Program
We f@#king made it!
There have been A LOT of twists and turns in our journey to get here, but somehow, someway, here we are. And we couldn’t be happier.
The world is a hard place to live in right now, and while there will always be darkness, we believe that there will always be light too. That’s the whole point of WTF for us - to celebrate that light. The creativity, the community and the continual pursuit of fun. And we’ve got it all!
Whether you’re here for one of our amazing shows, our odd-ball cabarets, our workshop or panel - welcome!
Welcome to our temple of joy, and delight, and discovery. We’re so grateful you’re here, and hope you enjoy.
#bettertogether
— Alicia & Byron
SPECIAL THANKS
This event was made possible by the kindness and support of a wide range of amazing people, groups and organizations.
Dave McKay/Sketchy The Clown
William Sousa
Show Sponsors Keith Brown Magic (PEGGY’S PLACE) and The DiStefano Family (MILK MILK LEMONADE)
Our secret weapon Sonia Vaillant
Claire Armstrong for housing our out of town guests (THE SHINIEST PIECE OF TRAILER TRASH)
Sweet Action Theatre team, including Gord Neill, Joshua Bonnici and Victoria Sepejak-Watson
Reza Moghaddas and Small World Theatre
Koffler Arts and Maria Segura
Youngplace staff, including Dayne Jespersen, Hannah Berney and Tenzin Sangpo
Social Arts Studio Space crew, including Jane Doe Smith and Kleo Ali
Raheem Jonid and Blondies Pizza - Ossington
Zel Tyrant and The Legacy Cabaret
TAPA staff, including annemieke wade, Scott Dermody, Maetzin Alvarado and Katie Gorham
Toronto Fringe Festival team, including Rachel Kennedy and Laura Paduch
Patricia Allison and Generator
Mohamed Shariff at QPrint
Betty Xie at Forward Avenue
All of our FILL THE GAP Indiegogo donors
Summerworks team, especially Morgan Norwich, Michael Caldwell and Brian Postalian
Toronto International Buskerfest leadership, including Mackenzie Muldoon and Deanna Oanes
Queen West Art Crawl crew and Johnathan Brett
Our Volunteers, including Christina Zhao, Jayden Gigliotti, August Sydorova, S. Senka Hassan Ortiz, Harley, Taj Graf, Magdalena Borkowski, Kendall Savage and Nash Stamenkovic.
And everyone who came out to play!
THU
JUICE BREAK
ALEXANDRA SIMPSON
[CREATOR/PERFORMER]
Alexandra Simpson is a theatre artist, designer, and the co-artistic director of Animacy Theatre Collective. As a mask designer and builder, she explores embodied sculptural approaches and works with diverse materials. Alexandra’s work as an artist reflects her experience in and passion for interdisciplinary art practices and queer narratives.
MORGAN BRIE JOHNSON
[CREATOR/PERFORMER]
Morgan Brie Johnson is a performer, theatre creator, writer, and co-artistic leader of Animacy Theatre Collective. Her creative work is driven by questions of boundary blurring and belonging, particularly around land, ecology, gender, sexuality, and home. She has published fiction and nonfiction in literary and academic journals.
ANIMACY THEATRE
COLLECTIVE
Animacy Theatre Collective is a Dora-award winning company focused on the creation of original, experimental and interdisciplinary theatre works. Animacy tells intersectional feminist stories that use humor and physicality to explore social justice themes and create characters who slither across imagined borders (human, nonhuman, gender, sexuality). @animacytheatrecollective
KAREN HINES
[DIRECTORIAL/DRAMATURGY CONSULTANT]
Karen Hines’ dark comedies include Crawlspace, All the Little Animals I Have Eaten, Drama: Pilot Episode and The Pochsy Plays, all published by Toronto’s Coach House Books. Her performances, productions, and the short films adapted from them have been presented internationally and have won many production and literary prizes and nominations including twice being finalist for the Governor General's Award for Drama and shortlisted for the 2020 Siminovitch Prize in Theatre. A Dora award-winning performer, Hines is a Second City alumna, and an associate of One Yellow Rabbit Performance Theatre. She has also appeared in numerous television and film productions and is the longtime director of cult horror clowns Mump & Smoot. Raised by scientists in Toronto, she now lives in Calgary, where she is writing her newest dark comedy, “My Name is Karen.” @keepfrozen
LOBBY ENTERTAINER
ROBERT CHAN
[MAGICIAN]
Robert Chan is a professional magician based in Niagara, known for captivating audiences with his blend of sleight-of-hand, humor, and charisma. Whether performing close-up magic just inches away or commanding the stage with high-energy illusions, Robert delivers unforgettable experiences for all ages. With years of experience entertaining at festivals, corporate functions, private parties, and community events, he knows how to engage any crowd and leave them amazed. @robertchanmagic
PEGGY’S PLACE
MORGAN JOY
[CREATOR/PUPPET-MAKER/PERFORMER]
Morgan Joy is an inclusive arts facilitator and producer of clown and circus cabarets in Toronto. You can see Morgan Joy’s motion capture, voice acting and original song-composition work on the animated show Tiny & Tall on TVOKids (Little Engine Moving Pictures). Currently Morgan is a therapeutic clown in Long Term Care and she loves this opportunity to share joy through music, play & imagination. Peggy Plummer is Morgan’s untamed, inner raccoon. @peggy_plummer
DANI ZIMMER
[PUPPETEER]
Dani Zimmer is flap-happy to be returning to her role as “Lenor” in Peggy’s Place. Dani is a Toronto based actor, puppeteer, writer, educator and musician. Select theatre credits; Daisy in The Adding Machine (Toronto Fringe), Rachel in Friends, Kate in Avenue Q (Puppet Co), Narrator in Rocky Horror (LOT). @danizimmercreative
BOBBY KNUFF
[PUPPETEER]
Bobby Knauff burst onto the Canadian comedy scene after earning the Brian Linehan award at Humber School of Comedy, quickly making a name for himself with a string of festival appearances and competition wins. He’s toured coast to coast headlining with Yuk Yuk’s and performed at top festivals like JFL42, NXNE, the Icebreakers Comedy Festival and the Toronto Festival of Clowns. Bobby’s opened for big names including Tom Green, Maria Bamford, Robert Kelly, Rory Scovel, Christina Pazsitzky & Greg Proops, Boyd Banks and his album Rock Bottom is a regular on satellite radio. When not doing stand up, Bobby is a voice actor and a puppeteer with his puppet buddy Andre the Alien; who hosts his own talk show “That’s Comedy!” Bobby now resides in Ottawa, enjoys talking about his minor accomplishments in the third person and also enjoys the company of cats over people. @bobbyknauffandcats
TREVOR NELSON
[MUSICAL ACCOMPANIMENT]
Trevor Nelson is a Toronto-based songwriter, performer, digital creator, and musical director. Trained at the Royal Conservatory and active in the city’s comedy scene, he’s a regular at comedy clubs and in the local music scene. A piano man, comedy MD, and bandleader, Trevor loves all things music and comedy. @trevtv_
ISAAC KESSLER
[DIRECTOR/DRAMATURG]
Isaac Kessler has been “in” comedy for 20 years. He’s a 4-time Canadian Comedy Award nominee, and one half of the award-winning 2-MAN NO-SHOW alongside Ken Hall. He directed five award-winning Clown/Bouffon shows. His solo show 1-MAN NO-SHOW, directed by Gordon Neill, has won awards too: Artists' Pick - Edmonton Fringe / Artists’ Encore - Cincinnati Fringe / Best of Fest & Best Specialty Solo Show - 2025 Orlando Fringe. “You can’t make Art without #awards.” - Oscar Wilde @isaackessler
FRI
SHINIEST PIECE OF TRAILER TRASH
MEEGAN SWEET
[CREATOR/PERFORMER]
Meegan Sweet is a queer multidisciplinary artist, creator and clown based in Amiskwacîwâskahikan (colonially known as Edmonton, Alberta). As a Wildlife Rehabilitator and florist outside of theatre, Meegan uses art to create beauty by connection and vulnerability, striving for compassion and honesty we may miss in our everyday lives. @mothsocks @theshiniestpieceoftrailertrash
AUTUMN STROM
[CO-DIRECTOR/STAGE MANAGER]
Autumn Strom (she/they) is a transfem, multidisciplinary theatre artist based in amiskwaciwâskahikan. She is a graduate of the University of Alberta's BFA in Acting program, and is particularly interested in new work processes, as well as any work that centers queerness. In addition to acting, Autumn’s artistic practice includes sound design, directing, and playwriting. @stromberryjam
KAREN HINES
[CLOWN CONSULTANT/MENTOR]
Karen Hines’ dark comedies include Crawlspace, All the Little Animals I Have Eaten, Drama: Pilot Episode and The Pochsy Plays, all published by Toronto’s Coach House Books. Her performances, productions, and the short films adapted from them have been presented internationally and have won many production and literary prizes and nominations including twice being finalist for the Governor General's Award for Drama and shortlisted for the 2020 Siminovitch Prize in Theatre. A Dora award-winning performer, Hines is a Second City alumna, and an associate of One Yellow Rabbit Performance Theatre. She has also appeared in numerous television and film productions and is the longtime director of cult horror clowns Mump & Smoot. Raised by scientists in Toronto, she now lives in Calgary, where she is writing her newest dark comedy, “My Name is Karen.” @keepfrozen
LOBBY ENTERTAINER
ANDRE THE ALIEN
[PUPPET SUPERSTAR]
Andre the Alien is an intergalactic creature from Planet Felt. He found the gold record NASA sent into space on the Voyager space prob in the 70’s and was fascinated by us humans! He crash landed in Bobby’s backyard so decided to get into show biz and hosts his own talk show, “That’s Comedy!”…that Bobby has yet to be a guest on. They live together in Ottawa. @andre_thealien
STRANGE MAKER SHOWCASE
PEARLE HARBOUR
[CABARET HOST]
Pearle Harbour is an award-winning theatre artist and Fool. Sweet-as-pie and sharp-as-nails, she's been called "glamorous, poised, and devastatingly funny" (Xtra) and "one of the most engaging and thoughtful performance artists around” (NOW Magazine). The publications associated with these pull quotes have both gone belly up. @pearleharbour
PINKITY TWINKITY
[CABARET KITTEN]
Pinkity Twinkity is a queen by profession, a clown by nature, and a monster in her own right. The best way to describe what she does is pure campy stupidity. @thepinkitytwinkity
DYCE 2 WATCH OUT 4
[CABARET ACT]
Debuting in January 2024, Dyce 2 Watch Out 4 (Dyce) captivates with his electrifying spin on a 90's classic. Character-based performance is his current forte, but Watch Out for what he has next in store! @dyce2watchout4
CHRISTINE MOYNIHAN
[CABARET ACT]
Christine Moynihan spent the past 50 years working in the performing arts as actor, producer, technician, administrator and executive director. In 2019 she returned to performing with her one-woman clown show, Outside Ethel: Inside, and the sequel Inside Ethel: Outside. @christineandethel
KANNA WORM
[CABARET ACT]
Kanna Worm (She/Him) is a Drag Artist known for comedy, shapeshifting abilities, and narrative driven drag numbers. She is the creator and producer of NSFWORM, a show that marries horror and BDSM. Kanna is for the FREAKS. Put your can openers up! @kannaworm
GLINDA MERCURY
[CABARET ACT]
Glinda Mercury is Toronto's enchantress with elegance and edge. She teases her audience with sass, sensuality, a dash of clowning, and legs for days. @glindamercury
JAYDEN GIGLIOTTI
[CABARET ACT]
Jayden (he/him) is a contemporary ball juggling artist and theatre maker recently based in Toronto. He enjoys sipping coffee, reading, being a tourist, and spending time in nature. He is thrilled to be performing at WTF! @jay.juggles
SAT
GET BENT: BALLOON WORKSHOP
SHEELAGH TRACHÉ
[WORKSHOP FACILITATOR]
Sheelagh Traché, the Balloon Girl TO, has been further honing her flare for creativity through the medium of balloons and balloon artistry since 2010. From an early age, Sheelagh had a keen interest in all the arts, from visual to performance. In 2009, Sheelagh was introduced to balloon artistry via the resident balloon artist, Sean Rooney, at Zero Gravity circus, and she began to receive balloon work contracts through Zero Gravity in late 2010.
Sheelagh has provided her skilled services in site animation, entertainment, party/event décor, sculpture, fashion and set design for family, corporate, and 19+ events, such as the Feast of St. Lawrence, the Bala Cranberry Festival, the Midland Canada Day celebration, Parry Sound Maple Syrup Festival, Super Wonder Fashion Wars and the Toronto Pride Parade, among many others. Special events include the Art Gallery of Ontario’s First Thursday event, where Sheelagh taught a balloon twisting workshop in 2017. In 2018, also at the AGO, Sheelagh created costuming and performed for Coca-Cola Corporate for a new product promotional event. @theballoongirlto
WTF PANEL: CLOWN & BOUFFON
JUSTIN MILLER
[PANEL MODERATOR]
Justin Miller is a writer, performer, designer and producer. He's best-known as his worser-half, Pearle Harbour. His award-winning, gonzo original works have been presented from coast-to-coast to rave critical and audience acclaim, including some of the most prestigious stages in Canada. As a screenwriter, he has developed work for Peacock (NBC).
HEATHER MARIE ANNIS
[PANELIST]
Heather is an actor, writer, theatre creator, director, educator, theatrical and therapeutic clown. Co-Artistic Director of U.N.I.T. Productions, and “Morro” of the Dora Award and Canadian Comedy Award winning clown duo Morro and Jasp, Heather has co-written and performed eleven shows for the Morro and Jasp Series (with her clown partner Amy Lee).
Heather has worked as a therapeutic clown, mainly for adults and elders in long-term care settings, for twenty years. She has also done therapeutic clown in birthing and fertility settings. Heather works with Kathleen LeRoux and has worked/trained with several organizations and teachers over the years including Dr Clown Montreal, Francine Cote, Philippe Gaulier, Pete Jarvis, Mike Kennard and John Turner. Heather teaches clown and theatre creation to adults and kids. @morroandjasp
JOHN BEALE
[PANELIST]
John Beale is an actor, teacher and director based in Toronto, Ontario (and Nosara, Costa Rica) . He serves as the master teacher of Clown and Bouffon at Humber College’s Theatre Arts Performance Program and also teaches acting, mask, clown, improv and scene study at Seneca and Randolph Colleges, character study at George Brown College and Embodied Presence at Stratford Festival’s Birmingham Conservatory .
He has led public performance workshops in clown and presence for over 20 years as well as acted in television, film and theatre for over 30 years. He earned a Merritt Award for his performance in The Crucible with Two Planks and a Passion Theatre Company. John is a graduate of Philippe Gaulier’s prestigious International Theatre School in Paris and also trained, performed and taught extensively with the acclaimed Shakespeare & Company in Lenox, Massachusetts. @johnbeale_
KAREN HINES
[PANELIST]
Karen Hines’ dark comedies include Crawlspace, All the Little Animals I Have Eaten, Drama: Pilot Episode and The Pochsy Plays, all published by Toronto’s Coach House Books. Her performances, productions, and the short films adapted from them have been presented internationally and have won many production and literary prizes and nominations including twice being finalist for the Governor General's Award for Drama and shortlisted for the 2020 Siminovitch Prize in Theatre. A Dora award-winning performer, Hines is a Second City alumna, and an associate of One Yellow Rabbit Performance Theatre. She has also appeared in numerous television and film productions and is the longtime director of cult horror clowns Mump & Smoot. Raised by scientists in Toronto, she now lives in Calgary, where she is writing her newest dark comedy, “My Name is Karen.” @keepfrozen
MILK MILK LEMONADE
EMMA NELLES
[CREATOR/PERFORMER]
Emma Nelles is a Toronto-based actor and director. Equally at home with Shakespeare, contemporary classics, and brand new works, Emma has performed in independent productions and staged readings throughout the city. Emma is a graduate of George Brown Theatre School, where she now returns to direct. @mallowmarshproductions
JONAS TROTTIER
[CREATOR/PERFORMER]
Jonas Trottier is an actor and theatre-maker based in Toronto. Before—long before—graduating from George Brown Theatre School in 2018, he attended Rosedale Public School in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. His teachers there would probably have described him with words like: "bright", "curious", and "he never stops talking". @mallowmarshproductions
SARAH BRAWN
[STAGE MANAGER]
Sarah Brawn is a queer Toronto based stage manager. She has a BAH in Theatre from Queen’s University (so she really nose what she is doing!). Select stage management credits include "Every Feeling" (Vancouver Fringe), "Joan and Olivia: A Hollywood Ghost Story" (Edmonton Fringe), "The Stinky Cheese Man" (T.Y.T. Theatre), "Dead Elephants" (Good Old Neon). They are also currently working on a workshop of "MEAT" with Theatre Sheridan. Sarah is excited to be bringing this wacky clown show to new audiences, and hopes you have a honking good time!
CATHERINE TEICHMAN
[SOUND DESIGNER]
Catherine Teichman (she/her) is a performer and writer based in Toronto. Since graduating from George Brown Theatre School in 2018, she’s performed in several independent theatre productions in Toronto, as well as touring Tomson Highway’s cabaret for kids, The Incredible Adventures of Mary Jane Mosquito (Carousel Players) across Southern Ontario, to Saskatoon (Persephone Theatre), and to Vancouver (Carousel Theatre, Presentation House). As a musician, Catherine has an eclectic background in musical performance and composition and has created music for a number of projects, including several stage productions. Recent sound design credits include Like it or Not (Carousel Players) and Desperate Measures, the sold-out 2024 Toronto Fringe show, which Catherine also co-created.
JACK DAVIDSON
[DIRECTOR]
Jack Davidson (née Rennie) is an actor, dancer, and Dora award-winning theatre creator from Toronto, Canada. He has worked as a performer and fight director across Asia, Europe, Australia, and the U.S., including performances at the Salzburg Festival in Austria, the Glimmerglass Festival in New York, and the Château de Versailles in France. He performs frequently with the Canadian Opera Company, including the world premiere of Rufus Wainwright’s opera, Hadrian. He also performed five consecutive seasons at Opera Atelier and was a company member of Corpus Dance Projects. Additionally, his work as a fight/flight director can be seen throughout Bad Hats’ production of Peter Pan (Dora Award), which was remounted at Soulpepper for three years. His play 'Fatale Charade', which he also directed, was a hit of the 2023 Toronto Fringe Festival and nominated by MyEntertainmentWorld. He is co-artistic director of The Lakeside Players, which has toured their irreverent outdoor shows from coast to coast in Canada. Jack trained at the National Ballet School of Canada and is a graduate of George Brown Theatre School, where he now teaches.
LOBBY ENTERTAINER
ARCHIE CALLED
[DRAG KING]
Archie Called is a drag king bringing creative, cartoonish, eclectic performance to the stage that’ll leave you dialed in and ready for more. Known for his versatility from genre to genre and place to place, Archie is sure to bring his own unique flair wherever you find him. Archie leapt into the Toronto drag scene in 2022, and has indulged an ever-growing love for the bizarre ever since. He thrives as an involved member of drag king collectives TITANS and Frat Haus. Some of his favourite works to have co-created include Barbie’s Inferno, Queer Mixer series, Horror? I Hardly Know ‘Er!, CosGay, and Toronto Fringe Festival’s Frat Haus: EVICTED! (2025). Now, two years of What The Festival in, Archie feels more proud than ever to call himself a Strange Maker. @archiecalled
THE [IM]POSSIBLE CABARET
ANNE ALIEN
[CABARET HOST]
A Shapeshifting Fae-lien from Outer Space, ANNE ALIEN is a Triple Threat that is Eclectic & Electric, Titillating & Terrifying. This Campy Chaos Bringer will leave you surprised and delighted. @anne__alien
JOSHUA BONNICI
[CABARET KITTEN]
Joshua is an internationally touring and award-winning clown and burlesque performer. He most recently performed his solo show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2025, and is the co-producer of Sweet and Sultry Burlesque. He likes to carry a door. @attilabuns
GOLDY YASON
[CABARET KITTEN]
Goldy is a rogue culinary school dropout who ran from the kitchens of George Brown College to end up an award-winning, 14-year veteran of the world of comedy and the radical expressive disciplinary arts. @goldynofish
CHERRY BOMB
[CABARET ACT]
Cherry Bomb has a stage energy that lightens up the space every time they perform! With flexibility beyond comparison and costumes of all varieties, they are the ABSOLUTE CHERRY on top of anything you can imagine! Watch out, Drag World because WTF they're Ch-Ch-Ch-Cherry Bomb! @Cherry_Bomb.lovesall
CARLY RAE STEPSON
[CABARET ACT]
How best to describe Carly Rae Stepson? Girl next door from the neck down. The band KISS from the neck up. She knows only one dance move and she can only do it while holding a solo cup. You'll love her! @_carlyraestepson
THE GARDEN GNOME
[CABARET ACT]
Meet The Garden Gnome: an eternal 30-something cigarette connoisseur, hopeless romantic, and single father to a comically large pinecone. He’s convinced the moon is a misplaced golf ball and is quietly organizing a gnome revolution to rule the compost heap. @cinnsealachog
CONJUNCTIVISIS
[CABARET ACT]
Coming all the way from Hamilton, Conjunctivisis is a one Queen variety show, she is a brass multi-instrumentalist, singer, and metal screamer. @conjunctivisis
SPLAT
[CABARET ACT]
Part drag. Part mask. Part performance art. This piece is an experiment with tempo, duration, and an exploration of transition as a trans-masc person becoming a partially horrific, partially wonderful creature. Gender bending no gender. @eishvanwieren
JUPITER LIGHTNINGSTORM
[CABARET ACT]
Jupiter Lightningstorm is a food scientist turned prop fabricator, circus artist, and burlesque performer living in Las Vegas NV. @jupiterlightningstorm
FOX C SHANTY
[CABARET ACT]
Fox C Shanty (he/him) is a dastardly-dashing disabled Drag King and aspiring circus artist from Toronto, Canada. Having set sail in 2024, Fox brings wholehearted whimsy and fun to any stage he sets foot on. @foxcshanty
ARTS MAKRET VENDORS
EFFING DICE
[RE MAGILL]
We're proudly queer owned, Toronto-based, and nerdy as, well, fuck. We make puppets, 3D print critters, as well as design and 3D print multi-purpose dice boxes
The dream started with dice that swear - and we're not just talking D20s, we're talking D10s and D6s, as well. After all, crit fails, botches, whatever you want to call them aren't unique to any one system. Those dice are still a work in progress - manufacturing is complicated, y'all - but look out for our Kickstarter in 2025!
Re (pronounced Ray, they/them pronouns, our founder, designer and nerd extraordinaire) is, above all, a maker. They make puppets, 3D print, and build split ergonomic keyboards. They are queer, disabled, and became interested in 3D printing and design to make things they love more accessible. @effingdice
JAC STUDIO
[CREIG STEAME]
I'm a small gay owned independent business focused on making you laugh. With a focus on humour with vintage images. The branding of our collection and its name is inspired by my Great Danes - hence the logo. Note: All items made in Canada. @jacsstudiotoronto
SONYAH SHOP
[OLHA DOVZHENKO]
Olha is an artist from Ukraine who came to Canada in 2022. Their brand is called Sonyah because the flower is associated with Ukraine for her. She makes original linoprints, wool jewelry, stickers and everything to decorate and add color and individuality to this life. @sonyah_shop_
ARTS MARKET
[TORONTO]
Since 2011 we have made shopping for handmade goods easy and convenient. With a vast array of products, from jewelry to pottery, from photography to gift cards, the Arts Market is the ideal destination for all your gift-shopping needs. We accept all major forms of payment and we gift wrap, too!
Arts Market rents space on a 4-week basis, with no long leases, no commission taken, and we only require 3 weeks notice to move out. Head to www.artsmarket.ca for more information.
TEAM
CLAIRE WHITAKER
[SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING MANAGER]
Claire Whitaker (she/her) is a freelance contemporary dance artist, administrator and marketing coordinator in Toronto, Ontario. Claire has been an active member of the Toronto Dance community before and following graduation from Dance Arts Institute (formerly The School of Toronto Dance Theatre). Most noticeably, Claire performs work with Compagnie de la Citadelle under Laurence Lemieux, performing in Toronto and touring in Quebec. In 2021, she shifted from dance collaborator to marketing and administrator for the wind in the leaves collective. Helping to build their audiences and create more performance opportunities for Poet and Dance Artists in Toronto. @_claireelovie
DAMIEN NELSON
[FESTIVAL PUBLICIST]
Damien Nelson is a press agent with over 15 years of experience. She works with comedians, organizations and festivals including Julie Nolke, Neema Naz, Tom Hearn, Two2Mango, Srutika Sabu, Adam Mohammed, Tracy Hamilton, Rachel Manson, Toronto Fringe, Hamilton Fringe, Comedy Here Often, Comedy Records and more. Damien is Vice Chair of the Board of Bad Dog Theatre Company, and is the editor of PartonandPearl.com. Damien was a committee member for the Comedy Album of the Year category at the Juno Awards, and was also a producer for the Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival. @5onthe5
SABRINA GOMES
[PATRON SERVICES COORDINATOR]
Sabrina Gomes has worked in Event Coordination in Toronto for 5 years, expanding her skills into wedding planning all over the GTA. With a Bachelor of Arts with Honours at York University, her heart lies in theatre! She is currently at Soulpepper Theatre in the box office and as Floor Captain during shows.Sabrina is co-founder and lead planner of Popscotch Events, an immersive events company in Toronto. When she isn’t working you can find her at the theatre, playing music or with her two cats Joni and Eva! @sabrinagomesinsta
JENNY SERWYLO
[ASSOCIATE PRODUCER]
With a background in Acting and Stage Management, Jenny has spent the last 15 years working as an Event Planner and designer for both corporate and private functions. After finding her way back to the theatre a few years ago, she's been enjoying performing, stage managing, and teching alongside some of Toronto's silliest people, including Bitty Bat!, UFC:3, Tight Five, and building her own one-woman show, The Vanity Hour. When she's not helping people shine, Jenny can be found reading tarot, dissecting reality tv, and cuddling her two giant cats Butterscotch and Caramel. Jenny is thrilled to be working with WTF, and can't wait to help people showcase their talents! @jserwylo
SEANN MURRAY
[TECHNICIAN]
SEANN MURRAY (he/him) is a technician and improvisor originally from Fredericton, NB where he got his start with Theatre Free Radical. He's the interim technical director of Bad Dog Theatre, a Stage Manager at Second City Toronto and a member of award winning comedy troupe Sex T-Rex. He did not choose the font this was written in. @murrayseann
DAVID KOVAL
[TECHNICIAN]
David is a creative director, post production wizard and technician. Since 2022, he has been Live Show Technical Producer at Comedy Bar and produces his own work on Youtube amongst other places. @naveedkoval
MORGAN JOY
[WORKSHOP PRODUCER: EFFORTLESS CLOWN]
Morgan Joy is an inclusive arts facilitator and producer of clown and circus cabarets in Toronto. You can see Morgan Joy’s motion capture, voice acting and original song-composition work on the animated show Tiny & Tall on TVOKids (Little Engine Moving Pictures). Currently Morgan is a therapeutic clown in Long Term Care and she loves this opportunity to share joy through music, play & imagination. Peggy Plummer is Morgan’s untamed, inner raccoon. @peggy_plummer
SONIA VAILLANT
[WTF LOUNGE DECORATOR]
She doesn’t know we have included her, but she has decorated and dressed every single WTF lobby and lounge since SPRING THING 1.0. The table settings - that her! The door curtains - still her. The garlands and hangings - you bet it’s her! She even hid the pink ducks (if you know, you know) so we wanted to finally recognize all the hard work she has done to support us. P.S. In real life, she is a total girl boss - she’s the Manager of Audiobook Production at Penguin Random House Canada.
ALICIA DISTEFANO
[EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR]
Alicia has over fifteen years’ experience working as an event administrator and community engagement coordinator both in the arts and in post-secondary education. She is passionate about providing opportunities for artists to reach new audiences and fostering active and inclusive communities.
In addition, Alicia has been active in Toronto’s clown community since 2010 after obtaining a Master of Arts degree in Theatre and Performance studies from York University. She is the founder of Pajama Cat Productions and was the force behind the Red Nose Cabaret since its creation in 2017.
BYRON LAVIOLETTE
[ARTISTIC DIRECTOR]
Byron Laviolette is a director with over twenty years experience working in the arts, the agency, the academy and the arcade. He is the resident director with Adam Francis Proulx’s Pucking Fuppet Co, having directed The Family Crow, Ferry Tale, Emilio’s A Million Chameleons as well as the short film How to Hug a Porcupine.
He was the Creative Director of The Mission Business, the Digi award-winning experience design agency from 2012-2016, whose clients included Autodesk, Starbucks, CBC, MetroLinx and NASA.
Byron holds a PhD in Interactive Theatre and Pervasive Transmedia Fiction from the Theatre and Performance Studies Department at York University and his criticism/art journalism has appeared in Scene Changes, EYE Weekly, AdBusters and IN Toronto magazine. @bydirects
