“A Day in the Life” with Toronto Creative Ophira Calof

Ophira Calof has said of herself that in her spare time, she can be found pressing the “continue playing” button on Netflix. No joke, this approach also embodies Ophira’s spirit, ambition, exuberance, drive and all-around charm. Ophira is a doer – she does it all and she gets it all done.

I was met with the incredible fortune of working with Ophira on Generally Hospital (Canadian Comedy Award Nominee, Patron’s Pick), which introduced me to her unique eye for creating comedy out of illness and disability. She was a featured performer at the Sick and Twisted Crip Cabaret in Winnipeg, and she is also a speaker in a variety of settings as a patient advocate and disability community consultant. On top of all of that, Ophira has many accomplishments: a graduate of Second City’s Writing and Sketch Conservatory and 2018 Toronto Diversity Fellowship; the 2018 recipient of the Tim Sims Encouragement Award; an incredible vocalist, having trained at the University of British Columbia’s opera performance program.

Ophira’s talents, voice and unique perspective have made her an incredible collaborator. And her nature to “continue playing” makes her a versatile, fearless, dynamic artist.

-written by Sabrina Friedman

Ophira Calof - The wondrous Generally Hospital ensemble, performing at Toronto Sketchfest! We weren’t having any fun at all.
Ophira Calof – The wondrous Generally Hospital ensemble, performing at Toronto Sketchfest! We weren’t having any fun at all.
Ophira Calof - Casual.
Ophira Calof – Casual.
Ophira Calof - Rehearsal for Literally Titanium, getting ready for the Next Stage Theatre Festival! We needed a big room because I do lots of wheelchair pirouettes.
Ophira Calof – Rehearsal for Literally Titanium, getting ready for the Next Stage Theatre Festival! We needed a big room because I do lots of wheelchair pirouettes.
This is the Literally Titanium team! I get to work with a bunch of my favourite humans.
This is the Literally Titanium team! I get to work with a bunch of my favourite humans.
The most foundational relationship in my life is with my wheelchair. Isn’t she pretty?
The most foundational relationship in my life is with my wheelchair. Isn’t she pretty?
Ophira Calof - Pretty much every script I’ve been involved with has been written on this couch. It’s also our production team’s office.
Ophira Calof – Pretty much every script I’ve been involved with has been written on this couch. It’s also our production team’s office.
Ophira Calof - Belting my face off in Winnipeg, at Sick and Twisted’s 2019 cabaret. It was as magical as it was freezing. Extremely magical.
Ophira Calof – Belting my face off in Winnipeg, at Sick and Twisted’s 2019 cabaret. It was as magical as it was freezing. Extremely magical.

What ‘hood are you in?

I live at Yonge and Bloor, which leaves me perfectly situated to convince people to stop by on their way home and uber eats Pad Thai with me.

What do you do?

I’m a writer, performer, and producer. My work tends to involve music, comedy and storytelling, centring disability and chronic illness experience. I also binge a lot of Netflix.

What are you currently working on? 

We’re about to open my solo show, Literally Titanium! It’s a cabaret style piece that deals with mind-body relationships, chronic pain, opera, and a whole bunch of 80s music. We’re working to #CripTheScript, weaving accessibility throughout the production, so my team and I are currently co-ordinating details for our ASL interpreted, and audio described, performances!

Where can we find your work?

Come to the Next Stage Theatre Festival, January 8th-19th, to see Literally Titanium! I also have a website, ophira.ca that has my upcoming projects and shows listed, or you can follow me on Instagram @ophira.c.

 

 

 

About Joel Levy 2622 Articles
Editor-In-Chief at Toronto Guardian. Photographer and Writer for Toronto Guardian and Joel Levy Photography