in EQUUS (Citadel Theatre)

ANTHONY JOHNSTON is an actor/writer/director based in New York City.

Born in Montreal, raised in Winnipeg, Anthony has worked in professional theatre, film & television across Canada. Some credits include: 'Alan' in the most recent Canadian revival of EQUUS (Citadel Theatre), 'Billy' in the first Canadian productions of Edward Albee's THE GOAT or, WHO IS SYLVIA? (Manitoba Theatre Centre, Centaur Theatre Montreal), 'Bill Mercer' in Soulpepper Theatre's Dora-Award Winning revival of David French's LEAVING HOME (opposite Kenneth Welsh), 'Brodie' in Tom Stoppard's THE REAL THING (Manitoba Theatre Centre) and 'Gary' in the Western Canadian premiere of Mark Ravenhill's SHOPPING & FUCKING (Pi and Ruby Slippers Theatre, Vancouver).

ART'S HEART began as Anthony's solo grad piece from Vancouver's STUDIO 58 Theatre Training Program, and has since been produced as part of the Winnipeg Fringe Festival and at Toronto's Bad Dog Theatre. ART'S HEART made its New York debut at Cheryl King's STAGE LEFT STUDIO in the 2008 Left Out Festival; a celebration of gay solo performance art. It has since gone on to be produced at the 2009 New York Fringe Festival (awarded OUTSTANDING SOLO SHOW), and at the 2010 Garage Theatre's SoloFest in New Jersey.

In New York, Anthony has worked with the Ensemble Studio Theatre and the Youngblood Playwright's Group, appeared in New York Theatre Experiment's workshop of the new musical WASP WOMAN and recently directed a staged reading of Miranda Huba's HOSPITAL CITY presented at Stage Left Studio. He is currently collaborating with ART'S HEART director Nathan Schwartz on a new solo piece about immigration and magic- tentatively titled tenderpits or, THE INCREDIBLE HALF-TRUE ADVENTURES OF A CANADIAN WIZARD IN NEW YORK CITY.

NATHAN SCHWARTZ is an actor, director and theatre creator who has recently returned to New York City from Canada. He has specialized in new play creation and is dedicated to infusing physical theatre techniques, and honest connection with the audience into contemporary theatre practice.

He most recently directed RAGNAROK OUT! with Suburban Beast for Nuit Blanche 2009 at The Theatre Centre (Toronto) as well as the HATCH 2009 hit, IT TAKES TWO MEN TO MAKE A BROTHER, an exploration of male fraternity culture, at the Harbourfront Centre (Toronto). Other directing credits: ART'S HEART at FringeNYC 2009 (awarded OUTSTANDING SOLO SHOW), and The Garage Theatre's SoloFest 2010 (Teaneck, NJ), BASS BUGS (Walking Fish Festival, Vancouver). Nathan won 'Best Director' award two years running for Ottawa's Youth Infringement Festival.

Nathan wrote and performed AND NOW A MESSAGE FROM MR.MR. (Toronto Festival of Clowns 2009), and MESSIAH AYELAND (2005 Chutzpah Festival, Vancouver). Some of Nathan's acting credits include: HEBRON (Habima, Tel-Aviv), BETTER LIVING (GCTC, Ottawa), THE DARLING FAMILY (Horseshoes and Hand Grenades, Vancouver), THE LEAGUE OF NATHANS (Touchstone, Vancouver), and 10 GREEN BOTTLES (Irving Greenberg Theatre, Toronto). He won the Jessie Richardson Award for 'Best Artistic Achievement' with the cast of THE BIG LEAGUE (Carousel Theatre, Vancouver). He has studied recently with Canadian clown and bouffon luminaries Karen Hines and Adam Lazarus. Nathan is a graduate of Studio 58 Theatre School.