Holly Jonson
- Actress
- Director
- Writer
Holly Jonson is the founder of Rapid Rocket Productions, a Canadian theatre production company, that was birthed in January 2011. Jonson made her directorial debut that year, by presenting a short adaptation of Jose Rivera's drama "Sonnets for an Old Century," at Langham Court's "ACTivate" festival. She then cast more actors and remounted "Sonnets for an Old Century" as a full play (still slightly adapted), in Victoria's 25th Annual Fringe Festival; she acted in both productions. Jonson's production of "Sonnets for an Old Century" received nothing but positive reviews from local media publications (in both print and online) as well as rave reviews from bloggers across the country.
In 2012, Artistic Director Clayton Jevne cast Jonson to play the character Felice, in Murray Gold's staged world premiere (of his original radio play) "Kafka the Musical." Jonson was credited as playing Felice on both Wikipedia and the official printed publication of the play. She has since moved to the big smoke of Toronto, but hopes to have the opportunity to return to Victoria and act in another Theatre Inconnu production in the future.
A former member of sketch troupes, such as the "30 Cent Players" (stage) and "Skit For Brains" (screen), Jonson's performance background is heavily rooted in comedy. She also enjoys longform improvisation, and was a recurring guest actor in the last three episodes of "Sin City - Season One: Die-Nasty," directed by Ian Ferguson and produced by Broad Theatrics, in Victoria BC. Since moving to Toronto she has taken many improv courses at the Second City (in short form, long form, and clown).
A long time cast member of Atomic Vaudeville, in Victoria BC, Jonson continues to receive invitations to perform in Atomic Vaudeville's cabaret series (as a comedy actor, dancer, and chorus singer); she tries to schedule an annual trip to Victoria, during the month of December, so that she can continue performing in Atomic Vaudeville's Christmas & NYE cabaret.
In 2014, Island Playwrights' was so enthused to have Jonson participate, as a Playwright, in its first "Scene & Heard" event of 2014, they offered to schedule the event for when Jonson had booked her next trip to Victoria. Jonson graciously presented 10 minutes of new work (a play, still in the works) as one of the four invited Playwrights at the event. Each Playwrights' work was read by paid actors, in front of an audience, at the James Bay New Horizons center. Jonson plans to get back to writing this play when her university studies have reached completion, and will have it produced once finished. Until then, Screenwriting and Academic Writing (for her BFA/BA Major) fill up most of her time.
As the first student in world history, to enter a Double Honours Film-Screenwriting & Theatre BFA/BA Major from any Canadian university, Jonson feels very thankful to be working on her current educational goals. She looks forward to gaining a credential that will be a totally unique degree in Canada. She knew early on that if she was going to attend university, she wanted to enter a degree program that would be very specific to her goals. Jonson has always been a bit of a black sheep, and has surprisingly been able to fight to maintain this status with dignity, even in an institutional environment. She probably would have left university already, had she not been able to find a way to study in both of these fields.
Jonson's most recent filmed acting role is the character "Laurel" in Dan Hogg's short film "Woodrow, Without Evelyn". It was presented at one of Cinevic's Christmas Film Events, at the Victoria Event Centre.
Thirsty to learn a new art form, In 2013, Jonson began learning how to make 3D animation. Her first one minute (approx.) animation is titled "Life of The Snowflake" and can be watched on both Vimeo and Youtube. Jonson composed the music for this animation, and sang all of the vocals. Jonson has also written a ten minute animated screenplay called "The White." She plans to have this animation produced.
In early 2014, the Playwrights Guild of Canada reached out to its members and asked if a few members would volunteer to create a "Playwrights Guild of Canada: GTA Caucus" Facebook page; Jonson volunteered to create the page. She is currently the Administrator, with both Andrew Templeton and Peter Gruner volunteering as Editors. All three of them share equal roles, as writers, for the "PGC: GTA Caucus" Facebook page.
In 2015, Jonson began studying a secondary educational course of study at George Brown College. She is now working as a professional photographer (specializing in portraits and headshots) and has nearly completed George Brown College's full Digital Photography Certificate program. She was eager to jump into the world of employment as soon as her skills were at a high professional level, and has been happy with this recent decision to make photography her main form of employment. She plans to continue writing as well, but has decided to focus on acting only for the love of it; at some point, during her Theatre education, Jonson came to the epiphany that she does not want to ever rely on acting to earn her living: she enjoys being picky about what characters she will play, and wants to have other employment (such as photography, as her main form of income) so that she continues having the luxury of only choosing characters (and accepting acting work) that truly inspires her.
Jonson has been a member of the Dramatists Guild of America, the Playwrights Guild of Canada, the Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas, the Playwrights Theatre Centre, Theatre Ontario, the Toronto Alliance of Performing Arts, and the New Zealand Writers Guild.
She was born a Canadian (in Penticton, B.C.) and is a New Zealand citizen (by decent). Her ethnicity is mixed (and she identifies as both Caucasian and Maori).
In 2012, Artistic Director Clayton Jevne cast Jonson to play the character Felice, in Murray Gold's staged world premiere (of his original radio play) "Kafka the Musical." Jonson was credited as playing Felice on both Wikipedia and the official printed publication of the play. She has since moved to the big smoke of Toronto, but hopes to have the opportunity to return to Victoria and act in another Theatre Inconnu production in the future.
A former member of sketch troupes, such as the "30 Cent Players" (stage) and "Skit For Brains" (screen), Jonson's performance background is heavily rooted in comedy. She also enjoys longform improvisation, and was a recurring guest actor in the last three episodes of "Sin City - Season One: Die-Nasty," directed by Ian Ferguson and produced by Broad Theatrics, in Victoria BC. Since moving to Toronto she has taken many improv courses at the Second City (in short form, long form, and clown).
A long time cast member of Atomic Vaudeville, in Victoria BC, Jonson continues to receive invitations to perform in Atomic Vaudeville's cabaret series (as a comedy actor, dancer, and chorus singer); she tries to schedule an annual trip to Victoria, during the month of December, so that she can continue performing in Atomic Vaudeville's Christmas & NYE cabaret.
In 2014, Island Playwrights' was so enthused to have Jonson participate, as a Playwright, in its first "Scene & Heard" event of 2014, they offered to schedule the event for when Jonson had booked her next trip to Victoria. Jonson graciously presented 10 minutes of new work (a play, still in the works) as one of the four invited Playwrights at the event. Each Playwrights' work was read by paid actors, in front of an audience, at the James Bay New Horizons center. Jonson plans to get back to writing this play when her university studies have reached completion, and will have it produced once finished. Until then, Screenwriting and Academic Writing (for her BFA/BA Major) fill up most of her time.
As the first student in world history, to enter a Double Honours Film-Screenwriting & Theatre BFA/BA Major from any Canadian university, Jonson feels very thankful to be working on her current educational goals. She looks forward to gaining a credential that will be a totally unique degree in Canada. She knew early on that if she was going to attend university, she wanted to enter a degree program that would be very specific to her goals. Jonson has always been a bit of a black sheep, and has surprisingly been able to fight to maintain this status with dignity, even in an institutional environment. She probably would have left university already, had she not been able to find a way to study in both of these fields.
Jonson's most recent filmed acting role is the character "Laurel" in Dan Hogg's short film "Woodrow, Without Evelyn". It was presented at one of Cinevic's Christmas Film Events, at the Victoria Event Centre.
Thirsty to learn a new art form, In 2013, Jonson began learning how to make 3D animation. Her first one minute (approx.) animation is titled "Life of The Snowflake" and can be watched on both Vimeo and Youtube. Jonson composed the music for this animation, and sang all of the vocals. Jonson has also written a ten minute animated screenplay called "The White." She plans to have this animation produced.
In early 2014, the Playwrights Guild of Canada reached out to its members and asked if a few members would volunteer to create a "Playwrights Guild of Canada: GTA Caucus" Facebook page; Jonson volunteered to create the page. She is currently the Administrator, with both Andrew Templeton and Peter Gruner volunteering as Editors. All three of them share equal roles, as writers, for the "PGC: GTA Caucus" Facebook page.
In 2015, Jonson began studying a secondary educational course of study at George Brown College. She is now working as a professional photographer (specializing in portraits and headshots) and has nearly completed George Brown College's full Digital Photography Certificate program. She was eager to jump into the world of employment as soon as her skills were at a high professional level, and has been happy with this recent decision to make photography her main form of employment. She plans to continue writing as well, but has decided to focus on acting only for the love of it; at some point, during her Theatre education, Jonson came to the epiphany that she does not want to ever rely on acting to earn her living: she enjoys being picky about what characters she will play, and wants to have other employment (such as photography, as her main form of income) so that she continues having the luxury of only choosing characters (and accepting acting work) that truly inspires her.
Jonson has been a member of the Dramatists Guild of America, the Playwrights Guild of Canada, the Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas, the Playwrights Theatre Centre, Theatre Ontario, the Toronto Alliance of Performing Arts, and the New Zealand Writers Guild.
She was born a Canadian (in Penticton, B.C.) and is a New Zealand citizen (by decent). Her ethnicity is mixed (and she identifies as both Caucasian and Maori).