Seasoned Senior Leader in Arts & Entertainment
Transformative Leadership ~ Narrative Architect ~ Strategic Visionary
More than two decades ago, Oz’s journey into lighting design began modestly, with just a dozen lights and a simple two-scene pre-set board. Yet, within that humble beginning, they discovered a profound fascination and connection with light. Despite transitioning into leadership and managerial roles over the years, Oz’s perspective has remained rooted in the interplay of light and composition.
From contemporary dance to musical theater, and from unconventional found art spaces to immersive theatrical presentations, Oz has wielded light as a powerful medium of expression. They have continuously embraced the challenge of integrating various technologies, from illuminating industrial spaces for operas to harnessing the transformative power of cutting-edge LED and projection technologies.
Over the course of their career, Oz has lit over 75 productions, each one a testament to the fusion of artistry and innovation. Select companies they have collaborated with include Citadel Theatre, Canadian Stage, Thousand Island Playhouse, Project Humanity,Nightwood Theatre, Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, Tarragon Theatre, Young People’s Theatre, Kemi Contemporary Dance Projects,Factory Theatre, Meridian Hall, The Royal Conservatory of Music, The Globe Theatre, Harbourfront Centre, Beal Musical Theatre, Western Canada Theatre, and The Grand Theatre London.
Oz received a prestigious apprenticeship with Louise Guinand from the age of 16 to 20 and has also worked with other renowned designers such as Kimberly Purtell, Michelle Ramsay, and Renee Brode in assistant or associate design roles. Their talent has earned them nominations for a Dora Award for ~ Chasing the Path ~ and a Brickenden Award, along with winning two Dish Awards for their designs of ~ Into the Woods ~ and ~ Phantom of The Opera ~.
Their journey into major leadership roles began with The Dietrich Group, an avant-garde interdisciplinary arts collective pushing the boundaries of movement. Co-founding the company alongside DA Hoskins in 2012 was a deliberate response to the prevailing landscape of Toronto’s dance community, which predominantly adhered to conventional forms of contemporary dance. Positioned as a pioneering force, the company emerged as a beacon of dance expression, seamlessly melding movement with cutting-edge technology—utilizing projections, soundscapes, and contemporary music—to transcend traditional boundaries.
Over the span of a decade, The Dietrich Group curated a rich tapestry of artistic endeavors, birthing over eight groundbreaking full-length stage works and producing numerous video installations. As the administrative and production leader of the company, Oz established and collaborated closely with the founding board to steer its trajectory. From its humble origins as a platform sustained by project-based funding, Oz spearheaded its transformation into a globally renowned entity, boasting a robust annual operating budget in the hundreds of thousands.
Oz has honed their leadership and administrative skills in a variety of contract management positions, from technical director to production manager with Canadian-based performance companies, including The Musical Stage Company, Outside the March,Against the Grain Theatre, The National Arts Centre, Toronto Dance Theatre, MT Space, Project Humanity, Kemi Contemporary Dance Projects, Crow’s Theatre, Porte Parole, Kaeja d’Dance, and ProArteDanza.
Over the last five years, Oz has been working with Just For Laughs (JFL) in various producer roles, culminating in their position as Executive Producer for Just for Laughs Toronto Festival. They began with JFL as the Producer of the fan convention ComedyCON and industry conference ComedyPRO before becoming JFL Toronto’s Festival Producer in 2021 and Executive Producer in 2022. Under Oz’s leadership, the festival grew to be among the largest comedy festivals in North America. In 2023, it spanned ten days, attracting over 185,000 patrons, featuring more than 280 artists across 19 venues, and engaging a team of over 200 staff members, thus solidifying JFL Toronto’s position as one of Ontario’s premier festivals. Oz played a pivotal role in shaping the festival’s future by spearheading ambitious initiatives, including the development and fundraising for a new million-dollar, free-to-the-public, 100,000 sq/ft outdoor component, which was their brainchild.
Through their career journey, Oz has proven to be a dynamic leader and innovator, consistently pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the arts and entertainment industry.
See PORTFOLIO for images and videos of their work, and visit CREDITS for a full list of works.