This browser isn't supported, please upgrade your browser to the latest version.
Artistic Director
Stafford Arima
Artistic Director
"Our theatre will forever be a home that reflects the communities, the country, and the world we live in – a diverse, complex, stimulating world."
Born and raised in Toronto, Arima thrived in the New York theatre scene for over 20 years. In 2015, he became the first Asian Canadian to direct a musical on Broadway when Allegiance opened at the Longacre Theatre, starring George Takei and Lea Salonga. Arima was also nominated for a 2004 Olivier Award for his direction of the West End premiere of the musical, Ragtime. Some additional directing credits include productions of Altar Boyz (Off-Broadway) Carrie (MCC Theater, Off-Broadway), The Tin Pan Alley Rag (Roundabout Theatre Company), Red Velvet (The Old Globe Theatre), Poster Boy (Williamstown Theatre Festival), Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living In Paris (Stratford Festival), Abyssinia (Goodspeed Musicals), A Tribute to Sondheim (Boston Pops), and Billy Elliot: The Musical, The Secret Garden, Mary and Max - A New Musical, and A Christmas Carol (2019) (Theatre Calgary). Arima has shepherded new musical development at the New York Musical Theatre Festival, National Alliance for Musical Theatre, Toronto Fringe Festival, New York Stage and Film, and the SPF Festival. He is a graduate of York University, where he was the recipient of the Dean’s Prize for Excellence in Creative Work. He also serves as Artistic Advisor for Broadway Dreams, and is an Adjunct Professor at UC Davis. staffordarima.com

Executive Director
Maya Choldin
Executive Director
Raised in Alberta, and graduate of Mount Allison University, Ms. Choldin joined Theatre Calgary following her role as Managing Director of Pig Iron Theatre Company in Philadelphia, PA, a position she held for the last six seasons.
Prior to Pig Iron, Maya has built a long resume in the arts that includes General Manager of the Pennsylvania Ballet, along with roles at George Mason University’s Hylton Performing Arts Center, the Kimmel Center, and management of productions and projects at Opera Philadelphia, the Mann Center, and FringeArts.
"I am thrilled to return to Alberta and to join Artistic Director Stafford Arima in leading Theatre Calgary, alongside its dedicated staff and passionate Board. Never has the mission of Theatre Calgary been more relevant than today. As we struggle to find ways to come together, I look forward to helping the Theatre Calgary team create engaging experiences and to make sure that the diverse community of Calgary feels welcome and represented both on our stages and in our audiences.
During these unprecedented times we have unique opportunities to consider the possibilities of what is next, and this has been at the center of my conversations with Stafford and the Board. I am inspired and excited to work with this exceptional team, and to join Theatre Calgary."
In addition to her arts experience, Maya has served on the boards of a variety of community organizations, and in the fall of 2019, she attended ArtEquity Facilitator Training to deepen her commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion in the arts.

Theatre Calgary Staff
Administration Office: 403.294.7440
Audience Services: 403.294.7447
-
Administration & Finance
Administration & Finance
-
- Maya Choldin
- Executive Director
-
- Clare Birks
- Director of Finance & Administration
- 403.294.7440 ext. 1059
-
- Kristine Astop
- Data & Operational Specialist
- 403.294.7440 ext. 1319
-
- Carleen Beddome
- Administrative Coordinator
- 403.294.7440 ext. 1012
-
-
Artistic
-
- Stafford Arima
- Artistic Director
- 403.294.7440 ext. 1354
-
- Lesley MacMillan
- Artistic Producer
-
- Susan McNair Reid
- Company Manager
- 403.294.7440 ext. 1053
-
- Zach Running Coyote
- Artistic Associate
-
- Jane MacFarlane
- Resident Voice Coach
-
-
Audience Services
-
- Amber Teskey
- Interim Team Lead
- 403.294.7440 ext. 1056
-
- Virginia Rempel
- Audience Services Supervisor
- 403.294.7440 ext. 1048
-
- Catherine Myles
- Audience Services Associate
- 403.294.7440 ext. 1062
-
-
Communications and Marketing
-
- Christopher Loach
- Director of Media Relations
-
- Aftin Jolly
- Marketing Manager
- 403.294.7440 ext. 1344
-
-
Development
-
- Amber Teskey
- Senior Manager of Philanthropy
- 403.294.7440 ext. 1056
-
- Shirley Yurchi
- Manager of Individual & Planned Giving
- 403.294.7440 ext. 1002
-
- Audrey Bessey
- Manager, Corporate Sponsorship
- 403.294.7440 ext. 1068
-
- Rosemarie Johnston
- Bingo Volunteer Coordinator
- 403.998.2712
-
-
Production
-
- Alex Currie
- Production Manager
- 403.294.7440 ext. 1043
-
- Adam Schrader
- Technical Director
- 403.294.7440 ext. 1004
-
- Catharine Crumb
- Head of Lighting
- 403.294.7440 ext. 1049
-
- Bronwyn Bowlby
- Head of Sound
- 403.294.7440 ext. 1050
-
- Michelle Latta
- Head of Wardrobe
- 403.294.7440 ext. 1313
-
- Katie Klingvall
- Assistant Head of Wardrobe & Wardrobe Rentals
- 403.294.7440 ext. 1313
-
- Lillian Messer
- Head of Props & Property Rentals
- 403.294.7440 ext. 1305
-
- Celina Baharally
- Assistant Head of Props
- 403.294.7440 ext. 1305
-
- Scott Morris
- Head Stage Carpenter
- 403.294.7440 ext. 1045
-
- Steve Pilon & Andrew Rafuse
- Head Scenic Carpenters
- 403.294.7440 ext. 7412
-
- Rachel Michelle Sheridan
- Head Dresser
-
- Theatre Calgary Stage Managers
- Stage Management Office (closed for season)
-
Board of Directors
Theatre Calgary is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors who are passionate about the arts and bring unique knowledge, skill sets and valuable networks to Theatre Calgary. The Board is elected each September at the Annual General Meeting.
-
Theatre Calgary Society Board Members 2020-21
-
- Craig Senyk
- Chair
- President, Mawer Investment Management Ltd.
-
- Tricia Leadbeater
- Vice Chair
- Director Wealth Management, Richardson GMP
-
- Joy Alford
- Corporate Secretary
-
- Kelly Bernakevitch
- Audit & Finance Committee Chair
-
- Kate Abbott
- Kate E A Abbott Professional Corporation
-
- Peter Edwards
- The NOLUS Corporation
-
- Cherry Ma
- Principal & Manager of Investor Reporting, Azimuth Capital Management
-
- John MacAulay
- Regional President, BMO Bank of Montreal
-
- Riaz Mamdani
- CEO, Strategic Group
-
- Chad Newcombe
- Kahane Law Office
-
- Margo Randles
- Past Chair
- Active Community Volunteer
-
- Catherine Samuel
- Artistic Committee Chair
- Partner, McCarthy Tetrault LLP
-
- Dr. Norman Schachar, M.D.
- University of Calgary Department of Surgery
-
- Maggie Schofield
- Facility Committee Chair
-
- Carol Shmygol
- Senior Vice President of Brand, ATB Financial
-
- Kirsty Sklar
- Governance Committee Chair
- Partner, Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP
-
- Edith Wenzel
- President, International Results Group
-
- Ward Zimmer
- CFO, Bursting Silver
-
-
Theatre Calgary Endowment Foundation Board Members 2020-21
-
- Peter Edwards
- Chair
- The NOLUS Corporation
-
- Ryan Hoult
- Vice Chair
- Partner, Rice & Company LLP
-
- Ward Zimmer
- Secretary / Treasurer
- CFO, Bursting Silver
-
- Andrew Bateman
- Partner, Felesky Flynn LLP
-
- Ellen Chidley
- Consultant
-
- Chris Lee
- Vice Chair and Board Member at Deloitte
-
- Chadwick Newcombe
- Kahane Law Office
-
- Alex Osten
-