Leah Cherniak

{{Infobox person

| name = Leah Cherniak

| image =

| alt =

| caption =

| other_names =

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1956|08|22}}

| birth_place =

| death_date =

| death_place =

| nationality = Canadian

| alma_mater = University of Toronto

| occupation =

| years_active =

| known_for =

| notable_works = The Attic, the Pearls and Three Fine Girls

}}

Leah Cherniak (born 1956) is a Canadian playwright, actor, and teacher. She is a co-founder of Theatre Columbus (now called Common Boots).

Early life and education

Cherniak graduated from the University of Toronto with a BA in 1979.{{Cite book|last=Lumley|first=Elizabeth|title=Canadian Who's Who 2004 : Volume XXXIX|publisher=University of Toronto Press|year=2000|pages=235–236}} She later studied at École Jacques Lecoq, where she met Martha Ross.{{Cite news|last=Crew|first=Robert|date=1994-03-15|title=Award-winning stage duo honor clown roots Two troupers take a darkly comic view of success|page=C5|work=Toronto Star}}

Career

Cherniak co-founded Theatre Columbus with Martha Ross in 1984. Originally, the company was called The Gargoils. In 2015, Theatre Columbus changed their name to Common Boots Theatre.{{Cite web|title=About the Company|url=http://www.commonbootstheatre.ca/the-company/our-mandate/|access-date=2020-11-29|website=Common Boots Theatre|language=en}}

= Teaching =

Beginning in 1985, Cherniak taught clown at the National Theatre School. In 2001, Cherniak began teaching dance at Ryerson University (now Toronto Metropolitan University) and George Brown College.

= Directorial credits =

== Theatre ==

Up Against the Wallpaper – Nightwood Theatre (1989)
The Tell-Tale Heart – Theatre Columbus (1995){{Cite news|last=Wagner|first=Vit|date=1995-08-18|title=Theatre forecast fair to good|page=D8|work=Toronto Star}}
Froth (1996){{Cite news|last=Walker|first=Susan|date=1996-12-01|title=On the shopping block|page=B7|work=Toronto Star|issn=0319-0781}}
Three Birds Alighting on a Field – George Brown Theatre (2000){{Cite web|last=Kaplan|first=John|date=2000-11-16|title=Art Smarts|url=https://nowtoronto.com/culture/stage/adams-apples|access-date=2020-11-25|website=NOW Magazine}}
Lonely Nights and Other Stories – Theatre Columbus, co-directed with Maggie Huculak (2001){{Cite news|last=Crew|first=Robert|date=2001-06-07|title=Actor navigates the mental map; Maggie Huculak continues to grow with Theatre Columbus|page=G07|work=Toronto Star}}
Rue Alridge – Tarragon Theatre (2004){{Cite web |last=Kaplan |first=Jon |author-link=Jon Kaplan (theatre critic) |date=2004-02-26 |title=Rune's tune |url=https://nowtoronto.com/culture/stage/runes-tune |access-date=2020-11-25 |website=NOW Magazine}}
Edward the "Crazy Man" – Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People (2008){{Cite web|last=Maga|first=Carly|date=2011-04-25|title=From the Street to the Storybook in Edward the "Crazy Man"|url=https://torontoist.com/2011/04/from_the_street_to_the_storybook_in_edward_the_crazy_man/|access-date=2020-11-26|website=Torontoist}}
6 Essential Questions – Factory Theatre (2014){{Cite web|last=BWW News Desk|date=2014-03-01|title=Factory Theatre Presents World Premiere of 6 Essential Questions by Priscila Uppal, Now thru 3/30|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/toronto/article/Factory-Theatre-to-Present-World-Premiere-of-6-ESSENTIAL-QUESTIONS-by-Priscila-Uppal-31-30-20140228|access-date=2020-11-20|website=BroadwayWorld.com|language=en}}
Clown – Ryerson School of Performance (2018){{Cite web|last=Eeswaran|first=Xavier|date=2018-10-30|title=Clowns aren't all fun and games for Ryerson's actors|url=https://theeyeopener.com/2018/10/clowns-arent-all-fun-and-games-for-ryersons-actors/|access-date=2020-11-20|website=The Eyeopener|language=en-US}}
The Ward Cabaret – Harbourfront Centre Theatre (2020), co-directed with David Buchbinder{{Cite web|last=Teodoro|first=Jose|date=2019-12-18|title=The Ward Cabaret is a vibrant celebration of cultural diversity through music|url=https://nowtoronto.com/culture/musicals/the-ward-cabaret-david-buchbinder-marjorie-chan-2|access-date=2020-11-20|website=NOW Magazine}}
Perpetual Archaeology – Crow's Theatre written by and starring Alex Bulmer (June 2023){{Cite web |last=Wild |first=Stephi |date=2022-06-01 |title=Crow's Theatre Announces 2022-23 Season |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/toronto/article/Crows-Theatre-Announces-2022-23-Season-20220601 |access-date=2022-11-29 |website=BroadwayWorld.com |language=en}}

== Film ==

Things Dead People Say – short film (2020){{Cite web|last=Sumi|first=Glenn|date=2020-07-01|title=8 Fringe Collective artists to watch (or hear)|url=https://nowtoronto.com/culture/theatre/8-toronto-fringe-collective-2020-artists-to-watch-or-hear|access-date=2020-11-20|website=NOW Magazine}}

= Acting credits =

== Theatre ==

class="wikitable"

!Year

!Show

!Role

!Notes

!Ref.

1995

|The Attic, The Pearls, and Three Fine Girls

|Jelly

|{{Cite news|last=Taylor|first=Kate|date=1995-03-03|title=A remarkable balancing act of comedy and drama|page=D9|work=The Globe and Mail}}

2015

|The Dybbuk, Or Between Two Worlds

|Frayde

|{{Cite web|last=Kaplan|first=Jon|date=2015-05-26|title=Review: The Dybbuk|url=https://nowtoronto.com/review-the-dybbuk|access-date=2020-11-20|website=NOW Magazine}}

2018

|Animal Farm

|Bessie

|{{Cite web|last=Maga|first=Carly|date=2018-03-17|title=Desire for comedy trumps message in Soulpepper adaptation of Orwell classic Animal Farm|url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/stage/2018/03/16/desire-for-comedy-trumps-message-in-soulpepper-adaptation-of-orwell-classic-animal-farm.html|access-date=2020-11-20|website=Toronto Star|language=en}}

2019

|Scadding

|Ensemble

|{{Cite web|last=Sumi|first=Glenn|date=2019-07-06|title=Fringe review: Scadding|url=https://nowtoronto.com/culture/theatre/fringe-review-scadding-2019-2|access-date=2020-11-25|website=NOW Magazine}}

Plays

Until We Part – co-written with Martha Ross
The Anger in Ernest and Ernestine – co-written with Robert Morgan and Martha Ross{{Cite web|last=Morrow|first=Martin|date=2016-02-09|title=Cowboy Versus Samurai, Ernest Versus Ernestine|url=https://torontoist.com/2016/02/cowboy-versus-samurai-ernest-versus-ernestine/|access-date=2020-11-17|website=Torontoist}}
Still Clowning – co-written with Martha Ross{{Cite news|last=Wagner|first=Vit|date=March 16, 1994|title=Still: it's exclusive clowning|page=D1|work=Toronto Star}}
The Fragments – co-written with Suvendrini Lena and Trevor Schwellnus{{Cite web|last=McKeown|first=Lisa|date=2019-11-24|title=Here Are The Fragments is a powerful immersive show|url=https://nowtoronto.com/culture/theatre/here-are-the-fragments-ect-collective-theatre-centre-2|access-date=2020-11-17|website=NOW Magazine}}
The Theory of Relatives – co-written with Daniel Brooks, Diane Flacks, Richard Greenblatt, Leslie Lester, and Allan Merovitz
The Attic, The Pearls, and Three Fine Girls – co-written with Jennifer Brewin, Martha Ross, Ann-Marie MacDonald, and Alisa Palmer
More Fine Girls – co-written with Brewin, Ross, MacDonald, and Palmer, sequel to The Attic, The Pearls, and Three Fine Girls{{Cite news|last=Nestruck|first=J. Kelly|date=2011-03-09|title=They can go home again|page=R1|work=The Globe and Mail}}
Scadding ' co-created with Jennifer Brewin, Alex Bulmer, Khadijah Roberts-Abdullah, John Gzowski, Maggie Huculak, Anand Rajaram, Jenny Salisbury and Stephon Smith
The Betrayal – co-written with Oliver Dennis, Maggie Huculak, Robert Morgan, Martha Ross and Michael Simpson

Awards

class="wikitable"

!Year

!Award

!Category

!Work

!Results

!Notes

!Ref.

1987

| rowspan="5" |Dora Mavor Moore Awards – Small Theatre

|Best Production

|Fertility

|{{won}}

|with Martha Ross

|{{Cite news|last=Conlogue|first=Ray|date=1987-06-23|title=Mikado, B-Movie big Dora winners|page=D8|work=The Globe and Mail}}

rowspan="2" |1988

|Outstanding Direction

| rowspan="2" |The Anger in Ernest and Ernestine

|{{nom}}

| rowspan="2" |{{Cite news|last=Crew|first=Robert|date=1988-05-11|title=CentreStage play tops Dora Award nominees|page=C1|work=Toronto Star}}

Outstanding New Play

|{{nom}}

1989

| rowspan="2" |Outstanding Direction

|Paranoia

|{{nom}}

|{{Cite news|last=Vinceni|first=Isabel|date=1989-05-13|title=And the Dora nominees are|page=C6|work=The Globe and Mail}}

1990

|Dr. Dapertutto

|{{nom}}

|{{Cite news|last=Conlogue|first=Ray|date=1990-05-15|title=Dora nominations harvested from sparse crop of new plays|page=A19|work=Globe and Mail}}

1991

|Dora Mavor Moore Awards – Ancillary awards

|Pauline McGibbon Award

|N/A

|{{won}}

|{{Cite news|last=Friedlander|first=Mira|date=1991-06-23|title=Awards spotlight theatre's top talent|page=C1|work=Toronto Star}}

rowspan="2" |1994

|Floyd S. Chalmers Canadian Play Award

|General Theatre

| rowspan="2" |The Theory of Relatives

|{{nom}}

| rowspan="2" |with Daniel Brooks, Diane Flacks, Richard Greenblatt, Leslie Lester, Allan Merovitz

|{{Cite news|last=Chapman|first=Geoff|date=1994-03-08|title=One-man show in running for Chalmers play prize|page=F5|work=Toronto Star}}

rowspan="3" |Dora Mavor Moore Awards – Small Theatre

|Outstanding New Play

|{{Nom}}

|{{Cite news|date=1994-05-18|title=Dora nominations list|page=D19|work=Toronto Star}}

rowspan="2" |1995

|Outstanding Performance by a Female–Play

| rowspan="3" |The Attic, The Pearls, and Three Fine Girls

|{{nom}}

| rowspan="2" |{{Cite news|date=1995-05-13|title=Nominations for '95 Dora Awards|page=J13|work=Toronto Star}}

Outstanding New Play or Musical

|{{nom}}

| rowspan="2" |with Ann-Marie MacDonald, Martha Ross with Alisa Palmer, Jennifer Brewin

rowspan="2" |1996

|Floyd S. Chalmers Canadian Play Award

|General Theatre

|{{nom}}

|{{Cite news|last=Crew|first=Robert|date=1996-03-14|title=New writers contest Chalmers play awards|page=D4|work=Toronto Star}}

rowspan="2" |Dora Mavor Moore Awards – General Theatre

|Outstanding Direction

|The Diary of Anne Frank

|{{nom}}

|{{Cite news|last=Kirchhoff|first=H J|date=1996-05-17|title=Harbourfront Centre tops Dora list: Captures 23 nominations, Canadian Stage is second with 17|page=C5|work=The Globe and Mail}}

1998

|Outstanding Direction of a Play

| rowspan="2" |The Betrayal

|{{nom}}

|{{Cite news|date=1998-05-27|title=Dora Award nominees|work=Toronto Start}}

1999

|Floyd S. Chalmers Canadian Play Award

|General Theatre

|{{won}}

|co-winner with Oliver Dennis, Maggie Huculak, Robert Morgan, Martha Ross and Michael Simpson

|{{Cite news|last=Wagner|first=Vit|date=1999-05-18|title=Eighth Chalmers for Walker ; Playwright wins national arts award second year in a row|work=The Toronto Star|issn=0319-0781}}

2003

|Dora Mavor Moore Awards – General Theatre

|Outstanding Direction of a Play

|The Miracle Worker

|{{nom}}

|{{Cite news|date=2003-05-22|title=Dora Award nominees|page=A35|work=Toronto Star}}

2005

|Dora Mavor Moore Awards – Independent Theatre

|Outstanding Direction of a Play

|The Anger in Ernest and Ernestine

|{{nom}}

|{{Cite news|date=2005-06-09|title=2005 Dora Award nominees|page=A23|work=Toronto Star}}