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SUNDAY JUNE 28th at 2:00PM
We welcome you to join us on Sunday June 28th for an honest conversation on being Black in theatre school and in youth theatre. Moderated by past Mainstage director Saccha Dennis, our panelists Malindi Ayienga, Kemi King and Jordan Laffrenier will share their experiences as young theatre artists and discuss the call to action that is taking place to revolutionize and diversify our theatre practice.
OUR GUEST ARTISTS
MALINDI AYIENGA is a Toronto based artist, activist and founder of Diva Day International. She has an Honours Bachelor degree in Musical Theatre Performance and a passion for people. For the past year, Malindi has been combining her love of theatre and her love for children by performing at Young People's Theatre. Malindi strives to debunk shame through various mediums, including her Youtube channel Malindizoo, where she unpacks the stigma around mental illness, identity, and the musical theatre industry. As a menstruator, Malindi found the DivaCup to be the most comfortable and convenient option when existing and performing in this world. When she heard that the young menstruators of her Fatherland were not attending school due to lack of access to menstrual health products, the DivaCup seemed like the perfect solution. Through Malindi's fearless leadership, Diva Day has grown from one woman's idea to an international movement of thousands.
KEMI KING is a writer, director, performance artist and divisor. Some of her work has been produced by Obsidian and Canadian Stage. She has created and performed works with Soulpepper Theatre and as a part of the Paprika Festival. She continues studying and exploring performance at Queen’s University with a major in theatre and a minor in gender studies. During her undergrad she has participated in Volcano’s INforming content three years in a row, along with working as an assistant director/director for a few drama clubs on campus. She is one of the co-founders and artistic director of YIKES a Theatre Company. Kemi is passionate about the arts and the way it can be used to help shape social consciousness.
JORDAN LAFFRENIER is black and alive (@blkandalive on twitter). He is the Cahoots Dramaturg for their 2020 HOT HOUSE LIFT OFF Playwrights’ Unit and the Metcalf Intern Artistic Director at Musical Stage Company. He is the co-founder of The Songbird Series (www.songbirdseries.com) where you can hire a professional musician to sing a song for a loved one. He was the artistic director of Then They Fight Theatre company, the company that produced and developed seven shows in 2017. He was the playwright assistant for the Broadway production of Amélie. Jordan is a York U theatre grad with a specialization in playwriting and new play dramaturgy.
SACCHA DENNIS - A previous Mainstage Theatre Company director, Saccha was last seen in Mirvish’s hit musical Come From Away. Selected theatre credits include: Sousatzka- a new musical with Victoria Clarke and Montego Glover. Jacob two-two meets the Hooded Fang, James and the Giant Peach (Dora nomination-YPT) Sister Act, Avenue Q, Dreamgirls, Little Shop, four seasons at the Shaw Festival and 1st U.S National tour of We Will Rock You. Directing credits include: Legally Blonde (Hart House Theatre- Subscriber’s Choice Award for best production) 9 to 5: The musical, Dreamgirls (LOT- Broadway world regional award for best production- non-eq category), Oraltorio (Ift theatre Asst.dir ) Onegin (Musical Stage- Asst.dir.) Find Saccha online @sacchafierce (insta) & sacchadennis.com
We welcome you to join us on Sunday June 28th for an honest conversation on being Black in theatre school and in youth theatre. Moderated by past Mainstage director Saccha Dennis, our panelists Malindi Ayienga, Kemi King and Jordan Laffrenier will share their experiences as young theatre artists and discuss the call to action that is taking place to revolutionize and diversify our theatre practice.
OUR GUEST ARTISTS
MALINDI AYIENGA is a Toronto based artist, activist and founder of Diva Day International. She has an Honours Bachelor degree in Musical Theatre Performance and a passion for people. For the past year, Malindi has been combining her love of theatre and her love for children by performing at Young People's Theatre. Malindi strives to debunk shame through various mediums, including her Youtube channel Malindizoo, where she unpacks the stigma around mental illness, identity, and the musical theatre industry. As a menstruator, Malindi found the DivaCup to be the most comfortable and convenient option when existing and performing in this world. When she heard that the young menstruators of her Fatherland were not attending school due to lack of access to menstrual health products, the DivaCup seemed like the perfect solution. Through Malindi's fearless leadership, Diva Day has grown from one woman's idea to an international movement of thousands.
KEMI KING is a writer, director, performance artist and divisor. Some of her work has been produced by Obsidian and Canadian Stage. She has created and performed works with Soulpepper Theatre and as a part of the Paprika Festival. She continues studying and exploring performance at Queen’s University with a major in theatre and a minor in gender studies. During her undergrad she has participated in Volcano’s INforming content three years in a row, along with working as an assistant director/director for a few drama clubs on campus. She is one of the co-founders and artistic director of YIKES a Theatre Company. Kemi is passionate about the arts and the way it can be used to help shape social consciousness.
JORDAN LAFFRENIER is black and alive (@blkandalive on twitter). He is the Cahoots Dramaturg for their 2020 HOT HOUSE LIFT OFF Playwrights’ Unit and the Metcalf Intern Artistic Director at Musical Stage Company. He is the co-founder of The Songbird Series (www.songbirdseries.com) where you can hire a professional musician to sing a song for a loved one. He was the artistic director of Then They Fight Theatre company, the company that produced and developed seven shows in 2017. He was the playwright assistant for the Broadway production of Amélie. Jordan is a York U theatre grad with a specialization in playwriting and new play dramaturgy.
SACCHA DENNIS - A previous Mainstage Theatre Company director, Saccha was last seen in Mirvish’s hit musical Come From Away. Selected theatre credits include: Sousatzka- a new musical with Victoria Clarke and Montego Glover. Jacob two-two meets the Hooded Fang, James and the Giant Peach (Dora nomination-YPT) Sister Act, Avenue Q, Dreamgirls, Little Shop, four seasons at the Shaw Festival and 1st U.S National tour of We Will Rock You. Directing credits include: Legally Blonde (Hart House Theatre- Subscriber’s Choice Award for best production) 9 to 5: The musical, Dreamgirls (LOT- Broadway world regional award for best production- non-eq category), Oraltorio (Ift theatre Asst.dir ) Onegin (Musical Stage- Asst.dir.) Find Saccha online @sacchafierce (insta) & sacchadennis.com
Open to ages 11-21 AND Mainstage Alumni
Once registered, you will receive a confirmation message.
Access to the session will be emailed to you on the day of the session.
REGISTRATION NOW CLOSED.
Contact us for questions.
Once registered, you will receive a confirmation message.
Access to the session will be emailed to you on the day of the session.
REGISTRATION NOW CLOSED.
Contact us for questions.
