UPCOMING SHOWS
AND EVENTS
A gift for you!
Presenting December 25-27
Honouring African American spirituals, Yiddish song, Music Theatre, seasonal favourites through song and dance.
No Strings Theatre brings you a lively and joyful FREE CONCERT EVENT!
Showing: Thursday December 25- Sunday December 27, 8 :00 pm (more times may be added)
Tax receipts issued for donations $25+ CHARITABLE REGISTRATION # 80104 2409 RR0001
We welcome the charismatic Tash Riot as our MC, featuring performances by Singer & Composer Mark Cassius,
Soprano Denise Williams, Pianist Donavon LeNabat, Singer Songwriter Lauren Mayer, Dancer Shakeil Rollock,
No Strings Alumni, Tommy Amoroso, Cailan Bodnar, Stefan Lavery, Sierra Phibert, Emi Yasuo,
and Andrea MacLean and Marilyn Hintsa from the Voices of Colour Music studio.
With after concert steel pan serenades by Daryl Williams
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OUR ARTISTS
TASH RIOT
SINGER & DRAG ARTIST
Tash is a trained singer, dancer, and actor, having graduated Queensland (Australia) Conservatorium of Music’s prestigious Bachelor of Musical Theatre program before becoming one of Toronto’s freshest talents in Drag. Tash got her start in Toronto at Crews & Tangos Drag Race 2018 – she now entertains all over Toronto and the GTA from West End haunts like The Beaver, The Gladstone—every Gay Village stage including Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, is part of “Clash of the Queens” drag brunch at Lula Lounge and has performed at Y&D main stage for Pride Toronto. You can always expect Tash to deliver high energy performances and witty banter - you know she’s an absolute RIOT.
MARK CASSIUS
SINGER & COMPOSER
With roots in Broadway, including Ragtime, Shenandoah and Jesus Christ Superstar, Mark Cassius is a musical force to be reckoned with. His experience extends closer to home in Toronto’s entertainment district including the first Canadian Company and Tour of Cats, as well as Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dream Coat, Miss Saigon, Showboat and Sousatzka. He has also worked with Drayton Entertainment (Damn Yankees, The Little Mermaid, Sweet Charity, Dance Legends), D2 Entertainment (Hollywood Sings, A Starbright Christmas) and has many seaons under his belt at The Stratford and Shaw festivals. Mark was a member of the world-renowned a cappella quartet, The Nylons, and took his multi-faceted experience into adjudicating for the Kiwanis Music Festival, as well as educating as a performance instructor at The Randolph College for the Performing Arts.
SHAKEIL ROLLOCK
DANCER & CHOREOGRAPHER
After years of independent and company work, now venturing into the world of Musical Theatre, Shakeil Rollock is an emerging dancer, choreographer, and dance instructor whose styles encompass urban, modern, ballet, contemporary and jazz. Most recently having finished contracts with The Grand Theatre’s Mary Poppins – and currently working on a Disney Plus project alongside Emilio Dosal (In the Heights) and Ebony Williams (Beyoncé). A graduate of the School of Toronto Dance Theatre, Shakeil developed experience working alongside established artists with tenure in such productions as Cirque Du Soleil (Julie Perron & Debra Brown), the Step-Up Franchise (Draico), Jully Black Entertainment (Hollywood Jade) and Allen and Karen Kaeja (Kaeja d’Dance). Having been fortunate enough to also work within the Afro-Contemporary Diaspora with Esie Mensah Dance and Lua Sheyenne Dance Company. Lastly, his love for dance extends performing; currently one of Theatre Passe Murialle’s 2020 BUZZ Residency creators and BCurrent’s 2020 resident artist.
Check him out at: www.shakeilrollock.com
DONAVAN LENABAT
PIANIST
A Toronto-based piano entertainer, choir and music director, Donavan Lenabat is also in high demand as an accompanist. Since the pandemic began and all regular musician work stopped, he has pivoted to providing free Live Streaming entertainment 3-5 times a week (facebook.com/donavonsASG) and creating amazing virtual choir videos with his choir, Alt Vox (http://altvox.ca). Donavon’s vast repertoire, incredible musicianship, and sense of humour combine to provide an entertaining experience for all who check out his virtual shows.
LAUREN MAYER
SINGER/SONGWRITER
Lauren is an accomplished singer, songwriter, actor and full-time music educator- having graduated from Randolph College for the Performing Arts and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, where she obtained her Masters Degree in Musical Theatre performance. She has appeared Toronto/GTA productions including Hedwig and the Angry Inch (Hart House Theatre) and The Haunting of Hungerford House (Tweed and Company Theatre). Lauren has began seriously pursuing her original music in late 2017 and recently recorded and released her debut EP, ‘Second Sight’. The EP has dynamic vocals and haunting melodies and is an homage to the transformative years of her life (streaming on all music platforms).
Follow her on Instagram at @laurenmayermusic for updates
DENISE WILLIAMS
SOPRANO
Soprano Denise Williams is a versatile and veteran performer who is equally at home on the concert, opera and Broadway stages. Highlights of her performance career include most recently a concert performance in with the Orquesta Sinfonica de Oriente in Cuba, and in Toronto, Walk Together Children - A Cross-Cultural Concert Celebration (Black, Jewish, Muslim) at the The Toronto Centre for the Arts, now known as the Meridian Arts Centre (Fall 2018), the Nathaniel Dett Chorale’s concert performance of Treemonisha at Koerner Hall, Andrew Craig's King’s Playlist at the Harbourfront centre's Fleck Dance Theatre (2017), the cast of Mirvish's North American Premier of The Sound of Music at the Princes of Wales Theatre (2008-2010), and other notable solo performances. Her CD, Walk Together Children, is a cross-cultural initiative, featuring music from the roots of Black & Jewish music.
Denise has also been a long-standing voice teacher, adjudicator, and community music and integrated arts facilitator. She holds a masters in Community Music.
As the founding Artistic Director of No Strings Theatre, she is very pleased to be collaborating with these incredible artists on this inspiring presentation to hopefully enlighten your spirits this season.