Past Cohorts
2019-2023
2024 Fireworks Showcase
Teesri’s Rangshala Studio
Facilitated for the second year by Dramaturges Vishesh Abeyratne and Jen Cressey, this program employed two (2) seasoned dramaturges, ten (10) breakout playwrights, and thirty-five (35) actors of diverse backgrounds.
Cohort
Lila Ciesielski, Alice Wu, Deidre Walton, Kamal Pandya, Yasna Khademian, Chelsey Fawcett, Leya/Luke/Lore Graie, Parastoo Geranmayeh, Laurie Dumont-Bal, Fred Azeredo
2023 Fireworks Showcase
Teesri’s Rangshala Studio
Facilitated by Dramaturges Vishesh Abeyratne and Jen Cressey, the public readings were delivered in person for the first time in 3 years, marking a triumphant return to Fireworks in-person programming. In all, this program employed two (2) seasoned dramaturges, six (6) breakout playwrights, and nineteen (19) actors of diverse backgrounds.
Cohort
Trusha Chauhan, Banafsheh Hassani, Danna-Rae Evasiuk, Shailee Rajak, Ella Kohlmann, Yifan Li.
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Trusha Chauhan: To Her Who Knocks
Cast: Natasha Fagant, Mahin Sekendra, Ambica Sharma -
Banafsheh Hassani: Azadi
Cast: Niyayesh Golestani, Sean Henderson, Shadi Yazdani -
Danna-Rae Evasiuk: We Don’t Blink at Wolves
Cast: San Choi, Gio Imola, Natasha Fagant, Leigh-Ann Taylor -
Shailee Rajak: the Women who launched the Wars
Cast: Charity Adzie, San Choi, Tiernan Cornford, Rahul Gandhi, Leya Graie, Nazifa, Natasha Fagant, Leigh Ann Taylor -
Ella Kohlmann: Corps
Cast: Tiernan Cornfordd, Robyn Erin Ellison, Leya Graie, Natasha Fagant, Tevin Sawyer, Ambica Sharma, Leigh Ann Taylor Advisor on physical disability: HeatherEllen Strain -
Yifan Li: Vanity of Vanities All is Vanity
Cast: San Choi, Arash Ebrahimi, Sean Henderson, Gio Imola, Gabriel Lezza, Mizra Sarhan
2022 Fireworks Showcase
The 2022 Fireworks Mentorship Program was facilitated by dramaturges Lib Spry and Lydie Dubuisson. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our 2022 Fireworks showcase was presented fully online for the second consecutive year allowing the program to reach a record-breaking number of community members. In all, this program employed two (2) seasoned dramaturges, eight (8) breakout playwrights, and over forty (40) actors of diverse backgrounds.
Cohort:
Caroline Lou, Nathaniel Hanula-James, Debdeep Chatterjee, Tiernan Cornford, Carolyn Fe, Caren Hwitte-Phagget, Sangeeta Wylie, and Heather White.
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Caroline Lou: And Then We Parted
Directed by Sophie Gee Cast: Hilary Wheeler, Caroline Mawhinney, Sarah Talbot, Schubert Pierre-Louis, Julie D’Entremont, Jeremy Cabrera -
Tiernan Cornford: Essential Work
Directed by Gabe Maharjan Cast: Riel Reddick-Stevens, Faïza Boukaria, Vishmayaa Jey, Jonathan Patterson, Johnny Abilach, Gabrielle Banville -
Debdeep Chatterjee: Tales of an Imaginary Search for Workers
Directed by Masha Bashmakova Cast: Julie Phan, Duy Nguyễn, Carolyn Fe, Ambica Sharma, Jake Cohen, Chimwemwe Miller, Zeshaun Saleem -
Caren Hwitte-Phagget: [N-word] In Pontreal
Directed by Esi Callender Cast: Grégory Yves, Dakota Jamal Wellman, Espoir Segbaya, Joy Mwandemange, Charity Adzie, Oprah Lemorin, Sarah Nairne -
Carolyn Fe: Go Fish!
Directed by Lib Spry Cast: Jane Luj, Emilee Veluz, Nouella Grimes, Linda Nourse, Alexandra Valassis -
Nathaniel Hanula-James: Death and Dolores
Directed by Quinlan Green Cast: Chadia Kikondjo, Rochelle Laplante, Sarah Nairne, Chole Giddings, Kwaku Okyere -
Sangeeta Wylie: Father
Directed by Summer Mahmud Cast: Sherry Duggal, Ivan Smith, Amitai Marmorstein, Avery Marilyn
2020 Fireworks Showcase
Participants: Dipti Gupta, Alida Esmail, Laura Flynn, Baharan Banaihmadi, Seely Quest, Camille Mankumah, Kay Komizara, Charles Gao, Summer Muhmad, Nicole Leroux, Min Kyungseo, Zaynab Bourezza, Azin Mohammadi.
Facilitated By: Deborah Forde
2019 Fireworks Showcase
Montréal, arts interculturels (MAI) Studio
Playwrights: Gabe Maharjan, Oliver Koomsatira, Dipti Gupta, Candace H. Blake-Amarante, Maryline Chery, Seeley Quest, Shannon Thompson
Cast: Oliver Koomsatira, Trevor Barrette, Dakota Jamal
Facilitated By: Deborah Forde
Following several weeks of intensive workshops, two plays were selected from the participants of the Fireworks program to be performed in a public presentation.