Grand Theatre announces the North American premiere of Chariots of Fire
Stage Adaptation by Mike Bartlett | Screenplay by Colin Welland
Directed by Dennis Garnhum
Stage Adaptation of Academy Award® Winning Classic on Spriet Stage April 17 to May 5, 2018
LONDON, ON, April 4, 2018 – The Grand Theatre is thrilled to produce the North American premiere of the stage adaptation of CHARIOTS OF FIRE. Directed by Grand Theatre Artistic Director Dennis Garnhum, and starring Harry Judge and Wade Bogert-O’Brien, the story is based on the iconic film that won four Academy Awards in 1981. The original stage adaptation had its premiere in London England’s West End in 2012, and this month, London, Ontario’s Grand Theatre is the first to produce it outside of England. The Title Sponsor for CHARIOTS OF FIRE is 3M.
CHARIOTS OF FIRE is the inspirational true story of two British runners, who overcome prejudice and conflict to compete in the Olympics. Eric Liddell is a devout Christian. Harold Abrahams is the son of an immigrant Lithuanian Jew. The two athletes prevail in the face of enormous odds as their story begins in 1919, and takes audiences through their trials and triumphs all the way to the 1924 Paris Olympics.
“Five years ago, I saw CHARIOTS OF FIRE in London’s West End, and since, I have been working on securing the rights to bring it to North America,” said Garnhum. “This project has been a creation of epic proportions for us here at the Grand. The set and cast are so large that it requires the use of six rehearsal spaces, and we are building a running track that will be installed around the seats of the theatre.”
This immersive stage adaptation captures the triumphant spirit of the classic film in a production that is both intimate and large-scale. The set is designed by the acclaimed Bretta Gerecke, who is resident designer at Catalyst Theatre and also has designed for Cirque du Soleil and Stratford, among others. The orchestra level of the Grand will feature a large running track. To accommodate the track, 104 seats were removed from the house. Patrons will also have the chance to experience the production up-close from one of the 32 onstage stadium seats.
The production showcases some of the film’s iconic music, plus several new pieces, arranged and composed by Dave Pierce. Pierce is the renowned arranger for Michael Bublé, Sarah McLachlan, Nelly Furtado, and was the music director for the opening, closing, and victory ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, for which he received an Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Direction.
The cast is made up of 24 actors, including several Grand Theatre High School Project alumni: Ben Cookson, Ellen Denny, David Michael Moote, Anwyn Musico, and Connor Overton. Wade Bogert-O’Brien, who plays Eric Liddell, and Harry Judge, who plays Harold Abrahams, make their Grand debut in the production.
CHARIOTS OF FIRE first opened at London’s Hampstead Theatre in May 2012, and then went to the West End in June 2012 where it ran until January 2013.
CHARIOTS OF FIRE is on stage at the Grand Theatre in previews from April 17 to 19, with opening night on April 20, and running to May 5. Tickets are $29.95 to $84 and tickets for the onstage stadium seats are $40 (includes HST and CIF – prices subject to change). Tickets are available at grandtheatre.com, by phone at 519-672-8800, or at the Box Office, 471 Richmond Street.
The Grand Theatre gratefully acknowledges the support of the 2017/18 Season Sponsor BMO Financial Group.
About the Grand Theatre:
Under the leadership of Artistic Director Dennis Garnhum and Executive Director Deb Harvey, the Grand is a leading cultural hub proudly located in the heart of downtown London, Ontario. The Grand offers diverse, relevant, and original stories from around the globe through collaborations with national and international performing arts organizations and is committed to developing, producing, and premiering original homegrown stories through COMPASS, a New Play Development Program. The Grand supports educational programming and youth mentorship such as The High School Project, the only program of its kind in North America, and 100 Schools, a community initiative that brings professional theatre to London-area schools at no cost.
A not-for-profit regional theatre, the Grand produces and presents professional theatre on two stages: the Spriet Stage (839 seats) and the McManus Stage (144 seats). The Grand’s season runs from September to May.
MEDIA CALL
When: Tuesday, April 17 at 1:30 pm (cameras, please arrive at 1:15 to set up)
Where: Grand Theatre Spriet Stage
What: CHARIOTS OF FIRE photo, video, and interview opportunity for media
For more information, contact:
Kate Rapson, Communications Manager | krapson [at] grandtheatre.com (krapson[at]grandtheatre[dot]com) | 519-672-9030 ext. 247
CAST
| Ensemble | MICHAEL AYRES |
| Eric Liddell | WADE BOGERT-O’BRIEN |
| Ensemble | AL BRAATZ |
| Jennie Liddell | ERIN BREEN |
| Colin | JOSH BUCHWALD |
| Mr Liddell / Birkenhead | KEVIN BUNDY |
| Ensemble | BEN COOKSON |
| Ensemble / Running Captain | BRETT DAHL |
| Florence | ELLEN DENNY |
| Sandy | FRASER ELSDON |
| Aubrey Montague | ALEX FURBER |
| Andy | KYLE GATEHOUSE |
| Young Girl | LEAH GLIDDON |
| Harold Abrahams | HARRY JUDGE |
| Master of Trinity | THOM MARRIOTT |
| Young Boy | LIAM McKEIVER |
| Ensemble | DAVID MICHAEL MOOTE |
| Sybil Evers | ANWYN MUSICO |
| Alastair | CONNOR OVERTON |
| Ensemble | JOE PERRY |
| Sam Mussabini | ANAND RAJARAM |
| Master of Caius | CHARLIE TOMLINSON |
| Ensemble | EDMUND STAPLETON |
| Ensemble | TIM WELHAM |
PRODUCTION TEAM
| Director | DENNIS GARNHUM |
| Assistant Director | ANDREW TRIBE |
| Set & Costume Designer | BRETTA GERECKE |
| Lighting Designer | GERALD KING |
| Composer | DAVE PIERCE |
| Sound Designer | JIM NEIL |
| Running Coach | VICKIE CROLEY |
| Choreographer | STEPHANIE GRAHAM |
| Music & Vocal Director | MARK PAYNE |
| Voice & Dialect Coach | JANE GOODERHAM |
| Stage Manager | KELLY LUFT |
| Assistant Stage Manager | MELISSA CAMERON |
| Assistant Stage Manager | JORDAN GUETTER |
| Apprentice Stage Manager | FRAN BARKER |
BIOS
Michael Ayres Running Ensemble
For the Grand Theatre: Debut. Theatre Credits (selected): LULU v. 5 (Buddies in Bad Times); Far Away (Toronto Fringe); We Are Proud to Present... (The Theatre Centre). Film and TV Credits (selected): Star Trek: Discovery (CBS); Taken (NBC); Dark Matter (SyFy/Bell); Shoot the Messenger (CBC/USA).
Wade Bogert-O’Brien Eric Liddell
For the Grand Theatre: Debut. Theatre Credits (selected): King Charles III (Studio 180/Mirvish); Saint Joan, Dracula, Mrs. Warren’s Profession, A Woman of No Importance, The Divine, Pygmalion, The Sea, When We Are Married, Major Barbara, When the Rain Stops Falling, Candida, The Doctor’s Dilemma, An Ideal Husband, Ways of the Heart, Brief Encounters (Shaw Festival); The Prince of Homburg (Talk is Free Theatre); A Christmas Carol, Pride and Prejudice (Citadel Theatre); Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Christmas Carol (Chemainus Theatre Festival). Film and TV Credits: Reign (CW); Frontier (Netflix/Discovery Canada).
Al Braatz Ensemble
For the Grand Theatre: Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story. Theatre Credits (selected): Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story (Globe Theatre); Kings and Queens of Country, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Drayton); Robin Hood: A Merry Magical Pantomime (Torrent Productions); Drinking Habits, Legends of Rock and Roll (Stage West); Treasure Island (Diversified Theatre); Evil Dead: The Musical (Starvox Entertainment); Aladdin and the Twankeys; The Guinea Pig Club (York Theatre Royal); Company (Edinburgh Fringe). Film and TV Credits (selected): Web of Lies, Born to Run. Other: An alumnus of Sheridan College and The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
Erin Breen Jennie Liddell
For the Grand Theatre: Debut. Theatre Credits (selected): Seussical (ATP); A Christmas Carol (Theatre Calgary); Nine (Confidential Musical Theatre Project); City of Angels (Theatre By The Bay); Enron (Theatre Calgary); British Invasion, Move over Mrs. Markham (Stage West); [title of show] (Forte); Seussical (Young People’s Theatre). Film and TV Credits: Crawford (CBC), Macmusical (BBCScotland). Other: Trained at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
Josh Buchwald Colin
For the Grand Theatre: A Christmas Story. Theatre Credits (selected): Tommy, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Stratford Festival); A Christmas Carol, Lost in Yonkers (Simcoe Little Theatre); Pumpernickel Junction (Old Town Hall Waterford); The Music Man, Singin’ in the Rain (Waterford District High School).
Kevin Bundy Mr. Liddell / Birkenhead
For the Grand Theatre: Democracy. Theatre Credits (selected): Unholy (Nightwood Theatre); Confederation Parts I & II (VideoCabaret); Sequence (Tarragon); A Christmas Carol, 12 Angry Men, Jitters, Incident at Vichy, Parfumerie (Soulpepper); 5 seasons at Stratford and 7 at Shaw; The Constant Wife, August: Osage County (Citadel); All My Sons, Holiday (Theatre Calgary). Film and TV Credits (selected): Kim’s Convenience (CBC); Saving Hope (Entertainment One); Incorporated (CBS); The Colossal Failure of the Modern Relationship (Platinum Image Film); Suits (USA); Blood Harvest (Toronto Independent Film Festival; Dir: Josh Cooper).
Ben Cookson Ensemble
For the Grand Theatre: High School Projects My Fair Lady and Footloose. Theatre Credits: Grand Hotel, Rumspringa Break (Workshop), Shrek The Musical, Footloose, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (Theatre Sheridan); What a Wonderful World, Scotland Sings (Victoria Playhouse Petrolia); Mozart’s Magic Flute (Pacific Opera Victoria). Film and TV Credits: Marine Disasters (Discovery I.D.). Other: Sheridan College’s Honours Bachelor of Musical Theatre Performance Program.
Brett Dahl Running Ensemble / Running Captain
For the Grand Theatre: Debut. Theatre Credits: King Lear, Twelfth Night (CanStage); The Circle (Alberta Theatre Projects); All’s Well That Ends Well, Twelfth Night (Shakespeare Company); A Worthy Opponent (Lunchbox); What The Thunder Said (One Yellow Rabbit); A Thought in Three Parts (Theatre Outré); The Soul Collector (Catalyst); pool (no water), Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo, The Missionary Position (Studio Theatre). Other: BFA Acting, University of Alberta; Theatre Calgary’s Stephen Hair Emerging Actor Award 2015.
Ellen Denny Florence
For the Grand Theatre: High School Project West Side Story. Theatre Credits (selected): Life After (Musical Stage / CanStage); My Fair Lady (Capitol Theatre); The Audience (Mirvish); Brighton Beach Memoirs (Drayton); Anne & Gilbert (NAC, The Guild Charlottetown); Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike (Manitoba Theatre / Mirvish); A Christmas Carol (Theatre New Brunswick); The Penelopiad (Citadel); Beauty and the Beast, Great Expectations, Sweeney Todd (Neptune). Other: Dalhousie University (BA Music & Theatre); Citadel / Banff Centre Professional Theatre Program.
Fraser Elsdon Sandy
For the Grand Theatre: Debut. Theatre Credits (selected): An Inspector Calls, Candida (Classic Theatre Festival); Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash (Globe); Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story (Theatre North West); Mary’s Wedding (Public Utility Company); Romeo and Juliet (Theatre by the Bay); Desperately Seeking Something (Toronto Fringe); Hero & Leander (Common Descent / SummerWorks). Film and TV Credits (selected): Reign, Murdoch Mysteries, Tuesday 10:08am, Chateau Laurier . Other: Work produced at Alumnae Theatre (Vacant, Triangle Pi Productions) developed by Storefront Theatre (Superheroes); George Brown Theatre School and Windsor Centre for Creative Arts.
Alex Furber Aubrey Montague
For the Grand Theatre: Debut. Theatre Credits (selected): A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Mary’s Wedding (Festival Players of Prince Edward County); My Night With Reg (Studio 180 / Mirvish); Marathon of Hope, Brighton Beach Memoirs (Drayton); Jitters (Soulpepper); Anne & Gilbert (NAC); Red (Sudbury Theatre Centre); Cabaret (RMTC); War Horse (Mirvish). Film and TV Credits: Reign, Mayday, Murdoch Mysteries, Flashpoint. Other: The National Theatre School.
Kyle Gatehouse Andy
For the Grand Theatre: Debut. Theatre Credits (selected): Breath in Between (Crow’s Theatre); Stones in his Pockets (Centaur Theatre); Haunted Hillbilly (Segal Theatre); Whiteman’s Whiskey (SideMart Theatrical); Trying for the Kingdom (Summerworks). Film credits (selected): White House Down, Source Code, I’m Not There, Trotteur, Seances, On the Road, The Wild Hunt. TV Credits: The Expanse, Reign, Anne of Green Gables, 19-2, Being Human, The Plateaus.
Leah Gliddon Young Girl
For the Grand Theatre: A Christmas Carol. Theatre Credits (selected): Fun Home (Calithumpian Theatre); Peter Pan, Anne of Green Gables, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Drayton); Defying Gravity (Musical Theatre Productions). Film and TV Credits (selected): The Delivery (ACP). Other: Student at Lester B Pearson School for the Arts. Upcoming: The Little Mermaid (Drayton).
Harry Judge Harold Abrahams
For the Grand Theatre: Debut. Theatre Credits (selected): Henry V (Chicago Shakespeare); The Game of Love and Chance (Canadian Stage / Centaur); The Railway Children (Mirvish / Marquis); Peter Pan (Globe); Shakespeare’s Dog (Manitoba Theatre Centre / NAC); Macbeth, Diary of Anne Frank (Theatre Calgary); three seasons at Shaw. Film and TV Credits (selected): Star Trek: Discovery (CBS); Suits (USA); Murdoch Mysteries (CBC); Flint (Sony / Lifetime); Saving Hope (CTV); Lost Girl (Showcase) Reign (CW). Other: Assistant Directed at Centaur and Theatre Calgary; taught and directed at University of Alberta, BFA in Acting.
Thom Marriott Master of Trinity
For the Grand Theatre: Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure, A Streetcar Named Desire, Miracle on 34th Street; The Black Bonspiel of Wullie McCrimmon. Assistant Director, Annie. Theatre Credits (selected): Mrs. Warren’s Profession, Born Yesterday, Misalliance (Shaw); Philadelphia Story (Theatre Calgary); A Christmas Carol (Citadel); Twelfth Night, Measure for Measure, Pericles, Henry IV, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Stratford Festival). Film and TV Credits (selected): Suits (USA); Murdoch Mysteries, Republic of Doyle (CBC); Nikita (CW); Salvation (CBS); Bitten (SPACE). Upcoming: The Rainmaker (Drayton).
Liam McKeiver Young Boy
For the Grand Theatre: Debut. Other: Piano and Vocal, London Academy of Music; John Dearness Public School, Grade 8.
David Michael Moote Running Ensemble
For the Grand Theatre: A Christmas Carol, The Wind in The Willows, High School Projects Fiddler On The Roof, Oliver!, The Music Man. Theatre Credits (selected): Urinetown (Stephenville Theatre Festival); Oh Canada What A Feeling! (Princess of Wales); Next To Normal (The LOT). Film and TV Credits (selected): The Strain (FX); Dead Rush (People’s Choice Award Canadian Film Festival); Lariat (Winner Toronto 48hr Film Festival). Upcoming: Jukebox Hero (Northern/Southern Alberta Jubilee Theatre, Mirvish). Other: BMus Voice Performance Program, McGill University; lead singer of Operus.
Anwyn Musico Sybil Evers
For the Grand Theatre: Elf, Anne of Green Gables; High School Project Fiddler on the Roof. Theatre Credits (selected): The Light in the Piazza (Theatre Calgary, Critter Nomination); Thoroughly Modern Millie, Les Misérables, Anne of Green Gables (Drayton); West Side Story (Neptune); The Sound of Music (Andrew Lloyd Webber / Mirvish). Film and TV Credits (selected): Triple Sensation, season 1 2nd place top female (CBC). Other: Soloist for the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra conducted by Marvin Hamlisch; Graduate of St. Lawrence College.
Connor Overton Alastair
For the Grand Theatre: High School Projects Evita, Les Misérables: School Edition. Theatre Credits (selected): A Midsummer Night’s Dream, And Then There Were None (London Central Secondary School). Other: Student at London Central Secondary School, Grade 11.
Joe Perry Running Ensemble
For the Grand Theatre: Debut. Theatre Credits (selected): Gordon (Theatre Network); This Is War (Punctuate Theatre); A Christmas Carol (Theatre Calgary); The Circle (ATP); As You Like It, Othello (The Shakespeare Company); Threepenny Opera, Blavatsky’s Tower (Studio Theatre); Air, Destroy (MMM Theatre Collective); SIA (Downstage Theatre). Film Credits: O, Brazen Age, The Valley Below (North Country Cinema); Everfall, A Miracle On Christmas Lake (Night Pond Productions). Other: BFA Acting Program, University of Alberta; Theatre Performance Program, Mount Royal University.
Anand Rajaram Sam Mussabini
For the Grand Theatre: Debut. Theatre Credits (selected): Invisible Hand, Comedy of Errors (Theatre Aquarius); Mustard (Tarragon, Dora Award); The 39 Steps, Noises Off (Soulpepper); 3 seasons with Stratford, Toronto Second City, Corpus Dance Theatre; 5 seasons with VideoCabaret. Film and TV Credits (selected): Look Again, CBC’s Because News, Men With Brooms, Odd Squad, Majority Rules, Working the Engels, Dating Guy, Miss Sloane, Suits, God & Country, Beeba Boys. Other: 5 Dora nominations, Artistic Director of @N@f@N@ and Dishoom! (South Asian Performance Festival), puppeteer, teaches shadow puppetry.
Edmund Stapleton Ensemble
For the Grand Theatre: Debut. Theatre Credits (selected): The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time (Citadel / RMTC); Dedication (RCA); Arms and the Man, The Charity That Began at Home (Shaw); Romeo and Juliet (Shakespeare by the Bow); Henry IV Part 1, The Merchant of Venice (Perchance Theatre). Film and TV Credits (selected): Reign (CW), Acres (short). Other: BFA Acting, University of Alberta; BA English / Philosophy, Memorial University.
Charlie Tomlinson Master of Caius
For the Grand Theatre: The Secret Garden, former Artistic Associate, directed Ned Durango Comes to Big Oak. Theatre Credits (selected): The Colony of Unrequited Dreams (Artistic Fraud); Directed Dedication (RCA Theatre). Film and TV Credits (selected): Frontier (Discovery, Netfix); Little Dog (CBC).
Tim Welham Running Ensemble
For the Grand Theatre: Debut. Theatre Credits (selected): A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Shakespeare in the Ruff); Comedy of Errors (Shakespeare BASH’d); This Is Where We Live (SummerWorks); Life is a Dream (CanStage); When the Rain Stops Falling (Timms Centre); Crookback (Etcetera Theatre, UK); Twelfth Night (Rose Theatre, UK); The Bowl (Young Vic Theatre, UK); Around the World in 80 Days (Vienna’s English Theatre, AUT). Other: MA Royal Central School of Speech and Drama (London, UK); BFA Ryerson University. Writing supported by the Grand, Theatre Aquarius, and the Ontario Arts Council.
Dennis Garnhum Director
For the Grand Theatre: Beethoven Lives Upstairs, A Christmas Carol. Theatre Credits (selected): World premiere of musical The Little Prince (Theatre Calgary); Barber of Seville (Florida Grand Opera / Opera Lyra / Vancouver Opera); Timothy Findley’s The Wars (Theatre Calgary / Vancouver Playhouse); Director / Adapter Lost: A Memoir (Theatre Calgary / Prairie Theatre Exchange / Neptune); Director / Adapter King Lear (Theatre Calgary / Bard on the Beach); Carmen, La Traviata (Pacific Opera); West Side Story (Bangkok University); Rat in the Skull (Berkshire Theatre Festival); Stratford (4 seasons); Shaw (6 seasons). Other: Artistic Director of the Grand Theatre since 2016. Artistic Director of Theatre Calgary, 2005-16.
Andrew Tribe Assistant Director
For the Grand Theatre: Elf; High School Projects The Sound of Music, Oklahoma!. Theatre Credits (selected): Director – Big Fish, Sunday in the Park with George, Chicago, Seussical, School of Rock, Sweeney Todd, Into the Woods, Monty Python’s Spamalot, Spring Awakening (Original Kids Theatre Company). Upcoming: Rent (OKTC Alumni), The Awesome 80s Prom (London Fringe Festival). Other: Artistic Director of London’s Original Kids Theatre Company; Graduate of H.B. Beal Secondary School, University of Toronto, Sheridan College, Western University, and currently a Masters in Theatre Education candidate at University of Northern Colorado.
Bretta Gerecke Set & Costume Designer
For the Grand Theatre: Debut. Theatre Credits: Set, lighting, and costume designer for theatre, circus, and opera. Resident designer at Catalyst Theatre, creates and tours new musicals across Canada, US, UK, and Australia. Also designs for companies such as Cirque du Soleil, The RSC, Stratford, Calgary Opera, Vancouver Opera, and NAC. Other: Recipient of over 25 awards; Lucille Lortel Awards nomination (Best Costume Design, Off Broadway); Siminovitch Prize short-list. Represented Canada in Prague at 2017 Scenography Quadrennial; costume designs exhibited in Moscow, Beijing, and Taipei.
Gerald King Lighting Designer
For the Grand Theatre: Picasso at The Lapin Agile, She Stoops to Conquer. Theatre Credits (selected): Carried Away on The Crest of a Wave (NAC); Beauty and The Beast (Arts Club); Crazy For You (Citadel); Liberation Days, Da Kink In My Hair (Theatre Calgary); Much Ado About Nothing, The Winter’s Tale (Bard on The Beach); The Book of Love (Kokoro Dance); Fairie Queen (Royal Winnipeg Ballet); Dead Man Walking, Otello (Vancouver Opera), Empire of The Son (Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre).
Dave Pierce Composer
For the Grand Theatre: Debut. Theatre Credits (selected): Anne of Green Gables (Theatre Calgary); Orchestrator – Radio City Christmas Spectacular, Tony Awards, American Music Awards, Twyla Tharp/Frank Sinatra: Come Fly Away (NYC), Dance With Me (Las Vegas & Nat’l Tour); Jesus Christ Superstar Gospel, Chicago, Dr. Dolittle, Crazy For You, Movin’ Out. Composer – 2010 Olympic Winter Games, 2011 Arab Olympic Games, Queen’s Royal Visit 2005, Calgary Stampede Evening Show (20 years). Arranger – Michael Bublé, Robbie Williams, Sarah McLachlan, Nelly Furtado, Bryan Adams, Carrie Underwood, Carly Rae Jepson, Rod Stewart, Jann Arden, Paul Brandt, Alanis Morissette. Other: Emmy Award Winner for Outstanding Music Direction, 2010 Olympic Winter Games; Global Music Award winner for Composer, 2011 Arab Olympic Games.
Jim Neil Sound Designer
For the Grand Theatre: Mr. Neil is thrilled to be back at the Grand this season after a 34-year career as the Grand’s Head of Sound, involved in over 200 productions. Theatre Credits (selected): Sound designer in many of our country’s regional theatres including The Stratford Festival, The National Arts Centre, The Ed Mirvish Theatre, Canadian Stage, and The Manitoba Theatre Centre. Mr. Neil would like to thank Local 105 of IATSE for 35 years of support.
Vickie Croley Running Coach
Twenty-four years as head coach of the Track and Field team at Western University. Previously a National Team Coach at Commonwealth Games (2014), the North American Central American Caribbean Combined Events Championships (2009), World Student Games (2005, 1991), and others. Inductee to the McMaster Sports Hall of Fame and the Western University Sports Hall of Fame. Recognized as a YMCA Women of Excellence in Western Ontario, 2017. Lead coach of Olympic Bronze medalist Damian Warner at the 2016 Olympics.
Stephanie Graham Choreographer
For the Grand Theatre: Debut. Theatre Credits (selected): Director / Choreographer — All Shook Up, The Little Mermaid (Globe); Johnny Belinda (Smile Theatre); Choreographer — Fun Home, Grey Gardens, The Wild Party (Musical Stage Company); Kiss Me Kate, Dogfight, Godspell, Colours in the Storm (Theatre Sheridan); Crazy For You (Capitol Theatre); The Winter’s Tale (Groundling); It’s A Wonderful Life (Theatre Aquarius); Spamalot (Stephenville Theatre Festival); The Addams Family (Neptune); Mary Poppins, The Drowsy Chaperone (Globe); Next to Normal (RMTC). Upcoming: Director / Choreographer — Shrek The Musical, Mamma Mia, Beauty and the Beast (Globe Theatre). Other: Graduate Sheridan College, Music Theatre Performance.
Mark Payne Music & Vocal Director
For the Grand Theatre: Beethoven Lives Upstairs. Theatre Credits (selected): Godspell, The Fantasticks, Starbright Christmas (Victoria Playhouse Petrolia). Other: Musical Director at Victoria Playhouse Petrolia (2012-present); M. Music (piano performance) University of Toronto; Co-Conductor, “Primus” Amabile Mens’ Choir; Musical Director, Church of the Ascension.
Jane Gooderham Voice & Dialect Coach
For the Grand Theatre: A Christmas Carol. Theatre Credits (selected): Voice, text, and dialects for Stratford (15 seasons), Shaw, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time (National Theatre / Toronto); Matilda (Royal Shakespeare Company); Arcadia (Shaw / Mirvish); London Road, The Syringa Tree, Rock ‘n Roll (CanStage); War Horse (National Theatre / Mirvish); Cloud Nine, The Lord of the Rings, The Producers (Mirvish). Film and TV Credits: Republic of Doyle. Other: Head of Voice, National Theatre School of Canada (2009-16); Birmingham Conservatory, Soulpepper Academy, Centre for Indigenous Theatre. MA Voice, Central School, Acting, Guildhall School, London, England.
Kelly Luft Stage Manager
For the Grand Theatre: A Christmas Carol, Art, The Wizard of Oz (2016, 2009, 2002), High School Project Les Misérables: School Edition, plus others. Theatre Credits (selected): The Komagata Maru Incident (Stratford); The Sound of Music, Hairspray (Drayton); Le Bal (Theatre Plus); Not Wanted on the Voyage (CanStage); 2 years at London England’s West End. Opera Credits (selected): 12 seasons with Opera Lyra Ottawa, 10 seasons with Hawaii Opera Theatre, 6 seasons with Orchestra London / Opera Pacific Victoria, 16 seasons with Opera Ontario, Wagner’s Ring Cycle — Götterdämmerung (COC); Idomeneo (Opera Atelier). Upcoming: Prom Queen: The Musical, A Christmas Carol (Grand Theatre) Le Nozze di Figaro (Hawaii Opera); Countess Maritza (Pacific Opera Victoria).
Melissa Cameron Assistant Stage Manager
For the Grand Theatre: Once, To Master the Art, The Hobbit, Shirley Valentine; High School Projects Shakespeare: The Mixtape, Much Ado About Nothing, Anything Goes. Theatre Credits (selected): The Prince of Homburg, I Claudia, The Last of Romeo and Juliet, Offline (Talk is Free); Cracked: a new light on dementia (Possible Art); The Last 5 Years, She Loves Me, A Christmas Carol, Cabaret, The 39 Steps (Rose Theatre); Pieces (Cue6 Productions); Mrs. Warren’s Profession, Lion in Winter, Romeo and Juliet, An Ideal Husband, Blithe Spirit, The Glass Menagerie (Watermark).
Jordan Guetter Assistant Stage Manager
For the Grand Theatre: A Christmas Carol. Theatre Credits (selected): Passing Strange (Musical Stage Company / Obsidian); Oksana G (Tapestry Opera); Hosanna, The Odd Couple, The Testament of Mary (Soulpepper); One Slight Hitch, Halfway There (Upper Canada Playhouse); Dimensions: A Cirque Experience, Toxicity, Kinet-X (Haut-Vol / Canada’s Wonderland); Penelopiad, A Flea In Her Ear (George Brown). Upcoming: Stage Fright (Lighthouse Festival Theatre), A Christmas Carol (Grand Theatre).
Fran Barker Apprentice Stage Manager
For the Grand Theatre: Once. Theatre Credits (selected): Production Assistant (Stratford); Cinderella: The Panto, All Shook Up (Drayton); Canada 300 (Watermark Theatre); Opera Luminata. Other: Graduate of University of Waterloo.
Mike Bartlett Stage Adaptation
Mike Bartlett is a multi-award winning playwright and screenwriter. Series two of Doctor Foster aired on BBC in 2017 as did his adaptation of his stage play King Charles III. He was Associate Playwright at Paines Plough, Writer-In-Residence at the National Theatre, and Pearson Playwright in Residence at The Royal Court Theatre. King Charles III won the Critic’s Circle Award for Best New Play, Olivier Award for Best New Play, and was nominated for a Tony Award for Best New Play. Love Love Love won Best New Play in the 2011 Theatre Awards UK, Cock won an Olivier Award in 2010 for Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre, he won the Writer’s Guild Tinniswood and Imison prizes for Not Talking, and the Old Vic New Voices Award for Artefacts. His television series The Town was nominated for a BAFTA for Breakthrough Talent. Doctor Foster also earned BAFTA nominations (Radio Times Audience Award, Best Mini Series, Best Leading Actress — Suranne Jones (win). Bartlett won Outstanding Newcomer for British Television Writing at the British Screenwriters’ Awards 2016 for Doctor Foster.
