Artist Activist and We’re Funny That Way Festival favourite,  Kate Siahaan-Rigg is a graduate of the Juilliard School drama division. Her solo shows on the Asian American Experience have toured the world and she is a frequent host for events from the Kennedy Centre to Harvard University to The Dolores Huerta Foundation Center for Peace and Justice. Television credits include appearances on Tales of the City, The Path, Law and Order SVU, New Amsterdam, Fox’s Family Guy and several appearances as a stand up comedian. She is also the creator/ Executive Producer of Cache Craze on Disney XD, Dance Your Ass Off on Oxygen TV and the pilot Tour Dates for E! Find out more at www.katerigg.com

Marisa “Mason” McDonald (they/them) is a non binary, neurodivergent and métis actor, choreographer and advocate. Mason was raised in Saskatchewan on Treaty 6 Territory before relocating to Toronto where they earned a BFA in 2021 from Toronto Metropolitan University. You can catch their work on upcoming films and series such as Gen V, Accused, I Used To Be Funny, and in CFC’s Writer’s in Development showcase film: The Traveller. 

Jennifer Whalen is a writer, actor, improviser, and producer. She served as consulting producer and guest star on season one of Pretty Hard Cases (CBC). She is co-creator, executive producer, writer, and star of CBC/IFC’s Baroness von Sketch Show. Additionally, she served as show runner for Seasons 4, and 5 of Baroness von Sketch Show. The critically acclaimed show has won multiple awards including 12 CSAs, 3 Canadian Comedy Awards, 2 Banff Rockies, 1 ACTRA award, and a Rose d’Or Award.

In her life before Baroness, Jennifer was head writer for the award-winning satirical comedy This Hour Has 22 Minutes. She won a WGC Award and a Canadian Comedy Award and was nominated for three Geminis for her work on that show. She developed long-running shows Little Mosque On the Prairie (CBC/Mind’s Eye) and Instant Star (CTV/Epitome). She has also worked on The Ron James Show (CBC), The Jon Dore Show (Comedy Network/IFC), and the critically acclaimed Gavin Crawford Show (Comedy Network/Shaftsbury). She originated the role of the Aviatrix in the Tony Award Winning Musical Drowsy Chaperone.  She enjoys video games and is easily startled.

David Benjamin Tomlinson is a long–time friend of the We’re Funny That Way Festival, and premiered his brand new show “Fagnificent” at this year’s festival. A Toronto comedy and theatre mainstay, DBT has recently performed as Mathieu in the queer version of Blind Date at Buddies in Bad Times theatre, and as Toller Cranston in Sky Gilbert’s Fringe hit Toller. He co–created and wrote the hit CBC digital series The Writers’ Block for CBC Gem. Television credits include Queer as Folk, Orphan Black, and Designated Survivor. David can currently be seen as the loveable Saurian Linus on Star Trek: Discovery

Jo is an Emmy award-winning actor, author and advocate. Credits include: The Expanse, Being Erica, Diggstown, Love and Human Remains, Common Ground, PSI Factor, Slasher, and more. Vannicola is the founding chair of outACTRAto. and is the recipient of the Margaret Trudeau Advocacy Award (2021), The Blaze award (2021), and the Leslie Yeo award for volunteerism (2019). Vannicola’s memoir, All We Knew but Couldn’t Say, was shortlisted for the nonfiction Kobo Emerging Writer Prize 2020. Jo is passionate about LGBTQ2+ rights and representation and is working on numerous LGBQ2S+ initiatives. 

Melissa Azore is new to the acting world, but is no stranger to performance.
Melissa began performing at the age of 6 in various choirs and bands. She found her truest self in singing and has performed in several bands around the province – both back-up and lead. Melissa feels honoured to be a part of this fundraiser with such incredible talent, we feel crazy lucky to have her join us. 

Basically, Sean really IS “That Hippie” who only came for the craft services (and this was loooowww budget so ya know…).