When I learned that the acclaimed artist would be having an action-packed start to 2026, I decided to document this busy period in a trilogy of articles.
Written and photographed by Nirris Nagendrarajah /Feb 4, 2026
iPhoto caption: Mike Nadajewski in 'All the Cows Are Dead.' Photo by Dahlia Katz.
Liam wrote about observing the production's rehearsal process. Shivani viewed the musical without any insider knowledge. On the way home from seeing the show in Barrie, they discuss.
By Liam Donovan, , Shivani Nathoo /Jan 30, 2026
iPhoto caption: Athena So, Mike Nadajewski, Taylor Garwood, and Ben Page in rehearsal for 'All the Cows Are Dead.' Photo by Dahlia Katz.
I’m sure most new musicals have interesting rehearsal processes — but it helped my excitement level that All the Cows Are Dead is a site-specific, existential two-hander from one of Ontario’s most risk-taking companies. There'll also be countless balloons.
By Liam Donovan /Jan 18, 2026
iPhoto caption: The company of 'Phalanax.' SummerWorks photo by Jae Yang.
The specter of death is omnipresent in Phalanx, one of the offerings at this August's SummerWorks Performance Festival. First presented by DNA Theatre in 1998, the current version was catalyzed in 2023, perhaps fittingly, by the passing of former artistic director Hillar Liitoja. I decided to document the creative process and to provide space for the artists involved to reflect on why they were doing the show and what they hoped to achieve.