Aloud takes place in a coffee shop. Or rather: THE Coffee Shop – yes, that is the actual name of the café where we shot! So of course there are baristas. One is Kai, who knows Laurie as a regular customer, and probably something more. The other barista we see is a young guy with a crush on Kai, who originally was nameless and silent in the script. However, at the first table read, he got a line, and Chris Whidden, the actor who plays him, was offered the chance to name his character. He sent a short list of 4 possibilities to writer/producer Tina McCulloch, and the name that wound up on his name tag was Ethan.

Ethan (Chris Whidden) is crushing on his co-worker Kai (Laura Vincent). Photo: Dahlia Katz Photography

Chris is a Toronto-based actor and graduate of the Performance Acting program at Ryerson Theatre School. He is also pumped to be working with the extremely passionate creators of Aloud! Chris first came in to contact with PJ and Tina at Alumnae Theatre in The Lady’s Not For Burning and Theory and more recently has had continued success with Ale House Theatre’s third season of shows including Othello and the Toronto Fringe production of Twelfe Night. He takes his coffee with milk and one sugar.