At Mainstage Theatre Company, we pride ourselves on the quality productions we mount and the tremendous experience we provide Toronto’s youth by working with professional theatre artists and venues. We consistently provide relevant and superior musical theatre training that expands our company members’ appreciation for the arts and broadens their understanding of the stage. But most importantly, we invite these youth to join a family in which they feel comfortable expressing themselves and where artistic collaboration is encouraged.
I admire Mainstage Theatre Company’s ability to mentor youth. Through the experience of being essential members of our team, our youth grow into confident and creative members within their own circles. We understand that these productions aren’t necessarily the end of our cast members’ journey in theatre, and pride ourselves on offering guidance and preparation for those who choose to pursue future studies or work in the arts.
Having trained in Drama at Queen’s University, I bring a similar philosophy to Mainstage Theatre Company, in how theatre is perceived and developed through production. In a youthful and vibrant setting, I ask that every member engage with the roles they undertake so they can better develop their skills in acting, singing and dancing, and also better understand all the elements necessary in mounting a full production.
But what makes Mainstage Theatre Company truly special is the connection each cast and production team feel as they come together to create a remarkable experience that is unique and special with each production. Our alumni have gone on to do wonderful things and, having been part of their pre-professional training, we can’t help but feel great pride in their success.
I admire Mainstage Theatre Company’s ability to mentor youth. Through the experience of being essential members of our team, our youth grow into confident and creative members within their own circles. We understand that these productions aren’t necessarily the end of our cast members’ journey in theatre, and pride ourselves on offering guidance and preparation for those who choose to pursue future studies or work in the arts.
Having trained in Drama at Queen’s University, I bring a similar philosophy to Mainstage Theatre Company, in how theatre is perceived and developed through production. In a youthful and vibrant setting, I ask that every member engage with the roles they undertake so they can better develop their skills in acting, singing and dancing, and also better understand all the elements necessary in mounting a full production.
But what makes Mainstage Theatre Company truly special is the connection each cast and production team feel as they come together to create a remarkable experience that is unique and special with each production. Our alumni have gone on to do wonderful things and, having been part of their pre-professional training, we can’t help but feel great pride in their success.
Alain Richer
Artistic Director
Mission and Values
Mainstage Theatre Company (MTC) provides youth, aged 11-21, with the opportunity to experience the magic of pre-professional musical theatre. Under the guidance of some of Canada’s theatre leaders - directors, choreographers and music directors, MTC mounts two full music theatre productions and offers a number of workshops and theatre events each year. These events provide youth with diverse opportunities to audition and perform, develop their artistic abilities, learn the technical aspects of theatre production, and experience the power of delivering an outstanding production to an audience. Since its inauguration in 2008, MTC has become renowned for the quality of its productions, (talented performers, beautifully designed and crafted sets and costumes) and has become a top competitor in the Toronto theatre education industry.
Our intensive actor-training program unlocks our students’ unique and creative talents, and provides the tools that aspiring young actors need to make the most of their potential. Engaging in the process of music theatre productions also helps develop personal skills and resources that have life-long benefits, such as greater self-confidence, self-discipline, effective time-management and self-awareness.
MTC’s engagement of youth in musical theatre enables them to experience the value of ‘community’, and ‘belonging’ and the satisfaction of participating in an artistic project that enhances peoples’ lives. It allows youth to explore issues in contemporary society, and to explore their own goals, aspirations and relationship to the community at large. Music theatre also brings together diverse people with widely different experiences of life and as such, facilitates the exploration of, and sharing in, Toronto’s cultural mosaic.
Lastly, MTC provides students with a creative, nurturing, joyful and inspiring experience.
Our intensive actor-training program unlocks our students’ unique and creative talents, and provides the tools that aspiring young actors need to make the most of their potential. Engaging in the process of music theatre productions also helps develop personal skills and resources that have life-long benefits, such as greater self-confidence, self-discipline, effective time-management and self-awareness.
MTC’s engagement of youth in musical theatre enables them to experience the value of ‘community’, and ‘belonging’ and the satisfaction of participating in an artistic project that enhances peoples’ lives. It allows youth to explore issues in contemporary society, and to explore their own goals, aspirations and relationship to the community at large. Music theatre also brings together diverse people with widely different experiences of life and as such, facilitates the exploration of, and sharing in, Toronto’s cultural mosaic.
Lastly, MTC provides students with a creative, nurturing, joyful and inspiring experience.
Who We Are
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Jen Cohen | Artistic Director |
Alain Richer | Outgoing Artistic Director |
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Jen Cohen (Shuber) is an award winning director and choreographer,
dramaturg and writer. After an early start full time at The National Ballet of Canada, she went on to graduate from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, London’s Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (summer program) and the Lyric and Book Labs at NMI in L.A. She is an alumnus of The Johnny Mercer Foundation Writers Colony at Goodspeed Musicals, the ASCAP Stephen Schwartz Workshop and Interlochen Centre for the Arts in Michigan where she is also currently on the Board of Directors of Canadian Friends of Interlochen. Jen has worked for most of the major theatres in Toronto including Soulpepper, Young People’s Theatre, Theatre Passe Muraille, The Harold Green Jewish Theatre, Tarragon Theatre, Angelwalk Theatre, Buddies in Bad Times and many more. Jen has also served as dramaturg and/or director on new musicals for Sheridan College’s Capstone Project, Louise Pitre’s one woman show “On The Rocks” and projects by Jim Betts, Colleen Dauncey and Akiva Romer-Segal, Britta and Anika Johnson and Leslie Arden to name a few. She also served as program director of Theatre 20’s “Composium”, a composer and lyricist writing unit in Toronto. Jen has been nominated for the Siminovitch Prize in Directing and for the Ockrent Theatre Directing Fellowship SSDC, NY. She has won a Dora for Best Production of a Musical for A Year with Frog and Toad at the Young People’s Theatre and is a Dora nominee for Best Musical Production of Pasek and Paul’s James and The Giant Peach. A few fun facts are that Jen has been seen on MTV, YTV, CBC and Slice and has been in major motion pictures including working with Denzel Washington, Ray Liotta and Kevin Conolly. She also works in talent acquisition for the Toronto Blue Jays and has casted their live entertainment for more than 16 seasons. |
Alain Richer (he/him) is a stage and screen artist whose professional work has ranged from producing to directing and design. After studying theatre and production at Queen’s University, his early career has been spent with two educationally focused arts organizations in Toronto. Alain has dedicated the last decade to the development of Mainstage Theatre Company, including 7 seasons as Artistic Director. He is known for creating high-quality productions and for enthusiastically engaging the Mainstage community. For Mainstage, Alain has also been very active in the roles of Director (9 productions) and Designer (19 productions). He has worked in production design for Groupe Média TFO where he has spent the last years helping pioneer the development of cutting-edge, real-time virtual design and technology in its productions. Alain has also worked with Théâtre Français de Toronto (TFT) as designer and recently, has joined the Ottawa Fringe Festival as Executive Director.
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Board of Directors
Jennifer McGuire, President
Indrani Butany DeSouza, Vice President
Robert Barrass, Vice President
Yael Woodward Amaral, Treasurer
Sara Davis, Secretary
Vanessa Bresee
Susan Davies
Saccha Dennis
Jacques Monfiston
Jay T. Schramek
Matthew Vilord
Indrani Butany DeSouza, Vice President
Robert Barrass, Vice President
Yael Woodward Amaral, Treasurer
Sara Davis, Secretary
Vanessa Bresee
Susan Davies
Saccha Dennis
Jacques Monfiston
Jay T. Schramek
Matthew Vilord