Middle of the End Opening!

Middle of the End will be opening this Wednesday, so it seems like a great time to remind everyone about our information...

"Middle of the End"

A new work by Danielle I. Szlawieniec-Haw

Director: Jonathan Smelcer

Stage Manager: Alyssa Merrick

Starring: Erick Fournier, Eric Regimbald, Danielle I. Szlawieniec-Haw

"Middle of the End" will be running at the Factory Theatre Studio Space (125 Bathurst Street) on the following days:

July 2 from 8:45p-9:45p
July 4 from 1:30p-2:30p
July 5 from 11:15p-12:15a
July 7 from 3p-4p
July 9 from 4p-5p
July 10 from 6p-7p
July 12 from 7p-8p

Admission: $10 at the door.

We are looking forward to seeing you there!

Alyssa Merrick - Our Stage Manager

Alyssa is excited to be collaborating as Stage Manager with the cast of Middle of the End for the Toronto Fringe Festival. Currently, she is also working as Assistant Stage Manager for Gameshow: The Musical (J. Biel Productions) for the Toronto Fringe, after being in that position for its premiere at Ryerson University’s New Voices. Other works for Alyssa include Stage Manager for Michael Frayn’s Noises Off (Grinder Production), Agatha Christie’s Spider’s Web (Grinder Productions), and Assistant Stage Manager for the musical revue Tribute (Waterloo-Wellington Playhouse). Other works for Ryerson University include Apprentice Stage Manager for William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Production Assistant for Ryerson Dances 2006. Alyssa is currently entering her third year in Ryerson University’s Theatre Performance Production Program with a specialization in Management.

Danielle I. Szlawieniec-Haw - Bryn and Our Writer

After graduating from the University of Guelph’s Drama program, Danielle moved to Toronto to pursue acting, writing, and her education. In 2007, she received her Masters in Drama from the University of Toronto. She has also appeared in a number of television, film, and theatre productions. She also recently received her first new media credit, guest staring on the Canadian production Team Epic.

Danielle’s recent theatre credits include: The Aching Heart of Samuel Klienerman (Medina Theatre Ensemble), Lysistrata (Hart House Theatre), Salt Water Moon (Grinder Productions), Intermission (Theatre and Company), and Celebration of Life (Chilsag Chilies). Recently, she starred in a workshop performance of her one-woman show titled Phoenix (Sighing Angel Productions), which will be premiering at the London Fringe Festival.

As a writer, Danielle trained with Judith Thompson at the University of Guelph. There, she wrote her first show In Your Eyes, which focused on sexual assault in the theatre community. Since then, Danielle has written two plays, a short screenplay, and a full length screenplay. In addition, she has written a number of academic articles. Danielle is currently a PhD candidate at York University, focusing on the ethics of representing trauma.

Erick Fournier - Gabe

A 2006 graduate of Sheridan College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning's acting program, one half of the Theatre and Drama Studies program, Erick is almost done his Honors B.A. in the TDS program at the University of Toronto, the second half of the program. Erick also is a proud Actor-Combatant with Fight Director's Canada.

Some of Erick’s favourite stage credits include: Michael in And We Will Know Peace (2008 New Ideas Festival), Nencio in Cousins of Corsica (2007 Toronto FR!NGE), Leroy in Rope (2007 New Ideas Festival), and Diagoras in The Maid's Tragedy (Theatre Erindale), where he was also the Assistant Director.

Eric Regimbald - Lufa

Eric is thrilled to be part of the Toronto Fringe Festival, having recently moved to Toronto from Guelph to continue pursuing his acting career. Some of his recent credits include: A Permanent Solution (River Run Centre), Frankenstein (Grinder Productions), and Noises Off (Grinder Productions). In addition, Eric is the face of iDrive, a set of videos and public service announcements released through the Ministry of Transportation to encourage youth not to drive while intoxicated.

Jonathan Smelcer - Our Director

After graduating from Sheridan College and the University of Guelph, Jonathan began working in Toronto to help finance his film and theatre projects. Currently, he is the head of Wandering Shadow Productions, a film company twinned with Sighing Angel Productions.

Jonathan can often be found producing and/or directing. In recent years, he has mostly focused on film, with some of his credits including Finality, Wilds, and An Uncommon Conversation. After this production, he will begin work directing another feature film. Jonathan’s main interest with his art is combining mainstream genres and complicating them through questions about what it means to be human and people’s place in the world.

He is also currently working on a novel and a graphic novel based upon an original idea, with support from Danielle I. Szlawieniec-Haw.

The Company

Sighing Angel Productions

Sighing Angel Productions is dedicated to producing new works which are challenging, thoughtful, and creative. The company was conceived of two years ago on a sweltering summer afternoon. Since then, Sighing Angel Production has produced a number of staged readings and, most recently, a workshop production of a one woman show titled Phoenix. Middle of the End marks the company’s first full production, which will be followed by a production of Phoenix at the London Fringe Festival.

The aims of Sighing Angel Productions include: to never forget or ignore the darkness found in the world, but to always engage it with a sense of hope and to encourage increased discussion about the connections to self, others, and the universe.