Announcing the TD Emerging Leaders
TORONTO, ON – November 11, 2025
We are delighted to introduce the first cohort of TD Emerging Leadership Fellows: Jadi Darawi, Nika Jalali, and Maya Royer.
The TD Emerging Leaders Program at Why Not Theatre is focused on developing Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour theatre practitioners in the fields of production management and producing.
The Program offers on-the-job training and professional development opportunities to young and emerging arts leaders, while addressing the under-representation of BIPOC producers and production managers in Canadian theatre.
Under the mentorship and guidance of Why Not’s expert team of TD Leadership Fellows, Crystal Lee, Director of Production & Technical, and Kevin Matthew Wong, Director of Producing & Creative Associate, the Program offered Jadi, Nika and Maya hands-on experience working on large-scale theatre projects directed and authored by other BIPOC artists.
Meanwhile, Crystal and Kevin were able to pursue their own professional development opportunities, including attendance at Canadian and international conferences and festivals to network with other theatre professionals and develop their practice.
A warm thank you to the TD Ready Commitment for making this valuable mentorship process possible.
Photo of The Parkdale Hall by Dahlia Katz.
“Without the support of the TD Leadership Program, I would not have had the opportunity to work on this incredible show. I learned so much from this experience that I will take with me in my future endeavours. It’s also great to have this credit on my resume before I’ve even graduated!”
JADI DARAWI (They/Them)
TD Emerging Leadership Fellow
Assistant Production Manager, Mahabharata: Khana & Kahani (Canadian Stage)
Photo of Meher Pavri as the Opera Singer, with Neil D’Souza as Krishna and Anaka Maharaj-Sandhu as Arjuna by David Cooper.
“My time at Why Not has allowed me to work with some of the highest caliber professionals in the industry. Not only have I had the opportunity to advance an expertly designed show, but I have loaded it in and led crews in venues I have aspired to work in since theatre school.”
MAYA ROYER (She/Her/They/Them)
TD Emerging Leadership Fellow
Production Manager, Mahabharata
(Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, Canadian Stage, National Arts Centre)
Photo of Jay Emmanuel as Shiva and ensemble by David Cooper.
“The TD Leadership Program gave me the opportunity to work at one of my dream organizations in a role that might not have otherwise been offered to someone at my stage as an emerging artist. The experience allowed me to take on larger projects as a producer, to collaborate with internationally renowned artists, and to lead major initiatives.”
NIKA JALALI (She/Her)
TD Emerging Leadership Fellow
Assistant Producer and Company Manager, Mahabharata
Producer, What You Won’t Do For Love (2026 Ontario Tour)
Photo Credits
Set design by Lorenzo Savoini, costume design by Gillian Gallow, lighting design by Kevin Lamotte, and projections design by Hana S. Kim, with associate projections designer Ann Slote.
