MUSIC BY RICHARD RODGERS
LYRICS BY OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II
NEW BOOK BY DOUGLAS CARTER BEANE
ORIGINAL BOOK BY OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II
ORCHESTRATIONS BY DANNY TROOB
MUSIC ADAPTATION & ARRANGEMENTS BY DAVID CHASE
| ALI WATSON* | Ella |
| KAMYAR PAZANDEH* | Topher |
| LOSSEN CHAMBERS* | Madame |
| RYAN MASCHKE | Lord Pinkleton |
| TAINUI KURU | Sebastian |
| CAITRIONA MURPHY* | Marie |
| SARAH CANTUBA* | Charlotte |
| DANICA KOBAYASHI | Gabrielle |
| BEN BROWN | Jean-Michel |
| ALYSON VANCE | Ensemble |
| AVA MADDISON | Ensemble |
| DARIAN NGAI | Ensemble |
| DANE SMIT | Ensemble |
| HOLLY BRADBURY | Ensemble |
| JAREN GUERREIRO | Ensemble |
| MEGAN GREENWOOD | Ensemble/ Understudy Ella, Marie & Gabrielle |
| SARAH LANE | Ensemble/Understudy Madame & Charlotte |
| VUK PRODANOVIC | Ensemble/Understudy Topher, Lord Pinkleton |
| ALDRYN SAPLALA | Children’s Ensemble |
| ARIEL LIU | Children’s Ensemble |
*The participation of these artists is arranged by permission of Canadian Actors’ Equity Association under the provision of the Dance•Opera•Theatre Policy (DOT).
| Director | JOHNNA WRIGHT* |
| Music Director | SEAN BAYNTUN |
| Choreographer | NICOL SPINOLA* |
| Co-set Designers | SOPHIE TANG† & JENNIFER STEWART† |
| Lighting Designer | SOPHIE TANG† |
| Costume Designer | ALAIA HAMER† |
| Sound Designer | DARREN JOHN |
| Stage Manager | PHILOMENA SONDERGAARD |
| Assistant Stage Manager | MANDY HUANG |
| Apprentice Stage Manager | DEVON VECCHIO |
| Co-Fight Directors | MIKE KOVAC* & SYLVIE LA RIVIERE |
| Intimacy Director | JESSICA ANNE NELSON |
| Dance Captain | DANICA KOBAYASHI |
| Fight Captain | DANE SMIT |
*The participation of these artists is arranged by permission of Canadian Actors’ Equity Association under the provision of the Dance•Opera•Theatre Policy (DOT).
† Indicates designers on this production are represented by the Associated Designers of Canada, IATSE Local ADC659.
| SEAN BAYNTUN | Leader / Keyboard |
| CLARE WYATT | Leader / Keyboard |
| KATIE STEWART | Violin |
| JOHN BEWS | Bass |
| GEETA DAS | Trumpet |
| KEVIN WOO | Reeds |
| COLIN PARKER | Percussion |
The Musicians engaged in this production are members of the Vancouver Musicians’ Association,
(VMA) Local 145 of the Canadian Federation of Musicians.
| DARREN JOHN | Head Sound |
| SAMANTHA SUM | Head Carpenter |
| KAREN CHIANG | Head Lights |
| ALANNA BAKER | Head Wardrobe |
| ALEXIS DOUGLAS | Head Props |
| SEAN BREDO | Assistant Sound |
| ORIANA CAMPORESE | Stitcher |
| ELOISE PONS | Stitcher |
| TRACEY GAUVIN | Stitcher |
| VICTORIA KLIPPENSTEIN | Cutter |
| SARAH SOSICK | Costume Assistant |
| ALEXIS HOPE | Child Supervisor |
THE VIDEOTAPING OR MAKING OF ELECTRONIC OR OTHER AUDIO AND/OR VISUAL RECORDINGS OF THIS PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTING RECORDINGS OR STREAMS IN ANY MEDIUM, INCLUDING THE INTERNET, IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED, A VIOLATION OF THE AUTHOR(S)’S RIGHTS AND ACTIONABLE UNDER UNITED STATES COPYRIGHT LAW. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT: https://concordtheatricals.com/resources/protecting-artists.
Production crew are members of Local 118 of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (I.A.T.S.E.).
CINDERELLA is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of The Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization. www.concordtheatricals.com
Welcome to Gateway Theatre’s production of Cinderella! We hope this show fills you with joy and magic during this special time of year.
Choosing a musical for our holiday production has been a tradition at Gateway for almost 40 years, and it is always an adventure. We want to make sure the stories we tell are not only enjoyable and entertaining, but also relevant to the community with whom we share them.
Cinderella takes us into a world of magic, where dreams that seem impossible become reality. This new, updated version of the musical also asks us to consider if the way we have always done things is the best way forward. During these challenging times, both these messages are useful for inspiration and growth.
We are so excited for the rest of our upcoming season! In February we are celebrating Lunar New Year with The Flame, a storytelling evening with live music and heart-warming true stories. We are also venturing into theatre for young people by partnering with the Richmond Children’s Arts Festival for a day of theatre on Family Day. In March, our Studio B theatre will host Jade Circle, Jasmine Chen’s play produced by rice & beans theatre in association with vAct. This multi-lingual piece embodies the beautiful connection between our mother tongue and family legacy. For our final show of the season, we are producing Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery by Ken Ludwig, a comedic rendition of the Sherlock Holmes mystery, Hound of the Baskervilles.
Thank you for being here tonight. We wish you a safe and wonderful holiday season, and look forward to seeing you again in the New Year.
-The Gateway Theatre Team
I was excited to have the opportunity to direct this “refreshed” take on a much-loved story.
Cinderella is so embedded in our collective memory: the wicked step-family, the magical helper, the fabled glass slippers. But the world has changed a lot since that original story emerged (in one version or another, it can be found as far away as ancient Greece and medieval China).
The Cinderella we’re bringing to this stage turns many of the old tropes upside down with a mischievous wink. Don’t worry: if you’ve come hoping for some magic, some romance, and some improbable shoes, we wouldn’t let you down. They just might not show up in exactly the way you’d expect.
Yes, there’s a feminist spin to this version, which is very welcome. It’s exciting to see a Cinderella who makes her own decisions. But it’s not just that. At its core, to me, this Cinderella is about self-determination. As our Fairy Godmother says, “If you have a dream, you’re going to have to fight for it.”
This idea seems especially fitting at a time when many of us may feel that the forces shaping our lives are too far outside our control. This is in some ways a disconcerting time to be alive, so maybe a good time to be reminded that we always have choices to make and to act on. Sure, we don’t all have a fairy godmother to provide the magical means – but all Marie really gives Ella is a chance. Ella has to do the rest, to make her own wish come true.
If this Cinderella reminds us that we might be able to do the same, then it’s still a story well worth telling – for a whole new set of reasons.
Johnna Wright
Ella
Ella
Ali is very excited to debut her first show at Gateway – and as a princess no less! Ali has been involved in the performing arts since she started ballet at six years old. Ali is a graduate of Capilano University, class of 2016. Her recent credits include Little Shop of Horrors (Arts Club/Citadel Theatre), Beautiful: the Carole King Musical (Arts Club); Grease (WCT) and The Fiancée (Persephone.) Ali cannot wait to bring her version of Ella to life. She believes in showing young artists who look like her that there’s always a spot on stage for them. She hopes you enjoy the show and that for at least tonight, you believe magic is possible!
Topher
Topher
Kamyar is delighted to make his Gateway Theatre debut as Prince Topher. Born and raised in Vancouver, Kamyar is a graduate of Studio 58 and has appeared on multiple Canadian stages. Select credits: Something Rotten! (TUTS); Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Sense and Sensibility, Jitters, The Piano Teacher (Arts Club); Shakespeare in Love, The Taming of the Shrew, Pericles, The Merchant of Venice (Bard on the Beach); Cabaret (Raincity); The Three Little Pigs (Carousel); Forever Plaid (Mayfield). Film & TV: Virgin River, Arrow, Debris, Motherland, Charmed. Kamyar is a Jessie Award nominee and two-time Ovation! Award winner. Everlasting gratitude to his friends and family who’ve supported his art.
Madame
Madame
Lossen debuted on the Vancouver theatre scene at age 12 where she received an Equity Emerging Actors nomination. Her career has spanned from national tours to various film and television productions, and a Jessie nomination. Select theatre credits include: Arts Club Theatre, Da Kink In My Hair; Stage West, The Gingerbread Lady; Arts Club Theatre, Manitoba Theatre Centre, Theatre Calgary, TUTS, Little Shop of Horrors; Carousel Theatre Company, Mean to be Free; Film & TV: So Help Me Todd, Family Law, The Flash, A Series of Unfortunate Events, Twilight Zone, Woke, Resident Alien, Superman & Lois, Double Jeopardy, Bird on a Wire, Stakeout, First Blood.
A huge thank you with love and gratitude to her family, friends, colleagues and management team. Lossen is delighted to be making her Gateway Theatre debut. Enjoy the show.
Lord Pinkleton
Lord Pinkleton
Ryan is a queer theatre artist and creator, working in Alberta and Vancouver. Ryan is the Artistic Director and founder of BrownCow Collective (@browncowcollective), a queer-led theatre collective based in Central Alberta, focused on immersive and accessibly thought-provoking work. This is Ryan’s debut with Gateway Theatre. Select performance credits: Starwalker (Urban Ink Theatre & Musical Stages Co.); Kinky Boots (Arts Club); Sweeney Todd-In Concert (Storybook Theatre); Rock Of Ages (Mayfield Dinner Theatre); The Louder We Get, Billy Elliot (Theatre Calgary). Ryan strives to be a part of and create accepting spaces that foster personal and communal growth in identity and artistry, why not have a little fun along the way?!
Sebastian
Sebastian
Tainui is a New Zealand-born entertainer. Tai has a Bachelor’s degree in Music Theatre, earning the degree prize for outstanding achievement and commitment to studies. Select musical theatre highlights include Beauty and the Beast, Les Miserables, H.M.S Pinafore, Cats, Grease, Guys and Dolls and Saturday Night Fever. Tainui most recently completed a Western Canada tour of Music of the Night singing Lloyd Webber’s greatest hits in concert throughout BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. This show marks Tainui’s debut for Gateway Theatre and he would especially “like to thank my family for their strength and support to do what I love to do.”
Marie
Marie
Caitriona Murphy is an actor and musician originally from Toronto. B.C. credits include: Next to Normal, Mary Poppins, Peter and the Starcatcher, Onegin, Billy Elliot, Once, The Piano Teacher (Arts Club Theatre); Elf (Western Canada Theatre); A Broadway Holiday, Closer Than Ever, Anne of Green Gables (Gateway Theatre); The Prom, The Drowsy Chaperone and Mamma Mia! (TUTS). Film and TV credits include Fire Country, Wild Cards, and 2 seasons of Schmigadoon. A singer and violinist, Caitriona has played venues across Canada. Caitriona is an accredited Music Therapist and works in Mental Health and Addiction in Vancouver. Caitriona believes in the theatre as the best place to create community through shared storytelling, music and magic.
Charlotte
Charlotte
Sarah is a Filipino-Canadian actor and singer in her debut role at Gateway Theatre. She is a graduate of the Musical Theatre program at Capilano University. Sarah has been performing in shows including The Sound of Music, Sense & Sensibility (Arts Club); Ghost the Musical (Chemainus Theatre Festival); 42nd Street (TUTS). Sarah has also been engaged in Vancouver’s vibrant film and TV scene on series such as Two Sentence Horror Stories, Schmigadoon, Family Law, Allegiance and movies such as A Magical Christmas Village.
Jean-Michel
Jean-Michel
Ben Brown is a Vancouver-based actor and writer, and is excited to make his Gateway Theatre debut in Cinderella. This past spring, Ben graduated from Studio 58, and spent the summer as the standby for Million Dollar Quartet with the Arts Club Theatre Company. Ben is lucky to have such a supportive family and partner, and wouldn’t be here without them!
Ensemble
Ensemble
Alyson is an emerging theatre artist and devisor based out of Vancouver on the traditional territories of the Museum, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh nations. Alyson has been training professionally in dance for fifteen years at Tri-City Dance Centre and Harbour Dance Centre in their Intensive Training Program (ITP). She is currently a student at Studio 58 with recent shows including The Tempest, The Kitchen, and Girlhood 4 Dummies (devised) and you can catch her in upcoming productions of Into the Woods and FourPlay this spring. Alyson is passionate about using theatre to heal and empower people. Honoured to be here!
Ensemble
Ensemble
Ava is a theatre actress, dancer, and acrobat who will be debuting her role in the ensemble at Gateway Theatre. Ava graduated from Vancouver Institute of Media Arts and Capilano University where she studied film and musical theatre. Ava has performed in many roles including Shelby in The Prom (TUTS), Fight Captain/Ensemble/Swing in Carrie (CapU), and the Gnome in Amélie (CapU). Ava was also the Co-Choreographer for Cabaret (CapU). Ava wants theatre to continue to inspire others as well as give viewers an opportunity to believe that dreams can come true.
Gabrielle
Gabrielle
Danica Kobayashi is an emerging theatre artist based in Vancouver on the unceded land of the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh speaking peoples. After graduating from MacEwan University’s Theatre Arts program, she performed for several years with companies such as Theatre Under the Stars, Royal City Musical Theatre, and Align Entertainment before returning to study at Studio 58, where you can catch her in their upcoming productions of Into the Woods and FourPlay before graduating this spring. Danica is passionate about providing accessible arts education through her work as a theatre, music, and dance educator. Much love to her family and the Cinderella team!
Ensemble/ Understudy Jean-Michel & Sebastian
Ensemble/ Understudy Jean-Michel & Sebastian
Dane is a theatre artist and fight choreographer in their debut role at Gateway Theatre. Dane is a graduate of CCPA and Douglas College. Recently coming off of a performance as Aaron Fox in Curtains! The Musical. Dane is always seeking to connect more with the audience and encourage more people to join the world of theatre.
Ensemble
Ensemble
Darian is a dancer, actor, and singer who has been performing since 7th grade and this is his first show with Gateway Theatre. He is a graduate of the Canadian College of Performing Arts and has worked in numerous theatres around BC. Darian loves to make people smile and hopes to inspire individuals to follow their passions.
Ensemble
Ensemble
Holly fell in love with performing at the age of 4 and has continued to pursue it as she graduated recently from Capilano University with a diploma in musical theatre. She just came back from two months touring Eastern Canada singing for many sold-out audiences in Relive the Music: 50’s and 60’s Show. Select credits include ensemble in Something Rotten (TUTS); Sue in Carrie (CapU); 3 Blind Mice in Shrek (Align Entertainment); and Elle Woods in Legally Blonde (Lindbjerg Academy). Her goal is for any work she does to allow the audience to escape from everyday life for a few hours and hopes this show does just that. She thanks her family for supporting her and to her Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Ensemble
Ensemble
Jaren is a dancer and theatre creator who has been dancing since age nine. He graduated from the Canadian College of Performing Arts Studio Ensemble Program in 2022. Jaren’s recent performance credits include Matilda the Musical (TUTS); As You Like It (Greater Victoria Shakespeare Festival); and Beauty and the Beast (Victoria On Stage Musical Theatre). Jaren believes learning is a lifelong journey and strives to improve himself and his craft constantly.
Ensemble/Understudy Ella, Marie & Gabrielle
Ensemble/Understudy Ella, Marie & Gabrielle
Megan is a performing artist in her first production with Gateway Theatre! Megan is a graduate of the applied diploma program (Company C) at the Canadian College of Performing Arts, and she holds a degree in Performing Arts from Douglas College. Recently, Megan performed as a follies girl in Royal City Musical Theatre’s production of Crazy for You. Some of her favourite roles include playing Cinderella in Into the Woods (Company C; RCMT in concert); Regina in Rock of Ages (Renegade Theatre), and understudying for Juliet in Romeo and Juliet (GVSF). Megan loves theatre for its power to bring people together as it offers a way to gain a common understanding of the human experience.
Ensemble / Understudy Madame & Charlotte
Ensemble / Understudy Madame & Charlotte
Sarah recently moved to “The Big City” from the Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island and is absolutely thrilled to make her Gateway Theatre debut in such an empowering version of Cinderella’s story! Sarah attended the University of Windsor’s BFA Music Theatre program, Canadian College of Performing Arts, and Vancouver Island University’s Classical Voice and Bachelor of Education programs. She recently played Irene Roth in RCMT’s; Crazy for You and will be joining them again for next year’s production of Mary Poppins. Every role and show Sarah’s done has been an artistic gift: immersing in the language of Shakespeare as Lady Macbeth, singing the Cole Porter standards as Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes or revelling in the wit, satire and counterpoint of Gilbert & Sullivan’s Duchess of Plaza-Toro in The Gondoliers. She hopes that the themes of this musical will remind you of the enduring power of kindness and that you will leave the theatre “with the promise of possibility”!
Ensemble/Understudy Topher & Lord Pinkleton
Ensemble/Understudy Topher & Lord Pinkleton
Vuk Prodanovic (He/They) is an emerging first-generation Serbian-Canadian artist born and raised in Vancouver, on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. Theatre and film credits include Simon (The Code, Green Thumb Theatre); Jonah (The Big Draw). Vuk is a proud graduate of Studio 58’s acting program and has since returned to work on shows for his alma mater: Movement Choreographer in Metamorphoses (Studio 58), and upcoming spring 2024: the Baker in Into the Woods (Studio 58). It is Vuk’s belief that great art moves us, whether we are the ones creating or observing.
Children’s Ensemble
Children’s Ensemble
Ariel has been enjoying singing, dancing, and playing musical instruments since a young age. Participating in the musical theatre program at Gateway Academy has further extended her passion towards music. Ariel believes music in different forms is a fun way to connect with the community.
Children’s Ensemble
Children’s Ensemble
Ariel has been enjoying singing, dancing, and playing musical instruments since a young age. Participating in the musical theatre program at Gateway Academy has further extended her passion towards music. Ariel believes music in different forms is a fun way to connect with the community.
Director
Director
Johnna has worked as a director, dramaturg and playwright in Canadian theatre for more than 30 years. At Gateway she has directed Sylvia, Annie, and The Leading Ladies. Other favourites include All’s Well That Ends Well for Bard on the Beach and The Rivals for Blackbird Theatre. Johnna also co-wrote, with Patty Jamieson, a new adaptation of Patrick Hamilton’s Gaslight, which premiered at the Shaw Festival and will tour Australia in 2024. With the challenges faced by theatre in recent years, Johnna believes more than ever in its power to change the way we see the world, and in the need for audiences to have that experience together.
Music Director/Leader/Keyboard
Music Director/Leader/Keyboard
Sean is a multi-genre keyboard artist, collaborator, and accompanist. He has a B.Mus from UBC and a M.Mus from Rice University in Texas. He music directed and was either Earl or Cecil in Gateway’s production of Anne of Green Gables last year. Sean has received many awards and nominations for his work, including a Jessie for Light in the Piazza and an Ovation for Herringbone. Sean is thrilled to collaborate with the artists of Cinderella and is grateful to be back at Gateway.
Co-Set Designer
Co-Set Designer
Jenn is a multidisciplinary theatre artist working on the unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples. She is a graduate of Studio 58 and holds a Master’s in Design from UBC. She has been fortunate to have worked with various artists within the community, including Bard on the Beach, Caravan Farm Theatre, The Electric Company, Frank, Itsazoo, Seizième and vAct. Her first show at Gateway Theatre was Train (Theatre Replacement) as an ASM. She is a member of CAEA and ADC659. Jenn is delighted that you’ve come to experience live theatre!
Choreographer
Choreographer
Nicol Spinola is a multi-award-winning choreographer and artist. Choreography credits include Joseph… and Anne of Green Gables (Gateway Theatre), Million Dollar Quartet (Arts Club Theatre Company), Mamma Mia! (Chemainus Theatre Festival), Something Rotten!, Cinderella, Mary Poppins (TUTS), Sweeney Todd, Company, Cabaret (Raincity Theatre), Seussical (SaskExpress), Shrek, Legally Blonde, Annie (Align Entertainment), 9 to 5 (Capilano University). Nicol is a three-time Ovation Award winner for outstanding choreography and a Jessie Richardson Award Winner for Outstanding Musical. Nicol has been a dance and theatre educator for over 20 years, is the Co-Managing Artistic Director of Raincity Theatre, and the Co-Founding Director of Camp Cue. Love to my family. For Tio & Cataleya. www.nicolspinola.com
Co-Set Designer & Lighting Designer
Co-Set Designer & Lighting Designer
Sophie Tang is an award-winning lighting and set designer working in theatre, ppera and dance. She has worked with companies including Stratford Festival, Shaw Festival, Electric Company Theatre, Vancouver Opera, Artsclub Theatre, Bard on the Beach, Citadel Theatre, Canadian Stage, Theatre Replacement and so on. For Gateway: Yoga Play, A Broadway Holiday, Anne of Green Gables. Other recent credits: Michel(le) (Théâtre la Seizième), Fairview (The Search Party), The Apple Cart (Shaw Festival), Henry V (Bard on the Beach), Legend of Georgia Mcbride (Artsclub Theatre), Midsummer Night’s Dream (Vancouver Opera), Undeveloped Sound (Electric Company Theatre), Choir boy (Canadian Stage and Artsclub), The Pearl Fishers (Vancouver Opera). Sophie enjoys telling stories with her lighting.
Costume Designer
Costume Designer
Alaia is a Vancouver theatre designer originally from the Gulf Islands. Recent projects she has worked on include costume design for Million Dollar Quartet, The Cull, Beneath Springhill, The Birds and the Bees (Artsclub); East Van Panto: The Little Mermaid, HMS Pinafore, Carmen Up Close and Personal (Vancouver Opera); Beautiful Man (Pi Theatre); set design for God Said This (Pacific Theatre); Seventeen (Western Gold). She has worked on a variety of smaller shows through Vancouver and has a passion for costuming dance. Alaia is a graduate of the UBC Theatre Design program in 2017 and holds an English literature degree from 2012.
Sound Designer
Sound Designer
Darren is an interdisciplinary theatre production artist with 13 years of experience. Darren has been an active member of the Gateway production team since 2021. He has now sound-designed two shows for Gateway Theatre, A Broadway Holiday (2021) and Anne of Green Gables (2022). Darren is so excited to welcome patrons back to the stage so that they can hear just how magical this cast really is.
Stage Manager
Stage Manager
Philomena has been a professional Stage Manager in Vancouver for over 20 years; working in dance, theatre, and live events. Notable credits include Crazy for You (Royal City Musical Theatre); Cabaret (Raincity Theatre); Something Rotten (TUTS); Betroffenheit, (Kidd Pivot/Electric Company); Romeo and Juliet (Ballet BC); 5 seasons for Align Entertainment; Jesus Christ Superstar, Cabaret (URP); 2010 Vancouver Paralympic Opening and Closing Ceremonies, Patrick Roberge Productions. Philomena would like to thank her husband Rob for his unwavering support.
Assistant Stage Manager
Assistant Stage Manager
Mandy is an emerging stage manager holding a B.A. in Theatre Studies and Sociology from UBC. She started her stage management journey with UBC Theatre in 2020 and hasn’t looked back since! Some favourite stage management credits include The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical (CTORA); Soldiers of Tomorrow (Elbow Theatre); Anne of Green Gables (Gateway Theatre); Peter Pan Goes Wrong (Arts Club); Made in Italy (Arts Club). Growing up in Richmond, Gateway Theatre has been Mandy’s childhood theatre, and she is thrilled to be back this holiday season. Mandy would like to thank her family and partner for their unwavering support.
Intimacy Director
Intimacy Director
Jessica Anne Nelson (she/her) is an award-winning director, creator, producer, and intimacy director who sets the bar for creating respectful, passionate, and imaginative spaces for artists to explore in her gripping and provocative productions. Her intimacy direction centers on the principles of creating consent-based and trauma-informed work where we can have braver creation spaces. She has trained with the National Society of Intimacy Professionals, Theatrical Intimacy Education, and holds a MFA in Directing (UBC). Jessica is thrilled to make her Gateway Theatre debut for Cinderella as their Intimacy Director. Learn more about her work at www.jessicaannenelson.com
Co-Fight Director
Co-Fight Director
Mike Kovac is a Certified Fight Director with Fight Directors Canada and works in film/television/theatre in and around Vancouver. He has fight-directed Arts Club, Sense and Sensibility, Noises Off, The Shoplifters, Beauty and the Beast, Misery, and Mustard, among others. He’s an instructor with Capilano University, UBC, and TRU. If you see him on stage or screen, he’s probably about to get beaten up.
Apprentice Stage Manager
Apprentice Stage Manager
Devon (she/her) is an emerging stage manager, and a recent Theatre Production and Management graduate from the University of Victoria. Selected credits: Grand, The Phantom of the Opera; Opera Atelier, Dido and Aeneas, Orpheus and Eurydice; Arts Club, Me Love BINGO!: Best In Snow; Vertigo, Gaslight; The Grove, The 39 Steps; Culture Den Society/Belfry, Bury the Hatchet; Collectivus, Summer Bucket List; Phoenix, Comic Potential, The Drowsy Chaperone; SATCo, Oink, Oink. She believes theatre truly fosters a community and hopes you feel part of the community each time you attend a performance! Love to Mom, Dad & Nessarose.
Fight Captain
Fight Captain
Dane is a theatre artist and fight choreographer in their debut role at Gateway Theatre. Dane is a graduate of CCPA and Douglas College. Recently coming off of a performance as Aaron Fox in Curtains! The musical. Dane is always seeking to connect more with the audience and encourage more people to join the world of theatre.
Co-Fight Director
Co-Fight Director
Sylvie is very happy to be a part of this production, and thrilled to be teaming up again with Mike Kovac. Sylvie is a certified Advanced Actor Combatant with the Academy of Fight Directors Canada. Recently she has designed violence for Fight Girl Battle World (Thompson Rivers University), Vietgone (United Players), and Coriolanus (University of British Columbia). She also runs Cry Havoc Fight Choreography in Vancouver.
Dance Captain
Dance Captain
Danica Kobayashi is an emerging theatre artist based in Vancouver on the unceded land of the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh speaking peoples. After graduating from MacEwan University’s Theatre Arts program, she performed for several years with companies such as Theatre Under the Stars, Royal City Musical Theatre, and Align Entertainment before returning to study at Studio 58, where you can catch her in their upcoming productions of Into the Woods and FourPlay before graduating this spring. Danica is passionate about providing accessible arts education through her work as a theatre, music, and dance educator. Much love to her family and the Cinderella team!
Music Director/Leader/Keyboard
Music Director/Leader/Keyboard
Sean is a multi-genre keyboard artist, collaborator, and accompanist. He has a B.Mus from UBC and a M.Mus from Rice University in Texas. He music directed and was either Earl or Cecil in Gateway’s production of Anne of Green Gables last year. Sean has received many awards and nominations for his work, including a Jessie for Light in the Piazza and an Ovation for Herringbone. Sean is thrilled to collaborate with the artists of Cinderella and is grateful to be back at Gateway.
Leader/Keyboard
Violin
Violin
Katie Stewart is a Vancouver based musician, and alumni of Capilano University Jazz studies programme, with over 15 years experience in the Vancouver music scene. She is thrilled to have her debut credit at Gateway Theatre. She is credited for contributions to numerous bands including Spindle!, Madelyn Read, and the History of Gunpowder (for which she has toured with internationally). She is a resident fiddler for the Blarney Stone house band, and has played abroad in Nashville, Italy, and O’Neill’s pub in Dublin, Ireland. She is currently working on recording an album, and playing a Montreal residency in the coming months.
Bass
Trumpet
Trumpet
Vancouver-born Guyanese, Geeta Das is a very diverse and well seasoned, professional multi-instrumentalist focusing on winds, percussion, and voice, across countless genres. She has been studying, teaching, conducting, and performing locally and internationally for over 30 years and has had the humbling opportunity of working with countless local legends and world renowned artists alike. Geeta has had the honour of performing with: UK singer/songwriter Adele, rapper Kanye West, UK pop/rock sensation The Heavy, historic big band The Glenn Miller Orchestra, as well performing extensively in the musical theatre world. Geeta has been performing at the Gateway Theatre since the late 1990s and is thrilled to be a part of Cinderella’s 2023 Pit Orchestra.
Reed
Reed
Kevin has been involved with the Vancouver & Lower Mainland musical theatre community for over 30 years as a musician and arts administrator. An accomplished reed musician, he studied clarinet at UBC’s School of Music and has played in orchestra pits for companies such as RCMT, Raincity Theatre, Gateway Theatre, (The King & I, Wizard of Oz, Music Man, Crazy for You, Joseph..); and Theatre Under the Stars, where he also works as their General Manager. Watching artists excel and develop over the years, Kevin has enjoyed the camaraderie and encouragement that the Vancouver theatre community fosters.
Percussion
Special thanks to the Artsclub shop who Manufactured and sold us our set. With extra thanks to the following staff who worked on it Jessie Potter (Pre-Production Technical Director), JC d’Almeida (Head Carpenter), Lorraine West, Chris White (Lead Carpenters), Amy Harris (2nd Stage Carpenter), Kristine Kavalec (Head Scenic Painter), Tegan Klancnik, Isabelle Barlow (Scenic Artists). Thank you for all your hard work.
Dedicated workers, supporters and donors make our artistic offerings and initiatives possible. Gateway Theatre would like to acknowledge its government funders, corporate supporters, foundation supporters, individual donors, Gateway Theatre volunteers, board of directors and staff for their contributions. Help us fulfill our commitment to the community by becoming a Donor to Gateway Theatre, a not-for-profit registered charity.
