2023/24 MENTEES
Angelina Alberto
Angelina Alberto is a multidisciplinary Indigenous artist born and raised on Treaty One Territory, where Winnipeg now resides on. While in Winnipeg, Angelina has worn many hats working for some of the cities largest theatre companies, Rainbow Stage, Manitoba Theatre for Young People, Winnipeg Studio Theatre and was last seen at Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre reading in the Pimootayowin: A Festival of New Work. Outside of Winnipeg, Angelina honed her passion for performance while working across North America with companies such as the Walt Disney Company and was most recently seen in the Leading Player Project (Everybody On Stage) which was a showcase in Toronto that featured ten up and coming plus size artists chosen from across Canada specializing in Musical Theatre. Angelina holds a Bachelors of Arts in Theatre Performance and Production (University of Winnipeg), Bachelors of Education and a Masters in Education (Lakehead University). She wouldn’t be anywhere without her brother Vinnie, her partner Mackenzie and her beautiful mother Toreena.
Ntara Curry
Ntara (she/her) is a career long multidisciplinary artist, specialising in theatre. Her performance experience ranges from Mainstage Repertory (Theatre Calgary) to elevators (Theatre Yes / Workshop West) to school gyms (Prairie Theatre Exchange) to found spaces (Dancing Sky Theatre) and art galleries (FreeFlowDanceTheatre). She holds a BFA Drama (Acting) from the University of Alberta, and is a recent graduate of the Village Conservatory for Music Theatre. Ntara’s professional career spans theatre, film, dance, performance, direction, design, creation, production and management. She regularly workshops in dance, acting, new play development, embodiment, writing, and artisanal craft. Ntara’s personal practice is presently focused on large scale collage (creation following careful deconstruction), and Opera with an interest in Stage Direction. Her acceptance to the Royal MTC 2023-24 Mentorship program was incredibly affirming. Ntara is deeply, solidly thrilled to be mentee to Philip Akin. She is Settler - Ashuri (survivors of the Sayfo, 1915), an active resistor of Imperialism, practises radical compassion, and is a grateful resident of Turtle Island.
GENEVA HALVERSON
Geneva Halverson is a non binary mezzo soprano, pianist, and song writer. They hold a Bachelor of Music Performance degree from the University of Manitoba Desautels Faculty of Music as well as a Post Baccalaureate Diploma in opera performance. Geneva is a past winner of the Zita Bernstein German Lieder competition as well as a 2022 top three finalist of the Women’s Musical Club McLellan Competition. They were the featured alto soloist in Handel’s Messiah with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra in 2022.
As a child, Geneva was quick to gravitate to the performing arts, beginning piano lessons and dance classes at the age of five. After seeing musical theatre for the first time, Geneva enrolled in musical theatre classes and eventually, voice lessons. Geneva now brings a flair for story-telling and acting to all genres of singing. As a performer, Geneva is known for a unique ability to convey characters and captivate audiences.
Prior to beginning vocal studies, Geneva completed grade ten RCM piano examinations, studying under Jacqueline Ryz. They began studying at the University of Manitoba as a piano major. As a result of injury, Geneva made the decision to study voice. Currently studying with Mel Braun, Geneva previously studied under Donna Fletcher and David Klassen. They are well versed in many genres of music from operetta to country music. Geneva is also a songwriter who’s style is influenced by traditional bluegrass songs and the Bakersfield sound. Geneva has performed as part of Festival du Voyageur and was chosen for RBC’s Emerging Artist Mentorship in 2020. They performed two solo shows at the Bell MTS Outdoor Stage as part of Winnipeg’s 2023 Fringe Festival.
This summer, Geneva was seen playing second lady in Little Opera Company’s production of The Magic Flute. In August, Geneva will be joining Manitoba Underground Opera as Pheobe in their production of Caster and Pollux. As a private teacher, they instruct a talented roster of voice and piano students, many of whom have gone on to pursue performance careers of their own. Geneva is an avid runner and fitness guru. Currently, Geneva is guardian to plants, some of which actually stay alive. Honestly, not many stay alive. Geneva will never be part of HGTV.
Alison Holliday
Alison Holliday (she/her/they) is an artist recently graduated from the University of Manitoba. She grew up in Fortrose in the Highlands of Scotland and has been living in Winnipeg on treaty one territory since 2019. They have a keen interest in how stories work, and are hoping this mentorship will help them streamline the development of new works creating a space for exploration and play within creation. Her current interests align with themes of love, post-capitalism, intersectionality, futurity, and movies with golden retrievers playing sports.
JOYCE JUGO
Joyce Jugo (she/her) is a proud Canadian-Filipina, vocalist, theatre artist, and creative based in Treaty 1 Territory. She is thrilled to be selected for Royal MTC’s 2023/2024 National Mentorship Program and expresses deep gratitude to Kelly, Melissa and the team at Royal MTC for this life changing opportunity.
Joyce is a graduate from the University of Winnipeg with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Criminal Justice and secondary major in Theatre – Acting Stream. She believes the theatre is a space for transformation – where audiences and creatives alike can interpret, receive, feel and be influenced.
Looking ahead, Joyce hopes to continue bridging her passions in social justice and art in every facet of her practice. Selected credits include: BeltFest 2020 (UNI’T); Fame (WST); and Rent (Rainbow Stage). You can also find Joyce on the local music scene, showcasing R&B and Pop selections on local stages in Winnipeg. @joycejugo_ @joycesings_
SOPHIA LOBE
Sophia Lobe (she/her) is an interdisciplinary artist and designer based in Winnipeg, currently in her second year of a Bachelor of Arts degree at Canadian Mennonite University. She is passionate about storytelling through visuals and has spent time sketching and bringing stories to life, particularly through costume. Sophia enjoys the process of creating, and is a self-taught designer, visual artist, and seamstress. She has created a range of costumes, including historical pieces from the eighteenth and early twentieth century, and has done a good deal of concept work in creating vibrant, visual worlds to better bring stories to life on stage and beyond.
Sophia believes that creative vision and energy are essential elements of storytelling in a theatre setting, and works to intentionally bring these things to her design work.
HONEY PHAM
Honey Pham is a Vietnamese-Canadian actor from Winnipeg and has just completed their degree in Musical Theatre from Sheridan College. Select performing credits include: Wonton in we could be clouds (fuGEN Theatre); Kai in Carried by the River (Red Snow Collective); A Perfect Bowl of Pho (Kick & Push); Narnia (Badhats/Theatre Sheridan); Nobody Asked to be Here (Musical Stage Co./Theatre Sheridan); Turn the Page (Theatre Sheridan); School of Rock (Winnipeg Studio Theatre); and A Perfect Bowl of Pho (Toronto Fringe). TV/Film credits include: Zaasaakwe, Fourth Period Burnout (CBC); and The Colour of Scar Tissue (APTN/ImagiNATIVE/TIFF). If you can believe it, Honey has received Highest Achievement in Acting Performance, The Creative Dance Project Award, and Student Leadership Award (Sheridan College). A big thanks to The After School Leadership Program for providing accessible theatre education so Honey could be where they are now.
Zanifa Rasool
Zanifa Rasool is a graduate of the Honours and Devised program at the University of Winnipeg. They are a multi-disciplinary artist trained primarily in acting and directing. They were part of the One Trunk Theatre residency program in 2021 and Creative Manitoba mentorship. They are currently in the Arts Leadership program run by the Belfy and Persephone Theatre. Acting credits include: Art Walk in the Park, Knock Knock Ginger (One Trunk Theatre); What’s So Funny (Carousel Players); Flourish, The Human Test (YoursQueerly); 365 Days, 365 Plays, Truth Reconfigured, Re:Vision (U of W). Directing credits include: Burning Mom (Royal MTC – Apprentice Director); Art Walk in the Park(One Trunk Theatre), Flourish (Yours Queerly); You, Me, and The Elements (U of W).
Anaka Sandhu
Anaka Sandhu is a South Asian and gender non-conforming artist born and raised on Treaty One Territory (also known as Winnipeg, Manitoba). Anaka recently graduated from the National Theatre School of Canada (Acting, 2022), and is working towards finishing their degree (political-science honours program) at the University of Manitoba.
As someone who has a deep love for human connection and a fascination with everyday life, Anaka has always been attracted to the shared experience that comes with theatre and performance. The ability to shift a perspective, to mirror someone else’s complex feelings, to provide catharsis through laughter; it’s a feeling of oneness that Anaka is moved by.
Before their time at NTS, Anaka studied political science and film at the University of Manitoba. This field of study in conjunction with Anaka’s lived experience often brings advocacy to the forefront of their work, and makes current global contextualization essential to their artistic practice.
During their training, Anaka gained invaluable experience working with and being mentored by Canadian theatre makers such as Jackie Maxwell, Tim Welham, and Jani Lauzon.
Since graduating, Anaka has worked on several films and TV shows (Spencer Sisters, Psycho Killer), made their debut at the Shaw Festival, and performed internationally at the historic Barbican Centre in London, England.
As a genderfluid IBPoC artist, Anaka seeks to create space for stories that have historically been erased. They’re especially interested in challenging the notion of Western ‘classics’; examining stories that were not written with people like them in mind, and reimagining said classics in a manner that reflects our ever-evolving world.
Justin Stadnyk
Justin Stadnyk is a seasoned performer whose passion for the performing arts is matched only by his dedication to continuous learning and development. With a rich history of notable performances, he most recently was the Assistant Director of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical and seen on stage in the Royal MTC/Citadel Co-Pro of The Sound of Music. Other career highlights include the Original Canadian Company of Kinky Boots with Mirvish, the World Premieres of Boys in the Photograph for Mirvish & Royal MTC, Grumpy Old Men - The Musical and The Wave at Royal MTC. His experience spans across numerous productions with esteemed companies such as the Shaw Festival and Charlottetown Festival, and includes touring North America with Saturday Night Fever accumulating over fifty CAEA credits nationwide. His screen appearances include the made-for-television movie Who Was I That Night for Lifetime and King of the Camp for YTV.
Now stepping into a mentorship role, Justin extends his sincere gratitude to the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre for offering the "National Mentorship Program," an initiative that fosters the growth of artists like him across the country. This opportunity marks a significant step in his artistic journey, allowing him to gain new insights and further hone his craft under the mentorship of a distinguished director.
Balancing his professional endeavors with personal life, Justin is deeply appreciative of the unwavering support from his wife and two young sons. Their encouragement is the bedrock of his new growth. Follow Justin's ongoing artistic narrative online @j_stadnyk and at www.justinstadnyk.com.
Sarah Struthers
Sarah Struthers is a queer and non-binary multidisciplinary theatre and visual artist based on Treaty One Territory. They hold a BA in Theatre and Film from the University of Winnipeg, with a focus in devised theatre research and creation. Sarah explores storytelling through movement-based work as well as sculpture and analog collage processes. Their latest exploration revolves around the liminal spaces that hold non-binary identities, and the contrasting worlds of the natural and artificial.
Hazel Wallace
Hazel Wallace (she/her) is multidisciplinary Filipina singer, actor and creator from Winnipeg, MB. She is currently attending the University of Manitoba, pursuing a Bachelor of Music with a specialty in Vocal Performance. On top of her studies. Hazel continues to perform in the community and abroad. She has performed along the WSO with the Musica Singers, the University of Manitoba Musical Theatre Ensemble and the University of Manitoba’s University Singers. She also had the opportunity to tour Spain performing with the University Singers. As well, Hazel was the 2023 recipient of the Golden Balangay award for Music and Entertainment.
Her most recent theater credits include: A Charlie Brown Double Bill with MTYP; Ma-Buhay Choreo Workshop with Rainbow Stage; and Beltfest 2 with Andrea Macasaet and Royal MTC.
Aside from theater, Hazel has a strong passion for TV and film. She worked as a creator, producer and writer on the sit-com Maria and the Mennos in collaboration with Ode Productions and YesTV. She felt very passionately about writing a show that features a complete cast of Manitobans and a biracial family, as she wished to have that representation on screen as a child. Additionally, Hazel also enjoys performing on screen. Her most recent credits include Elevator Game, Pumpkin Everything, A Kiss Before Christmas and Cheerleader Abduction.
Hazel is extremely grateful to participate in this program and would like to thank everyone at the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre for the opportunity.