Monologue Slam Canada

09/15/2026

🏆 INTRODUCING THE FIRST-EVER MONOLOGUE SLAM COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP AWARD!

We're proud to present the first-ever Monologue Slam Community Leadership Award to Laurent Pitre. 🏆💜

During the competition, Laurent, a 3× Champion, didn’t just deliver brilliant work on stage. He became a leader among his fellow artists.

Behind the scenes, Laurent was helping other actors prepare, sharing his experience and wisdom, offering encouragement, answering questions and making himself available to his fellow performers.

And the truth is, the success of many of the actors on that stage and the success of the night itself was in large part because of Laurent.

That matters.

Because being a leading actor isn’t simply about being #1 on the call sheet.

It’s about elevating everyone around you.

It takes generosity.
It takes compassion.
It takes confidence in your own abilities without needing to diminish anyone else’s.

Laurent has always been an incredible talent, but he has now transcended being good.

He is becoming an artist who uplifts the people around him.
He shares what he knows.
He makes other artists better.
He helps create an environment where everyone can do their best work.

That is leadership.

And that is exactly what this award was created to recognize.

Congratulations to Laurent Pitre, the inaugural recipient of the Monologue Slam Community Leadership Award. 👑💜

Talent gets you on the stage.
Leadership helps others rise with you.

09/14/2026

🏆 CONGRATULATIONS!

NOBU JOHNSON IS YOUR 2026 TIFF MONOLOGUE SLAM CHAMPION! 👑🔥

What a night.

Congratulations to Nobu Johnson on taking the crown at the 13th Annual TIFF Monologue Slam — Season (Sweet) Sixteen! 🏆

And a huge congratulations to our finalists:

👏🏾 Brennan Bielefeld
👏🏾 Ziggy Schulting
👏🏾 Naomi Guttman

Every one of you brought something different to that stage. The choices. The risks. The vulnerability. The courage to stand in front of a room and do the work. 🎭🔥

To all of our performers and Wild Cards: thank you. ❤️‍🔥 It takes courage to put yourself out there, and we’re grateful you chose to share your work with us.

To our incredible judges, Colleen Rush, Chandler Boriska and Kelly Boaz, thank you for your generosity, your insight and the incredible feedback you gave our actors. You didn’t just judge the performances. You poured into the artists. 🙏🏾🎭

To our host, L.A. Sweeney, THANK YOU!!!! for carrying us through the night, bringing the energy, the heart and the love for this community. From Slam competitor, to champion, to host… what a full-circle moment. ❤️‍🔥🎤

A special thank you to the slam crew Eva, Jenny, Sielle, Jessica, Allison and the entire team at The Drake Hotel for a flawless night.

And to everyone who came through the doors, sat in that audience and took time out of your Sunday to celebrate with us:

THANK YOU. 🙏🏾

Thank you for celebrating our community.
Thank you for celebrating the work.
Thank you for celebrating the art behind the movies. 🎬🎭

Because that’s what the Slam has always been about.

Creating a space for actors to perform, experiment, connect, take risks and be seen.

And after a year away…

WE’RE BACK.

The 13th Annual TIFF Monologue Slam.
Season (Sweet) Sixteen.
One hell of a night.

Congratulations, Nobu. 👑

And to everyone who was part of it...

Look out for the next one.

SLAM IS BACK. 🔥🎭

09/13/2026

09/12/2026

🎭 MEET OUR HOST: L.A. SWEENEY 🔥

From Slam contestant to Slam Champion to Slam Host. 👑

We’re thrilled to welcome L.A. Sweeney back to the Monologue Slam, this time taking the stage as our host for the 13th Annual TIFF Edition — Season (Sweet) Sixteen! 🎤🔥

L.A.’s relationship with the Slam goes way back.

During the pandemic, when theatres went dark, L.A. submitted a monologue to the Virtual Monologue Slam to keep performing and stay connected.

Six years later… look at her now. 👀🔥

In 2026, L.A. earned a Dora Award nomination for Outstanding Performance by an Individual for her portrayal of Agnes in Tracy Letts’ Bug. 🏆

She joined the 2026 Canadian Film Centre Actors Conservatory and continues to build an exciting career across film, television and theatre.

L.A. most recently appears in Being Heumann, directed by Siân Heder, portraying civil rights activist Ericka Huggins. The film is the Opening Night Film of the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival. 🎬✨

And if that wasn’t enough…

L.A. is also a Monologue Slam champion, having won in both Toronto and New York, and becoming the first dual-country champion after winning Battle Acts in 2023. 🏆🏆

Now she’s coming back to where part of her journey began.

But this time, she’s not submitting a monologue hoping to be seen.

She’s taking the stage to help others be seen. ❤️‍🔥

That’s what the Slam is about.

The work. 🎭
The opportunity. 🎤
The community. 🤝🏾
The next chapter. 🔥

Welcome home, L.A. Sweeney. 👑

📍 Drake Underground
📅 Sunday, September 13, 2026
🎟️ Get your tickets. Come watch the work.

13th Annual TIFF Monologue Slam
Season (Sweet) Sixteen

09/11/2026

🎭 MEET JUDGE #3: KELLY BOAZ

We’re excited to welcome Kelly Boaz (they/she) to the judging panel for the 13th Annual TIFF Monologue Slam — Season (Sweet) Sixteen! 🔥

Kelly is a Toronto-based film and television casting professional, working both as an independent casting director and as associate to 7-time Emmy nominee Robin D. Cook. 🎬

Their projects include the 2026 TIFF Opening Night Film Being Heumann, Frankenstein, The Testaments, and the ACTRA Award-winning feature The Players. 🏆

But Kelly knows what it’s like to be on the other side of the casting table.

They began their career as a performer, working on stages across North America and Europe, and are a graduate of Sheridan College’s Musical Theatre program. 🎭

That experience as both artist and casting professional brings a unique perspective to the room.

Kelly is also committed to making the casting room a safer, more accessible and more inclusive space — something we’re proud to have represented on this year’s judging panel. ❤️‍🔥

10 actors.
10 monologues.
One stage.
One crown. 👑

Welcome to the Slam, Kelly! 🔥

📍 Drake Underground
📅 Sunday, September 13, 2026
🎟️ Get your tickets. Come watch the work.

09/10/2026

🎭 MEET JUDGE #2: CHANDLER BORISKA

The 13th Annual TIFF Monologue Slam — Season (Sweet) Sixteen is bringing some serious casting eyes into the room. 👀🎭

We’re excited to welcome Chandler Boriska to our judging panel!

A Toronto-based casting professional and valued member of Buchan & Knight Casting, Chandler has worked alongside one of Canada’s leading casting offices, contributing to productions across television, film and international projects. 🎬

Her credits include Murdoch Mysteries, Accused, Brilliant Minds, Murderbot, Vladimir and Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen, as well as the highly anticipated feature The Bell Jar, starring Billie Eilish and directed by acclaimed filmmaker Sarah Polley.

But beyond the credits, Chandler’s work is about discovering talent, recognizing the performers who bring something unexpected, specific and unforgettable to a role. 👀🔥

That makes her perspective particularly exciting for the Slam.

Welcome to the judging panel, Chandler! 🔥

📍 Drake Underground
📅 Sunday, September 13, 2026
🎟️ Get your tickets. Come watch the work.

CastingDirector

09/09/2026

🎭 MEET OUR JUDGE: COLLEEN RUSH

We’re thrilled to welcome Colleen Rush to the judging panel for the 13th Annual TIFF Monologue Slam — Season (Sweet) Sixteen! 🔥

Colleen has been working in casting for over a decade and is the Co-Casting Director at Larissa Mair Casting, where she has proudly collaborated with Larissa for many years.

In 2024, Colleen launched her own company, Colleen Rush Casting, while continuing her work alongside Larissa. 🎬

Together, Colleen and Larissa have been nominated for four Canadian Screen Awards, winning their first in 2025 for Late Bloomer, Season 1. 🏆

Colleen has also had the opportunity to cast for some of the biggest networks and platforms in the industry, including Netflix, Crave, CBC, Treehouse, Amazon, TVO, Hallmark, Lifetime, OWN, Prime Video, Hulu and Paramount. 📺🔥

With more than a decade of experience seeing actors walk into the room, make choices and bring characters to life, Colleen brings an incredible perspective to the Slam.

Welcome to the judging panel, Colleen!

📍 Drake Underground
📅 Sunday, September 13, 2026
🎟️ Get your tickets. Come watch the work.

09/09/2026

🃏 👀 That’s right! We’re giving a few more actors a chance to step into the spotlight LIVE at the Slam.

Who gets the Wild Card?
You’ll have to be there to apply 🃏👑

One night. One stage. One crown.

📅 Sunday, September 13, 2026
📍 Drake Underground, Toronto
🎟️ Get your tickets now.

Season (Sweet) Sixteen.

09/07/2026

HAPPY LABOUR DAY. 👊🏾

A day to celebrate THE WORK. 🎭🔥

And for artists, the work is never really done.

Do you read plays? 📚
Do you read scripts? 🎬
Do you go to the theatre? 🎭
Do you watch other actors? 👀
Do you study the craft when nobody is asking you to? 📝

Because being an actor isn't just about getting the job.

The work is becoming better at the job. 💪🏾

It’s reading. 📖
It’s watching. 👀
It’s listening. 👂🏾
It’s training. 🏋🏾
It’s performing. 🎭
It’s failing.
It’s trying again. 🔥
It’s staying curious. 🧠

This Sunday, September 13th, we bring 10 incredible actors together for the 13th Annual TIFF Monologue Slam — but the competition is only one part of what this night is about.

It’s about the WORK. 🎭

The craft. 📝
The community. 🤝🏾
Watching another actor make a choice you never would have thought of. 👀
Meeting the person who might become your next scene partner, director, writer or collaborator. 🤝🏾

The work is the work.

So enjoy Labour Day. 🇨🇦
Rest. Recharge. Then get back to work. 💪🏾🔥

TIFF MONOLOGUE SLAM — SEASON (SWEET) SIXTEEN 🍿🎭

📍 Drake Underground
📅 Sunday, September 13, 2026
🎟️ Get your tickets. Come watch the work.

Six days. One stage. Ten actors. Let’s work. 🔥

09/05/2026

🔥 THE TOP 10 ARE HERE! 🔥

After an incredible round of submissions and a seriously tough selection process, we’re excited to announce the 10 actors who will take the stage LIVE at the 13th Annual TIFF Monologue Slam! 🎬🎤

Congratulations to our Top 10! Now it’s time to bring it to the stage.

On Sunday, September 13th, these actors will step into the spotlight at the Drake Underground and perform live in front of a Toronto audience.

And this isn’t just a competition. It’s a night to watch great actors, learn from each other, meet your future collaborators, and celebrate the craft.

🎟️ If you haven’t gotten your tickets yet, NOW is the time.

This event is expected to sell out, and you do not want to be watching the highlights from home.

10 actors. 10 monologues. 1 night.
Season (Sweet) Sixteen.

📍 Drake Underground, Toronto
📅 Sunday, September 13, 2026

See you at the Slam! 🔥