Meet Cute is a story about Jane and John who meet at a bus stop -- could there be romance? The show explores their conversation in three different ways using the same text. One scene. Two actors. Three possibilities. Because the text is repeated in each scenario, the focus shifts from behavior to context and finally to intention. MEET CUTE speaks to the notion of consent and explores not only what you say, but HOW you say it.
Grades 9-12
Curriculum Connections: Health & Physical Education, Drama, Social Studies
Themes: Consent, Healthy Relationships, Identity, Critical Thinking
Margarita Valderrama – Jane
Margarita is a Colombian-Canadian actor born in Buenos Aires, raised in Bogotá, Mexico City and Toronto. Recent theatre credits include: TOUGH! (ENSEMBLE Canadian Youth Theatre) and Common Ground (Toronto Fringe Festival 2016). Television credits: Web of Lies, See No Evil. She also works with Aluna Theatre as part of their Interpretation Lab and as their Administrative Assistant. Margarita is a recent graduate of the University of Toronto's Drama Centre, trained at Canada’s National Voice Intensive, is part of the Factory Theatre Mechanicals (2016-17) and is one of Cahoots Theatre Company's 30 for 30 Theatre Makers. Margarita is currently co-creating, producing and performing in Post No Bills, which will be presented at the 2017 Toronto Fringe Festival. For more information please visit www.margaritavalderrama.com.
Aldrin Bundoc - John
Aldrin is a Toronto-based theatre and television actor, dancer, and producer of independent projects. He was born in The Philippines and at the age of 4, proudly immigrated to Canada with his family. Aldrin studied classical theatre at the George Brown Conservatory and continuously endeavours to strengthen and support the presence of Filipino-Asian artists in theatre and Canadian media. His short film, which he executive produced called “The Long Walk” premiered at The Reel World Film Festival in Toronto in 2015. Selected Credits: Body Politic (Buddies in Bad Times), Twelfth Night, Alls Well that Ends Well (St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival); American Buffalo, Julius Caesar (Unit102); Lord Sword (Inter-Arts-Matrix); Paradise (MT Space/Gwandaak); Flashpoint (CTV); The Firm (NBC); Private Eyes (Global); Dark Matter (Syfy).
Erin Norah Thompson - Playwright
Erin Norah Thompson began her career as an actor, tackling some of Shakespeare’s great ladies such as Lady Macbeth and Imogen (Shakespeare in the Square) and performing in feature films like Mean Girls (Paramount Pictures). Since 2014, she has become one of Toronto’s emerging playwrights, with the award winning shows SL*T (Beer In A Glass Productions) and Meet Cute (ENTsquared). A feminist, her work strives to create a focal point for discussions about sexual politics and gender dynamics. Projects currently in development through her company Erin Norah Thompson Entertainment (ENTsquared) include a play, two screenplays, a web series, and television pilot based on her hit show SL*T. She is honoured to be working with Roseneath Theatre to develop Meet Cute: High School Edition.
Aaron Willis - Co-Director
Aaron Willis is an actor, director, educator, and co-founding artistic director of Convergence Theatre, where he has produced and directed The Unending, Passion Play by Sarah Ruhl, YICHUD (Seclusion), the Dora-nominated The Gladstone Variations and AutoShow. Other directing: Stupidhead! (Theatre Passe Muraille), The Testament of Mary (Soulpepper), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (George Brown Theatre School), Miss Caledonia (Tarragon Theatre/NAC), The Thing Between Us (mcguffin company), The Crucible (Theatre Erindale/UTM). Aaron has taught with The Stratford Festival, the Luminato Festival, Ryerson University's ACT 2 Studio, and Humber Theatre School. He completed the Michael Langham workshop for Classical Direction at the Stratford Festival, holds a BA Honours in Drama from the University of Alberta, and is a graduate of George Brown Theatre School.
Jillian Harper - Co-Director
Jill is a Toronto-based theatre director and filmmaker and the co-founder of Cue6 Theatre. Selected Cue6 directing credits: We Three; Byhalia, Mississippi (as a part of a 7 city ‘World Premiere Conversation’, Dora Nomination for Best Individual Performance – Claire Armstrong); pool (no water) (Best of Fringe 2015); Kate and Sam Are Not Breaking Up (Dora Nomination for Best Individual Performance – Rebecca Liddiard); and Pieces. Elsewhere: Cottage Radio (The Cottage Radio Collective); The Fox Sisters (The Quickening Theatre); Twelfth Night and Macbeth (The Classical Theatre Project). As a filmmaker Jill has directed a number of shorts films. She creates original video content and acts as media consultant for Intermission Magazine and has created promotional videos for a number of Canadian theatre companies.
Dana Paul - Stage Manager
Dana is thrilled to be returning to Roseneath Theatre. She is a graduate of the Theatre Arts/Technical Production program at Sheridan College. Select credits include The Incredible Speediness of Jamie Cavanaugh, Spirit Horse (Roseneath Theatre), Hilda's Yard, Run For Your Wife, Oliver! and Annie (Drayton Entertainment), Celestial Being, The Invisible Girl, Showdown (Green Thumb Theatre), Les Pecheurs de Perles, Falstaff (Opera Hamilton), Boeing Boeing, Tuesdays With Morrie, White Christmas and Half Life (Theatre Aquarius), Faust, Le Nozze Di Figaro, Tosca, Rita, The Bear (Highland Opera Studio), Cracked: A New Light On Dementia (Possible Art). Upcoming: Cosi Fan Tutte (Highland Opera Studio). Dana would like to thank the cast, crew and the Roseneath staff for all their hard work.
Anna Treusch - Set and Costume Designer
Anna is a Set and Costume Designer and Scenic Painter based in Toronto. Recent Design credits include: Superior Donuts (CoalMine Theatre), Ayre (Costumes, Against The Grain), Salt ( Set, Costumes and Projections, LarkandWhimsy), Up The Garden Path (Obsidian Theatre),The Public Servant (Nightwood and Common Boots),Tails From The City (Dora Mavor Moore Award for outstanding Costume Design, Common Boots), Shannon 10:40 (Timeshare at Videofag), The Dog and the Angel (Costumes, Theatre Columbus), The Tin Drum (UnSpun Theatre, Dora Nomination for Costume Design), Every Letter Counts (Factory Theatre). Anna was nominated for the Pauline McGibbon Award three times (Craftsperson in 2013, Design in 2014 and 2017), and the Virginia Myrtle Cooper award for Costumes(2017). This is Anna's first design for Roseneath Theatre.
Courtney Pyke - Sound Designer
Courtney is a Toronto based Prodution Manager and Designer. Notable credits: La Cecchina (Royal Conservatory) Suessical, A Glass Hive, The Addams Family (Randolph Academy) The Incredible Speediness of Jamie Cavannaugh, Outside, The Money Tree, Spirit Horse, Birds of a Feather (Roseneath Theatre), Castle, The Baby (Storefront Theatre), rock.paper.sistahz 13 (bcurrent) Vigil, Harmonic, Almost Morning, Pulse, Anomie (Claudia Schreier and Company, Ailey Citigroup Theater NYC), Paradise (mtspace & Gwaandak Theatre), First Dance, Air (Tottering Biped Theatre), Piaf, A Christmas Carol, Sleeping Beauty, Ghosts of Violence, Phantom of the Opera, Gala (Atlantic Ballet), Perspectives 1 & 2, Christmas Carol, Carmina Burana, Circus Terrifico, Variations in Love, Pheonix Rising (Motus O Dance Theatre), Butcher (Theatre Why Not), Good Mourning, Silences Between, Nutcracker, Classical & Contemporary, Anastasia (Ballet Jorgen).