MELISSA D'AGOSTINO -- Lupe/writer/Co-creator
Melissa D’Agostino is a an award-winning artist and well -known for her live performances as the character Lupe in the hit shows Lupe: Undone (Best of Toronto Fringe, Critic’s Pick, Canadian Comedy Award Nomination), A Very Lupe X-Mas, and Lupe’s Next Top Lupe. Past productions include: Apricots (Quiptake), Mambo Italiano (Bellweather Theatre) Vox Animae (Young Centre) The Maddest Kind of Love (Dreamers Take Your Mark Productions), Downtown (The Question Company), Innana (tiny bird theatre), and In Translation (Nightwood Theatre). She can be heard in The Novena Sisters for CBC Radio and seen in the Independent film Calogero (Mexican Monster Productions). Melissa is a regular performer at The Lunacy Cabaret and the award-winning The Carnegie Hall Show; her work has been featured in the Waves Festival for Luminato and the Festival of Ideas and Creation (Canadian Stage).
Melissa has taught at the Toronto Film School, as a guest instructor at the University of Toronto, as well as worked as an instructor/mentor for the AMY Project, the Paprika Festival, Children's Peace Theatre, Canadian Stage, Theatre Revolve, Project Humanity and the Royal Conservatory of Music. She is also currently a television story editor and writer for Buck Productions. Recently, Melissa directed the award-winning Wonderland, starring Adam Lazarus, and the musical satire 9/11/11 by The Specials. Melissa is a graduate of the BFA Acting program at the University of Windsor.
Melissa D’Agostino is a an award-winning artist and well -known for her live performances as the character Lupe in the hit shows Lupe: Undone (Best of Toronto Fringe, Critic’s Pick, Canadian Comedy Award Nomination), A Very Lupe X-Mas, and Lupe’s Next Top Lupe. Past productions include: Apricots (Quiptake), Mambo Italiano (Bellweather Theatre) Vox Animae (Young Centre) The Maddest Kind of Love (Dreamers Take Your Mark Productions), Downtown (The Question Company), Innana (tiny bird theatre), and In Translation (Nightwood Theatre). She can be heard in The Novena Sisters for CBC Radio and seen in the Independent film Calogero (Mexican Monster Productions). Melissa is a regular performer at The Lunacy Cabaret and the award-winning The Carnegie Hall Show; her work has been featured in the Waves Festival for Luminato and the Festival of Ideas and Creation (Canadian Stage).
Melissa has taught at the Toronto Film School, as a guest instructor at the University of Toronto, as well as worked as an instructor/mentor for the AMY Project, the Paprika Festival, Children's Peace Theatre, Canadian Stage, Theatre Revolve, Project Humanity and the Royal Conservatory of Music. She is also currently a television story editor and writer for Buck Productions. Recently, Melissa directed the award-winning Wonderland, starring Adam Lazarus, and the musical satire 9/11/11 by The Specials. Melissa is a graduate of the BFA Acting program at the University of Windsor.
ADAM LAZARUS -- Mordecai/Director/Co-creator
Adam is an award-winning Actor/Director/Writer and Teacher. Adam’s other directing credits include Rachelle Elie’s Joe: The Perfect Man (Best of London Fringe Award); Jesse Buck's Bubkus (current Cirque De Soleil performer); Precious Chong’s Zdenka Now! and Misha Shulman's Apricots. As an actor, recent notable credits include
Wonderland (SummerWorks 2010 Spotlight Award for outstanding performance); Crow's Theatre/Mammalian Diving Reflex production of Darren O'Donnell's [boxhead] at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre; & Dora winning sensation Appetite (Volcano/Theatre Passe Muraille/Exchange Rate Collective).
Adam is an award-winning Actor/Director/Writer and Teacher. Adam’s other directing credits include Rachelle Elie’s Joe: The Perfect Man (Best of London Fringe Award); Jesse Buck's Bubkus (current Cirque De Soleil performer); Precious Chong’s Zdenka Now! and Misha Shulman's Apricots. As an actor, recent notable credits include
Wonderland (SummerWorks 2010 Spotlight Award for outstanding performance); Crow's Theatre/Mammalian Diving Reflex production of Darren O'Donnell's [boxhead] at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre; & Dora winning sensation Appetite (Volcano/Theatre Passe Muraille/Exchange Rate Collective).
SAM KALILIEH -- YASSER
SAM SPENT TWO YEARS AT THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF DRAMATIC ARTS IN NEW YORK CITY AND THE LAST 15 YEARS AS AN ACTOR IN TORONTO. HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE WORKING AT THE SECOND CITY (TOURING COMPANY), CANSTAGE (OMNIUM GATHERUM, INTERNAZIONALE) THEATRE PASSE MURIELLE (TERRITORIES) , THE GREAT CANADIAN THEATRE COMPANY (RELATIVE GOOD) AND STUDIO 180 (STUFF HAPPENS). FILM AND TELEVISION CREDITS ARE NUMEROUS AND IMPRESSIVE. HE WOULD NOT BE THE MAN HE IS WITHOUT THE WOMEN IN HIS LIFE. MANY THANKS TO RIFKA, BLANCHE, MABEL, NABIHA AND MOST OF ALL BROOKE.
SAM SPENT TWO YEARS AT THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF DRAMATIC ARTS IN NEW YORK CITY AND THE LAST 15 YEARS AS AN ACTOR IN TORONTO. HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE WORKING AT THE SECOND CITY (TOURING COMPANY), CANSTAGE (OMNIUM GATHERUM, INTERNAZIONALE) THEATRE PASSE MURIELLE (TERRITORIES) , THE GREAT CANADIAN THEATRE COMPANY (RELATIVE GOOD) AND STUDIO 180 (STUFF HAPPENS). FILM AND TELEVISION CREDITS ARE NUMEROUS AND IMPRESSIVE. HE WOULD NOT BE THE MAN HE IS WITHOUT THE WOMEN IN HIS LIFE. MANY THANKS TO RIFKA, BLANCHE, MABEL, NABIHA AND MOST OF ALL BROOKE.
PHIL LUZI -- JACKSON
Phil hosts Toronto's hottest comedy room, The Sal & Sandy Show at The Underground Comedy Club with Sandra Battaglini (www.thesalandsandyshow.com), and is also in Toronto's hilarious new troupe of musical satirists, The Specials (www.thespecials.tv). Theatre credits include the title role in Michel Tremblay’s Hosanna for Piccadilly Circus at the Players’ Guild Studio, the title role in Othello at Theatre Passe Muraille, Nino in a Canadian tour of Mambo Italiano, and Marvin in The Cygnet Theatre Company's world premiere of Pinned Up: The Exploits of Bettie. He also played Tony, among other characters, in the hit off-Broadway comedy Tony n' Tina's Wedding at The Second City, Toronto. TV & Film credits include the ABC mini-series, The Path to 9/11, where Phil had the opportunity of acting opposite Harvey Keitel. One of Phil's most recent film project with Ardent Pictures, The Devil’s Tail, has garnered international attention; winning the Bronze Palm at the Mexico International Film Festival, and Best Screenplay honors at the Beloit International Film Festival, 2010. His latest short film project Nimby, won top honors at Atom Egoyan’s Toronto Urban Film Festival (TUFF).
Phil hosts Toronto's hottest comedy room, The Sal & Sandy Show at The Underground Comedy Club with Sandra Battaglini (www.thesalandsandyshow.com), and is also in Toronto's hilarious new troupe of musical satirists, The Specials (www.thespecials.tv). Theatre credits include the title role in Michel Tremblay’s Hosanna for Piccadilly Circus at the Players’ Guild Studio, the title role in Othello at Theatre Passe Muraille, Nino in a Canadian tour of Mambo Italiano, and Marvin in The Cygnet Theatre Company's world premiere of Pinned Up: The Exploits of Bettie. He also played Tony, among other characters, in the hit off-Broadway comedy Tony n' Tina's Wedding at The Second City, Toronto. TV & Film credits include the ABC mini-series, The Path to 9/11, where Phil had the opportunity of acting opposite Harvey Keitel. One of Phil's most recent film project with Ardent Pictures, The Devil’s Tail, has garnered international attention; winning the Bronze Palm at the Mexico International Film Festival, and Best Screenplay honors at the Beloit International Film Festival, 2010. His latest short film project Nimby, won top honors at Atom Egoyan’s Toronto Urban Film Festival (TUFF).
HART MASSEY -- PEPE
Hart Massey is giddy over being back as Lupe's little helper Pepe, for A Very Lupe Xmas. He has been away from the theatre for some time, writing and starring in Massey Bros. Films' Gemini-nominated tv series, The Film Student (now in production on its 5th season), and his own breakout comedy series, Hart of the Annex, both on Rogers TV. But the stage has always drawn him back in, dating back to childhood when he landed his very first professional role for The Limelight Dinner Theatre's production of The Music Man. He credits that as changing the course of his life, and leading him to playing in dozens of theatre productions and now educating brilliant young actors as the Co-Chair of the acting program at The Toronto Film School. But most importantly, Hart is now the father of a 1-year-old daughter, whose smile is bigger than his and lights up his life. Thanks to T.L. and Maleeya for making this a truly special Chrismaka!
Hart Massey is giddy over being back as Lupe's little helper Pepe, for A Very Lupe Xmas. He has been away from the theatre for some time, writing and starring in Massey Bros. Films' Gemini-nominated tv series, The Film Student (now in production on its 5th season), and his own breakout comedy series, Hart of the Annex, both on Rogers TV. But the stage has always drawn him back in, dating back to childhood when he landed his very first professional role for The Limelight Dinner Theatre's production of The Music Man. He credits that as changing the course of his life, and leading him to playing in dozens of theatre productions and now educating brilliant young actors as the Co-Chair of the acting program at The Toronto Film School. But most importantly, Hart is now the father of a 1-year-old daughter, whose smile is bigger than his and lights up his life. Thanks to T.L. and Maleeya for making this a truly special Chrismaka!