TALES OF THE GROTESQUE
CAMPBELL HOUSE MUSEUM
(October 16th - November 2nd)
"Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore—
while I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
as of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door."
“’Tis some visitor,” I muttered, “tapping at my chamber door—
only this and nothing more ...”
Illustrator: ECMazur
After its sold-out run of 2023, the must-see event of the Halloween season is back—and as bone chilling as ever! With new twists, familiar tales, and its unique brand of horror, Tales of the Grotesque brings literature’s most depraved characters to life … and death.
In this haunting adaptation of the works of Edgar Allan Poe, join the visitors of the melancholy House of Usher on a candlelit journey into the macabre. Despite their apprehensions, a stubborn doctor, a resentful medium, and a murderer attend the funeral of an eccentric recluse—only to question the circumstances surrounding her untimely death. As they outstay their welcome, they uncover evidence of a connection between their disturbing pasts and the sinister presence stalking their every move. With their secrets exposed, they must summon their ghosts to survive the supernatural forces at work, and confront the meddlesome housekeeper who knows more than she claims. An immersive horror opera, Tales of the Grotesque invites visitors to explore Victorian Toronto through the eyes of history’s most twisted author, and come tapping at the door to the unknown.
"Even in the grave, all is not lost." - Edgar Allan Poe
Above Portraits by White Mills Theatre Co.
Edited by Daniel Tofach
CAST AND CREW
MEET THE TEAM
ZOE CLELAND
~ Annabel Lee ~
Zoe Cleland is a Canadian Screen Award-nominated actress, a writer, and an emerging director. Since graduating from the National Theatre School of Canada in 2012, Zoe has been known for her featured roles in Murdoch Mysteries (CBC), Reign (CW network), and as Tatiana in CBC Gem's The Communist's Daughter, for which she received a Canadian Screen Award nomination for Best Supporting Performance in a Web Program or Series. She launched her production company, Sweet Sorrow Productions, in 2020. In 2023, Zoe wrote, directed, produced, and starred in her debut short film, Blueberries for Iris, which premiered at the Atlantic International Film Festival and has since garnered one award and multiple nominations on the festival circuit, including Best Short Film Director, Best Atlantic Canadian Film, and Best Acting in a Short Film for Zoe’s performance. She recently finished her second short, a ghost story to be released in 2024.
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Instagram: @zoecleland
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TARA BAXENDALE
~ Mrs. Rupert ~
Maritime born actor/singer Tara Baxendale has called Toronto home for over two decades and is thrilled to join the ensemble of Tales of the Grotesque to play Mrs. Rupert. Selected Credits: Laura (Leap of Fairth – RareDay Projects), Tanya (Spend Your Kids’ Inheritance – Fringe Festival), Martha (Lies & Consequences – RareDay Projects), Mary O’Grady Hunt (Hogtown: The Immersive Experience – Hogtown Collective) (Dora nomination for Outstanding Performance – Ensemble), Sonia (Life x 3- Damsels in De-Stress Productions), and Chrystia (Chrystanthia – Theatre Aquarius). On the small screen Tara can be seen in 12 Dates of Christmas and heard as the voices of assorted Playboy Bunnies in Hugh Hefner: Playboy, Activist and Rebel.
During the 1st lockdown of 2020, her passion for performing forced her to overcome her fear of self-taping and technology and create a YouTube Channel, Songs for the Quarantined.
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YouTube: @tarabaxendale
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ADRIAN MARCHESANO
~ Roderick ~
Adrian Marchesano is a Toronto-based actor hailing from Oakville, Ontario. He is a George Brown Theatre School graduate and an alumnus of Brock University, where he studied Theatre arts and performance. Having recently moved to the city, Adrian is thrilled to be surrounded by talented artists passionate about creating and performing. Select credits include The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Abridged, Innocence Lost, The Circus of Wonders (Theatre on The Ridge), Paradise Lost, The Witch of Edmonton, The Heresy of Love (George Brown), One for the Road, Pantalone’s Palace (Brock University).
FELICIA VALENTI
~ Lenore ~
Felicia is thrilled to be returning to her fourth White Mills Theatre production! As a multi-disciplinary artist, Felicia trained as an opera singer and then moved into the world of theatre and acting. This past year was one of firsts as she was on her first big show (Cruel Intentions) has written/produced/edited four short films, voiced for videogames and animation (Reverse1999, Avatar, Far Cry, Assassin's Creed) and was in her first Shakespeare play as Gertrude in 9M Theatres Hamlet. She has appeared in White Mills Theatre's productions of Ether and A Christmas Carol and as Annabell-Lee in last years hit run of Tales of the Grotesque. As a classical singer, Felicia is a soprano and has sung roles that include Mdm Lidoine in Dialogues of the Carmites, Audrey in James Bond: A Convenient Lie (Malfi Productions), Adina in L'Elisire D'Amore (Toronto City Opera) among others. As a voiceover artist, she has clients around the world and is the commercial voice for Air Transat’s Britain Ads.
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Felicia was the frontwoman for the indie band UnHRDof and has worked as a session singer for rock albums and soundtracks. Felicia has won the One Voice Awards Best International Voiceover Performance for her work for Cineplex, and is a member of ACTRA. She studied voice at York U with Norma Burrowes and continues to study voice under the guidance of Soprano Kinga Mitrowska. Felicia holds a BFA in Voice Performance and Education from York University and has been running her own voice studio since 2011.
She loves collaborating so get in touch!
Instagram: @felicia_voices!
SPENCER SCHUNK
~ Wilhelm ~
October 16th, 18th, 19th, 20th, 22nd, 23rd, 29th, 31st
November 1st & 2nd
Spencer Schunk is an actor, writer, and fitness coach living in Toronto. Recent stage roles include Logan Locke in The Perfect Bite: A ‘Knives Out’ Mystery produced by Secret City in partnership with Netflix, Captain Hook in Peter Pan and the Wendy Lady by White Mills Theatre Co., and Sir Roderick Usher in the original production of Tales of the Grotesque. He holds a BA in Theatre from York University and an MA in Performance Studies from the University of Toronto.
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Instagram: @spencer.schunk
MICHELLE DANESE
~ Jactina ~
Operatic Soprano Michelle Danese is delighted to be once again performing the role of Jacinta alongside a fabulous team and within such a spectacular venue. This year marks Michelle’s sixth collaboration with White Mills Theatre Co. Previously she sang the role of Belle in A Christmas Carol performed at the Spadina museum; Monica in both the full production and workshop of Giancarlo Menotti’s The Medium, as well as Mrs. Fiorentino in the company’s adaptation of Street Scene.
An artist of diverse musical and theatrical prowess, Michelle has enjoyed performing both operatic and musical theatre roles. As a soloist, she also released three dance tracks in collaboration with various Dj's around the globe. A past member of the former classical crossover group Naria, Michelle recorded and released two full albums featuring original songs and compositions.
As an actress, she appeared on CW’s TV series, Reign, in the feature film Dr. Cabbie, and on CTV’s The Listener. Her vocals can be heard in the film Dr. Cabbie as well as Indie film I Wish You Love.
Born in Toronto, Michelle holds a B.F.A Honors in Music from York University, and a Post-Bachelor Artist Performance Diploma in voice from The Glenn Gould School of The Royal Conservatory of Music. She continues to study in the studio of soprano Norma Burrowes and dedicates much of her time to performing, teaching and adjudicating.
Instagram:@michelledaneseofficial
SHELBY HANDLEY
~ The Raven ~
Shelby is a Toronto-based actor with a concentration on film and vocal work. While focusing her film career, she has also spent the last two years performing and writing for the Mentalism group Beyond Mental Borders at The Rec Room Toronto. Shelby is thrilled to finally be rejoining White Mills Theatre Co. in Tales of the Grotesque after playing Tootles in their last production of Peter Pan and the Wendy Lady. She is excited for you all to explore Campbell House; and the stories & secrets within.
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Instagram: @shelbyhandley
MARISA DASHNEY
~ Madeline ~
Marisa is a Toronto-based theatre professional originally from Whitby, Ontario. She graduated with a Bachelor’s in Musical Theatre Performance from Sheridan College in 2017 and went on to complete her Grade 9 Classical Voice with the Royal Conservatory of Music in 2018. Marisa’s diverse experience includes three consecutive summers at the Confederation Centre of the Arts in Charlottetown, PEI, where she thrived as an immersive theatre performer and tour guide with the Confederation Players. Her subsequent portrayal of Sheila Franklin in Hart House Theatre’s production of Hair stands out as a theatrical highlight for Marisa. In addition to her theatre work, Marisa has served as a choral backup singer for Josh Groban during his performances in Niagara Falls (2019-2022) and for Sarah Brightman at the Sony Centre in 2019. Following the pandemic, Marisa chose to explore her passion for healing and is now pursuing a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology. As she embarks on this new path, she is equally excited to return to her theatrical roots and immerse herself in the captivating world of Edgar Allan Poe. You can find Marisa serving and hosting at the gorgeous 'Clay Restaurant' in the Gardiner Museum and as a Victorian Christmas Caroller around Yorkville over the coming months. Marisa dedicates this performance to her recently departed father, Kevin, and her beloved Nana, both of whom were always present at every performance. Their unwavering support and love of theatre have always been the heart of her journey. She is forever grateful.
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Instagram: @marisa_dashney
ELLA MAZUR
~ Morella ~
Ella Mazur is a multidisciplinary artist based in Toronto, Canada. Her work explores the beauty of nature and the power of the human imagination through visual art, poetry, murals, and performance. Former acting credits include Wendy in Peter Pan and the Wendy Lady and Lenore in Tales of the Grotesque (White Mills Theatre Co.). She is thrilled to be working with White Mills Theatre company once more as Morella.
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JONAS TROTTIER
~ Frederick ~
Jonas is an emerging theatre-maker living and working in Toronto. A graduate of George Brown Theatre School, Jonas has been lucky enough to tread the boards with many great indie companies across the city of Toronto. He is excited to be returning to the Campbell House Museum and the world of Edgar Allan Poe's Tales of the Grotesque and Arabesque, this time in the shoes of Frederick Metzengerstein, the protagonist of Poe's first published story. Many thanks to the whole White Mills family for their endless support, dedication, and care. Hurra!
Past Credits (selected): Stiff and Sons (Bare Theatre Projects), Peter Pan and the Wendy Lady, Tales of the Grotesque (White Mills Theatre), December Man (Theatre at Eastminster), The Bartender (Malcontent Theatre), Dry Land (Cue6), RED (In Your Eyes Productions).
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Instagram: @Jonassqjt
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NOLAN RUSH
~ Pedro ~
Nolan is an avid theatre performer, who has been in many productions at school and in community theatre. He is currently attending University of Toronto where he is hoping to complete his Bachelors Degree in 2025. This is Nolan's second production with White Mills Theatre Co reprising the role of Pedro in Tales of the Grotesque.
Past credits include Into the Woods (Hart House Theatre),
Cabaret (Factory Theatre), Spring Awakening (Young Centre for the Performing Arts), Dear Evan Hansen (Wirth Theatre, St Andrew's College), School of Rock (Wirth Theatre, St Andrew's College), We Will Rock You (Wirth Theatre, St Andrew's College), Guys and Dolls (Wirth Theatre, St Andrew's College), Les Misérables (Newmarket Theatre), and Hairspray (Newmarket Theatre).
MANON ENS-LAPOINTE
~ Rosalie ~
Manon is a multidisciplinary performer, born and raised in Toronto where she attended the George Brown Theatre School.
Select theatre credits include: Ghost of Christmas Past/violinist in A Christmas Carol (Three Ships Collective), Holly Day in Tee Time for Murder (Mysteriously Yours), half the cast in The Three Musketeers: A Play for Two Actors (The Lakeside Players), Roxanne in Cyrano de Bergerac (Theatre on the Ridge), and Clara Eynsford-Hill in Pygmalion (Guild Festival Theatre).
AUSTIN LARUSSON
~ Hugo ~
Praised for his "fine baritone voice" (The Brooklyn Eagle), "Austin Larusson sang beautifully",“offering us luxury vocals” (barczablog.com),“Austin Larusson’s Crespel was a very effective
and even touching foil” (John Gilks operarambling.blog), Austin is pleased to be returning to Campbell House as Hugo. Recent appearances include both Ariodate and Elviro in XERXES with Summer Opera Lyric Theatre, Carretero/Corregidor in EL HUESPED DEL SEVILLANO with Toronto Operetta Theatre, Noodler in PETER PAN AND THE WENDY LADY and TALES OF THE GROTESQUE as Hugo with White Mills Theatre, Morales and covering Escamillo in CARMEN, Elder McLean in SUSANNAH, DIE FLEDERMAUS as Frank, DON GIOVANNI as Masetto and TOSCA as the Sacristan and covering Scarpia with Toronto City Opera, and Conte Ceprano in RIGOLETTO with Opera York. Other recent engagements include Shem and Patho in CONAN AND THE STONE OF KELIOR with Mightier Productions, John Sorel in the THE CONSUL with Summer Opera Lyric Theatre, Portero/Sereno, LA VERBENA DE LA PALOMA, Montschi, A WALTZ DREAM and Mars, ORPHEUS IN THE UNDERWORLD with Toronto Operetta Theatre, and Sciarrone/Carciere, TOSCA, Fiorello, IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA with the Mississauga Symphony. Previous engagements include Vicomte Cascada, THE MERRY WIDOW, Massakroff, THE CHOCOLATE SOLDIER, Sergeant of Police with Toronto Operetta Theatre, Johann, WERTHER, Lorenzo, I CAPULETI E I MONTECCHI, George Jones, STREET SCENE with Opera in Concert, Crespel, LES CONTES D’HOFFMANN with Toronto City Opera, and Bartolo/Antonio, LE NOZZE DI FIGARO with Southern Ontario Lyric Opera.
Instagram: @austinlarusson
YouTube: @ilcontealmaviva1
AMANDA YEE
~ Eliza ~
A passionate and dedicated young artist, violinist Amanda Yee is originally from Ottawa and started her musical journey at the age of three. She soon joined the Ottawa Suzuki School of Music and has since established several successful performance and study credits in the industry. Amanda graduated from Canterbury High School for the Performing Arts in 2020, where she played many side-by-side concerts with the National Art Center Orchestra (NACO), one of Canada's premier professional orchestras. In her youth, Amanda was a member of the Ottawa Cappies Orchestra (2015-18), Ottawa Junior Youth Orchestra (2015) and Ottawa Youth Orchestra (OYO) (2018-2020). She had the privilege to study under the guidance of Grace Bruno, Donnie Deacon – formally the Principal Second violinist of NACO and Music Director of Ottawa Youth Orchestra Academy, and the late Yehonatan Berick.
Amanda spent much of her formative years freelancing and teaching. She has participated in well-established competitions and festivals such as Kiwanis, MusicFest, le Camp musical des Laurentides in Quebec (2013-2017), Interlochen Center for the Arts Summer Program in Michigan (2019) and Orford Musique (2024). Most recently, Amanda worked as a member of l’Orchestre de la Francophonie and was part of the Young Artist Program with the Tuckamore Music Festival. Under the tutelage of Marie Bérard, the concertmaster of the Canadian Opera Company, Amanda recently graduated from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance and is continuing her studies pursuing the Advanced Certificate Program. She is a proud member of the University of Toronto Symphony Orchestra and performs all over the city with her piano-violin duo, the Jaro Duo, and her piano trio.
SCOTT MOORE
~Sir Usher ~
Scott is delighted to be performing in his third production for White Mills Theatre, after playing Scrooge in A Christmas Carol and Mr. Darling/Mr. Smee in Peter Pan and the Wendy Lady. Other favourite roles include: Friar Laurence in Romeo and Juliet, Cassius in Julius Caesar and Clarence in Richard III (Hart House Theatre); Creon in Antigone and Moon in The Real Inspector Hound (Alumnae Theatre); Coulmier in Marat/Sade (Soup Can Theatre); Tobias in A Delicate Balance, Hitler in Mein Kampf, and Deflores in The Changeling (Graduate Drama Centre); Master Ford in Merry Wives of Windsor, Dogberry in Much Ado About Nothing, and Bottom in Midsummer Night’s Dream (Alchemy Theatre); Goldberg in The Birthday Party and Ernest in The Anger in Ernest and Ernestine (Rhino Productions); and Strepsiades in The Clouds (Ancient Comic Opera Co.).
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ROB CARRUTHERS
~ Music Arranger ~
Rob is an emerging artist based in Toronto, whose passion for music shines through his diverse performances and compositions. As a dedicated woodwind musician, Rob brings versatility to his craft, performing on soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone saxophones, as well as flute, piccolo, oboe, clarinet, bass clarinet, and bassoon. Currently pursuing his education at York University, he continues to expand his artistic horizons and connect with audiences through his innovative work.
Rob has performed with a wide range of ensembles, including the Toronto All-Star Big Band, where he showcases his skills on multiple woodwind instruments. His experience also spans York University’s Wind Symphony and Symphony Orchestra, Media Music Club, and Jazz Orchestra, reflecting his adaptability and wide-ranging talent. Notable performances include collaborations with White Mills Theatre Co., where he contributed to productions such as Edgar Allan Poe’s “Tales of the Grotesque” and “Peter Pan and the Wendy Lady.”
In addition to his performance work, Rob is a prolific composer and arranger. His compositions, crafted for big bands, wind orchestras, chamber ensembles, and jazz groups, highlight his ability to blend creativity with technical skill. Through his compositions and arrangements, Rob continues to push creative boundaries and enrich the musical landscape.
Rob’s dedication to his craft and his commitment to artistic growth underscore his promising future in the music world.
SHANNON MILLS
~ Benita ~
Producer, Co-Director & Musical Director
Shannon Mills earned her Master of Arts with distinction in Music Performance from California State University, Fresno, as well as a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Vocal Performance from the University of Lethbridge. Inspired by the achievements of her academic mentors, Shannon has gone on to instill a love of opera in children—previously working as a Program Assistant with the Canadian Opera Company’s After School Opera Program. With this in mind, Shannon is driven to produce engaging work for fellow artists within her community. Recognizing both the wide range of talent and few performance opportunities in Toronto, Shannon founded White Mills Theatre Co. to bring her fresh perspective to the stage. As Managing Director, she reimagines classic libretti to produce original theatre projects and newly relevant opera, creating fulfilling work for herself as a soprano. Shannon’s extensive musical training has been an asset in her ventures as a theatre director, working closely with actors to develop the cadence and musicality of spoken text.
BRANDON WHITE
~ Producer, Co-Director, Playwright & Production Designer ~
Brandon White is an interdisciplinary artist whose passion for queer theory and theology recurs throughout much of his body of work—both thematically as a director and visually as a designer. A graduate of York University’s comprehensive Theatre program, Brandon specialized in Devised Theatre, with an emphasis on collective creation, directing, and design. A wearer of many hats, Brandon’s numerous interests are integrated into a singular vision as Artistic Director of White Mills Theatre Co. His original work has toured throughout much of Central America, earning him a Bernice Adams Memorial Award nomination at an early age. More recently, he has collaborated with the City of Toronto to animate local heritage sites, working together with his creative partner, Shannon Mills, to stage an immersive adaptation of Menotti’s The Medium at Spadina Museum: Heritage House and Gardens. An active participant in the Toronto theatre community, Brandon creates inclusive opportunities for performers of diverse backgrounds, skill levels, and experience.
CASSIE DAVIDSON
~ Assistant Director, Stage Manager & Fight Director ~
Cassie (she/her) is an actor, producer, director, playwright and theatre educator from the beautiful small town of Walkerton Ontario She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Studies from The University of Guelph and is a graduate from George Brown Theatre School’s acting conservatory. She is also the Artistic Director of Ghouls and Girls Theatre, a new Toronto-based theatre company. When Cassie is not teaching or working on a production, she enjoys hiking with her partner and dog, Remi.
Some of her favourite theatre credits include: Liz (Girls' Night Cabin Fever, Ghouls and Girls Theatre), Slightly & Liza (Peter Pan and the Wendy Lady, White Mills Theatre Co.) Tanya (Een, Theatre Kingston), Tiny Tim (A Christmas Carol, White Mills Theatre Co.), Paisley (Ether, White Mills Theatre Co.) d’Eon (Monsieur d’Eon is a Woman, GBTS)
Cassie is thrilled to be joining White Mills Theatre Co. once again as assistant director and fight choreographer for this incredible season of offerings.
Instagram: @cassanova5000
DANIEL TOFACH
~ Assistant Production Designer &
Assistant Stage Manager ~
Daniel Tofach received his BFA in Drawing and Painting from OCAD University in 2010. As a visual artist, Daniel’s work has been featured in Small Works—Small Space (Gallery 1313), Experiencing Perspectives (Mercedes-Benz Financial), Canadian Landscapes Juried Exhibition (Agnes Jamieson Gallery), and Masterworks (Peterson Art Gallery). Although known for his expressive landscapes, Daniel’s most recent work explores the nature of portraiture—capturing the abstracted interplay of light and darkness on the plains of the human form. With this in mind, his work has been known to make its way to the stage in the form of set dressing. A frequent collaborator with White Mills Theatre Co., Daniel has assisted at various stages in production development—as an artist, sound technician, and production assistant.
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