Stella Kulagowski

**Writer, Director, “Caliope/Creation”**
Stella is a Toronto-based performer, producer, creator, dancer and movement teacher whose artistic practice celebrates queer joy through innovative theatrical productions and burlesque performance. With thirteen years of experience creating sold-out shows, they've consistently pushed boundaries by reimagining classic narratives through a queer lens, including productions like "Lysistrata" (2017), "Carmilla" (2018), and "Mayhem at Miskatonic" (2019). As 'St. Stella,' they are an award-winning burlesque performer who has graced the stage at the prestigious Burlesque Hall of Fame. A recipient of the Buddies in Bad Times Theatre's emerging queer artist award, a Canada Council pandemic grant and a 2024 Rainbow Community Arts Grant, Stella’s productions blend immersive theatre, burlesque, and social commentary to create spaces where audiences become active participants in the celebration of queer narratives.

**Parham Rownaghi**

**“The Founder/Darius”**
Parham Rownaghi is a Persian-Canadian actor who has been acting professionally for 10 years, working on several notable Canadian television productions including Degrassi: The Next Class as a series regular on Netflix. He performed a supporting role in his first feature film called "His Father's Son" which won best director and the audience choice award at the Toronto Reel Asian Film Festival. He has performed in Murdoch Mysteries, Mary Kills People, The Other Kingdom, Raising Expectations and many more. Parham trained at the Lee Strasberg Institute, completing his one year conservatory on a full scholarship.

**Rachel Manson**

**“The Docent/Ariadne”**
Rachel Manson has been a touring standup comedian for over a decade. You can watch her on Episode 11 Season 5 of The New Wave of Standup on CBC Gem and she has headlined Just For Laughs. Her debut comedy album, 3rd Most Improved was recorded live at The Second City in January 2025 with Howl and Roar Records. Her performance in 7 Minutes in Heaven won People’s Choice and Best Performance by a Female Actor at InspiraTO Festival in 2019. She was featured in What We Do in the Shadows, WAYNE, and she will also be starring in Venus in Fur at Theatre Centre in May 2025.

Eli Holliday

**“Esme/Love”**
Eli Holliday (they/them) is a two-time Dora Mavor Moore-nominated interdisciplinary artist and librarian originally from Coast Salish Territories. Eli has been pursuing their love of unique and dynamic theatrical works across Turtle Island for over a decade, working in New York, Vancouver, and Toronto. Selected acting credits include Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls (Roseneath), trace (ReDefineArts), Gin and Sin (Bar Team Theatre), Precious Little (Star Star Theatre). Eli also moonlights as Dank Sinatra - a non-binary Drag Clown and crooner, in venues as diverse as bars, bookstores, art galleries, rare book libraries, and Nathan Phillips Square.

Nailah Renuka

**“Sage/Tolerance”**
Nailah Renuka is a rising circus artist known for her exceptional athleticism and captivating performances. Trained in opera, musical theatre, and gymnastics from a young age, Nailah has developed a unique movement style that combines high-level physicality with nuanced musicality. After graduating from York University, Nailah moved to New York City, training and performing with modern and contemporary dance companies like 'Ailey II' and 'Buglisi Dance Theater'. Since returning to Toronto, Nailah has transitioned from dance to circus arts, bringing her unique artistic voice to contortion, hand-balancing, aerial hoop, dance pole, and acro dance. Since winning her first pole competition in 2022, she has performed and collaborated with local and international companies including 'Hercinia Arts' and 'Les 7 Doigts de la Main', and has recently begun work on her first grant-funded solo project.

**Rennaldo Quinicot**

**“Pride/Marcus”**
A practitioner of many avenues but a master of none. Rennaldo is a person who digs deep into many interests that align with his values and always ends up practicing well enough to do it professionally. Some of the pursuits that he has already journeyed into are dance, hip hop, breakdancing, with training in ballet, contemporary, and ballroom as well as martial arts, Filipino karate, Arnis, Kali, Muay Thai, MMA, also exploring creative photography, personal fitness and health, powerlifting, and Olympic weightlifting. Rennaldo is currently on his journey of acting and Dungeons and Dragons! His main purpose for such a diverse palette is to follow where he finds the source of Life Force and feed his values, as he tries to align his life with them as much as he can, knowing that circumstances change all the time.

**Rosalind Saunders**

**“Joy/Dawn”**
Rosalind is an artist who loves exploring humanity through the absurd and non-human. She is thrilled to be a part of boundary-pushing work such as *The Masque of the Red Death*. She is trained in dance, singing, acting, and instrumental music. Most recently you can find Rosalind teaching or taking dance classes, writing about squirrels, or playing experimental space music on the violin. Selected credits are Solo Clown Performer in *Save the Show #7* with John Beale at Sweet Action Theatre, and swing for Ghost of Christmas Present in *A Huron County Christmas Carol* with Gil Garratt at Blyth Festival.

Joy Thompson

**“Community/Maya”**
Joy Thompson is a multi-hyphenate singer/songwriter/actor and performer from Toronto. Her second album Doo-Wop Days is available on all streaming platforms. Joy recently performed at Earls Court Garden Open House (August) and in the Hillcrest Village Players Production of Footloose (2024). Joy’s sultry voice and infectious tunes are a combination of blues, folk and melodic pop/rock, she was inspired in equal parts by the jazz of the past and the folk and rock of the past and present. The album Doo-Wop Days leans heavily into tight harmonies in the Andrews Sisters style with a contemporary folk twist, she has successfully merged folk, jazz and pop to make the album fun, uplifting and diverse while keeping its indie roots. Joy has been performing in the Toronto music scene for well over a decade.

Bryna Bella

**“Generosity/Robin”**
Bryna is a performer, educator, and administrator with a Master’s degree in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy. Bryna’s opera, The Music Box: A Little Opera, presented at the Wee Festival for the Nelson Mandela daycare, promotes a 2SLGBTQ+ family-friendly environment for all children. This equity driven work was created in collaboration with the University of Toronto’s Tempo Lab to explore the engagement of infants (6–12 months old) with music. Bryna collaborated with Friends of Ruby and Soulpepper Theatre to create an original youth-led production in 2020. Bryna appeared on Murdoch Mysteries and performed in the musical NINE in New York City, as well as in numerous operatic productions around the world. Bryna is extremely excited to bridge performance art and advocacy through this highly pertinent piece, Masque of the Red Death.

Murphy Diggon “Stage Manager”

Murphy is thrilled to be a part of Masque Of The Red Death. She is a production manager and stage manager for theatre and film. Murphy holds a degree in Theatre Production and Design from York University, works as the Assistant Production Manager for the Canadian Opera Company, and Administrator and Stage Manager for Mainstage Theatre Company. Before working for the opera and rehearsing with her kids at Mainstage: she toured the states with Shopkins Live Tour (APM & ASM / Koba Entertainment), stage managed Pan AM Panamania (PSM / City of Toronto) and lived in Japan teaching English.
Chin Palipane “Lx Consultant & Technician”
Chin Palipane is a Toronto-based Theatre Artist and Lighting Designer. He is a proud member of Coyote Collective and the current TD of The Assembly Theatre. He absolutely adores breakfast at non-breakfast times and a good cup of coffee/tea. He is excited to be assisting this amazing troupe of performers and hopes you enjoy the performance.