Cast/Crew Biographies

Errol Elumir (Rick & Writer): Errol is one half of the musical, geek duo Debs & Errol. He’s also the more sane half of the comedy duo WE Tangent. He co-authors NaNoToons along with Debbie Ridpath-Ohi. He started NaNoWriMo back in 2006 when he first learned about it from the Blizzard Fan Fic Forum (yes, he’s that geeky). Trouble was, he found out about it seven days before it ended. Undaunted because the thought of Nanowrimo was too awesome to miss, he eeked out his 50k words. Since then, he has become NaNoWrimo’s biggest fanboy (although no one is contesting that title). Errol has always wanted to write a musical about NaNoWriMo and once he found out that Manpans would say yes to just about any stupid idea he came up with, he embarked on this journey back in July. He has noticed that everyone else in the bio page is much prettier than him. He likes chips, Totoro, and AT-ATs.

Manda Whitney (Val & Writer):  Manda is a Toronto based actor/writer and a graduate of the University of Guelph BAH Theatre program. This is her fourth year doing NaNoWriMo.  Creative endeavors include writing, video sketches, and comedy duo WE Tangent. Particularly loves to create comedic and geeky scripts. Past projects include “Headshots and Healing Potions” (Monkeyman Productions), “Wonderful” (Bench Theatre), “Whitless Letters” (WE Tangent), “Boy Meets Girl” (Fly by Night Theatre) and “Urinetown” (UC Follies).

Kelsey Goldberg (Director):  Kelsey was raised by a pack of wolves in California before Tupac found and gave her to a couple in studio city. She is a writer, actor, director and producer and co-founder of Veruca Productions. Past projects include “In My Mind” (Tricon Film and Television), “Caught Up” (Tricon Film and Television), “My Cousin Ava” (Veruca Productions), “Gingerbread House” (Veruca Productions), “The Commitment-Phobes (Veruca Productions), and “Twelfth Night of Whatever” (Snobbish Theatre).

 

Luke LaRocque (Dale): Luke is a Toronto-based theatre creator. A proud graduate of the UC Drama program at the University of Toronto, he co-founded Glasswater Theatre and is also an associated performer with The Bench Theatre Initiative. Recent credits include The Omega Project (Glasswater/Toronto Fringe) and Damien (The Bench).  Next up, you can see him steal from the rich and give to the poor in Robin Hood: The Legendary Musical Comedy at Hart House Theatre in January 2013.

 

Blythe Haynes (Jill): Blythe is thrilled to work with the NaNoWriMo Musical and sing and dance! Graduate of the University of Alberta’s BFA Acting program, she’s been active in the theatre and film community since her arrival back in Toronto. Select credits include The Triumphant Return of the Three Kings (Black Creek Pioneer Village), My Last Teacher (Merey Ismailova Theatre of Dance), and Mary’s Wedding (Toronto Fringe Festival). Blythe recently finished filming What About Joe (Atefeh Productions).

Barbara-Audrey Bergeron (camera op.):  Barbara is a theatre/video producer, director, editor, performer, & author (in her spare time). Started a French-language improvisation league called the Improbables with her friends and created the non-for profit community theatre group Les Indisciplinés de Toronto. An associated artist of The Bench Theatre Initiative and part of La Troupe des Anciens de l’Université de Toronto. Recently undertook video production and is glad to work on her first musical web series.

Debs (Chorus):  Debs has done NaNoWriMo three times and is a former ML, so she gets it. She * really * gets it. She’s also a singer-songwriter and the more pragmatic half of Debs & Errol. Debs met Errol in 2007 at NaNoWriMo and she introduced him to FAWM.org a few years after. They formed their band in 2011 and  have been doing music together ever since. She thinks all these people are crazy and is glad to be among them.

Lyf Stolte (Chorus): Lyf is an actor/director/producer working primarily with the poor and excluded in downtown Toronto. Selected credits include [acting] “The Elephant Man” (Bench Theatre), “Passages Of Everett Manning” (Screaming Monkeys), “The Miracle Worker” (Rosebud Theatre); [directing] “Wonderful” (Bench Theatre), “Words, Words, Words”, “Entertaining Mr. Helms”, “Babel’s In Arms” (Screaming Monkeys).

Ren (Chorus): Ren likes piña coladas and getting caught in the rain. He fills his spare time with creative endeavours such as drawing, photography, and sometimes trying to write a fifty-thousand word novel in thirty days. He is also a student of verbatim studies, training to work in realtime transcription.

Kelson Rumak (Evil Chorus Member): Kelson was born in the GTA, then dragged south of the border, and now back to Toronto, Kelson’s (so far) short life has been anything but dull. Especially since he became friends with Errol… Having no acting (or singing, or NaNo) experience whatsoever, he accepted the call to help out when needed! He also provided chocolatey goodies whenever he went to a shoot, in an effort to feel useful.