Acting Up Stage Company

About the Show

Two young professionals at the starting line of their career in the big city of Toronto – we’ve all been there! But Alexis and Andres’ “race” has just begun. Canada’s Next Top Token will feature signature songs and personal stories in a night of relatable “type casting” moments as these two “token” actors explore the obstacles of type, look, size, sound and everything under the theatrical moon. Be prepared to experience highs and lows, laughter and tears in this hilarious reminder of why anyone gets into this crazy career in the first place.

Awarded annually to two performers who show tremendous artistry early in their career, the Syd & Shirley Banks Prize for Emerging Musical Theatre Artists provides showcase and mentorship opportunities with Acting Up Stage Company and a $1,000 award.

Company

• conceived and created by Alexis Gordon, Lily Ling, Elenna Mosoff and Andres Sierra
• musical direction and arrangements by Lily Ling
  
• dramaturged and directed by Elenna Mosoff
  

Artists

Alexis Gordon

Alexis Gordon is a recent graduate of the University of Windsor, where she received her BFA in Acting. At school, she co-wrote, created, and performed in an original dramatic performance entitled, For Those Who Stand Upon Our Shoulders. This summer she performed in Victoria Petrolia Playhouse’s Godspell and took on the role of Titania in Driftwood Theatre Group’s musical adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Alexis is thrilled to be working with the Acting Up Stage team after being a One Song Glory workshop member just a few years ago!

Andres Sierra

Having just graduated from the Performance Music Theatre Program at Sheridan College, Andres Sierra is thrilled to be working with Acting Up Stage as part of the Syd and Shirley Banks prize. Born and raised in Toronto, Ontario from Colombian-immigrant parents, Andres showed an interest in performance since the day he was born. He started voice lessons at the age of 5, and started piano lessons the year after, studying both classical and pop music until he was 18, when he was accepted into Sheridan’s prestigious Performance Music Theatre program. There is where he fell in love with Musical Theatre and went on to play Angel in RENT, Mickey in Blood Brothers, and Silo in Central Park Tango, part of the Canadian Music Theatre Project that launched last Spring. Andres was part of Acting Up Stage’s first ever One Song Glory, and is so happy to be back. He thanks his family and friends, who wouldn’t be where he is now if it weren’t for the unconditional love and support.

Tickets

Venue

Factory Studio Theatre

Located at 125 Bathurst St Factory Theatre is actually two buildings, both of which have heritage designation. The original “house” portion was built in 1869 by Irish immigrant John Mulvey. The house was built in the Queen Anne Gothic style and has original and distinct bargeboard under the asymmetrical rooftops (look for the shamrock design in one of them). The extension of the building facing Adelaide Street that houses the theatres was built in 1910 by St. Mary’s Catholic Parish a year after they purchased the building from the Mulvey family. Many of the original features, such as the proscenium arch, balcony in the Mainspace and the bowling alley floor in the Studio Theatre, still exist today.