The must-see tradition of the Halloween season is back and as bone-chilling as ever! From the minds behind the immersive sensations Tales of the Grotesque (2023, 2024) and Tales of the Damned (2025) comes the revival of Toronto’s favourite gothic horror anthology. With fresh characters, familiar tales, and its twisted brand of terror, this highly anticipated theatrical experience brings literature’s most depraved characters to life … and death.
After a lady of the night is brutally murdered, a mad doctor strikes a pact with the Devil to raise her from the dead. But all hell breaks loose when he comes face-to-face with her killer at a masquerade. Descend into madness with Victor Frankenstein, Henry Jekyll, and Dorian Gray as they discover the results of playing God, and the monstrous repercussions when the Devil comes to collect.
Following its sold-out 2025 run, the critically acclaimed production returns to Campbell House Museum. An immersive horror opera, Tales of the Damned invites you to explore Victorian Toronto through the eyes of history’s most disturbed authors, though it might just cost you your soul …
Front Mezz Junkies raves, “A gorgeously wicked and creative collision of literature, history, and horror.”
"De omnibus dubitandum [Everything must be doubted]."
- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Faust
Above Portraits by White Mills Theatre Co.
Edited by Daniel Tofach
PRODUCTION STILLS
All photographs taken by Jon de Leon
BEHIND THE SCENES
CAST AND CREW
MEET THE TEAM
MONA HILLIS
~ Justine Moritz ~
Mona is a Toronto-based actor, singer, and dancer. Though a performer through and through, Mona has recently added to her hyphens by dabbling in direction and choreography on projects including You're a Good Man Charlie Brown, and The SpongeBob Musical. She feels very honoured to join this magnificent ensemble with White Mills Theatre Co., and to work on such a rich piece. Past credits include The Drowsy Chaperone (Shifting Ground Collective) - recipient of the John Kaplan Audience Choice Award at the 2026 Dora Mavor Moore Awards, Merrily We Roll Along (Shifting Ground Collective), Salt Water Moon (King Theatre Company), Falsettos (Bowtie Productions), Apothecary (Toronto Fringe/Pitchin’in Productions), and Disney’s The Little Mermaid (T.Y.T. Theatre).
Find her at @monahillis for regular shenanigans, and @trashprincessmanicures for your next manicure!
ANTHONY BOTELHO
~ Victor Frankenstein ~
Anthony Botelho (he/him) is a Toronto-based actor, voice actor, and writer, as well as the co-creator of the award-winning horror anthology podcast Wrong Station. Anthony's thrilled to be joining White Mills again for Tales of the Damned, especially as a fellow producer of weird and macabre fiction and as a great lover of the classic works being showcased. He'll see you down in the lab!
Selected Theatre Credits: Tales of the Grotesque (White Mills Theatre Co.); God of Carnage (CAA Theater); Forever Plaid and We Will Rock You (Starvox Entertainment). TV/Film/Voice: Deer Squad (iQIYI); Whip Cream (TLN); Marvel Move (ZRX); Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go (Mattel); Teletubbies (Netflix); Slugterra: Ascension (WildBrain).
Socials: https://linktr.ee/ajvbotelho
TARA BAXENDALE
~ Ricarda Enfield ~
Maritime born actor/singer Tara Baxendale has called Toronto home for over two decades. Selected Credits: Laura (Leap of Fairth – RareDay Projects), Tanya (Spend Your Kids’ Inheritance – Fringe Festival), Martha (Lies & Consequences – RareDay Projects), Mary O’Grady Hunt (Hogtown: The Immersive Experience – Hogtown Collective) (Dora nomination for Outstanding Performance – Ensemble), Sonia (Life x 3- Damsels in De-Stress Productions), and Chrystia (Chrystanthia – Theatre Aquarius). On the small screen Tara can be seen in 12 Dates of Christmas and heard as the voices of assorted Playboy Bunnies in Hugh Hefner: Playboy, Activist and Rebel.
During the 1st lockdown of 2020, her passion for performing forced her to overcome her fear of self-taping and technology and create a YouTube Channel, Songs for the Quarantined. Tara is thrilled to be returning to Tales of the Damned to reprise her role of Ricarda Enfield!
YouTube: @tarabaxendale
ADRIAN MARCHESANO
~ Dorian Gray ~
Adrian Marchesano is an actor and creator based in Toronto. He is a graduate of George Brown's Theatre School and an alumnus of Brock University, where he earned his Bachelor's degree in Theatre Arts and Performance. When he isn't performing, Adrian is probably thinking about game design or some other niche thing that he is quietly obsessing over.
Selected credits include: LUNGS (Yes Theatre), The Lovesick Lambs of Lombardi (Cooped up with Tom), Tales of the Grotesque, Tales of the Damned (White Mills Theatre Co.), Two Minutes to Midnight, Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Innocence Lost, The Living End (Theatre on The Ridge). This is Adrian’s third show with White Mills and is thrilled to be reprising his role as Dorian Gray.
Instagram: @marchinnovember
SPENCER SCHUNK
~ Henry Jekyll~
Spencer Schunk is an actor, fitness coach, and mad chemist who lives with his wife in Toronto. Theatre credits include the long-running interactive murder mystery The Perfect Bite, a Netflix co-production. He has recently ventured into film and commercials, represented by Ascension Talent Management in Vancouver. This is his fifth production with White Mills Theatre Co. and he’s thrilled to haunt the Campbell House Museum once more. Don’t drink anything he offers you.
Instagram: @spencer.schunk
MICHELLE DANESE
~ Marguerite Faust ~
Operatic soprano Michelle Danese is delighted to once again perform the role of Marguerite alongside a fabulous team and within such a spectacular venue. This year marks Michelle’s eighth collaboration with White Mills Theatre Co. Her previous roles with the company include Jacinta in Tales of the Grotesque; Belle in A Christmas Carol; Monica in both the full production and workshop of Giancarlo Menotti’s The Medium; and Mrs. Fiorentino in the company’s adaptation of Street Scene.
Working across opera, immersive theatre, and musical theatre, Michelle’s repertoire spans beloved classical characters as well as roles in new works and productions. As an actress, Michelle has appeared on The CW’s television series Reign, in the feature film Dr. Cabbie, and on CTV’s The Listener. Her vocals can also be heard in Dr. Cabbie and the independent film I Wish You Love.
Born in Toronto, Michelle holds a B.F.A. Honours in Music from York University and a Post-Bachelor Artist Diploma in Voice from The Glenn Gould School of The Royal Conservatory of Music. She continues her vocal studies in the studio of soprano Norma Burrowes and dedicates much of her time to performing, teaching, and adjudicating. A member of ACTRA, Michelle is represented by Primary Artist Management in Toronto.
Instagram:@michelledaneseofficial
SHELBY HANDLEY
~ Caroline & Sybil Vane ~
Toronto-based actor Shelby Handley looks forward to rejoining White Mills Theatre Co. in their latest remounted spooky production, Tales of the Damned. She is excited for you all to explore Campbell House; discovering the stories and secrets within.
Recent film credits include: Cheat (Greg Sager, Matchbox Pictures), All is Fine in ‘89 (Matthew Lupis, Westona Productions), The Dweller (Isaac Rathe, Electric Jalopy Productions - coming soon).
Instagram: @shelbyhandley
MICHELLE PILLER
~ Pearl Faust ~
Michelle Piller is delighted to return to Tales of The Damned. Other stage highlights include The Hogtown Experience (Campbell House); Blow Wind! (Station Arts); Lunenberg, Hope and Gravity (Festival Antigonish); Murder in Noirville (Orillia Opera House); The Last Resort (Red Barn Theatre); Dads (Port Dalhousie); Dance of The Dead (DOA); Toronto The Good (Artword Theatre); and I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now
Change (Tribal Productions). Selected television highlights include The Next Step; Designated Survivor and The 12 Dates of Christmas.
Instagram: @time4anewstory
ELLA MAZUR
~ Agatha De Lacey ~
Choreographer & Script Consultant
Ella Mazur is a multidisciplinary artist based in Toronto, Canada. Her work explores the beauty of nature and the power of the human imagination through visual art, poetry, murals, and performance. Former acting credits include Wendy in Peter Pan and the Wendy Lady and Lenore in Tales of the Grotesque in 2023 and Morella in Tales of the Grotesque in 2024 (White Mills Theatre Co.). She is thrilled to be working with White Mills Theatre company once more!
GORDON HARPER
~ Gabriel Utterson ~
Gordon is honoured to be joining White Mill Theatre Co.’s talented ensemble of artists and performers. Gordon is story-teller, working as an actor, writer, producer, and artist.
Harper is thrilled to be returning to live-theatre, kitty-corner from the Canadian Opera Company, where he performed in the 2025 hit La Reine Garçon. More recently, Gordon’s sketch comedy troupe, The Banana Loafers, had a sold-out run at the 2026 Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival.
Harper has appeared in film and tv-shows including: The Testaments (Disney/Hulu), Doc (Sony Television/Fox), Station 11 (HBO), Umbrella Academy (Netflix), Fellow Travellers (Showtime), Alice, Darling (Elevation Pictures), and Cross (Amazon Prime).
A life-long learner, Gordon tirelessly trains. He is a graduate from the University of Guelph’s Bachelor of Arts and Science program, and The Second City’s Sketch and Longform Conservatories.
Gordon adores wood-engraving (check out That’s Casual Press on IG), playing tennis, exploring dungeons in DND, and fawning over his two dogs, Fern and Maud.
SCOTT GARLAND
~ Edward Hyde ~
Scott Garland is thrilled to be back with the White Mills Theatre Company this Halloween! A German-born, Alberta-raised, Toronto-based performer and writer; you may remember him in White Mills' previous experiences Tales of the Grotesque and Peter Pan and the Wendy Lady. Other credits include Kitchen Witches and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Abridged (Bruce County Playhouse), Midnight Madness (Port Stanley Festival Theatre), Three Men in a Boat (Pea Green Theatre) and Threepenny Opera (Soup Can Theatre).
He recently produced Gemini at The Next Stage Festival and the award winning play Frankenstein(esque) with his puppet company Silent Protagonist. You can catch him on select episodes of Let's Go Luna, Workin Moms, Mayor of Kingstown, Murdoch Mysteries, and Titans. You can also hear Scott in Season Three of Winston Rowntree's award winning animated series People Watching on OUTTV.
Instagram: @scottdontgotthegram
SCOTT MOORE
~ Igor Poole ~
Scott is thrilled to be haunting the Campbell House once more with White Mills Theatre. He has been in three other White Mills productions: Tales of the Grotesque (Sir Usher), Peter Pan and the Wendy Girl (Mr. Darling/Mr.Smee), and A Christmas Carol (Ebenezer Scrooge); Other recent credits include: Horrorshow Productions – Sweeney Todd (Judge Turpin); Hart House Theatre – Romeo and Juliet (Friar Laurence), Julius Caesar (Cassius), Richard III (Clarence); Alumnae Theatre – Antigone (Creon), The Real Inspector Hound (Moon); Soup Can Theatre – Marat/Sade (Coumier).
ROB CARRUTHERS
~ Brothel Performer & Music Arranger ~
Rob is an emerging artist based in Toronto, whose passion for music shines through his diverse performances and compositions. As a dedicated woodwind musician, Rob brings versatility to his craft, performing on soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone saxophones, as well as flute, piccolo, oboe, clarinet, bass clarinet, and bassoon. Currently pursuing his education at York University, he continues to expand his artistic horizons and connect with audiences through his innovative work.
Rob has performed with a wide range of ensembles, including the Toronto All-Star Big Band, where he showcases his skills on multiple woodwind instruments. His experience also spans York University’s Wind Symphony and Symphony Orchestra, Media Music Club, and Jazz Orchestra, reflecting his adaptability and wide-ranging talent. Notable performances include collaborations with White Mills Theatre Co., where he contributed to productions such as Edgar Allan Poe’s “Tales of the Grotesque” and “Peter Pan and the Wendy Lady.”
In addition to his performance work, Rob is a prolific composer and arranger. His compositions, crafted for big bands, wind orchestras, chamber ensembles, and jazz groups, highlight his ability to blend creativity with technical skill. Through his compositions and arrangements, Rob continues to push creative boundaries and enrich the musical landscape.
Rob’s dedication to his craft and his commitment to artistic growth underscore his promising future in the music world.
SHANNON MILLS
~ Gretchen Faust ~
Producer, Co-Director & Musical Director
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 started her musical career in Toronto working as a Program Assistant with the Canadian Opera Company’s After School Opera Program. 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.
BRANDON WHITE
~ Producer, Co-Director, Playwright & Production Designer ~
Brandon White is an interdisciplinary artist whose passion for queer theory and theology shapes both his conceptual and visual narratives. An accomplished playwright, director, and designer, Brandon integrates these creative practices into a cohesive vision as the artistic director of White Mills Theatre Co. While his original works have toured internationally, he frequently collaborates with the City of Toronto to animate local heritage sites, museums, and community spaces. He is best known for developing immersive, site-specific theatrical adaptations of classic literature for Toronto’s Campbell House Museum and Spadina Museum to critical and popular acclaim. Committed to fostering an equitable local arts community, Brandon creates inclusive opportunities for performers across diverse backgrounds, skill levels, and experience. He holds a degree in Theatre and Creative Writing from York University, where he specialized in Devised Theatre with a focus on collective creation, directing, and design. His work explores ritual, iconography, subversion, and artifice.
IRIS ASSERLIND
~ Associate Director & Stage Manager ~
Iris is a queer, Toronto-based theatre artist, writer, stage manager, and arts educator. They graduated from the University of Windsor’s Drama in Education and Community program. Iris is an artist educator for Young People’s Theatre and Children’s Arts Theatre School. They are the founder and artistic director of One Day Theatre Co, a sober-exclusive company. They are also a poet, puppeteer and lover of movies. Recent select stage management credits include: Lucian, Plato & the Secrets of the Pussy (Bound Productions), Daring Debut (Antic Theatre), Sex Goddess (R&R Productions), Girls Night Cabin Fever (Ghouls and Girls Theatre), Long Live the Rainbow (Elderberry Productions); and Peter Pan and The Wendy Lady & Tales of the Grotesque (White Mills Theatre Co).
DANIEL TOFACH
~ Assistant Production Designer, Sound Designer,
Stage Manager & Script Consultant~
Daniel Tofach is a multidisciplinary, 2SLGBTQIA+ artist and theatre-maker specializing in painting, digital art, site-specificity, and audience immersion. As a classically trained artist working primarily in new media, he fuses his traditional background with modern composition methods, both as a painter and soundscape designer. Inspired by queer culture and the Impressionists of the late 19th century, his paintings employ a tromp-l’oeil approach to texture and brushstrokes, while his eerie soundscapes harness and distort familiar classical symphonies. His subject matter in all mediums oscillates between the traditional and the experimental, relying heavily on exaggeration to reveal both emotion and character. Daniel’s work often explores narratives surrounding the lived experiences of marginalized people and serves as a metaphor for resilience, revealing quiet or private moments of queer joy. Tales of the Damned marks his eleventh production with White Mills Theatre Co., and he would like to express his gratitude for the opportunity to expand his artistic practice within the company.
CHIN PALIPANE
~ Lightling Designer & Stage Manager ~
Chin Palipane (he/him) is a Toronto-based Theatre Artist, Technician, and Lighting Designer. He is a proud member of Coyote Collective, the TD of The Assembly Theatre, and a member of the HT team at NEJPC. He enjoys breakfast (at non-breakfast times) and a good cup of coffee or tea. He is over the moon to be remounting this work with White Mills Theatre Co. and the incredible team they've assembled! As always, he thanks his friends and family for their support and would like to reassure all that he's just a night owl (apnawwov).
“They made a deal and they liked the deal, until they had to pay the price.”
― Brent Weeks, The Black Prism