CAST & CREATIVE​

Kenton Blythe (Phantom, Igor)
Kenton Blythe is a Toronto based actor, singer, musician, and writer, who is stoked to be horsin’ around with these fine folks. He’s written a children’s book called Pewp (available on Amazon ;). Past fringe shows: Grey (2017), Princess of the Tower (2018). Other past shows: Evil Dead: The Musical (Starvox Ent./Jeffrey Latimer Ent.), Cabaret (Shaw Festival), Juno and the Paycock (Shaw Festival).  Socials: @kentonblythe  Learn more at www.kentonblythe.com

Lise Cormier (Jay)
Lise Cormier is a bilingual actor, voice actor, singer, dancer, and writer. Highlights include singing with Razzmatazz For Kids, performing at Neptune Theatre, appearing in MOWs for the Lifetime Network, voicing Misty Simmons in the award-winning CBC radio drama Backbencher, and portraying Madame Bellview in Netflix’s The Umbrella Academy. Lise is a two time Dora Award nominee for her performances in Tale of a T-Shirt (Fixt Point / Theatre Direct), as well as in Zinspirés 3D (Théâtre français de Toronto). She performed in the Dora-nominated musical production of The Barber of Seville at Soulpepper.  Learn more: lisecormier.ca

Khalen Moodie-Powell (Shilo)
Khalen Moodie-Powell is excited to be performing again! Although this is his first show with the Toronto Fringe Festival, he is no stranger to the stage. He has performed in shows like Hairspray , Beauty and the Beast, Newsies, Mamma Mia, and most recently performed as Angel in Rent. Khalen is thankful to have been able to work on these shows with such an amazing directorial and production team and he hope you enjoy the show!

Jada Rifkin (Narrator)
Jada Rifkin is excited to be part of the Jay & Shilo team! Rifkin is a performer, writer, and producer. Recent theatre credits include: The Boy Who Loved Monsters… (Wychwood Theatre), It's a Wonderful Life (The Medley), Goldirocks! (All Together Now Entertainment), and Every Silver Lining (Next Stage). Rifkin has performed internationally in Singapore and Qatar, wrote, and performed her one-woman show, I’M PERFECT* to sold-out audiences, garnered over 50,000 followers as a comedic singing livestreamer, and can be seen in commercials including MBNA, Staples Canada, and The Beer Store. Rifkin is a graduate of Randolph College for the Performing Arts.

Chantal Forde (Director, Choreographer)
Chantal (she/her) is a writer, director, and educator who couldn’t be happier to be a part of the Toronto Fringe’s comeback to live theatre - especially with the Shilo and Jay team! Recent directing credits include: Rent (BOTG), Disenchanted (Poison Apple Productions), And Then … She Did! (Goldenberg Productions). She and her husband are the creative team behind the Oakville Holiday Pantomime and are getting ready for their 10th annual show!
 
Jake Schindler (Music, Music Director)
Jake Schindler (he/him) is a Toronto-based music director, orchestrator, and composer. Originally from London, Ontario, a music education graduate from Western University, Jake currently works with various organizations around Toronto. As a composer and orchestrator, Jake is interested in work that uses music in unique ways onstage, often working with actor/musicians. He is also a proud music teacher, currently teaching at Bravo Academy and MJMS Music School. As a music director: Lightning Thief, The Drowsy Chaperone, The Addams Family, The Theory of Relativity, Anne and Gilbert (Bravo Academy). As an orchestrator: Boy Falls From the Sky (Mirvish), Guildwood (workshop) Stars from Mars (Nightwood). As a composer: Ursa: A Folk Musical, The Light Goes Round (Toronto Fringe Next Stage), Where Do We Begin? (self-produced). jakeschindler.com

Anthony Bastianon (Music, Music Director)
Anthony has over 150 productions to his credit as a musical director including:  Joseph (Drayton Entertainment); Shrek & Mamma Mia (Rainbow Stage, Winnipeg); Mary Poppins (Globe Theatre, Regina); Jesus Christ Superstar and The Wedding Singer (Hart House); Spelling Bee (Grand Theatre, London. ON), Godspell (Sheridan College), 13 seasons with Stage West Theatre (includes 40 productions such as  Guys and Dolls, West Side Story, Cabaret, Fiddler On The Roof);  Tick Tick Boom, Songs For A New World, Title of Show (Angelwalk Theatre);  Myths And Hymns (Talk Is Free Theatre); Seussical (Theatre Aquarius). As a composer, Anthony has written music for Rob Ford The Musical (Toronto), Not In My Backyard (Port Stanley Festival Theatre); Nursery School Musical  (performances in Toronto and Houston); The Decameron (Toronto Workshop); award-winning Fringe show I'm Right Here (best musical by Broadwayworld.com).  His versatility as a musician has brought him opportunities to work with pop celebrities such as Chantel Kreviazuk, Dan Hill and Josh Groban as well as theatre icons Andrea Martin and Michael Burgess.  He is currently on faculty at the Sheridan College Music Theatre Performance Program and is the artistic director of Voices Rock Canada.
 
Alisse Lee Goldenberg (Book, Producer)
Alisse Lee Goldenberg is an award winning author of Children's Lit, Horror, Young Adult Paranormal Romance, and Young Adult Fantasy fiction. She is currently working on four series: The Sitnalta Series,  The Children of Colonodona, The Dybbuk Scrolls, and The Bath Salts Journals  (co-authored with An Tran). Her latest Middle Grade novel Lucky At Bat was co-written with her son Joseph, and comes out this November with Koëhler Books. She has her Bachelors of Education and a Fine Arts degree, and has studied fantasy and folk lore since she was a child. Alisse is also a screenwriter and playwright, creating the world of Jay & Shilo. She also wrote the book for the Toronto Fringe Festival's KidsFest musical The Princess of the Tower, as well as the short film for the Digital Fringe Jay & Shilo: Phrantic Phone Call. She is currently living in Toronto with her husband Brian, and their triplets Joseph, Phillip, and Hailey.
 
Brett McCaig (Lyrics)
Brett is delighted to be working again with the Jay & Shilo team! Brett is no stranger to the Fringe Festival, having written and produced “Nursery School Musical” “Bosco and Jones” and “I’m Right Here” with Anthony Bastianon. He’s delighted to be back again with the team and can’t wait to enjoy both productions.

Montserrat Cadena (Stage/Sound Manager)
Montserrat “Mont(s)y” Cadena is a fourth-year BFA Media Arts (Film/3D Animation) student. Mexican-born and Montreal-raised, she’s always had a big pull toward creativity and languages. She’s worked in theater for over a year as Props and Costumes Manager and now as a Technical Director. Monty has been performing in front of the camera and improvising on stage for 2 years going. She just wants to be in the entrainment industry, don’t know where don’t know when but she will make it.

Hussein Esmail (Stage/Sound Manager)
Hussein is a fourth-year computer science student at York University, and Stage Managing for the first time with a lot of experience in Lighting Design. His previous roles include Lighting Designer for The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (2019), and All Together Now (2021). He is currently a Technical Director at Vanier College Productions, and in his free time he is usually programming, reading, or playing with his dog.  Learn more at https://husseinesmail.xyz/

Shania Mendes (Stage/Sound Manager, Assistant Producer)
Shania (she/her) is in her final year at York University studying Cinema and Media Studies and currently serves as the Production Manager at Vanier College Productions. She previously occupied the role of Stage Manager for Vanier Improv Company and has served as lighting designer and performer for her highschool’s biannual performance shows. Now in her role as Assistant Producer and Stage Manager (and as her first time Fringing), she is incredibly excited to work with and create with the Jay & Shilo team!

Jeff Jones (Lighting/Audio Designer)
A two-time graduate of Ryerson’s Theatre School, Jeff worked as a technician, actor, designer and director around Toronto for several years before flirting with disillusionment. In 2001, Jeff became a high school drama teacher.  Since that moment his creative output has increased exponentially. From writing shows and music to much acclaim at the Fringe and Summerworks festivals in Toronto, directing various productions and creating Charcoal Sketch Productions as a creative lab for new work and young performers, to releasing his own solo record, Self-Portrait: 13 Songs That Paint a picture of Me, Jeff has been going almost non-stop for years.

Brian Goldenberg (Producer)
Brian is a professional theatre producer, music director, songwriter/arranger, performer, and educator. He has worked as Business Consultant for Dancap Productions, the Director of Business and Development for the Herbert H. Carnegie Future Aces Foundation, Assistant Producer at Acting Up Stage Company, and Executive Director for Theatre 20. Currently, Brian is the Artistic & Executive Director for Angelwalk Theatre and the Artistic & Executive Producer for Goldenberg Productions. Brian has enjoyed working with Vanier College Productions at York University since 2003 and has served as Artistic Director/Producer since 2009. An accomplished songwriter, Brian won first-place in an In Front Magazine Music Contest for his song “Music Will Always Lead Me Home”, and wrote the music and additional lyrics for the Herbert H. Carnegie Future Aces Foundation Theme Song. His original musical Seven of Us made its Toronto debut in the 2010 Toronto Fringe Festival and he conceived the 2017 original musical Maddie’s Karaoke Birthday Party. Brian is a two-time graduate of York University (BFA in Music, Schulich MBA specializing in Arts & Media Management), and a recipient of the Herbert H. Carnegie Future Aces Citizenship Award, the Herbert H. Carnegie Future Aces Foundation Aces in Action Award, and three SINGular Sensation BackDoora Awards for contributions to the Toronto theatre community.

Serena Lam (Marketing Assistant)
Serena is a queer writer and filmmaker from Hong Kong. They are a second-year Screenwriting major at York University who loves creating art in all its forms. They are passionate about visual storytelling and can often be found either reading, writing, or binge-watching TV shows. Serena is very excited to be working as the marketing assistant for the Jay & Shilo musicals to help promote two wonderful shows!

Hailey Goldenberg (Junior Producer)
Hailey is very excited to be working on her first ever Fringe show! She is an eleven-year-old who has performed as an actor, dancer, and singer. Notable credits include Mrs. Gloop in Willy Wonka Jr. with the Heschel Players, and she has danced at the half-time show for the Raptors 905 basketball team. She is also an avid reader and writer; writing her own songs and stories in her spare time, and she also plays the piano. Hailey is a lover of animals and cares for her pet hedgehog- Sonic Speedy Prickly Goldenberg.