measure for Measure (Angelo), The Alchemist (Subtle), All’s Well That Ends Well (Paroles) and Death and the Maiden (Roberto). He performed in Never Swim Alone (Frank) at the 2014 Toronto Fringe and directed Khalil Gibran’s Lazarus and His Beloved this past summer. George Brown highlights include Lady Windermere’s Fan (Lord Windermere), The Cripple of Inishmaan (Babbybobby), Generous (David), The Duchess of Malfi (Ferdinand), Bartholomew Fair (Cokes), Mad About Munsch! (Mortimer) and Cat On A Hot Tin Roof (Brick).

JULIA VESCIO Julia is a Toronto born actor and singer. Selected George Brown credits include: Lady Windermere (Lady Windermere’s Fan), Helen (The Cripple of Inishmaan), Evadne (The Maid’s Tragedy), Moll (A Chaste Maid in Cheapside), Flora (27 Wagons Full of Cotton). Other theatre credits include: Tzeitel (Fiddler on the Roof, YES Theatre), Anita (West Side Story, ESA). Film and television credits include: Degrassi: The Next Generation. Julia is a graduate of the Musical Theatre program at the Etobicoke School of the Arts. She has performed in various venues across the city including Roy Thompson Hall, the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts and the Opera House.

CHELSEA WOODARD Chelsea Woodard is a Saskatchewan born actress and singer, now based out of Toronto. She is an accomplished vocalist, and recently completed her RCM Grade 9 Voice Exam, receiving First Class Honours with Distinction. Past theatre credits include: Duchess of Berwick - Lady Windermere’s Fan (GBTS), Kate - The Cripple of Inishmaan (GBTS), Aspatia - The Maid's Tragedy (GBTS), Cariola - Duchess of Malfi (GBTS), Viola - Twelfth Night (DIWC), Gertrude McFuzz -Seussical (DIWC), Juliet - Romeo & Juliet (DIWC). She will be appearing as Viktor in The Suicide directed by Mitchell Cushman this February. FACULTY 2015/2016 ARTISTIC DIRECTOR: JAMES SIMON KATHRYN AKIN (Alexander Technique, Devising) MICHAEL ARMSTRONG (Speech, Dialects) STEWART ARNOTT (Scene Study) BRENDA BAZINET (Scene Study) CINDY BLOCK (Storytelling, Voice, Movement) BRIAN BORTS (Business of Acting) MARK BROWNELL (Theatre History, Canadian Drama, Creative Process) LEAH CHERNIAK (Clown) MITCHELL CUSHMAN (Guest Director) EDWARD DARANYI (Shakespeare Bath) MAURIZIO DODARO (Dramatic Literature) SHARRY FLETT (Monologue) SIMON FON (Stage Combat) LESLIE FRENCH (Movement, Vocal Masque) KAREN GLAVE (TV Acting) TODD HAMMOND (Acting, Director, Vocal Masque) VICTORIA G. HEART (Alexander Technique) VRENIA IVONOFFSKI (Mask, Commedia Dell’Arte) JOHN JARVIS (Period Study) PAM JOHNSON (Contact Improvisation) DEBORA JOY (Voice) JEANNETTE LAMBERMONT-MOREY (Monologue, Period Study) DIANA LEBLANC (Guest Director) ANNA MacKAY-SMITH (Acting, Monologue) ROBERT McCOLLUM (Dance) SUE MINER (Career Studies) JILLIAN PEEVER (Cardio) GEOFF POUNSETT (Speech, Dialects, Vocal Masque, Shakespeare Scene Study) DIANA REIS (Acting) ED SAHELY (Group Improvisation) JAMES SIMON (Director, Business of Acting, Scene Study) DAVID STORCH (Guest Director) JULIE TEPPERMAN (Business of Acting) SEVERN THOMPSON (Shakespeare Scene Study) J. RIGZIN TUTE (Music) PETER C. WYLDE (Text Study) GEORGE BROWN THEATRE Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tankhouse Lane, Toronto, Canada M5A 3C4 416.415.5000 x2167/ Fax 416.415.2537 llaforet@georgebrown.ca georgebrown.ca/theatre