Manuele Adrian Mizzi

Artistic Director & Co-Founder

Jamaican-Italian tenor, Manuele Adrian Mizzi discovered his love for performing at a very young age. Growing up in Markham he attended Unionville High School for the Arts later obtaining a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Voice Performance from York University under the tutelage of renowned Canadian operatic soprano Stephanie Bogle and having also studied with renowned European soprano Galina Lumkosky.

With a repertoire ranging from pop to musical theatre to opera and classical, he has performed in a wide variety of venues throughout North America. His musical theatre credits include performing the roles of Schroeder in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, Japheth in Two by Two, Thomas in Emmanuel the Musical (New York City), Barnaby in Hello Dolly, Shrek in Shrek Tateh in Ragtime, The Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz, and Dickon in The Secret Garden among many others.
As a soloist, Manuele Adrian Mizzi has performed with The Neapolitan Connection, Vocal Horizons Chamber Choir, Greater Toronto Philharmonic, All the King’s Voice’s and the Burlington Civic Choir among others.
Manuele Adrian Mizzi also has a long career of teaching under his belt. As an avid pianist, accompanist, musical director and director, he has been working with all ages from 3-99 for the last 23 years. His directing and musical directing credits include musicals, plays, pantos and recitals.

Doctor Bird Productions is his next foray into the performing world - a place to bring his love of direction, performing and colaboration together. The doctor bird is Jamaica's national bird and his love of his heritage and love for the beauty of the animal world helped him bring this new company to life to soar like the great hummingbird.

Emilia Ballester-Diaz

Choreographer & Director

Emilia is an enthusiastic, energetic and dedicated dancer, teacher and choreographer who takes pride in her Mexican heritage and infuses it in her dancing. About her training, she started in Tap as a child and later on expanded her training to include Jazz, Contemporary, Ballet and Hip-hop. Her desire to further study dance inspired her to train in another country where she got into a summer dance intensive at Joffrey Ballet School in Miami. In 2022, Emilia graduated from the Centennial College Dance Performance Program in Toronto. This inspired a new goal to diversify her dancing and become an inspiration for more Latinxs to pursue their passion.

Her growing experience and capacity to be on stage got her cast in musical theatre original shows like La Fábrica de Santa, Dorian Gray El Musical and La Bella Durmiente performing the role of Aurora (all in Mexico City). In Toronto she got to perform as an ensemble dancer for Parade with Wavestage Productions.

In 2024, Emilia got the opportunity to choreograph for Doctor Bird Productions for the musical The Hunchback of Notre Dame and will continue to choreograph for the 2024 – 2025 season. She is also choreographing for Singing Out, the biggest 2LGBTQIA+ choir in Toronto.

Outside of the musical theatre world, Emilia is also a photographer and seeks art wherever she lands. She is an artist above everything, it’s a privilege to get to create.

Paulina Luciani

Digital Marketing Director

Paulina is a professional actor, singer and content creator.

As an actor, she graduated from York University's Theatre program and trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. You may have seen her as Wendy in Peter Pan with the Lower Ossington Theatre or as Belle in Beauty and the Beast at the Flato Markham Theatre, among other film and theatre roles. She will be appearing as Elevan/Nancy in the Canadian Premiere of Stranger Things the Parody Musical with Mansfield Entertainment.

She has been working in digital marketing for the last three years, primarily in the arts and culture sector. She was Content Creator and Digital Content Coordinator with Luminato Festival Toronto for three festival seasons and now freelances for artists and arts organizations such as Tafelmusik and Doctor Bird Productions. As an artist herself, her work centers the artists and their community and honours the creative visions of the works that she promotes. Paulina is an all around creative person and is thrilled to be combining her love for creation and musical theatre.

Jhanelle Jackson

Choreographer & Director

Born and raised in Toronto, Jhanelle Jackson is a proud first-generation Canadian with Jamaican heritage and a graduate of George Brown College’s Commercial Dance Program. Currently holding the title of Miss Swimsuit USA International Canada, Jhanelle Jackson is a multifaceted professional with expertise as a classically trained ballet and jazz dancer, choreographer, actor, interior designer, content creator, and speaker.

Passionate about dance and advocacy, Jhanelle Jackson dedicates her work to advancing the health and safety of Black women, particularly within healthcare spaces. Beyond creative directing, she provides unwavering support and advocacy for individuals with developmental disabilities.

Blending artistry with purpose, Jhanelle Jackson aims to inspire and uplift others through creativity and compassionate action.

Daniel Goldman

Director

A lifelong theatre and film obsessive, Daniel has been fortunate to be involved in over 65 shows, both onstage and off, since playing Willy Wonka at age 11. Some of his favorite onstage credits include Bruce in Fun Home, Horton in Seussical, Moonface in Anything Goes, and Reuven in The Chosen.

Daniel first began developing his craft as an actor, writer, director, and producer at Earl Haig Secondary’s Claude Watson Arts Program. Building on that foundation, he pursued a degree in Creative Industries at Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson), where he led a team of 90 peers while directing Big Fish for the school’s extracurricular theatre company.

Outside of the theatre, Daniel works in the tech industry and spends his free time running, writing, watching old movies, and performing stand-up comedy. Though he loves being on a stage, nothing fulfills him more than directing. He wishes to extend his sincere gratitude to Manuele, Ethan, Emilia, and the rest of the Doctor Bird team for trusting him to bring this vision of Nine to life.

Tony James

Director

Anthony James is an award-winning Executive Producer, Artistic Director, Chief Executive Officer, Writer, and Presenter with over 40 years of experience in the international entertainment industry. He began his extensive career during his formative years as an actor, dancer, and singer before moving into producing and directing in his late teens. In 1995, he launched his own production company which he has managed for the last 30 years. Anthony’s dedication to the creative arts has helped steer his passion for directing, producing, and presenting within a wide spectrum of artistic disciplines including full-length Broadway musicals, dramatic and comedic plays, cabarets, revues, touring concert productions, modern and contemporary dance, classical ballet, fashion, orchestral, opera, major galas, and new works.

To date he has been associated with the creation, direction, management, and presentation of more than 425 projects. Most recently he produced and directed two back-to-back record-breaking sold-out productions of ‘Matilda the Musical’ and ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’. In 2025, Anthony will premiere his new “Unforgettable” concert series that includes presentations with Grammy Award-Winning Violin Virtuoso, Pablo Diemecke, International Performing & Recording Artist, Cody Karey, Chicago Recording Artist, Gregory Stewart Jr; and Brit Award Nominated Recording Artist, Christina Johnston, direct from London, UK.

Anthony is deeply committed to continuing his work to educate, support, nurture, mentor, and inspire young emerging artists on the development of their creative ambitions, dreams, and goals while also maintaining his strong relationships with award-winning international performers in music, theatre, film, television, fashion, and dance. With a firm dedication to continuing to contribute to the rich and vibrant cultural and artistic landscape of the world, Anthony remains focused on presenting high-quality professional productions that are uplifting, engaging, inspiring, and thought-provoking.

Emily Pople

Lighting Designer

Emily is so excited to be continuing their work with Doctor Bird Productions. They are a lighting designer and all around theatre tech with a passion for musical theatre. Emily has worked alongside the team on Sweeney Todd and Hunchback of Notre Dame. Other credits include: Rocky Horror (SMT), Freaky Friday (SMT), Xanadu (SMT), Death of a Salesman (STG), and If We Were Birds (Alumnae Theatre)

Rachelle Bradley

Costume Designer

Rachelle is a Toronto-based costume designer and actor. Some of their favourite past acting roles include Little Red Riding Hood/Rapunzel's Prince/Lucinda in Into the Woods (Dead Name Theatre), Martha in Heathers: In Concert (We Are Here Productions), Magenta in The Rocky Horror Show (The LOT), Christmas Eve in Avenue Q (The LOT), Mrs. Brill in Marry Poppins (The LOT), Baker's Wife in Into the Woods (Randolph College for the Performing Arts). Favourite wardrobe credits include Handel's The Resurrection (Opera Atelier), Wake Up Brother Bear (T.Y.T Theatre), Mary Poppins (The LOT), Peter and the Starcatcher (Randolph College for the Performing Arts)

Emily Blake

Stage Manager

Emily was born and raised in BC where she has been performing since the age of 5 with her first role as Tinkerbell. She attended the Canadian College of Performing Arts where she most notably performed in the World Premiere of "Cities and Girls", and sang as Christine Daae with the Victoria Symphony. Emily moved to Toronto after graduating college to pursue musical theatre and performing. Emily's passion for music has led her to learn 11 instruments and doesn't plan on stopping there. She is so excited to be joining the Doctor Bird Productions for a fourth time, this time off the stage and supporting this amazing cast and crew. She hopes you enjoy the show!

Emily Vick Agnew

Director of Marketing and Sponsorship

Emily is thrilled to be singing with Doctor Bird Productions! Emily has performed at the Kennedy Center, the White House, Radio City Music Hall and at Roy Thomson Hall (with the dynamic VOCA Chorus of Toronto). She worked with Nickelodeon as Dora the Explorer, touring Canada, the U.S., Asia, Australia and New Zealand. Emily was a dancer and puppeteer with New York City’s world-renowned cultural institution LaMaMa Experimental Theatre Club, as part of Loco7 Dance Puppetry Theatre Company working in Manhattan, Toronto and South America. In September 2023, she returned to Loco7/LaMaMa as a resident artist. She lives in Toronto with her husband and children and is grateful for her family and friends. www.emilyvickagnew.com

Ethan Rotenberg

Musical Director & Co-Founder

Ethan is a Toronto-based music director and classically-trained pianist who's has been described as "delivering all the colours of an orchestra" (Schmopera), "an accomplished accompanist" (Richard Ouzonian), and "brilliantly drawing the listener into the world of the story by using the piano as the backdrop to sweeping, emotionally nuanced melodies" (Mooney on Theatre). He frequently collaborates with both Opera and Musical Theatre singers on productions, concerts, and open mics, most recently serving as music director and performance accompanist for The No Frills Revue (Spotlight Musical Productions). Having grown up in theatre and music, he has enjoyed both sides of the stage, graduating from Queen's University with a Bachelors in Drama and Music. He currently trains with world-renowned pianist Dmitri Levkovich. In 2019, he co-founded and is current music director of Impromptu Concert Series, presenting concerts featuring the Toronto's top non-professional talent, bringing the series outdoors during the Covid-19 pandemic as The Front-Lawn Series. Previous musical credits include: Songbook VI, Songbook XII (Tapestry Opera), Dr. Silver (Musical Stage Co.) Legally Blonde, The Drowsy Chaperone, Mamma Mia (Nightwood Theatre), Masterclass (Oshawa Little Theatre), Ragtime (Encores). He is thrilled to be debuting Doctor Bird Productions with Manuele, excited to continue bringing quality musical experiences to the GTA. Outside of music, Ethan is a consummate figure skater, and loves baking, especially homemade pie. You can follow his journey @pianohandz.

Shems Abdelwahab

Producer and Props Master

Bio to Come

Talfryn Quiring

Stage Manager

Talfryn Quiring is so excited to be a part of this fantastic production of Jekyll and Hyde! A graduate of Randolph College for the Performing Arts, this is his second show with Doctor Bird Productions, having SMed Hunchback earlier this year. Some additional credits include Falsettos, and Hedwig and the Angry Inch (Bowtie Prod.), Rapunzel, Princess and the Pea and Peter Rabbit (T.Y.T Theatre), Good Mother and Urinetown (RCPA). Big ‘thank you’ to everyone involved in making such a wonderful show. And to everyone else: Enjoy the show!

Our Team