The Cast
Note: Biographic information in itallics has been completely fabricated and is provided in lieu of “this lazy person could not be bothered to provide me biographic information in a timely manner”. Rapid and widespread dissamation of these fictions, exaggerations, gross assumptions and outright bald-faced lies is strongly encouraged.
Shane Arbuthnot
First Assistant Director
Character: Eric
Shane was drawn early on to the world of film, spending much of his childhood watching and rewatching classics like “Teen Wolf”, “The Neverending Story” and “E.T.”. It was only natural that this love of cinema would lead him to try his hand at theatre. His premiere performance was in “Much Ado About Nothing”, at the tender age of 14, which was enough to hook him for life. In 2000, he graduated with honours from Vancouver Film School and immediately took to the road, touring “On Deaf Ears” with fellow Dead-End-Dayers Matt Hoos and Jason Rothery. From that point on, he knew he had to keep track of these people, so that one day he might ride their coattails to the top. In 2002-2003, Shane was a regular fixture at the Regina Little Theatre in Saskatchewan, appearing in “Moon Over Buffalo” and “A Christmas Carol”, among others. Between his stage appearances, he appeared in the (not very creditable) TV series “Mythquest”. Shane is not only an actor and an Assistant Director, but also an author. His premiere publication, a short story entitled “Of Wings”, can be found in the collection “Open Space”, edited by Claude Lalumiere. He is currently seeking publication for his first novel, “Dreams of Stone”.
Erin Whitehead
Character: Ashley
Erin had the pleasure of working with director Matt Hoos and writer Jason Rothery as a part of their successful production of “On Deaf Ears” in 1999. She is delighted to be welcomed back into their wonderful world of talent and creativity as a part of this exciting new project - Dead End Days.
Erin honed her acting skills through the Ryerson University Theatre programme, as well as the Vancouver Film School. She credits her family for her strength and creativity, as well as her friend Kristin for enthusiastically encouraging Erin to pursue her love of the stage and screen.
Chad Thompson
Character: Bruce
Chad Thompson was actually encouraged to apply for the position of Canada’s poet laureate by an old school teacher, since turned literary critic for ‘Highlights for Children’. Sadly he missread the address on the application form and ended up recieving information on ’small engine repair’ from a mail-order educational institute.
Brooke Thompson
Character: Bridget
This marks Brooke’s first step into film. She has been involved with school productions both on and off the stage, attended the Whitlam School of Performing Arts, and was a performer on the show “Home Grown Café”. Brooke started dancing at the age of 5, and performed at Walt Disney World, as well as in a number of dance competitions. She loves kickboxing and rock climbing, and her favorite wrestler was Jake the Snake Roberts. Brooke is very excited to be a part of the Dead End Days family, and looks forward to learning as much as she can from all of the wonderfully talented people involved in the project.
Jeff Straker
Character: Evan
One year ago, Jeff Straker rented the flick “Century Hotel” (starring Canadian pop-rockers Chantal Kreviazuk and husband Raine Maida) and mumbled through his popcorn stuffed mouth “I could do that”. Eager for a challenge, he tracked down DED producer Brad Fox, and BINGO - the rising pop singer-songwriter/pianist charmed his way into this incredibly delicious series. His experience in front of audiences has been mainly done in a musical setting - singing/piano-ing on his own, or backing other bands. Over the past 4 years, he has received strong reviews, multiple songwriting awards, and growing bookings for his act, both domestically and internationally (find out more at www.jeffstraker.com). Recently named one of Canada’s “Top 30 under 30″ by Marketing Magazine (Canada), his day job as a brand manager handed him a crafty shoe-in into his DED role of “Evan”, the pompous advertising exec. In his spare time, Jeff goes for pedicures at late night Yonge and Bloor grooming establishments, and secretly finds Brooke extremely attractive.
Dean Rideout
Character: Joell
Dean is thrilled to be a part of Dead End Days as the annoying 15 year old “Joell”. After catching the acting bug at the early age of ten, Dean just hasn’t stopped. To date, he has appeared on stage in over 20 theatre productions, as well as several television appearances. Some of his recent stage credits include: “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”, “Jesus Christ Superstar”, and “War of the Worlds”. Currently at the mere age of 17, Dean hopes to continue with theatre and appear on Broadway. His message to viewers: “Rock on, and enjoy Dead End Days!”
Jon Smith
Character: Johnny Numbskull
Currently on his nation-wide search for Canada’s finest grilled cheese, Jon officially challenges anyone foolish enough to accept, to create a grilled cheese that could equal or (very unlikely) better his own. Jon is a member of the critically-acclaimed Canadian comedy troupe The Imponderables.
Eric Toth
Character: Dennis
Reckelessly addicted to Alan Alda movies, Eric is a PBJ junkie, who enjoys surprisingly brisk walks on the beach. When he’s not throwing darts at his History B.A. & M.E.D., Eric is an Intergalactic Alien Defense Lawyer on Planet Gaveltron Seven. Eric is a member of the critically-acclaimed Canadian comedy troupe The Imponderables.
Jon Senecal
Character: Bentley
Jon Senecal once was mistakenly arrested being confused with a JOHN Senecal who was counterfitting designer jeans labels for knock-off textile mills in Taipei. This is even more humorous when one realizes that Jon’s name is an anagram for ‘Jeans Clone’.
Scott Freethy
Character: Garrett
Scott is looking forward to a return to his singing/songwriting roots after finishing an extremely sucessful multi-year run in the Toronto cast of the hit ABBA-based musical ‘Mama-Mia!’ You can follow his various adventures on his official fansite ScottFreethy.com
Drew Haapala
Character: Chad
Drew once shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die. He got tired of waiting though, and missed the actual death while he went to the local 7-11 for a drink, so he actually shot a man in Reno just to sit around for a few hours and then go get a slurpee.
Scott Lough
Character: Larson
Who could ask for a better zombie target than an unsuspecting, middle-aged science teacher? Heedless of his mother’s warnings about the kind of girl who would suck on his head, Scott never saw zombification coming. In fact, until recently, he thought zombies were just Goths with good makeup skills. While much of his life was spent teaching children, that is all over now; It turns out that asking the class clown “Where’s Uranus?” constitutes entrapment. Who knew? So, Scott is looking forward to his new life as a hip zombie. It’s the “hip” part that still eludes him; Recently, Scott shared with the group that he thought Sponge Bob Squarepants was a contraceptive. In his defence, he has the perfect hair for a leading role, but he left it at home in a drawer. For that matter, he has the body of a nineteen year old, but it’s in his shed and it’s beginning to smell funny.
Joanne Cope
Character: Jill
Joanne is a graduate of the University of Waterloo Drama program. She has spent the last two years as the Artistic Director/General Manager of a small theatre company, and has aspirations of starting her own company someday. She is enjoying being a part of DED, and hopes to continue helping in any way she can.
Shelley Campbell
Character: Restaurant Manager
Shelly once changed her pants in the backseat of my busted-ass 1995 Dodge Neon whilst barelling down the widest highway in North America, no small feat considering how cramped the back seat is. Thankfully we didn’t get pulled over, as I’d really hate to explain why she was in my back seat with no pants on. True Story.
Jonathan Carryer
Character: ?
Jonathan caught the acting bug in high school, and never really recovered. Throughout his teens in New Zealand, he acted in one or two stage productions a year at school, in university, and with amateur companies. Making his way to England, he spent two years with an amateur stage company and an experimental theatre troupe while he auditioned for the big London acting schools. Discouraged by not getting into any of these schools, he ran away to Canada to study psychology. At York University, he met Brad Fox and was inveigled into acting in one of Brad’s first film projects. He has appeared in a number of Brad’s cinematic works since that time, and is very excited to be a part of Dead End Days.
Travis Maxwell
Character: Punk 1
Travis suffers from a rare disease making it impossible for him to dislike any movie for any reason. As such his hard-hitting critical review column in the local free arts paper was decidedly short lived after his glowing five star review of ‘Catwoman’.
Brendan Maxwell
Character: Punk 2
Once a founding member of “Kant don’t know jack” one of Toronto’s most notorious performance art troupe / street gangs, Brendan decided to devote his life to the recognition of the sideshow arts (sword swallowing, fire eating etc…) as leigitimate competitive sports.
Doreen Smith
Character: Lewis
Doreen Smith, TOTALLY, came up with the idea for ‘American Idol’, like, five years ago. What is, UP, with that, huh?
Dave Brennan
Character: Connor
Dave is a member of the critically-acclaimed Canadian comedy troupe The Imponderables. Outside his life as an Imponderable, he can type 27 words a minute, waltz, and recite the entire roster of the 1993-94 Vancouver Canucks. He lives in Toronto where he is currently working on a Jeff Goldblum impression.
Matt Desmond
Character: Phil
Mr. Desmond had retired from the stage following his lucrative prediction (and subsequent short-selling based profit from) the dot com crash of 2000. He lives on a private island in Northern Ontario dabbling in volitile small-cap venture capital investment for fun. The rumours that he is actually a time traveller from the future is unfounded. His appearance in ‘Dead End Days’ repaid an unspecified favour he owed the directors great-grandaughter.
Chris Arbuthnot
Character: Jordan
Chris grew up in Saskatoon with his parents and two younger brothers. The majority of his childhood was spent being a jerk, tormenting his charming and heroic brothers. For example, he often enjoyed pulling their toes until they cracked, or pinning them down and repeatedly head-butting their chests. Also, he would occasionally send his youngest brother to his room for standing on the dictionary, and would then set the microwave timer so that the embittered child would know when to come out. Chris has vaguely matured and now has his Master’s in Pure Math and is currently working for Canada Post. This marks Chris’ first time acting and is happy to be part of DED. (Thanks to Devin Arbuthnott for this- Ed.)
