Announcing 2023-24 Casting

Announcing Casting for 2023-24

Theatre Calgary has unveiled the cast and creative teams for the next four productions in our 2023-24 season lineup. They include the return of the full-scale version of A Christmas Carol, Steve Martin's comedy Meteor Shower, a Beatles-musical twist on William Shakespeare's As You Like It, and the world premiere of the drama Selma Burke from Calgary playwrights Maria Crooks and Caroline Russell-King.

Cast and creative teams:

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

by Charles Dickens, adapted for the stage by Geoffrey Simon Brown
Directed by Stafford Arima | Associate Director Jane MacFarlane | Music direction, sound design & composition by Allison Lynch | Choreography by Jesse Robb | Set design by Scott Reid | Costume design by Deitra Kalyn | Lighting design by Kevin Lamotte | Assistant lighting design Anton deGroot | Assistant choreographer Anthony MacPherson | Stage manager Carissa Sams | Assistant stage managers Sang Sang Lee and Chandler Ontkean | Apprentice stage manager Frances MacDonald

This year's production of A Christmas Carol features a new actor in the role of Ebenezer Scrooge. The iconic miser will be played by well-known Calgary actor Doug McKeag. This production marks McKeag's 33rd show at Theatre Calgary, and his 10th appearance in A Christmas Carol where past roles include Mr. Fezziwig, Fred, and Topper. McKeag takes over from Stephen Hair, who retired from the role following his performance as Scrooge in our AMPIA Award-nominated filmed version in 2020.

"Doug has been a staple within Calgary’s artistic community for over 30 years and has graced Theatre Calgary's stage in some of our most memorable shows. I cannot wait for our audiences to experience his performance as the legendary Ebenezer Scrooge in this spectacular production featuring a cast of 20 Calgarians," says Theatre Calgary's Artistic Director Stafford Arima.

Along with McKeag, the cast of A Christmas Carol includes Mark Bellamy (Mr. Fezziwig), Scarlett Bowler (Martha Cratchit), Anna Cummer (Alice Cratchit), Laura Desmarais (Tiny Tim Cratchit), Christopher Duthie (Dick Wilkins), Daniel Fong (Fred), Simon Goutsis (Ben Cratchit), Vanessa Leticia Jetté (Belle), Karen Johnson-Diamond (Gertie Fezziwig), Alexandria Lee (Belinda Cratchit), Allison Lynch (Fiddler), Raina Muradali (Margaret Cratchit), Declan O'Reilly (Ensemble, Scrooge understudy), Parker Painchaud (Peter Cratchit), Geneviève Paré (Emily), Joe Perry (Young Scrooge), Mike Tan (Bob Cratchit), Jamie Tognazzini (Christmas Past), Marshall Vielle (Christmas Present), Greg Pember (Swing), Jessica Eckstadt (Swing).

A Christmas Carol runs from November 30 - December 31, 2023, in the Arts Commons Max Bell Theatre.

METEOR SHOWER

by Steve Martin
Directed by Lezlie Wade | Set design by Douglas Paraschuk | Costume design by Jessica Poirier-Chang | Lighting & projection design by Beth Kates | Sound design & composition by Andrew Blizzard | Stage manager Lisa Russell | Assistant stage manager Naomi Esau | Apprentice stage manager Charlotte Braid

The cast of Meteor Shower includes Braden Griffiths (Gerald), Helen Knight (Corky), Nathan Schmidt (Norm), and Bahareh Yaraghi (Laura).

Meteor Shower runs from January 23 - February 11, 2024, in the Arts Commons Max Bell Theatre.

AS YOU LIKE IT

by William Shakespeare
Directed by Daryl Cloran | Music direction by Ben Elliott | Choreography & fight direction by Jonathan Hawley Purvis | Set design by Pam Johnson | Costume design by Carmen Alatorre | Lighting design by Gerald King | Sound design by Alistair Wallace | Stage manager Shelby-Jai Flick | Assistant stage manager Kennedy Greene | Consulting assistant stage manager Jenn Stewart | Apprentice stage manager Michael Luong

The cast of As You Like It includes Henry Beasley (William, Jacques de Boys), Andrew Cownden (Touchstone), Nadien Chu (Dame Frances), Oscar Derkx (Orlando de Boys), Alexandra Lainfiesta (Phoebe, Eleanor Rigby), Anton Lipovetsky (Silvius), Matthew MacDonald-Bain (Oliver de Boys), Jenny McKillop (Audrey), Marco Walker Ng (Charles the Wrestler, Forest Lord), Naomi Ngebulana (Celia), Evan Rein (Forest Lord), Chelsea Rose (Rosalind), Jan Alexandra Smith (Jaques, Le Beau), Isaiah Terrell-Dobbs (Musician), Andrew Wheeler (Adam, Martext), Stephanie Wolfe (Corin), and Sally Zori (Musician).

As You Like It runs from February 27 - March 24, 2024, in the Arts Commons Max Bell Theatre.

SELMA BURKE

by Maria Crooks & Caroline Russell-King
Directed by Delicia Turner Sonnenberg | Choreography by Javier Vilalta | Set design by Hanne Loosen | Costume design by Adejoke Taiwo | Lighting design by Timothy Rodrigues | Sound design by KP Smith | Projection design by Brendan Briceland | Stage manager Meredith Johnson | Assistant stage manager Jennifer Yeung | Apprentice stage manager Spencer Blyan

The cast of Selma Burke includes Norma Lewis (Selma Burke), Christopher Clare (Ensemble), Christopher Hunt (Ensemble), and Heather Pattengale (Ensemble).

Selma Burke runs from April 2 - 27, 2024, in the Arts Commons Martha Cohen Theatre.

The casting for our final show of the 2023-24 season, Beaches the Musical, will be announced at a later date.