Actor, The Complete Works of Shakespeare (Abridged).

Adrian is a Toronto-based actor hailing from Oakville, Ontario. For as long as he can remember, the arts have always been a part of his life; from his beginnings in community theatre to professional productions, Adrian continues to pursue his passion as an actor. He has studied Dramatic Arts at Brock University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts; and more recently, at George Brown Theatre school. Some of his favourite roles include Pantalone (Pantalone’s Palace), Nicholas (One for the Road) and God (Paradise Lost). Adrian extends heartfelt gratitude to his family and friends for their unwavering support, which has fueled his extraordinary journey.

Director,  The Complete Works of Shakespeare (Abridged)

Andy Massingham is a Dora Mavor Moore and Prix Rideau Award-winning actor, director, educator and playwright. For the past two seasons Andy has been honoured to work with Theatre On The Ridge, directing the productions The Living End and Something From Nothing. He is thrilled to be directing The Collected Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) this summer.

His past credits include adapting and directing The Government Inspector, The Servant of Two Masters, Arms and The Man, The Game of Love and Chance, It’s A Wonderful Life among many others. Over the past thirty-five years, he has performed across Canada at the Stratford Festival (four seasons), Theatre New Brunswick, National Arts Centre, Banff Centre, Soulpepper, Tarragon, Odyssey, Y.P.T. Centaur, among others.

Andy’s wordless play Rough House (presented by Nightswimming Theatre, for which he received Best Performance Dora award) toured Canada and the U.S. to capacity audiences. It is in the field of physical storytelling Andy finds ultimate freedom, and which always guides his acting and directing; “Telling the true story comes from the body and breath first, and then words flow. The words may not be true, but the body never lies.” He studied clown with the legendary Richard Pochinko for three years.

Andy currently teaches acting, clown and movement at the Toronto Film School. He has also taught at Second City, Humber College, George Brown and has led physical theatre creation workshops at the Tarragon Theatre, Stratford Festival, the National Arts Centre among others across Canada.

Venue Manager

Andy has managed theatre and corporate facilities in Toronto and Durham region since the late 1980’s. He has been with Theatre on the Ridge from the company’s start in 2013, maintaining order in the limited storage and backstage spaces of Theatre on the Ridge and taking the lead on carpentry for the company’s set builds. When time permits, Andy has also been seen onstage as Reuben Crandell for Pine Grove Plots with Theatre on the Ridge and in many productions in the Durham area – One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, The Diary of Anne Frank, To Kill A Mockingbird (Oshawa Little Theatre) among others.

Production Associate/ASM

With a background in acting and behind-the-scenes work, August blends creativity with technical know-how. Having contributed to numerous shows over the years, August’s passion for the arts shines through in every production.  Beyond the spotlight, August enjoys diving into new scripts and collaborating with diverse production teams, through school and local theatre.

Actor, The Complete Works of Shakespeare (Abridged).

Austin White is a multidisciplinary performance artist & cultural worker from Edmonton, Alberta. Currently he is based in Toronto, Ontario, where he has been creating his own work and celebrating Toronto’s vibrant arts community. A recent graduate of TMU’s School of Performance, Austin enjoys work that challenges the audience’s politics and perceptions. Some of his recent production credits include Click Bush Train Bug, (Tarragon Theatre x TMU), Everybody, & The Dybbuk, (TMU School of Performance), Innocence Lost: A Play About Steven Truscott (Theatre on the Ridge), Insert Clown Here (Terra Firma Festival), The 3AM Subtext (Glass Buffalo Theatre), & After Juliet (Citadel Theatre). You can catch him as a part of the hip-hop music collective The Free Agents when he isn’t performing on stage or clowning around town.

Artistic Director, Director – Punch Up.

Carey has been engaged in performing arts for over 40 years. Originally from St. Catharines, Carey moved to Toronto to pursue professional dance studies with Lois Smith, O.C. at George Brown College, and the School of the Toronto Dance Theatre, graduating from both professional programs and becoming a faculty member at STDT for 15 years before moving to Durham region. She has been involved with community and professional theatre companies in Durham, York region and elsewhere as a board member, producer, director, choreographer, performer, instructor, set and costume designer. She has received several awards for her work in the performing arts, including a Durham Art of Transition Creative Award for her contribution to theatre in Durham. Her past, and ongoing, theatre studies include programs and courses at George Brown College, Toronto Dance Theatre, Tarragon Theatre, the Stratford Festival and Off The Wall Theatre Alliance, and was an auditing director with Obsidian Theatre (production: hang, directors: Philip Akin, Kimberley Rampersad).
Carey’s arts administration experience includes past Administrative Manager for the Toronto Centre for the Promotion of Fashion Design, past co-owner of META4 Contemporary Craft Gallery and past Executive Director of the Scugog Council for the Arts. Carey is also an independent theatre adjudicator and arts educator​. She also serves as the Chair of the Scugog Tourism Advisory Committee, a standing committee of the Township of Scugog.

Music Director, The Musical of Musicals: The Musical.

Carol has been involved in musical theatre throughout Durham Region and the GTA for over thirty years as a music director, accompanist and actor. Carol is the founder of Cadenza Productions, which brought live musical theatre to Port Perry for over ten years. She is also a retired elementary school music teacher. Carol’s musical director credits include: A Little Night Music, The Music Man, The Sound of Music, Little Shop of Horrors, Oklahoma, Godspell, A Funny Thing Happened On the Way To The Forum, Fiddler On The Roof, Beauty And The Beast, Seussical (Cadenza Productions), Urinetown, Guys And Dolls, You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown, Oliver, The Wizard Of Oz, Annie Get Your Gun, Jacques Brel Is Alive And Well And Living In Paris, Chess (THEA award – music direction), Les Miserables (full and youth versions), Company, Anne Of Green Gables, Footloose, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Cinderella, Ordinary Days, Into The Woods.

Actor, The Musical of Musicals: The Musical

David has performed theatre for many years now around the Durham Region and beyond. He looks forward to performing with Theatre on the Ridge for the first time. Previous credits include; Sweeney Todd (Sweeney Todd), Into The Woods (The Baker), Fiddler On The Roof (Tevye), The Producers (Max Bialystock), Of Mice and Men, (Lenny), A Little Night Music (Count Carl-Magnus), God Of Carnage (Michael), Assassins (Balladeer), A Funny Thing Happened… (Pseudolus), Urinetown (Lockstock), Jesus Christ Superstar (Judas), Music Man (Harold Hill), Chess (Freddie), Stephen Sondheim’s Putting It Together (Man 2), The Odd Couple (Oscar), My Fair Lady (Henry Higgins) . Thanks to my family and friends for all of your support, especially Catfish and Harvard.

Actor, Punch Up and The Complete Works of Shakespeare (Abridged).

Henry Oswald Peirson (he/him) is an actor and musician from Guelph, ON. Since graduating from George Brown Theatre School, he has performed in Canada and abroad, including a nine-month tour of Germany with White Horse Theatre. He is delighted to return to TOTR after performing in Something from Nothing, Cyrano, and the first production of Punch Up as part of the 2022 company, as well as in staged readings of Vimy and Samuel Stout. Recent credits: Toronto premiere of Migraaaants (2000FeetUp/Theatre Passe Muraille), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (White Horse Theatre), The Green Knight (White Horse Theatre). When not performing, Henry enjoys reminiscing at the piano, building his music collection, and diving into his ever-growing fascination with Cirque du Soleil. @henry.peirson

Costumes & Props

Isobel is a first-year Cinema and Media Arts: Screenwriting student at York University. Having always adored theatre, she joined Theatre on the Ridge in order to gain a sense of what theatre production looks like behind the scenes. In her spare time, she enjoys watching movies, playing video games, fencing, and playing Dungeons and Dragons.

Patron Services and FOH Coordinator

Janette has been in the “business” for way too many years. Starting out at NYU Tisch School of the Arts, then moving around and finishing a BFA at York U. Always the eternal student, having a few Undergrad and Grad degrees in the fields of both Drama and Politics and using them to their fullest. As an actor-worked extensively in NYC, Florida, Seattle,Toronto and New Haven. As a Producer worked the tours of; The Clinton’s, Laura Bush, Mrs. Obama, Anderson Cooper and numerous tours with Dr. Maya Angelou (2005 to 2014) and most recently (2018 to 2023) exclusive to comedian John Cleese. Always grateful to make a living in an unforgiving industry.

Choreographer, The Musical of Musicals: The Musical

Actor, Punch Up and The Complete Works of Shakespeare (Abridged)

Karly is a Toronto based multidisciplinary actor originally from Sudbury Ontario. She is a
2021 graduate of the Theatre Performance program at George Brown College where
she was lucky to have the opportunity to work with such brilliant theatre artists and
creatives. Along with acting, Karly is an Arts Educator for The Harbourfront Centre
School Visits Program, where she teaches dance and theatre fundamentals to students
from all over the GTA. Chosen previous acting credits: Curious Incident of the Dog in
the Night Time (STC/YES Theatre) Innocence Lost, Punch Up, The Living End:
Madame Winnifred’s Circus of Wonders (Theatre on the Ridge), Boom Baby, Nested
(Alumnae Theatre), Three Sisters & Co., The Corsican Complaint, Love and Information
(George Brown Theatre School). Instagram is @karlyfriesen. Enjoy the show!

Actor, The Musical of Musicals: The Musical

Kayla Rankine (she/her) – Kayla is thrilled to be part of her first show with Theatre on the Ridge! Previous credits include Beauty and the Beast (Madame de la Grande Bouche), Ordinary Days (Deb), Elf (Deb), Addams Family and Wizard of Oz with Oshawa Little Theatre. Thanks to her family and friends for their constant support!

Info/Volunteer Services

Kirsten is a lifelong resident of Courtice, Ontario. She is attending Durham College in the Event Planning Program and plans to graduate in April of 2025. She has years of experience in customer service, as well as experience volunteering for community and school events. Kirsten has a strong passion for music and is a trained singer and dancer. She is also normally found playing with her dogs and hanging out with friends and family.

Social Media Coordinator

Melissa is a creative and passionate digital marketing specialist with successful experience in developing high-engaging strategies and content creation. She holds a graduate certificate in Advertising – Digital Media Management, as well as an advanced diploma in Music Business Management from Durham College.

Melissa is also passionate about volunteering in her community and supporting small businesses.

Box Office and Audience Development

Michael has worked with Covenant House Toronto and The Reena Foundation, and volunteered with The Toronto Fringe Festival and The Canadian Diabetes Association. He is a lifelong patron of the arts and the proud father of two daughters who are professional artists.

Connecting Through Theatre Program Coordinator

Michael has been involved in the Durham Region theatre community as an actor, director, and sound designer for 30 years. Michael also has several years of experience as a theatre administrator, as well as the creator of Smart Acts, a company that provided educational and performance theatre classes designed for the more experienced segment of our population, as a means of staying mentally engaged as one ages. He is interested in exploring the overlap between psychology and acting, happiness, and aging well.

Tourism Development Coordinator

Nancy has close to two decades of professional experience in tourism, having worked with two of North America’s leading travel companies in cultural, experiential, rural and active travel. As well as a lifelong thread of entrepreneurialism, growing up in a multi-generational family business in her home region of Peterborough County. As both participant and patron in theatrical arts, she is an active member of the Peterborough Theatre Guild. At the heart of her professional ambitions is collaborating with organizations to realize the long-term potential that tourism can have as a tool for communities to steward destinations first and foremost as meaningful and attainable places to live, work and call home. This has led her to this next chapter in her career with Theatre on the Ridge!

Videographer

A recent undergraduate of the University of Toronto, Reid has joined Theatre on the Ridge as our Digital Media Coordinator. Formerly a member of the Directors Guild of Canada, Reid brings several years of experience as an Assistant Director in the film and television industry to Theatre on the Ridge, in addition to having various acting credits on screen, and stage. In his free time, Reid enjoys cycling around Durham Region, with a particular interest in mountain biking.

Media Associate

Shakti Iyer is an incoming third year Image Arts: Film Studies student at Toronto Metropolitan University. She is an artist who enjoys creating through various mediums. She writes, films, edits, animates and loves learning new skills. She hopes to create content that is relatable and captivating. In her free time, Shakti loves listening to music, playing the keyboard and crocheting. She’s excited to be back at Theatre on The Ridge!

Actor, The Complete Works of Shakespeare (Abridged)

Shannon Pitre (she/her) is an interdisciplinary actor/creator and a graduate of the University of Windsor’s BFA in Acting program (2019). Her passions include new play development, devised and contact-based theatre, classical works, and arts education. She is inspired by art that is ugly, raw, uncomfortable, and spectacular. Recent; Presenter, Migraaaants (Two Thousand Feet Up); various roles in Foolscap’s Christmas Pudding (Hide Out Co.); Procne, If We Were Birds (Alumnae); Amy/Helen/Jitters/Kyle, String of Pearls (Alumnae). Shannon is excited and honoured to join Theatre on the Ridge this season, and hopes you’ll say hi! I am eternally grateful for all the love, inspiration, and joy from all of my creative spheres.

Actor, The Musical of Musicals: The Musical.

Steven has enjoyed performing in productions in Port Perry for many years, with local credits including Godspell (Ensemble), and Seussical (Cat in the Hat) (Cadenza Productions). Selected credits elsewhere include Rent (Benny) and Colours in the Storm (Mark Robinson) with Onstage Uxbridge, The Rocky Horror Show (Riff Raff), Avenue Q (Gary Coleman), and You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown (Snoopy) with Whitby Courthouse Theatre, Oklahoma! (Ali Hakim) with Scarborough Music Theatre, The Best is Yet to Come Undone (Understudy) with Second City Toronto, and Ordinary Days (Warren), and Office Hours (Stan, and also Warren) with Oshawa Little Theatre.