Our Team

Michelle Urbano











Artistic



















director









Michelle Urbano (she/her) is a Toronto theatre creator, puppeteer, storyteller, and producer, recognized in 2017 by Cahoots Theatre as one of their “30 for 30” – 30 artists shaping the next 30 years of Toronto theatre. Her background is in devised theatre and new play creation, and as such, she feels most at home working with a team on creative projects. She was the Producer for Shakespeare in Action’s otîhêw last summer. She lives just on the other side of the Humber River, and is thrilled to be connecting more deeply with the Weston community through her new position as Artistic Director.

Michelle was the Co-Artistic Director and Producer for the award-winning found-object puppetry company, Artichoke Heart, and produced the Toronto International Storytelling Festival, leading the project in its 43rd (2022) and 44th (2023) edition. She recently received funding from the Ontario Arts Council to develop a new puppetry piece inspired by the children’s book Strega Nona, and completed a tour of Quest for the Moon, and Old Man and the River with the Wee Festival. She was an artist-in-residence at Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia, and completed three tours with the company (Canada, USA, China). She has performed and worked in a variety of capacities with the CBC, Theatre Passe Muraille, Theatre by the Bay, Pandemic Theatre, Eldritch Theatre, the Old Trout Puppet Workshop, and more.

JR Williams
(she/they)





















General



















Manager



















JR Williams is a Toronto transplant with a background in nonprofit project management. They earned their Master of Arts degree in Psychology from The New School before spending several years as Associate Director of a nonprofit serving survivors of gender-based violence. Within academia, JR specialized in the psychology of identity within a social and interpersonal context. They have significant experience in community-based and narrative-based research methods and data analysis. As Associate Director of a nonprofit, they were responsible for multiple facets of the organization’s functioning. 

Eventually deciding that storytelling was the purpose of life, they started pursuing production work for both stage and screen. They have produced stage plays and digital media, and are passionate about the power of game-based, improvised storytelling.

Our Board of Directors

Shakespeare in Action is grateful for the support and guidance of our dedicated and experienced Board of Directors

Joanne Acri

CHAIR

Partner,
Junction Collective

Member since 2019

Robyn Connelly

secretary

Khlood Sheik

Treasurer

Khlood brings with her a wealth of experience in taxation, financial reporting, and assurance. Prior to starting her own accounting firm, Khlood worked as an Accountant for BDO Canada specializing in small and medium sized business advisory. Khlood also spent time as a tax and accounting manager at a mid-sized accounting practice. She holds an MBA in Professional Accounting degree from the University of Toronto and is a Chartered Professional Accountant.
In her spare time, Khlood loves to spend time with family, going to the beach, watching movies or curling up with a good novel. She has dabbled in golfing and badminton and plays whenever she gets the chance.

Member since 2022

Melissa Chetty

Board member

Melissa Chetty grew up in Weston and is a graduate of Randolph College for the Performing Arts. She has a passion for community-based performing arts and is thrilled to be a part of the SiA community. Melissa has worked in the public and not for profit arts sectors at organizations including Canada’s National Ballet School the Ontario Public Service.

Sharlene Henry

board member

Gabriella Sundar Singh

board member

Gabriella Sundar Singh is a multi-disciplinary artist and educator from Toronto, Ontario. She holds a B.A. in Theatre Studies from the University of Guelph, completed her post-secondary studies at Centennial College in Kid’s Media, graduated from the Acting Program at the National Theatre School of Canada, and is currently completing her MA at the University of Toronto with the Centre for Drama, Theatre & Performance Studies. She has been acting professionally for over a decade, with five seasons at the Shaw Festival and four seasons on CBC’s “Kim’s Convenience” under her belt. Gabriella has worked for SiA in the past as an Assistant Director for the summer camps, and is excited to join the Board at a time when the company is expanding their mandate and focusing on how best to serve its community. She thanks the Board and community for their warm welcome.

Marilyn McCrea

board member

Marilyn joined the Board of Shakespeare in Action during a period of Board renewal. Her relevant professional experience is in brand value creation. Marilyn’s private practise is in environmental sustainability, social and economic resiliency. Her public and private sector work background allows her to use her management attributes of communications and collaboration to create a networked approach that is inclusive and where innovation and creativity flourish.  Marilyn has a broad knowledge base that brings critical thinking, insight and a commitment to good planning to realize mutually agreed to goals.