Well known for her magnitude of work on stage, screen and studio, Jackie Richardson is highly recognized in Canada and a star in her own right. Jackie is one of Canada’s most highly regarded stars of gospel, jazz and blues.  She has acted in film, theatre and television and toured across Canada and the world...

Now based in Toronto, Jeremiah was born and raised in Preston, Nova Scotia, where he was a choir director and church organist for over 20 years. He is an accomplished actor, singer and composer.  His theatre credits include ‘Mufasa’ in The Lion King, ‘Hosanna’, ‘Louis Armstrong’ in The Satchmo Suit, The Odyssey (Stratford; actor and...

Alana Bridgewater is an accomplished singer and actor in Toronto. Gemini nominated for her contribution to The Gospel Christmas Project (CBC), Alana has appeared in shows from Charlottetown to New York City. Television appearances include Hannibal (NBC), Dino Dan (Nick Jr.) and as voice artist, ‘Eartha’ in Mysticons and ‘Mr. King Dice’ in Cuphead. She...

Karen is a singer/songwriter and performer with three recorded albums to date. She has performed in many local events and has opened for groups such as Champion and Grammy Award winner Tye Tribbett. Currently a member of the High Priest Band, Karen has also performed vocals for various Toronto artists. As an actor, Karen performed...

Born the last of six children, Aadin has always looked for a way to be seen and heard, and what better way than to become a singer/actor. It has taken him, at times, halfway across the world, performing with some of the world’s best such as Patti Labelle, Mariah Carey and Deborah Cox, and appearing...

Trevlyn Kennedy is a poet, actress, singer, student and community programmer based in Toronto. Trevlyn began her journey on stage at age 16 through theatre, and has since brought to life the stories of growing up in the inner city, immigration, gentrification, politics, sexual violence, and “youth-hood”. Her continuous involvement in community work and the...

Limees Rizeig is 18 years old and has attended Rosedale Heights School of the Arts. She has been a member of The Journey youth ensemble since 2014 and is excited to be taking on the role of ‘Afiya’ in this year’s production. She is extremely passionate about the arts and her community. Born and raised...

Jael’s entry into the performing arts began at the tender age of three under the tutelage of Toronto Children’s Dance Theatre. A graduate of Rosedale Heights School of the Arts, Jael is a professionally trained dancer who has extended her art discipline to include various styles of singing and now, acting. Her work over the...

Zenab Hassan is a spoken word artist whose work centres her experiences as a Somali-Canadian woman within the diaspora. She writes to give a voice to those who are often silenced and to find her own in the process. She writes to speak her truth in hopes that it may give others the courage to...

Jahni Boodoo-Nelson, who will be playing the role of ‘Raffi’, is a triple threat performer from Toronto. While at Rosedale Heights School of the Arts, Jahni studied dance, drama and vocals.  In August of 2016, he completed the one-year Commercial Dance Studies program at George Brown College, where he continued his training as a triple...

Benjamin Williams is a dancer from Brampton, Ontario. He studied hip hop, jazz, contemporary, ballet, modern, musical theatre, African, house, and dancehall. He is currently a part of The Renegades, a dance collective directed by Xavier Tu, who has competed in the Canadian finals for Hip Hop International, and has recently won ReDefine Dance Competition....

Masima Lawrence is a graduate of Rosedale Heights School of the Arts. She has performed in The Journey since 2013.

Shaiann Roach is a 19-year-old dancer from Brampton, Ontario. She studied Latin and ballroom dance and later on branched out to other styles of dance including hip hop, jazz, contemporary, ballet, tap, and musical theatre. Shaiann has participated in each school play and has played the lead role in Aladdin Junior as the “Genie”. After...

Jazzer Pagdanganan has trained in a variety of dance styles, focusing on hip hop and contemporary movement. He has trained with various Toronto choreographers including Leon Blackwood, Shavar Blackwood, George Jones Jr., Amanda May Wilson, and Gadfly to name a few. Jazzer has also trained in Los Angeles and gained recognition from international choreographers such...

Juciane Monteiro is 16 years old. Juciane is a dancer and recently started acting and singing. She is excited to be a part of The Journey and expand her performing arts experience. This is Juciane’s first year in The Journey.

Deangela Provo is 15 years old. A student at Central Toronto Academy, she is a dancer, actress and upcoming artist. Deangela enjoys volunteering and takes the initiative to partake in activities, in and outside of her community. She is looking forward to being a part of The Journey to expand her horizons in the field...

Murtada Abelkarim is a 14-year-old, Toronto-born actor. His passion for acting has led him to be a part of many local performances and professional ones. His experiences include, but are not limited to, commercials, advertisements, and the theatre production of Cruel and Tender at the Canadian Stage. He enjoys the performing arts because it allows...

Kate began her career as part of the inaugural Humber College Comedy Program. After graduating, she was nominated for a Phil Hartman Award. Kate holds an MFA in acting from York University, and has trained at The Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, Second City and The ProActors Lab. She is the co-founder and former artistic...

Bryan is a Californian who became a New Yorker who then transplanted himself to Toronto. Starting his career in theatre at the tender age of 15, Bryan has worked his way from the San Francisco Bay Area, to Los Angeles, to New York and now, here in Toronto. Notable recent projects as Technical Director and/or...

Toronto bassist, composer and bandleader Henry Heillig is perhaps best known for his 30+ years as musical director of Manteca. He currently leads a jazz quartet, Heillig Manoeuvre, and performs with several Toronto-based musical acts. Henry has been Mitchell Cohen’s music co-writer and arranger since the 1990s.

Selected Credits: Prairie Nurse (Factory Theatre), Poison (Coal Mine Theatre), Salt-Water Moon (Mirvish, Factory, WhyNot), S h e e t s (Veritas Theatre), Late Night (ZoomerMedia, Theatre Brouhaha), Faust (Theatre by the Bay), Byhalia, Mississippi (Cue6 Productions), and The 39 Steps (Gin Soak’d Productions). Tamara is thrilled to be back with this beautiful show, and...

Gillian is currently a student specializing in management at Ryerson School of Performance. Her most recent projects include stage managing The Brothers Gentle at the Toronto Fringe Festival, production managing Jack & The Beanstalk at Ryerson School of Performance, and stage managing We Killed Kyle at the New Voices Festival.  Gillian is excited to be a part of...

Sean is a Toronto-based designer and stylist whose work has been seen throughout Canada, the U.S. and Central America. Select companies include: The Stratford Festival, The Obsidian Theatre Co., Globe Theatre Society, Canadian Stage and Neptune Theatre. Awards include: A Guthrie and The Tom Patterson Award (Stratford Festival), 7 Merritt nominations, 3 awarded (Theatre Nova...

Jennifer is a set, costume and lighting designer based in Toronto. Born in Halifax, but raised in Lahr (Germany) and Ottawa, she holds a BFA and an MFA in theatre design (from Concordia University and the University of Alberta, respectively), as well as a BA (Honours) in mathematics and economics from Queen’s University. Jennifer’s theatre...

Born from Chilean and Guatemalan parents, Apolonia Velasquez has 30 years of dance experience. Originally from El Salvador, Ofilio Sinbadinho Portillo combines 12 years of martial arts and 16 of dance under his belt. Apolonia and Ofilio, both Francophones raised in Montreal, have set creative headquarters in Toronto since 2006. Recipients of the Dance Ontario...

Born from Chilean and Guatemalan parents, Apolonia Velasquez has 30 years of dance experience. Originally from El Salvador, Ofilio Sinbadinho Portillo combines 12 years of martial arts and 16 of dance under his belt. Apolonia and Ofilio, both Francophones raised in Montreal, have set creative headquarters in Toronto since 2006. Recipients of the Dance Ontario...

Laurence is a dancer, choreographer, and artistic director of Citadel + Compagnie. Born in Québec City, Laurence studied dance at L’École Supérieure de Danse du Québec, and at The School of Toronto Dance Theatre (TDT). She danced for TDT from 1986 to 1998, winning a Dora Mavor Moore award in 1998 for her interpretation of...

Renée has worked extensively across Canada with many shows at The Grand Theatre, Globe Theatre, Neptune Theatre, Charlottetown Festival, Stratford Festival of Canada, Canadian Opera Company, COC Ensemble and many other theatres across the country. Most recently, she designed Shrek at Globe Theatre, Dial M for Murder and Moon for the Misbegotten at Watermark Theatre...

Samy is 15 years old and was born and raised in Regent Park. This is his first year being a part of The Journey.