Our Team
Photo: Tim Leyes
TED DYKSTRA - CO-FOUNDER / CHIEF ENGINEER (ARTISTIC DIRECTOR)
Ted has acted, directed, written and/or composed for every major theatre in Canada and around the world, including such great cities as New York, London and Tokyo. He is a proud graduate of The National Theatre School Of Canada, and a founding member of Toronto's Soulpepper Theatre. Arguably best known for co-creating one of the most successful plays in Canada's history, 2 Pianos, 4 Hands, Ted also wrote the hit musical Evangeline (Citadel Theatre, Charlottetown Festival) and adapted and performed Tolstoy's novella The Kreutzer Sonata (Art Of Time, Soulpepper) to great acclaim. Coming soon: see Ted in Season 6 of the hit sci-fi series The Expanse. Over the course of his career he has been the recipient of numerous awards including six Doras, a Gemini, a Sterling, a Merritt and a Chalmers.
GERRY EGAN - GENERAL MANAGER
With 3 decades of diverse theatre experience, Gerry quickly established himself as an Equity stage manager in large-scale productions, city wide-festivals, events and everything in between! With a passion for process, his administration credits over the past 13 years have included positions with Opera Hamilton, The Canadian Opera Company, Streetcar Crowsnest Theatre and most recently the Director of Production at The Tarragon Theatre. There, he was proud to have built a collaborative, passionate and vision focused production department with strong ties to academic institutions for production mentorship, serving the next generation of theatre makers.
Gerry has been a Coal Mine Theatre advocate since its inception having Stage Managed The Creditors in its very first season under the pizza parlour. He has fond memories of entering the kitchen and saying hello to the kitchen staff, which was the 'stage door' at the time. He is thrilled to be a part of The Coal Mine Theatre's next phase of growth. As an East Ender himself Gerry is also proud to be a part of the growing arts community of the Danforth!
BRYAN KLING (HE/THEY) - DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION
Bryan is a multifaceted Production Manager & Artist who has spent his career bringing art to life, both on and off the stage. They pride themself on their dedication to supporting and honoring this work; cultivating safe, respectful, and exciting work environments.
Graduating from the Randolph College for the Performing Arts back in 2014 they have since had the wonderful opportunity to work for many prestigious companies both on and off the stage, helping to bring life and love to audiences in Toronto, Montreal and beyond.
They are thrilled to be bringing their many years of expertise to the Coal Mine and to help further the legacy of this astonishing theatre institution.
JEN COHEN - DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & CREATIVE STRATEGY
Jen brings a storyteller’s instinct and a deep understanding of audience connection to the role. Having worked in theatre for many years as a director and choreographer, she brings an authentic understanding of the artistic community she now helps champion. A recent graduate of Emerson College’s Master’s program in Digital Marketing and Data Analytics, Jen received the Exemplary Achievement Award from the faculty. She joins us from da Costa Talent Management, where she led the Influencer and Digital Strategy Division and brings extensive experience leading creative and marketing initiatives that connect artists and audiences across Canada.
JESS RAPP - PRODUCER
Jess's professional life has always been led by her love of theatre.
She saw her first play at age 3, and the spell was cast. To this day, she's still moved by that moment when the house lights dim and a story is about to unfold.
She studied theatre at the University of Victoria, but an internship at a theatre company revealed her true purpose: not to be on stage, but to support those who are. She went on to work in theatre, music, film, and television production in Toronto, Halifax, and New York.
Upon her return to Toronto, she stepped into the role of Talent Agent. She spent the next 12 years championing artists —a journey that would culminate in the opening of Jess Rapp Talent. In 2019, she closed her agency to build something new: a business supporting creative professionals through coaching, counselling and mentorship.
Jess is thrilled to be joining the talented team at Coal Mine Theatre as a Producer. It's both a welcome new adventure and a meaningful homecoming, back to where it all began: with a stage, and a story.
BREANNA DILLON - ASSOCIATE PRODUCER / VENUE MANAGER
Breanna Dillon is a Dora-nominated actor and a producer based in Toronto. She trained in New York City and is a graduate of The Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre. In 2014, she co-founded Witchboy Theatre in Toronto, producing and acting in all four of their successful productions. Her past acting work got her recognized as NOW Magazine’s "Breakthrough Stage Artists of 2018". Her most recent stage appearances have been in Toronto’s Best of Fringe 2019 Winner “The Huns'' by Michael Ross Albert. “The Huns” was remounted in Toronto of 2022 before it traveled to the Brighton Fringe Festival in the U.K where it was received with much critical acclaim. She also performs regularly in staged readings of “Comic Books LIVE” at The Assembly Theatre. Breanna is a proud ACTRA member and has appeared in shows on Netflix, Apple TV & Amazon Prime. She joined the Coal Mine Team in January 2023 as an Associate Producer and most recently as Venue Manager. Additionally, she loves to read, write, sing in the car, eat cheese, travel and kick box.
SHAYNA LINDS - PATRON SERVICES MANAGER
Shayna started with the Coal Mine in 2017 (Season 4) and has stuck around ever since. She loves working in theatre, and can be found at the box office at both Soulpepper and the National Ballet of Canda. She was raised on Vancouver Island and is a graduate of Humber College's Theatre Performance Program. She is very proud of her collection of excellent rocks.
DIANA BENTLEY - CO-FOUNDER / CO-CHIEF ENGINEER (EMERITUS)
Diana Bentley is a multi-disciplinary, award winning Toronto artist. She is the Co-Founder of the Coal Mine Theatre with partner Ted Dykstra and is an actor, producer and writer. She recently accepted an Equity Award of Distinction for ‘collective courage sparking a culture shift’ in the Canadian Theatre community. Bentley is a graduate of the Canadian Film Centre’s Actors Conservatory, the London Academy of Musical and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) and The University of Toronto. She takes the stage regularly at the Coal Mine (most recently in Hedda Gabler), has had recurring roles in Hudson and Rex, Frontier, Channel Zero, and The Expanse. She is the proud mother of Henry and step-mother of Rosie and Theo Dykstra. Coming soon: catch Diana in Season 2 of the British-Canadian suspense drama Departure and Netflix’s Locke and Key.