Old | echoproductions

We were beyond thrilled to have been awarded a grant through the Canada Arts Presentation Fund to bring Charlie: Son of Man to St. John’s, Newfoundland as part of the Resource Centre for the Arts' Presentation Series.

THE CREATIVE TEAM

Victoria Fuller - Artistic Director

Victoria is originally from St. John’s, Newfoundland and she completed an MA in Musical Theatre Performance at The Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. She is also a graduate of Toronto’s Randolph Academy of Performing Arts. However, her passion for directing and teaching theatre led her to found Echo Productions in 2012. Since then she has directed every show the company has produced including Bonnie & Clyde (St. John’s RCA 2016, Context (RWM Festival 2018) and now Charlie: Son of Man. Victoria has also directed for the Playwrights’ Springboard, a platform for playwrights to showcase and see staged readings of their newest works. She is overwhelmed by the passion, love and support from this crazily talented group of people. She is so happy to be able to create art in a world where so many don’t get to do so.

Kyle Duffin - Musical Director

Kyle Duffin is a songwriter, composer, and multi-instrumentalist based in Toronto. He has performed with such acts as Crowns for Convoy, Brian Sasaki & The Scuffed Souls, and Big Screen Kiss. He has previously worked with Echo Productions on their shows The Walk, Bonnie & Clyde, Jekyll & Hyde, and Context. By acting as both composer and performer for Echo Productions he can keep the score fluid and organic, and allow the works to unfold uniquely in each performance. For SON OF MAN, Kyle incorporated electric guitar, live looping, and music by The Beatles for the score. Often, when he gets to the bottom, he’ll go back to the top. Of the slide, that is.

Samantha Falco - Visual Arts Director

Samantha is currently a freelance photographer living in the heart of Toronto. She has become an active photographer in the Toronto arts scene and has worked alongside Echo Productions since the second production of A Clockwork Orange. Samantha looks forward to visiting Newfoundland for the first time and capturing its beautiful sites and people.

Adrian Yearwood - Playwright

Adrian Yearwood is absolutely thrilled to be a part of this incredible cast! This is a whirlwind of a story about a truly reprehensible person (it wouldn’t truly be an Echo show otherwise) and bringing it to life on stage has been a challenging yet rewarding experience. Select credits include Echo & Narcissus (The Assembly 20178) Context (RWM Festival 2018), Bonnie & Clyde (St. John’s RCA 2016), Dog Sees God (John Candy Box Theatre 2016), A Clockwork Orange (Tarragon Studio Theatre 2013), and Busyness (Little Red Theatre 2014). A big shout out to the cast and crew for working tirelessly to make this a success - you are all shining stars and deserve the world!

THE CAST

James Karfilis as Charles Manson

James Karfilis is an actor, singer, songwriter, composer and musician from Toronto, and a graduate of Ryerson Theatre School. He has appeared in several productions with Echo, from A Clockwork Orange and Frankenstein through to Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde and is now immensely proud and excited for the opportunity to be performing in Son of Man in St. John’s. As well as acting, James also writes, composes, records and performs original music in several projects as well as accompaniment for other singers and performers. You’ll hear it in due time. James is extremely grateful to his family and friends for enduring love, chillness, patience, and support.

Courtney Lamanna as Susan Atkins

For Echo Productions: Van’s Sister in Dog Sees God, Jamie in Context, Hera in Echo & Narcissus. Other Credits: Spring Awakening (Lower Ossington Theatre), Cabaret (Hart House Theatre). Courtney is psyched to be back onstage with the Echo family in this dark and daring production that is so true to the unmistakable style that the company is becoming known for. Thank you for always creating the space to take risks.

Stephen Mashalidis as Tex Watson

Returning for the remount of Charlie: Son of Man, Stephen has been along for the ride with Echo Productions since their first production of A Clockwork Orange (2012/2013). Originally coming from an improv and sketch comedy background, Stephen has enjoyed branching out with Echo Productions in Frankenstein (2014), Dog Sees God (2014/2016), Bonnie & Clyde (2015/2016), Jekyll & Hyde (2015) and Context (2017/2018). When not performing with Echo, Stephen can be found doing shows with the Second City Conservatory and making dumb videos with his roommate.

Tanya Filipopoulos as Patricia Krenwinkle

Tanya is a graduate of the Professional Acting program at Sheridan College and the Theatre and Drama Studies specialist program at the University of Toronto. Recent credits include: Stranger Friends (Players), HAIR (Lower Ossington Theatre) and the Toronto workshop premiere of zaghidiwin/love (b current Theatre). Outside of her theatrical pursuits, Tanya is a stand-up comedian who you can catch complaining about the patriarchy at various venues across the city. She has additional training from the Second City and finished as a Semi Finalist in the 2016 Comedy Brawl. She is so grateful for the opportunity to remount this show alongside a remarkable cast and crew whose passion and energy have helped her to grow as a performer with each and every step of this process - thank you for creating this space to play.

Cora Matheson as Linda Kasabian

Cora is a graduate of both Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts and George Brown Theatre School. Originally a dancer, Cora’s passion slowly shifted to classical theatre, which is where she has been focusing the last two years of her career. She has worked with a number of Toronto classical theatre companies such as Shakespeare Bash’d, Spur of the Moment Shakespeare and Shakespeare In The Ruff, and can be seen in a number of independent films. Cora is so delighted to be joining the team at Echo Productions and return to her roots of physical and devised based work. She has loved every minute of working with these fabulous artists and is beyond grateful to be in the beautiful east coast - her favorite part of Canada - to share her passion for art, movement and storytelling.

Kierstyn Parks as Leslie Van Houten / Sharon Tate

Kierstyn Parks is an actress and writer originally from Mount Pearl, Newfoundland. She moved to Toronto in 2013 to attend the Ryerson School of Performance Acting program. Since graduating she has been diving into all kinds of fun and interesting projects in Toronto, but she is excited to be bringing this one home! This is Kierstyn’s second show with Echo Productions, and she has loved having the opportunity to work with such driven artists!

Adrian Yearwood as Bobby Beausoleil

Allison Wall as Lynette Fromme

Having spent the last year straight performing in Disney musicals, Allison is very much looking forward to performing in something completely different. She grew up in Vancouver, B.C, and moved to Toronto to attend the Randolph Academy, from which she recently graduated. She is very excited to be remount this show with Echo Productions.

Gillian Bartolucci as V. Bugliosi

Gillian is an alumna of the Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts as well as a graduate of the Toronto Second City Conservatory Program. She is a part of the Canadian Comedy Award-winning sketch collective The Sketchersons, and also performs with her sketch troupe, Panacea (Top 10 Comedy Shows of 2015, NOW Magazine & Torontoist). Gillian has performed in such comedy festivals as the Toronto and Montreal Sketchfest, SheDot Festival, and most recently Gillian earned a spot in the 2017 JFL42 New Faces: Characters Showcase. She’s been happy to put the “skits” on hold and join Echo Productions for Charlie: Son of Man. It’s been a real creepy crawl!

Michelle Nash as Judge Older

Nash is an actor and singer originally from Ottawa, Ontario. She was a part of Context a few months ago in Toronto, but has been low key obsessed with the work Echo Productions produces for years. Previous credits include The Marvelous Wonderettes, Urinetown, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Stephenville Theatre Festival), Evil Dead: The Musical, Disenchanted, Cannibal! The Musical (North American tours), Going In (Feature, Evan Rissi), The Tin Forest (National Theatre of Scotland). Upcoming, Nash will be performing in Anne of Green Gables at the Thousand Islands Playhouse in Gananoque. @michnashhh

Ethan Saulnier as Gary Hinman / Terry Melcher

This is Ethan’s fourth show with Echo Productions, and he is excited to be travelling to St. John’s with the company! Past credits include: Charlie: Son of Man (Echo Productions, 2017), Dog Sees God (rejzndkliv, 2017). Context (Echo Productions, 2017). Midsummer Night’s Dream (NonExistent Theatre, 2016). In addition to acting, Ethan has contributed to the script of several theatrical productions such as Embark (Pinewood Theatre) and Suitcases (an original work by Rosanna Saracino).

Jensen Porter as Gypsy / Bailiff

This is Jensen’s second performance with Echo Productions, and she couldn’t be more excited to travelling to St. John’s with this incredible cast and creative team! Jensen moved to Toronto after high school anxious to pursue her dreams of being a performer. Since graduating from Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts, Jensen has participated in short films, music videos, and theatre performances. Her most memorable performances are performing in the New York 5th International Dance Festival, Songs for a New World (First Act productions), Grease (York Mills Reunion), Little Pricks (Toronto Fringe Festival), and writing and performing in Suitcases (original work by Rosanna Saracino). Jensen is also starring in the web series Gay Mean Girls, which premieres this Spring 2019.