New Young Reviewers Program
The New Young Reviewers Program, supported by the Jon Kaplan Legacy Fund, is a Canada-wide workshop series and writing group for emerging theatre and performance reviewers. The cohort of writers, led by Signy Lynch and Stephanie Fung, will be reviewing shows during the 2023 Next Stage Theatre Festival (October 18-29, 2023).
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FACILITATOR: Stephanie Fung
Stephanie Fung (they/she) is an interdisciplinary artist and arts worker from Tkaronto/Toronto who is fascinated by the concept of convention and how we contest culture. A performer, writer, director, theatre critic—they are drawn to concepts that explore monstrosity, consumption, exposure, and grief. Learn more at http://www.stephaniefung.ca
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FACILITATOR: Signy Lynch
Signy Lynch is a theatre scholar, critical dramaturg, educator, and Governor General’s Gold Medal winner (2022). Her areas of research specialization include contemporary intermedial, participatory, intercultural, diasporic and Black theatre in Canada; audience research; and theatre criticism. As of July 2023 she is Assistant Professor at UofT’s Mississauga campus, and Centre for Drama, Theatre, and Performance Studies. She is co-director of the Centre for Spectatorship and Audience Research (centreforspectatorship.com). Her essay “Performing at Home in the Pandemic” (Canadian Theatre Review vol. 191) was named runner-up for Outstanding Critical Essay by the Canadian Theatre Critics Association (2022).
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Melissa Avalos
Melissa is a multidisciplinary artist, Latina-Filipina woman, and self-appointed comedian who was born and raised in Toronto. She has a bachelors degree in Linguistics and Biochemistry but has found a real home in live theatre. You'll most likely find her working front of house, or complaining about a show she didn't like. If you ever see her, come say hi!
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Zoe Marin
Zoe Marin (she/her) is an Argentine-American theatre artist (director, writer, performer) and comedian (sketch, stand-up). She holds a BFA in Theatre from York University, and was a recent participant of the Paprika Festival’s Director’s Lab. Zoe loves: horror, comedy, music, politics, and pop culture, and hopes you see that in her work.
Upcoming: “Do You Think You’re Better Than Me?” at the Toronto + Hamilton Fringe Festivals 2023.
Zoe is addicted to reading every opinion available on the internet, so she is VERY excited to be a part of the New Young Reviewers Program this year!
ig: @zmar_
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Columbia Roy
Columbia Roy is an interdisciplinary theatre artist and arts worker Raised in Taiwan, now discovering life in Toronto. She’s interested in asking what draws us to the stories we tell, and how these repeated expressions of the human condition link us across time. How do we create work that stays with the trouble without drowning in it.
Recent credits include The Tempest [Stagefight TW], LassoJackets [Players Toronto], Fempocalypse 2022 [Nightwood Theatre], Christina the Girl King [5th Company Lane]
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About the Jon Kaplan Legacy Fund
For over three decades, beloved theatre reviewer Jon Kaplan wrote about and celebrated Toronto theatre. He was a strong supporter of young artists and diverse voices. Following his death in 2017, the Jon Kaplan Legacy Fund was created to provide recognition and financial support for theatre makers at all stages of their careers.
The 2021 cohort awarded the New Young Reviewers Award to At the End of the Day by End of Day Productions.