Current Show

Rapture

By Joanna Murray-Smith

February 23 - March 10, 2012

A group of friends gather to celebrate the homecoming of two of their group, who went overseas after an unfortunate fire wiped out their home and possessions. When the pair arrive, however, their friends learn the truth: they never left to go overseas. Instead, they relocated to the Hyatt hotel, discovered themselves and underwent a spiritual epiphany. Rapture, by the author of Female of the Species is a thoughtful and entertaining play about what happens when cynicism is confronted by faith. A Canadian Premier!

Cast

Chris Coculuzzi as Tom Chris has been performing and participating in independent, community and educationally-related theatre for over twenty years. He was last seen in Amicus Production's revival of Arthur Miller's All My Sons as ‘Chris Keller’. Chris has also been a high school teacher with the TDSB for the last ten years, and when not teaching or performing he enjoys spending time at home with his family. Rapture is his first production with East Side Players.

Paul Cotton as Dan Paul is excited to be performing with East Side Players for the first time. He has been acting for stage and film for the past 15 years. Some of his favourite roles include Billy Bibbit in One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest and Al in Baby Dance. He would like to thank the director Heather Roberts for her vision and sense of humour.

Alyssa Quart is Eve Alyssa is excited to be back on the Papermill stage. She was most recently seen as Jenny in Scarborough Theatre's production of Jenny's House of Joy. Other favourite roles to date include: Diane Drake in You Are Here (Alumnae Theatre), Theresa in Marion Bridge (Curtain Club) and Claire in Proof (East Side Players). Alyssa would like to thank her boys for giving her time out to play.

Marienne Buslon as Henny Marienne has been steadily pursuing the craft of acting after realizing that Kinesiology was not her passion. She recently completed her first year in Theatre at George Brown and remains on the path to pursue acting professionally. This is Marienne's second production, the first being a medieval Chester cycle play called To Seek a Child. This is her first show with East Side Players and is honoured to be working with such a talented cast and crew.

Sean Killackey as Harry This is Sean’s first production with East Side Players. He has acted in numerous productions in Toronto and favourite roles include: Macbeth, Caliban in The Tempest, Curly in Oklahoma, and Valjean in Les Miserables. Currently, Sean runs Bard in the Park in the Beaches. He is delighted to be working with East Side Players, especially with his friends Heather and David.

Stephanie Morson as Jane Stephanie is a high school drama teacher who is happy to be back with East Side Players. She was last seen onstage as Young Jean in After You. She would like to thank her husband for taking on the lion’s share of parenting during the play’s process, her mother for the extra support and her daughter for accepting Mommy’s absences in stride. They made participating in this production possible.

Artistic/Production crew

Director: Heather Roberts Heather has been involved in theatre for over 25 years. Past directing credits with ESP include: Some Assembly Required, Dinner With Friends and Love Letters. Favourite onstage roles include: Prudence in Beyond Therapy, Young Adele in After You, Georgeanne in Five Women Wearing the Same Dress and the title role in Sylvia. When she’s not directing or acting, Heather can be found in the Front of House, in the booth or backstage.

Producer: David August This is David’s first time producing for East Side Players. Recent producing credits include Twelfth Night and The Tempest (Bard in the Park). David is also an award-winning set designer and most recently designed and built the set for this season’s production of Lettice and Lovage. In addition, David also enjoys acting and might be remembered as Dr. Jevons in Waiting in the Wings and Paul in After You. David would like to thank the Director Heather and the entire cast for putting on such an incredible show.

Stage Manager: Christina Reynolds Christina has been active both backstage and on stage in community theatre for over 25 years. Her most recent stints in Stage Management for East Side Players include Art (ASM), Dinner With Friends (SM) and Beyond Therapy (SM). She is delighted to be stage-managing Rapture with a wonderful director, cast, and crew.

Assistant Stage Manager: Anna-Lee Potvin Anna-Lee has a long history of community theatre participation both in her hometown of Sault Ste. Marie with The Sault Theatre Workshop and here in Toronto with East Side Players. She finds great joy in the theatre, whether onstage or behind the stage. You might remember her as Maudie in East Side Players’ 2009 production of Waiting in the Wings..