Treading
The Boards
Early success with stand up comedy gave me the confidence to audition for Acting 101 for my last year at UBC. Professor Charles Siegel got me all fired up and that same year I got cast in four plays. I graduated in 1990 and moved to Toronto to pursue my dream.
You can see my full theatre resume here.
And... 35 years later
〰️
And... 35 years later 〰️
I am composer and music curator, creating and performing a score for solo trumpet.
I’m also acting the role of Stanley, the waiter, understudy the role of Howard.
Soundtrack recording available May 2026.
I am an ensemble cast member playing a Brabantian & Venetian Officer. I don’t have dialogue, but I get to carry a sword, super fun.
Understudy Messenger.
other notable performances below ↓
2015 - 2017
Counting Sheep
We created what we call a “Guerilla Folk Opera” an immersive play where you find yourself at a Ukrainian Christmas dinner that becomes a protest and eventually a war. I played many roles including the family patriarch, a priest, a protester, and a soldier. I also did lots of playing trumpet and singing, and it was all in Ukrainian.
for the production at Broadview Place, Toronto, I also cooked and served a meal for 35 and prepared perogies and borscht for 120 attendees!
Productions / Awards
2015
Summerworks Festival, Toronto
2016
Broadview Place, Toronto
Dora Awards for Ensemble & Choreography
Edinburgh Fringe
Six awards including Scotsman Fringe First,
and the Amnesty International Award
2017
Kilkenny Arts Festival,
Kilkenny Ireland Freedom Festival - Hull, UK
Ruhr Festival - Recklinghausen, Germany
University of California Berkeley
Stanford University
3LD in New York City
NYC 2000
Lady Speak Easy
My old buddy Sean Power had an idea for a play about Billie Holiday. He was living in New York at the time and had been working with the legendary Ellen Stewart, AKA La Mama. He invited me down to help create Lady Speak Easy. Sean was playwright and director, I was music director, choosing the tunes and assembling a band for the production. I also acted the role of Joey, Billie’s exploitive boyfriend.
cast included Bemshi Shearer as Billie Holiday & a very young Jeremy Pelt on trumpet.
“music of a quality rarely heard in the theatre”
— New Yorker Magazine, Feb 14, 2000
RHUBARB FESTIVAL
Twisting For Peace
I wrote and performed this monologue that was selected for the Rhubarb Festival at Buddies. An my band The New Kings recorded music for it.
On the brink of World War Three, activist and singer, Michael Louis Johnson takes on the corporate monolith. It’s not a conspiracy, it’s a business plan, he says. This monologue tests the limits of free speech. Workshop readings had crowds dancing at Toronto’s Cameron House and Rancho Relaxo.
Absolutely The Last Supper
Fringe Toronto & Montreal 1992
My first attempt as a playwright was a comedy about the passion of Christ. I also played the role of Judas. it was a smash hit at the Fringe Festivals in Montreal and Toronto.
Al Green Theatre 2024
The laundry list
I played trumpet and acted the role of the Narrator / Bootlegger
I also composed and performed original song “Birdie Watcher”, vocals and trumpet
Race For Unity
Yes oh Yes, Playback Theatre 1991 - 1993
My first professional theatre job was as an ensemble member of a company working in dramatic improvisation, true story re-creation & the non-literal expression of emotional state through sound and motion. We did several tours to high-schools with shows focusing on racism, addiction, and gang violence. This one was at the Winter Garden Theatre in Toronto.
