ETHER
Toronto Fringe Festival
(July 3rd -14th)
Helen Gardiner Phelan Playhouse
Stranded in the unknown space between life and death, a shocking secret has come to light. Join the cast of 'Ether' on an unsettling journey from this realm into the beyond, where past regrets come back to haunt us. In a room with no entrances or exits, the characters must navigate the defining moments of their lives, but can they outrun their shame forever? Exploring the relationship between morality and the afterlife, 'Ether' unites an unlikely group of women to confront the betrayal and inaction that may have cost them their lives. Perhaps they can brave this limbo together.
Illustrator: ECMazur
Time moves differently in the Ether...
Let me not be at fault for the sins of my charges.
Let me not be at fault for the sins of my charges.
I told you it wouldn’t be so easy to get away from me.
I'm just a shell, hoping at some point I’ll be what they want.
Above images by Yuko Yamamori
ETHER CAST AND CREW
MEET OUR TEAM
BRENDEE GREEN
Playwright, 'Indigo' Alternate
Brendee Green is a graduate of York University Theatre Studies, specializing in collective creation as well as playwriting and new play dramaturgy. As a performer, she has been featured on television series such as ‘Rookie Blue’ and ‘Hannibal’, and more recently on stage as Portia in Spada Production’s ‘Julius Caesar’ in London, England. As a writer, her short film, ‘Meet Cute’ (written in collaboration with Patrick Currie), was produced and showcased with Crazy 8s Film competition in Vancouver before screening at various film festivals across North America, as well as CatFish Shorts Festival in London. ‘Ether’ is Brendee’s first play to hit the stage, and she is thrilled with the incredible team bringing it to life. Currently, Brendee is in pre-production on the first feature film she has written, while continuing to work as an actor in Toronto.
ESTHER VLESSING
'Indigo'
Esther Vlessing is thrilled to make her Fringe Festival debut with White Mills Theatre Co., performing alongside an incredible group of artists and storytellers. She looks forward to taking audiences into the ether—to a place outside of time. Esther would like to thank her acting coaches, Robyn Kay Pilarski (Robyn Kay Studio), Lewis Baumander (LB Acting Studio), and Robert Kennedy (McNally Kennedy Acting) for teaching her about the craft, about herself, and the actor’s pursuit of truth.
Esther would like to extend a special thank you to Brendee Green for inviting her to audition for this brilliant piece; to Brandon White, Daniel Tofach, and Shannon Mills for trusting her with Indigo; as well as to the cast and crew for bringing ‘Ether’ to the stage. She’d also like to express her gratitude and appreciation for Inga, Robert, Noa, Sam, Sab, Shir, Jeanne, Shane, Josh, and the Universe.
Select Credits: ‘Who Nu?’ (Unsung Heroes Productions), ‘Trophy Girl’ (Bobby Del Rio), ‘The Girl Who Could Not See’ (University of Toronto/Hart House Theatre), ‘Cabaret’ (Steppin’ Out Productions), and ‘State of Syn’ (Shaftesbury/Smokebomb Entertainment).
BREANNA MALONEY
'Charlotte'
Breanna is a Toronto-based actor, singer, and theatre creator. She is the general manager and co-founder of Skipping Stones Theatre, an independent collective whose mandate is to study, explore, address and express the various forms of mental health through art. Breanna is a graduate of the University of Windsor’s BFA acting program and East 15 Acting Schools MFA acting program (UK). Recent theatre credits include: Crispinella in ‘The Dutch Courtesan’ (Poculi Ludique Societas), Ophelia in ‘Hamlet(s)’ (Skipping Stones Theatre), and B in Sarah Kane’s ‘Crave’ (Pure Carbon Collective). Much thanks to White Mills Theatre Co. and the terrific cast and crew of Ether.
CASSANDRA DAVIDSON
'Paisely'
Cassandra is from the beautiful, small town of Walkerton, Ontario. She graduated from the University of Guelph with a Bachelor of Arts and has recently completed her conservatory training at George Brown Theatre School. Some of her favourite theatre credits include: d’Eon in ‘Monsieur d’Eon is a Woman’ (GBTS), Rehearsal Zelda in ‘Scott Shorts and Zelda’ (GBTS), Iris in ‘The Quest for the Perfect Science Fair Project’ (Bruce Power Theatre), and The Young One in ‘If We Were Birds’ (University of Guelph). She is a stage combat enthusiast and hopes to sword fight her way around the world.
JONATHAN WIDDIFIELD
'Kristoff'
RECENT THEATRE CREDITS INCLUDE: Geoff in Cloud with Scapegoat Theatre Collective; Damian/The
Devil in Chasse-Galerie, Red One Theatre Collective and The Storefront Theatre (Dora Award for Best
Ensemble). Three seasons with the Watermark Theatre, PEI: An Ideal Husband, The Rainmaker, Lion in
Winter, The Shore Field. Three seasons with The Shaw Festival: Doctor’s Dilemma, The Devil’s Disciple,
John Bull’s Other Island, and Born Yesterday. Five seasons with the Classical Theatre Project: Hamlet in
Hamlet, Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet (Dora Nominated for Best Performance in TYA). Danny in Danny,
King of the Basement with Roseneath Theatre. Haunted by Daniel Karasik, Summerworks Festival.
TELEVISION AND FILM CREDITS INCLUDE: Murdoch Mysteries (Season 10). Big Pharma (Short-Film).
They’re Here… (Indie-Feature). To the Victor (Indie-Feature). Commercial: Coors, Peoples, Pro Line,
Volkswaggen, Country Style.
“Thank You to beautiful friends and supportive families.”
FELICIA VALENTI
'Myssie'
From birth, her parents knew she would be a loud child. From her training as an opera singer to her more recent voice acting endeavors in video-games, commercial and animation, Felicia has been singing for her supper her entire life. On stage, she has sung Audrey in James Bond a Convenient Lie (Malfi Productions), Adina in L’Elisire D’Amore (Toronto City Opera), the title role in Martha (SOLT), Barbarina in Le Nozze di Figaro (TSOW), and more. She has also lent her voice to soundtracks, video games, animations, audio-books, VR and AR experiences, commercials and explainer videos. In April she filmed her first feature-length film directed by William Rose. Felicia is a tri-lingual (Italian, English, German) speaker who is also entranced by accents. As a singer, she has studied with Nadine Secunde in Germany, with Norma Burrowes in Toronto and with Maria Pellegrini in Ottawa. More recently, she has trained with Christian Potenza, John Nelles and Ivan Sherry as a voice actor. She is a graduate of York University and has training in speech, movement, pedagogy and voice up the wazoo. A voracious reader, avid crafter and apprentice gardener, she is so excited to be joining White Mills Theatre Co. in her first foray into Fringe. And before anyone else can say it: Bye Felicia.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/felicia_voices
Website: https://www.feliciavalenti.com/
Opera: http://www.feliciamittica.com/
ELLA MAZUR
'Mrs. Bellwood', Illustrator
Ella is an artist, illustrator, and graphic designer based in Toronto. Her artwork focuses on creating beautiful imagined worlds, and she loved using her whimsical and surreal illustration for the poster of Ether. She was actively involved in theatre during high school and university, appearing in a number of school and community theatre productions. Her favourite role was as Theresa Salieri in the Charleston Footlight Player's production of Amadeus. She is thrilled to be marrying her passions working on the design work for White Mills Theatre Co., as well as providing the voiceof Mrs. Bellwood in this production.
You can see more of her work at www.ecmazur.com.
CHIN PALIPANE
Lighting Designer
Chin is a Toronto-based theatre creator and lighting designer. A graduate of York University's Theatre program with a specialization in Creative Ensemble, he is used to wearing multiple hats on a production. While he first and foremost loves devising original works; he also greatly enjoys playing with light! His designs have premiered in multiple provinces and states across North America, and even across the pond at the Edinburgh Fringe! (Confessions of a Redheaded Coffeeshop Girl) He also recently became a member of Coyote Collective, and couldn't be more proud to join their pack. This is his third original production with White Mills Theatre Co. He would like to thank his friends and family for their continued support and hopes you enjoy the performance!
Recent Designs include: Never Swim Alone by Daniel MacIvor and Criminal Genius by George F. Walker (Don't Look Down Theatre), Frozen by Bryony Lavery (Seven Siblings Theatre) and Crave by Sarah Kane (Pure Carbon), The Medium (White Mills Theatre Co.).
ARI LYON
Sound Designer
ARi is a musician and writer who splits his time between Toronto and Nashville. Growing up on a healthy mix of Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, The Temptations, and Stillwater, ARi tours as a solo artist and is currently releasing his debut album. Having played with great artists such as Raine Maida, Theory of a Deadman, Chantal Kreviazuk, Jann Arden, Ian Thornley, etc., this will be his first time getting involved with the theatre community outside of being a loyal patron. Always interested in finding new ways to express a narrative, he is thrilled to be making his theatrical sound design debut with the wonderful people at White Mills Theatre Co. ARi would like to thank his parents and eleven siblings for their continued support even though they probably forgot he was doing this until this morning and will definitely get a text message tonight about this joke.
CHRISTIE DEL MONTE
Costume Designer
Christie Del Monte is an assistant costume designer/ costume buyer for film and tv, with a history of costume designing for theatre as well as working in the costume department for the Canadian Opera Company. Although she has been in the world of film for a few years now, her first love will always be the theatre. There has never been a better time to get back into that world than now, with so many fellow York theatre Alumni on the Ether Team. Christie hopes you enjoy this beautiful piece!
WILL FORD
Front of House Representative, Communications Manager
Story-telling is the heart of performance art. With my on-stage experience together with my love for the operatic art-form, it is my vision to help other young performers define and share their individual story and talent with the public.
SHANNON MILLS
Director, Producer, Stage Manager
Shannon Mills earned her Master of Arts with distinction in Music Performance from California State University, Fresno, as well as a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Vocal Performance from the University of Lethbridge. Inspired by the achievements of her academic mentors, Shannon has gone on to instill a love of opera in children—working as a Program Assistant with the Canadian Opera Company’s After School Opera Program. With this in mind, Shannon is driven to produce engaging work for fellow artists within her community. Recognizing both the wide range of talent and few performance opportunities in Toronto, Shannon founded White Mills Theatre Co. to bring her fresh perspective to the stage. As Managing Director, she reimagines classic libretti to produce original theatre projects and newly relevant opera, creating fulfilling work for herself as a soprano. Shannon’s extensive musical training has been an asset in her ventures as a theatre director, working closely with actors to develop the cadence and musicality of spoken text. This is Shannon's first time stepping into the role of Stage Manager, and she is very excited to be diving into a new area of the production team!
BRANDON WHITE
Director, Producer, Set Designer
Brandon White is an interdisciplinary artist whose passion for queer theory and theology recurs throughout much of his body of work—both thematically as a director and visually as a designer. A graduate of York University’s comprehensive Theatre program, Brandon specialized in Devised Theatre, with an emphasis on collective creation, directing, and design. A wearer of many hats, Brandon’s numerous interests are integrated into a singular vision as Artistic Director of White Mills Theatre Co. His original work has toured throughout much of Central America, earning him a Bernice Adams Memorial Award nomination at an early age. More recently, he has collaborated with the City of Toronto to animate local heritage sites, working together with his creative partner, Shannon Mills, to stage an immersive adaptation of Menotti’s The Medium at Spadina Museum: Heritage House and Gardens. An active participant in the Toronto theatre community, Brandon creates inclusive opportunities for performers of diverse backgrounds, skill levels, and experience.