Margaret Thompson - Director

Margaret Thompson is a graduate of The Central School of Speech and Drama (London, UK) and Concordia University (Montreal).  Her theatre credits include roles such as Hastings in an all female Richard III and Rosalind in As You Like It (Shakespeare in the Square), Cassandra in The Trojan Women (Canopy Theatre), Juliet in Romeo & Juliet (directed by Alexander Marine) and Joyce in the London (UK) premier of John Mighton’s Possible Worlds. She has recently returned to Toronto after 3 years in exile as a casting director for Youth Music Theatre: UK where she cast 16 new musicals across the UK and Ireland. This is her directorial debut. She would like to thank Ian Cusson and the Mezzanine project for entrusting her with the hauntingly beautiful music of Kurt Weill.

Ian Cusson – Mezzanine Arts Director/pianist

Ian Cusson studied at the Glenn Gould School under James Anagnoson where he received his Associateship of the Royal Conservatory (ARCT) in piano performance in 1999. He has won numerous local and provincial awards in performance and composition and has gone on to do solo and chamber recital work throughout the province. Since 2006, Ian has acted as the Worship and Arts Director of Grace Toronto Church where he’s had the pleasure of being a part of a number of Mezzanine events. In the spring of 2009 Ian will be seen with Louise Pitre and Michael Burgess in a tribute concert to the late John Arpin.

Anna Jaeger - Choreographer

Anna Jaeger is a Toronto based dancer, choreographer, and actor. She began her professional performing career at 7 years old as a member of the repertory company of the Canadian Children’s Dance Theatre (CCDT).  Anna has danced with Toronto Dance Theatre, Danny Grossman Dance Company, Kaeja D’Dance, and Dance Theatre David Earle where she worked with Peggy Baker, Margie Gillis, Bill Coleman, David Earle, Karen and Allen Kaeja, and Carol Anderson.  Anna has appeared in various film and television productions including “Deaden” (independent feature film), “The Black Widower” (Lifetime Network), and “10.5 Apocalypse”(NBC mini series) with actors such as Frank Langella, Kelly McGillis and Natalie Brown.  As a choreographer, Anna has been creating a collection of solo work over the last decade.  She is thrilled to be part of Mezzanine’s Lonely House and to be collaborating with Margaret Thompson, the performers and everyone who made this event possible.

Maggie Greyson – Costume Designer

Maggie Greyson is a designer of traditional onstage performance and Interactive New Media.  Her past work includes set, lighting and costume designs for Best of the Fringe, Desperate Housepets, assisting at Stratford, the International Shakespeare's Globe in London, Guys and Dolls at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, and Agnes of God at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.  Now she is working in the high-tech liquid digital media field, and constantly refreshing her browser.

For more information about Kurt Weill, visit the Kurt Weill Foundation

We wish to thank Vincor Canada and La Petite Fête Catering

Mezzanine presents ‘Lonely House’, a 1940’s inspired cocktail party featuring the music of Kurt Weill.

Join us for an evening of songs that range from scathing polemic to tender art song, and speak to the longing and hope that exist in a broken world.

Featuring baritone Sung Chung, and sopranos Jennifer Griffith and Aidan Cusson, directed by Margaret Thompson.

To reserve tickets, email mezzanine@gracetoronto.ca

When:     Saturday, November 15th, 2008 – 8:00pm

Where:    41 Britain Street (Richmond and Sherbourne)

Tickets    $25 (Students $20)

Sung Chung

Canadian baritone, Sung Chung, most recently made his COC mainstage debut in the role of  Kutusov’s Adjutant in Prokofiev’s War and Peace.  He created the role of Minik in Linda Caitlin Smith’s Facing South, which had its world premiere at the World Stage Festival in Toronto.  Other performances include: the baritone soloist in Stravinsky’s Le Renard in Clermont-Ferrand, France, making his professional European debut; Sid in the 50th anniversary production of Albert Herring at the October Britten Festival in Aldeburgh, England; Count Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro in Koice, Slovakia; and he was a soloist in the Banff Summer Arts Festival production of the operas of Georges Aperghis.  Originally from Winnipeg, Mr. Chung received his diploma in Operatic Performance at the University of Toronto before completing his masters in opera at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow, Scotland.

Aidan Cusson

Aidan Cusson is a Toronto based singer and actress. Film and television work include “Ready or Not”(Disney), and “Shudder,” a made for TV short film. Aidan graduated with a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from the Glenn Gould School under Eraine Schwing-Braun. Her European debut took place at the Mario Lanza Festival in Rome, Italy as a soloist in the Palestrina Choir. Career highlights include singing under Leon Fleischer in Bethoven’s 9th Symphony at Massey Hall, and singing for Oscar Peterson at the Night of the Stars concert at the George Weston Recital Hall. Opera and theatre roles include Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro, the First Witch in Dido and Aneas, the Baker’s Wife in Into the Woods and Lizzy in Children of the Storm.

Jennifer Griffith

A graduate of The Glenn Gould School of The Royal Conservatory of Music, Jennifer performed the roles of Voluptua in Barab’s Mushroom Pizza, Geraldine in Barber’s Hand of Bridge and Lisa in Weisgall’s The Stronger, all under the direction of Edward Franco. Jennifer also performed the role of Pamina in Mozart's Die Zauberflöte under the direction of Jennifer Tarver. Other roles include Second Woman in Purcell's Dido and Aeneas. Jennifer also had the opportunity to perform in the Barrie Colours of Music Festival last fall. In addition to performing Jennifer teaches voice both independently and at the Academy of Music in Toronto.