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"Opulent scenic design by Martin Flynn and breathtaking costumes by Mary Folino highlight an all-star cast led by Kathryn Brunner as Ella and Brent Thiessen as Prince Topher. Brunner’s kind and gentle demeanor belie powerhouse vocals and complement Thiessen’s charming naivete and earnest desire to do good."
"This beautiful production not only delights in nostalgia, it also breathes progress and power. It’s an uplifting, hopeful, and magical lesson in kindness, compassion, and perseverance."
The Secret Garden
Theatre Calgary - Calgary, Alberta - 2017/18 Season
Directed by Stafford Arima
Choreography by Marc Kimelman
Music Direction by Don Horsburgh
starring
Greer Hunt as Mary Lennox
Eric Craig as Archibald Craven
Lara Brandt as Lily Craven
Lucian-River Mirage Chauhan as Colin Craven
Brent Thiessen as Doctor Craven
Ma-Anne Dionisio as Martha
Eric Wigston as Dickon
Ben McKeag as Ben Weatherstaff
Elizabeth Stepkowski Tarhan as Mrs. Medlock
Susan Gilmour as Mrs. Winthrop
Allison Lynch as Rose Lennox
Matt Chittick as Albert Lennox
with
Matthew Bruce, Dave Comeau, Tory Doctor, Jillian Hannah, Trish Talreja, Suchiththa Wickremesooriya
Notes
I was thrilled to find out I had been cast by Stafford Arima to play Doctor Craven in The Secret Garden. The show was happening in the beautiful 775-seat Max Bell Theatre, produced by Theatre Calgary, which was celebrating its 50th season. This was a dream role to play and the production featured a 21-piece orchestra conducted brilliantly by Don Horsburgh.
Photos
Press
"In his Calgary directing debut, Theatre Calgary’s new artistic director Stafford Arima has given us a vocally sumptuous production of the 1991 Broadway musical The Secret Garden."
"It’s beautiful music and sung exquisitely by the talented cast Arima has assembled."
"Arima is a wily conjuror. He brings us Dionisio, one of Canada’s premiere musical theatre divas and casts her as Martha. Dionisio certainly enlivened the opening night audience, eliciting cheers and thunderous applause, as did Thiessen and Craig in their duet, Lily’s Eyes."
"Theatre Calgary’s The Secret Garden blooms with its extraordinary cast and Arima’s delightfully dark and twisty staging."
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