Executive Team

Jeffrey Kohut, Operations Director

To Jeffrey, music theatre is more than an art form – it’s a community.

Jeffrey co-founded White Rabbit to foster that community for those who act, sing, dance, write, sew, build and even those who just like to watch.

As White Rabbit’s Artistic Director, Jeffrey aims to unite artists of all disciplines, both amateur and professional.  Jeffrey is honoured to be working with White Rabbit and looks forward to continuing developing an organization that is independent, innovative and socially conscious.

Outside White Rabbit, Jeffrey is most recognizable from his work performing, choreographing, directing and teaching around Winnipeg in Canada.  He is a veteran of Rainbow Stage with such memorable performances as Scarecrow in Wizard of Oz, Ethan Girard in The Full Monty, and Rueben in Joseph.  Other selected credits – Rainbow:  Crazy For You, A Chorus Line, Chicago, Big, Beauty and the Beast – Manitoba Opera: Die Fliedermaus – MTC: Guys and Dolls, White Christmas.  Jeffrey has a passion for dance.  He competed with the Canadian National Tap Team at the 2009 Riesa, Germany World Tap Championships, where he won a bronze medal with his group from Winnipeg.  Recently Jeffrey has done choreography for PTE’s  Burnin’ Love, the MDA, PTE`s Little Shop of Horros, WRP’s Music Theatre Idol: All-Stars and the U o W Musical Theatre Program.

Jeffrey believes art is a gift that allows us to discover, interpret and understand ourselves and each other.  He is grateful to be surrounded by the like-minded individuals that White Rabbit brings into his world.

Simon Miron, Artistic Director

With a Masters degree in performance from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and a diploma from Grant MacEwan College’s Theatre Arts Program, Simon first joined White Rabbit as a performer in 2007. He now brings a professional and creative flair to his role, which primarily finds him in director and creative advisor’s chairs.

During his studies, Simon worked as a choreographer, workshop leader and drama tutor at RSAMD and since his return to Canada has taught Voice and Acting Through Song at the Manitoba Conservatory of Music and Arts. He has also performed with companies across the UK and Canada including: Rainbow Stage, MTYP, Gilbert and Sullivan Society and MTC.

Simon looks forward to the creative and artistic opportunities White Rabbit both receives and has to offer in the coming years.

Julie Horbal, Marketing and Outreach Director

As White Rabbit’s Communications Director, Julie guides White Rabbit’s strategic, marketing and publicity directives and can’t imagine a life where she isn’t able to create art and foster opportunities for artists.

Julie holds a Bachelors degree in Communications (English and Cultural Studies) and a diploma in Creative Communications (Journalism) and has nearly a decade’s experience in professional communications. By day, she is a strategic/creative writer and web strategist for ChangeMakers Marketing Communications – and by night she sings, dances, writes, plays acts and edits multimedia both with White Rabbit and other local theatre groups.

Julie believes art is the glue that binds us all together – and she’s proud to be part of a group that is so closely bound!

 

Operations Team

Robyn Pooley, Administrative Coordinator

Robyn is a awesome organizer and detail-oriented damsel whose strengths shimmer in her role as White Rabbit’s Administrative Coordinator.

In addition to performing and choreographing with the group , Robyn serves as White Rabbit’s taskmaster and warden – organizing meetings, ensuring accountability and keeping track of everything administrative including forms, time sheets and all the other White Rabbit members.

Robyn developed her strict work ethic as a young dancer with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet Professional Division, then took her love of the arts from ballet to theatre as a student at the University of Winnipeg. She will graduate this Spring with a double Honours degree in Theatre and Film/English and looks forward to making the world dance at her fingertips – both with White Rabbit and in life!

Raymond Padua, Governance Coordinator

As co-founder of White Rabbit, Ray is thrilled to have found a way to combine his business degree and love for creativity.

After serving nearly six years as the group’s general manager, Ray recently moved into his role as Governance Coordinator and is currently tasked with assembling White Rabbit’s first ever formal Board of Directors. His other duties include fundraising, donor relations, development and sponsorship – areas he excels in largely thanks to his background in business and as a CGA.

A happy husband and father to two great kids – including a newborn daughter – Ray is also a performer in his own right and relishes any and every opportunity to appear on stage.

Production Team

Ryan Schultz, Multimedia Coordinator

Ryan is a self-trained multimedia producer and designer who learned all he knows by trying and doing.

As the group’s Multimedia Coordinator, Ryan is responsible for all things digital – video production, editing, digital design, custom animation and web programming. He directs the technical aspect of all White Rabbit’s live shows and has been integral in developing the infrastructure for the group’s audio-video suite.

A self-proclaimed geek-to-the-core, Ryan hopes to establish an online comedy series and draws creative inspiration from his huge library of sci-fi and fantasy books and the people around him … well, them and the aliens that speak to him through his microwave!

Alana Penner, Production Assistant

Alana is a master with props, costumes, sets and collecting things – characteristics that make her the perfect Production Assistant for White Rabbit.

Alana’s duties include finding and building properties, assisting with set construction and decoration and coordinating other production-related tasks. She also serves as the company’s archivist, collecting and documenting all White Rabbit’s activities, publications and media appearances.

A seasoned performer and stage manager with a triple Bachelors degree, Alana also liases with other theatre companies and serves on the production team for Kiss the Giraffe, Crosswalk Players and the North Kildonan Community Players.

When not on stage or working with White Rabbit, Alana enjoys life as a newlywed and also spending time with her real, live white rabbit.

Communications Team

Annette Kohut, Communications Coordinator

Though never bitten by the acting bug, Annette loves music theatre and recognizes anything is possible when it comes to this genre. An avid audience member and supporter, Annette realizes life is all about rhythm, soul and appreciates the arts in all its forms for the confidence and community it fosters.

As a researcher and recruiter by day, Annette’s strengths lie in networking and developing tools that communicate using technology. She puts her strengths to work with White Rabbit and assists in planning, implementing and evaluating White Rabbit’s communications strategies and plans including marketing, sponsorship and fundraising, e-communications, volunteer coordination and event development.

Outside White Rabbit, Annette has a strong passion for wellness and hopes to one day own her own sustainable, communal farm.

Bernie Pastorin, Spokesperson

Bernie has a face no one can resist and a sales pitch to match – and that’s why White Rabbit is so happy to have him as a Communications Officer and spokesperson.

As the newest member of the Communications team, Bernie’s responsibilities include strategic brainstorming, creative conceptualization and acting as the face of White Rabbit Productions when the media come a’callin.

Bernie is at home both on the production side of theatre and the stage, and is also seen on stage with Winnipeg’s newest and hottest boyband Those Guys.