Windsor: 1209 Windermere Rd, Windsor, ON, N8Y 3E9
Email: BreatheArtTheatreProject@yahoo.com
Breathe Art Theatre Project is a Detroit, MI and Windsor, ON-based cross-border theatre company committed to ensemble collaboration and artistic risk through its work with its Artistic Partners, Guest Artists, and the community.
Artistic Partners
Demetri Vacratsis is a Windsor native and a founding Artistic Partner with Breathe Art Theatre Project. Prior to working professionally in New York, he studied at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and the New School. Directing credits for Breathe Art include Oleanna, Closer, Tape, Two Rooms, and How I Learned To Drive. Other directing credits include Silence, Zero, A Fish In A Jar, and Betrayal. Breathe Art performances include Topolski in The Pillowman, Teach in American Buffalo, Ben in The Mercy Seat and Austin in True West.
Courtney Burkett is a founding Artistic Partner with Breathe Art Theater Project and works at The University of Michigan after having spent the last two seasons as the Business Manager for The University of Detroit Mercy Theater Company. Courtney completed her M.F.A. Theatre Management program at Wayne State University and has worked professionally in New York and Detroit. Included in her directing credits are Breathe Art’s productions of The Play About The Baby (University of Detroit Mercy), As Bees In Honey Drown, Wit, and The Mercy Seat.
Valerie Bonasso is a founding Artistic Partner with Breathe Art Theatre Project and works as the technical crew chief for The Colloseum,Caesar’s 5000-seat performance facility in Windsor. She is a graduate of the University of Windsor's Theatre Program and has worked professionally at regional theatres across Canada as a Stage Manager and Tour Manager. She has been Breathe Art’s resident Technical Director since its inception. Directing credits for Breathe Art include True West and Hedwig and The Angry Inch (Wilde Award and Detroit Free Press nominee).
Kevin T. Young earned his B.F.A. in Theatre from Webster Conservatory in St. Louis, MO. Notable Breathe Art performances include Katurian in The Pillowman, Hedwig in Hedwig and The Angry Inch (Wilde Award and Detroit Free Press Nominee) and Dan in Closer. Directing credit for Breathe Art include Wonder of the World. Audiences have recently seen Kevin in Exits and Entrances, The Baker’s Wife, Amadeus and The Fantasticks at Performance Network, as Bertram in All’s Well That End’s Well (Grove Theatre Center), Joe in Angels in America pt1 (Stagecrafters, Wilde Award Recipient), and Jack in The Importance of Being Earnest (Broadway Onstage).
Katie Galazka received her B.F.A. in Theatre from Wayne State University and studied at the Moscow Art Theatre School. Breathe Art acting roles include Carol in Oleanna, Alice in Closer (Breathe Art) and Yitzhak in Hedwig and the Angry Inch (Detroit Free Press nominee). Additional acting credits include Equus, Sweeney Todd and Action at the Abreact Theatre. Katie lives in Detroit and currently fronts an all-girl rock band called Hellen.
Jane E. McArthur is Research Coordinator with the Breast Cancer Risk Exploration Project at the University of Windsor. She is a graduate of the Communications Studies Program and is currently finishing her Masters Degree in Communication and Social Justice. Jane returns to Breathe Art this season to assist with Breathe Art’s Front of House and Development.
Joel Mitchell returns to Breathe Art after appearing in The Pillowman, The Dead Eye Boy and Closer. Other roles include Pa Ubu in the Ubu Variations at the Zeitgeist (Best Comic Performance/ Oakland Press), Big Man Al in All Childish Things at the Planet Ant (2007 Wilde Award Nominee), The Emperor in The Architect and the Emperor of Assyria also at the Zeitgeist (Wilde Award Nominee), and was seen as Jonas Fogg in Abreact's production of Sweeney Todd. Joel was the 2003 recipient of the Kisicki Award from the Detroit Free Press.
Aaron T. Moore is originally from Lincoln, NE and is a member of Actors Equity. He received his M.F.A. in Acting from the Hilberry Repertory Theatre in May 2005 and returns to Breathe Art after playing John in last season’s Oleanna. He has been seen at various local professional theatres, including Meadow Brook, Performance Network, Tipping Point, Jewish Ensemble Theatre, Williamston Theatre, Michigan Opera, and in a collection of roles at Greenfield Village.
Sergio Forest is the Theatre Consultant and Technical Advisor at Mackenzie Hall in Windsor, ON, and has worked as the Lighting Designer and Technical Director for a number of companies and events in the area and across Ontario. He is a founding member of Suitcase In Point Theatre Company in St. Catherines, ON. Breathe Art credit includes lighting design for Oleanna.
Shannon Ferrante holds a BFA in Theatre from Wayne State University and studied at the Moscow Art Theatre in Russia. She is the Artistic Director for Planet Ant Theatre in Hamtramck and BoxFest Detroit (a festival for female directors
Tina DeVittori graduated from St. Clair College's Computer Network Analyst program. Tina returns this season to update and maintain Breathe Art's web site.
2008/2009 Guest Artists
Seth Amadei
Morgan Chard
Peter Coady is a Windsor native who returns to Breathe Art after last season’s The Play About The Baby. Breathe Art audiences have also seen Peter in Wonder of The World, as Uncle Peck in How I Learned To Drive, Saul in True West, and Walker in Two Rooms. Television credits include music video and film work for Knockout Films, and commercial work for Media Street Productions. Other notable roles include George in Of Mice and Men, and Randall Patrick McMurphy in One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest.
Kelly Komlen
Nina Ljeti
Audra Lord Audra hails from metro Detroit, where she is a familiar face on many area stages. She most recently appeared in the critically acclaimed production of BUG at The Ringwald Theatre in Ferndale, and in Michigan Classical Repertory Theatre's presentation of ARMS AND THE MAN. Favorite past credits include THE HOUSE OF BLUE LEAVES (Bunny), HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE (Mama/Aunt Mary), THE MOST FABULOUS STORY EVER TOLD (Rabbi Sharon) and NOISES OFF (Dotty/Mrs. Clackett). Her one-act play, GROUP, has received several productions in Michigan and the New York City area. Recent films include SELF IMPROVEMENT (Optimistic Films) and FRIDAY NIGHT KING (TriOmega Pictures). In addition to acting, Audra also performs as a backup vocalist with The Stephanie Loveless Band. This is her first appearance with BreatheArt.
Rose Napoli
Brian Thibault