Festival Theatre

April 19 – October 30 |

Opens May 31

Musical

A CHORUS LINE

Conceived and originally directed and choreographed by Michael Bennett
Book by James Kirkwood & Nicholas Dante
Music by Marvin Hamlisch
Lyrics by Edward Kleban
Co-Choreographed by Bob Avian
Original Broadway production produced by The New York Shakespeare Festival, Joseph Papp, producer, in association with Plum Productions, Inc.
Director and Choreographer Donna Feore

Audience Advisory »

On stage, they move as one. But each member of that glittering line has a unique history of hope and heartbreak, revealed in the life stories they share in this inspiring musical masterpiece.

CAST & CREATIVE

CAST

2016: Cassie in A Chorus Line and La Troupe de Molière in The Hypochondriac. Stratford debut. Elsewhere: Morticia Addams in The Addams Family, Anita in West Side Story, The Producers, White Christmas, Beauty and the Beast (Neptune Theatre); Fräulein Kost in Cabaret (Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre); puppeteer of Joey, Topthorn and Goose in War Horse (Toronto/U.S. national tour/Japan); Columbia in The Rocky Horror Show, Ghost of Christmas Future in Alan Menken's A Christmas Carol, Oliver! (Theatre Aquarius); Lady Anne in Camelot (U.S. national tour/Drayton Entertainment); Clara in Broadway on Argyle St. (Willpower Theatre); Spamalot, The Rocky Horror Show (Citadel Theatre); West Side Story (Portland Centre Stage); Houdini the Musical (Segal Centre). Film/TV: Hellcats (CW Network), Save the Last Dance 2 (Paramount). Online: daynatietzen.com; @DaynaTietzen. Et cetera: "For my parents, who have always believed."

2016: Zach in A Chorus Line and Count Carl-Magnus Malcolm in A Little Night Music. 14th season. Stratford: Henry V, Much Ado, The Misanthrope, Twelfth Night, Kiss Me, Kate, Evita, Bartholomew Fair, Three Sisters, All's Well, Shrew, As You Like It, Hamlet, Dracula, Dream, Man of La Mancha. Elsewhere: The Motherf**ker with the Hat (Bob Kills Theatre); Cabaret, Philadelphia Story, Light in the Piazza (Shaw); Madonna Painter (Factory); New Brain, Piazza (Acting Up Stage); It's a Wonderful Life, Goodnight Desdemona, Much Ado (Canadian Stage); Cymbeline, The Three Musketeers, Hecuba (Chicago Shakespeare); Blithe Spirit, An Ideal Husband (Citadel); Love's Labour's Lost (NAC); The Producers (Mirvish); Present Laughter (Soulpepper); Anything That Moves (Tarragon); Kiss of the Spider Woman (Livent); Hedda Gabler (MTC); Rocky Horror (Bathurst Street). Film/TV: Reign, Finn on the Fly, Republic of Love, What's Up Warthogs, The Border, Roxy Hunter, This Is Wonderland, Cheetah Girls, Monk. Training: BFA, U of A. Awards: Dora, Gemini, Jeff, Ovation, Carbonell.

2016: Butch in A Chorus Line and La Troupe de Molière in The Hypochondriac. Stratford debut. Elsewhere: Funny Girl (Segal Centre); Anne of Green Gables, Alice Through the Looking-Glass, Canada Rocks (Charlottetown Festival); Cats - Dora nomination (Mirvish - Panasonic). Film/TV: Full Out (2015), Big Fun Weeknights (YTV), Get Up 'N Move (Revolver Films). Awards: Amy Wallis Scholarship (Charlottetown Festival), gold and silver medals (International Tap Dance Championships). Online: Instagram/Twitter: @EricMackAbel. Et cetera: "Much love to Mom and Dad, Devon, TH gang and all my friends whose love and support means the world."

2016: Mike in A Chorus Line and Frid in A Little Night Music. Seventh season. Stratford: The Sound of Music,Carousel, Crazy for You, Man of La Mancha, Tommy, Fiddler on the Roof, Jesus Christ Superstar, Camelot, West Side Story, Cyrano de Bergerac, The Music Man, Moby Dick. Broadway: Jesus Christ Superstar (Dodgers). Elsewhere: Billy Elliot The Musical (MTC); Snow White (Ross Petty Productions); Shrek The Musical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Grand Theatre); White Christmas, Sweet Charity, Dance Legends (Drayton Entertainment); We Will Rock You (Mirvish); Anne of Green Gables, Canada Rocks (Charlottetown Festival); The Waiting Room, Verb.atim, Rain (Helix Dance Project); Eve of St.George (TranscenDance Project). Training: Advanced certificates in RAD, CDTA and ADAPT syllabi. Banff ballet school, RWB School, and an alumnus of the Canadian College of Performing Arts. Et cetera: "Much love and peace. Enjoy the shows!"

2016: Al in A Chorus Line and Henrik Egerman in A Little Night Music. Third season. Stratford: Rolf Gruber in The Sound of Music, Pinball Lad in Tommy and appeared in Fiddler on the Roof and Carousel. Elsewhere: Johnny alternate in Green Day's American Idiot (first U.S. tour); Hank Majewski in Jersey Boys (Dancap); Gilbert in Anne of Green Gables (Charlottetown); Bobby in Cabaret (Theatre Aquarius). Film/TV: Captain von Trapp in the Disney movie The Pacifier starring Vin Diesel. Training: Etobicoke School of the Arts. Online: Twitter: @GabrielNacci. Et cetera: Huge thanks to his family, Colin McMurray, Donna Feore, Gary Griffin and his cello teachers Ben and Natalie. He could not be here without the incredible support of his wife, Robin, and their two dogs, Bella and Sophie.

2016: Greg in A Chorus Line and Amiens in As You Like It. Fifth season. Stratford: The Sound of Music, Carousel, Crazy For You, Man of La Mancha, Tommy, Fiddler on the Roof, 42nd Street, The Pirates of Penzance, Next to Normal, Passion. Elsewhere: Siegfried (COC); Cabaret, White Christmas (RMTC); Miracle on 34th Street (Grand); Hairspray, Les Feux Follets (Charlottetown); Hairspray, How to Succeed… (Drayton); Peter Pan, High School Musical (Neptune); Grief: Another Common Bond (co-creator, Winchester Street Theatre); Peter Pan (Ross Petty). Film/TV: Soundcheck: Odd Squad (PBS); How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? (CBC); Feist music videos "1, 2, 3, 4" and "My Moon, My Man." Training: Canadian College of Performing Arts. Online: Twitter: @mattarmet. Instagram: @mat2eh. Et cetera: "Dedicating this season to my mother and all the parents who are bringing their kids to their first show today!"

2016: Bebe in A Chorus Line and Hymen's Assistant in As You Like It. Stratford debut. Elsewhere: Appeared in Aladdin: The Panto and The Pirates of Penzance, featured ensemble in Snow White: The Panto (Drayton Entertainment); Sheila/Jeanie understudy in Hair - national tour (Classical Theatre Productions); featured ensemble in Somewhere With You (New York Musical Theatre Festival). Training: Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts. Awards: Triple Threat Award (Randolph Academy). Et cetera: Ashley would like to dedicate this performance to her ever-supportive family, especially Doug and Melody Arnett, and to her beloved friend David Connolly.

2016: Lenny in A Chorus Line and Second Forest Lord in As You Like It. Second season. Stratford: Carousel, The Adventures of Pericles. Elsewhere: North American Broadway tour: Movin' Out; Drayton Entertainment: Twist and Shout, Damn Yankees and Dance Legends; Canadian Opera Company: Don Quichotte. Film/TV: American Girl: Isabelle Dances Into the Spotlight; Rise, Shaftesbury Films. Training: Alex grew up dancing at his family-owned dance studio, Dean/Black School of Performing Arts. He attended Wayne State University as a BFA candidate, and was a talent scholar and Maggie Allesee Award recipient. Et cetera: Alex would like to thank his wife, Rochelle, family and friends for their love and support.

2016: Larry in and assistant choreographer of A Chorus Line and King's Attendant, La Troupe de Molière appears in and choreographer of The Hypochondriac. 11th season. Stratford: Credits include assistant choreographer of The Sound of Music; Crazy for You, Man of La Mancha, Tommy, Fiddler on the Roof (2013 and 2000), 42nd Street, The Pirates of Penzance, Kiss Me, Kate, Evita, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, West Side Story, The Music Man, Moby Dick, Oklahoma!, My One and Only, Oliver!, South Pacific; choreographer for Cynthia Dale in Concert: Outside Looking In. Elsewhere: Assistant choreographer of West Side Story (Vancouver Opera); The Little Mermaid, White Christmas, Annie (Drayton Entertainment); Mel Brooks's The Producers (Canon Theatre); Gangster #2 in The Drowsy Chaperone, Evita (Theatre Calgary and MTC); Forever Swing (Winter Garden Theatre); Cinderella (Grand Theatre). Et cetera: Stephen would like to thank his family for their constant support, especially his wife, Rachel.

2016: Mark in A Chorus Line and La Troupe de Molière in The Hypochondriac. Stratford debut. Elsewhere: Sweet Charity, Light Up the Sky, Prentiss, Scott, Alf cover in Peter and the Starcatcher (Shaw Festival); On the Town (Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival, New York); Pip in Great Expectations (Highlands Summer Festival); Excalibur Trilogy (Florence Ballet Company, Italy); Les Feux Follets (Charlottetown Festival); Hello, Dolly!, A Doll's House, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Theatre Sheridan). Training: Colton is a proud graduate of the Bachelor of Music Theatre Performance program at Sheridan College. Awards: Brian Linehan Triple Threat Award (2012, 2013, 2014). Online: Instagram/Twitter: @coltonccurtis. Et cetera: "Endless thanks to the creative teams, Bruce, Geoff and the Talent House gang, and to my loving family. Kick ball change!"

2016: Troy in A Chorus Line and La Troupe de Molière in The Hypochondriac. Stratford debut. Elsewhere: Willie Boulter in Anne of Green Gables (Drayton Entertainment), Arthur in Brantwood (Brantwood), Ensemble in Parade (Lincoln Center), Eli in It's a Wonderful Christmas (CPA Entertainment), Michael in Signed Sealed Delivered (Bathurst Street Theatre), Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (CPA Entertainment). Film/TV: Supporting lead, Cypher, in Bibleman; series lead in RockidsTV; supporting lead, Splinter, in Godrocks: Live in Miami; Christmas with the Clemons; dancer, MMVAs. Radio/Recordings: Solo album, Outside, available on iTunes. Training: Sheridan College. Awards: Dora Audience Choice Award for Brantwood. Online: jonojosh.com; @jj_gerber. Et cetera: JJ dedicates this season to all the performers who have ever been afraid to follow their dreams.

2016: Kristine in A Chorus Line and appears in As You Like It. Third season. Stratford: Liesl von Trapp in The Sound of Music, Patsy in Crazy for You and appeared in The Beaux' Stratagem. Elsewhere: Mary Poppins, Legally Blonde, A Christmas Carol (Theatre Aquarius); Siegfried (COC); Elf (Grand Theatre); West Side Story, The Jungle Book (Neptune); Beauty and the Beast, Mary Poppins (Rainbow). Film/TV: Principal dancer on Bomb Girls, Suits, Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure, L.A. Complex, Make It Happen. Training: Sheridan College Music Theatre, Royal Winnipeg Ballet. Online: Twitter: @alex_herzog_. Et cetera: Special thanks to Donna Feore and Nancy Benjamin.

2016: Frank in A Chorus Line and La Troupe de Molière in The Hypochondriac. Fourth season. Stratford: Man of La Mancha, Crazy for You, Fiddler on the Roof, Tommy, 42nd Street, The Pirates of Penzance. Elsewhere: We Will Rock You (Mirvish); Siegfried (COC); Mary Poppins (Aquarius); Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Camelot (North American tours); Guys and Dolls, Evita, The Pirates of Penzance, Me and My Girl, Anne of Green Gables (Drayton); Riff in West Side Story, Peter Pan, understudy Gaston in Beauty and the Beast (Neptune); Gaston in Beauty and the Beast (Silvermist); Alec in Anne and Gilbert (Ontario tour, TIP); Houdini (Saidye Bronfman); Twist and Shout, The Pirates of Penzance (Chemainus); Victor/Victoria (Stage West Calgary); Les Feux Follets (Charlottetown Festival YC). Training: Canadian College of Performing Arts, Victoria, B.C.; inaugural member of CCPA's performance company, Company C. Et cetera: Galen is also a talented drummer and a stop-motion animator. "For Cydney, Chuck and Heather."

2016: Judy in A Chorus Line and Malla in A Little Night Music. Third season. Stratford: Betsy in Crazy for You, The Sound of Music, Carousel, Man of La Mancha. Elsewhere: Dancer in Siegfried (Canadian Opera Company); Chorus in Cabaret (French version, Tandem Productions); Chorus in Chantons sous la pluie (Singin' in the Rain, French version, Just for Laughs); Rockette in Radio City Christmas Spectacular; singer in the revue '80s Flashback (Tropicana Hotel Casino, Atlantic City). Film/TV: 42nd Street chorus girl in Warehouse 13, dancer on game show Fidèles au Poste. Et cetera: Bonnie wants to thank her family and friends for always supporting and believing in her.

2016: Lois in A Chorus Line and Osa in A Little Night Music. Second season. Stratford: Swing in Crazy for You, appeared in The Beaux' Stratagem. Elsewhere: Mona in Chicago, Atina in The Little Mermaid, Peter Pan (Drayton Entertainment); Dance Legends (Drayton Entertainment, Grand Theatre); Return to Grace (Fallsview Casino, Asian tour); Summer in the City (Stage West Calgary); Seussical (Citadel Theatre, Young People's Theatre). Film/TV: Warrior, Warehouse 13, Hellcats, Bomb Girls, L.A. Complex, Sharpay's New Adventure, principal dance double in Make It Happen and Christmas Dance. Training/Teaching: Proud graduate of Sheridan Institute's prestigious Music Theatre Performance Program and has also taught at the college. Awards: Lindsay Thomas "The Show Must Go On" Award. Et cetera: "Endless thanks to the Talent House team and an abundance of love and gratitude to Mom, Dad, Ryan, family and friends. This one's for all the dancers that put themselves on the line." Follow @bethanykovarik on Instagram.

2016: Sheila in A Chorus Line and Mrs. Segstrom in A Little Night Music. Fourth season. Stratford: The Sound of Music, The Taming of the Shrew, Man of La Mancha, Crazy for You, The Pirates of Penzance, Elektra. Elsewhere: The Wizard of Oz (Toronto and first national tour), Lord of the Rings (world première), The Producers (Mirvish); Shrek the Musical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (The Grand); Lies My Father Told Me (Segal Centre); How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Sweet Charity, Cats, Evita (Drayton); White Christmas, Cats (Theatre Aquarius); The Producers, White Christmas (Neptune Theatre); A Chorus Line, Footloose (Stage West, Calgary/Mississauga); West Side Story (Citadel/Theatre Calgary); The Merry Widow (Opera Ontario); Thick-Skinned (Toronto Fringe Festival). Et cetera: Ayrin is also a certified Kundalini yoga teacher.

2016: Butch in A Chorus Line and La Troupe de Molière in The Hypochondriac. Stratford debut. Elsewhere: Luis in West Side Story (Citadel Theatre); Clara's Dream and Shumka at 50! China tour (Shumka/SPI Productions); Angel in Rent and Fector in Dogfight (Edmonton Fringe); Larry in Company (Grant MacEwan Theatre). Training: Grant MacEwan University Theatre Arts. Awards: Sterling Award for West Side Story, Citadel Theatre. Online: Twitter: @Jordan_Mah; Instagram: @Djmah5. Et cetera: Jordan would like to thank his family, friends and mentors for all the incredible support. "Life is a whirlwind, so spread those wings and fly!"

2016: Swing in A Chorus Line and La Troupe de Molière in The Hypochondriac. Stratford debut. Elsewhere: Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (North American tour); Spamalot, Moon Over Buffalo, Crazy for You (Drayton Entertainment); Chicago (Stage West); The Producers (Neptune Theatre); Cabaret,Mary Poppins (Theatre Aquarius); Singin' in the Rain, Mary Poppins (Capitol Theatre). Film/TV: Warehouse 13, Arranged. Training: Sheridan College (Musical Theatre), York University (Masters of Fine Arts - Dance). Et cetera: Allison has just completed a Master's degree focusing on the chorus women of Canadian musical theatre. Being asked to be a part of A Chorus Line could not have been more serendipitous and she is unbelievably grateful for the opportunity to perform in her first season at the Stratford Festival with this show. Her dedication is to these women of the chorus and to everyone who has helped along her journey - specifically Mom, Dad and Meg!

2016: Don in A Chorus Line and Frederick's First Lord in As You Like It. Seventh season. Stratford: The Sound of Music, Carousel, Crazy for You, Man of La Mancha, The King and I, Anything Goes, Guys and Dolls, Hello, Dolly!, Into the Woods, Oklahoma!, My One and Only. Elsewhere: Siegfried (COC); Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (North American tour); The Little Mermaid, White Christmas, Mary Poppins (Valentine), Big Band Legends, Annie, 9 to 5 (Bob Enright), Dance Legends, Brigadoon (Harry Beaton), Evita, Peter Pan, Robin Hood, Me and My Girl (Drayton); Joseph…, Sweet Charity (Stage West Calgary); Beauty and the Beast, Legends (Grand); Guys and Dolls (Citadel, Theatre Calgary, MTC); Anne of Green Gables (Charlottetown); Broadway Encore! (Tokyo Disneyland); Romeo and Juliet, The Nutcracker (Ballet Jörgen). Film/TV: Hairspray, Bollywood/Hollywood, The Other Me, Charms for the Easy Life, Earth: Final Conflict, Mortal Instruments: City of Bones.

2016: Tricia in A Chorus Line and appears in As You Like It. Second season. Elsewhere: We Will Rock You (Mirvish); Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (North American tour); Chicago (Velma understudy) (Casino de Paris); Crazy for You (Irene) (Theatre By the Bay); South Pacific, White Christmas, Sweet Charity, Guys and Dolls, Evita, Me and My Girl (Drayton); Cats (Demeter) (Theatre Calgary); Cabaret (Fräulein Kost) (Saidye Bronfman); The Fox on the Fairway (Louise), Chicago (Annie, Velma understudy), The Marvelous Wonderettes (Betty-Jean), Victor/Victoria, Grease, A Chorus Line (Stage West); White Christmas, A Christmas Carol (Aquarius); Chicago, Evita (Neptune). Training: Arts Educational Schools of London, U.K.; Canadian College of Performing Arts, Victoria, B.C. Et cetera: Melanie is so happy to return to the Stratford Festival and to share the stage with her husband, Jason Sermonia. "Thank you to the Talent House and my family for all your support."

2016: Val in A Chorus Line and La Troupe de Molière in The Hypochondriac. Stratford debut. Elsewhere: For Mirvish Productions: Lauren, Nicola understudy in Kinky Boots, Dorothy alternate in Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Wizard of Oz (Toronto and first national tour). For Drayton Entertainment: Ariel Moore in Footloose, Snow White in Snow White: The Panto. Ariel Moore in Footloose (Rainbow Stage); Lig & Bittle, Canada Rocks! (STF); Maureen in Rent (Theatre Sheridan). Training: A proud graduate of Sheridan College's Music Theatre Program. Online: juliamclellan.com; Instagram: @juliaemilymclellan. Et cetera: Julia would like to thank Bruce, Geoff, Jonathan and the entire Talent House gang, her incredible family, and her partner in crime, Mike.

2016: Swing in A Chorus Line and La Troupe de Molière in The Hypochondriac. Stratford debut. Elsewhere: Henry in Damn Yankees (Theatre Sheridan); Singin' in the Rain (Capitol Theatre); Diesel in West Side Story, The Little Mermaid, The Producers, Neleus in Mary Poppins, Bickle in Footloose (Rainbow Stage). Training: Reid just finished his third year in the Bachelor of Music Theatre Performance program at Sheridan College. Online: @reidmctavish. Et cetera: "There are moments in life that change everything. This is one of them. I am so honoured and excited to be part of the Stratford Festival. A huge thanks to my family for their unwavering support, to my close friend and mentor Jay T. Schramek for all of your guidance, to Bruce and the whole TH gang, and to all of my wonderful teachers and friends at Sheridan. Enjoy! 5, 6, 7, 8!"

2016: Bobby in A Chorus Line and First Page in As You Like It. Second season. Stratford: Swing in Fiddler on the Roof and appeared in Tommy. Elsewhere: Twist and Shout, Legally Blonde, Damn Yankees, Footloose, The Little Mermaid, Spamalot, Chicago, The Pirates of Penzance, Aladdin: The Panto (Drayton Entertainment); The Wizard of Oz (Ross Petty); Greg (A Chorus Line), Cabaret (Rose Theatre); Summer in the City (Stage West Calgary); Booth (Assassins), Victor (Cabaret). Film/TV: Making It (CHUM TV), Nothing to Lose (MuchMusic). Awards: Z103.5 Pop Award (Sheridan College Music Theatre Program). Online: @NickNesbitt. Et cetera: Nick is thrilled to be back for another season here at the Stratford Festival. Special thanks to the Talent House gang, Donna, his friends and family, and his beautiful Mom, Trudy.

2016: Richie in A Chorus Line and La Troupe de Molière in The Hypochondriac. Stratford debut. Elsewhere: Ken Page in Ain't Misbehavin' (Magnus Theatre), Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet (360 Screenings), ensemble in Sweet Charity (Shaw Festival), Franklin Shephard in Merrily We Roll Along (Theatre Sheridan), Padamadan/Nickos in Legally Blonde (Drayton), Duane in Hairspray (Rainbow Stage), ensemble in Elf the Musical (The Grand). Film/TV: Little Mosque on the Prairie, Ghost Trackers, series lead in The Moblees and dancer in Degrassi Goes Hollywood, The Strain, Beauty and the Beast and Pompeii. Recordings: Original cast recording, Come From Away (CMTP). Training: Sheridan College - Musical Theatre Performance graduate. Online: Twitter: @mattnethersole; Instagram: @MATTNETHERSOLE.

2016: Roy in A Chorus Line and Charles, Jake de Boys in As You Like It. Seventh season. Stratford: Pedro, Man of La Mancha; Custus, Crazy for You; Ernst Ludwig, Cabaret; Baron Elberfeld, The Sound of Music (2015); Rolf, The Sound of Music (2001); Carousel; The Trojan Women; Jean-Paul, Gigi; Love's Labour's Lost; My Fair Lady; Inherit the Wind; The Threepenny Opera. Elsewhere: Gus/Growltiger, Cats (NuMusical Productions); Mary Poppins U.S. national tour (Disney Theatricals); Jerry, The Full Monty (Theatre Aquarius); Mitch Albom, Tuesdays with Morrie; Boolie, Driving Miss Daisy (Starbright Festival); Leo, Leo the Royal Cadet, Strephon, Iolanthe (Toronto Operetta Theatre); Simeon, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Stage West); Robert, Betrayal (DIY theatre); Bill Sykes, Oliver!; Giles, The Mousetrap (Port Hope Theatre); Dr. Carrasco, Man of La Mancha (Saidye Bronfman Centre). Training: BFA Acting: University of Windsor.

2016: Maggie in A Chorus Line and Mrs. Nordstrom in A Little Night Music. Sixth season. Stratford: The Sound of Music, Carousel, Tommy, Fiddler on the Roof, 42nd Street, Much Ado About Nothing, Jesus Christ Superstar, Camelot, Kiss Me, Kate, Evita. Elsewhere: For Yes Theatre: Carrie: The Musical. For RMTC: Cabaret. For the Charlottetown Festival: Anne of Green Gables. For the Grand Theatre: Elf. For Ross Petty Productions: Robin Hood. For Theatre Aquarius: Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story. Recordings: Carousel cast recording, Stratford (2015). Training: Music Theatre Performance (diploma) from Sheridan Institute, Theatre Studies in Acting (diploma) from Red Deer College. Et cetera: "I'd like to dedicate this season to Miss Julie, who bestowed upon me a fierce love of dance and performance. Big love and thanks to Bruce and the TH gang, my parents and my partner, Robert - love you!" Online: Twitter: @RiderShaw.

2016: Paul in A Chorus Line and Frederick's Second Lord in As You Like It. Stratford debut. Elsewhere: Footloose, Anne of Green Gables, Damn Yankees (Drayton Entertainment); Cabaret (MTC); Avenue Q (Assembly/Edinburgh Fringe). Film/TV: Sunshine on Leith. Training: Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts. Et cetera: "What a thrill. Love and thanks to TH, Mom and Dad, Olivia and Shane."

2016: Connie in A Chorus Line and Hymen's Assistant in As You Like It. Second season. Stratford: West Side Story, Cyrano de Bergerac. Elsewhere: Peter and the Starcatcher, Sweet Charity (Shaw Festival); Mary Poppins (Broadway tour); Liat in South Pacific, Miss Saigon (Drayton Entertainment); Elf (Grand Theatre); West Side Story (Vancouver Opera, Neptune Theatre); The Wedding Singer (Stage West Mississauga); Les Feux Follets (Charlottetown Festival); Mulan in Golden Mickeys (Disney Cruise Line). Film/TV: Full Out - Canadian Screen Award nomination (Carmel Creek); Odd Squad (PBS Kids); Degrassi: TNG (Epitome); Beauty and the Beast, The L.A. Complex, Hellcats (CW); Hotel Noir (Gato Negro); Really Me (Family); Mirror, Mirror (Relativity Media). Training: Sheridan College - Music Theatre Performance. Online: @GennySermonia. Et cetera: Genny dedicates her season to all the different kinds of Connies out there, and to her darling, Gomj.

2016: Tom in A Chorus Line and Dennis in As You Like It. Fifth season. Stratford: Crazy for You (Clem), Jesus Christ Superstar (John), Man of La Mancha (Juan), Camelot (swing), Anything Goes (John), The Sound of Music, Carousel, Guys and Dolls. Elsewhere: John in Jesus Christ Superstar (Dodger Properties - Broadway); The Lion King (Mirvish & Disney Theatrical - Las Vegas); Dirty Dancing (Mirvish - North American première); We Will Rock You (Mirvish & first U.S. national tour); Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots (La Jolla - world première); Mary Poppins (Drayton - Canadian première). Film/TV: 66th Annual Tony Awards (Jesus Christ Superstar); 37th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards; Dancing with the Stars (The Lion King); Honey (Universal - Billy Woodruff); Oscar-winning movie Chicago (Miramax - Rob Marshall). Online: Twitter/Instagram: @JasonSermonia. Et cetera: Jason is excited to share the stage with his wife, Melanie, and sister Genny. "Love and many thanks to all my family, friends and the T House."

2016: Diana in A Chorus Line and understudy in A Little Night Music. Second season. Stratford: The Sound of Music and Carousel. Elsewhere: The Sound of Music (Aquarius); Third Spirit in The Magic Flute, Amore in L'incoronazione di Poppea, seven seasons with Artists of Atelier Ballet, including tours to L'Opéra Royal de Versailles and the Salzburg Festival (Opera Atelier); Bach Mass in B minor (Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra); Toronto All-Star Big Band. Film/TV: Magic Flute Diaries (Sullivan Entertainment). Recordings: Shrek's Fairytale Kingdom (DreamWorks/Capcom); UFOs: A Secret History (History Channel). Training: BMus, Masters of Musicology, University of Toronto; School of Atelier Ballet. Awards: SSHRC; OGS. Et cetera: "Thanks to my family and friends for your unconditional love and ongoing support, Ken for providing a solid artistic foundation in music, Jeannette and Marshall for introducing me to the stage and mentoring me over many, many years, and Rachel at NCA for the encouragement!"

2016: Vicki in A Chorus Line and Fredrika in A Little Night Music. Stratford debut. Elsewhere: Jasmine in Aladdin: The Panto, Eponine understudy/ensemble in Les Misérables (Drayton Entertainment); Rosalia in West Side Story (Rainbow Stage); featured performer/dance captain in Les Feux Follets (Charlottetown Festival). Training: Bachelor of Music Theatre Performance, Sheridan College, 2015. Awards: Fourth Year Triple Threat Award, Contribution to the Canadian Music Theatre Project Award, Outstanding Achievement in Dance Performance Award (Theatre Sheridan). Online: @trukimmy. Et cetera: "It is an absolute dream come true for me to be performing at the Stratford Festival! I am beyond grateful and would like to dedicate every performance to my incredible family in B.C., as well as my extraordinary friends, who have provided me with nothing but boundless love and support every step of the way. Big thanks to TH and the Sheridan gang."

CREATIVE

Conceiver, original director and choreographer: A Chorus Line.

Born in Buffalo, New York, on April 8, 1943, Michael Bennett choreographed Promises, Promises; Coco; Company; Follies (which he co-directed with Harold Prince); and Seesaw (which he also wrote and directed). In 1973 he made his debut as a dramatic director with Twigs, which starred Sada Thompson. A Chorus Line, which he conceived, choreographed and directed, won nine Tony Awards. In 1976 he and the other authors of A Chorus Line were awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. In 1979 he produced, directed and choreographed Ballroom, which was nominated for eight Tony Awards and won Bennett his sixth Tony. He won his seventh Tony Award for 1981's Dreamgirls and directed its acclaimed 1985 Broadway revival. The film adaptation of Dreamgirls was released in December 2006. Bennett died on July 2, 1987.

Librettist: A Chorus Line

Born in Los Angeles on August 22, 1924, James Kirkwood was a Broadway and television actor as well as half of the comedy team Kirkwood and Goodman before taking up writing. His novels include There Must Be a Pony!, Good Times/Bad Times, P.S. Your Cat Is Dead!, Some Kind of Hero and Hit Me With a Rainbow. His nonfiction books include American Grotesque and Diary of a Mad Playwright: Perilous Adventures on the Road with Mary Martin and Carol Channing, about the road tour of his play Legends. His other plays include U.T.B.U. and dramatizations of There Must Be a Pony! and P.S. Your Cat Is Dead! He died on April 21, 1989.

Librettist: A Chorus Line

Born Conrado Morales in New York City on November 22, 1941, Nicholas Dante spent his early career dancing in the choruses of Applause and other Broadway shows, as well as various TV shows and nightclubs. His writing career took off when his friend Michael Bennett asked him to collaborate on the first draft of the book for A Chorus Line. The final result earned Dante a Pulitzer Prize, a Tony Award and many other honours. He also authored a screenplay, Fake Lady, and a musical based on the life of AI Jolson entitled Jolson Tonite. He died on May 21, 1991.

Composer: A Chorus Line.

Born in Manhattan on June 2, 1944, Marvin Hamlisch was the composer of the Broadway musicals They're Playing Our Song and Sweet Smell of Success, and shared the Pulitzer Prize for his score of A Chorus Line. He also composed more than 40 motion picture scores, including his Oscar-winning score and song for The Way We Were and his adaptation of Scott Joplin's music for The Sting, for which he received a third Oscar. A graduate of both the Juilliard School of Music and Queens College, he held the position of principal pops conductor with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C. He died on August 6, 2012.

Lyricist: A Chorus Line

Edward Kleban was born in the Bronx, New York City, on April 30, 1939. A Chorus Line was his first Broadway musical, and his lyrics won 1975 Tony, Drama Desk and Olivier Awards, as well as the Pulitzer Prize. He died on December 28, 1987, at the age of 48. Kleban's music and lyrics provided the score of the musical A Class Act, produced on Broadway in 2001, for which he was posthumously nominated for a Tony and a Drama Desk Award. In addition to his legacy as a songwriter, he created the Kleban Foundation, which awards grants to aspiring theatre lyricists. To date, the foundation's grants total more than $3 million.

2016: Director and choreographer of A Chorus Line. 22nd season. Stratford: Director/choreographer: The Sound of Music, Crazy for You, Fiddler on the Roof, Charlie Brown, Cyrano de Bergerac, Oklahoma!, Oliver! Elsewhere: Creative producer/director: Life Reflected: an immersive multimedia project with NACO (world première). Director: Mendelssohn's A Midsummer Night's Dream (NAC); Yorkville (world première, Blyth); The Very Best of Broadway with Audra McDonald, Marvin Hamlisch; Rock 'n' Roll, It's a Wonderful Life (Canadian Stage); Lecture on the Weather, A Soldier's Tale with F. Murray Abraham (DSO); Mozart: A Life in Letters (TSO); Annie Get Your Gun (Massey Hall). Choreographer: Siegfried (COC/Opéra National de Lyon); Tosca, Red Emma, Oedipus Rex (Dora Award) (COC). Film/TV: Politics Is Cruel (Rhombus), Mean Girls, Eloise, Martin and Lewis, Stormy Weather. Opera films: Romeo and Juliette, Don Giovanni Unmasked. Et cetera: "Thank you to Colm, Thomas, Anna and Jack, who always put themselves on the line for me!"

2016: Musical Director of A Chorus Line. 37th season. Stratford: The Sound of Music, Mother Courage and Her Children, The Grapes of Wrath, Charlie Brown, Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris. Composer of numerous productions including Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Memoir and Inherit the Wind. Elsewhere: Musical director: Rich and Famous (director John Rando), A Christmas Carol (director Carey Perloff) (ACT San Francisco); Oliver!, The Music Man (Citadel Theatre, director Robin Phillips); Brent Carver in Concert (Soulpepper). Composer: I Am My Own Wife (NAC); Don Carlos (Soulpepper); Cyrano (Citadel Theatre); A Streetcar Named Desire (Walnut Street Theatre, Philadelphia). Awards: 2014 Tyrone Award and five Guthrie Awards (Stratford Festival), two Sterling Awards (Citadel) and nominated for Music Direction (San Francisco Bay Awards).

2016: Designer of A Chorus Line and Bunny. 13th season. Stratford: You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, Hosanna, The Comedy of Errors, An Ideal Husband - set; The Sound of Music, Christina, The Girl King, Taking Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing, The Blonde, the Brunette and the Vengeful Redhead, Edward II, The Triumph of Love - set and costumes. Elsewhere: Set and costume designs for the Shaw Festival, Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, Citadel Theatre, Theatre Calgary, Canadian Stage, Canadian Opera Company, Opera Philadelphia, National Ballet of Canada, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, Tarragon Theatre, Theatre Passe Muraille, Young People's Theatre, Neptune Theatre, The Grand Theatre, Studio 180, Acting Up Stage, Opera Ontario, Segal Theatre, Queen of Puddings Music Theatre, Ross Petty Productions, Royal Conservatory of Music and Mirvish Productions. Film/TV: Christmas Dreams - production design (CBC). Awards: The Virginia and Myrtle Cooper Award in Costume Design, Ontario Arts Foundation.

2016: Lighting designer of Macbeth, A Chorus Line and The Hypochondriac. 12th season. Stratford: Hamlet, The Sound of Music, Oedipus Rex, Love's Labour's Lost, King Lear, A Midsummer Night's Dream (2009, 2014), Antony and Cleopatra, Othello, Fiddler on the Roof, The Three Musketeers, Henry V, The Matchmaker, Twelfth Night, The Misanthrope, The Tempest, As You Like It, King of Thieves, Macbeth, Hamlet (2008). Elsewhere: Evangeline (Charlottetown/Citadel); The Little Prince - The Musical (Theatre Calgary); Così Fan Tutte (Canadian Opera Company); A Word or Two with Christopher Plummer (CTG/Stratford, Los Angeles); Maria Stuarda (Pacific Opera); Enron, The Year of Magical Thinking (NAC); Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, Sideways (La Jolla Playhouse, California); Julie, The Other Place, Harper Reagan, Venus in Fur (Canadian Stage); Glenn, A Tender Thing, 'Night Mother (Soulpepper); Mary Poppins, Next to Normal (Citadel/Theatre Calgary); The Rocky Horror Show (Citadel); Chimerica (RMTC/Canadian Stage).

2016: Sound designer of A Chorus Line, Shakespeare in Love and A Little Night Music. 21st season. Stratford (selected): Over 60 productions including The Sound of Music, Carousel, Love's Labour's Lost, Crazy for You, Man of La Mancha, Antony and Cleopatra,Fiddler on the Roof, 42nd Street, A Word or Two, Jacques Brel, West Side Story. Elsewhere: Peter has been fortunate to work at most major Canadian theatres, including Shaw, NAC, Citadel, Theatre Calgary, RMTC, Charlottetown Festival and Canadian Stage. Recent and notable projects include Come Fly Away (Broadway, Vegas, tour); Arrabal (BASE/Mirvish); Sister Act, Catch Me If You Can, West Side Story,Legally Blonde (tours); Barrymore (Livent); The Little Prince (Theatre Calgary); Evangeline (Charlottetown/Citadel); Stagger Lee (Dallas Theater Center). Training: BA, MA in Music (McGill). Awards: Suzi (Atlanta), Come Fly Away; Dora nomination, Fire. Et cetera: "Thanks to Meghan, Ella and Beatrice for their unending support."

2016: Assistant director of A Chorus Line. Fifth season. Stratford: Ann is very happy to be back at the Festival as assistant director to Donna Feore. Assistant director: The Sound of Music, Crazy for You, Fiddler on the Roof. Actor: Emily in Our Town, Agnes in The School for Wives (with Brian Bedford) and Les Belles-Soeurs. Elsewhere: Assistant to the Creative Producer and Director: Life Reflected, an immersive multimedia project with NACO. Actor: ensemble at Shaw Festival for six seasons; worked in regional theatres across the country. Recently narrated for K-W Symphony's Quantum: Music at the Frontier of Science and voice of Harmonia in Edwin's Orchestra Follies. Et cetera: Ann has also stepped out of the spotlight and behind the camera lens. She co-created Start Stratford Arts and Culture Magazine, an online publication for which she writes and does photography. Online: startstratford.com.

2016: Assistant set designer of Macbeth, A Chorus Line and As You Like It. Second season. Stratford: Assistant projection designer for Tommy. Elsewhere: Co-founder of the ShowStages Video Collective, a group who build narratives through projected media for theatre and live events. Category E (production designer, Sterling Award for Lighting Design, Maggie Tree Collective); Mary Poppins (lighting and projection designer, Globe Theatre); A Bomb in the Heart (production designer, Downstage, Betty Mitchell nomination); Ring of Fire (set and projection designer, Chemainus Festival Theatre). Training: BFA in Theatre Design from the University of Alberta. Online: eringruber.com; showstages.com. Et cetera: Erin is really pleased to be back at Stratford for a second season and owes a debt of gratitude to her family and friends for their continued support. Lots of love to Pat, Laurie and Haley, and her colleagues Joel and Elijah at the ShowStages Video Collective.

2016: Assistant costume designer of A Chorus Line, Breath of Kings: Rebellion and Breath of Kings: Redemption. Ninth season. Stratford: Wardrobe apprentice (2008); seamstress (2009); five seasons as assistant wardrobe buyer; one season as interim wardrobe buyer. Elsewhere: Caitlin is a member of IATSE Local 822, working as a dresser, seamstress and craftsperson for the past 10 years. Head of Creative for Canada's Wonderland Haunt event 2007. Design assistant: Theatre Athena inaugural season, 2006-07. Training: Diploma in Technical Production for Theatrical Arts, Sheridan Institute. Awards: 2006 Sheridan Scholar; Fabricland Creative Design Award, 2005 and 2006. Et cetera: Caitlin feels blessed to continually develop her professional skills within her many roles at the Stratford Festival. Many thanks to family and loved ones for their constant love and support, both here and above.

2016: Assistant lighting designer of Macbeth and A Chorus Line. Stratford debut. Elsewhere: Lighting design: A Christmas Carol (Theatre North West); Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, Helen's Necklace, On the Edge (Belfry Theatre); The Rocky Horror Picture Show (Capilano University); The Trojan Women (Douglas College). Lighting and set design: MissUnderstood (Frank Theatre); Boeing Boeing (Keyano College). Set design: Gas Light (Blue Bridge Repertory Theatre). Lighting and projection design: Alice vs. Wonderland (Blue Bridge Repertory Theatre); Lion in the Streets (University of Victoria). Training: MFA University of Victoria; BA Dalhousie University. Online: bryankenney.com.

2016: Assistant lighting designer of A Chorus Line, As You Like It and The Hypochondriac. Sixth season. Stratford: Assistant lighting designer of The Diary of Anne Frank, Carousel, Possible Worlds, The Last Wife, A Midsummer Night's Dream: A Chamber Play, Crazy for You, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Tommy, A Word or Two, The Pirates of Penzance, Jesus Christ Superstar. Studio Theatre technical director, 2013. Elsewhere: Lighting designer: Salt-Water Moon, A Line in the Sand, The Crackwalker (Factory); Hana Hoshimoto (Carousel Players); Objections to Sex and Violence (Praxis Theatre); The Addams Family, Curtains (Randolph); This One (First Root); Fishskin Trousers (Cart/Horse); Bliss (Candles). Live concert design: Elizabeth Shepard: Signals tour; Nagata Schachu; Plants and Animals. Assistant lighting designer at the Canadian Opera Company for two seasons. Training: National Theatre School of Canada. Et cetera: Instructor at the NTSC.

2016: Assistant sound designer of A Chorus Line and A Little Night Music. Fourth season. Stratford: Assistant sound designer of TheSound of Music, Carousel, Crazy for You, Man of La Mancha and You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown. Elsewhere: Sound designer: The Immigrant (Harold Green), IMPRINTS (Theatre Gargantua), In Transit (Segal Centre - Young Company), As You Like It (Repercussion Theatre) and Cabaret (NTSC). Associate/assistant sound designer: Peter Pan, Cinderella, The Little Mermaid and Snow White (Ross Petty Productions); Dear Life (National Arts Centre Orchestra); Nìagara - A Pan-American Story (Panamania); Alice Through the Looking-Glass (Charlottetown Festival); Aladdin (Disney Theatrical); This (Canadian Stage); Hair (The Grand Theatre). Production sound engineer: The Last Five Years (Toronto Summer Music Festival); The Wild Party, Once on This Island and Falsettos (Acting Up Stage); What Makes a Man (Necessary Angel). Et cetera: William is a member of IATSE Local 58.

2016: Production stage manager of the Festival Theatre and stage manager of A Chorus Line. 20th season. Stratford: Shows include Crazy for You, Fiddler on the Roof, 42nd Street, Camelot, The Music Man, Oklahoma!, West Side Story, My Fair Lady, Man of La Mancha, Hello, Dolly!, The King and I and others.Elsewhere: Over 35 years as a stage manager; over 25 years with the Canadian Opera Company as a stage manager and choreographer, most recently on Siegfried; White Christmas for Drayton Entertainment with Michael Lichtefeld; production stage manager and resident director of Jersey Boys, Toronto; 25 years as a singer/dancer and choreographer in Canadian theatre; assistant director/choreographer to her mentor, Alan Lund. Et cetera: Love to daughters Stephanie and Jennifer, son-in-law Andrew, fiancé Paul and her beautiful grandchildren, Kennedy and Koston.

2016: Assistant stage manager of A Chorus Line and As You Like It. Fourth season. Stratford: Assistant stage manager of Hamlet, The Sound of Music, Crazy for You and Fiddler on the Roof.Elsewhere: Stage manager of Glenn, Farther West, Great Expectations, Dirt, Long Day's Journey Into Night, High Life (Soulpepper); The Mill, parts 1 to 4 (Theatrefront); Anne of Green Gables - The Musical (Charlottetown Festival); Peter and the Starcatcher, A Christmas Story, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Western Canada Theatre); It's a Wonderful Life, The Rocky Horror Show (Theatre New Brunswick); Skin Flick, Masked, Happy Days (Neptune Theatre); Generous (Tarragon Theatre); The Last Five Years (Theatre and Company); Noises Off (Atlantic Theatre Festival). Etcetera: Krista proudly hails from Hare Bay, Newfoundland.

2016: Assistant stage manager of A Chorus Line and Bunny. Second season. Stratford: Assistant stage manager of The Diary of Anne Frank and She Stoops to Conquer (2015). Elsewhere: Jack of Diamonds (Theatre Aquarius); The Heart of Robin Hood (Mirvish Productions/Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre); Footloose, South Pacific, Twist and Shout (Drayton Entertainment). Training: Technical Theatre Production, Sheridan College. Et cetera: Kimberly would like to thank Alex for all his love and support, and for always knowing that anything was within her reach.

2016: Stage manager of As You Like It and assistant stage manager of A Chorus Line. Sixth season. Stratford: Most recently: Twelfth Night (2011). Elsewhere: Kinky Boots (Toronto), The Heart of Robin Hood (Winnipeg and Toronto), Les Misérables (Toronto and Melbourne), The Wizard of Oz (Toronto), War Horse (Toronto). Et cetera: Grateful and delighted.

2016: Production stage manager of the Festival Theatre and assistant stage manager of A Little Night Music. 33rd season. Stratford: Maggie has been PSM at the Avon, Tom Patterson and Festival theatres for 25 seasons. Stage-management credits include Henry IV (parts 1 and 2); Iolanthe; The Imaginary Invalid; My Fair Lady; A Man for All Seasons; Kiss Me, Kate; Guys and Dolls; The Government Inspector; Coriolanus; The Mikado (national tour, London's Old Vic); and Twelfth Night (U.S. tour). Elsewhere: Maggie has worked at the St. Lawrence Centre (Toronto Arts Productions), MTC and the Grand Theatre, where she stage-managed a Dora Award-winning production of A Little Night Music. She stage-managed Eugene Onegin (Manitoba Opera), the first Dream in High Park and the first Dora Awards. She did publicity for the NDWT Company and toured Canada with the Charlottetown Festival. Training: Graduate of the National Theatre School.