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A Christmas Carol
- By CHARLES DICKENS
- Adapted for the stage by GEOFFREY SIMON BROWN, Directed by STAFFORD ARIMA
Overview
The Holiday Classic Returns
A timeless tale of redemption, told as only Theatre Calgary can tell it: full of life, spectacle, and backed by a huge cast. On Christmas Eve, Ebenezer Scrooge, a miser with a heart of stone, is visited by three ghosts who confront him with the consequences of his actions. As they show him his past, present, and future, he begins to recognize that there is more to life than money. But will he be saved from his horrible fate? Are these shadows of the things that will be or may be? Come relive Calgary’s favourite holiday tradition with friends and family.
Before you join us, click here to read all about this year's production, and our new Scrooge!
- PLAYWRIGHT GEOFFREY SIMON BROWN
- DIRECTOR STAFFORD ARIMA
- ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, VOICE & DIALECT COACH JANE MACFARLANE
- SET & VIDEO DESIGN SCOTT REID
- COSTUME DESIGN DEITRA KALYN
- LIGHTING DESIGN KEVIN LAMOTTE
- ASSISTANT LIGHTING DESIGN ANTON DEGROOT
- COMPOSER & MUSIC DIRECTOR ALLISON LYNCH
- ADDITIONAL ORCHESTRATIONS JEREMY SPENCER
- CHOREOGRAPHER JESSE ROBB
- ASSISTANT CHOREOGRAPHER ANTHONY MACPHERSON
- DRAMATURG JENNA TURK
- ADDITIONAL DRAMATURGY JENNA RODGERS
- DANCE CAPTAIN GREGORY PEMBER
- STAGE MANAGER CARISSA SAMS
- ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGERS SANG-SANG LEE, CHANDLER ONTKEAN
- APPRENTICE STAGE MANAGER FRANCES MACDONALD
- CAST MARK BELLAMY, SCARLETT BOWLER, ANNA CUMMER, LAURA DESMARAIS, CHRISTOPHER DUTHIE, DANIEL FONG, SIMON GOUTSIS, VANESSA LETICIA JETTÉ, KAREN JOHNSON-DIAMOND, ALEXANDRIA LEE, ALLISON LYNCH, DOUG MCKEAG, RAINA MURADALI, PARKER PAINCHAUD, GENEVIÈVE PARÉ, JOE PERRY, MIKE TAN, JAMIE TOGNAZZINI, MARSHALL VIELLE
- SWINGS JESSICA ECKSTADT, GREGORY PEMBER, SAMANTHA CURRIE, BRETT DAHL, TROY GOLDTHORP, JAMIE KONCHAK
- TC MENTORS PROGRAM LARA SCHMITZ - VOICE & DIALECT, DARREN YOUNG - SOUND DESIGN
Production Materials
- A Christmas Carol House Programme Download pdf
- A Christmas Carol Play Guide Download pdf
Cast and Creative Team
Mark Bellamy
(he/him) For Theatre Calgary: Director – Noises Off; Assistant Director/Choreographer – Rough Crossing; Actor – Camelot, A Christmas Carol (1990, 1993, 1995, 2019), Anne of Green Gables (1994), Evita (1993), Pal Joey. Mark is very happy to be back at Theatre Calgary with friends old and new to revisit A Christmas Carol after a 4-year hiatus! Recent credits include: Director - Priscilla Queen of the Desert (StageWest); Becoming Dr. Ruth (TNW); Actor - Murder in the Studio, Deathtrap (Vertigo Theatre); Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead (ATP);Moon, Moon, No Moon (OYR); In On It (Lunchbox Theatre). He is the proud recipient of several Betty MItchell Awards, as well as the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. Mark would like to dedicate his performance to the memory of his dear friend Kevin Rothery, who truly knew how to keep Christmas well.
Scarlett Bowler
(she/her) Theatre Calgary debut. Having watched this magical classic time and again, Scarlett is over the moon to be part of this year’s production of A Christmas Carol. Scarlett loves to tell a good story and is delighted to have the opportunity to do so with this amazing cast and company. Scarlett is in grade eight, speaks French, is dabbling in Spanish, and loves to sing, dance and of course, act. She would like to thank her family, friends, and teachers for their support and encouragement throughout this incredible experience. You may notice them in the audience - they’ll be the noisy ones. Oh, and Merry Christmas!
Anna Cummer
(she/her) For Theatre Calgary: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Shakespeare on the Go adaptation - 2023), Admissions, A Christmas Carol (2018-19), Noises Off, Twelfth Night (2018), The Shoplifters, Pride and Prejudice. Elsewhere: Anna is a Calgary-based actor and playwright. She has performed across Canada at The Vancouver Playhouse, The Arts Club, Bard on the Beach, Alberta Theatre Projects, Vertigo Theatre, Persephone, and the National Arts Centre. She also works in voice-over as well as in film & television as an actor and puppeteer. Anna has been nominated for numerous acting awards with a few trophies making their way to her mantle. She is thrilled to be back on stage helping to tell one of her favourite stories. Thank you to Craig, Olive, and Aubrey for all the support. This is would not be possible without their love.
Samantha Currie
Brett Dahl
Laura Desmarais
(she/her) Theatre Calgary debut. Laura is thrilled to be making her Theatre Calgary debut! She last appeared onstage as Young Charlie in Front Row Centre Players’ award winning production of Kinky Boots. Laura is delighted to be a part of this classic Christmas tale and so grateful for the opportunity to work with an amazing cast and crew. Offstage, Laura keeps busy with dance classes, musical theatre training, piano lessons, and all kinds of outdoor activities. She loves writing songs and creating magical worlds with her older sister and her friends. Laura thanks her loving family and friends for their unconditional support. She hopes you enjoy the show!
Christopher Duthie
(he/him) For Theatre Calgary: The Importance of Being Earnest (2022), A Christmas Carol (2007-09, 2019). Christopher is thrilled to be back onstage at Theatre Calgary. He has been acting professionally for more than a decade in productions with Ghost River Theatre, Vertigo Theatre, One Yellow Rabbit, Lunchbox Theatre, Quest Theatre, Alberta Theatre Projects, etc. He is represented by Details Talent for film/tv and voice over. As a playwright and theatre creator, his plays and creations include: A Dinner Party (Shortlisted for the 2020 Gwen Pharis Ringwood Award for Drama); n00b (Vertigo Theatre Y-Stage Series); SensoryBox (Ghost River Theatre); SensoryBox TYA (Young People’s Theatre); La Boîte Sensorielle (L’UniThéâtre) co-created with Eric Rose; Of Fighting Age co-created with Col Cseke and David van Belle (Verb Theatre/Glenbow Museum/High Performance Rodeo). He holds an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Guelph and a BFA in Drama from the University of Calgary. He is eternally grateful for his wife, Alexandra, for all her love and support.
Jessica Eckstadt
(she/her) For Theatre Calgary: Ragtime: A Concert Performance. Jessica discovered her love for the performing arts at a young age. She believes sharing her passion through acting or teaching is one of the best experiences in life. When Jessica is not performing, she is very proud to be an award-winning choreographer for the Youth Singers of Calgary, as well as teaching students from across the city to hone and discover their passion for the performing arts through various classes and private lessons. She is a Betty Mitchell Award nominated performer and has had the pleasure of performing across Canada,the United States, Europe, and South America. She holds a performance diploma from Mount Royal University (Calgary, AB) and BFA from Concordia University (Montreal, QC). Jessica is very thankful for the entire team at Theatre Calgary as well as her loved ones and supporters. Best wishes to everyone this holiday season!
Daniel Fong
(he/him) For Theatre Calgary: Forgiveness, A Christmas Carol (2018), A Midsummer Night's Dream (Shakespeare in the Park, 2012). Daniel is a mixed race Chinese/European performer born and raised in Moh-kíns-tsis (Calgary) in the Treaty 7 region of Alberta and he is thrilled to be joining this wonderful team! Elsewhere: Jekyll & Hyde (Vertigo Theatre); Romeo & Juliet (Bard on the Beach); Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat (Rosebud Theatre); US (The Globe); Alberta Kitchen Party, The Lion theWitch and the Wardrobe, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, Fortune Falls, The Circle (ATP); The Tempest (The Shakespeare Company). Daniel was the recipient of the Stephen Hair Emerging Artist award in 2020. You can catch him next as D’Artagnan in the Citadel Theatre’s production of The Three Musketeers! Daniel is supported by his amazing wife Nadia and his friends and family and he wishes you all the happiest of holidays!
Troy Goldthorp
Simon Goutsis
(he/him) Theatre Calgary debut. Simon played Horton in Capitol Hill Schools production of Seussical the Musical: Kids (2023). He has also enjoyed drama camps at Calgary Young People’s Theatre for the last three summers. Simon has taken some vocal, piano, and guitar lessons, and is currently in Grade six at Capitol Hill School. He is an avid reader, a die-hard Flames fan, and the starting goalie on his hockey team. Simon is an amazing big brother to Clayton, and would like to thank Clay and his whole family for all their love and support.
Vanessa Leticia Jetté
(she/her) For Theatre Calgary: The Mousetrap, Little Women, A Christmas Carol (2019, 2021), Hamlet (Shakespeare by the Bow). Vanessa is a Mexican Canadian artist working in Calgary! You may have seen her on stage with companies such as Vertigo Theatre (The Extractionist, Clue, Sherlock Holmes and The Vanishing Thimble); Lunchbox Theatre Stage Two series (By the Book); Major Matt Mason (Premium Content); One Yellow Rabbit: Beautiful Young Artists; The Shakespeare Company (Hamlet Frequency). She is forever grateful to her family and to her partner Chris for all their support and she hopes you all enjoy the show!
Karen Johnson-Diamond
(she/her) For Theatre Calgary (selected): A Christmas Carol (2019, 2021), The Crucible, Jake and the Kid. Karen is a Calgary based actor, director, and improviser. She has acted in four different productions of this play, and has directed one, and never gets tired of telling this story. Karen’s mom doesn’t like biographies that are just ‘lists’, so she’ll pause here to say that one of Neil Diamond’s best songs is “Be” from the Jonathan Livingston Seagull soundtrack. You should listen to it when you get home tonight. Thank you for supporting live theatre. Love to Kevin, Griffin, and Neil Diamond.
Jamie Konchak
Alexandria Lee
(she/her) Theatre Calgary Debut. Alexandria is so excited to have the opportunity to work with Theatre Calgary for A Christmas Carol! Elsewhere: Peter and the Starcatcher, Annie (Storybook Theatre); Friends of Mine and The Tuesday Crew, A Little Princess (Calgary Young People’s Theatre); The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Notre Dame High School). Alexandria is currently a grade 11 student at Notre Dame High School. She would like to thank her vocal coach and accompanist, SelinaWong-Parrotta and Dan Perrott for always believing in her and pushing her to audition for Theatre Calgary. And a big shout-out to her family and her friends for their never-ending support. She hopes you enjoy the show and have a Merry Christmas! @alexandriaaleee
Allison Lynch
(she/her) For Theatre Calgary: Actor – Forgiveness, Steel Magnolias, A Christmas Carol (2010-21), The Secret Garden, Dear Johnny Deere, One Man, Two Guvnors; Sound Designer/Composer – A Christmas Carol (2019-21), Steel Magnolias, The Scarlet Letter, As You Like It, Romeo and Juliet (Shakespeare by the Bow), Comedy of Errors (Shakespeare on the Go); Music Director – A Christmas Carol (2016-19). Elsewhere: Allison was the recipient of four Betty Mitchell Awards for Romeo & Juliet (The Shakespeare Co.), Ash Rizin’ (Alberta Theatre Projects), Twisted (Forté) and as a composer for The Scarlet Letter (Theatre Calgary), as well as a Greater Victoria Regional Theatre Awards Critic’s Choice award for Design for The Ministry of Grace (Belfry). You may have also seen Allison onstage at the NAC, The Grand, Rainbow Stage, Persephone, The Drayton Festival, the Chemainus Theatre Festival, Vertigo, ATP, Lunchbox, OYR, Calgary Philharmonic, and as far abroad as Kuala Lumpur with the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra. Her album Skin & Flame is on all streaming platforms.
Doug McKeag
(he/him) For Theatre Calgary: Over 30 productions. Favourites include: Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, From Berlin to Broadway with Kurt Weill, God of Carnage, Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville, Enron, Evita (1992 & 2002), Cabaret, The Cripple of Inishmaan, Into the Woods, Twelfth Night (2017), The Secret Garden, One Man, Two Guvnors, Ragtime: A Concert Performance. Other faves elsewhere: Little Mercy’s First Murder, Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime, The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Vertigo); X-Ray, The Alan Parkinson’s Project, DOOM 2012 (Ghost River); Toad of Toad Hall, Amadeus, Candide (ATP); Carmen, Die Fledermaus (Calgary Opera); Chimerica (RMTC/Canstage); Late Company, The Cottage, The New Canadian Curling Club (RMTC); and dozens of performances with the Calgary Philharmonic and many other orchestras worldwide, from Kuala Lumpur to the Hollywood Bowl. Doug is the proud owner of “BonnyBoom”, Calgary’s newest multi-disciplinary arts playground in Bonnybrook, and home to the Old Trout Puppet Workshop. Next summer he will christen “BonnyToo” as the new home of the Green Fools Theatre Society, just two blocks away. Doug dedicates this performance to Stephen Hair, who carried the Scrooge torch for 27 years. Big slippers to fill.
Raina Muradali
(she/her) Theatre Calgary debut. Raina’s passion for storytelling through acting, singing, and dance has been a lifelong pursuit starting at the tender age of 3. Her acting portfolio includes memorable roles in productions such as The Sound of Music, Little Miss Sunshine, and Singers @ Sunset for Storybook Theatre; Clue and The Poison Squad with Calgary Young People’s Theatre; and a return to The Sound of Music at Painted Fish Theatre. Beyond acting, she has honed her skills in dance since the age of four. Currently a seventh grader, Raina’s dedication recently earned her both a National and a Regional Gold Medal with the Royal Conservatory of Music for Speech Arts & Drama. She extends her heartfelt gratitude to her unwavering parents, her dedicated speech/acting and singing coaches, and the incredible cast and crew who welcomed her into this production. Happy Holidays to all! @rainamuradali
Declan O'Reilly
For Theatre Calgary (selected): A Christmas Carol (1991-93, 1996, 2015-19), The Scarlet Letter, The Audience, King Lear, One Man, Two Guvnors. Recent credits include: The Shoplifters (Theatre NorthWest); Much Ado About Nothing (Shakespeare Company); The Lonely Diner (Vertigo Theatre); Mrs.Warren’s Profession, Jeeves Takes a Bow (Chemainus Theatre); The Skin of Our Teeth, Tent Meeting (Rosebud Theatre); Shakespeare’s Rebel, King Lear (Bard on the Beach); Circle Mirror Transformation (Sage / Shadow Theatre co-production). Declan has multiple film and TV credits including Under the Banner of Heaven, Billy The Kid, Prancer Returns, and the soon to be released The Birds Who Fear Death. He is also a visual artist and graduate of the University of Alberta BFA Acting program, and a founder of Edmonton’s Free Will Players Shakespeare Company. IG: @oreillydeclan Website: www.oreillydeclan.com
Parker Painchaud
(he/him) Theatre Calgary debut. Parker began his passion for acting with Calgary Young People’s Theatre. He has been part of the last two Cannonball Festivals, playing Leo in Dreamer The Musical (2022), and The Powerkeeper in Magic (2023). He performed in CYPT’s mainstage productions as the villain Cesare in Real Boi (2022), and Walter/Thing in the musical The Poison Squad (2023). He most recently played Nicky/Mr.Weston in Someday with CYPT. Parker loves to play golf, is a comic book enthusiast, enjoys spending time with friends and working on creative endeavors. Parker has recently written his first script, and will be bringing it to the stage in Cannonball Festival 2024, along with his directorial debut. Parker would like to thank his CYPT family for encouraging and supporting him through this journey.
Geneviève Paré
(she/her) For Theatre Calgary: A Christmas Carol (2019). Geneviève is in the practice and profession of building, shaping, and performing live theatre, and digital media. From puppetry, to stunt wrestling, to junk percussion and videography, Geneviève will jump at any opportunity to find new ways to tell stories. She even loves the classics and is so excited to be back in the Max Bell Theatre on the other side of the pandemic, to help bring Geoffrey Simon Brown’s fulsome rendition of A Christmas Carol back to the stage. Recent works also include: Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock (Jim Henson Company); Iniskim (Canadian Academy of Mask and Puppetry); GIANT (Ghost River Theatre). Geneviève is a two-time Betty Mitchell Award winner, and a recipient of Theatre Calgary’s Emerging Actor Award.
Greg Pember
(he/him) For Theatre Calgary: Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville, Crazy For You, Swing Dance Choreographer for Forgiveness. Elsewhere: Spamalot, Young Frankenstein, Screwball Comedy, Priscilla: Queen of the Desert (StageWest); Choreographer for Elf: The Musical and Honk! (Storybook Theatre). Brigadoon (The Shaw Festival); Newsies, Shear Madness, The Rainmaker, The Drowsy Chaperone, Beauty and the Beast, Rock of Ages, Thoroughly Modern Millie, It Runs in the Family, White Christmas, The Music Man, The Little Mermaid, Footloose, Damn Yankees, Legally Blonde, Mary Poppins, The Sound of Music (Drayton Entertainment); Ghostlight (Off-Broadway/Signature Theatre); Spring Awakening, title role in Hamlet (The Roxy). Training: BFA in Musical Theatre from The Boston Conservatory. Love and gratitude to Mom, Dad, Bob, and Scott for their unconditional support and for allowing me to follow my dream. IG: @yoga.with.greg yogawithgreg.com
Joe Perry
(he/him) For Theatre Calgary: A Christmas Carol (2015-16). Elsewhere (selected): The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, The Extractionist (Vertigo Theatre); Premium Content (Major Matt Mason); Chariots Of Fire (Grand Theatre): Gordon (Theatre Network); This Is War (Punctuate); The Circle (ATP). Selected Film and TV: Coupled Up For Christmas (Northern Gateway Films); Range Roads (North Country Cinema); The Expanse (Amazon Prime); Black Summer (Netflix). Joe is a Calgary based artist and creator working across Canada in theatre, film and television. He graduated from Mount Royal University's Performance Program and received his BFA in acting from the University of Alberta.
Mike Tan
(he/him) For Theatre Calgary: The Mousetrap, A Christmas Carol (2017-18, 2021). Mike is a Treaty 7-based theatre artist and photographer. He has worked as a co-creator in devised theatre creation ensembles with Downstage, Theatre Junction, and Ghost River Theatre; an acting ensemble member at the Banff Centre Playwrights Lab workshopping new plays from around the world; and as an actor at Vertigo Theatre (The Extractionist, Murder on the Orient Express); Alberta Theatre Projects (Constellations); Major Matt Mason Collective (Premium Content); Field Work Theatre (Parts & Labour); and Jupiter Theatre (Frankenstein). Mike also works as a documentary photographer for arts and culture organizations (Calgary Folk Fest, Sled Island), events, and independent artists. He lives with his loves, Di, his son Aiden, and their cat babies, Frankie and Prismo.
Jamie Tognazzini
(they/them) For Theatre Calgary: A Christmas Carol (2019-21). Jamie T is a transdisciplinary performer with special interest in music, clown/circus, and puppetry. In 2019, Jamie T was honoured as co-recipient of the Betty Mitchell Award for Best Ensemble for their work in GIANT by Ghost River Theatre. Select credits include: Wyrd...A Musical Unfairytale (Atomic Vaudeville/Larrikin, YT); Blackhorse (Caravan Farm Theatre); Peter and the Wolf (Old Trout Puppet Workshop); Naughty but Nice 9 Live! (Forte Musical Theatre); Gold Rush Redux and ModernTimes Redux (The Grand YYC); Catalyst Theatre’s Fortune Falls (ATP/Citadel); The Drowning Girls (Vertigo Theatre); The Toxic Avenger Musical (BroadwayWest); Evil Dead: the Musical (GZT/H&M); Moon, Moon No Moon and Calgary, I Love You but You’re Killing Me (One Yellow Rabbit). Sharing the holidays with such wonderful people is an honour and a privilege. Thanks to everyone making the season bright!
Marshall Vielle
(they/them) For Theatre Calgary: A Christmas Carol (2019-21), Blow Wind High Water, Two Gentlemen of Verona (Shakespeare by the Bow). Elsewhere: The Jungle Book (ATP); The House of Bernarda Alba (Sage Theatre); Christmas Carol: A Drag Story (Blue Jeans Theatre); Where the Two-Spirit Lives (Theatre Outré); Napi and the Rock (Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra); Iiyistsiyii, Istotsi, Kaahsinoniks (Making Treaty 7 Cultural Society); We Are All Treaty People (Quest Theatre). Marshall is an actor, director, playwright, and drag performer from the Kainai Nation. They are especially interested in using theatre for community development, having been involved in projects both locally and internationally aimed at using artistic practices to promote social change. They work as an advocate for diversity and inclusion in the performance sector, while also lending their creativity to several Queer Youth initiatives. Marshall is ecstatic to be back at TC for another holiday season!
Geoffrey Simon Brown
(he/him) For Theatre Calgary: Playwright – A Christmas Carol (2019-2021); Actor – Skylight, Much Ado About Nothing. Geoffrey is an award-winning Albertan playwright, actor, and theatre creator. He is a founding member of the Major Matt Mason Collective where he has developed and produced small-scale independent theatre for the past decade. His other plays include Michael Mysterious, The Circle, Night, Progress, Still Still Still, Control, Air, Destroy, and If I Could Tell You Everything (written alongside the Theatre Junction high school mentorship ensemble). As an actor he has performed on most of the major stages in Calgary as well as some living rooms and basements. He is a graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada’s playwriting program. More at geoffreysimonbrown.com.
Stafford Arima
(he/him) For Theatre Calgary: Forgiveness (Outstanding Direction, Betty Mitchell Award), Ragtime: A Concert Performance, A Christmas Carol (2019-21), Billy Elliot the Musical, The Secret Garden, Mary and Max. Broadway: Allegiance, Seussical (Associate Director), A Class Act (Associate Director). Off-Broadway: Altar Boyz, Carrie, The Tin Pan Alley Rag. Regional: Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris (Stratford Festival), DialM for Murder (The Old Globe), Bhangin’ It (La Jolla Playhouse), Candide (San Francisco Symphony). International: Ragtime (West End, Olivier nominated), The Secret Garden (Tokyo), Broadway Dreams (Moscow), Altar Boyz (Seoul). Stafford is a graduate of York University, and a founding Board member of the Canadian Guild of Stage Directors and Choreographers. staffordarima.com
Jane MacFarlane
(she/her) For Theatre Calgary: Resident Voice Coach – More than 65 productions since 2000 including: The Mousetrap, Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville, Forgiveness, Little Women, The Importance of Being Earnest, Million Dollar Quartet, Steel Magnolias, Admissions, The Louder We Get, Noises Off, Billy Elliot the Musical, 12 seasons of Shakespeare by the Bow and 15 years of A Christmas Carol (including playing Mrs. Cratchit from 2001-02). Additionally, Jane adapted and directed the 2022 Shakespeare on the Go production of The Merry Wives of Windsor. She has also worked for ATP, Vertigo Theatre, and The Shakespeare Company. Jane also coaches Voice and Presence through her business Voice Activated. She has taught Voice for the Actor and Acting at such institutions as York University, Harvard University, Southern Methodist University, MRU, UofA, and is currently on faculty in the Drama Division in the School of Creative & Performing Arts at UCalgary.
Scott Reid
(he/him) For Theatre Calgary (selected): The Mousetrap, Million Dollar Quartet, TC Returns, A Christmas Carol (lighting – 1999, set & projections – 2019, production design – 2020, 2021), Billy Elliot the Musical, Mom’s The Word: For Crying Out Loud, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, A Raisin in the Sun. Elsewhere: Pride and Prejudice, Clue (Citadel); Alberta Kitchen Party, Stealing Sam, Disgraced, The New Canadian Curling Club (ATP); Misery, Clue, Murder on the Orient Express, Strangers on a Train, Dracula: The Bloody Truth (Vertigo); Macbeth, Eugene Onegin, South Pacific (Calgary Opera); Our Canada, Class Acts (Alberta Ballet); Better Get Hit in Your Soul, Modern Vaudevillians, Juliet and Romeo (DJD). Scott has also designed for such companies as Quest Theatre, Lunchbox, and The Shakespeare Company. scottreiddesign.com
Deitra Kalyn
(she/her) For Theatre Calgary: The Mousetrap, A Christmas Carol (2019, 2021), MDQ, Noises Off, Shakespeare by the Bow (2012-2018, 2021), Blow Wind High Water, The Crucible, One Man, Two Guvnors, King Lear. She has been designing theatre, dance, film, and TV across the prairies for well over a decade. She is an awarded designer who was educated both at Grant MacEwan University and ACAD. Her career in design has allowed her to work with some of the best companies in the country. Selected credits include: Dracula: the Bloody Truth!, Calamity Town, Sherlock Holmes, Sweeney Todd, The 39 Steps (Vertigo); Intimate Apparel, Legend Has It, playRites 2013 (ATP); The Penelopiad (ATP / Arts Club). Wishing everyone a safe and joyous holiday season! Sending all my love to my brood of boys. xo
Kevin Lamotte
(he/him) For Theatre Calgary: A Christmas Carol (2000-18), The Crucible, The Philadelphia Story (2005, 2015), Enron, To Kill a Mockingbird, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Beyond Eden, A Raisin in the Sun, Timothy Findley’s The Wars, Of Mice and Men, Saint Joan, Macbeth, The Diary of Anne Frank, True West, Candida. Kevin has created lighting designs for theatre, dance and opera across Canada and internationally. Recently: Mahabharata (Barbican); Blithe Spirit, Playboy of the Western World, The Clearing, Gem of the Ocean, Everybody, Desire Under the Elms, White Christmas (Shaw Fesitval); La Traviata (Calgary Opera / Opera de Montreal); Fidelio (Pacific Opera). Kevin’s awards for Outstanding Lighting Design include Calgary’s Betty Mitchell Awards and Toronto’s Dora Mavor Moore Awards. Kevin is the Lighting Design Director for the Shaw Festival in Niagara on the Lake, Ontario, and a member of The Associated Designers of Canada/IATSE 659.
Anton deGroot
(he/him) For Theatre Calgary: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Shakespeare on the Go), The Importance of Being Earnest, Noises Off, The Shoplifters. Anton is a set, light, and sound designer based here in Calgary. He is so grateful to be joining the Carol creative team – a show he first saw right here in the mid-1980s, and that may have first given him the idea that playmaking could be part of his life. Select credits: Misery, Nine Dragons, Dracula: The Bloody Truth (Vertigo); STRUCK, GIANT (Ghost River); Treasure Island, HMS Pinafore, Brontë: the World Without (Stratford Festival); Jersey Boys, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder (Stage West); King Lear, Macbeth, All’s Well That Ends Well (Shakespeare Company). Anton teaches every angle of design and tech theatre at the University of Calgary, and has twice co-facilitated an international devised scenography intensive at the Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design and Space. All the love to Meg, and to our menagerie of misfit creatures.
Jesse Robb
For Theatre Calgary: A Christmas Carol (2019). Jesse hails from Canada with a wide resume covering a variety of work across Cirque Du Soleil, Disney, Cameron Mackintosh Ltd., Mirvish Productions, Momix, Prime Video, Opera Philadelphia, RWS Entertainment Group, and Turner Classic Movies. On Broadway, Jesse is the Choreographer of Water for Elephants at the Imperial Theater, opening in the spring of 2024. He choreographed Spamalot that ran through November 2023 at The Stratford Festival of Canada. He was the Associate Choreographer to Bob Avian for the Tony nominated revival of Miss Saigon and staged the subsequent North American tour and Austrian companies. Jesse is also the Associate Musical Stager for the North American tour of Les Misérables, and the Movement Director for the Korean production. His work has been produced regionally at Ogunquit Playhouse, The 5th Avenue Theatre, The Ordway, Cape Playhouse, and the Berkshire Theatre Festival among others. Many thanks to his parents, Les and Roberta Robb, for their unwavering support.
Anthony MacPherson
(he/they) Theatre Calgary debut. Anthony is a creator, performer, and educator based in Halifax, NS. He has choreographed Good Grief (Ship’s Company); Assassins, Metamorphoses (Theatre Sheridan); Godspell (FAST); Sugar Highs—Season 1 (Emotion); and was the Associate Choreographer for the world premiere of Kronborg: The Hamlet Rock Musical (Charlottetown); and Mamma Mia! (The Grand/Charlottetown). Additionally, Anthony has been Dance Captain for countless productions across North America including Matilda (1st National Tour/Mirvish); Monty Python’s Spamalot (Stratford Festival); Elf: The Musical, Alice in Pantoland, The Jungle Book (Neptune Theatre); Alice Through The Looking Glass, Anne of Green Gables, Ring of Fire (Charlottetown). In 2024 Anthony plans to return The Stratford Festival for his second season to work on La Cage Aux Folles and Something Rotten! @armacpherson
Jenna Turk
(she/her) For Theatre Calgary: Director – Iceland; Dramaturg – Honour Beat; Adaptor (Shakespeare by the Bow) – Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, As You Like It. Between 2016-2020, Jenna was the Artistic Associate at Theatre Calgary where she focused on new play development and founded TC Mentors. More recently she has been working in television as a Script Coordinator on Billy the Kid Season 2 (Paramount+), and on Ride (Hallmark).While she’s keen to do more theatre, this winter she’s directing a docuseries called Meet Cute in Kensington – an interview series celebrating connections made in Calgary’s beloved Kensington Village. Jenna has a BFA in Acting from the University of Windsor and an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Guelph.Wishing all a safe, warm, and loving holiday season. May there be peace on earth.
Carissa Sams
(she/her) For Theatre Calgary: Stage Manager – Little Women, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2019, 2012), The Two Gentlemen of Verona, As You Like It, Hamlet (Shakespeare by the Bow). Assistant Stage Manager - Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville, Steel Magnolias, A Christmas Carol (2019), Billy Elliot the Musical, The Humans, Skylight, The Light in the Piazza, Bad Jews. Other selected credits: The Dark Lady, Raising Stanley/Life with Tulia (Lunchbox); Undressed, Stealing Sam (ATP); Misery, Clue, Murder in the Studio, 39 Steps, The Haunting, Our Man in Havana, I’ll Be Back Before Midnight (Vertigo); The Children, A Doll’s House Pt. 2 (Belfry Theatre); Smoke (Downstage). Carissa would like to thank her husband, Myles, and her parents for their continued support.
Sang-Sang Lee
(she/her) For Theatre Calgary: Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill, Honour Beat. Selected credits: The Amen Corner, The Clearing (Shaw Festival); Rock of Ages, Vegas Live, Sexy Laundry, Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, Super Groovy 70s, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Mayfield); The Herd (Citadel/Tarragon); Banff Centre’s Opera in the 21st Century; The Fiancée, A Brimful of Asha, The Tempest, Hadestown, Redpatch, Mamma Mia!, Sense and Sensibility, Million Dollar Quartet,West Side Story, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Avenue Q, One Man, Two Guvnors, Make Mine Love, Spamalot, Private Lives (Citadel); The Exquisite Hour, Love is for Poor People, Fever Land (Teatro Live!); Makings of a Voice, The Blue Hour (SkirtsAfire); Disgraced (ATP); Hamlet, The Merchant of Venice, King Lear, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Freewill Shakespeare); Salt Baby (Globe); Songs My Mother Never Sung Me (Concrete Theatre). Wishing you a joyous holiday season!
Chandler Ontkean
(she/her) For Theatre Calgary: Apprentice Stage Manager – Mary and Max, Noises Off. Chandler is excited to be back at Theatre Calgary and she’s ready to spread some Christmas spirit! Select SM/ASM credits include: Home For the Holidays, Shark Bite (Lunchbox); Cowgirl Up (ATP); Whispers in the Dark, Deathtrap, The Lonely Diner, Undercover (Vertigo); Elvis Has Left the Building, Screwball Comedy (Stage West). When not working in theatre, Chandler also works in film costuming, watches LOTS of movies, and admires sloths. Big thanks to her amazing roommates, friends, and family for their love and support throughout the last few crazy years.
Frances MacDonald
(she/her) Theatre Calgary debut. Frances is delighted to be working with Theatre Calgary! She has had the pleasure of working in Calgary as a (non-union) Stage Manager since 2019. Apprenticeship credits: The Dark Lady (Lunchbox Theatre); Cottagers and Indians (Lunchbox Theatre); Stone Soup & Festive Favorites (Calgary Opera); Cipher (Vertigo Theatre). Stage Management credits: Grace & Glorie (Rosebud Theatre); A Christmas Carol (Rosebud Theatre); Wandering with Wonder (Storyfair Productions); Snowblind (Lunchbox Theatre & Making Treaty 7); Matilda (Storybook Theatre). Assistant Stage Management credits: O’kosi (Making Treaty 7); Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Rosebud Theatre).
Lara Schmitz
For Theatre Calgary: Iceland, Romeo and Juliet (Shakespeare by the Bow 2013). Lara is a local actor, educator, and writer. As an actor, Lara’s most recent credits include The Ministry of Grace (Making Treaty 7, Belfry Theatre), Murder on the Orient Express (Vertigo Theatre), and Iceland (Theatre Calgary). Lara is excited to delve into Voice and Dialect Coaching to further explore how multifaceted and fascinating voice work is! Thanks to Theatre Calgary and Jane for this opportunity.
* TC Mentors participants are generously supported by the RBC Emerging Artist Program.
Darren Young
(he/him) Theatre Calgary debut. Multi-instrumentalist, composer, sound designer, music director, and educator Darren is an exciting artist with a diverse palette. He has been a featured performer with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, New Music Edmonton, NewWorks Calgary, Kensington Sinfonia, Instrumental Society of Calgary, and Theatre Calgary. In 2022, Darren premiered a work in collaboration with dance soloist Alèn Martel as part of “SHED | knowing each other as different and the same” (Pam Tzeng, Dancers’ StudioWest) in Chinatown, Calgary, AB. His most recent composition, sound design for the art installation “Impossible Geometries” (AZMA Digital) can currently be heard at THEMUSEUM in Kitchener, ON. Upcoming projects include sound design for the Vertigo Theatre production of Heist (Jan/Feb 2024) and a dance film score for choreographer Meghann Michalsky. Darren is thrilled to be part of A Christmas Carol and to work with the Theatre Calgary team!
* TC Mentors participants are generously supported by the RBC Emerging Artist Program.
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