Meet The Storytellers

Lawrence Cotton*

Presented for Workshops: June 2018, July 2019

Lawrence is thrilled to be a part of this wonderful piece once again with such marvellous co-creators. Of all the theatre productions Lawrence has been in, this comes closest for him, in the most direct fashion, to the origins of theatre in its function and how it works on an audience. Lawrence has had the great good fortune to co-create with and be mentored by some fabulous people all of whom he carries with him in his heart. May your bearing witness to these stories open a door in your heart of greater understanding and compassion for all humanity.

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Karen Jewels*

Presented for Workshops: July 2019

Karen is an actor, singer /songwriter and artist. She loves the stage and has performed theatrically in musicals like Dandelions In The Wind Ain’t Misbehavin' and The Lion King. Her television credits include Walt Disney's The Music Man, Nickelodeon's Make it POP, Beauty and the Beast, Handmaids Tale, Saving Hope, The Strain, Kim's Convenience and The Baroness Von Sketch Show. She also performed voice-overs for several commercials including Destination Canada. Karen's voice can be heard in season 2 of Nick Jr's animated series Top Wing. Karen is excited to play the part of AJ in the Truth and Illusion Workshop.

Geoffrey Cormier

Presented for Workshops: July 2019

Originally from Miramichi, New Brunswick, Geoffrey is a Sheridan student who is excited to be a part of this moving workshop. Some of his past credits include Trevor in Starlight Tours, Tarzan in Tarzsan, and Jesus in Godspell. He'd like to thank all of his family and friends for helping him through his toughest of times.

Dan Manns

Presented for Workshop: Jan 2018

Dan is a Sheridan Grad in Human Resources Management. He spent several years in senior roles in the areas of employee services, compensation & HRIS, training and development and recruitment with both Staples and Apotex Canada. He moved to American Express where he held several roles in Global Business Travel in the Meetings and Events and Global Advisory Services divisions, overseeing operations in the USA, Canada, Mexico and India. Currently, Dan is a Career Development Relationship Manager at McMaster University within the Faculty of Science – Science Careers & Co-operative Education Department. Additionally, Dan is also a Life Coach focusing on those in the GLBTQ community who are looking for support, guidance, empathy and compassion in their coming out or everyday journey. Dan values and admires people who also believe in achieving their goals; both professionally and personally. He believes in karma, random acts of kindness and paying it forward. Dan is an avid runner and practices hot yoga and meditation religiously, he currently resides in Hamilton, Ontario.

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Lorretta Bailey*

Colin Simmons*

Presented for Workshops: Jan 2018

Colin is an actor, singer, and creator based in Toronto. Theatre: Gift of the Magi, Pride & Joy (Smile Theatre); Shakespeare in Love, The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe (Stratford Festival); Mr. Burns: A Post-Electric Play (Outside the March); Caretaker in Brant- wood: 1920-2020, Alfie Byrne in A Man of No Importance, Leo Frank in Parade (Theatre Sheridan). Workshops: Valentine in Faust (Theatre by the Bay); Jimmy Valentine in The Gift of the Magi, Max in A Snow White Christmas (Theatre Orangeville); Lonnie Wynn in Prom Queen! The Musical (Canadian Music Theatre Project). Awards: Stratford’s “Dora Mavor Moore” Guthrie Award, Musical Stage Company’s 2015 “Banks Prize”. Colin is a proud graduate of the Bachelor of Music Theatre Performance program at Sheridan. Website: www.colinsimmons.ca

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Duff MacDonald*

Duff is very proud to be a part of this important project for the second time around and tell Dan's story for such a worthwhile cause.

Selected credits include: No Change in the Weather (NFLD/Mirvish), Urinetown (Toronto Musical Concerts), Kamp (Neptune/Halifax), Once (RMTC/The Grand Theatre), Drayton Entertainment: Legends, My Fair Lady, Twist and Shout, Canadian Legends, Sorry, I’m Canadian, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (North American Tour), Guys and Dolls, Fiddler on the Roof, A Christmas Story - The Musical (The Arts Club), Drowsy Chaperone (Globe, Regina), Hank Williams, The Show He Never Gave (Fergus), The Foursome, Les Miserables (1st Canadian Cast/1st National Tour/Mirvish). FILM/TV: The Duff Show (web-series), Locke and Key (Netﬂix), Carter (CTV), Good Witch (Hallmark), Titans (Netﬂix), Incorporated (Syfy), The Music Man (Disney). Visit www.duffmacdonald.com

Allison McCaughey*

Allison received her professional training at Sheridan College - Musical Theatre Performance and York University - MFA Choreography.

THEATRE: Damn Yankees, Fairground, Shawground, 1922 in Concert (upcoming in 2022), Holiday Inn, Shaw Festival; A Chorus Line, The Hypochondriac, Stratford Festival; Sousatzka, Theatro Proscenium; Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (North American tour), Spamalot, Moon Over Buffalo, Crazy For You, Drayton Entertainment; Elf, Spamalot, Mary Poppins, Cabaret, Theatre Aquarius; Guys and Dolls, Singin’ in the Rain, Mary Poppins, Capital Theatre; Chicago, Stage West Calgary; The Producers, Neptune Theatre; Fallsview High, Second City. FILM/TELEVISION: The Boys, American Gods, Warehouse 13. CHOREOGRAPHY: Marathon of Hope; Sheridan College, Little Mermaid Jr, The Wizard of Oz; Capitol Theatre, The Little Price; Creativiva, School of Rock, James and the Giant Peach; Bravo Academy.

WEBSITE: allisonmccaughey.com

Alison Jackson

Presented for Workshops: Jan 2018/ July 2019

Alison was an inspiring actress from the days when she was in the theatre program at McMaster University to when she did Tony and Tina’s Wedding in the late 1990s. After that, she returned to school and attended Sheridan College as a student in 2000, and then was hired as an employee in 2005. Alison’s passion is working with students and currently works as an Administrator, and teaches part-time in the Business and Educational Support program since 2016. Alison also enjoys volunteering at the Mississauga Food Bank.

Spencer Laing*

Spencer Laing is an emerging artist based in the Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia. They grew up on the shores of the Bay of Fundy, but for the last four years had transplanted to Oakville, Ontario while they studied, completing their Bachelor of Music Theatre Performance at Sheridan College in the Spring of 2021. Spencer is an avid lover of all things music and is a huge supporter of community music projects. They are passionate about helping everyone connect to their inner artist through music and stories. They would like to thank June and the Team for bringing this amazing show to life.

Award-winning actress Lorretta Bailey starred as Eponine in Les Misérables (Royal Alex) Cinderella in Into the Woods (CanStage/Theatre Calgary), and Maria in The Sound of Music (Citadel). She is proud to have developed and performed in the following Canadian productions: June Cupido's: Truth and Illusion (Sheridan, Lowville Festival), Marathon of
Hope (CMTP-Sheridan), Joni Mitchell: River (Vancouver Playhouse), The Wakowski Brothers (Aim for the Tangent, Best of Toronto Fringe), Tweed
the Musical (IANA Theatre). For Smile Theatre she toured Jim Bett’s Extraordinary and premiered Lucy Maud and Anne. She also played Marmee in the Canadian musical Little Women, directed by David Nairn at Theatre Orangeville. Ms. Bailey received an Honors B.F.A. in Acting from the University of Alberta and with Robert Missen, is Co-Artistic Director of
the Lowville Festival. Lorretta loves to mentor aspiring artists, and teaches in the acclaimed Music Theatre programs at St. Clair College and Sheridan. She dedicates this performance to her parents, and family. Love You.

Truth & Illusion
* The participation of these Artists are arranged by permission of Canadian Actors’ Equity Association under the provisions of the Dance•Opera•Theatre Policy.”

Tuesday 26 April 2022, 7 pm, Trinity-St. Paul's Centre for Faith, Justice, and the Arts, 427 Bloor Street West, Toronto M5S 1X7

junemcupido@gmail.com

905-464-2705

Meet The Storytellers

Truth & Illusion * The participation of these Artists are arranged by permission of Canadian Actors’ Equity Association under the provisions of the Dance•Opera•Theatre Policy.”

Truth & Illusion
* The participation of these Artists are arranged by permission of Canadian Actors’ Equity Association under the provisions of the Dance•Opera•Theatre Policy.”