The weight of small things

Devised & Directed by Rosanna Saracino

As one night slips into another, strangers gather in a New York diner, each carrying a life no one else can see. Their stories briefly intersect in moments of loneliness, connection, humour, hope, and loss—ordinary encounters that might otherwise go unnoticed. As time blurs, the question becomes not what these people will become, but whether we can slow down long enough to see who they are right now. The Weight of Small Things is a quiet, human portrait of the lives happening just outside the frame—and the small moments that remind us that an ordinary life is never an unimportant one.

Run Dates + Showtimes

September 16, 2026 7:30 pm

September 17, 2026 7:30 pm

September 18, 2026 7:30pm + 2pm | matinee

Venue

TFS Studio Theatre

120 Bloor St. East, Toronto

Additional Info

Show running time: 75 minutes with no intermission

Cell phones should be turned off and photography of any type is strictly prohibited.

There is no re-entrance once the show has begun.

ALPHONSE HENDERSON - IN MEMORIAM

Some people enter a room and quietly change it. Alphonse was one of those people.

He was, quite simply, one of the kindest people in our school. He had lived through more than most people knew, but he carried none of it as an excuse or a burden for others to carry. Instead, he seemed instinctively to look outward—to notice people, to help, to encourage, to make room.

After a full career in the military, Alphonse made the courageous decision to pursue something he had long dreamed of: becoming an actor. He approached that dream with an extraordinary combination of discipline and wonder. He was dedicated, curious, generous and deeply passionate about the work. Acting mattered to him. You could see it in the way he listened, in the questions he asked, in his willingness to keep discovering, and in the care he brought to every rehearsal.

In The Weight of Small Things, he was doing some of the loveliest work I had seen from him. There was a depth and ease to his presence, and his work was so charming – it moved the whole room in every rehearsal. He brought a generosity that reached far beyond his own character. He was fully there. He was exactly where he wanted to be.

Alphonse was beloved by his classmates and colleagues, and his absence is felt with a force that is difficult to comprehend. But perhaps the most meaningful way we can honour him is not simply to remember that he was here, but to remember how he was here: with purpose, with curiosity, with kindness, and with the courage to begin again.

He reminded us that it is never too late to pursue the thing that calls you. And he reminded us, without ever needing to say it, that what we bring to one another along the way may be just as important as the dream itself. We were fortunate to have him in our company. Sending love, strength, and kindness to all those who knew him and loved him.

THE CREATIVE TEAM

ROSANNA SARACINO

DIRECTOR

HART MASSEY

PRODUCER

EMERY NGUYEN

ASSOCIATE PRODUCER

KAITLYN DOUCHER

STAGE MANAGER

THE CAST

KIERA ARASIM

AS athena

ARMAN BHUTTA

AS TIM

Cody Cassell

AS THE COP

Tristan Cullihall

AS FICK

Lily Cyr

AS DARLENE

Tatianna Durdle

AS ANN

MALCOLM ENEFE

AS daniel

Zachary Gauthier

AS FRANK

Alphonse Henderson

AS ERNESTO *

Ernesto will be played by Emilio Velasco

EMILIO VELASCO

AS ERNESTO

Isaiah Jobin

AS TIG

Jax Kortis Perkins

AS FRANNY

KEENAN MCKENNA

AS JOHN

FRANK MCMAHAN

AS JOE

THAO THACH

AS BONNIE

KAYLA WIGGINS

AS JUDY

DIRECTOR'S NOTES

I have always been interested in the lives that happen just outside the frame.

The people we pass without knowing. The person sitting alone at the next table. The person who is carrying something we will never see.

The Weight of Small Things began with a simple question: What if we slowed down enough to really see them?

This play takes place over the course of several nights (maybe years?) in a New York diner—a place where people come and go, where stories collide, where people arrive hoping for something and leave carrying something else. These characters are not heroes. They are not extraordinary. They are people trying to get through another night.

As we began making this production, we talked about the strange ways we can miss the lives we are actually living because we are so busy waiting for the lives we imagine are coming. The process has moved me deeply. I have watched these artists listen to one another, take risks, make discoveries, and find humanity in people who could easily be reduced to a stereotype. We have built this world together—not to explain these people, but to see them.

Because I think that is what theatre can do at its best- it can ask us to look again. To notice the person beside us. To wonder what we don’t know about them. To recognize that an ordinary life is not an unimportant life. A cup of coffee. A shared joke. Five more minutes. Someone remembering your name. Someone staying when they could have walked away.

Small things. Except maybe they aren’t small at all.

- ROSANNA SARACINO

DIRECTOR

ABOUT THE CAST

KIERA ARASIM

Kiera Arasim is an actress and model currently training in the Acting for Film, TV & Theatre program at Toronto Film School. Passionate about storytelling, she enjoys exploring a wide range of characters through both dramatic and comedic performances. Her interests include fashion, travel, photography, dance, music, and sports, though the greatest role she has taken on is that of a mother. Her performance credits include Aniko in Code Breaker, Vanessa in Fight Scene, and Moonlight in Solar Order. Most recently, she walked the runway for a FIFA pop-up event.

ARMAN BHUTTA

Arman Bhutta is an Acting student at Toronto Film School, developing his craft as a performer. He enjoys the thrill of fully embodying a character while bringing a versatile set of skills to both the stage and the screen. He is a Bhangra dancer which is a traditional Indian dance, a brown belt in Taekwondo, a developing guitarist and he speaks Hindi and Punjabi in addition to English. He also enjoys swimming, soccer, singing, skating and rollerblading. With energy, discipline and a love for stepping into someone else’s shoes, Arman is excited to continue to grow as a performer and to bring his characters to life.

Cody Cassell

Cody Cassell was born and raised in Gananoque, Ontario, and relocated to Toronto to further his training in the Acting for Film, TV & Theatre program at Toronto Film School. His skills include singing, songwriting, and piano, and he has performed in various roles at the 1000 Islands Playhouse. Cody continues to develop his craft across theatre, film, and television while building on his experience as both a performer and musician.

Tristan Cullihall

Tristan Cullihall is an Indigenous actor from Milton, Ontario, currently training at the Toronto Film School Acting for Film, TV & Theatre program. Selected credits include Biff in Death of a Salesman, Tyler in a study of Fight Club, Jessie in a study of Breaking Bad, and performing with the 67Army for Stromedy on YouTube. He recently wrote and directed the short film Residual and co-founded WildfFrame Production House, collaborating with a collective group of artists. Special skills include a second-degree black belt in Taekwondo. Tristan is dedicated to creating genuine connections with audiences through his work.

Lily Cyr

Lily Cyr is a Métis performer from the Red River Valley of Manitoba who grew up in Ottawa, Ontario. Her acting training began in secondary school, where she developed skills in singing, production, and performance. She took some time to explore New Zealand, Australia and Indonesia while backpacking abroad before eventually enrolling in the Acting for Film, TV & Theatre program at Toronto Film School. Recent credits include directing YOU UP?, playing Kait in Symposium, and Claire in Porcelain Eyes. Lily is passionate about Indigenous storytelling, activism, and stories centered in empathy and connection. She hopes to continue to grow as an artist, performer, and screenwriter while contributing to meaningfully Métis representation in live and media performance.

Tatianna Durdle

Tatianna Durdle is a Toronto-based actor, dancer, and model whose work spans film, theatre, music videos, and commercial projects. Her credits include portraying Shantel Wallace in the feature film Three21 written and produced by MayerWood studios, appearing as Ella Little-Collins in Joël’s music video Clean Up, and co-writing and performing in Greenwood, an award-winning original production that placed first at NTS drama festival. Trained through Talent Inc. Toronto and currently studying Acting for Film, TV & Theatre at Toronto Film School, Tatianna has also worked in runway and print modelling. Drawing on her background in dance, collaborative creation, and community leadership, she brings authenticity, versatility, and heart to every story she tells.

Malcolm Enefe

Malcolm Enefe is an ACTRA apprentice born in Nigeria and now based in Toronto. His recent credits include Ghosts (CBS), St. Bulges Day (Crave), Dark Side of the 90s (Vice TV), and the role of Caleb Williams in the play Piece of Mind by Colleen Taffee Productions. Currently, Malcolm is enrolled in the Acting for Film, TV & Theatre program at the Toronto Film School, where he also created and directed a short film titled The Method of Friday Night. He has also starred in other short films including Residual and Shadows of Evil. Outside of acting, he is passionate about fitness, community service, and charitable volunteer work. Malcolm hopes to contribute to stories that challenge stigma, fosters empathy, and spark meaningful conversations in our community.

Zachary Gauthier

Zachary Gauthier is a bilingual English and French speaking Toronto-based actor originally from Fort McMurray, Alberta. He is currently studying in the Acting for Film, TV & Theatre program at Toronto Film School. Recent credits include Riley Flynn in Midnight Mass, Jim in The Glass Menagerie, and the Cable Guy in a study of The Cable Guy. He also co-directed the short film Ergophobia and has appeared in various student projects. His additional skills include breakdancing, hip-hop, and hockey. Zachary is dedicated to refining his craft in acting, writing, and directing, inspiring himself and others to pursue their dreams.

Alphonse Henderson

Alphonse Henderson is an Indigenous artist born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and holds dual Canadian and American citizenship. He served in both the United States Navy and Army branches before retiring from military service. His performance journey began through background work and workshops, which led him to enroll in the Acting for Film, TV & Theatre program at Toronto Film School. Recent credits include Indigenouos sitcom Acting Good, crime series Finally Caught, and Spring Break Murders. When not performing, Alphonse enjoys spending quality time with his family.

EMILIO VELASCO

Emilio Velasco is a Toronto-based Mexican artist with over a decade of storytelling experience behind and in front of the camera, as well as on stage. With a bachelor’s degree in film production from the University of Guadalajara, and fluent in English, Spanish, Portuguese, German and French, he pursues acting at Toronto Film School. With roles ranging from “Satan” in Paradise Lost to “Mustard” in Mustard, he’s passionate about paths outside his comfort zone; whether it’s voicework, singing, dancing, or further developing his portfolio of original scripts and soundtracks, he will never say no to a courageous story and hard-working collaborators.

Isaiah Jobin

Isaiah Jobin is an Indigenous Canadian actor, musician, and professional wrestler from Toronto. He began training as a performer in high school before enrolling in the Acting for Film, TV & Theatre program at Toronto Film School. Through his professional wrestling background, Isaiah trained in stunt work at the Workforce Performance Center and has worked with RCW and Can Am Pro Wrestling. His skills include weaponry, archery, and dialects such as Irish, Australian, and Cockney. In his personal time, he enjoys canoeing and camping.

Jax Kortis Perkins

Jax Kortis Perkins was raised in Whitby, Ontario, and has more than a decade of performance experience. His credits include Gaston in Beauty and the Beast, Sam Carmichael in Mamma Mia!, and Robin in Something Rotten! At Toronto Film School, he performed as Robin Buckley in a study of Stranger Things during his time training here. Jax is also a trained bass singer with a three-octave vocal range. A lifelong performer, he is inspired by the impact his work can have on an audience.

Keenan McKenna

Keenan McKenna is a Toronto-based actor and fifth-term student in the Acting for Film, TV & Theatre program at Toronto Film School. He wrote and directed the silent short film Ergophobia and co-directed productions of Death of a Salesman and The Grinch at James Cardinal McGuigan Catholic High School. Keenan further developed his performance skills through improv training at The Second City Toronto. With a background in professional wrestling, he brings strong physicality and combat experience to his work. He is particularly drawn to drama, horror, and thriller projects for film and stage.

Frank McMahan

Frank McMahan is from Charlotte, NC and relocated to Toronto to further his training as an actor at the Toronto Film School. Frank holds a bachelor’s degree in Cinema and Television Arts from Elon University, and a minor in Music Production, playing the guitar and producing music along the journey. He has travelled across North Carolina for Shakespeare Recitation Competitions, earning first place and a top 10 finish consecutively. Frank transitioned his passion for theatre to film by directing most of his own film credits before Toronto Film School, where he has now earned lead actor credits in Poetry and Coming to You Live.

Thao Thach

Thao Thach was born in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and moved to Bradford, Canada, at age 17. She is currently studying in the Acting for Film, TV & Theatre program at Toronto Film School. During her time here, Thao appeared in Enjoy, a short film created in collaboration with the film production program. Inspired by her aunt, she also developed a passion for drawing and hopes to use it in her character development process. Thao aims to fully immerse herself in each role, bring stories to life, and inspire other aspiring actors who share the same dream.

Kayla Wiggins

Kayla Hope Wiggins was born and raised in Newmarket, Ontario. She is currently in her fifth term at Toronto Film School, studying acting, writing, and directing in the Acting for Film, TV & Theatre program. Throughout her TFS training, Kayla has portrayed a variety of roles, including Nora Helmer in A Doll’s House, Tiger’s Eye in The Junction, and The Joker in a scene study from The Dark Knight. Outside of her studies, Kayla has experience as a voice actor and draws on seven years of choir and musical theatre training developed throughout middle and high school.

ABOUT THE CREATIVE TEAM

ROSANNA SARACINO

Rosanna Saracino (MFA, BFA, BA) is an Italian Canadian theatre and film director, educator, acting coach, and specialist in consent, boundaries, emotional intelligence, and psychological safety in professional creative contexts. With more than 25 years of experience, her directing practice has been rooted in stories of outsiders, social justice, human connection, and the often-unseen lives of ordinary people. Her work spans theatre, film, television, dance, rock shows, and opera, and theatre credits includes the exclusive world premiere of the live-actor version of Ronnie Burkett’s Provenance at Canadian Stage, the Toronto premiere of Penelopiad, Killing Game at Passe Muraille, and devised works including Suitcases at Canadian Stage, In Adagio for the Winnipeg Art Gallery, and Death A Comedy for One Yellow Rabbit. She has directed both emerging and established performers for live and media performance in feature film and television and has created work with a particular interest in the intersection of personal vulnerability, social circumstance, and collective experience.

As an educator and director, Rosanna has spent decades developing creative processes that balance play, discipline, technique, collaboration, and emotional safety. She served as Chair of the Acting Program at Randolph College for the Performing Arts for twenty years and has taught at York University, George Brown College, and Toronto Film School, where she continues to work with emerging artists. Her contributions to teaching and the development of psychologically and emotionally safe creative environments have been recognized with the SASF Award and two President’s Awards for Teaching Excellence at Yorkville University. The Weight of Small Things continues her fascination with the stories that exist just beneath the surface of everyday life—and with the profound humanity that can emerge when people who are rarely seen are given the space to be heard.

KAITLYN DOUCHER

Kaitlyn Doucher is a performer from Ottawa, Ontario and a graduate of Toronto Film School’s Acting for Film, TV and the Theatre program. She made her stage debut as Belle in a school production of Beauty and the Beast and most recently appeared as Mother in TFS’s adapted production of Six Characters in Search of an Author (6 Visitors).

Additional school credits include The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Leaving Iowa, and A Christmas Carol. A longtime member of competitive concert choirs, she earned gold at the 52nd annual MusicFest Canada Nationals with the OCSB Chamber Choir. With a passion for musical theatre, Kaitlyn brings heart and curiosity to her work as an artist.

BEHIND THE SCENES

A battered beautiful faith in the fact that one person seeing another person still matters.

SPECIAL THANKS

TFS MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS TEAM

Graphic Design

Sharon Jim

Graphic Designer

Sharon is a 2026 graduate of Toronto Film School’s Graphic Design Program. With a background in Kinesiology, she brings a deep curiosity about human connection to her practice. Through graphic design, she explores emotions and human experiences, translating them into meaningful visual narratives.