Program
About the Play
The Bee’s Knees is a two-act drama with songs. It’s set in the early 1920s when for the first time ever women could run for parliament. The story is centred around two sisters, Bernie, a rebellious young flapper and her older, responsible sister, Dolores. Bernie convinces Dolores to run for office against the local male incumbent.
For a woman of her time, this is a scandalous, dangerous decision. The sisters must deal with smear campaigns and death threats, a catatonic mother, the betrayal of female colleagues, and Dolores falling in love, all while running a campaign.
With a large, diverse cast and original jazz-era music, The Bee’s Knees is entertaining and hopeful. It takes you back to the Roaring Twenties, but shines a lens on the 2020s, forcing the audience to examine the landscape of modern leadership.
Creative Team
Judy Reynolds
(she / her)
Playwright / Director
Judy received her BA in Theatre from York University where she studied playwrighting under Carol Bolt. After this, she was selected for the Soulpepper Training Company with a focus on acting for classical theatre.
As an arts professional, Judy has acted, danced, choreographed and written for theatre, television and film. She has performed in English, French and American Sign Language (ASL). Judy founded a dance academy and served as Artistic Director for two performing arts companies. One of Judy’s greatest honours as a performer was belly dancing for Canada’s last WWI veteran.
A lifelong meditator, Judy became one of Deepak Chopra’s certified meditation instructors. She has taught everywhere from suburban living rooms to federal penitentiaries. Judy also developed a unique children’s meditation program for the Toronto District School Board. In addition to The Bee’s Knees, Judy is working on Pilgrimage, a sci-fi novel that takes place in 2134.
Judy is the proud Mom of two amazing daughters. She lives in Toronto with her husband Dave, their blended family and Cleo the border collie.
MBOYA NICHOLSON
Composer
Mboya Nicholson is a jazz pianist and composer from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. He has written string arrangements for conductor Colin Mendez Morris’s recording projects, and has performed for the Consul General of the Netherlands in Toronto; and internationally, in Japan, Italy and Guadeloupe.
Currently Mboya has a solo piano recording of compositions out, called “Melodic Faces”, released in 2023, and teaches at MacEwan University where he developed a jazz history course that teaches the history of jazz with cultural context as the integral part of the course, taking into account the African American origins as the main perspective of the course, as well as using historical context to show the impact society had on jazz, as well as how jazz affected various eras.
In 2017, Mboya was awarded the Clarence “Big Miller” Award for Music from the National Black Coalition of Canada.
Mboya performs with a quartet and with the Mboya Nicholson Jazz Orchestra (also known as the Shortkestra, because of it's abridged instrumentation). He presently produces and hosts a podcast about jazz called The Jazz Legacy Radio Podcast, and is working on new projects and shows for the online radio station he started, called Jazz Legacy Radio, which returns to the air soon.
FLORIAN MONTAGUE
(they / them)
Assistant Director / Stage Manager
Florian is a multidisciplinary artist who enjoys participating in all aspects of theatre, both on and off stage. They participated in multiple theatrical college productions as an actor, a singer, a stage manager and assistant director.
They most recently contributed to TYTs ‘Peter Rabbit’ as a creative consultant. In their downtime, they enjoy writing, playing piano, painting and reading fantasy novels.
Messages from the team
Land Acknowledgement
We acknowledge that we are on the traditional territory of many nations, including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.
Cast
(in alphabetical order)
Françoise Balthazar
(she / her)
Yvonne / Miss Madge / Frances McKay
Most recently, Françoise reprised her role as the notorious Lucrezia Borgia in Bella Donna at the Tarragon Theatre, a role she originated in the original version of David Copelin’s award-winning play. Previous to this, she played the role of Felicity in the acclaimed Colleen Wagner genocide play The Living at the Theatre Centre and the classic David Mamet role of Dave Moss in an all-female production of Glengarry Glen Ross at the Red Sandcastle Theatre.
Other notable highlights include the lead role of Alcandre in The Illusion (Stratford Festival); Cassius in Julius Caeser (Red Sandcastle Theatre); The Nurse in Romeo and Juliet (Minack Theatre, England); La Marquise de Merteuil in Dangerous Liaisons (Alumnae Theatre) and the title role of Richard III in an all-female production of the play. (George Ignatieff Theatre).
Rachel Nkoto Belinga
(she /her)
Kitty / Tillie
Rachel Nkoto is a French multidisciplinary performer with expertise in theater, film, and music. Trained at Art’aire Studio in Paris and the Second City Toronto Conservatory. She grew up surrounded by music and has a background as a gospel singer, having performed across France. As founding member of the Low Bar Comedy Troupe, she has been featured in productions like How Low Can We Go?. Rachel is also a dedicated advocate for gender equality.
Jason De Angelis
(he / him)
Lad / Photographer
Jason joins the behind-the-scenes team of The Bee’s Knees as the Production Manager.
With a professional background in business management and an amateur background in musical theatre, Jason is a bridge between the creative and technical development of the show. Working on both sides of creative projects has given him a unique skillset.
A lover of music, Jason plays flute, guitar and piano. He is excited to support the actors and contribute to the artistic vision of the show.
Jason was corralled into playing as one of the Lads and Photographer.
Kenzie Delo
(he / him)
Dr. Edwin Becker
Kenzie is a Nova Scotian actor, singer, and writer who has worked in theatre, film, television, and voiceover. Kenzie has, among other roles, played Pozzo in Waiting for Godot and Jorgen Tesman in Hedda Gabler (Atlantic Repertory Company), Mister Darcy in both Miss Bennet & The Wickhams: Christmas at Pemberley (Theatre New Brunswick), and he has performed as far away as the Werkstatt Theatre in Konstanz, Germany and the Canadian Embassy in Paris, France.
A graduate of both the National Theatre School of Canada and the Fountain School of Performing Arts, Kenzie also has a strong passion for collaborating on new work development as an actor and writer. He can currently be seen on television as Constable Tucker in CBC / UKTV's Murdoch Mysteries.
Madeline Elliott Kennedy
(she / her)
Bernie McKay
Madeline Elliott Kennedy is a Niagara made, Toronto-based artist with focused training in Suzuki, Viewpoints and site specific devising. Madeline is so honoured to be a part of The Bee's Knees history from its very first read through. She finds deep honour in this craft because it means portraying another human's story, and this time one that is so very topical.
She enjoys riddles, critter friendships and eating kimchi right out of the jar. Previous works include Wren in 5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche (Unit 6 Collective), Slalo in SAMCA (Spindle Collective / Riot King Art Market) and Little Stone in Eurydice (Pazzo Theatre Collective).
Brandon Knox
(he / him)
Drew Chapman / Debate Moderator / Swimsuit Bylaw Officer / Denny
Brandon Knox was born and raised in Scarborough, ON.
Selected theatre credits: Stinky Cheese Man, Princess and The Pea and Cinderella (TYT Theatre) The Cage & The Laughter (Minmar Gaslight Productions), The Inch of your Life Trilogy (The Theatre Circuit), Coriolanus & Moral Deficit (Skipping Stones Theatre), She Kills Monsters (Orphaned Egret Productions), The Winter’s Tale (Dauntless City Theatre), Guerrilla Ruffians (Shakespeare in the Ruff) and As You Like It (Rarely Pure Theatre).
Selected Film/TV credits: Scary Stories to tell in Dark (Lionsgate), Don’t Mess With Grandma (Tubi), Murdoch Mysteries (CBC) and Fellow Travelers (Showtime).
Shannon Pitre
(she / her)
Dolores Cole
Shannon is an interdisciplinary actor / creator and a graduate of the University of Windsor's BFA in Acting Program (2019). Her passions include new play development, devised and contact-based theatre, reimagining of classical works, and arts education.
Recent works include: The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) (Revised) (Again) (Theatre on the Ridge), Presenter in Migraaaants (Two Thousand Feet Up Theatre Company), and Procne in If We Were Birds (Alumnae).
Shannon is forever inspired by the vast amount of talent, curiosity, and love found within her creative circles. She is grateful to be creating community and inciting important conversations with such wonderful and inspired artists in this project.
Michael Pollard
(he / him)
Jerry Fields
Michael has written, directed, performed and even stage-managed plays across Canada for over 30 years. Jazz and theatre are two of his passions and when writer-director Judy Reynolds came a calling he couldn't say yes fast enough.
Last summer Michael performed in The Real McCoy at The Blyth Festival. Most recent TV and film include: Murdoch Mysteries as Dirk Datchery in the What the Dickens episode, and the short film he wrote and starred in Danny May which won multiple awards on the world wide festival circuit.
Jamillah Ross
(she / her)
Rita Blue
Past credits include: Stage: Reagan Bibeau in Les Belles Soeurs, Mattie in Wedding Band and First Watchman / Attendant in Much Ado About Nothing (Stratford Festival), Cinnamon in Rumspringa Break (NextStage), The Sour Kangaroo in Seussical (Lorraine Kimsa Theatre).
Film / TV: Gladys Kravitz in CHUCKY, Agent Orange in Slumberland, Ida Clark in Murdoch Mysteries, and many characters in Baroness Von Sketch. Jamillah lives with the sweetest cat in the world, can juggle three small objects and is an alum of The Second City Toronto MainStage.
Birgitte Solem
(she / her)
Aunt Virginia
Birgitte began her professional acting career as a teenager at The National Arts Centre in her hometown of Ottawa and after studying theatre in both Canada and the U.K., co-founded Hope and Hell Theatre Co. touring fringe festivals across the country.
She has performed at Odyssey Theatre, Magnus Theatre, The Great Canadian Theatre Co., Theatre Passe Muraille and more. She has spent several seasons over the last twenty years at The Blyth Festival, including performing and co-creating The Pigeon King and as a playwright, debuting her first full length mystery Resort to Murder, top seller of the 50th anniversary season. She also starred in the Toronto premiere of Ayad Akbar’s Disgraced which was performed twice as part of the Off-Mirvish season and toured to The Citadel Theatre.
With over 30 film and television credits, Birgitte was a series regular on Malory Towers for CBBC, appeared in the recent TIFF award winning short Motherland and for two years was the voice of Volvo Canada.
Marlo Surkis
(she / her)
Lad / Reporter
Marlo is thrilled to make her debut in this production! She is a passionate lover of musical theatre and brings with her a background in local children’s theatre productions, including Inside Out, Legally Blonde, and Grease, she is excited to share this journey with the cast and audience.
Production Team
(in alphabetical order)
Kit Norman
(they / them)
Lightning Designer
Kit is a graduate of the Performance Production program at Toronto Metropolitan University. They work as both a lighting designer and technician for many theatres across Toronto.
As a technician, they have worked in various departments. Their work has mainly brought them to Buddies in Bad Times Theatre; working as their head technician on shows such as Angels in America, White Muscle Daddy, and Speaking of Sneaking.
As a lighting designer, their work has primarily focussed on children’s plays and musicals at TYT; including Thumbelina, The Stinky Cheese Man, Rapunzel, Peter Rabbit, Rainbow Fish, and others. They have also worked on musicals such as Fun Home (Bowtie Productions), and Leap of Faith (Spirit Express).
Jordan Paluck
(she / her)
Sound Designer
Jordan Paluck is a musician, recordist, and mixer. She has dedicated her time into honing her craft, producing high quality audio for her and her clients. From podcasts, to commercials, albums, or live performances, Jordan’s life revolves around sound.
The Theatre Centre Staff / Front of House
