Who We Are
First and foremost, we are performers. Professional performers. You have probably seen our faces on TV, in movies, commercials or on stage.You have probably heard our voices on the radio, narrating corporate videos,or as the evil spider in your child's favourite Saturday morning cartoon. But we didn't all set out to be performers. Some of us began as engineers,doctors, professors or journalists. And we are not always only performers. We are also writers, directors, make-up artists or web-designers and when times are especially tough, we can even be babysitters, bartenders, ushers or strippers.
We hale from all around the world; from Vancouver to China, England to India, France to Haiti, and are now combining forces and experiences to make performance matter. To you. Whether you are a grade 2 student at an inner-city school, or a bank executive in a 16th floor bank tower boardroom. Performance matters.
Lauren Spring Lauren Spring is a professional stage and screen actress and international improvisor. She obtained her BFA honours degree (in Theatre and Development) from Concordia University in 2005 and completed graduate studies in physical theatre and clown Paris, France at L’ecole de Theatre Jacques LeCoq and with Philippe Gaulier. She is currently completing her Masters Thesis in International Development at York University. Lauren has performed and taught professionally throughout Canada and abroad. She is a proud (albeit 'satellite' ) member of the Improfessionals in Paris, France, and a graduate of the Second City Conservatory in Toronto. Lauren has been teaching theatre and improvisation-based workshops for children, teenagers and adults for more than a decade throughout North America and abroad. She facilitates workshops for everyone from corporate executives to 'at risk' youth, and has worked within the Toronto and York Region District School Boards and at Bathshaw's Youth and Family Services' Juvenile penetentiary. Lauren also regularly teached improv classes in both Englisha nd French at the Second City Training Centre.
Recently, in March 2011, Lauren was comissioned by the Royal Ontario Museum to write "Water: The Play" an interactive and educational show for families that continues to be performed by the youngjesters (www.youngjesters.com) in tandem with the ROM's Water Exhibition. Lauren’s new play, “Granted” is currently in development at Theatre Pass Muraille and had it’s most recent showing there as part of the Buzz Festival in April 2011. It has also received staged readings at Canadian Stage (Festival of Ideas and Creation) and Alumnae Theatre (New Ideas Festival). Lauren is also is currently working part-time as an Adult Education Officer and School Programs Education Officer at the Art Gallery of Ontario where she designs and facilitates workshops and tours for a wide variety of demographics within the gallery space- talking with bankers about Reubens, homeless youth about Riopelle and Mental Health Services users about Rothko.
Her current research, generously funded by the Social Science and Humanities Research Council, is on the relationship between humour and resilience in the lives of those who have experienced torture or trauma; she is facilitating improv workshops with refugees at the Canadian Centre for Victims of Torture, and exploring the ways in which the Improv Principle of “Yes And” - practiced for the improv stage, can also be applied to the everyday lives of people looking to own their past and claim the present. Lauren continues to perform and teach professionally throughout Canada and abroad.
Thomas Gallezot
Thomas Gallezot is a patent attorney and a material engineer from France. He is also a professional stage, screen and voice actor and improvisor.
Thomas was born in Lyon, France where he studied engineering. He completed his Masters at Polytechnique in Montréal where he also discovered Theatre and Improv. While attending law school in Strasbourg, Thomas performed with the University Theatre Company. A Patent Attorney in Paris for several years, he then decided to return to Strasbourg to attend Theatre School. After a 5 years career in Alsace during which he performed classical, modern and physical theatre, mime, clown, comedy and improv, he moved to Paris. In Paris, Thomas studied physical theatre, clown and mime with Emmanuel Vaccaand method acting with Jack Waltzer. Meanwhile Thomas created his own improv company that performed for years in the famed Point Virgule. Thomas' one man show, Antoine Lopez Monte A Paris, which he wrote and performed in, played in Paris for nearly 2 years." He then moved to Toronto where he trained at the Second Cty Conservatory.
Since moving to Toronto, Thomas has been acting and teaching regularly- some highlights include: Playing Chrysalde in the Theatre Francais du Toronto's production of L'ecole des Femmes directed by Diana LeBlanc, being the French-language spokesperson for the Method Simple Pour Arreter De Fumer d'Allen Carr, the voice for Spiderus on the Cartoon Mrs. Spider, and various appearances on TV shows (Covert Affairs) and in many Corporate videos. He also teaches improv workshops regularly in both English and French at the Second City Training Centre in Toronto.
http://thomasgallezot.workbooklive.com
Some fabulous performers who often share the stage with us include:
Ryan Agostinho, Cam Anderson, Rhiannan Archer, Laura Bailey, Vic Bansal, Robbie Beniuk, Inga Breede, Stephanie Breton, Shantelle Canzanese, Dillon Casey, Sonia D’Amico, Andrea Del Campo, Audrey Dwyer, Piper Hayes, Carly Heffernan, Esther Maloney, Jordan Mechano, Monique Moses, Jessica Moss, Jamie Murray, Josh Murray, Chantale Renee LaLonde, Sean Perrault, Kimberly Persona, Ned Petrie, Rachel Petrie, Rodney Ramsey, Freya Ravensbergen, Randy Sabourin, Amelia Sargisson, Jennifer Schlumberger, Jonathan Shatsky, Markus Sombrero Cairero, Gavin Stevens, Melissa Story, Gillian Street, Dave Tichaur.