Elie Assaf, direct support professional collaboratorElie Assaf is a Direct Support Professional and emerging artist.“What draws me to Open Hearts Art Theatre is my desire to express myself freely in a safe, welcoming space full of creative artists and musicians who accept my uniqueness and encourage my growth What keeps me at Open Hearts Art Theatre is my attachment to the meaningful connections I got to create and the recurring opportunities they offer.”
Jody Boston, collaborator and performerJody Boston (she/her) is a therapeutic clown and arts educator living in Hamilton, Ontario. Jody holds an HBA in Theatre, Drama and Creative Writing from the University of Toronto, a Post-Graduate Certificate in Social Therapeutics from the East Side Institute of Short-term Psychotherapy in New York City and is a graduate of Toronto’s Second City Improvisation Program. Boston is program director of Under the Willows, a summer arts, garden and play program for children who experience adverse life circumstances. She teaches drama, improv, music and dance for the Board of Education and independently to students of all ages in private classes. She is a performer, a facilitator in a variety of community arts settings and she loves to create and collaborate. When not clowning, facilitating, performing or learning you can find her laughing with her family, sweating through some kind of physical exercise, singing and enjoying Hamilton’s local cuisine… often all at the same time.
Cindy Carey, collaborator and music leadCindy Carey (Hons. B. Mus., B. Ed) is a performing arts educator, director, composer and musician and recent retiree from public education. She has been directing the UU choir for over 20 years. She’s also worked as a musical director for Theatre Ancaster and a meditative chant leader for small groups and for Naturality’s Nada Yoga program. Cindy is a firm believer in the healing power of music, particularly group singing.
Rose Hopkins, collaborator and Open Heart Artistic ProducerRose Hopkins (she/her) is a Hamilton-based artist and producer, with a particular interest in the way space and place inform the human experience. She has created site-specific pieces for Frost Bites, RHIZOMES, Supercrawl, In The Soil Festival, and the Hamilton Fringe Festival. She has been a member of Theatre Aquarius’ Junction program for theatre creators, Women’s Work playwriting circle, Theatre Ontario’s Professional Theatre Training Program for directing, Suitcase-in-Point’s NEST residency, and has received the City of Hamilton Arts Award for Emerging Theatre Artist. Rose is a graduate of Generator’s Artist Producing Training Program and has worked with the Hamilton Fringe Festival, Industry, Open Heart Surgery Theatre, AerisKorper, and others. Recently, she completed a mentorship in trauma-informed practices with therapeutic clown and arts educator, Jody Boston. She currently serves as the Operations Coordinator for FOLDA / Spiderwebshow Performance and the Artistic Producer for Open Heart Arts Theatre.
Kelly Wolf, collaborator and Open Heart Artistic DirectorKelly Wolf is a Theatre Maker, a Set and Costume designer and an Artist Educator who is interested in exploring the ways that design augments the theatrical experience. Over the past 30 years, she has created designs for theatres across Canada ranging from small independent companies to the major festivals.
She has been inspired by how the site and the inhabitants of the site, informs the story, and how we make theatre together. Her creative work in the community attempts to break down barriers of space and examine questions around who belongs in that space.
Kelly is currently a sessional instructor at McMaster University leading the 4th year students as they create their culminating performance thesis projects, and an Instructional Assistant supporting students and faculty of the Theatre and Film and IArts programs. Kelly was awarded the City of Hamilton Arts – Creator Award in 2020.
L’Arche Hamilton, community partnerSince 1978 L’Arche Hamilton, a registered Canadian charity, has been part of this city, providing support to those with intellectual disabilities (whom we call our Core Members) and seeking to make known their many gifts and talents. Our impact includes:
In addition to the folks mentioned above, our show includes about 8 L’Arche core members to participate in every show as well as a drop-in ensemble of folks from L’Arche and Adults in Motion to help us sing and dance our way through the show to ensure the maximum participation possible.