There is, however, strong evidence that Rose brings so much passionate, vulnerable, kind, curious, raw honesty to every moment that most of the people who know them would happily bear their love child. (It is possible that Mr. Momoa is actually one such love child, because what is time, really?)

As a fan and witness to a few of their recent miracles, I will testify to the obvious facts: Rose is more metal than your platinum jockstrap and gentler than a bulldozer-load of butterfly kisses. Rose goes so hard that Mercury melts down, Saturn jumps through hoops and Uranus clenches, repeatedly. Who knows what extraordinary, unworldly feats of generosity and perceptive clarity you yourself might accomplish if you pay attention? Rose knows.

-Written by David F, Rose’s head chef

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Which ’hood are you in?

The Annex. I keep finding my way back here, and it keeps taking me back. Long live the Tranzac, RIP basement of Sonic Boom, and thank you Vietnam Lovely Noodle for being casual and comforting.

What do you do?

I act and perform, and I’m a capital T taurus, so for balance, I try to buck my attachments to the material world. Bruce Lee and I call this practice: be water. Shapeless, formless, flowing. This is what I do. Materiality being connected to literality, and my current project being a non-narrative, reflexive, process-based contemporary performance piece, I’ve got a tremendous opportunity right now to be water in a deep-sea reef.

What are you currently working on?

I’m working on a performance called The Herald, written and directed by Jill Connell. It explores the concept of labour, working a job, how we see and (de)value other people’s work. We experiment in collective dramaturgy, improvisational choreography, myth, time, sound. It feels Piscean, lush, and avant-garde. Aiming for alternate dimension, but I’m happy with whatever soft caress of magic might emerge.

Where can we find your work?

Do you know how Simone Weil defines labour? Labour: to feel with one’s whole self the existence of the world. When you’re there, that’s where I’m trying to be, too.

The Herald runed March 4-14 at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, and I’ll also be performing in take rimbaud by Susanna Fournier, running May 6-23, also at Buddies. I would love it if you came.

The post “A Day in the Life” with: Performing Artist Rose Tuong appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

She is a graduate of Humber College’s acclaimed Theatre Performance Conservatory Program, an intensive, physically focused training ground for actors. Roselie also trained for years in the Masterclass at Toronto’s Pro Actors Lab under the late David Rotenberg, one of Canada’s most respected acting coaches. She is a proud member of ACTRA.

Her background in theatre, and other physical disciplines – including martial arts, Pilates, yoga, and more – enhances her ability to embody a wide range of characters. With each performance, Roselie brings a unique blend of empathy, humour, and emotional truth, offering audiences a raw and honest lens into the human experience.

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Which ’hood are you in?

I live in Toronto, Ontario, around Trinity Bellwoods/ Dundas West & Ossington/ Little Italy.

What do you do?

I’m a professional actress for film & TV.

What are you currently working on?

I’m a Canadian actress appearing in a major supporting role in Nicely Entertainment’s holiday film, The Christmas Bookshop. The movie premiered in Canada on Super Channel Heart & Home on December 6 at 8 p.m.

The Christmas Bookshop follows Adeline Wilson, a meticulous Christmas expert and bestselling author, who clashes with Garth Bowman, a laid-back bookstore owner, during her final stop on a lacklustre holiday book tour. A playful bet turns their rivalry into a heartwarming journey of love, self-discovery, and the true magic of Christmas.

I play a central character in this story about community, love, and holiday magic—the kind of feel-good storytelling that felt especially meaningful this year.

Where can we find your work?

The Christmas Bookshop trailer can be found here. Also, visit my website.

The post “A Day in the Life” with: Performing Artist Roselie Williamson appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

Heather wears many creative hats and has done everything from illustrating a book to producing a web series, from teaching a university course to writing a feature, from singing, dancing and clowning with elders in long-term care, to starring in award-winning theatre shows. She loves an adventure and would be a great asset on your next camping trip (please take her because she loves camping way more than I do, and it will save me from having to go with her).

-Written by Alastair Forbes, partner of Heather

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Which ’hood are you in?

I’m in the east end of Toronto. I love the Danforth and the sleeping giant. I used to live in the west end so I do feel the good vibes for both.

What do you do?

I am an actor, writer, clown and teacher. Life is always shifting depending on the contract I’m working on. If I’m not in rehearsals for a show, I’m doing therapeutic clown shifts at long-term care facilities and/or teaching workshops or classes in theatre, writing or clown. I run UNIT Productions, home of Morro and Jasp, with Amy Lee and we are always developing a new show or project. When I’m not working, I’m mom-ing, walking my doggo, needle felting, painting, playing music or being in nature.

What are you currently working on?

I just wrapped Theatre Gargantua’s latest world premiere show, Dissonant Species. I co-wrote the show with Michael Gordon Spence and acted in the show. I am also working on my own show, (UN)Fruitful, a comedy about IVF, a new show with Morro and Jasp, and a feature with my partner, Alastair Forbes, which is post production.

Where can we find your work?

At any theatre that will hire me or produce my shows. You can find all things Morro and Jasp at morroandjasp.com. All my projects are posted on heathermarieannis.com.

The post “A Day in the Life” with: Toronto Artist Heather Marie Annis appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

-Written by Gustavo Morales Fuentes

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Which ’hood are you in?

East York has been my home for the past decade. I love being close to the water and the small, cozy coffee shops. It’s also a great place to live for families who love fresh air and quiet.

What do you do?

I am an actor! My mom took me to see My Fair Lady on stage, and from then on, all I knew was I wanted to do THAT! I participated in drama clubs, school plays, and local theatre and went on to graduate from The Acting for Film & Television program at Humber College. I felt equipped with all the professional readiness I would need, but even then, it took some time to land my first role. I played “Ticket Agent” on one of those crime mockumentary shows. The night it aired, I sat excitedly in front of the television with my family, and then we realized my part had been cut! (I can laugh about it now, but at the time it really stung) So if I could offer any advice to aspiring actors, it would be to just keep going. I am not where I want to be yet, but I wouldn’t be where I am today if I gave up!

What are you currently working on?

I am playing Nurse Carter on the NBC medical drama ‘Brilliant Minds’ every Monday night on City TV at 10 pm! The show is about a neurologist, Dr. Oliver Wolf and his unconventional approach to solving interesting medical cases in each episode. And I will also be on an episode of Murdoch Mysteries for its 19th season as Martha Stockton!

Where can we find your work?

You can best keep up with my work on Instagram and IMDB.

The post “A Day in the Life” with: Toronto Performing Artist Dorrett White appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

Emily was born in Bolton, Ontario, and talks about it like it was Oklahoma in 1906 despite being a 30-minute drive from Canada’s Wonderland. Still, one can imagine Emily in childhood, daughter of a chemist and a stay-at-home father, an only child, make-believing she was Laura Ingalls on the prairie. That version of Emily grew up and attended Mayfield Secondary School for Drama, then eventually U of T for English and Drama as a double major.

For most of her time at U of T, Emily has been a frequent performer in campus theatre, a recurring player on the U of T Improv team, and part of the Triple En-Genre Comedy show. I met Emily in both our second years of uni. We were fast friends, bonded by mandatory lectures, brisk walks across campus, and our shared 6–9 pm playwriting class. It was in that class that Emily wrote the beginnings of Butch/Femme, a scene study that, less than a year later won the President’s Award for Best Production at the Hart House Drama Festival.

Through Butch/Femme, Emily explores both the joys and anxieties central to her own lesbian identity, and concepts universal to coming of age while queer. Her work, like her friendship, is affirming and radical.

-Written by Salma Qureshi Wennekers, friend and Stage Manager

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Which ’hood are you in?

I live near the University of Toronto in a crumbling student apartment with 3 of my best friends and our cat named Dr. Pepper.

What do you do?

I am a writer and theatre artist! Mostly, I am a playwright; however, I also write poetry and creative non-fiction for campus journals. I am really interested in dramaturgical research and like to apply my niche research interests to my playwriting. I often explore themes of complex relationships, femininity, and sapphic love in my work—no matter the medium I am working within.

What are you currently working on?

Currently, I have just produced my debut play, Butch/Femme, at Theatre Passe Muraille. I began writing this play in my second-year playwriting course, and now two years later, I have brought it to the professional stage! This past winter, I produced it at the Hart House Drama Festival, where it was awarded the President’s Award for Best Production. From there, it was picked up by TPM to be produced as their season opener!

Now that the bulk of my work for Butch/Femme is done, I am turning my focus to my dramaturgical research study I am conducting this year at the University of Toronto. I am going to be studying the intersections of literature and drama and examining how and why theatre is depicted in non-dramatic forms. I am also planning on going back to playwriting projects I set aside to do Butch/Femme, so hopefully I will have new theatre developing in the next year or so!

Where can we find your work?

You can find my writing in various journals on the U of T campus, specifically the Mnerva Literary Journal. My next project will be dramaturging U of T’s production of The Crucible by Arthur Miller this November.

The post “A Day in the Life” with: Toronto Theatre Artist Emily Paterson appeared first on Toronto Guardian.