Artistic Director - Producer ~ Robert Latimer-Cornell

Artistic Associates ~ Costin Manu, Maria Heidler

Founder - Artistic Director Emeritus ~ Diana Reis

First Stages Theatre, a not-for-profit professional company, was founded in 1999 by Canadian actor and director Diana Reis. The debut presentation was TALLEY'S FOLLY by Landford Wilson. It starred Diana Reis, Karl Pruner and Paul Soles. The performance was at The Capitol Theatre in Port Hope where the company continued to present a five-play season every year until the final production of Terrence McNally's MASTER CLASS in 2006, after which Ms. Reis retired from the company.  In founding First Stages Ms. Reis set down a mission statement as follows: "The aim of First Stages Theatre Company is to present a unique evening of theatre using its three essential elements: The Actor, The Play and The Audience. The Actors are among some of the most accomplished professionals in Canada today. The Plays include time-honoured classics and challenging new works.  First Stages wishes to share its love of the spoken word and to provide stimulating and satisfying entertainment to the Audience."

At the close of the 2005/2006 Season, Robert Latimer-Cornell became the Artistic Director and Producer of First Stages Theatre Company.  His inaugural production was David Hare's VIA DOLOROSA which opened the 2006/2007 Season.  For 2007/2008 he increased the programme to six productions per season.  The company has produced several Canadian premieres and has had some of its productions presented by other theatres.

Plays are presented as "staged concert readings". The Actors perform the plays, on stage, without the benefit of a rehearsal period or the support of full sets, costumes or props. The experience has been compared to "watching a radio play... and with the emphasis on the text, the spoken word then ignites the imagination !"

Robert Latimer-Cornell, Artistic Director/Producer ~ Robert has performed in theatre, concert, opera, film, TV and radio in Canada, England, Italy, the United States, India and Egypt. Highlights from his career of over 40 years cover such diverse roles as John Barrymore in BARRYMORE, Norman in THE DRESSER, Graham in TALKING HEADS and Harry in A DELICATE BALANCE (First Stages Theatre Company), Potiphar in JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT (Theatre Aquarius), Lazar Wolf in FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, (Drayton Entertainment), Henry in TRAVELS WITH MY AUNT (Manitoba Theatre Centre/Grand Theatre London), Geoffrey in STEPPING OUT (Stirling Festival Theatre), Manny in MASTER CLASS starring Jackie Burroughs and Stavroula Logothettis (National Arts Centre), Franz Liszt in THE GREAT ROMANTICS (Hamilton Place), Mr. Needham opposite Barbara Hamilton in NO SEX PLEASE, WE’RE BRITISH (The Variety Theatre), Jesus in LA PASSIONE (Teatro di Roma, Italy), and his one-man show THE SIGHTS & SOUNDS OF THE RAJ (The Windamere – Darjeeling, India). He portrayed Frederic Chopin in THE MUSIC & LETTERS OF CHOPIN with internationally renowned concert pianist Valerie Tryon at Piano Festival Northwest in Portland, Oregon. At The Bronfman Centre in Montreal he was Major Metcalf in the 50th Anniversary production of THE MOUSETRAP. He appeared as Oxenby in THE DRESSER opposite Len Cariou for Manitoba Theatre Centre. For Theo Caldwell Robert portrayed Abraham Lincoln in the world premiere of A MORE PERFECT UNION and he played Anton Rubenstein in the Canadian premiere of TEMPEST MOON. In Italy, Robert directed and conducted a scene from Donizetti’s LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR with members of the Teatro Reggio in Torino.
He starred as Toddy in the Canadian premiere of VICTOR/VICTORIA for Stirling Festival Theatre. He co-starred as Major Powell in CORPSE for Drayton Entertainment. For his inaugural production with First Stages Theatre Company he portrayed British playwright David Hare in the premiere of his VIA DOLOROSA. 
Robert worked for 8 seasons with The Victoria Playhouse Petrolia as actor, associate producer and director. Here he co-starred with Trevor Bannister (of British TV’s Are You Being Served?) in the Canadian premiere of CAUGHT IN THE NET. Robert created the lead roles in the world premieres of Sam Bobrick’s THE CRAZY TIME and REMEMBER ME? He starred opposite Heath Lamberts in the Canadian premiere of Neil Simon’s OSCAR & FELIX: A NEW LOOK AT THE ODD COUPLE. He also played leading roles in DON’T DRESS FOR DINNER, LEND ME A TENOR, DEAD WRONG and THE LAST RESORT. In 1998 he was honoured with the prestigious COO Award for his portrayal of John Barrymore in I HATE HAMLET. He directed the critically acclaimed production of IT HAD TO BE YOU and was assistant director on PERFECT WEDDING, LAST OF THE RED HOT LOVERS and music director for COWGIRLS. In 2002 he was MC of the VPP Gala starring Don Harron and Catherine McKinnon. For VPP he directed THE FOURSOME and COWGIRLS at Stage West Calgary.
For The Capitol Theatre in Port Hope he portrayed Spettigue in CHARLEY’S AUNT, Max in THE SOUND OF MUSIC and Father Virgil in NUNCRACKERS. His work in Panto includes Sandford in JACK AND THE BEANSTALK, the dual roles of The Sheriff of Nottingham and The Big Bad Wolf in LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD, Drucilla in SLEEPING BEAUTY and Dame Dredna in HANSEL AND GRETEL.
Film and TV appearances include DOC, STREET LEGAL, DUE SOUTH, TRADERS, TOP COPS, FOREVER KNIGHT, E.N.G., GOOSEBUMPS, FRAGGLE ROCK, THE CAMPBELLS and MARVEL COMICS’ “THE AVENGERS”. Robert appeared with Faye Dunaway and Maureen Stapleton on ROAD TO AVONLEA. He played opposite Jon Favreau in ROCKY MARCIANO for MGM. He was Harper in the CBS mini-series I’LL TAKE MANHATTAN with Julianne Moore, Jane Kaczmarek, Barry Bostwick and Valerie Bertinelli. In the CBC docu-drama mini-series ABOVE AND BEYOND he portrayed Robert Crowley opposite Kenneth Welsh, Joss Ackland and Richard E. Grant.
Robert is Founder and Artistic Director of Scarab Productions in Toronto. Producing/directing credits for Scarab Productions include: A SENTIMENTAL EDUCATION (Tarragon Theatre, Toronto), THE BLACK ACE (Solar Stage Theatre, Toronto), THE 1991 MOZART BICENTENNIAL CONCERT (also music director/conductor, Hillcrest CC Toronto) and THE SIGHTS AND SOUNDS OF THE RAJ (Windamere Hotel, 1993 Darjeeling, India). Robert has over 40 years experience as an accompanist, rehearsal pianist, coach, organist, conductor and choir director. He was the musical supervisor for the National Arts Centre's production of Terrence McNally’s MASTER CLASS.
Currently he is Artistic Director/Producer of First Stages Theatre Company and Associate Producer for StageEnt Inc. Robert was a founding Board Member of The Performing Arts Lodges of Canada, an original member of Supporting Cast and a member of Performers For Literacy.

Costin Manu, Artistic Associate ~ Costin’s 35-year career in the entertainment field includes positions as the Producer and Artistic Director of Victoria Playhouse Petrolia, Manager and Artistic Director of Theatre Cambridge and as the General Manager of the Waterloo Entertainment Centre & Theatre Athena. Recently he was Executive Director of the Sandusky State Theater in Sandusky, Ohio. Currently he is the President and Executive Producer of StageEnt Inc. in Toronto. He is also the Manager of Programming, Marketing and Audience Development at the new Rose Theatre, Brampton. Costin has produced and directed nearly a hundred productions including several world premieres. His work spans two continents having performed or directed in Europe, the USA and across Canada. In addition, he has worked extensively as an actor in theatre, film and television. Mr. Manu has been an Artistic Associate of First Stages since 2006. His work for the company includes Geoffrey in THE DRESSER, Andre in THE DINNER PARTY and also Director of BARRYMORE, THE DINNER PARTY and SIX DANCE LESSONS IN SIX WEEKS.

Maria Heidler, Artistic Associate ~ 2008 marked Maria's 35th year on the international stage. A graduate of England's Webber-Douglas Academy she has played lead roles in theatres throughout the UK. National tours in Britain include DENNIS THE MENACE with Prunella Scales and WHOSE LIFE IS IT ANYWAY? with Simon Ward. Her work in theatre in Canada includes THE MOUSETRAP, WEEKEND COMEDY, NO SEX PLEASE WE'RE BRITISH, CAUGHT IN THE NET, TONS OF MONEY and CASH ON DELIVERY all for Drayton Entertainment. Among her other theatre credits are THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST (Sudbury Theatre Centre), BLITHE SPIRIT (Grand Theatre London), SHIRLEY VALENTINE (Showboat Theatre) and OVER THE RIVER AND THROUGH THE WOODS (The Rose Theatre, Brampton). Her film and television credits include BJ FLETCHER: PRIVATE EYE, DIEPPE, MATERIAL WORLD,  and ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE DARK? Ms. Heidler has been an Artistic Associate of First Stages since 2008. Her work for the company includes Miss Poppenghul in MOONLIGHT AND MAGNOLIAS, Miss Fozzard in TALKING HEADS and Director of THREE TALL WOMEN.

Diana Reis, Founder/Artistic Director Emeritus ~ Originally from Winnipeg, First Stages Founder and Director Emeritus, Diana Reis has been an actor, director and teacher for over 30 years. Across Canada and in the USA she has played leading roles at The Manitoba Theatre Centre, Theatre Aquarius, Theatre Plus, The Grand Theatre London, Toronto Workshop Productions, The Philadelphia Drama Guild and The Asolo Theatre in Sarasota, Florida. As a teacher she has taught acting at Sheridan College, George Brown College, Humber College and Ryerson University. She also serves as an on-camera acting coach for film and television, most recently for the series FALCON BEACH. Her numerous film and television credits include RIVERDALE, READY OR NOT, TAKEN IN BROAD DAYLIGHT, FLASHPOINT, THE DIVE FROM CLAUSEN'S PIER, THIS IS WONDERLAND, DEGRASSI: THE NEXT GENERATION, THE ASSOCIATES, TOM STONE, TWICE IN A LIFETIME, WITCHBLADE, TRUE BLUE, BLIZZARD, JOHNNY AND CLYDE, APOLOGY, SOMETHING ABOUT LOVE and Robert Altman's QUINTET. In 1999 she founded The First Stages Theatre Company in Port Hope, Ontario. Over the next seven years there she produced and directed nearly 35 play readings. It was during this time that she met Robert Latimer-Cornell when they appeared together in a production of CHARLEY'S AUNT for Port Hope Festival Theatre. In 2006 she resigned from the company and relocated to Toronto. Her final production was Terrence McNally's MASTER CLASS that starred Stavroula Logothettis and at the conclusion of the performance she announced that Robert would be taking over as Artistic Director. She recently appeared with the company as Mariette in the Canadian premiere of Neil Simon's THE DINNER PARTY.