What is invisible box*?

Welcome to invisible box*! We are a collective of likeminded professional artists and performers that share the same passion and drive about arts education for children and young people. Our group consists of actors, singers, dancers, musicians and visual artists who love sharing their talents in order to cultivate imagination, critical thinking and storytelling to children so that they can apply what they have gained through arts education to their eventual destinies. The artists at invisible box* use their skills to nurture creativity through action and movement focusing on process more than product. Each child is unique and brings to the class something different and special. We at invisible box* feel that it is crucial to allow children to express themselves in their own way, never asking conformity but at the same time providing structure so that their own personal voices and identities can be discovered and in turn led to meet their full potential. Not every child will grow up to be an artist, but every child needs the opportunity to examine their imaginative and creative minds. Creativity is found in all walks of life and in all journeys. Those of us at invisible box* provide activities, games and guidance for our students to reach into their infinite minds and create through imagination, thus developing their own ideas about themselves and each other and consequently positively changing the world around them. Thank you for inviting invisible box* into your school, facility, and home. We are proud of the work we do with children and hope that you will see the growth that we so carefully strive for in the hearts and minds of your kids. So put your finger and your thumb together, place them on the side of your head and turn on your imaginations. This will be a fun ride!

Ryan Kelly

Ryan has been working in the entertainment business for over 20 years. He is an honours graduate from Sheridan College's esteemed Music Theatre Performance program. He has had the opportunity to perform on the stages of most theatres in Toronto including the beautiful Elgin Theatre and the historic Royal Alexandra. From musicals to plays Ryan has impressed audiences and critics both with a vast variety of characters and roles. Favourite theatre includes: Mamma Mia (Mirvish), Here Lies Henry (Common Roof),Avenue Q (Citadel Theatre), Rocky Horror Show (Sudbury Theatre Centre), & Elf (The Grand) The House of Martin Guerre (Canadian Stage Company). Ryan has been nominated for two Dora Awards (The Normal Heart & JT LeRoy) and earned one. He is the proud recipient of a Harold Award for his work in the theatre and with children. He has been seen in many tv productions including: Queer As Folk, Murdoch Mysteries, Warehouse 13 and Breakout Kings. He has been nominated for a Genie Award (Best Film - The Dog Walker/TIFF), a Canadian Comedy Award (Best Ensemble - Almost Audrey/Comedy Network) and was one of NOW magazine's Top Ten Theatre Artists in 2012. He has also worked alongside the Cronenbergs: Brandon (Broken Tulips- Best Film/Enroute Film Fest) & David (Cosmopolis/Cannes). Ryan has appeared in over 30 commercials. When not contracted Ryan divides his time between working on new and volunteer theatre productions and teaching young people. Ryan has been a part of the Toronto Fringe Fest, Summerworks or Co-op productions nearly every year since he became professional. Favourites include: Living with Henry (Best of Fringe/Off Broadway), Cordelia (Rhubarb!) Craplicker (Best of Fringe) Gash!(Summerworks) A History of Summer (Summerworks Concert Series) Chair (Edward Bond Fest) Crush (Optic Heart) & Twelfth Night (Gromkat Prod). Ryan has worked with a variety of companies that bring theatre and performance arts classes to children including: Arts Express, The Stage Door Academy, Studio 180 Workshops, Beyond Boundaries, and The Centre For Art and Soul. Through freelance opportunities Ryan has taught at the Salvation Army Kids Programs, Harbourfront Centre, Schools and Daycare Centres across the city. He has directed full musicals such as: Honk (Stage Door) and Once on This Island (Acting Upstage's Emerging Artist Programme) as well as original work written especially for children and young people. Ryan also coaches preparation for children and professional actors alike. He is thrilled to be leading this collective of professional artist teachers and is excited about sharing with more children his passion for creativity and imagination.

Laura Caswell

Caswell in an award nominated actor and choreographer who has performed, directed and choreographed all over Canada. She works primarily on stage and has a Masters in Performance through Mountview Academy in London, UK. Laura has also trained at AMDA (NYC), Second City Toronto, Yale International Cabaret Conference, Humber Puppetry Intensive, and Instant Comedy in Vancouver. She has taught for over a decade at schools and after-school programs throughout the GTA and Peel District.

Mandy MacLean

Mandy (Humber Theatre, 2012) is an artist from a military family on the east coast. Her recent work includes: hiraeth (with Varrick Grimes), the Young Innovators Lab for Nightwood Theatre, Experiencing Chekov with Brenda Bazinet, and #WeddingMusical. Her works as a director includes: assistant to Ted Witzel on the workshop and full production of Yukonstyle (Canadian Stage), Assistant Director on Till Eulgespiegel under Varrick Grimes and the Dora Nominated Honesty under Jordan Tanahill (Suburban Beast). She has trained in Composition with SITI Company (NYC), Suzuki and Viewpoints with Thomas Morgan Jones (Theatre New Brunswick), Pluralized Creation (bluemouth inc.) and Music Theatre with David Dunbar. She has held the role of Artistic Intern at Canadian Stage and has a degree in Theatre from Univ. of NB.