“Find Your Light!”
Imagine yourself backstage for the first time—palms damp, heart racing. The muffled sound of the audience seeps through the curtain. You consider retreating into the safety of the darkness, but you remember the hours of rehearsal and the quiet commitment you made to yourself. You are prepared. You are ready. It’s time to show them what you’ve got.
And now, it’s your cue...!! You step out onto the stage, which is no longer an enemy but a wide-open space, beaming with possibility. Courage takes over from fear as you commit to your character. The audience isn't scary, they want you to succeed. You have found your light.
Like so many young people across Toronto, Mainstage Theatre Company offers young artists the opportunity to find their light—their place on the stage, as well as a safe space and a world of belonging. Through quality productions with professional theatre artists and venues, our youth become essential members of our team and grow into confident, creative individuals within their own communities.
You find your light on stage alongside a community of like-minded people who share a mutual passion and dedication. It is a space where self-expression feels safe, collaboration is encouraged, and everyone works together toward creating a beautiful gift for an audience fortunate enough to see it.
Andrew Tribe
Artistic Director
Imagine yourself backstage for the first time—palms damp, heart racing. The muffled sound of the audience seeps through the curtain. You consider retreating into the safety of the darkness, but you remember the hours of rehearsal and the quiet commitment you made to yourself. You are prepared. You are ready. It’s time to show them what you’ve got.
And now, it’s your cue...!! You step out onto the stage, which is no longer an enemy but a wide-open space, beaming with possibility. Courage takes over from fear as you commit to your character. The audience isn't scary, they want you to succeed. You have found your light.
Like so many young people across Toronto, Mainstage Theatre Company offers young artists the opportunity to find their light—their place on the stage, as well as a safe space and a world of belonging. Through quality productions with professional theatre artists and venues, our youth become essential members of our team and grow into confident, creative individuals within their own communities.
You find your light on stage alongside a community of like-minded people who share a mutual passion and dedication. It is a space where self-expression feels safe, collaboration is encouraged, and everyone works together toward creating a beautiful gift for an audience fortunate enough to see it.
Andrew Tribe
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.
Our Staff
Andrew Tribe
Artistic Director Andrew Tribe is a theatre director, educator, and administrator.
As a director, his work spans professional proscenium stages (The Phantom of the Opera, Titanic, Groundhog Day), outdoor spaces (Peter & the Starcatcher), high school gyms (The Awesome 80’s Prom), intimate black boxes (Shrek), thrust stages (Grease), and online platforms (One Song Glory). As an educator, he has taught at leading institutions, including the Stratford Festival, St. Clair College, Stagedoor Manor, The Musical Stage Company, and Young People’s Theatre. As an administrator, he spent 9 years as Artistic Director of Original Kids Theatre Company, directing over 25 productions and overseeing 225 more, nurturing collaboration, self-expression, and confidence in young artists. He is currently the Artistic Director of Mainstage Theatre Company in Toronto. A lifelong learner, Andrew holds a Master in Theatre Education (University of Northern Colorado), a Bachelor of Education (Western University), and is an alumnus of the University of Toronto/Sheridan College Theatre & Drama Studies program. He is dedicated to professional growth and mentoring the next generation of artists. |
Murphy Diggon
Administrator Murphy Diggon is a Toronto-based theatre professional with a dynamic background in production and arts administration. She is deeply passionate about arts education and is committed to creating accessible opportunities for young people to explore both performance and production.
Murphy began working with Mainstage in 2019 as Stage Manager for their production of Newsies. Since stepping into the role of Administrator in 2022, she has contributed to over 15 productions. She has also served as Assistant Production Manager at the Canadian Opera Company since 2018. Murphy’s touring experience includes work as ATD/ASM with Shopkins Live and as Production Stage Manager for PAN AM Panamania at Toronto’s Distillery District. An international educator as well, she spent two years in Japan as Head English Language Teacher at Merry House School. |