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WAYNE AND SHUSTER
DIRECTED BY PAUL BATES
May 25 - 27, 2023 - Limited Run, 4 Performances
Hart House Theatre - Toronto, ON
Canadian comedy legends WAYNE AND SHUSTER are being brought back to the stage in a new collection of their classic skits. Bygone Theatre is honoured to have the chance to work with the duo’s descendants – Brian and Michael Wayne and Rosie Shuster – to bring these much-loved sketches back for a new generation of comedy lovers.
CREATED BY:
Original Scripts by Johnny Wayne & Frank Shuster
Directed by Paul Bates
Artistic Producer - Emily Dix
FEATURING:
Matt Baram
Aurora Browne
Leigh Cameron
Bren Eastcott
Oliver Georgiou
Darryl Hinds
*The participation of these Artists is arranged by permission of Canadian Actors’ Equity Association under the provisions of the Dance-Opera-Theatre Policy (DOT).
sponsored by
VENUE SPONSOR
Matt Baram - PERFORMER
Matt is an actor, writer, and director. He’s an alumnus of the legendary Second City Comedy Theatre in Toronto where he wrote and performed in six critically acclaimed revues, collecting three Canadian Comedy Awards for Best Sketch Troupe and three Dora Mavor Moore Award nominations for Best Musical. He recently portrayed Lemml in the recent Studio 180 Production of Indecent. Matt was a series regular on SEED (CityTV and CW) and played Wes Holm on the CTV series, Carter. He was also featured in the last season of Supergirl for The CW. Matt plays Doctor Robert Kaiko in the upcoming Netflix Limited Series, Painkiller starring Matthew Broderick, Detective Bill Hardy in the new Amazon series Cross starring Aldis Hodge, and Prosecutor Tom Radcliff in the new Matlock pilot for CBS starring Kathy Bates.
Matt has received a Canadian Comedy Award in the category of Best Male Improvisor and is currently hitting the stages as a stand-up comic and tours to improv festivals around the world.
Matt has received a Canadian Comedy Award in the category of Best Male Improvisor and is currently hitting the stages as a stand-up comic and tours to improv festivals around the world.
Aurora Browne - PERFORMER
Aurora Browne is proud to be one of the co-creators, writers, executive producers and stars of CBC’s award-winning Baroness Von Sketch Show. Aurora has been honing her sketch chops since 2000 when she was hired by Toronto’s Second City Troupe. Since then she has appeared on The Writer’s Block, Man Seeking Woman, Orphan Black, The Gavin Crawford Show, InSecurity, and Corner Gas among others. She was also a co-creator, co-writer, executive producer and co-star of the hit web series Newborn Moms, which appeared both on CBC’s and ABC’s digital channels.
Aurora has been nominated for many Canadian Comedy Awards for her work in Toronto’s red hot live sketch and improv scene, and in 2008 won the CCA for Best Female Improviser. She was a nominee for the 2000 Tim Sims Encouragement Fund Award. Her son thinks she is hilarious.
Aurora has been nominated for many Canadian Comedy Awards for her work in Toronto’s red hot live sketch and improv scene, and in 2008 won the CCA for Best Female Improviser. She was a nominee for the 2000 Tim Sims Encouragement Fund Award. Her son thinks she is hilarious.
Leigh Cameron - PERFORMER
Leigh Cameron is an award winning, actor, writer, comedian and alumna of the Toronto Second City MainStage. She has headlined festivals across North America with her sketch and improv duo The Bloody Marys. Her Fringe credits include Generally Hospital (Director, 2018), 32 Short Sketches about Bees (2017) & Tales of Whoa! (2013). In summer of 2022, Leigh had the pleasure of joining the cast of Canadian Stage’s Dream in High Park as Phoebe in As You Like It. Leigh also works in voice over and can be heard in a variety of cartoons such as Ollie’s Pack, Gary and His Demons, Rusty Rivets and the upcoming season of My Little Pony to name a few . You can find Leigh performing comedy regularly around Toronto or in your living room for a small fee.
Bren Eastcott - PERFORMER
Bren is a writer and actor who began her professional acting career at the age of 12. She is a graduate of Toronto’s Etobicoke School of the Arts during which time she had appeared in many television shows and two feature films. Most recently Bren’s theatre credits include Rick Roberts’ “Orestes” with Tarragon Theatre and in the summer of 2022, “As You Like It” with Canadian Stage. Bren is thrilled to be a part of Wayne and Shuster Live and knows her Grandma will be laughing hysterically, in spirit.
Oliver Georgiou - PERFORMER
Oliver is an actor, comedian, and clown based in Toronto. He runs SODA Impro, an unscripted theatre company, and performs as half of the comedy duos Johnson & Georgiou with Lara Johnson and Jan & George with Reid Janisse. Recently, he’s developed three original roles onstage: Mitch in Emily Dix’s adaptation of The Birds (Bygone Theatre), Edwin in Kristen Da Silva’s The Bluff (Theatre Orangeville), and Mr Gordon in Vishesh Abeyratne’s workshop of Blood Offering (Alma Matter Productions). Last year, he was invited to headline the Detroit Improv Festival, and played the leading man in Vampire Zombies… From Space!, a 1950s horror-comedy homage.
Oliver’s improv and solo sketch comedy has delighted audiences in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Detroit, and Toronto. He is an alumnus of Second City Toronto House Co, and can be found on all podcast streaming sites in Caverns & Comedians, which won Best Gaming Podcast in the 2018 Canadian Podcast Awards.
Oliver’s improv and solo sketch comedy has delighted audiences in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Detroit, and Toronto. He is an alumnus of Second City Toronto House Co, and can be found on all podcast streaming sites in Caverns & Comedians, which won Best Gaming Podcast in the 2018 Canadian Podcast Awards.
Darryl Hinds - PERFORMER
Darry Hinds is alumni of the world famous Second City as a cast member of its Toronto Mainstage, where he wrote and performed five revues. Since his days at the Second City Darryl has worked on TV shows like Overlord and the Underwoods (Which Darryl was nominated for the 2022 CSA’s for Best Comedic Actor), Children Ruin Everything, Jann, Handmaid’s Tale, Private Eyes, CBC’s Little Mosque on the Prairie, and so many Christmas movies you’ll lose count. Darryl was also a cast member of the legendary TV sketch troupe Royal Canadian Air Farce, having mounted 5 of their famous New Years Eve Specials.
Darryl has also worked as a writer for This House Has 22 Minutes and CityTV’s Sunnyside.
Darryl has also worked as a writer for This House Has 22 Minutes and CityTV’s Sunnyside.
Paul Bates - DIRECTOR
A veteran of Toronto comedy stages, Paul got his start at The Second City, where he wrote and performed in six revues. Other stage credits include SlapShot Live, It’s A Wonderful Toronto, An Inconvenient Musical; and SARSical, for which he received a Dora Award nomination. His live show HOOKUP has been playing to sold out houses at Bad Dog Theatre for five years.
On television Paul played Jeff on Dan For Mayor (CTV), and has also appeared in Workin’ Moms (CBC), Kim’s Convenience (CBC), Baroness Von Sketch Show (CBC), Ransom (CBS), The Stanley Dynamic (YTV), The Ron James Show (CBC), Odd Squad (PBS), Against The Wall (Lifetime), and Puppets Who Kill (CTV). Film credits include The Comey Rule (Showtime), The Tuxedo, Welcome to Mooseport, and Camille. Voice credits include Max & Ruby, Elinor Wonders Why and Monster Pack.
As a writer Paul has worked for The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos (CBC), Gaming Show (In My Parents’ Garage) (YTV), InSecurity (CBC) and The Second City Project (Global), and has written specials for William Shatner, Martin Short and others. Paul has won numerous Canadian Comedy Awards, NOW Magazine’s Reader’s Choice Award for Best Male Improviser, and the Canadian Podcast Award for Best Host for his podcast The Dubious Book of Famous Deeds.
Paul has directed numerous award-winning live comedy productions including Clickbait & Switch (Second City), Carson & Taylor Promise to do a Bunch of Flips, and 32 Short Sketches about Bees.
On television Paul played Jeff on Dan For Mayor (CTV), and has also appeared in Workin’ Moms (CBC), Kim’s Convenience (CBC), Baroness Von Sketch Show (CBC), Ransom (CBS), The Stanley Dynamic (YTV), The Ron James Show (CBC), Odd Squad (PBS), Against The Wall (Lifetime), and Puppets Who Kill (CTV). Film credits include The Comey Rule (Showtime), The Tuxedo, Welcome to Mooseport, and Camille. Voice credits include Max & Ruby, Elinor Wonders Why and Monster Pack.
As a writer Paul has worked for The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos (CBC), Gaming Show (In My Parents’ Garage) (YTV), InSecurity (CBC) and The Second City Project (Global), and has written specials for William Shatner, Martin Short and others. Paul has won numerous Canadian Comedy Awards, NOW Magazine’s Reader’s Choice Award for Best Male Improviser, and the Canadian Podcast Award for Best Host for his podcast The Dubious Book of Famous Deeds.
Paul has directed numerous award-winning live comedy productions including Clickbait & Switch (Second City), Carson & Taylor Promise to do a Bunch of Flips, and 32 Short Sketches about Bees.
Emily Dix
- WRITER, DIRECTOR, DESIGNER
Emily founded Bygone Theatre in late 2012 and has been running it as Artistic Executive Director ever since, directing, producing, and designing the majority of their productions. Recently she wrote and directed a new stage version of The Birds, a “masterful homage” to the classic Hitchcock film, performed at Hart House Theatre. In March, she directed a multi-media adaptation of the classic short story, The Yellow Wallpaper, combining ambulatory theatre with creative projection design and a live-streaming component. Prior to that, she wrote and directed The Rear Window, an “engaging and unexpected take” on another Hitchcock classic, winning the Broadway World Toronto Award for Best Direction of an Equity play. She has worked as a theatre freelancer in Toronto for more than a decade, including as producer with companies like Tarragon Theatre and Crow’s Theatre. She also dabbles in film and tv, recently as a researcher for the Cineflix true crime doc, “Torso Killer Confessions”. She currently has two documentaries in development with Era Productions: one about the failures of the ODSP system and one about Wayne and Shuster.
Conor Fitzgerald - PRODUCER
Conor Fitzgerald is happy to once again produce for Bygone Theatre. Holding a law degree and an MBA with a specialization in Arts, Media, and Entertainment management, Conor loves to bring a strategic, structured, business-focused approach to the arts. This is his eighth main stage show with Bygone Theatre and he is so excited to be a part of an incredibly talented, exceptionally talented, and overall wonderful team. When he's not producing, Conor is Articling with the Canadian Ministry of Heritage in the Copyright Office, playing board games, or telling bad jokes.
Jordan Armstrong - MUSIC DIRECTOR
Jordan Armstrong is a versatile composer, musical director and performer known for her improvised accompaniment and band leading. Highlights include composing for and musical directing three critically-acclaimed Second City Mainstage reviews, Death Ray Cabaret (Best of the Fest, Outstanding Performance, Outstanding Production Toronto Fringe 2019), One Night Only (Dora nominee, Outstanding Musical Direction), The Adventures of Tom Shadow (Canadian Comedy Award winner), the award winning CBC Kids Podcast The Story Store and the spontaneous live music show Improv Karaoke. For synthpop lovers, her debut solo EP ‘DUAL’ is available everywhere.
Vinay Sagar - PRODUCER
Samara Tower - LIGHTING DESIGNER
Samara Tower is a theatre technician, designer, and a Master’s student in history at the University of Toronto. In her undergraduate she assisted with numerous Hart House Theatre productions, including being an assistant lighting designer for Legally Blonde in 2020. This past year she was the sound mixer for the Saint Michaels Troubadours production of Into the Woods and the Temerty Faculty of Medicine's 2023 Daffydil. As a researcher of Canadian theatre history Samara is thrilled to join the production team of Bygone Theatre’s Wayne and Shuster Live and bring these historic sketches onto the stage.
Britt Rolston - PRODUCER IN TRAINING
Britt Rolston is currently studying at the University of Toronto in the Arts Management Field Specialist program with a minor in Theatre and Music & Culture. She has grown up watching the magic of musicals, performed in school plays, and recently appeared in the University of Toronto Drama Festival.
Her performance training has been built on the foundations of acting, Verbatim Theatre, spoken word, and physical work based on teachings from École Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq.
She has assistant directed a high school production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which won a festival award for best ensemble. Britt has achieved other performance awards from Improv and Drama.
Besides performing, Britt has found passion and drive in the administrative side of theatre and music. She has previously served as an artistic director and programmer for past school productions. She is currently working with Bygone Theatre to obtain a deeper understanding of how to become a producer.
Her performance training has been built on the foundations of acting, Verbatim Theatre, spoken word, and physical work based on teachings from École Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq.
She has assistant directed a high school production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which won a festival award for best ensemble. Britt has achieved other performance awards from Improv and Drama.
Besides performing, Britt has found passion and drive in the administrative side of theatre and music. She has previously served as an artistic director and programmer for past school productions. She is currently working with Bygone Theatre to obtain a deeper understanding of how to become a producer.
Arianna Skirzynska - ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER
From lighting designer to biomedical engineering, Arianna keeps one foot firmly in both worlds. She is currently completing her PhD in Chemical Engineering at the University of Toronto, while spending her evenings volunteering in student-led productions at Hart House Theatre. Previously she has won the Canada’s Capital Cappies Award for best lighting design in her work on the Glass Menagerie (2015) and has since expanded her expertise as a stage manager for charity fashion shows in her undergrad. She is excited to join the production team on Bygone Theatre’s Wayne and Shuster Live and spread some joy and laughter in Toronto.
Gaby Bondoc - ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER
Gaby Bondoc is a Filipino theatre artist and incoming second-year undergraduate student at the University of Toronto, under the International Development Studies and Arts Management programs. She often works both in the realms of acting and tech for university theatre, which reflect in her previous performance credits such as: Cristina in The Refugee Hotel (UTSC
Faculty Production), and Portia in the Merchant of Venice (Assumption College Shakesfest),
and with recent production credits including: Stage Manager for The Last Time I Saw You (UTSC Drama Society/DramaFest 2023), Lighting Operator for Earth is Flat (UTSC Drama Society), and Assistant Stage Manager for The Roaring Dougies (UofT Drama Coalition). She is
thrilled to be working on her first professional show, in such a hilarious comedy at that, and hopes you leave the theatre laughing!
Faculty Production), and Portia in the Merchant of Venice (Assumption College Shakesfest),
and with recent production credits including: Stage Manager for The Last Time I Saw You (UTSC Drama Society/DramaFest 2023), Lighting Operator for Earth is Flat (UTSC Drama Society), and Assistant Stage Manager for The Roaring Dougies (UofT Drama Coalition). She is
thrilled to be working on her first professional show, in such a hilarious comedy at that, and hopes you leave the theatre laughing!
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