Unwrap Theatre is one of the most exciting performing arts organizations in the Waterloo Region.  We support untold stories by unheard voices for underserved communities, inspiring our community through curiosity, inspiration and entertainment.

President: Everton Wilmot
Directors: Amanda Brunk, Derek Kast, Cherylynne McKee

Alten Wilmot is an artist and producer working in theatre, film, and dance, and the founder of Unwrap Theatre.

Through their work as an actor, choreographer, writer, director, and producer, Alten has worked on projects across Canada including with institutions such as CBC, Global TV, The Harbourfront Centre, Arts Club, Theatre Passé Muraille, and Guelph Dance, as well as for companies international such as NBCUniversal and the Lebanon Film Festival.

Alten’s work has been recognized with awards including the Buddies in Bad Times’ Queer Emerging Artist Award, an ArtworxTO Emerging Artist Award, a Denny Award, as well as other nominations and shortlists. They have worked in residency with companies including The National Ballet of Canada, Obsidian Theatre, MT Space, Project Humanity, and Guelph Dance.

Alten most often works with stories and performances which show humanity at its extreme limits, where they believe the core of our human experience is revealed.

As a producer, Alten studied Arts Management under acclaimed Executive Director Michael Kaiser through the University of Maryland and has worked as a Marketing Director for two IT businesses.  They’ve been producing for seven years, initially mentored by Ray Hogg; Artistic Director at Musical Stage Company and Prime Mover Theatre Company.  The latter they serve on the advisory committee for.  Additional mentors include Pam Patel of MT Space, Laura McLeod of the Harbourfront Centre, and Lisa-Marie DiLiberto of Theatre Direct.  They’ve produced for the Guild Festival Theatre for their summer 2020 season, where they completed a Digital Marketing for Theatre research project, and for Theatre Direct, including being Festival Coordinator for the Forward March Festival – an outdoor theatre festival that includes performances from five companies and one artist in residence.  Alten is the founder of Unwrap Theatre, where they have produced 21 premiere productions to date.

Michele Wilmot (she/her) (BSc.hon, A.R.C.T, L.B.C.M.hon) Michele Wilmot was born in St. Bruno, Quebec. Michele is most dedicated to piano performance, performing across North America in British Columbia, Ontario and most recently in New York City for the Beethoven Sonata marathon in celebration of Beethoven’s 250th birthday. Michele has studied with Gertrude Lavoie, Carol Ditner-Wilson, Boyd McDonald and currently with Koichi Inoue. Alongside her solo and collaborative concert work she enjoys curating concerts, giving to the community, supporting many organizations, and accompanying upcoming solo artists. For her work as a concert curator and pianist, she was nominated for a Denny Award at the KW Arts Awards.

Michele was awarded her Teacher Award by Dr. Peter Simon, President & CEO of the Royal Conservatory of Music, for 30 years of teaching the RCM Certificate Program. She was President of the local Kitchener Waterloo branch of the Ontario Registered Music Teacher’s Association (ORMTA). She has earned a Certificate of Recognition for Professional Achievement from the Canadian Federation of Music Teacher’s Association (CFMTA) 2016-2018 and 2018-2020. She worked for the Royal Conservatory of Music  as the Cambridge Centre Representative. Michele also works with her husband as the Controller of Wilmot Technologies Inc. of 27 years. She oversees the accounting and assists in the management of employees and office.

Aveleigh Keller (she/her) has been performing professionally since the age of 10. Known for her soaring high belt and spitfire personality, she’s worked all over Ontario with institutions such as The Stratford Festival (The Music Man; Evita), Drayton Entertainment (Oliver!; Evita; Annie; The Sound of Music), The Grand Theatre (The Wizard of Oz), The Rose Theatre (A Christmas Carol), Discovery ID (Motives & Murders III, Online Encounters), and CBC (Schitt’s Creek). She also loves Oxford commas.

A graduate of Sheridan’s Bachelor of Musical Theatre degree and Toronto Film School’s Writing for Film and Television program – Aveleigh is a writer who can’t put her pen down. 

Working on multiple projects, she’s recently finished her second short film – What I Did for Love – that will be screened at film festivals across Canada in the coming year. She’s been commissioned for multiple works; including her first play – Dancing Under a Blanket – produced in 2019 with Unwrap at the Registry Theatre; her play Toronto, 1989 with Icarus Theatre at Buddies in Bad Times; and the book writer for Blackberry the Musical – currently in development. Her first short film – Blue Light Glasses – was selected as the Canadian representative for the Lebanon Film Festival in Tyre, and was screened as part of Unwrap Theatre’s latest live show in Toronto and Kitchener/Waterloo – Weightless.

She’s an accomplished producer, producing both her short films and co-producing multiple films and live events during her time at Unwrap Theatre as Company Producer. She has also story edited multiple films (Weightless, 2023; See You Tomorrow, 2023).

Video editing is another skill of Aveleigh’s that she’s used while working at Unwrap Theatre, taking control of their social media (Facebook and Instagram) and monthly newsletter, editing short films (Weightless, See You Tomorrow), and documentaries of live events (Unwrap’s 2023 Reel; Weightless Documentary; Inspiration Creation; Unwrap’s 2022 Reel; Longing for Argentina). 

Aveleigh enjoys high stakes, non-linear storytelling from a female perspective. She likes to write morally ambiguous characters that you can fall in love with and cheer on, approaching storytelling from the belief that everyone is always trying their best, even if their best isn’t enough.

Grace Rockett (she/they) is trained to tell stories and help stories be told (majoring in directing and writing at Sheridan College) and looks forward to being a part of a new world of theatre. Most recently taking part in The Toronto Fringe Festival’s show “Crack of Doom” and Magnu Theatre/Garner Theatre Production’s show “Man of La Mancha”.

Beauty is not a shape, it’s an attitude, and as a full-bodied artist Grace is excited to showcase their temple as a strong, curvy, hilarious, and well-rounded woman. Through song, dance and art, Grace will strive to challenge the stereotypes surrounding gender, sexuality and body image that have historically placed them into a box. Now is the time to change, now is the time to have some fun!

Haley Dimeck is a contemporary dancer, choreographer and teacher, as well as visual artist, skilled in fluid art and abstract painting. She is currently interested in further exploring the intersection of dance and visual art. Much of her work is inspired by movement patterns in nature. As a dance movement researcher, she strives to embrace curiosity, along with following innate impulses.

Rhiannon Hoover (they/she) is a multidisciplinary artist and storyteller raised on Treaty 18 territory. They have spent an extensive amount of time studying musical theatre and makeup artistry post-secondary, but have also explored drag performance, dance, fashion design, writing, film and creative direction. They take pride in the many intersections of their identity, including being Black, non-binary, and queer which heavily informs their artistry and activism. They believe their creative purpose is to offer healing and inspiration to others through their own authentic existence. (Photo by Em Schuster)

Kaleigh Murphy is a multidisciplinary artist from Waterloo, Ontario based in Toronto, ON. Her artistic practices include acting, singing, dancing, choreographing, and directing. Some of her past credits include Berthe in Pippin, Clementine in Almost a Full Moon (Theatre Sheridan), and creating and performing in her first dance film, Collide. She is deeply passionate about collaborative creation leading to inventive storytelling in theatre and film. She believes that the most personal art is the most universal, and aims to bring vulnerability and curiosity to all of her work.

2024 marked our fifth year of operation, beginning in 2019.  To date, Unwrap Theatre has supported over 200 artists and brought together over 6000 community members.  We have produced over 40 productions and collaborated with over 15 other organizations like the CBC, Anishnabeg Outreach, and Women’s Crisis Services of Waterloo Region to share artistic experiences with a diverse variety of communities.   Unwrap Theatre has been nominated for local awards and voted Best Live Theatre Company by our local news’ Readers’ Choice Awards.

We are committed to:

• Bringing more artistic experiences to more people in our community, prioritizing collaboration and excellence.  
• Acknowledging the power of culture and our role in expanding it to include everyone, from margin to margin.  
• Producing untold stories by unheard voices for underserved communities.

We hold strong to the values that set us apart, and embed them at the centre of everything we do.

• Because we believe in COMMUNITY, we bring high-level arts experiences to all from margin to margin. We aim to foster curiosity, reflection, and inspiration in safe and nurturing open spaces.
• Because we believe in INCLUSIVITY, we actively listen to, identify, and overcome individual and communal barriers to artistic engagement for artists, audiences, staff, volunteers, donors, and sponsors.
• Because we believe in COLLABORATION & TEAMWORK, we work collaboratively, support each other, give and receive mentorship, and partner with organizations with shared values and missions.
• Because we believe in PASSION & EXCELLENCE, we find and select the highest talent aligning with our values, prioritize professional development, and learn from thorough evaluations.

Our Key Activities

• We find and conceptualize untold stories that bring people together around common themes relevant to their lives.
• We commission promising artists with unheard voices and supporting them through development, production and presentation.
• We present innovative productions for underserved communities, prioritizing community relevance, appropriate representation, culturally informed practices, and strategic partnerships. 

UNTOLD STORIES BY UNHEARD VOICES FOR UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES