Evan has been a leading player across various stages and screens in Canada and the United States for 30 years.

As a longtime member of both the Stratford and Shaw festivals, he has played ‘Sky Masterson’ in Guys & Dolls, ‘Mercutio’ in Romeo and Juliet, the title role in Pericles, ‘Stanhope’ in Journey’s End, ‘Jack” in The Importance of Being Earnest. Musical theatre credits include his Dora Award-winning performance in Fun Home, as well as starring roles in We Will Rock You and Dear Evan Hansen.

In film and television, Evan has been seen in Under the Banner of Heaven, Murdoch Mysteries, Holly Hobbie, and his Canadian Screen nominated performance in Departure.

I first saw Barbara in a Toronto production of The Dining Room. I was completely taken with her performance, her warmth, her clarity. I hoped that I would have the opportunity of working with her, and in 2006 we finally did get to work together — The Arab-Israeli Cookbook provided the opportunity. And I’ve followed her career since then.

Theatre audiences will know Barbara from her performances in A Doll’s House (Belfry Theatre, Victoria), Calendar Girls (Royal Alex, Toronto/MTC, Winnipeg), Half Life (Tarragon Theatre, Toronto), Criminals in Love/Escape from Happiness (Factory Theatre, Toronto).

Film and Television audiences will recognize Barbara from Learning to Love Again, Skinwalkers, Hyper Cube, The Boys, Murdoch Mysteries, Best Laid Plans, Little Mosque on the Prairie and Wonderland.

Brad is among the most produced and prolific Canadian playwrights. Born in Edmonton, he won his first playwriting competition at the age of 17. He hasn’t stopped writing since.

Unidentified Human Remains and the True Nature of Love, which premiered at Alberta Theatre projects PlayRites in 1989, after being developed by Workshop West (Edmonton), launched an international career with productions that followed in Toronto, New York, Chicago, Milan and London. The play has been translated into many languages and has recently been produced in Athens, Sao Paulo and Buenos Aires. The film version, Love and Human Remains, won Brad a Genie Award in 1994 for Best Adapted Screenplay.

Poor Superman, Martin Yesterday, Snake in Fridge, Cold Meat Party, True Love Lies and 5 @ 50 followed – as have many, many more.

Brad’s two musicals are Outrageous (composed by Joey Miller) and Prom Night of the Living Dead (composed by Darrin Hagen).

Do yourselves a favour and check out Brad’s complete professional history - you can find him at www.Bradfraser.net.

Drew’s tally of theatre, film and television credits is daunting, and this thumbnail sketch barely scratches the surface.

Fourteen seasons at the Shaw Festival include roles in The Devil’s Disciple, The Playboy of the Western World, Cavalcade, The Front Page and Cyrano de Bergerac.

Elsewhere, and right across the country, Andrew has performed in Cymbeline and Richard III (Stratford Festival), Blithe Spirit (Neptune Theatre, Halifax), Stuff Happens (Studio 180 Theatre/Mirvish Productions), The Philadelphia Story (MTC, Winnipeg) and Travesties (Vancouver Playhouse).

Andrew’s film and television appearances include Fahrenheit 451, Lizzie Borden, Untitled History Project, Virgin Suicides, Drop Dead Gorgeous, The Night Before, The Morning After, Anne with an E, Designated Survivor, 12 Monkeys, Orphan Black, Trailer Park Boys, Missing, Degrassi: the Next Generation and The Associates.

Many of my guests have discussed the paths they followed through careers both linear and pin-ball like. Allan Stratton begins by stating that he was raised by a single mom in Bruce County, Sarnia and London.

He has lived in Manhattan, Montreal, Vancouver and Switzerland — but mostly in Toronto.

Allan began his professional life as an actor, moved on to playwriting (I ‘met’ Allan by directing his very successful play, Nurse Jane Goes to Hawaii — we didn’t meet at the time, and it’s likely that until reading this, if he does read it, he won’t have known that our separate paths crossed), and then he spent a few years as head of an arts school.

Since 2000, Allan has been a novelist. His books have won awards and have been published in over 20 countries — look him up to get the full picture.

Ben is in his 50th year as a professional actor. And as weighty as this is, his family history that is equally striking.

To take nothing away from Ben, himself, his lineage traces back to his maternal grandparents, Sir Lewis Casson and Dame Sybil Thorndike. Ann Casson and

Douglas Campbell are his parents. And his ‘inheritance’ extends to his siblings, of course.

Back to Ben: his career began in England, where he trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. He returned to Canada to play Troilus at the National Arts Centre. Thereafter, Ben spent 14 seasons at the Shaw Festival, 10 seasons at Stratford, 4 with the National Arts Centre and 2 with Theatre Plus, in Toronto. In addition, Ben has played in theatres across the country, and he has appeared in various Canadian television series and TV film specials.

Jon and I met in the early 90’s at the University of Waterloo where he was among the students who, years later, performed in The Laramie Project, the play that launched Studio 180 Theatre.

Following his training at the National Theatre School of Canada, we worked together again on Our Class. Many seasons followed at the Stratford Festival, where he continues to perform. Among his many festival credits are Henry VIII, The Music Man, Orpheus Descending and Hamlet.

Elsewhere, Jon has worked at the Blyth Festival, Canadian Stage and Soulpepper.

Law and Order: Toronto, Republic of Doyle, Murdoch Mysteries and Nikita represent some of Jon’s tv and film work.

Paul juggles a career as playwright and actor with effortless dexterity. Having trained at the National Theatre School, Paul understands the value of being both on and offstage, although as a playwright it can be fairly argued that he is as present as anyone, maybe even more so.

Paul’s capacity to move between classical and new work is further proof of a natural affinity for stages of all kinds. Many seasons at Stratford have included roles such as Bottom, Lancelot Gobbo and Donalbain. Elsewhere, Paul has worked with Factory Theatre (Toronto), National Arts Centre, Centaur Theatre (Montreal), Tarragon Theatre and the Citadel Theatre (Edmonton).

Playwright credits include The Gay Heritage Project, High Gravel Blind and Offensive Shadows.