John/Yoko Bed Piece takes the audience on a psychedelic trip back to 1969,into rooms 1738 and 1742 at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, where John Lennon and Yoko Ono held their historic Bed-In for Peace. Focusing on the political atmosphere of the time, the play features characters based on personalities such as Al Capp, Dick Gregory, Timothy Leary, Bobby Seale, Tommy Smothers, and Derek Taylor. Above all, John/Yoko Bed Piece is about two people using non-violent ways to protest wars and promote peace.

In keeping with draft89’s mandate to collaborate with artists in a variety of mediums, John/Yoko Bed Piece is an installation piece, which combines performance, film, music and visual arts. Part of the proceeds of the show will go towards Yoko Ono’s Dream Power Project.

John/Yoko Bed Piece

Written and Directed by Risha Yorke
Original Music by Graham Porter
Set, Costume, Lighting Design by Samantha Brown
Production Management by Jane Smyth
Stage Management by Christine Pellerin

May 20 - June 7, 2009
Theatre Centre, 1087 Queen Street W
Toronto, Canada

 The Cast

Tom Smart - as John Lennon

Tom was born and raised in the North of England, and trained at The Oxford School of Drama. Theatre credits include Twelfth Night and The Duchess of Malfi (Blue Door Theatre Company), The Real Thing (Bristol Old Vic), The Recruit (Blue Tongue Theatre) , The Rivals (Wimbledon Theatre), Edmond (Battersea Arts Centre), Under Milk Wood and Agamemnon (Library Theatre, Manchester) and Forty Years On (Stephen Joseph Theatre). TV and film includes: Accidental Heroes (BBC), Above & Beyond (CBC) and Four Minutes(ESPN).

  Sharon Marquez - as Yoko Ono

Sharon is happy to be back after another one of her “sabbaticals” from the crazy theatre world. Of all the corky characters she has played, being Miss Ono has been her favourite. Much love to the real backbones of this show – the beautiful hippies, the smart-loving reporters, our cool celebrity guests, Graham for his wonderful music, Christine for her awesomeness; and Risha, for the gift of Yoko. Special thanks goes to Derek and John (for keeping her inner Yoko in tact). Sharon is an Acting graduate from the National Theatre School of Canada. She will be attending NYU in October.

  Todd Cleland - as Derek Taylor

Todd is very excited to help bring this amazing time in Canadian history to life for audiences here in Toronto. Having studied drama at Glendon College, improv with the Second City conservatory, and having had a passion for music from a young age, the John/Yoko Bed Piece is a fantastic chance to unite all of Todd’s favourite disciplines.  He would like to thank Draft89, his wonderful family and friends, and most of all, his lovely and supportive wife, Sally.  When not on stage, Todd is performing as an occasional teacher with the Peel District School Board. 

 Mark Anthony Clennon - as Black Thunder

From the tropical waters of Jamaica to the Artic winters of Canada arises a talented actor, model, singer, dancer, poet, pianist, guitarist, acrobat, recorder player, who reigns supreme over the performing arts community with modesty.

Jack Clift - as Timothy Leary

Jack Clift finished his studies at Humber College in the spring of 2008. He lives in South Etobicoke in the Lakeshore Village. A long time fan and follower of John Lennon Jack couldn’t be more thrilled to be a part of this production. Jack is a founding member of the Theatre Lab, he is anxious to try his hand at directing and is currently working towards creating a devised theatre piece based on “Treasure Island”. Previous works include Proteus (Two Gentleman of Verona, Brampton Flower City Festival) Father (Elegy, The Theatre Lab).

Leslie DosRemedios - as Stephanie, Montreal Gazette Reporter

Leslie hails from London, Ontario where she began her theatre career in several youth musicals. Since then, she's gone on to receive her Bachelor of Arts in Theatre at York University in 2008; this is Leslie’s Toronto theatre debut. She’d like to thank Risha for her fabulous show and direction, all the production staff, as well as her friends and family for their constant support.

Elan Even - as Jerry Rubin and the voice of Abbie Hoffman

Erin Fleck - as Kat, RAT subterranian news reporter

A York University theatre graduate, Erin has performed her original work at the Tarragon Spring Arts Fair (Connect Four: Telling Tales out of School), Theatre@York’s playGround (Don’t Forget Your Umbrella) and the Toronto FRINGE! (How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Abortion). Selected performance credits include The Vagina Monologues (V-Day Toronto), Bury the Dead (Banquo’s Banquet Productions), Business Class (Magnetic Laboratorium/Nuit Blanche), Man in the Moon (Shrimp Magnet Theatre), The Space Between (Clay and Paper Theatre). Erin is a playwright with Write from the Hip (Nightwood Theatre) and TheatreKairos Writer’s Circle. Erin also facilitates Elephants in the Room: New Voices Herd at Theatre Passe Muraille.

Andrew Gaboury - as Allen Radu

Andrew has recently graduated from York University with a BA Honours in Theatre Studies, focusing on playwriting, where he studied with Dr. Judith Rudakoff, and devised theatre (the Creative Ensemble), where he trained alongside devisors Mark Wilson, Michael Greyeyes and Cindy Block. His years of study culminated in a devised show with a cast of twenty-one called Lifeline (Joseph G. Green Studio Theatre). Other credits include: Steve in a staged reading of Their Angel, (Alumnae Theatre’s 21st Annual New Ideas Festival); The Patrick Donahue Foundation for Polar Research (a monodrama as part of Judith Rudakoff’s 2008 Telling Tales Out of School); and Some Sort of Something (an online monodrama found at www.yorku.ca/thea4290).

Jessica Grosdanof - as Carisma

Jessica Grosdanof was born and raised in Toronto.  She completed George Brown’s Introduction to Performing Arts Careers program and is a graduate of the Theatre Arts program at Fanshawe College, where she studied acting for film and theatre.  Since graduating she has appeared in numerous stage, film &
Television productions. Some of her favorite credits include: Stephano in The Tempest, Portia in The Merchant of Venice, Blanche in Christopher Durang’s Desire, Desire, Desire and Betty in the feature film The Weight.

Geoff Hendry - as Rabbi Feinburg

Geoff Hendry is a Toronto-based actor, comedian, and writer. He can be seen in the soon to be aired, “Word On the Street” for OMNI Television. As a writer, he has co-written several plays for the Feast Dinner Theatre in Prince Edward Island. A finalist in the Laugh Resort’s 2006 “Funniest Person with a day job” competition, Geoff has since quit said day job and can be seen performing at clubs and theatres throughout Canada.

Victoria Kucher - as Judy Steinberg

Victoria Kucher Hails from Edmonton AB., where she began her training at Victoria School of the Performing and Visual Arts. She received her B.A. Spec. Honours in Theatre at York University. It was there she received her training in the Creative Ensemble, and Playwriting programs. Some of her recent credits include LifeLine, We Shall Name this Place Ensemble 21, Goobie and Poto PlayGround Festival 2008, Les Belles Soeurs Theatre @ York, Where our Soles Lie On the Grid Productions and Mid Summers Night Dream  Free Will Players;  as well as the direction of (416) 478-2763 LimeJuice Productions,  Everything Must Go, Anton Volchenkov PlayGround Festival 2007/2008.

Alexis McDougall - as Pat Watson, CBC reporter

Alexis McDougall is very happy to be making her Toronto stage debut.  Her last engagement, artstetten, with her own company the black hand theatre collective was seen by audiences in Ottawa and Istanbul. Previously she was in Quebec, at Bishop’s University where she had the opportunity to play many diverse roles including Constance in The Madwoman of Chaillot, a trio of women of all different ages and accents in Indian Blood and the title role in Lysistrata.

Ted Neal - as Tommy Smothers

Ted graduated from the Humber College theatre performance program in April of 2007 and has been keeping himself busy by working in Toronto’s theatre and the film communities. Ted was last seen on stage in Toronto as Richard Dickman in last summer’s Fringe festival production of Hockey The Musical. Ted toured with Meta Physical Theatres, comedia del arte show, Fools Gold across Ontario where he played the young lover Lalio, and furthered his love for physical theatre and comedy. Much love to all of my family and friends, especially my mother who was most excited that I was playing her favorite brother, Tommy. Sorry Dickey.

Monica Nunes - as Soleil Dove

A longtime Beatles fan, Monica is thrilled to be part of John/Yoko Bed Piece. She would like to thank the cast, crew and production team for their talent and hard work! Lots of love to her family and friends for their constant support! Look for Monica this summer in the production of A Girl Named Ralph at this year's Montreal Fringe
Festival. Peace and love.

Thomas Patrice - as the voice of Dick Gregory

Brian A. Richards - as Bobby Seale

Margaret Thompson - as Micheline Beaupre, Le Journal Montrealais reporter

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 ‘Iphigenia’ in Iphigenia at her Funeral (Alumnae Theatre), ‘Hastings’ in an all female Richard III, ‘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 in London (UK). Since her return home she has worked as Morris Panych’s Script Supervisor on Benevolence (Tarragon Theatre) and has had her directorial debut on Lonely House: Songs of Kurt Weill (Mezzanine Toronto).

Devin Upham - as Al Capp and Gerry

Devin Upham is a graduate of the Second City Conservatory Program, and has his Masters Degree in Drama from UofT. Devin has been acting on sets, stages, and in clubs across Canada and North America. Recent credits: Little Man (Alumnae Theatre), Brian Dole (Nextfilms), and the nerd with a robot girlfriend in commercials for Country Style. Check out his website at http://de7in.workbooklive.com