Musical Theatre Radio presents "Be Our Guest"

Trevor Barrette is a queer theatre maker based in Montreal, known for his kaleidoscopic productions and joy-forward storytelling. A graduate of John Abbott College’s Professional Theatre program, he founded the award-winning KaleidoscopeMTL, producing and directing ten productions, including the hit Fringe musical Captain Aurora and the immersive Memento Mori. Trevor's work explores dynamic timescapes, ensemble casting, and enchanting worlds that foster a sense of wonder. Directorial highlights include The Sages of Chelm and The Great Divide for the Dora Wasserman Yiddish Theatre at the Segal Centre, as well as serving as assistant director for Les Belles Soeurs at the Stratford Festival. Trevor has performed with institutions such as the National Arts Centre, Centaur Theatre, Segal Centre, Geordie Theatre and teaches at the Segal Centre Academy and Geordie Theatre School. Currently, he is developing new works, including a musical inspired by Dr. Brenda Milner’s legacy. This July, he will direct Hudson Village Theatre’s presentation of Bed and Breakfast.Rylan Allen is thrilled to be part of the MAWAM team and to bring this touching, hilarious show to life. Hailing from Hamilton, Ontario, he graduated from Sheridan College’s Musical Theatre Program and performed with Canadiana Productions Inc. in Niagara as a performer, dance captain, and choreographer until lockdown. During that time, he discovered a passion for teaching, working as a Music Director for Hamilton’s Conservatory for the Arts. Favorite roles include Peter in Jesus Christ Superstar (Brott Music Festival), Noel Gruder in Ride the Cyclone (Playhouse Collective), and Monsieur André in Phantom of the Opera (Theatre Sheridan). Rylan thanks his mentors for sharing their toolboxes with him, the MAWAM team for this incredible experience, and his friends and family for their unwavering support.Émile Auger is a multidisciplinary performer and teacher from Montréal. He began his artistic journey in the music and jazz band program at St-Luc High School. He went on to study musical theatre at Collège Lionel-Groulx’s professional theatre program and graduated in the spring of 2022. In 2023, he completed his third and final semester in musical theatre at Sheridan College, Ontario. His performance credits include Jazz Noisette (Les Jeunesses Musicales du Canada), Lucky Stiff (Stephenville Theatre Festival), Rock of Ages (STF), Let’s Bop! (Terra Bruce Productions) and Lorenzo Sterzi’s latest film, Cadavre Exquis (LostandKik Pictures). Émile is thrilled to make his Segal Center debut as part of this original musical theatre production.

Max + Aaron Write A Musical

Set in present-day Montreal, two childhood friends and creative collaborators race against the clock to finish their latest project: a coming-of-age musical loosely based on their lives. But as they deep dive into the work, long-repressed truths rise to the surface and threaten their partnership. A sexy cautionary tale about writing what you know.

Alexandra Conroy: writer, book / additional lyrics

       “I was born in the wrong era.” 

 Growing up in NYC, Alexandra tried to see as many Broadway productions as possible while being a child actor herself. Always a story teller, she started writing very young with a musical in the 2nd grade and a movie in the 4th. 

The idea for this story came to her as she began college, studying acting and writing for theater. She continued to hone the idea while getting her BFA, and acting in numerous stage, screen and television roles during and since graduating. Favorite Roles include Ms. Andrew in Mary Poppins and Duke Fredrik in Shakespeare’s As You Like It. Can currently be seen in HBO’s Love and Death.

Ray Hoese: co-writer, book, music & lyrics

   "The antidote to writer's block is dogs, bike riding and sun!” 

Ray is a writer. Period. Or maybe a semicolon... His degree is in journalism but his first professional gigs included an NBC sitcom and The X-Files. Also an avid songwriter, it was only after separately writing hundreds of songs and thousands of pages of scripts that he joined Alexandra to help bring this story and its music to life. 

Ray still has the violin his parents bought when they got him lessons in the fourth grade and he is most proud of raising children that love and play music for fun, which (as he says) is what music was meant for.  Ray's other love is flying airplanes for fun and profit.  And, of course, big, big dogs. 

Finding Helena

The daughter of a Nazi officer runs away with a Jewish resistance fighter. Separated in the chaos of war, they struggle to survive and find each other.

The King’s Wife offers a bold new perspective on the story of Katherine of Aragon, the first wife of Henry VIII, as she navigates the pressures of queenship and the fight to secure her legacy. A revolutionary pop musical by two-time Grammy-nominated songwriter Jamie Floyd and award-winning playwright Mêlisa Annis, this bold reimagining of history explores Katherine’s resilience and the enduring impact of extraordinary women.

Mêlisa Annis (bookwriter) is an award-winning playwright and theater-maker. Mêlisa has developed and presented work at and with Playwrights Horizons, Rosalind Productions, Primary Stages, BMG Music, The Lark, Parsnip Ship, The New School, The Playground Experiment, Rattlestick Theater, Tangent Theater, RAL Productions, Red Bull Theater, The Ambassadors Theatre Group (London), Arcola Theatre (London), Berkley Rep, Theatre for a New City, Colorado Springs Fine Arts Centre. Radio Drama: Mêlisa was lead writer on radio series For Spacious Skies which was awarded the True West Award, CO, her play Beginnings was awarded the Spirit of The Festival Award, Ireland, and she is currently developing a radio series based on love letters sent between soldiers during the American civil war. Mêlisa was the recipient of the Parity Commission for her play Charlie’s Waiting, and is excited to be continuing development of her play The Inheritance of a Long-Term Fault with Clutch Productions. Mêlisa is a frequent contributor to the BBC, BBC Wales and S4C and she’s a proud Welsh speaker. Diolch mawr i Peter.Jamie Floyd (Music, Lyrics, Co-Arranger) is a Nashville-based, independent 2x Grammy-nominated songwriter and recording artist. Her songs have been recorded by artists such as Kelly Clarkson, Kesha, Miranda Lambert, Ronnie Dunn, Madi Diaz, Sturgill Simpson, Lizzy McAlpine and Brian Wilson. She has written extensively for film and TV, including the finale for Dolly Parton’s A Country Christmas Story. As an artist, she has toured nationally and internationally, performing at Stagecoach, The Grand Ole Opry, The Bluebird Cafe and the Country Music Hall Fame to name a few. Floyd’s journey in the music industry, including her experience as the “Grammy-nominated waitress,” was featured alongside Garth Brooks, Emmylou Harris & Jason Isbell in the critically acclaimed documentary “The Last Songwriter,” which advocated for the Music Modernization Act. In addition to The King’s Wife, she is currently working working on two other new musical theatre projects: That Boy Ain’t Right and Killin’ It: A Howdy Horror Murder Mystery Musical. Her latest single “Sad Girls Do” was featured on Spotify’s “Fresh Finds: Best Of 2023″ playlist, which highlights the best of all-genre independent releases.

Rachel Walker Mason

Ever since I can remember I’ve been able to see music as colours when I listen to music or compose a song. I’ve since learned that this condition is called synaesthesia and people often refer to it as “my superpower”.

I always felt my happiest and most fulfilled when I was singing or writing music so it felt natural to make it my career path. I’ve never wanted to do anything else as a job and am very lucky that I’ve been able to live my dream, pursuing music through school, my undergraduate degree then a masters in songwriting before starting my career as a freelance songwriter, musical director and vocal coach.

During my career, I’ve performed all over the world, coached hundreds of singers from beginners to west end performers, run an artist management company and worked extensively in my community to encourage different generations to bond through the arts. For this, I was crowned Freelancer Of The Year and Woman of the Year.

Throughout my life, I’ve struggled with my mental health and when my children were born I was diagnosed with postnatal depression. After recovering I set up Lyrical Light as a songwriting workshop for those struggling with their mental health after becoming parents. It’s a real honour to be able to help people through music.

My work now encompasses both of these aspects from co-writing and songwriting, working as a Maternal Mental Health Ambassador and with parents who are suffering from Post-Natal Depression.

Eloise Hodder is the HE Programme Co-ordinator for BA (Hons) Performing Arts - Acting at University Centre Weston (UCW). Eloise delivers on the BA Hons degree in Performing Arts which is validated by Bath Spa University.  Eloise also works as a guest lecturer and examiner both nationally and internationally encompassing a range of institutions from The Brit School, to consultant Actor/Director at L’Ecole d’Architecture Universite de Montreal. Eloise trained as an actor and holds BA (Hons) from Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama (Franchise University of South Wales) and has a Postgraduate Diploma from Royal Central School of Speech and Drama Applied Theatre specialising in Directing. Eloise is also a member of Royal Academy of Dance and the Institute for Learning. Eloise is an actor, director, interdisciplinary performer and educator. She has worked as the director/creator of Trapped (Donmar and Endeavour), received the Jack Petchey Youth Community Project Award for Delicate Rose tour and has been nominated for a Royal Television Society Award for Gannin’ Yem. Eloise has been an Education Associate for the Donmar, Bush Theatre and Michael Grandage Theatre Company.

James A. Rocco

Director | Producer

An award-winning director/producer as well as an acclaimed vocalist with a passion for creating inclusive, thought-provoking experiences that honor the heart of every story.

Known for his collaborative spirit, he brings a unique blend of artistry and authenticity to every project, ensuring the magic on the page comes vividly to life.

Thirty Saints Productions is a dynamic and innovative company that excels in creating original theatrical works for a diverse range of venues across the globe.
In addition, we negotiate, consult, and acquire music licenses for popular jukebox musicals.

At Thirty Saints Productions, we take pride in our passion for creativity and unwavering commitment to excellence.

A Girl in Persia is a epic sung-through full-length musical adaptation of the Book of Esther from the Tanakh (the Bible). Aiming to be faithful to Scripture, this adaptation's book, lyrics, and music are all written with a historical and cultural focus in mind. A runtime of nearly 3 hours (with an interval) allows for a fully immersive experience in the world of the Achaemenid Empire (c. 550-330 BCE, the First Persian Empire). Without further ado, allow us to present to you a teaser below of its music. If a picture is worth a thousand words, a minute of music is worth ten thousand:

Ute Lemper's decades-long career spans stage, film, and music, with over 30 recordings. Renowned for her interpretations of Berlin Cabaret, Kurt Weill, Brecht, and chanson legends like Marlene Dietrich and Edith Piaf, she has also starred in major musicals across Broadway, the West End, Paris, and Berlin. She won the American Theater World Award and the Laurence Olivier Award for her performance as Chicago’s Velma Kelly in the West End and on Broadway, the Molière Award for her performance as Cabaret’s Sally Bowles in Paris, among others, and earned Grammy nominations.

Her global tours feature diverse projects, including Rendezvous with Marlene, Songs for Eternity, and tributes to Piazzolla and Brecht. She has composed music inspired by Bukowski, Neruda, and Coelho and released a bestselling autobiography in 2023. She released her self-penned and contemporary album Time Traveler just last year. Singing in five languages, she continues to perform worldwide. A longtime New York resident, she lives there with her family and four children.

We talk about her newest album Pirate Jenny and her upcoming concert at Cadogan Hall on June 13th, 2025.

We speak with two of the creators of The Brass Teapot (Chaz and Ramaa) as well as the director (Zoe) and actor (Sarah) about the upcoming Firefly Theatre Group workshop staging at The Sherry Theatre in North Hollywood, California.

THE BRASS TEAPOT is a magical, mischievous dark comedy that warns to be careful what you wish for. Based on the 2012 indie cult film

DONNA TRINKOFF – Artistic Producer - of Amas Musical Theatre, a non-profit performing arts organization in New York City devoted the creation, development and production of new musicals and to the training and encouragement of inner-city young people. Since 1994, Donna has produced the original musicals Broadway and the Bard, starring Len Cariou, Red Eye of Love, The Other Josh Cohen, Triassic Parq! Wanda’s World, Shout! The Mod Musical, Lone Star Love, Magpie, Stormy Weather: The Lena Horne Story, Zanna, Don’t!, Latin Heat, From My Hometown, Langston Hughes’ Little Ham, 4 Guys Named José, Rollin’ on the T.O.B.A., among others, and she has presented over 90 original musicals in the Amas Musical Theatre Lab. As Starry Night Productions, Donna presented the Off-Broadway premiere of SILENCE! The Musical (Christopher Gattelli, Hunter Bell, Jon & Al Kaplan), the unauthorized parody of the iconic film “The Silence of the Lambs” to critical acclaim, sold-out houses and a two-year run. SILENCE! won the Off Broadway Alliance Award and the Obie Award for Best Musical and was named as one of the 'Top 10 Plays of the Year' by TIME Magazine. The original cast album has been released on Sh-K-Boom Records. Donna was an associate artistic director at the Cabaret and Performance Conference at the Eugene O’Neill Center in CT and worked with Aruba Productions on new and upcoming musicals. She holds a BA in English and Theatre from SUNY Binghamton, is a graduate of the National Theatre Institute, and she received a Certificate of Merit from the Drama Studio in London. Donna is a member of the League for Professional Theatre Women. She is a recipient of the New York Municipal Art Society Award of Merit and the Galaxy Award from the NY Women’s Association. 

Amas Musical Theatre is a non-profit, multi-ethnic theatrical organization founded in 1968 by Ms. Rosetta LeNoire. Amas (“you love” in Latin) is devoted to the creation, development and professional production of new American musicals, the celebration of cultural equity and minority perspectives, the emergence of new artistic talent, and the training and encouragement of underserved young people.

Amas celebrates its impact in pioneering multi-ethnic casting in the American Theatre and reiterates its commitment to this reflection of our diverse society.

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Amas Musical Theatre commits its work to:

Contributing to the vitality of the American Musical Theatre - a unique American esthetic expression -- through the creation, development and professional production of original musicals.

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Bringing creative, musical theatre to the American education system, and enhancing the experience of students.

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Encouraging tolerance and civility among people of our diverse society by bringing them together through the art of musical theatre.

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Audiences are built by bringing both children and other community members into Amas with free performances and free ticket programs. Amas actively combines artists and audience members from every possible racial, ethnic and religious background, bringing them together to work and learn from each other.

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For 50 years, Amas has engraved its unique trademark on the world of musical theatre. We produce quality musical theatre presenting different cultural viewpoints, while reaching out to underserved audiences. Amas attracts actors and artists of distinction and reputation, while offering opportunities for new talent to learn and develop.

We revisit the shows creators Scott and Aaron and are joined by cast memeber Allison as we talk about the upcoming Concert of Romero & Juliet

Zombies! Shakespeare! 1980s inspired music! All of these elements are the foundation for the new rock musical, ROMERO & JULIET.
Romero, a human, falls for Juliet, a zombie, during a music festival called Deadstock on Friday the 13 th in September 1985. Romance, comedy, horror, and tragedy ensue. The show is set in Verona, PA- not far from where George Romero’s class film “Night of the Living Dead” was filmed, and not far from where the concert will be presented.
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ROMERO & JULIET features an original score inspired by eighties pop music icons Madonna, Bon Jovi, George Michael, Boy George, Jim Steinman and others. It is described as being in the same vein as LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS.

Romero and Juliet” will premiere on May 17, 2025 at Saint Vincent College with production by Split Stage Productions of Greensburg. There is a matinee at 2 p.m. and an evening performance at 7.

Michael Kooman (music) and Christopher Dimond (book & lyrics) received the 2013 Fred Ebb Award, a 2010 Jonathan Larson Grant, and are the first recipients of the Mary Rodgers/Lorenz Hart Award and the Samuel French Next Step Award. Between them, they have received the Burton Lane Award, the Harold Adamson Award, the KC/ACTF Musical Theatre Award, a NYFA Fellowship, and numerous ASCAP Plus awards.

Their most recent musical, ROMANTICS ANONYMOUS, debuted to rave reviews at Shakespeare's Globe this fall. They also currently serve as songwriters for VAMPIRINA, an animated musical TV series airing on the Disney Channel and Disney Junior which has reached over 49 million viewers in 115 countries.

Their other projects include THE NOTEWORTHY LIFE OF HOWARD BARNES (developed at the O’Neill Music Theater Conference and the Village Theater), ORPHIE & THE BOOK OF HEROES (The Kennedy Center), THE ENLIGHTENMENT OF PERCIVAL VON SCHMOOTZ (commissioned by the Canadian Music Theatre Project), JUDGE JACKIE JUSTICE(Pittsburgh CLO), DANI GIRL (Exit, Pursued by a Bear; licensed by Samuel French), GOLDEN GATE (Williamstown Theatre Festival), HOMEMADE FUSION (London’s Ambassadors Theater, Edinburgh Fringe Festival) and JUNIOR CLAUS (Orlando Repertory Theatre; licensed by Dramatic Publishing).

Romantics Anonymous

Angélique makes beautiful chocolates, carefully infused with all the emotion that seems to overwhelm her in daily life. Jean-René runs a chocolate factory that is running out of steam, rather like his own existence. Both seek help from the usual sources: Jean-René favours self-help tapes and Angélique joins a support group, Les Émotifs Anonymes.

Romantics Anonymous is an unusual and tender love story in which the obstacles to happiness are not the usual external barriers, but those sneaky little ones we know all too intimately: the ones within.

We speak with Dan Petrenko, the Artistic Director of Winnipeg Jewish Theatre and the director of the upcoming production of The Band's Visit, as well as with actor Anat Kriger.

Alexis Sakellaris is a triple citizen and grew up between Europe and the US, always singing, acting, dancing their way from place to place :)

They are currently performing their original queer musical comedy show A STAN IS BORN! at various theatre festivals in the UK.

Alexis just finished a US tour and a run at Soho Theatre London with comedian Matt Rogers, supporting his show “Have You Heard Of Christmas?” as a featured vocalist.

Madison Cole (any pronouns) is a an award-winning theatre and film maker based in London. They have a dual B.A. in English and Theatre Studies from Yale University with concentrations in Playwriting and Directing, respectively. Recently, they directed the sold-out world premiere of Daughters of the Pirate Queen at the National Concert Hall of Ireland.

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Recent directorial projects include A Stan is Born at Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2024, as well as Edward II at the Camden Fringe Festival 2024, both of which received London transfers. She also directed her original play Inferna in its world premiere at Riverside Studios in January 2025, to sold-out audiences.

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Assistant work includes Bronco Billy: The Musical at the Charing Cross Theatre, The Worst Witch at the Tower Theatre, and Sisters at the Jack Studio Theatre. They also recently worked as 1st AD to award-winning cinematographer Steven Fierberg on the film The Spirit Lock, scheduled to release in late 2024.

Blair Russell is a Tony nominated producer and developer of theatre and live performance whose experience ranges from fringe festivals to Broadway shows.

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Credits include STILL (Off-Broadway); LIZARD BOY (Theatreworks Silicon Valley, Hope Mill Theatre, Edinburgh Fringe, Off-Broadway, Oregon Shakespeare Festival); POP OFF, MICHELANGELO! (Edinburgh Fringe, The Other Palace - London); For Tonight (Adelphi Theatre - London); DIVA: LIVE FROM HELL! (Edinburgh Fringe, Kings Head Theatre - London); SALEM (50k followers, Green Room 42 - New York); and SLAVE PLAY (Broadway - 12 Tony Noms, West End). Other projects include THE WIZ (Broadway/ NT 2024), Sweeney Todd (Immersive Off-Broadway 2017), and GYPSY with Imelda Staunton (West End 2014). On the board of The New Harmony Project, Goodspeed Musicals, and SPACE. VCU Graduate. 

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Blair has been a guest speaker/artist at a number of institutions including the University of Maryland, University of North Carolina Greensboro, Walnut Hill School for the Performing Arts, and the York School in Monterey, CA. Blair has served as the Producer-in-Residence for the Johnny Mercer Writers Grove at Goodspeed Musicals for two years. He was also a visiting lecturer for the semester-long Atelier program at Princeton University where he collaborated with composer Georgia Stitt on her oratorio The Circling Universe.

Blair has appeared as a guest on a number of podcasts (American Theatre Artists Online, A Star Is Bored, Backstage Talk, Broadway ReFocused), web series (Actors Unscripted, Awkward Conversations, Be Our Guest! - Live and In Color, Dreamland XR, In The (Home) Office - Goodspeed Musicals), and at global conferences (National Alliance for Musical Theater, Global XR Conference, Immerse Global Summit Series)

Blair Russell Productions, LLC (BRP) goes beyond the confines of traditional theatrical production. Driven by a desire to put art first, we consistently create opportunities for emerging artists, aiming to broaden the scope of who gets to make theater and who gets to consume it. We focus on finding innovative financial frameworks, following non-traditional development paths, and harnessing the latest in technological advancements.
Founded by Blair Russell in 2018, BRP's journey in the theatrical landscape has been marked by a commitment to challenging the status quo. With every production, we prioritize making theatre accessible, ensuring that each story resonates deeply and widely.
Blair Russell Productions continues to relentlessly support artists who are reimagining the idea of contemporary theatre. Our mission is unwavering: to bring bold narratives to diverse audiences while showcasing the impact and potential of modern storytelling.

Caroline Sheen is a Welsh actress who has played leading roles on stage in the ⁠West End⁠ alongside TV and film appearances. She won a Helen Hayes award for playing the role of ⁠Mary Poppins⁠ on the National Tour of America.

Talk Musicals to Me

Talk Musicals to me is a new podcast which asks leading theatre industry figures the same 10 questions about the musicals which have shaped their lives and inspired their work. West End veteran Caroline Sheen is the host of the show and has a fair few theatre legends on speed dial to answer questions such as Which was the first Musical they ever saw/Which Musical would they make compulsory in schools/Which Musical have they seen the most? A celebration of how musicals can define careers and lives, Talk Musicals to me is your new “must-listen” theatre podcast!

What does a 31-year-old theatre kid do when he finds out his parents aren't quite who he thinks they are? Write a musical, of course! Our Little Secret: The 23andMe® Musical  is the hilarious, moving, and completely true story of Noam Tomaschoff's discovery that he wasn't an only child… he actually had more than 35 siblings around the world!

With a deft blend of comedy, drama, and wide-ranging musical styles, Noam takes the audience on a roller coaster ride of emotions ending with a message of optimism that is sure to make you hold your family just a little bit tighter.

Spotlight Musical Productions

For top-notch musical theatre, look no further.

From our beginnings as the IBM Choir over fifty years ago, Spotlight Musical Productions showcases Toronto’s most passionate local talent, from our cast to our creative team. At Spotlight, we’re proud not only to deliver outstanding productions for our loyal audiences, but also to foster community through our shared love of musical theatre.

Lauryn Gaffney is a musical theater writer who has gained international recognition for her exceptional work in the industry. With a passion for storytelling and music, Gaffney has a unique ability to create captivating and emotional narratives that resonate with audiences. Her commitment to exploring complex themes and creating rich characters has set her apart as a rising star in the musical theater world.

After Lauryn’s success with her first original musical Big Shot hitting Ireland, London, Off-Broadway, 54 Below, and winning 5 BroadwayWorld Awards, it feels about time to bring her newest show to life. Set against the backdrop of love, loss, and redemption, Jilted weaves together a tapestry of heart-wrenching narratives and uplifting anthems that will linger in the hearts of all who attend.

Dan Petrenko

Hailing from Toronto, ON, Dan is a director, playwright, and producer who has worked in theatres across Canada, the United States, and London’s West End. Previously, Dan served as the founding Artistic Director of Olive Branch Theatre, a professional company dedicated to creating opportunities for next-generation artists in the Greater Toronto Area. Throughout his career, Dan produced and directed a variety of critically acclaimed musicals and cabarets, including an award-winning drama based on his family’s story in the Holocaust, which toured in the United States. Dan’s work has been praised for its depth and artistic complexity. 

Born and raised in Israel to Ukrainian-Jewish parents, Dan often gravitates towards stories exploring Jewish identity and history, particularly those rooted in the Soviet era. As a playwright, he is currently developing multiple projects for the stage that he looks forward to sharing with an audience soon. Dan is a graduate of the University of Toronto, holding an MA in Drama, Theatre, and Performance Studies and an Honours BA in Theatre and International Relations.

Since joining Winnipeg Jewish Theatre in 2022, Dan has co-created and directed Pain to Power: A Kanye West Music Protest and helmed the Canadian premiere of Kathrine Kressmann Taylor’s Address Unknown. In 2025, Dan will direct the first Canadian production of The Band’s Visit.Seth Zosky

Seth is a Jewish-Canadian, multidisciplinary artist hailing from Toronto. He is a singer, actor, Juno-nominated songwriter and musician with over a decade of performance experience. Seth is a graduate of Sheridan’s Music Theatre Performance degree. He is also part of CZN; a Pop/RnB/Rap trio singing group. They were chosen by Simon Cowell as the winners of Canadian Family’s Got Talent and have also appeared on America’s Got Talent.

Theatre Credits Include: Jack in the Canadian premiere of Titanique (Mirvish Productions/Segal Centre); Fiddler on the Roof, Peter Pan (Drayton Entertainment); The Last Five Years (Blue Bridge Theatre); One Hit Wonders (Stage West); Blocked (TheatreWorksUSA); The Last Five Years, A Night on Jewish Broadway (Olive Branch); American Idiot (Stephenville Theatre Festival).

Tracey Erin Smith

Tracey is an internationally recognized transformational leader and creator. She is the founder and driver of SOULO Theatre, originating in Toronto, with workshops in New York City, Tel Aviv, San Francisco, Vancouver and the UK. A proud Canadian, Tracey is an award-winning teacher, solo performer, theatre director and thought leader employing personal stories for global transformation.

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Tracey’s work had been seen Off-Broadway and on several stages the world over where she has been awarded Best of the Fringe (Toronto and NYC), Broadway World Award (NYC), and the Audience Choice Award (NYC). She is the host and creator of the critically acclaimed documentary series DRAG HEALS (Amazon Prime, Apple TV). Tracey is excited for the release of her first book, Flying SOULO in the fall of 2024. .

Pain To Power: A Kanye West Musical Protest

What do you do when your hero breaks your heart?

CJ Capital and Seth Zosky saw Kanye West as one of their biggest musical inspirations. Now that their hero has turned against their communities, the two of them question whether it is really possible to separate the art from the artist. Featuring Hip Hop chart-toppers such as “Heartless”, “Four-Five Seconds”, “Power”, “Ultralight Beam”, “American Boy”, and “Runaway”, interweaved with Seth’s and CJ’s stories of family, faith, and friendship, this will be a theatrical experience you don’t want to miss!

Jessica Welsh (book, lyrics) and Linda Dowdell (music, lyrics)

Wild Man of The Wynoochee is a gripping tale set in the early 20th century, inspired by the true story of John Tornow, a hermit who became the subject of the largest manhunt in Washington State history. 

We speak with Jesse J Sanchez the creator of the musical Suenos: Our American Musical and members of the upcoming Las Positas College workshop production running from March 21st to the 30th 2025.

Al TapperProducer of AMT Theater

Al Tapper wears many hats.  Besides being Producer of AMT, he considers himself a renaissance man whose various careers as a Broadway composer, lyricist, playwright, humorist, baseball maven, leveraged buyout specialist and philanthropist have woven a rich tapestry of distinction and success. He recently won a prestigious Peabody Award for excellence in broadcasting for his exuberant 2013 documentary Broadway Musicals: A Jewish Legacy; this follows his acclaimed 2004 film “Broadway: The Golden Age”. He has written songs and lyrics for numerous musicals, including Sessions, An Evening at the Carlyle, From Where I Stand, National Pastime, All Aboard, The Paparazzi, David and more. He is co-author of two joke books — A Minister, a Priest, and a Rabbi and A Guy Goes into a Bar – and is a notable collector of baseball memorabilia.  His musical National Pastime has played in Cooperstown and his latest documentary on the great hitter Ted Williams is available online.

Tony Sportiello

Artistic Director

Tony Sportiello is a playwright and producer whose work has been seen all over the country and all over the world.  Along with Al Tapper he has written the book for the shows National Pastime, All Aboard, The Paparazzi and Upside Down.  National Pastime has played in New York, Washington, Phoenix, Austin, Wilkes Barre, The Major League Hall of Fame in Cooperstown and Guadalajara, Mexico.  His play Star Power has been performed in London, Tickets, Please! in Los Angeles and Crossed Wires in China.  He produced the musical Sessions, which ran for 300 performances Off Broadway.  The ultimate goal is to have a Broadway show but in the meantime he's looking to work with theater artists and colleagues to help make AMT the ultimate 'regional theater' for Hell's Kitchen, bringing original shows, children's theater, cabaret and more to the area. 

Emily Simonian 

Book, Music, and Lyrics

Emily Simonian is an acoustic pop singer-songwriter, published author, and a musical theatre composer, lyricist, and librettist. Raised on a steady diet of 90's pop, Beatles, Disney movies and classic musicals, she earned a merit-based scholarship to study at Berklee College of Music, and finished her degree at Musicians Institute in Los Angeles, earning a B.F.A. in Contemporary Music.

Emily has released two acoustic pop EPs and has been recognized with awards, grants, and finalist placements in new works festivals. Her artistic vision has garnered multiple visionary sponsorships from benefactors who believe in her work, supporting her latest musical theatre project, When Two of Us Meet. Early reviewers in the theatre community have hailed the musical as "a Broadway-worthy stage production."​In September 2024, Emily received the Laurel Karabian Fund for the Arts Grant from the Armenian International Women's Association for her current musical project. When Two of Us Meet  is currently in development and will receive a concert reading at The Green Room 42 in New York City on March 22, 2025, sponsored by the Armenian International Women's Association. (Read more at BroadwayWorld.com). When Two of Us Meet is a top 12 finalist in the Florida Festival of New Musicals 2025, and a top 10 finalist in Colorado's New Musical Project 2025.

 ​In addition to writing music, Emily has a Masters Degree in Psychology and utilizes music and art therapies. Her contributions to mental health conversations have reached a broad audience through media outlets like TIME magazine, The Washington Post, Huff Post, Newsweek, Healthline, Cosmopolitan, Instyle, and Women's Health. ​Simonian is an active member of The Dramatists Guild, ASCAP, Maestra Music, and Musical Writers Academy. Emily serves as a volunteer at D.C. fashion nonprofit, Suited For Change, and also gives back to the arts community by dedicating her time as a Theater Tour Greeter, Lounge Host, and Friend of The Kennedy Center. 

When Two of Us Meet tells the story of a spirited family’s turbulent journey from Armenia to America in the early 20th century, emphasizing the pivotal roles of faith, hope, and love in their personal, familial, and cultural evolution. 

Mark Rubinsky and Tony Castrigno—two theater-lovers whose early careers on Broadway led to decades of large scale, multimedia experiences for corporate theater; they have applied their skills gleaned from decades of production, and combining them with a passion for theater, to bring a fresh perspective to the creation of new works.

Bina Gehres, Director, received her master’s in education from Western Maryland College in Westminster, MD in 1972. She was a teacher of the deaf in Dayton, Ohio and after moving to Rhode Island, taught at the Rhode Island School for the Deaf for three years. Bina then went into the healthcare field in Rhode Island in 1979 and became a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), where she worked in nursing homes, private duty healthcare agencies and doing home care etc. for 35 years. In 2007 she co-founded with composer and poet, Noreen Inglesi, a non-profit organization,

Notable Works Publication and Distribution Co., Inc., which is dedicated to raising community awareness through the arts for environmental and social issues. Since 2004 to the present time (2024) and at the age of 75, Bina has been instrumental in organizing 3 - 5 original musical and poetic events a year in libraries, churches and open spaces specifically following the Notable Works mission concerning homelessness, domestic violence and especially the recent variances in our Earth’s climate. Also, most recently Bina has collaborated with three others on a new musical called Sell Division: A Musical in Two Acts About Breaking the Chains of

Perception which will be presented in the form of a live stage reading at the Community College of Rhode Island in Warwick, Rhode Island towards the end of 2024.

Noreen Inglesi, co-founder and Artist in Residence for Notable Works, taught music for the Town of North

Providence and the Community College of Rhode Island. Noreen was twice nominated for Teacher of the Year and received her Associates of Fine Arts Degree at the Community

College of Rhode Island and her undergraduate and master’s degree in music education and composition at the University of Rhode Island. She’s received much recognition for her music and poetry which has been featured both nationally and internationally by the Insight Quartet in Italy, the Dallas

Songwriter’s Association, the Contemporary Record Society, The Music Educators’ National Conference, the Culver Music Series in California and on the Women of Substance Music Podcast. Locally, Noreen’s music has been featured by The American Band, The Nature Conservancy in Rhode Island, The State Ballet of Rhode Island, The Colonial Theatre, Verdant Vibes, Vibe of the Venue, the Westerly Band and WaterFire Providence. Noreen is also proud to be a member of Ocean State Poets and her poetry has been published

by Crosswinds Poetry Journal, Nobel House, the National Library of Poetry, Rhode Island Bards, Frequency Writers, The Poetry Loft and Notable Works Publication. Her music has been recorded and released with the Contemporary Record Society, Andreu Marc Publications, The Music Library, Platinum Records and Notable Works Publication and Distribution Co., Inc. And just recently, Noreen wrote the

musical “Sell Division” with three of her colleagues.

Marianne Quinn, B.A, has been not only an author on this project but has served as a consultant regarding social issues and the prison system. Her experience with diverse cultures has informed the content of the musical, lending validity to the characters. She is a retired social worker of 25 years from the State of Rhode Island.

Mary Zema is a career vocalist, singer/songwriter and guitarist. She began playing guitar at the age of seven and singing and writing songs at age ten. A native of Warwick, RI, Mary has played throughout New England. Her style is eclectic, pop, rock, ballads, electronic, etc. Her debut release, co-produced by Richard Bone, “Songs of Early Paradise” was in the top twenty on DMX radio New York. Mary recently

released my second album “Whistles, Dimes and Dragonflies” and a video of the same name. She taught music in the Fall River Public School system for 33 years. She is

presently performing with her band, “Throwback,” playing music from the 60s -90s.

Sam Tsui and Casey Breves are a married, LA-based songwriting duo, who together have written and produced viral music for numerous pop artists, brand campaigns, and their own individual artist projects. They met at Yale singing together in both a cappella and musical theater. Sam was among the first independent musicians to harness the power of Youtube and social media to cultivate an international following (calling themselves the “Samily”), with his creative mashups, covers, and original music videos.'Eight Immortals' features a collection of self-contained vignettes, each song serving as a modern interpretation of one of the eight classic archetypes from Taoist legend. The album's tracks range from the absurd to the heartfelt, with a catchy, vocal-driven score that invites audiences on a transformative journey. Included in the lineup are songs such as 'So You Want To Be Immortal', '#MyMorningRoutine', 'I Know The Wildflowers', 'Three Treasures', and 'To Cross The Sea', each providing a unique take on the themes of enlightenment and personal transformation.

SCOTT LOGSDON has written the book/lyrics for STICKS & STONES (with composer John McDaniel) which had a premiere concert starred Audra McDonald, Javier Muñoz, and George Salazar for Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation/BC/EFA; 12 DAYS TILL CHRISTMAS (with composer Dana P. Rowe, currently in development as a film with Jerry Mitchell attached); JOYCE JACKSON’S GUIDE TO DATING, (with composer Steve Marzullo) which premiered in Orlando and was seen in concert at 54 Below; AN AMERICAN COUNTRY CHRISTMAS CAROL (with various CMA winning and nominated composers) THE CRINOLYNNS and LOVE (r)EVOLUTION, a song cycle covering 120 years of LGBTQIA+ history, both written with Aaron Gandy. Both STICKS & STONES and JOYCE JACKSON won the Florida Theatrical Association’s New Musical Discovery Competition. JOYCE was featured in the NAMT Composer’s Concert Series and was a finalist for Richard Rodgers/ Jonathan Larson Awards. Scott has written Broadway specialty lyrics for Roundabout Theater Company’s Tribute to Alec Baldwin (directed by Scott Ellis) and the GYPSY OF THE YEAR Competition for the LES MISERABLES company, as well as for notable performers including Jason Alexander. Logsdon was vetted by the Cole Porter estate to rewrite lyrics for the documentary, Fabulously Fake: The Real Life of Kenneth Jay Lane. With Dana P. Rowe, he wrote the theme song for the series Stars In the House. His non-musical plays include THE BOIS (an all-male, contemporary take on the classic play THE WOMEN), which received a staged reading at the Abbey in Orlando, and THE MOURNING AFTER (a dark comedy.) As an actor, he was an originating cast member in the LES MISÉRABLES national company. He’s been seen in such roles as Thenardier, Sweeney Todd, Billy Bigelow, Che, El Gallo, and King Herod. He has performed across North America as a soloist with symphonies and as a guest star in the award-winning Sondheim Unplugged at 54 Below in New York City. His many directing credits include CHESS, THE FANTASTICKS, DRIVING MISS DAISY, THE GLASS MENAGERIE, and the southeastern premiere of SECRETS EVERY SMART TRAVELER SHOULD KNOW. He holds a degree in musical theatre from Shenandoah Conservatory and received a Distinguished Alumni Award for work in the field of musical theatre.

  Aaron Gandy

A specialist in American musical theater and American popular song, Aaron Gandy's concerts and recordings embrace the best of Broadway from Kern to Lloyd-Webber, while encompassing Swing, Jazz and the golden age of Hollywood. Recent recordings include the all-star Jule Styne In Hollywood (PS Classics) and the upcoming Busker Alley (Jay Records). In 2004 he conducted the premiere recording of Kay Swift's Fine & Dandy on PS Classics featuring Broadway's Carolee Carmello and HBO's Mario Cantone. Upcoming recordings include Alec Wilder's Miss Chicken Little (originally broadcast on CBS television in 1953) and a restoration of Walter Donaldson's jazz-age romp Whoopee! Regarded as a leading authority on composer Vincent Youmans, Mr. Gandy restored and conducted the premiere recording of Youmans' final Broadway score Through the Years starring Metropolitan Opera Soprano Heidi Grant Murphy.

Mr. Gandy restored the original film orchestrations for Rodgers & Hammerstein's The King and I, and Irving Berlin's White Christmas. His restoration of the original film orchestrations for Rodgers & Hammerstein's Oklahoma! was performed by the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra in 1997.

Mr. Gandy's Broadway credits include Disney's The Lion King, Urinetown, and Dora the Explorer Live! at Radio City Music Hall. He has concertized with The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, The Chicago Humanities Festival, 42nd Street Moon, Cami Hall, San Francisco's 42nd Street Moon, The Museum of Television and Radio, Symphony Space, Tribeca Performing Arts Center and solo appearances with Davis Gaines, Leslie Uggams, Christianne Noll, Jerry Hadley, Jim Dale, Dick Hyman, Lainie Kazan and Glenn Close.