Emmanuelle Zeesman


Emmanuelle Zeesman is a Canadian actress in film, stage, and television, as well as a singer, musical director, and choreographer working primarily in the United States and Canada. She has also performed throughout Australia, Asia and Europe. Zeesman is also a pianist, a trumpet player, and tin whistler.

Training

Zeesman graduated from the University of Windsor Musical Theatre Performance Program before becoming an instructor at the Ottawa School of Speech and Drama. In addition to her education at Windsor, Zeesman is a graduate of École Philippe Gaulier, and she has studied under leading Canadian acting, musical theatre, and choreography coaches.

Performances

Movies and television

Zeesman played the role of Lou Anne in the short film "Mercy". Her credits also list her as performing in various film and television roles, including A Lover's Revenge, First Comes Love, Getting Along Famously, Officier Croupier, and The Breakfast Club.

Theatre

Zeesman is a member of A Company of Fools Theatre Inc., a not-for-profit professional theatre company that presents Shakespeare plays in a format that employs editing, improvisation, costumes, make up, physical comedy, and local and contemporary references to appeal to broad audiences, including children and those uninitiated into Shakespeare's works.
Zeesman's theatrical performances are tabled below.
PerformanceRoleTheatre
Guys and DollsMimiNational Arts Centre
IThe WriterGladstone Theatre
[Blood Brothers |Blood Brothers musical]Mrs. JohnstoneGladstone Theatre
The Andrews BrothersPeggyGladstone Theatre
DoubtSister JamesGladstone Theatre
Romeo and JulietJulietA Company of Fools
The Snow ShowElizabethNational Arts Centre
The Gimquet GimquetPlatypus Theatre
La Vie ParisiennePaulineTheatre Lyrique
HomeAs CastSTO Union
Tempest in a TeapotMirandaA Company of Fools
MacbethLady MacbethSalamander Theatre
Twelfth NightOliviaA Company of Fools
The Tales of HoffmannSpiriteOpera Lyra
LunchMaryU of O Masters Series
Dans le creux de la vagueLa Mer Jeunesse en Tete
Amahl and the Night VisitorsShepherdessDetroit Symphony Orchestra
Into the WoodsRapunzelEssex Theatre
Romeo and JulietCapulet Opera Lyra
The Secret Garden musicalLilyExperimental Theatre
Mother CourageIvetteThird Wall Theatre
Samuel Beckett ShortsMorvanLate Night Series for Great Canadian Theatre Company
A Midwinter's Dream TaleTitaniaA Company of Fools
A Midsummer Night's DreamHermiaA Company of Fools
Forbidden BroadwayJulie AndrewsExperimental Theatre
A World of StoriesStorytellerSalamander Theatre
Parliament Hill PlayersLady DufferinGovernment of Canada
Never Swim AloneRefereeVision Theatre
ChicagoVelma KellyEddy May Mysteries
HairsprayPrudy Pingleton / Gym Teacher / MatronSegerstrom Hall, Costa Mesa CA

Awards

In 2010 the Capital Critics Circle awarded her the title of Best Professional Actor for her role in Blood Brothers at the Gladstone Theatre. Alvina Ruprecht of the CCC, and resident theatrical critic of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, describes Zeesman's performance as "absolutely magnificent as Mrs Johnstone, the worried, harassed debt ridden mother who can't pay, can't control her oldest boys... Zeesman's singing brings great depth to all these emotional situations. As well as being a strong singer she has also become a serious actress. The final number, 'Tell me it's not true', as she bends over the two bodies of her dead sons, was the culmination of a great performance".