Cast & Creative
Cast
 Alvaro Vazquez Robles – ‘Bill’ (A Hand of Bridge): Mr. Alvaro Vazquez Robles was born into a musical family in Reynosa, Mexico. His mother was a well known flamenco artist and his father played the viola in the orchestra in Mexico City. Alvaro began his studies in Monterrey city at “Escuela Superior de Musica y Danza de Monterrey” and continued studying at “Centro Municipal de las Artes” in Mazatlan, Sinaloa. In 2009, he began to study with the famous baritone and voice teacher Franco Iglesias who, numbered among his students, are: Placido Domingo, Marcus Haddock, Jorge Antonio Pita, Ainhoa Arteta and others. In 2010, Mr. Vazquez received the INBA scholarship which is a nationally recognized scholarship for Academic Excellence in the arts.In 2012, He was invited to sing at the concert “Su majestad la zarzuela” conducted by the famous opera conductor Enrique Patron de Rueda in Hermosillo, Sonora. Also in 2012 he spent his summer in Mazatlan, Sinaloa where he worked with the well known Mexican Mezzo-soprano Amelia Sierra. Mr. Vazquez has participated in numerous recitals of classical, zarzuela and Mexican songs both in Monterrey and Mazatlan and has worked with Canadian soprano Lois McDonall. Alvaro is currently a student of the prestigious Glenn Gould School where he works under the guidance of Jean MacPhail. |
 Carolyn Hall – ‘Estelle’ (No Exit): Selected credits include Kitty Bennet in Pride and Prejudice, various in PlayWrights’ Cabaret (The Grand Theatre, London); Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Lady Montague in Romeo and Juliet (Hart House Theatre); Myrrhine in Lysistrata, Chorus in Electra (Canopy Theatre); Queen Elizabeth in The Queens (Glasswater Theatre); Marybeth in Frances & Marybeth ( [bracket] theatre);); Cyprienne in Cyprienne (Village Playhouse); Anna in My Darling Judith (Scarborough Theatre Guild); Caroline Bingley in Pride & Prejudice (Alumnae Theatre); Curly’s Wife in Of Mice and Men (Windsor Festival Theatre); Weird Sister in Macbeth, Rose in Les Belles Soeurs, Delia in Bedroom Farce (University Players). Carolyn is a graduate of the BFA Acting program at the University of Windsor. |
 Daniel Pagett – ‘Garcin’ (No Exit): Daniel Pagett is a Toronto based actor, playwright, and producer. He graduated from George Brown Theatre School in 2008 and has been working professionally on stage and screen ever since. Most recent credits include Help Yourself (Donny, Co-Creator – Theatre Brouhaha), Water Under the Bridge (Daniel – Carousel Theatre), 27 Wagons Full of Cotton (Jake, The Tennessee Williams Project), Callaghan and the Wings of the Butterfly (Ensemble – Sex T-Rex), Big in Germany (Phil – Ten Foot Pole Productions), The Godot Cycle (Lucky – Yes Let’s Go Productions) and LOVESEXMONEY (Jim – Theatre Brouhaha). Upcoming roles include Past Kevin in Homestead Theatre’s Empty Boxes, and Rabbit in The Shepard Project’s Angel City. Daniel is an Associate Artist and Director of Audience Outreach at Theatre Brouhaha. |
 Keith O’Brien* – ‘David’ (A Hand of Bridge): Originally from Thunder Bay, Ontario, Keith took his Bachelor of Music from McGill (Montreal), and a Master of Architecture from University of Toronto. Keith enjoyed many successes as a varsity oarsman, competing internationally for both schools. Recent opera credits include Rigoletto (Rigoletto) with Vancouver Concert Opera Society, Silvio (Pagliacci) with Toronto Opera Collaborative, Marchese d’Obigny (La Traviata) with Opera Tampa, Enrico (Lucia di Lammermoor) with Coro Giuseppe Verdi, Malatesta (Don Pasquale), Escamillo (Carmen) and Marcello & Schaunard (La Bohème) with Opera by Request, Chorus (War and Peace & Aida) with the Canadian Opera Company, Nilakantha & Frederik (Lakmé) with Summer Opera Lyric Theatre, Mark (Frobisher) at The Banff Centre, Njegus (The Merry Widow) with Toronto Operetta Theatre, and Seargent Fiorello (Il Barbiere di Siviglia) with Edmonton Opera. Music Theatre credits include The Proprietor (Assassins), Peter (Company), Count Carl-Magnus Malcolm (A Little Night Music), and Cinderella’s Prince/Wolf (Into the Woods). Keith studies in Toronto with Gary Relyea, and as a former New Artist with Opera Tampa, often travels to study with the famous Verdi baritone, Sherrill Milnes. Look for Keith to sing Horace Tabor (Ballad of Baby Doe) with LCF Productions in Toronto in May. |
 Ryan Anning – ‘The Valet’ (No Exit): Ryan – sometimes called “Mad King Ryan” – was born in Nymphenburg Palace, on the 25th of August, 1845, and ruled as King of Bavaria from 1864 until shortly before his death. He is excited to be dabbling in the existential crisis of No Exit, and to be portraying a valet – having employed and dispatched so many throughout his illustrious career. Besides wearing elf ears and faux fur in a recent Much Music Christmas promo, his most recent theatrics include 21 Days (Patron’s Pick, T.O. Fringe 2012), Love is a Poverty You Can Sell (Best of T.O. Fringe 2010), Love’s Labour’s Lost (Royal Academy of Dramatic Art), and the construction of Schloβ Neuschwanstein (castle). He looks forward to participating in Soup Can’s sequel to Love is a Poverty this year in the Toronto Fringe Festival, and to receiving tributes in the form of cakes. Not Bavarian cakes, of course, because that would be too obvious. |
 Shilpa Sharma – ‘Sally’ (A Hand of Bridge): Shilpa Sharma is a mezzo-soprano based in Toronto. She continues to maintain a busy schedule performing across Canada. Upcoming roles include Nicklausse in Les Contes d’Hoffman with Opera by Request, and Hansel in Hansel and Gretel with Symphony on the Bay, and a solo recital which will feature Britten’s “A Charm of Lullabies”. In the summer of 2012, Shilpa appeared as Hermia in A Midsummer Night’s Dream where her performance “…[brought] down the house…” (The Coast). She has also recently sung the roles of Cherubino in Le Nozze di Figaro, Hansel in Hansel and Gretel, Dritte Dame in Die Zauberflöte; alto soloist in Bach’s Christlag in Todesbanden and in Handel’s Messiah.Shilpa also has a special interest in art song and has given many solo recitals. She has participated in numerous festivals including the French Immersion Program at the Vancouver International Song Institute, the Foliage Art Song program , the Duxbury Music Festival, the Mozarteumsommerakademie, and the Orford Arts Institute. Shilpa holds a Master of Music degree from the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, MA, and a Bachelor of Music degree from the Schulich School of Music at McGill University in Montreal. |
 Taylor Strande – ‘Geraldine’ (A Hand of Bridge): Soprano Taylor Strande has been hailed as being “the best on stage with natural acting ability and a clear arcing lyric soprano,” by Classical 96.3. Opera Canada said of Ms. Strande, “Sparkling personality” and “Beautiful sound.” The County Voice said of Ms. Strande, “resonating voice… stunning beauty… impressive acting… captivated the audience and held them spellbound.” Ms. Strande’s upcoming engagements include Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni with Capital City Opera in Ottawa, Valencienne in The Merry Widow with Fargo-Moorhead Opera and Messiah with Orchestra London.Other roles have included Morgana in Alcina, Countess in The Marriage of Figaro, the title role of Susannah by Carlisle Floyd, Zerlina in Don Giovanni, La Comtesse in Massenet’s Chérubin with Essential Opera, Josephine in Comedy on the Bridge, Despina in Così fan Tutte, Diana in Dean Burry’s world premiere of Pandora’s Locker, Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro with The Glenn Gould School under the baton of Mario Bernardi and Second Lady in The Magic Flute. Ms. Strande has been a frequent guest at The Banff Centre, where she has performed Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5, Chausson’s Chanson Perpetuelle, Golijov’s Lua Descolorida and Ginastera’s Cantata para América Mágica for soprano and percussion ensemble. She has also performed Mozart’s Requiem with The Stratford Concert Choir, Handel’s Messiah with Highlands Festival and Stravinsky’s Les Noces (Svadebka) with the MacMillan Singers and Naxos. |
 Tennille Read – ‘Inez’ (No Exit): Tennille is a Toronto based actor. Recent stage credits include The Drowning Girls (Alumnae Theatre) Delicacy (Theatre Brouhaha), Orpheus Descending (George Brown Theatre School), Little Women (George Brown), Cinderella (a pantomime for the Cabbagetown Theatre Co.), The Shakespeare Squad (Shakespeare in the Rough) and The Change Room (Toronto Fringe Festival). Recent film credits include Dana (Mosaic Mind Pictures). Tennille is a graduate of the acting conservatory at George Brown. |
*Keith O’Brien appears courtesy of the Canadian Actors’ Equity Association
Creative
 Pratik Gandhi – Director / Music Director (A Hand of Bridge): Pratik, an alumnus of Markham District H.S. and the University of Western Ontario, maintains a very busy schedule conducting, playing drums and percussion, and composing and arranging. In his young career he has conducted orchestras, wind bands, chamber works, musicals, operas, and choirs. He is currently the director of the UTSC Alumni & Community Band, a conductor of the Greater Toronto Philharmonic Orchestra, and assistant conductor of Symphony on the Bay, as well as music director of Soup Can Theatre. |
 Sarah Thorpe – Director (No Exit), Co-Producer: Sarah is a Toronto based theatre practitioner. She holds an Honours – Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre from York University, and received York’s Mira Friedlander Award for her achievements in theatre writing, criticism, world and Canadian theatre studies. Performance credits include The Loyalists, Much Ado About Nothing (Single Thread Theatre), You Should Have Stayed Home (Praxis Theatre/Summerworks), The Threepenny Opera (UC Follies), the Canadian premiere of BARE (WatersEdge Productions), The Nightwood (Luminato), and the world premiere of Thomson Highway’s Pimooteewin/The Journey (Soundstreams). Film/Voice credits include shorts with the Canadian Film Centre, Ryerson University, and video game voice-overs.Sarah is a founding member and the Artistic Director of Soup Can Theatre. For Soup Can Theatre, she has directed Marat/Sade(Nominee – Best Direction of a Musical, 2011 Broadway World Toronto Awards), Love is a Poverty You Can Sell (2012 Next Stage Festival, 2010 Toronto Fringe & Best of Fringe), co-produced Antigone (2012 Toronto Fringe), and will be directing their upcoming sequel to Love is Poverty You Can Sell (2013 Toronto Fringe). For more info: www.sarahthorpe.net. |
 Justin Haigh – Dramaturge / Sound Designer / Set Co-Designer (No Exit), Co-Producer: Justin is a writer, theatre aficionado, and arts journalist – having been the primary Toronto contributor for Plank Magazine, and currently the editor and primary contributor of performing arts website/podcast ArtsVox.ca.Justin is proud to be one of the founding members of Soup Can Theatre; his credits include Soup Can Theatre’s previous three productions, Love is a Poverty You Can Sell (Writer/Emcee segment Co-Director/Co-Producer), Marat/Sade (Sound Designer/Set Co-Designer/Co-Producer), and Antigone (Co-Producer). In addition to his creative responsibilities, Justin enjoys the challenges of handing Soup Can Theatre’s marketing, publicity, graphic design, web design, copy editing, and other miscellaneous tasks.Justin is grateful for having stumbled into the friendly and supportive world of theatre and is not at all unhappy that it has drawn him away from his background in film production. (Who needs money anyway?) If you see Justin, say hi. He likes talking to people. |
 Randy Lee – Lighting Designer, Set Co-Designer (No Exit): Randy Lee is a York University graduate, majoring in Theatre Production. Past credits include set designer and carpenter for Grease (Bravo Academy for the Performing Arts) and Marat/Sade (Soup Can Theatre), as well as lighting designer for Antigone (Soup Can Theatre) and Matt and Ben (The Theatre Elusive). He has also been the set designer and carpenter on 7 Stories, The Long Weekend, Autobahn, Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead, The Selkie Wife, and Mr. Marmalade, all produced by Fly By Night Theatre, of which he is also a founding member. Randy is thrilled to be working with the always amazing Soup Can Theatre team again. |
 Katherine Belyea – Stage Manager (A Hand of Bridge): Katherine is a stage manager and arts administrator. She is thrilled by two major firsts: stage managing an opera and working with Soup Can Theatre! Toronto credits include Three Farces from Three Lands, A Medieval Christmas: Go We Hence to Bethlehem’s Bower, Behold the Time of Mercy, To Seek a Child, What Light Is This? (Poculi Ludique Societas), Into (Newface Entertainment), The Glenn Gould Variations (U of T et al), Samkon and Francis Go Swimming (Zocalo, Toronto Fringe), Unspoken (Unspoken Prod.), Hot Docs Awards, Daughter of the Dust (Created Independently), Channel One (James and JF, Toronto Fringe), Chameleon (A.H. Dance, Toronto Fringe), The Lawyer Show: As You Like It (Nightwood), FemCab (Nightwood). Thanks to everyone and especially Pratik for bringing me on board. |
 Elle Mills – Stage Manager (No Exit): Elle has played many roles behind the scenes over the past few years. She was Stage Manager of 422 Scenes at Queen’s University Drama Department and she has also served as Director of Check, Please and Sarah’s Red. Elle has thoroughly enjoyed the chance to work with the cast and crew of No Exit and hopes you enjoy the show! |
 Nick MacInnes – Co-Producer: Nick is thrilled to be joining Soup Can Theatre as a co-producer. He is a Theatre & English graduate of Dalhousie University and, prior to pursuing a career in arts administration, worked extensively in film and television. His roster of colourful credits includes Trailer Park Boys, Mom at 16, an international advertising campaign for Cisco Systems, and occasional stand-in for Tom Selleck. Nick currently is currently employed as a sales coordinator with Young People’s Theatre and has also been fortunate to have also worked with Buddies in Bad Times Theatre Company, Dancap Productions, and Neptune Theatre. |
 Leslie Thorpe-Dermody – Props Manager (No Exit): Stage credits include Mozart’s Requiem and Carmina Burana (Guelph Symphonic Choir), Cult Classics; The Nightmare Before Christmas: In Concert; Bat Boy and The Outsiders (Markham Youth Theatre), three productions of The Vagina Monologues (VDAY Guelph), Everyman (Single Thread Theatre), and A Memory, a Monologue, A Rant and a Prayer (VDAY Toronto). Production credits include Manager of the Guelph Symphonic Choir, Fight Director for Cult Classics and Bat Boy (Markham Youth Theatre), Co-Director of The Vagina Monologues (VDAY Guelph), and Assistant Stage Manager for Soup Can’s Love is a Poverty You Can Sell (Fringe Festival and Best of Fringe 2010), Marat/Sade (2011), and Antigone (Fringe Festival 2012). As her day job and passion, Leslie teaches high school in York Region, doing her best to instill in her students a love of Shakespeare, an appreciation of history, and an understanding of the intricacies of working backstage (VERY proud of her running crews). Leslie is proud to be one of the founding members of Soup Can Theatre. |
 Scott Dermody – Executive Producer: Born in Markham, Ontario, Scott is now a Toronto-based theatre artist. He is a founding member and the Artistic Producer of Soup Can Theatre. He is also the Youth Outreach Coordinator for the Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts, for which he runs the hipTIX and citySPECIAL programs. Scott’s career in theatre thus far encompasses on and off stage roles. He has been a Producer for most Soup Can Theatre shows, as well as having a crack at Directing (for Soup Can Theatre and VDAY Toronto) and Production Managing (Soup Can Theatre and Single Thread Theatre). As an actor, Scott has played in classics, avant-garde multidisciplinary work, clown turns, children’s theatre, murder mysteries and a few short films. He has taught introductory theatre courses in GTA-area schools, and ran a theatre camp in Vaughan for two years. Scott holds a BA in theatre from Queen’s University. |
Orchestra
Conductor – Pratik Gandhi
 Flute – Laura Bolt: Laura (BMus, ARCT, MPhil) is a freelance flautist and PhD student. A former member of the Kingston Symphony Orchestra, Laura currently plays with a number of Toronto-based orchestras and several chamber groups. She performs regularly in recital and recently released a CD of music written for flute and organ, entitled “Meditation.” |
Oboe – Joanna Shuster
Clarinet – Katie Arnup
Bassoon – Elena Cimolai
Trumpet – Erika Schengili-Roberts
Piano – Suzan Kim
Percussion – Justin Han
Violins – Kevin Wong, Lindsay Naft
Violas – Daniela Gassi, Kevin Belvedere
Cello – Cory Latkovich, Danielle Weber-Adrian
Bass – Liam Gallagher