RAK ARTISTS

Jhon Amini was born in Ajax, Ontario and soon after his birth moved to Toronto. Jhon demonstrated a passion for music at a young age. Starting at 3 years old, rhythm seemed to be his way of communication, from tapping tables with forks and spoons playing grooves until they would break, to yelling catchy tunes until his parents would join in. His drive for performing arts grew like wildfire when he auditioned and got into a specialized highschool, Wexford collegiate school for the arts. There performing was like a second home, from dance, music theatre and drama. Jhon did countless shows throughout his four years there and could not get enough of sharing his passion. He is now pursuing an education in Theatre at York University. In his freetime he produces original songs. Every instrument in his songs are played by himself, although he plays with bands whenever he has the chance. Jhon uses his knowledge from his time doing music theatre, and listening to some of the greatest musicians to influence his creative process. His music reflects his own past experiences, Jhon believes music is therapeutic and is most enjoyable with an emotional connection.

Jordan M. Burns is a disabled, Indigenous, multidisciplinary artist based in Tkaronto.

Recently working as an Assistant Director of The Humans and TomorrowLove, Jordan continues to expand his artistic practice after graduating with honours from Humber College’s Theatre Performance program in 2019 and is currently pursuing an MFA in Devised Theatre with York University. Since graduating, Jordan has worked alongside Clay & Paper Theatre, The Paper Boys Collective, Theatre At The Well, Humber Theatre, and Third Wheel Theatre Co., where he serves as a co-founding artistic director. Some of Jordan’s favourite acting credits include: The Cat in the Hat (dir. S. Prelletz), The Echoes II: Pigeon Pie (dir. M. Wodzinska), Vermilion (dir. G. Kosmidis), not_ALL.? (dir. S. Robinson), Theeling and Finking (dir. M. Atwell), and The Infinity Machine (dir. S. Moore). Film credits include lead roles in Puppets! (Ryerson), What If? (Mainolfi Films), and Close (Ryerson). Committed to a comprehensive artistic practice, Jordan often wears many different hats including: actor, director, puppeteer, writer, poet, producer, and apprentice sound designer.

Georgia Findlay is an actor, visual and performance artist, based in Toronto. She graduated from George Brown Theatre School in 2019, and performed in the Newmarket National 10-Minute Play Festival, before embarking on a life changing trip around Europe. Upon returning to Canada, she had hoped to jumpstart the theatre career for which she had been training for so many years, only to see the theatre industry all but disappear in the wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic. With live theatre on an indefinite hiatus, Georgia has taken this time to dive into other art forms to find inspiration, and develop her artistic voice in ways that she never would have imagined. With the world in turmoil, the feeling of fear and hopelessness can be difficult to escape, but Georgia has found solace in returning to one of her first loves: portraiture. This rediscovered artistic outlet gave Georgia the drive and inspiration to create her Random Act of Kindness, which merges her love of visual art with her love of her GBTS graduating class, and the therapeutic effect of adult colouring books. Georgia is incredibly excited to share this interactive colouring Yearbook with her dear friends and fellow young performing artists.

I am a producer/actor/theatre creator/ 3 puppies in a hoodie with a passion for new contemporary works and reimagined classic works that both entertains the audience and initiates dialogues. I started acting at a young age first appearing in film and television for networks like Teletoon and YTV, before expanding into theatre in high school. My undergraduate degree was spent at Brock University in Drama concentrating in performance. When I attended the MA in Advanced Theatre Practice at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, I worked on becoming a theatre creator by blending the roles of a production in the devising of new work. Since returning home I have been honored to work as a producer and actor for companies like Mixed Company Theatre, Spur Of The Moment Shakespeare Collective, Fu-Gen Asian Canadian Theatre, Bard In the Park and various Toronto Fringe companies. I continue my own development as an actor, learning new skills in Voice Over acting and Stand Up Comedy. I am excited to be working on this initiative with Ergo Arts Theatre in support of our healthcare professionals. “Life beats down and crushes the soul. And art reminds you that you have one,” Stella Adler.

Ilona Gal is a queer-identifiying Toronto based actress who is thrilled to be following her passion for theatre after graduating from George Brown Theatre school in the spring of 2020. Some of her past credits include Mrs. Appleyard in Picnic at Hanging Rock, Mrs. Malicious in Munsch Goes to School, and The Chorus in The Trojan Women. In her spare time Ilona enjoys: creating visual art centered around mysticism, Hungarian Folk dancing, and spending time with her cats.

David Klein is an actor, comedy writer, and TikTok influencer based in Toronto and New York City. A recent graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts (Stella Adler Studio/Stonestreet Studios), David is heavily influenced by the tradition of absurdist Canadian comedy into which he was born. When not pursuing his career as an actor through traditional means, David produces and creates his own work — everything from immersive live performances to ye olde internet sketches. www.davidklein.me // @davidmfklein

Muhaddisah is a theatre-maker, actor, and singer who is eager about contemporary realizations of classical and canonized plays. he debuted as a playwright with her solo piece entitled "dixi" produced by Dark Day Monday, where she also originated the titular role. Since then, three of her plays have been produced across three cities. Most recently, "on/the/line" was commissioned by Theatre Oculus in completion of her Digital Creation Residency. To her, the theatre is not the water without which she would perish in days, but the air from whose lack she would last only seconds.

Her background as a writer, however, is in prose: at the age of fourteen, she endeavoured upon a novel which explored the post 9/11 racialization of Muslims within the Canadian justice system. Through this process she met her high school best friend, Sharfa Shahid, and together they worked on their prospective novels. Now, a decade after, the two friends have returned to their characters, albeit in entirely new plot lines. While Sharfa is now a full-time frontline social worker, and Muhaddisah is a full-time theatre artist, Sharfa remains Muhaddisah's oldest friend. She hopes they have a long future of prose and poetry ahead.

Keeping in the decorum of biography writing, I shall cede an account, in a non-ingratiating manner, of my artistic experience. I originally hail from Zwickau, Germany. My Opa was attracted to the booming Canadian mining market and abruptly brought some of the family, including myself, to reside in the country. Poetry, on the other hand, found me rather than I it; I don’t know where it came from, from winter or a river, but it started something in my soul. All that can be said is that my time studying at East 15 Acting school in the United Kingdom had an immense effect on my work. I became awoke to the abounding wealth of beauty in the English language with authors such as: Oscar Wilde, Francis Thompson, Shakespeare & c. Many of the mentors who taught at the institution lent a congenial palm to my artistic curiosities and even lent a supporting crutch when I was at my most dire. The particular poem, which has been written in collaboration with Ergo Arts Theatre, is an ode dedicated to one of these mentors that have blessed my hand, my mind and my spirit.

Jasmine Shaffeeullah is an emerging dance and theatre artist. Her work has included serving as an actor in a developmental workshop of Teadrop Collective’s “Leopards and Peacocks” as part of The Lab at Stratford Festival; choreographer for the award winning community arts company The AMY Project’s production of “Lion Womxn” at SummerWorks); and as an assistant stage manager for the workshop presentation of “The Shell” at Canadian Stage Company. From the age of eight, Jasmine began dancing and performing and over time shifted her focus to choreographing and teaching. She specializes in Dancehall and Bollywood, teaching and facilitating workshops of all ages and dance levels across the GTA.

Jasmine is a queer, Indo-Caribbean settler born and living in Tkaronto. She dreams of a world in which conflict and trauma is not the centre of our collective existence and believes in creating spaces where everyone can show up as their whole, joyous, free, magical selves. In her free time, Jasmine enjoys recreating her mom’s recipes, video games, poetry, Sudoku, and playing piano. Whether she is on stage or behind the scenes, Jasmine believes in creating art that centres marginalized folk and promotes collective healing as an integral component of personal liberation.

Alexia Vassos is an actor, writer and voice over artist currently based outside the GTA. A graduate from the Theatre and Drama Studies joint program between the University of Toronto Mississauga and Sheridan College, she holds a Bachelor of Arts with Honours and an Advanced Diploma in Acting. Her recent theatrical productions include Three Sisters (Theatre Erindale), Nothing but the Tooth (Newmarket National Play Festival) and Written in Stone (NNPF). Her television and film endeavours consist of roles on Dark Side of the Ring (Vice) and Paranormal Nightshift (Bristow Global Media). Most recently, she was one of twelve writers selected by Expect Theatre to participate in their Playwriting Unit “Beats + Intentions”, led by Anna Chatterton. In association with Hart House Theatre, Alexia was chosen to act as a judge for the University of Toronto’s upcoming Spotlight Playwriting Competition. Alexia is presently in the process of creating a solo show centered around growing up disabled in a family that overshares and a world that under-serves.

Kareem Vaude is an Arab - Canadian artist currently located in Toronto. His mandate is to create/produce/act in works that tell the stories of marginalized peoples as well as advocate for equality and diversity throughout this industry. He is a recent graduate of George Brown's 2020 Theatre School Ensemble and is proudly represented by The Talent House. His passions include singing, stage combat, and writing rap. Producing has played a giant role in Kareem’s career, as he has successfully mounted consecutive shows in the summers between theatre school through his organization, Notorious Co. This company is a way for Kareem and his partner, Nicole Pryce, to present shows and events that reflect their ideals on diversity and inclusion, as well as execute large scale projects that reflect the company’s place in the industry. Be it producing, acting, or writing, Kareem is always ready to leap in and approach each project meticulously and passionately.