Ragtime: A Concert Performance

(she/her) Grace is a music teacher, a classically trained pianist, and a musical theatre fanatic through and through. She has been making music since 2001, and has more recently ventured into the world of writing and recording. When she is not exploring the world of music production and learning from other artists, she is practicing child welfare law at a nonprofit law firm in Calgary.

(she/her) Rae is thrilled to be making her Theatre Calgary debut in her hometown with this stellar cast of Ragtime: A Concert Performance. She is a graduate of Randolph College and splits her time between Toronto and Calgary. Select theatre credits include Legally Blonde (Hart House Theatre), Puffs (Canadian Premiere, Lower Ossington Theatre). Select TV credits include Unexpected Killer and Untold Stories of the ER. Much love to her family and Shawn.

(he/him) Billy is an actor/singer from Edmonton who graduated from the Musical Theatre Program at MacEwan University and the BFA Acting Program at the University of Alberta. Recent credits include Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Two Gentlemen of Verona (Theatre Calgary’s Shakespeare by the Bow), John & Jen (Imagine Performing Arts), The Lady from the Sea (Studio Theatre), Love’s Labours Lost, Romeo and Juliet (Freewill Shakespeare), and Rumpelstiltskin (Alberta Opera). He hopes everyone enjoys the performance!

(he/him) EJ is a Calgary-based artist and is ecstatic to be performing on the Jack Singer Concert Hall stage for the first time. Select credits include: The SpongeBob Musical, MisPlaced, Annie (StoryBook Theatre); Theatre Calgary Sings for Pride (Theatre Calgary); The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (The Honest Collective Theatre). When not in theatre, he enjoys songwriting, experimenting with music production, brunching with friends, and thinking about when to have sushi next with family. @ejcandelaria

Cecilly is thrilled to be making her Theatre Calgary debut in this stunning concert production of Ragtime: A Concert Performance. Fresh off a run of The Wizard of Oz with Western Canadian Theatre, Cecilly originally hails from Vancouver, British Columbia. If you find yourself on the west coast this winter, be sure to come see Cecilly as Sister Margaretta in The Arts Club Theatre’s production of The Sound of Music.

(she/her) I was reared in a family that sang along to any music that was played. As a result of watching my father conduct choirs and lead worship at church, I developed a passion for music that expanded as I grew older. I am an international student from the Bahamas majoring in voice at Burman University, and I want to touch people’s hearts, whether I’m teaching a song or performing on stage, and to prove to my father that I just may be a better musician than he is.

Credits: Angela Smitten Class Of ’63 (Mayfield Dinner Theatre) Medda Larkin NEWSIES (Drayton) Dinah Washington and Mamma Troy Mama I Want to Sing. Solo performance in We’ll Meet Again (Drayton). International artist Simone Denny has four Canadian JUNO Awards. The former Love Inc vocalist best known for dance anthem You’re A Superstar. Original vocalist to the Emmy award-winning Queer Eye for the Straight Guy (NBC/Bravos). Simone’s philanthropy: AIDS & cancer charities. Thanks to NLM. @simonedennymusic

(she/her) Jessica is a performer, choreographer, arts educator, and private music teacher. She holds a performance diploma from Mount Royal University and a BFA, with great distinction, from Concordia University. She has had the pleasure of performing across Canada, Europe, South America, and the United States. Jessica also loves working with students of all ages to hone and discover their passion for the performing arts, and believes that sharing art with others is one of the best experiences in life.

(he/him) Originally from Calgary, and a graduate of the Randolph College for the Performing Arts, Troy has been performing across Canada and internationally for over 10 years. Selected credits: 9 to 5 (Citadel Theatre), Evita (Vancouver Opera), Mamma Mia, Anne of Green Gables (The Charlottetown Festival), West Side Story (Rainbow Stage), Moby Dick, The Inventor (Calgary Opera), We Will Rock You (International/RCCL), Peter Pan In Wonderland, Sleeping Beauty (Ross Petty Panto), Footloose (Drayton Entertainment), Crossing Swords (Forte), Cannibal! The Musical (Panasonic Theatre).

(she/her) For Theatre Calgary: Billy Elliot the Musical, The Secret Garden. Originally from Calgary, she attended university in the United States and received her BFA in Music Theatre at Elon University. Credits include: The Rocky Horror Show (Ovation Productions), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, White Christmas (Mill Mountain Theatre), and Ragtime (Elon University). While not on stage, Jillian works as a sommelier and a private event host for the Calgary Flames! Huge thanks to her family and her dog, Harper!

(she/her) Jessica is excited to make her Theatre Calgary debut! Elsewhere: Spongebob the Musical, The Sound of Music, Misplaced (StoryBook Theatre). Jessica enjoys playing piano and songwriting and has performed on stages in Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver. She has also been featured in commercials and print ads. In her spare time, Jessica loves hanging out with her two dogs Milo and Bijou, and has recently taken up motorcycling.

(he/him) Tim was born in Spirit River, Alberta, and is a proud Metis/Ukrainian Canadian living in the UK since 2001. He has performed on Broadway, all over the US, Canada and Europe, most recently playing the American in Chess at the ENO London, and the Phantom in London, UK. He also voiceovers video games, TV and movies, starred with most major orchestras worldwide, and is the lead Rock singer with the band Mike and the Mechanics. So happy to be back in Alberta! @timhowar or timhowar.com

(he/him) Steven was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and studied a collection of various styles of music at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. He centres his playing on soulful fusion, blending and meshing different styles to create a unique blend pleasing to a multitude of audiences. He has performing credits in Mexico, China, and other various parts of the world.

(she/her) This is Layne’s second show for Theatre Calgary and couldn’t be more excited! Layne has taken part in countless shows such as: Descendants, The Sound of Music, Spring Awakening, Junior Claus, Curious George and The Golden Meatball, Annie (StoryBook Theatre), Hair (Brown Cow), and many others. When not performing on the stage you can catch Layne watching her favourite Disney movie Ratatouille and enjoying her favourite snack, a Starbucks lemon loaf!

(he/him) Broadway: A Chorus Line, Doctor Zhivago. National Tours: White Christmas, The Producers (LA/Toronto). New York: Guys and Dolls (Carnegie Hall), Pipe Dream, Finian’s Rainbow (City Center Encores!), Yank!, Zorba (York Theatre), Dying City (TBG Theatre), The Wild Party (B-Side). Regional: Hollywood Bowl, Kennedy Center, Paper Mill Playhouse, Pittsburgh CLO, Dallas Theater Center, Asolo Rep, Charlottetown Festival. TV: Modern Love. Denis loves Ragtime and is thrilled to be in his hometown for this concert.

(she/her) Misha is a writer, filmmaker and singer. Making her film auteur debut in February 2022, she released Not That Deep, a short film and music project based on her debut EP. With music as her longest practice, she has studied and sung opera all over Canada and Europe, and now performs in a soul band under the stage name, Lemba. When not writing, directing or singing, Misha makes time to connect with other artists and discuss the creative process on her podcast In Rehearsal.

Doug is an award-winning actor whose favourite shows include: Late Company, The Cottage (RMTC); The Secret Garden, Enron, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Into the Woods, God of Carnage (Theatre Calgary); Follies; A Man of No Importance (DryCold); The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Little Mercy’s First Murder (Vertigo); The Alan Parkinson’s Project (Ghost River); Arcadia; Glengarry Glen Ross; and the Canadian Premiere of Chimerica (CanStage).

(she/her) For Theatre Calgary: The Louder We Get, Mary and Max. Katie is an emerging artist based in Calgary. She is so excited to be performing alongside these incredible local artists and the amazing Calgary Philharmonic. It is a dream come true! She thanks her family and friends for their love and support. Enjoy the show!

(she/her) Oki! Jenhene is a trained choral singer and grade 3 teacher with the Calgary Board of Education. She is passionate about pedagogy and enjoys bringing her love for music into the classroom. Outside of performing, Jenhene is a creative soul that enjoys singing in the band Lemba & the New Testaments, DIY projects, and taking care of her plants. She is thrilled to be joining Theatre Calgary for this concert experience!

(he/him) Marcus is equally at home in opera, theatre, concert, and cabaret. Recent engagements include Dick Deadeye in Vancouver Opera’s HMS Pinafore, Ben Stone in Sondheim’s Follies at Koerner Hall and Why We Tell the Story, a Stratford Festival cabaret, which Marcus directed and curated. Other highlights include Caiaphas in Jesus Christ Superstar on Broadway and his acclaimed portrayal of Judge Turpin in the Shaw Festival’s production of Sweeney Todd.
marcusnance.com

(she/her) Robyn is a Calgary-based artist, born and raised on Mohkínstsis. She is a graduate of the Mount Royal University Theatre Performance Program and Sheridan College’s Music Theatre Performance Program. Credits include: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Two Gentlemen of Verona (Theatre Calgary’s Shakespeare by the Bow), Romeo and Juliet (MRU/Theatre Calgary’s Shakespeare in the Park) Grand Hotel, Dogfight, Floyd Collins, H2$ (Theatre Sheridan),
Hamlet, Rocky Horror Picture Show (MRU), Girls Like That, Queenpins of Ponoka (Tightrope Theatre). Enjoy the show!

(he/him) Izuchi is an elementary student and an active member of the Diversity Performing Arts Club of Calgary (DPACC) where he dances and acts and travels across Canada to perform at various community events. He spends his free time practicing Michael Jackson’s dance moves and teaching himself parkour via YouTube. Izuchi creates drama and plays with his sisters during their playtime, and aspires to dance and act, and his family encourages him to pursue his dreams.

(he/him) Christopher received his Master’s of Music at Western University. He made his professional stage debut in the Canadian premiere of Choir Boy at Centaur Theatre (Montreal) and his Toronto stage debut in the Doranominated play The Negroes are Congregating at Theatre Passe Muraille. Most recently, he was the understudy/standby for the lead role of Super Jack in the North American premiere of Room presented by Mirvish Productions and written by Oscar-nominated writer Emma Donoghue.

(he/him) Shaquille is an actor who hails from many places across this vast continent, but distinctly caught the acting bug in Barrie, Ontario. His mother would like you to know he is a Theatre and Drama Studies graduate from the University of Toronto and Sheridan College. Now a denizen of Toronto, Shaquille does his best to stay busy, appearing in various theatre productions, workshops, short films, and a familiar commercial or two.

(she/her) For Theatre Calgary: Billy Elliot the Musical. Elsewhere: Featured Singer (International Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines), Alice in Wonderland, Sweeney Todd, Carmen, Les Miserables, We Will Rock You, Elegies for Angels Punks & Raging Queens, Rodgers & Hammerstein Concert. Michelle graduated from The London School Of Musical Theatre and has circled the globe performing. She’s delighted to be involved in another show with Theatre Calgary and would like to thank her wonderful husband who supports her through everything in life, her family, and friends.

(he/him) Joel is an actor and music director who is thrilled to be based in Calgary! For Theatre Calgary: The Louder We Get, Billy Elliot the Musical, TC Sings for Pride (Music Director/ Performer). Elsewhere: Naughty… But Nice! (Forte Musical Theatre), Beauty and the Beast (Young People’s Theatre), The Ding Dong Girls (Factory Theatre/Toronto Fringe), Slipper (Alberta Theatre Projects). All my love to Mom, Dad, Julia, Kristina, and the amazing Calgary community.

(she/her) A director, performer and educator, Elizabeth has directed for Calgary Opera, The Shakespeare Company, Seadreamer, Destiny Theatre, Soulocentric Festival, StoryBook Theatre, Stage West, and the Banff Centre. An award-winning actor, she has appeared on stages across Canada, the US, Mexico and Scotland. Favorite roles include Mrs. Peachum in The Beggar’s Opera, Shirley in Stone and Ashes, Mamma Rose in Gypsy, Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd, Mattie Fae in August: Osage County, Countess/Widow in All’s Well That Ends Well.

(he/him) JP is honoured to be part of this show. An award-winning actor, designer and director, JP has been both on and off the stage all over the world. He is Artistic Director for StoryBook Theatre, an incubator for Canada’s brightest emerging artists. Most recently, he worked with rock legends Queen as director of the North American tour of We Will Rock You (Annerin). “Behind every child is a parent who believed first.” Love you Mom.

(he/him) David is thrilled to be singing with an orchestra again! Previously he’s sung Sweeney Todd with the New York Philharmonic and toured Japan singing Disney classics with the Orchestra Japan among his other credits. It’s the first time he’s performed in his hometown of Calgary since 2010, so this is a dream come true. deardavidwebb.com

(he/him) Eric is thrilled to be a part of Ragtime: A Concert Performance! A Calgary based actor, musician, and restaurant manager, he has been working in theatres all over Alberta over the last 13 years. Select credits include: Million Dollar Quartet, The Secret Garden, Mary and Max, Twelfth Night, One Man, Two Guvnors, A Christmas Carol (Theatre Calgary), In Flanders Fields, Lest We Forget, Dads in Bondage (Lunchbox), Jeremy de Bergerac (Forte), Romeo & Juliet (The Shakespeare Company).

(he/him) Tenaj’s credits include: Clue (Vertigo), The Fiancee (Citadel), Sweat (Theatre Aquarius), The Color Purple (Citadel/RMTC, Neptune Theatre), Charlotte’s Web (ATP), Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead (Shakespeare Company/ATP), A Christmas Carol (Theatre Calgary) Touch Me: Songs for a (Dis)Connected Age (Theatre Calgary/Forte Musical Theatre), Naughty But Nice (Forte Musical Theatre), King Lear, Alls Well that Ends Well (Shakespeare Company). Film/TV credits: JANN (CTV/Hulu), Wynonna Earp (Syfy), Big Sky (NBC), Meet Me at Christmas (Hallmark). @tenajwilliams

Ella has performed in several productions in Calgary including The Sound of Music (StoryBook Theatre), Annie – The Musical (StoryBook Theatre), and Frankenstein (Jupiter Theatre). She is a Grade 5 student at Varsity Acres School who loves drawing, playing Ringette, and cuddling with her puppy Olive. Ella would like to thank her voice coach Kathleen and her Mom and Dad for all their support.

(he/him) For Theatre Calgary: A Christmas Carol (2019). Elsewhere: The Wizard of Oz, Peter Pan (Small Time Theatre). In 2020, Oliver learned to sing in harmony with his two older brothers and older sister, and their a cappella quartet was featured on Cityline TV in 2021. Interests include skiing, mountain biking, and basketball, and a highlight this year was when his community basketball team won the provincial championship. He loves music, and he’s very happy to be part of this incredible production.

Terrence had a remarkably far-ranging career, including a new work on Broadway in each of the last six decades. In 2018 he was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters. He won five Tony Awards for his plays Love! Valour! Compassion! and Master Class and his musical books for Kiss of the Spider Woman and Ragtime. He is a 2019 recipient of a Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement. He also received the Dramatists Guild Lifetime Achievement Award and the Lucille Lortel Lifetime Achievement Award. He wrote a number of TV scripts, including “Andre’s Mother,” for which he won an Emmy Award. He received two Guggenheim Fellowships, a Rockefeller Grant, four Drama Desk Awards, two Lucille Lortel Awards, two Obie Awards, and three Hull-Warriner Awards from the Dramatists Guild. In 1996 he was inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame. He wrote the libretto for the operas Great Scott and Dead Man Walking, both with music by Jake Heggie. He is also known for his plays Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune, The Ritz, Lips Together, Teeth Apart, Corpus Christie, Mothers and Sons and many more. His musicals include The Rink, The Full Monty, The Visit, Catch Me If You Can, Anastasia and more.

Stephen is the composer of the Broadway musicals Ragtime (Tony, Drama Desk, OCC Awards, two Grammy nominations), Seussical (Grammy, Drama Desk nominations), Once on This Island (Tony nomination, Olivier Award, Best Musical), Anastasia, and Rocky. Additional Broadway includes Chita Rivera: The Dancer’s Life (original songs) and Neil Simon’s Proposals (incidental music). Stephen has also written four musicals at Lincoln Center Theatre: The Glorious Ones (OCC, Drama Desk nominations), Dessa Rose (OCC, Drama Desk nominations), A Man of No Importance (OCC, Best Musical, Drama Desk nomination) and My Favorite Year. Other theater includes In Your Arms (Old Globe), Little Dancer (Kennedy Center), Lucky Stiff (Playwrights Horizons) and Loving Repeating: A Musical of Gertrude Stein (Chicago’s Jefferson Award, Best New Musical.) Film includes Anastasia (two Academy Award and two Golden Globe nominations), the documentary After The Storm and Lucky Stiff. Mr. Flaherty’s concert music has premiered at  the Hollywood Bowl, Boston’s Symphony Hall, Carnegie Hall, the Guggenheim Museum and Symphony Space. This year celebrates Stephen’s 32-year collaboration with lyricist-librettist Lynn Ahrens. Stephen and Lynn are members of the Dramatists Guild Council and co-founders of the Dramatists Guild Fellows Program for Emerging Writers. In 2015 they were inducted into the Theater Hall Of Fame. They recently premiered Knoxville at Asolo Rep. ahrensandflaherty.com

Lynn has won Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards and received two Grammy nominations for Broadway’s Ragtime. For Twentieth Century Fox’s animated feature film Anastasia, she was nominated for two Academy Awards and two Golden Globes. She and longtime collaborator Stephen Flaherty received the Oscar Hammerstein Award for Lifetime Achievement, and in 2015 they were inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame. Broadway: Anastasia; Once On This Island (Olivier Award, Best Musical; Tony nominations, Best Book and Score); Seussical (Grammy nomination); My Favorite Year; Chita Rivera: The Dancer’s Life; Rocky; Madison Square Garden’s A Christmas Carol; Ragtime (2010 Broadway revival). Off-Broadway and regional: Lincoln Center Theater’s Dessa Rose, The Glorious Ones (both Drama Desk-nominated) and A Man of No Importance (Outer Critics Circle Award, Best Musical); Lucky Stiff; Little Dancer (Kennedy Center world premiere). Film and television credits include A Christmas Carol (NBC-TV); Camp (IFC Films); Schoolhouse Rock (ABC-TV) and others. (Emmy Award and four Emmy nominations). She is a Council member of the Dramatists Guild of America, a co-founder of the Dramatists Guild Fellows Program for Emerging Writers, and a Lilly Award winner for Lyrics. Lynn and Stephen recently premiered Knoxville at Asolo Rep. ahrensandflaherty.com

William Brohn is best known for his scores of musicals such as Miss Saigon, Ragtime, and Wicked. He won the Tony Award for Best Orchestrations for Ragtime and won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Orchestrations three times. His work was eclectic, orchestrating many different styles of music. His modern scores are known for their keyboard writing for the orchestra pit, and their balance between acoustic and synthesised sounds.

Theatre/Broadway: Jekyll & Hyde, Scarlet Pimpernel, Civil War, Little Women (Drama Desk Award nomination), Wonderland, Jekyll & Hyde revival. Theatre/International: Rudolf, Carmen, Monte Cristo, Phantom (Yeston/Kopit), No Longer Human. Film: A River Runs Through It, Quiz Show, Fly Away Home, The Net. Television: Dallas, Knot’s Landing, Party of Five. Other: Handel’s Messiah Rocks, Linda Eder, Boston Pops, Atlanta Symphony, From Broadway with Love (Sandy Hook, Orlando, Parkland), Associate Artist at Ford’s Theatre (Washington, DC), Composer/Arranger for the Pageant of the Masters (Laguna Beach, CA). kimscharnberg.com

(he/him) Stafford is the Artistic Director of Theatre Calgary. In 2015, he became the first Asian Canadian to direct a Broadway musical – Allegiance; and was nominated for an Olivier Award for his direction of Ragtime (West End). Additional credits: The Secret Garden, Mary and Max, A Christmas Carol, Billy Elliot (Theatre Calgary); Altar Boyz and Carrie (Off-Broadway); Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris (Stratford Festival); Bhangin’ It (La Jolla Playhouse). Stafford was Associate Director on Seussical and A Class Act (Broadway). He is a graduate of York University. staffordarima.com

Broadway: Miss Saigon, On the Town, Gigi, Follies, South Pacific, Ragtime, Steel Pier, Company. Tours: Les Miserables, The Producers, Kiss me, Kate, Crazy for You. Regional: Sweeney Todd (The Muny), Titanic (Signature Theatre), Mame (The Kennedy Center), Hello, Dolly (Ford’s Theatre), Road Show (Encores! Off-Center). Recordings: On the Town, Follies (Grammy nominee). Education: Master and Bachelor of Music, Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra and Theatre Calgary debut.

(she/her) A graduate of The American Music and Dramatic academy in New York City, Samantha has toured to stages across Canada and the US. She is delighted to be working and learning alongside Stafford and this remarkable company. Past directorial credits include: Disney’s Descendants (StoryBook Theatre), Hairspray!, Little Shop of Horrors, Grease (Shawnigan Lake School), Mary Poppins, Tangled (Adage Studio), and Pet the Fish (Chemainus Theatre Festival).

(he/him) Mark Limacher is a composer-improviser, arranger, orchestrator, radio host, and genre-crossing pianist. He is a graduate of The New School, former apprentice of composer Bunita Marcus, and performs regularly with the Calgary Philharmonic and Theatre Calgary. Also an accomplished jazz pianist, he has performed with multi-Grammy Award winner Ted Nash and JUNO-winning vocalist Caity Gyorgy. marklimacher.com

(he/him) Scott has been designing for theatre, opera and dance for over 30 years. He is a set, lighting, and projection designer. Although based in Calgary, Scott’s designs have been seen across North America. He has enjoyed designing for such diverse projects as theatre for young audiences touring shows, new plays, as well as large-scale operas, theatre and ballets. scottreiddesign.com

(he/him) Joshua is a sound and systems designer and has worked extensively on Broadway, Off-Broadway, National Tours, International Productions and Sound System Installations. Recent design selections include Million Dollar Quartet (Theatre Calgary), A Little Night Music (Arizona Opera), Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (National Tour), The Color Purple (National Tour), Girlfriend (TheatreWorks Hartford, Connecticut Critics Circle Award), A Christmas Carol (Geffen Playhouse, LA Drama Critics Circle Award, LA Ovation Award). Full credentials at ReidSoundDesign.com.

(she/her) Beth is a theatre-maker and an award-winning lighting, set, projection, and mixed-reality designer whose work has been seen on stages around the world for over 30 years. A leader in new forms of performance, she recently led a VR Performance residency at Canadian Stage, and co-created and directed Bury The Wren, a Virtual Reality / Live performance which will next be presented at World Stage Design in Calgary. Her favourite production is her son, Aaron. playgroundstudios.ca

(she/her) Niesa’s stage manager credits include: Ragtime (World Premiere, US Premiere, National tours), Mamma Mia! (North American Premiere, National Tour). Niesa is thrilled to come out of stage management retirement to work on this concert version of Ragtime! Her  usual day job is President of Details Convention & Event Management, and taking care of her twins Piper and Megan.

(she/her) As a lifelong fan of both the theatre and the orchestra, getting to collaborate with so many talented folks in such a beautiful space is truly a dream. Emma is fortunate to work at venues around the country, but she makes her home in Calgary – a city she loves and believes in. Emma would like to thank Theatre Calgary for the opportunity, and her husband Eric for feeding the cats and for getting to rehearsal so early every day.