Canada - At the heart of Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) stands Chrysalis – a landmark 1,200-seat proscenium theatre housed in the historic Ryerson Theatre in downtown Toronto. As part of The Creative School, which encompasses 27 leading graduate and undergraduate programmes in media, communications, and design, Chrysalis is more than a performance space – it serves as a creative incubator.
Led by technical lead, Scott Martin, alongside director, Owais Lightwala and creative producer, Jasmine Au, Chrysalis is ‘reimagining live entertainment through the integration of emerging technologies and performance techniques’.
Its mission focuses on equipping students with the tools and methodologies that will define the next era of the industry. Martin’s role is central to achieving this vision. He oversees the implementation of technology systems and workflows that not only teach students how to use industry-standard tools but also how to apply them meaningfully in live, dynamic contexts. His core philosophy: stay ahead of the curve by continuously asking, what’s next?
One recent project, Money, exemplified Chrysalis’s approach. The team collaborated with renowned Canadian playwright and performer Rick Miller for a technical workshop on a new theatrical production. While the script was mostly complete, Miller sought to explore and refine specific scenes using lighting, video, and audio technologies before full-scale production.
Over several weeks, Miller and his creative team workshopped the piece on the Chrysalis stage. Together, they tested configurations and technologies to determine what enhanced storytelling and where adjustments were needed. One of the primary tools used in the workshop was BlackTrax, CAST’s real-time tracking system that provides both the technical precision and creative flexibility they were looking for.
With guidance from CAST during initial training, the Chrysalis team quickly gained the confidence to operate BlackTrax independently across a multi-week production. The system’s intuitive design - especially for those with a basic understanding of networking - makes it a powerful teaching tool for both creative and technical disciplines.
During the workshop production of Money, lighting designer Aidan Ware and the team integrated BlackTrax with a DMX lighting system, assigning trackers to each actor. This enabled real-time lighting and video adjustments that kept visuals crisp and responsive, while giving students hands-on experience with technology used in top-tier productions.
The result? A dynamic learning environment where creativity comes first, and the tech adapts to the story, not the other way around.
