Stagecoach Toronto East

Lisa Alves (they/she) is an emerging playwright and established theatre producer in Tkarón:to. A member of the Playwrights Guild of Canada, they graduated from Humber College in Theatre Performance (2015) and Business Management (2018). Alves produced five Dora Mavor Moore Award-nominated plays and served as managing producer at Cahoots Theatre (2020-2025). Their works include The Exhale, WE HAVE TO TELL YOU SOMETHING, and the short film Ladyfingers (2025). Alves also writes poetry and stories.

Liam Gilpin is a Toronto educator and video editor. He attended the University of Waterloo for Physics and Astronomy and graduated from Durham College in Video Production. Currently, he is enrolled in Ontario Tech’s Education Studies program to become an elementary school teacher. Known as “Tech Support” among friends, his hobbies include tabletop role-playing games, 3D printing, and miniature painting. He enjoys exploring Wikipedia and rewatching The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers.

Alexis Raphael is a Toronto-based actor, vocalist and writer. She began her arts journey at eight in a school production of Grease. She studied Vocal Arts at Westmount Collegiate Institute and Musical Theatre Performance at St. Lawrence College, graduating in 2020. Alexis has worked with Smile Theatre, performing for long-term care residents, and led improv workshops at CAMH. Passionate about teaching, she has facilitated theatre camps and offers voice lessons online, inspiring future creatives.

Mariana Almeida is a dedicated performer and educator. Starting as a competitive hip-hop dancer, she expanded her skills in jazz, ballet, and contemporary dance. Mariana holds a Certificate in Performing Arts Fundamentals and a Diploma in Acting for Camera & Voice, mastering vocal technique and on-camera acting. As an Early Stages Teacher Assistant at Stagecoach, she fosters a supportive environment for young learners (ages 4-6) to explore movement and storytelling and build confidence.

Demi-Lee Bainbridge is a Toronto-based performer and a graduate of George Brown Theatre School and Capilano University’s Bachelor of Performing Arts program. She is a multi-disciplinary artist with experience as a teacher, puppeteer, musician, composer, director, and actor. Originally debuting as a singer, she now primarily works as an actor and is excited to share her love of music with students at Stagecoach.

Josh is a 2-time ACTRA Award-nominated actor and 3-time SOCAN Foundation Award-winning musician. His acting credits include roles in Resident Evil: Welcome To Raccoon City, Moonfall, and Netflix’s Polar. He has taught at Stagecoach for nearly 10 years and was nominated for Outstanding Drama Teacher in 2019. He appears in MGM’s Billy The Kid and will feature in Apple TV+’s The Last Frontier. His debut album, Variety Show, is streaming now. He aims to build students’ technique and confidence.

O (they/them) is a non-binary, Toronto-based multidisciplinary artist focused on dance and musical theatre, excited to return to Stagecoach. Passionate about the arts since age 5, O is a recent graduate of Randolph College for the Performing Arts and continues to train in dance, acting, and singing. They aim to inspire young people to grow their passion for the arts while fostering friendships and life lessons. O promotes inclusive arts education and a welcoming Stagecoach for all students.

Deshreeni (She/They) is a Sri Lankan-Canadian multidisciplinary performance artist specializing in acting, directing, and stagecraft. Growing up in Wînipêk, she developed a passion for storytelling, leading her to Tkaronto. A recent graduate of the Performance Acting program at Toronto Metropolitan University, she aims to be the mentor she lacked, believing every child deserves their moment to shine. At Stagecoach, Deshreeni encourages students to take creative risks and build confidence.

EMA WILLS BIO Coming soon!