Success, success and more success. Jake keeps raising the bar in quality and quantity of work. Just to name three of his best-known shows – DEGRASSI, DESIGNATED SURVIVOR, SUITS – barely touches the work he has done. On Broadway, Jake created the role of Gerry Goffin in the long-running hit BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL. As a professional he follows the hallmark plan of: audition, work, practice. Best to you Jake to keep going on this road. And, I have the great joy of coaching him.

Severn has done lots of TV including SAVING HOPE, MURDOCH MYSTERIES, BOMB GIRLS, but the theatre is where she really has shown her talent. As a DORA award winner for direction and a creator of many beautiful roles she has a high place in the community. She embodies two best qualities: honesty and humility. Her straightforwardness is respected and appreciated by all. Her mother and father, Ann Anglin and Paul Thompson, have held the flag of new and independent Canadian work high and Severn continues to keep that flag flying by making the art and culture of this country useful to the people who live and work here. Congratulations on all your work and best wishes for continued success.

Perry has put his mark on generations of actors in Canada. First, by teaching and running The National Theatre School of Canada and second, by teaching and running the Ryerson Theatre School. He has the knowledge of what makes a modern theatre school. He always put the work first - meaning: the actor, acting, how does one create a character and make it believable. He still does that and in face of new trends where institutions want numbers to attend their drama school at the expense of quality and others who preach self-expression at the expense of rigorous classical conservatory training. Perry is a funny guy. That comes through in his expertise in mask, improv, Commedia and all things comedy. He’s new school and not old school when it comes to knowing what is needed to be a professional actor. Hats off to Monsieur Schneiderman!!

I knew Michael in my days in Montreal up to 1979 when Haig, me and Michael pretty well made up the young English actor contingent. A good actor, lovely guy and we re-print Michael’s post to support him and publicize the terrible treatment he has received from ACTRA, insurance companies, the government and more. To you Michael, respect and warm greetings.

"Ten years on, it's a bitter anniversary for this survivor. It's the anniversary of the loss of my once healthy, even beautiful body, the loss of my career, my previously healthy retirement fund and my peace of mind and hope for the future. It's the day that reminds me that my own country and my adopted province did nothing, offered nothing, never stood up for me in any way; that my own union insurance company, after years of being one of it's highest earners, offered me paltry compensation for a period of three months, then threatened to sue me for finishing studio contracts I had to honour, contracts I completed while bleeding from one of my wounds, because I was too stoned on the over prescribed medications I was on and unable to fill in the paperwork. (They eventually just robbed my insurance reserves for as much as they could and cut off my benefits.. Go ACTRA!) I just went back to bed.

I remain amazed that not one of the hundreds of thousands of Pakistani Canadians ever reached out a hand to help, that Pakistan has still not accepted what the international community knows, that Pakistani intelligence was entirely responsible for the training, planning and coordination of the attacks.
In fact the Pakistani Canadian community organized and sponsored the visit to Mississauga, Ontario for the man on whose lands the idiots that murdered and maimed in Mumbai were trained and outfitted.
At the same time I give thanks for the support of the Actor's Fund of Canada, and thus all those that contribute to it, to my dear sister Jennifer and my brother-in-law Andrew, to my good friends Rachel and and Mary Ann and Ian and Liz and Richard and Deborah and Heather and Bonnie, to Don and Mollye and Arthur, à Madeleine, Terry, to the mysterious angels, to The Dove Foundation, to Linda and Ben, to Kia, and to all who supported the benefit in Toronto and to all who reach out, with love and kind words and in every way.
Thanks forever to Shibani, and Gautam and Ma Sachdeva, to Mona Doc, who were all so incredibly kind to me in Mumbai.

I apologize to all those who have felt my wrath in these last years. I didn't used to have a wrathful temper. 

But now I know why the chained dog always has the most fearsome bark.

In loving memory of Allan and Naomi, and all those who died and were wounded for no good reason."

A good friend and colleague David is always willing to discuss serious questions facing performers during these difficult times. His resume spans theatre, film, voice and teaching. He has acted in the …