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executive artistic director.
founder.
production designer.
Providing the vision for artists to share their artistry and storytelling to audiences. Sophie Ann Rooney brings comprehensive oversight and final decision-making on all artistic matters as the executive director, ensuring alignment with TKBB's goal and artistic integrity.
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"Pour ce qui est de l'avenir, il ne s'agit pas de le prévoir, mais de le rendre possible."
"For the future, it is not a matter of predicting it, but of making it possible."
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
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Sophie brings a wealth of experience as an arts leader to her role at The King Black Box having excelled in various creative roles, including directing in videogame (Assassin's Creed Odyssey, including earning a BAFTA nomination & Game of the Year, Assassin's Creed Odyssey: The First Blade, and Assassin's Creed Odyssey: The Fate of Atlantis, including several undisclosed games), film (Kodak award Fallen Fighter), TV, animation (Netflix's Daniel Spellbound), writing, as well as teaching & guiding countless artists through RAW Actor Studio, with a successful tenure in Toronto as artistic director for Sterling Theatre Cru 2011-2015, and a devoted mother to her sons JJ & Maxwell.
[elle/she/her] story
Sophie Ann Rooney
FILM/LITERARY AGENT: Ryan Goldhar THE CHARACTERS TALENT AGENCY
TALENT AGENT: Murray Gibson at RED MANAGEMENT
VOICE OVER AGENT: James Crammond at NOBLE CAPLAN ABRAMS
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Qualified to work In Canada | United Kingdom | European Union (born FR) @shotbylofa | linktree shotbylofa2
SNIP CASTING | RAWACTORSTUDIO.COM | THEKINGBLACKBOX.COM
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Sophie Ann Rooney has produced, directed, production designed and artistic directed over 40 plays, as the Executive Artistic Director and Founder of The King Black Box, The Glory of Living by Rebecca Gilman and Girls Unwanted by George F. Walker [premiered], and previously 2012-15 including works with The Theatre Machine [Sterling/Unit 102] and Sterling Studio Theatre [founder]. Here's a list for ya! Macbeth by William Shakespeare, The Foursome by Jane Ford, By A Thread by Dianne Flacks (+remount), You Said Love by Noah Davis [appointed by Sophie as Playwright in residence], Danny and the Deep Blue Sea by John Patrick Shanley, Where's My Money? by John Patrick Shanley, Sailor's Song by John Patrick Shanley, A Lonely Impulse of Delight by John Patrick Shanley, Ravenscroft by Don Nigro, The Bear by Anton Chekhov, Interior: Panic by Tennessee Williams, Mrs Warren's Profession by George Bernard Shaw, Spectre by Don Nigro, Snow Angel by David Lindsay-Abaire, Dolores by Edward Allan Baker, Red Bill by Michael Eisner, Kuwaiti Moonshine by Tim C. Murphy, The Lover by Harold Pinter, Central Park West, Cowboy Mouth by Sam Shepard & Patti Smith, Out of Gas on Lover's Leap by Mark St. Germain, The Trial of Ken Gass by Bobby Del Rio, A Life Beyond Doubt, Becky Shaw by Gina Gionfriddo, Crimes of the Heart by Beth Henley, Echoes by N. Richard Nash, The Glory of Living by Rebecca Gilman, and Burn This by Lanford Wilson. Curated many of open mic's, slam poetry, spoken word nights, rap battles, and supported One Act Play Festivals and supported 24hr playwright Festivals run by Ziggy.
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As an actor, Sophie has performed on stage in Paris at prestigious venues such as Les Voutes Theatre Paris 13, Theatre St Germain en Laye, Alexander Dumas Theatre, and Theatre Le Vesinet. She originated the role of Lisa in The Glory of Living in Paris under the direction of Amy Werba and was in Tom Stoppards 'The Real Inspector Hound', among several others. Sophie’s training includes merit-scholarships at The Royal Central School of Speech & Drama and Oxford School of Speech & Drama, further training at L’Atelier de Blanche Salant [Stanislavski], and as an apprentice to Amy Werba, heavily featured in Werba’s book Be Your Own Coach. Sophie was also trained at the EICAR – International Film School of Paris.
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The Toronto Star praised her production designs on Girls Unwanted, noting that “Ultimately, that much of it works so well is because of Sophie Ann Rooney’s exquisitely detailed production designs, which extend into the audience, making us feel as if we are inside this rooming house.”
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Sophie has mentored filmmakers through the Ontario Arts Council, and in 2024 was similarly accredited by the New Brunswick Arts Board. With over 20 years of experience, Sophie has successfully launched and mentored the careers of countless actors, filmmakers, and musicians through her company RAW Actor Studio. As a filmmaker and director, she is known for her work on Fallen Fighter, Daniel Spellbound (Netflix), and AAA video game titles such as Assassin’s Creed Odyssey and Legacy of the First Blade and Fate of Atlantis. Sophie has directed and led performance departments for several undisclosed games and has been recognized with numerous industry accolades, including BAFTA nominations for Performance, D.I.C.E., ALICE, and Game of the Year. She was part of the cinematic capture team for Starlink and served as a consultant for Ubisoft in 2024 on a highly anticipated game.
POSITIONS Honorary Professor at The American University of Paris / Performance Director for the Moulin Rouge / Session Singer Sony Ross Robinson [Korn] band Enhancer [Limp Bizkit tour]
Sophie's exceptional contributions to the arts have been widely recognized, including receiving the Gold Award with Distinction from the late HRH Prince Philip for the Duke of Edinburgh International Award, which was personally presented to her by His Royal Highness.
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International Film school of Paris-Eicar | Atelier de Blanche Salant | Valerie Landsburg | accredited Lee Strasberg's protege Amy Werba
The Royal Central School of Speech & Drama | Oxford School of Speech & Drama
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