RECURRING JOHN IN CONCERT AT SUMMERWORKS 2014
Creative Team
JEFF MADDEN
Director Jeff Madden is best known for his starring role as ‘Frankie Valli’ in the hit musical Jersey Boys in both the Toronto and Australian productions, winning the Dora Award for ‘Outstanding Performance in a Musical’ for his work. Overall, Jeff has performed the grueling 2-1/2 hour role six nights a week, for a total of over 700 shows, to an audience of over 1-Million people. In his 16 years as an in-demand actor and singer, Jeff has worked literally across the country in various plays, musicals, concerts, television shows, and corporate gigs. For eight seasons performed at the Shaw Festival, appearing in Wonderful Town, High Society, Happy End, and Floyd Collins among others. Some may recognize Jeff from his work on TV’s ‘Murdoch Mysteries’ and ‘Mayday’. Jeff has also recorded two CDs, “TAKING THE WHEEL” and “MY LIFE IN SONG”, a live recording of his cabaret concert show. When he’s not singing, acting, emceeing, hosting or writing, Jeff enjoys teaching acting and singing privately and at Sheridan College. Jeff resides with his wife of 10 years and their two gorgeous little girls at their home in Oakville, ON. Look him up on Facebook or Twitter to stay in the loop. |
DONAVON LENABAT
Musical Director / Piano Donavon LeNabat is an accomplished performer, accompanist, arranger, and music director. His most recent major project involved music-directing an independent production of The Last Five Years in April of 2014. Donavon performs regularly as a piano entertainer for public and private events, often working with some of Toronto’s finest talent. In addition to performing several nights a week, Donavon teaches at Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts. In his spare time he is currently re-watching all of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (Season 6). Donavon is thrilled beyond to work with such an amazing cast and crew!” lenabat.com |
SEREN BROOKE LANNON
Producer Seren is very honoured to be producing Recurring John at Summerworks this year! She is a recent graduate of Ryerson University's Performance Production Program. Previous producing credits include Confessions of a Redheaded Coffeeshop Girl (Toronto Premiere) and Anthem: A Cabaret, which she produced as her final thesis. Other Credits include: Music of the Night: A Theatrical Tribute to Colm Wilkinson (Assistant Stage Manager) and 360 Screenings Presents: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (Production Lead). Seren is also very proud to be working as Outreach Coordinator for Theatre 20's Emerging Artist Ensemble. Love and thanks to my amazing Mom, Danielle, Chris Scholey, and last but not least, the incomparable Kevin Wong! |
LINDSAY JENKINS
Stage Manager Lindsay Jenkins is recent graduate of York University with a BA Professional Writing and Business Minor. Lindsay has enjoyed various creative roles as Lighting Designer, Stage Manager, Production Manager, as well as administrative roles with Vanier College Production, Angelwalk Theatre and Roseneath Theatre. Some credits include: Lighting Designer/Stage Manager for If I Can Dream (Steve Michaels). Stage Manager for Mum and The Big C (Toronto Fringe Festival), Production Manager for Confessions of a Redheaded Coffeeshop Girl (Tour), Production Manager for Stop Kiss (Toronto Fringe Festival) and Stage Manager/Producer forParallel Play (Toronto Fringe Festival). She loves trying out different roles and creating things. |
GLEN MCCANN
Sound Designer Audio Technician; The Little Mermaid, Lower Ossington Theatre (2014), Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Lower Ossington Theatre (2014), Anthem Cabaret (2014), Next to Normal, Lower Ossington Theatre (2013) Avenue Q, Lower Ossington Theatre (2012) Sound Design; And Now, The End (2014), 291 Letters (2014), On the Other Side of the World, Harley Dog Productions (2014), Moss Park, Green Thumb Theatre and Theatre Passe Muraille (2013), Mo and Jess Kill Susie, Harley Dog Productions (2013), One Side of an Ampersand, Flying Radio Theatre (2013), Marge and Tom Break Up (2013), Adventure Time 2: The Great Search for Jason (2013) |
KEVIN WONG
Lyricist & Composer Kevin Wong is a composer/lyricist, singer, and violinist based out of Toronto. He is thrilled that Recurring John, his first complete musical theatre piece, is debuting as part of the 2014 SummerWorks lineup! After an upbringing filled with violin, music, composition & theory training, and lasagna, Kevin went to school to become a dentist and then became a lawyer instead. He spent 3 years practicing law and moonlighting as a freelance musician and singer-songwriting performing his own songs before burning out and deciding in July 2013 to pursue musical theatre composition full time. Current/upcoming projects: Kevin is currently working on a yet-untitled book musical with playwright Matthew Milo Sergi. Kevin is terrible at team sports. Just terrible. |
Orchestra
NATALIE WONG
Violin Natalie began her musical studies at the age of 3. She started playing violin at the age of 7. At the age of 16 she received the ARCT performance diploma at the Royal Conservatory of Music, and majored in violin performance at the University of Toronto and has studied with Scott St. John, Annalee Patipatanakoon and Katherine Rapoport. Natalie also has an extensive background in music theory and composition, having studied with Abigail Richardson and Alexander Rapoport. She actively performs in orchestras, chamber music, musical theatre, jazz and pop concerts. She is currently a core member of the Niagara Symphony Orchestra, and has also been playing with Sudbury Symphony Symphony, Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, Opera York, and many more. Natalie is very active in the musical theatre and played numerous other instruments for both classical and contemporary productions. She has been noticed for her voice and has been a soloist in numerous choirs since the age of 6. She has been a female vocalist in numerous bands in the past 15 years with a wide spectrum of genres including pop, folk, R&B, rock and metal, performed in numerous bars, weddings, corporate events and broadcasted television productions, and had appeared in numerous sountracks and albums. In her spare time Natalie enjoys reading, writing, and playing more music. |
ERIKA NIELSEN
Cello Described as "a colourful cellist of many temperaments," Erika Nielsen enjoys a rewarding career as an independent collaborative artist, chamber musician, and orchestral player. Known for her chameleon-like musicianship, Erika's artistry spans the classical tradition to contemporary and popular genres. She is featured with Westwood Chamber Music in Yorkville, and was selected for this summer's Tafelmusik Baroque Institute. 2014 theatre highlights included Next Stage Festival's On The Other Side Of The World, The Last Five Years at Winchester Street Theatre, and she is thrilled to be a part of Summerworks with Kevin Wong's Recurring John. Ms. Nielsen was principal cellist of the Sudbury Symphony Orchestra from 2011-13, where she also headlined as a concerto soloist. From 2008-11, she was a member of Toronto minimalist ensemble, Muskox, has performed with Grammy-winning artist Kanye West, and can be heard on albums such as the 2014 JUNO-nominated album by Splash 'n Boots. Upcoming performances include playing with The Big Sound, a 25 piece Motown band. Erika holds an Artist Diploma from the Glenn Gould School, where she studied with David Hetherington. |
MATT MARCOCCIA
Guitar Matt is a Toronto based musician and graduate of Humber College’s Bachelor of Music program. Currently, Matt plays guitar for pop artists Stacey Renee and Chad Price, country band Townes & Cities, and for the unmistakably talented cabaret artist Chris Tsujiuchi. Matt has also had the pleasure of playing guitar in various musicals and cabarets around the city. He has performed in Toronto productions of Jesus Christ Superstar, Little Shop of Horrors, Cabaret, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, and A History of Summer (SummerWorks 2013). Matt is thrilled to return to SummerWorks for the second time and to be a part of Recurring John. |
ROSS MACINTYRE
Bass Toronto based acoustic and electric bassist Ross MacIntyre has been a professional musician for over 20 years. A graduate of the University of Toronto’s esteemed jazz program, Ross has performed with elite musicians from Canada and around the world including Wynton Marsalis, Ed Robertson, and Jim Cuddy. He has toured all over Europe, North America, Australia, and Asia with Universal recording artist Matt Dusk, JUNO award winners Emilie-Claire Barlow, Jesse Cook, Elizabeth Shepherd, Kellylee Evans, the Shuffle Demons, and Michael Kaeshammer. From 2000-2003 Ross was the musical director and composer for the Garden Brother’s Circus. He was the musical director of the Young People’s Theatre production of Jacob Two-Two Meets the Hooded Fang in 2004. Ross is the bass player on numerous recordings, 7 of which are JUNO award nominated, including last year's Vocal Jazz Album of the Year winner "Seule Ce Soir" by Emilie-Claire Barlow. He is nominated for a 2014 Mississauga Arts Council Award. As a side musician, Ross has shared the stage with many of Canada’s jazz luminaries including Peter Appleyard, Chase Sanborn, and Hilario Duran. Ross has released a duet album with pianist Mark Kieswetter, to great critical acclaim. Of it The Whole Note Magazine writes: “Kieswetter and MacIntyre have captured the true essence of what the best piano/bass duos are all about: elegance, economy, precision, fluidity, style, intimacy, grace, and that magical, intangible chemistry – the simpatico.” |
JUSTIN HAN
Cajon / Percussion
Cajon / Percussion