Paper Canoe Projects

JANI LAUZON

Writer/Actor/Producer

Jani

Jani bio - Writer/Director/Actor (Haisa,Pudlums,Fog Man, Katherine)
Jani Lauzon (Metis) is a Dora Mavor Moore nominated actress, a Juno nominated singer/songwriter, a Gemini Award winning puppeteer and an award winning screen actor. Jani has countless theatre, film and radio credits to her name. She was the former Artistic Director of the Centre for Indigenous Theatre and a Co-Founder of Turtle Gals Performance Ensemble. Other original work includes the two act Opera/Play “I Call myself Princess” and her one woman show “Prophecy Fog”. Her short films “eu·tha·na·sia” and "Just One Word" continue to screen worldwide.




JESSICA BARRERA

Actor/Choreographer/Aerial Hoop Trainer

Jessica Barrera Director

Jessica Barrera is a multidisciplinary artist who has grown up in the circus and theatre world.   She has cultivated her passions through performance, choreography, and teaching worldwide. She has also worked as a stunt acrobat/aerialist for television and film.  She has trained, toured and performed with renowned companies and artists including Canada’s own Cirque du Soleil.  Jessica continues to work as a respected writer and creator with a unique ability to bridge physicality and narrative.




TRISH LEEPER


Actor/Puppeteer/Puppet, Mask Design and construction


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Trish Leeper began her career as a puppeteer playing ‘Ma Gorg’ in the Muppet TV series Fraggle Rock. Trained in movement, mask, & puppetry, she has worked extensively in TV and film and toured internationally with Theatre Beyond Words “the Potato People” and Theatre Les Deux Mondes’ award-winning “Tale of Teeka”. She recently co-founded The Manipulators who’s first puppet production “Rovero & Juliet” has played Puppets Up! International Festival, Saskatchewan Kid's Fest, Toronto Fringe and Stratford’s Springworks Festival.  Trish is also an accomplished puppet/mask-maker.
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MARSHA COFFEY


Music and Sound


Marsha

Marsha has written hundreds of scores for Theatre, Dance, Film, TV and Radio Dramas for the CBC. Her work has taken her to Theatre and Dance Companies across Canada, New York, and Europe. She has worked in Denmark for many years with Tukak Theatre and other Danish Theatre and Dance Companies. Marsha is a Dora Mavor Moore Award winner, a three-time nominee and has received various nominations for her film scores.  She is happy to continue the journey with A Side of Dreams. 
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Melissa Joakim


Stage Manager/Technical Director/Lighting/Video Design


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Melissa Joakim is a lighting and projection designer, technician and stage manager in Toronto, Canada. She holds a BFA Spec. Hon.s from York University. Recent credits include: Lighting and Projection Design: A Side of Dreams (Paper Canoe Projects); A Soldier's Tale: Concert (Signal Theatre); Camilla's Bones(Maloka Theatre). Lighting Design: Nature of Things (Tziporah Productions); Liver (Theatre Brouhaha); The Skriker (Red One Theatre Collective); Death and The Maiden (Notre Sur Productions). Projection Design: Snowblink(Concert); Ninja Funk Orchestra (Concert);Processor (Concert). Stage Management: Sea Sick(Theatre Centre); Wintersong (Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre); Malaria Lullaby(Company Blonde and Femme du Feu).