COMPANY BIOGRAPHIES THE CAST

MEL BAHNIUK - Patty / Understudy for Sandy & Jan

At WCT: Debut

Elsewhere: Lady/Lord Capulet Romeo & Juliet, Titania/Hippolyta A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Shakespeare by the Bow/ Theatre Calgary); Maria in the film They Who Surround Us; Producer of the documentary OMA (TELUS StoryHive); Concord Floral, The Flick, Middletown, All For Love, One the Verge (University of Alberta); Catch Me If You Can, Big Fish, Trojan Women, NINE (MacEwan University). BFA in Acting (University of Alberta) Diploma in Theatre Arts (MacEwan University).

BILLY BROWN - Doody / Understudy for Danny

At WCT: Debut

Elsewhere: Billy Brown is an actor and singer from Edmonton, Alberta. He is a graduate of MacEwan University’s Theatre Arts Program and the University of Alberta’s BFA in Acting. This is Billy’s first time working at Western Canada Theatre and is honoured to be playing the role of Doody in this production of Grease. Previous credits include: Jersey Boys (The Citadel Theatre); Ragtime: A Concert Performance (Theatre Calgary); Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Two Gentlemen of Verona (Theatre Calgary’s Shakespeare by the Bow); Love’s Labours Lost (Freewill Shakespeare); Rumpelstiltskin (Alberta Musical Theatre Company). Billy would like to thank Western Canada Theatre for this amazing opportunity and hopes the audience enjoys the performance!

DEVON BUSSWOOD - Jan

At WCT: Debut

Elsewhere: Devon is thrilled to be making her WCT debut! A singer-songwriter, voice actor, and human muppet, she most recently trained at The Second City in Chicago, studying stand-up, improv, and writing. Select credits: Broadway Holiday (Gateway Theatre); Huhu in the animation series Momolu and Friends; and Rose Fenny in Dogfight (ArtsWest), for which she was nominated for ‘Best Actress in Musical’ at Seattle’s Gregory Awards. Thank you to the incredible cast, crew, and creative team for the memories and the shenanigans!

#campgrease

SHELYSE CAMERON - Ensemble / Radio Singer / Understudy for Rizzo, Marty, Patty

At WCT: Debut

Elsewhere: Shelyse Cameron is an actor for stage, screen, and voice-over with extensive training in dance and musical theatre. She has been performing in the Kamloops theatre community since she was 9 years old. Shelyse is a graduate from Thompson Rivers University, Vancouver Acting School, and has training from The London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art in England. Select Theatre: Hamlet (LAMDA); Friday Night Live (Vancouver Improv); Rivertown Players (Kamloops Arts Council). Select Film/T.V: Operation Bring Back Christmas, Astronomy Walkers, Hipsterverse, Beyond The Woods, and has done voice-over work for commercials & children’s animation. Shelyse is beyond excited to be making her WCT debut and to work alongside such a talented group of artists!

SCOTT CARMICHAEL - Vince Fontaine / Drums

At WCT: Ring of Fire, Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story

Elsewhere: Scott has had the pleasure of performing in theatres across Canada for 15 years. Selected theatre credits: Man of La Mancha (Magnus Theatre); The Foursome (Foster Festival); The Ballad of Stompin’ Tom (Sudbury Theatre Centre); Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story (Mayfield, Thousand Islands Playhouse, Arts Club, Stage West Calgary, Theatre Aquarius, Magnus Theatre); Ring of Fire (Thousand Islands Playhouse, Chemainus Festival Theatre); Million Dollar Quartet (Drayton, Stage West Calgary, Chemainus Festival Theatre); 12 Angry Men, The 39 Steps, Melville Boys, I Love You You’re Perfect Now Change, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Rose Theatre Brampton). Film & TV: Justice for MLK: The Hunt for James Earl Ray, The Witches of Salem, Paranormal 911, Marine Disasters. Love to Cecily and son Jaden for their love and support

FRANKIE COTTRELL - Roger

At WCT: Debut

Elsewhere: Frankie grew up in Gibsons, BC, where he took dancing and singing at Dance Works Academy. He is Indigenous from the Tahltan Nation and his ancestral name is Wākin’ādā which means “walks on the clouds”. Frankie graduated from the Musical Theatre Diploma Program at Capilano University in 2015. Select theatre credits include: Elvis Presley in Million Dollar Quartet (Chemainus Theatre Festival, Theatre Northwest); Eddie in The Ring of Fire (Theatre Northwest); Mamma Mia (Arts Club); Cha in The 3 Little Pigs (Carousel Theatre for Young Audiences); and Tommy in Tommy the musical (Renegade). Frankie will also be performing in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical at Arts Club this summer. Frankie also writes and sings original music both as a solo artist and with his band When They Rise. Enjoy the show! @frankie.cottrell

DANIEL CURALLI - Kenickie

At WCT: Debut

Elsewhere: Made in Italy (Arts Club); Derwent Is Different (Green Thumb Theatre); Hairspray, Mary Poppins, Cinderella, Newsies, Something Rotten (TUTS); Shrek, Annie, Seussical (Align Entertainment); Snow White: Panto (Metro Theatre); Cry Baby (Awkward Stage); The Safe Word, Eurydice, Edward II, Love and Information (UBC). Daniel is a proud graduate of UBC BFA program. Love to Mom, Dad, Sophia, Thomas, family, and friends for their support. To God be the Glory. IT’S SHOWTIME!! danielcuralli.com

SARAH FORMOSA - Cha Cha / Understudy for Frenchy

At WCT: Debut

Elsewhere: Born and raised in the greater Vancouver Area, Sarah Formosa began her preforming arts career as a dancer where she did her formal training in San Francisco at Alonzo King LINES Ballet. Since moving back to the Vancouver in 2016, Sarah has had the opportunity to work as a dance artist, choreographer, and actress in many productions both on stage and in TV and Film. Some of her credits include Disney, Netflix, Nickelodeon, LifeTime, Freeform, Apple TV+, and most recently you will see her on Paramount+ in Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies. In 2021, Sarah joined Holy Crow Arts for their World Premiere of So Damn Proud. Sarah is very grateful to be joining Western Canada Theatre with this production of Grease! @itssarahformosa

JAKE KOPYTKO - Eugene / Understudy for Sonny & Doody

At WCT: The Wizard of Oz, A Christmas Carol

Elsewhere: Jake made his professional acting debut over ten years ago with Western Canada Theatre, on the Sagebrush stage, and is delighted and grateful to be back. Jake has been diversifying his skills in the realms of dance, singing, voice acting, and stage combat over the past decade, and acquired further education at Thompson Rivers University. Born and raised in Kamloops, he now resides in Vancouver, Canada and is furthering his acting career in TV, film, and of course—theatre! Other memorable productions include: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, Cinderella (Project X Theatre); The Adam Project (Netflix); A Midsummer Nights Dream, She Kills Monsters (TRU). Lots of love to family and friends. Thank you for the unwavering support. Dad, this one’s for you. @jakekopytko

CATRIONA LEGER - Miss Lynch

At WCT: Hurry Hard (Director), Push Up Bar (Director, Co-creator - A Broad’s Way Cabaret)

Elsewhere: Catriona has worked across Canada as an actor, director, producer and creator for over twenty-five years. Kamloops audiences may know her as director of The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe (Project X); And Slowly Beauty, Dead Man’s Cell Phone, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (TRU AWT). Select Acting elsewhere: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, As You Like It, Antony and Cleopatra (a Company of Fools); Lysistrata and the Temple of Gaia (Odyssey Theatre); End of Civilization (Same Day Theatre); Better Living, Unity 1918, An Acre of Time (GCTC); School for Wives (Plosive Productions); Young Lady in White (Evolution Theatre); and a handful of Hallmark films shot right here in the TNRD. Catriona holds an MFA in Directing, BFA in Acting (UBC) and is a graduate of École Philippe Gaulier (Paris, France). She is currently Associate Teaching Professor of Theatre at TRU. catrionaleger.com.

Did you know?

BCLC is proud to support Western Canada Theatre’s Grease

Last year, Western Canada Theatre Society received a Community Gaming Grant for more than $88,500 from the Province of B.C.

FALY MEVAMANANA - Frenchy

At WCT: Debut

Elsewhere: Faly is a queer mixed-race actor, writer, singer, and sourdough bread enthusiast. Since graduating from the Randolph College for the Performing Arts, she has performed in seven provinces across Canada and been nominated for a Dora Mavor Moore Award for individual performance. Some of her favourite theatre credits include: playing the title role in Alice In Pantoland (Neptune Theatre); The Dream Catchers (The Charlottetown Festival); Juno in Juno’s Reward at (The Grand Theatre). Most recently, she played the lead in the world premiere of In Lieu of Flowers at Neptune Theatre. As a writer, Faly is driven to tell scripted stories which showcase marginalized voices in a joyful way. Outside of the professional realm, Faly volunteers as the Artistic Associate for a closed virtual arts community for artists and arts-lovers across Turtle Island from equity seeking groups. Raised in Coquitlam, BC, she’s ecstatic to be performing in her home province for all you lovely folks!

STEPHANIE McLEAN - Marty / Understudy for Miss Lynch

At WCT: Ensemble – The Wizard of Oz; Chip – Beauty and the Beast

Elsewhere: Local to Kamloops, Stephanie is a singer, dancer, and actor that has performed across Canada. After graduating from Randolph Academy, Stephanie performed in various roles and spent many years teaching dance in both Toronto and Vancouver with UBC. When not performing, Stephanie is an extremely proud mom and grateful to get to work with the incredible team at WCT as the Development Manager. Hudson and JP, I love you so much. Mom, I couldn’t do this without you. And a huge thank you to all of my family and friends for the never-ending support.

REM MURRAY - Sonny Understudy for Kenickie & Roger

At WCT: Johnny – Hurry Hard, Ensemble – The Wizard of Oz, Children’s Chorus – Fiddler on the Roof

Elsewhere: Rem was born in Worchester, Massachusetts, but he has spent almost the entirety of his life living in British Columbia. Rem fell in love with theatre during his first theatrical production, where he was part of the Children’s Chorus in WCT’s production of Fiddler on the Roof, and he is absolutely thrilled to be working again at Western Canada Theatre a decade later. Other roles of note include: Edmund/Aslan/Mr. Beaver in The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe (Project X) and LC-4 in Fight Girl, Battle World (TRU AWT). Rem would like to thank all of his dear friends, family, and mentors who have supported him along the way. Instagram: @remmurray

CMK

Chamber Musicians of Kamloops

Proudly present

Saturday, April 29, 2023

Partners in Crime Return

Cvetozar Vutev, violin

Curtis Howell, keyboard

With Special Guest: Anika Howell, Soprano

7:30 p.m.

Kamloops United Church

Students Under 19 Years Free

Tickets available at the door and at www.chambermusiciansofkamloops.org for both live and on-line viewing

SAYER ROBERTS - Danny

At WCT: Debut

Elsewhere: A Toronto-based actor, Sayer (he/him) has performed across Canada, with the Stratford Festival (The Music Man, The Rocky Horror Show, Guys and Dolls, HMS Pinafore), Vancouver Arts Club (Kinky Boots, Les Misérables, Red Rock Diner), Stage West Calgary (A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder), and Drayton Entertainment (Kinky Boots) to name a few. When not on stage, Sayer is an orchestral composer, for short films and podcasts, and he frequently creates themes and soundscapes for “Dungeons & Dragons” and other fantasy adventures. He and his partner Kaylee Harwood host the podcast “MCU and Me!”, a couple’s journey through Marvel films and tv shows. As always, rwy’n dy garu di, cariad.

EVA TAVARES - Sandy

At WCT: From the Sagebrush, With Love

Elsewhere: Eva Tavares is a Vancouver/Shuswap based director, singer, dancer, and coach. Most recently starring as Christine Daae in the Broadway Tour of Phantom of the Opera, Tavares is a graduate of UBC Opera, the LAMDA Shakespeare Short Course, and the Banff/Citadel Theatre Professional Training Program. Previous performance credits include: Marta in Kiss of the Spider Woman, Anne in A Little Night Music, and the world premiere of Sousatzka starring Victoria Clark. When the pandemic shut down live performance, Tavares began investing in her new found love of TV/film as an actor and director, appearing on Disney+, the CW channel, Lifetime, and many other networks. Funnily enough, you can see her as Barbara in the new Paramount+ show, Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies! Grease is definitely the word for Tavares this year. Huge thanks to the Kamloops community for always making me feel so welcome and supported. It feels like coming home!

ALI WATSON - Rizzo

At WCT: Debut

Elsewhere: Ali has been eyeing up this theatre from afar for a long time and she is thrilled to be able to debut in her first WCT show! Ali has done Grease twice before but never as a Pink Lady. This role is definitely a little bit different than when she played Teen Angel in Grade 12 (Eat your heart out, Frankie Avalon!). Her recent credits include: Lucy in The Fianceé (Persephone Theatre); Ensemble/Female Swing in Kinky Boots (Arts Club); Nicky in What If (Green Thumb Theatre); and Suzy in The Marvellous Wonderettes (Theatre Northwest). Enjoy your night of being transported back into the 50s!