Hairspray

Van Wilmott

Artistic Director / Musical Director / Keyboards

Welcome to the Mayfield Dinner Theatre and welcome to the DoubleTree by Hilton West Edmonton, our new home! Now officially open! What better way to celebrate this than to present HAIRSPRAY – the biggest musical to ever hit our stage. In 2003 this incredible show won eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and ran for over six years and 2500 performances on Broadway. It is based on the original 1988 movie, which was later featured as a movie-musical starring John Travolta. It is a powerful and moving story but at the same time an over the top hilarious comedy, presented to you by the largest cast ever to grace our stage. It was a great experience putting this show together musically with such an amazing congregation of talent from across the country. The Directors, designers, cast, musicians and crew have all stood on their heads to get this show up and we are extremely appreciative of all they have brought to this production. You are in store for a great evening of theatre! From all of us at the Mayfield Dinner Theatre and DoubleTree by Hilton, thank you for your patronage. Enjoy your evening at the theatre.

Tracey Flye

Director / Choreographer

Tracey is delighted to be back in her hometown of Edmonton. Her complete credits span over 135 productions internationally, directing, choreographing and performing. Her directing credits include: The Broadway/U.S. National tour of Queen’s We Will Rock You (Tribeca/NETworks), Jane Eyre, The Penelopiad, and The 39 Steps (RMTC), The Little Mermaid, The Wizard of Oz, Snow White (Ross Petty Productions). She was the Associate Director/Choreographer for We Will Rock You (South Africa/New Zealand/Asian Tour) and Associate/Resident Director for War Horse (Toronto). For Direction/Choreography: Oliver! (Drayton Ent.), Hairspray (Rainbow Stage). For Staging/Choreography: West Side Story (Vancouver Opera), The Drowsy Chaperone (TC/MTC). She choreographed Kiss Me Kate, Evita, and re-conceived of King of Thieves for The Stratford Festival, she was Choreographer/Assoc. Director for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Boys in the Photograph, Associate Choreographer for Peggy Sue Got Married (West End), West Side Story (Stratford Festival) and from the time of its North American debut, she was Asst. Choreographer for Mamma Mia! (Toronto/U.S. National Tour). Tracey continues to be committed to the development of new works.

Aurianna Angelique

Motormouth Maybelle

Aurianna is thrilled to be joining this Cast of Hairspray! Aurianna is a native of southern California. She was most recently seen in the Stage West production of Love Train in Calgary, and leading role Effie White in The Arts Club production of Dreamgirls in Vancouver. Other credits: Off Broadway – Sistas The Musical, Disney Cruise Line, Show Boat, South Pacific and many more! She would like to thank God for her continued Blessings and friends and family for their continued support! Enjoy The Show!!!

J. Cameron Barnett

Seaweed

Cameron was most recently seen as the Earthworm in the west coast premiere of Pasek and Paul’s James and The Giant Peach in Seattle. Canada: A Craigslist Cantata (World Premier), Terpsicore in Xanadu and Seaweed in Hairspray for the Arts Club Theatre, Judah in Joseph…Western Canada Theatre. His credits range from Broadway National, European, and South American tours, to Off-Broadway and US regional productions and voice overs. You may also recognize him as the “Soul Man” for Dempster’s Healthy Way “Feel Good” campaign. TV: Supernatural, Blink (pilot), Continuum, YTV’s Mr. Young, Fairly Odd Christmas 2. More info at jcameronbarnett. He would like to give thanks to God for his many blessings. “TOTHEBEEG!”

Sheldon Bergstrom

Edna Turnblad

Mayfield: The Imaginary Invalid, See How They Run, Patsy & The Queens of Country and both productions of A Closer Walk With Patsy Cline. Elsewhere: Seussical (ATP), Shrek The Musical, It’s A Wonderful Life, Some Enchanted Evening (RuBarb Productions), Oliver, My Fair Lady (Drayton), Oliver, A Christmas Carol (Citadel), The Producers, All Shook Up, Don’t Hug Me, Shady Business (Stage West), A Closer Walk With Patsy Cline, The Last Resort, Calamity Jane (Souris Valley Theatre), The Tempest, Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, Lend Me A Tenor (Persephone), Kiss Me Kate, Kiss of the Spiderwoman (Talk Is Free Theatre), All Shook Up (Theatre Northwest), Jungle Book The Musical, Elf The Musical (Neptune Theatre).

Amber Bissonnette

Brenda / Ensemble / Velma Understudy

Amber is always grateful and happy to return to The Mayfield stage. Performance Faves: The Scent of Compulsion (Teatro la Quindicina), The Leisure Society (Theatre Network), Death:Live! (Surreal SoReal), Mack and Mabel (Plain Janes), 9 to 5, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Buddy Holly Story (Mayfield), A Chorus Line, Joseph and the… Dreamcoat, Uptown Country Girls (Stage West Calgary), Evil Dead: The Musical (Hit and Myth/Ground Zero). Choreo Faves: Rent, 25th Annual… Spelling Bee (Citadel/Robbins Academy), Gruesome Playground Injuries, Evil Dead: The Musical (Hit and Myth/Ground Zero), The Toxic Avenger (Broadway West), Putting it Together, Andrews Brothers, Life Could be a Dream (Cornerstone). Amber is a proud Albertan artist, and happy to boast that her artistic career has been fostered right here in our province, having performed in over 50 productions and choreographed over 20 shows. Look for her next in Stewart Lemoine’s brand new play at the 2014 Fringe Festival!

April Cook

Lou Ann / Ensemble / Tracy Understudy

April is so excited to be performing in one of her favourite musicals, in her new home town of Edmonton! Originally from PEI, April is a graduate of The American Musical and Dramatic Academy in NYC. Her credits include Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, Maria in The Sound of Music (Live @ The Centre, Charlottetown); Canada In Love, Extraordinary (Young at Heart Theatre); Shelley/Tracy understudy in Hairspray (Drayton Entertainment); Shelley/Tracy understudy in Hairspray, Anne of Green Gables, Disco-Cirque, British Invasion 2, Les Feux Follets (Charlottetown Festival); 9 to 5: The Musical (AMDA, NYC). April would like to thank her second family in Edmonton for all their love and support, especially Corey. Enjoy the show! Xo

Madison Dabbs-Petty

L’il Inez (Alternating)

Madison is thrilled to be participating in the Mayfield’s production of Hairspray. Growing up in a very musical family, she has been lucky to have experienced the joys of theatre from an early age. She has participated in the last two musical theatre productions at J.H. Picard school (The Wiz and In the Heights), as well as having taken many Foote Theatre School classes at the Citadel. Madison would like to thank her amazing family and friends, in particular her continually supportive parents and stepmom. Enjoy the show!

Tiffany Deriveau

Dynamite / Lorraine / Ensemble / Motormouth Understudy

This is my 5th production at the Mayfield and I am so grateful to be back. You may recognize me from the History of Rock ‘n Roll: Stars & Stripes, Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, and both of the Super Groovy 70’s shows. I’d like to thank Van and Tracey for the opportunity to be a part of this production and thank my loving husband and family for their ongoing support. Other select credits include: Mamma Mia (Royal Alexander, Toronto), Little Shop (The Grand Theatre, London), Disney Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, Hairspray (Charlottetown Festival), Cookin’ at the Cookery (New Yorker Theatre). I will be in the lobby after the show and I would love to meet you. My album of 50’s favorites is selling for $10. Thank you for your support and enjoy the show! www.tiffanyderiveau.com

Timothy Gledhill

Link Larkin

Timothy is very excited to be making his debut with the Mayfield Theatre with this wonderful show and cast. Selected Theatre credits include: Robert in The Drowsy Chaperone with The Globe Theatre; Link Larkin in Hairspray, Frankie in Forever Plaid and The Tinman in The Wizard of Oz with Rainbow Stage; George in The Drowsy Chaperone with The Manitoba Theatre Centre and Theatre Calgary; Ugly in Honk! The Musical with MTYP; Anthony in Sweeney Todd, The Balladeer in Assassins and Jack in Into the Woods with Dry Cold Productions; Combeferre in Les Miserables and The Nazi Soloist in The Producers with Arts Club Theatre. Timothy would like to send a big thank you to Tracey Flye for giving me this opportunity and to the great people at the Mayfield for making this such an amazing experience! As always, thank you to family and friends for their continued love and support.

Jason Hardwick

IQ/Ensemble

Jason is beyond excited to be back at the Mayfield with such an unbelievable cast! Jason is an Edmonton based actor, improviser and dancer. He completed the MacEwan Theatre Arts program in 2006 and since then has worked throughout Alberta, British Columbia and as far as Alaska and Mexico when he was dancing with Princess Cruise Lines. Some favorite credits of his are April in Peril (Acme Theatre), Mack and Mabel, Little Fish, Fiorello! and Bells Are Ringing (Plain Janes), Chicago, All Shook Up (Stage West Calgary) and Chicago, The Wedding Singer, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and Footloose (Mayfield). Jason can be seen Monday nights at Die-Nasty at the Varscona and in and around the 2014 Edmonton Fringe Festival!

Jill Harland

Prudy Pingleton / Gym Teacher / Prison Matron

Jill has worked in theatres from coast to coast including Neptune Theatre in Halifax and the Palace Grand in Dawson City, Yukon. She is happy to return to sunny Edmonton where she was last seen at the Mayfield in their production of Footloose as Ethel McCormack (Ren’s mom). Other favourite musicals along the way include: Annie, Gypsy, Guys & Dolls, Discovering Elvis, Mid-Life: the Crisis Musical and the original Toronto production of CATS. Favourite plays include After the Fall, Book of Days and Run for your Wife. Jill is a graduate of the Vancouver Playhouse Acting School. She is very happy to be working again with her husband, Larry and also with director, Tracey Flye. Coiffe that bouffant and enjoy the show!

Evangelia Kambites

Dynamite / Cindy / Ensemble

Evangelia is excited to be making her debut with Mayfield Dinner Theatre. Originally from Ottawa, Evangelia moved to Toronto in 2010 to pursue performing, and has begun planting the seeds for a diverse and vibrant career. Recent stage credits include Avenue Q (Arts Club), Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story (Theatre North West), Hair (The Bathurst Street Theatre), and the first ever live actor interpretation of Ronnie Burkett’s Provenance (The Annex Theatre). Evangelia is a graduate of the Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts Musical Theatre Program, and holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree with Honours in Music and Drama from Queen’s University. Many thanks to her family, friends, and her better-half for their constant support. Remember-the pursuit of art is the pursuit of life! Enjoy the show!

Nina Legesse

L’il Inez (Alternating)

Nina Legesse is overjoyed to be performing in her first professional theatre production, Hairspray. A grade eleven student at École J.H. Picard, Nina has already began her life as a performer with four high-school productions, playing lead roles in The Wiz and In the Heights. Throughout her short life, Nina has always been seeking opportunities in the Edmonton music scene. With her school choir and glee club, she has graced the stages of the Winspear and the Jubilee many times in the past five years. Upon graduating, Nina’s career aspirations extend as far as Broadway; however, things don’t always work out, so she might just end up being a heart surgeon. Nina sends her deepest gratitude to her friend and co-star, Madison, who gave her this extraordinary opportunity. Her parents also deserve thanks, for the rides, of course. She looks forward to every moment onstage for this magical experience.

Larry Mannell

Wilbur Turnblad

Larry has worked in theatre, television and film for 35 years. In March of this year, he completed a 16-month run of The Wizard of Oz, playing Uncle Henry, as well as Professor Marvel/The Wizard, at the Ed Mirvish Theatre in Toronto/North American Tour. Larry has performed at theatres across the country, including five seasons with the Stratford Festival, as well as the Shaw, Charlottetown and Drayton Festivals. Most recent TV credits include The Firm, Covert Affairs, Breakout Kings, Nikita, Flashpoint, The Listener and the films Hairspray and The Music Man. Larry last appeared at the Mayfield in 2006, as Reverend Shaw Moore, in their production of Footloose. Larry is thrilled to once again be working with his lovely wife Jill Harland!

Brandyn Mckinson

Gilbert/Ensemble

Brandyn is thrilled to be working with the Mayfield theatre for the first time and is excited to be a part of the hit musical Hairspray. Born and raised in Toronto Ontario, Brandyn studied at the Randolph Academy of the Performing Arts, where he graduated and was awarded the Triple Threat Award. He has been featured in Into the Woods, The Rocky Horror Show, A Midsummer Nights Dream, Our Town, Ragtime, Trouble in Tahiti, Lost and Hair. Aside from Theatre, Brandyn is also a budding singer songwriter. Thanks to all the cast and crew for making this an unforgettable, hip swinging, and finger snapping experience. You can’t stop the beat!

Jeff Moulton

Brad / Stooie / Ensemble

Jeff is happy to return to his hometown of Edmonton where he was last seen at the Mayfield in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes! Selected Theatre: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Drayton Entertainment), Plaid Tidings (Magnus Theatre/Neptune Theatre), Forever Plaid (Theatre Aquarius), High School Musical (Drayton Entertainment), We Will Rock You (Mirvish). Selected Film/TV: Nikita (CW), Cut To The Chase (Web), Cold Blood (Channel 5 UK), Instant Star (CTV). This bio not enough? Check out jeffmoulton.com or follow @jeffmoulton. Love to his fiancée Erika, Parents, and the team at the Talent House.

Laura Mae Nason

Amber Von Tussle

Laura Mae is delighted to be welcoming the 60s to the Mayfield in Hairspray! She last appeared here in The History Of Rock ‘n’ Roll: Stars & Stripes this past winter. Theatre Credits: Susan in Tick, Tick, Boom!, Margot in Legally Blonde: The Musical (Theatre Aquarius), Amber Von Tussle in Hairspray (Drayton Entertainment,
Charlottetown Festival, and Rainbow Stage), Holly in The Wedding Singer (Mayfield Theatre), Josie Pye in Anne of Green Gables (Charlottetown Festival), Chicago (Mayfield Theatre and Neptune Theatre), Beauty & the Beast (Arts Club), Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story (Charlottetown Festival), British Invasion (Stage West Calgary and Charlottetown Festival), Queen for a Day: The Musical (April 30th Entertainment), Guys & Dolls, Shout: The Mod Musical, Why Do Fools Fall in Love and Cabaret (Stage West). Special thanks to Tracey, Van, and everyone at the Mayfield. To the Talent House, friends and family for their constant love and support. “Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You”. -Dr. Seuss

Melanie Piatocha

Penny Pingleton

Melanie is so thrilled to be a part of Hairspray here at the Mayfield. Past credits include: 9 to 5: The Musical, Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story (twice!), The Wedding Singer, The Super Groovy 70’s, Dirty Rotten
 Scoundrels, 
The
 Fully 
Monty, 
Footloose, The Golden Age of Rock, Pop & Doo Wop and The Golden Age Rocks On. Elsewhere: Cindy Lou in The Marvelous Wonderettes
 (Stage West), Emmy in Jailbait and Victoria in Victoria Martin: Math Team Queen, The Oedipus Project (Northern Light Theatre), Julia in Two Gentlemen of Verona, The Winter’s Tale, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Tempest (Freewill Shakespeare Festival), The Innocence and The Porterettes in: Find Me A Primitive Man (Leave It To Jane), Little Fish (Plain Jane) and Les Feux Follets (The Charlottetown Festival). She would like to thank all the wonderful people at ZOCALO, the best giftwares and floral shop in Edmonton, for their understanding and continued support!

Stephanie Pitsiladis

Tracy Turnblad

Stephanie is a native of Montreal and a graduate of John Abbott College’s Theatre program. She made her professional debut in Hairspray (Mirvish) in 2004 where she was the first Canadian to perform the role of Tracy Turnblad. She got her hair all ratted up again in 2010 for the Charlottetown Festival’s production of Hairspray, where she played Tracy opposite George Wendt. She has also revisited the role with Drayton Entertainment and Rainbow Stage, and is excited to become Tracy Turnblad once again for the Mayfield Theatre. Other credits include: Jan in Grease, Dee Dee in Why Do Fools Fall In Love, Red Girl in Shout! (Stage West), History of Rock ‘n Roll: Stars & Stripes (Mayfield), Little Miss Muffet in Mother Goose (Theatre Athena), Chiffon in Little Shop of Horrors (Theatre New Brunswick), Young Rabecca /Maddison/Rabbi Epstein in Gefilte Fish Chronicles (CETM). Stephanie would like to thank her friends, family, and everyone at Talent House for their love and support.

Chelsea Preston

Tammy / Ensemble / Amber & Penny Understudy

Chelsea is thrilled to be working with such an amazing cast, crew and creative team on her third show at the Mayfield. She has just arrived back from England where she has been living and training for the past two years in London’s West End. Selected theatre credits include: Spamalot (Citadel Theatre); One Touch of Venus (All Star Productions, Off-West End); Chicago and The Wedding Singer (Mayfield Dinner Theatre); The Hoof and Mouth Advantage (Teatro La Quindicina); and Bells Are Ringing (Plain Janes Theatre). Chelsea is a graduate of the Grant MacEwan University Theatre Arts Program. She is originally from Vancouver Island where she studied at the Parksville Ballet School and then continued her training at the Richmond Academy of Dance. Love and thanks to her incredible family!

Hal Rogers

Duane/Ensemble

Hal is excited to be on stage in Edmonton once again. He was last seen in 2010 as Angel in Rent (Two One Way Tickets to Broadway Productions). A graduate of Leduc Composite High School, he moved to Vancouver in 2010 to attend Simon Fraser University. In Vancouver he worked closely with Fighting Chance Productions on many shows including: Rent, Hair, Grey Gardens and The Rocky Horror Show. His 2012 performance as Angel in Rent earned him an Ovation Award nomination. He also wrote, composed and devised works for the 2013 Black Box ensemble at SFU. Hal made his Arts Club debut in Dreamgirls last summer. He’ll spend this summer training in New York before returning to SFU in the fall to complete his BFA in theatre. He’d like to thank his family for all their love and support!

Garett Ross

Mr. Spritzer / Mr. Pinky / Dreamgirls Principal / Guard / Edna & Wilbur Understudy

Garett Ross is a graduate of the Grant MacEwan Theatre Arts Program and has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Drama from the University of Alberta. He’s very excited to be returning to the Mayfield, he was last seen here in Sheer Madness and previously in Chicago. Some of the other shows he’s been in include: The Soul Collector, Vigilante, Nevermore (Catalyst Theatre), Jack Goes Boating (Sage Theatre/Shadow Theatre), Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet (The Citadel Theatre), A Year in Winter, That Darn Plot, Beginning of August (Shadow Theatre) Uncle Van, and The Old Curiosity Shop (TheatRepublic/ Poorman’s classic Co-op). Garett has been nominated for Sterling Awards for his work on Jack Goes Boating, That Darn Plot (Shadow Theatre), The Old Curiosity Shop (Poor Man’s Classic Co-op), and The Raven and the Writing Desk (Acme Theatre).

Justin Stadnyk

Fender / Ensemble / Link Understudy

Justin is thrilled to be making his Mayfield debut in Hairspray. Last month he premiered his new show at the grand opening of Bluff City Theatre in Hannibal, Missouri. Selected past credits include: two seasons at the Charlottetown Festival as Gilbert Blythe in Anne of Green Gables; Johnny Cash in Ring of Fire; the World Premiere of Boys In The Photograph (MTC/Mirvish); Grumpy Old Men (World Premiere), White Christmas, Fiddler on the Roof, The Wave (Manitoba Theatre Centre); Joseph in Joseph…, Rent, Good News, Fame (Rainbow Stage); Henrik in A Little Night Music, Wonderful Town (Shaw Festival); Legally Blonde, Blood Brothers (Theatre Aquarius); Emily (Talk Is Free Theatre); Robin Hood, Cinderella (Elgin Theatre); Camelot, The Mikado (Drayton Entertainment) and YTV’s movie-musical King of the Camp. “Thank you to Tracey and the whole cast & crew for some great times! Thank you to Bruce and the TH gang.” www.justinstadnyk.ca

Devra Straker

Velma Von Tussle

MAYFIELD THEATRE: A Closer Walk With Patsy Cline, Dark Star: The Life and Times of Roy Orbison, The Full Monty, Peace Love & Rock ‘n Roll Pt 1&2, Evita, Gypsy, The Golden Age of Rock Pop & DooWop, The British are Coming Again, Rockin’ Vegas, Singin’ In The Rain, Oklahoma!, Guys and Dolls. OTHER THEATRE: A Closer Walk With Patsy Cline (Globe Theatre, Souris Valley Theatre, StageWest Calgary); Top of the Pops, The Rocky Horror Show (Theatre Aquarius), Move Over Mrs. Markham, Jesus Christ Superstar, The Buddy Holly Story, The Rocky Horror Show (StageWest Calgary); Oliver!, The Sound of Music (Citadel Theatre); A Chorus Line, 42nd Street (Rainbow Stage). ET CETERA: Devra is thrilled to be back at the Mayfield as part of the Hairspray cast. Following this production she will be touring the prairies with “A Closer Walk With Patsy Cline” – one of her all time favorite roles. Many thanks to Van and the Mayfield team. Much love to James, Lillianna and all her family and friends.

Tara Tennant

Dynamite / Ensemble

Born and raised in Calgary, Tara began singing at the age of 3 and has had a passion for it ever since. An honours graduate of Berklee College of Music, she has filled her past few years with performances such as Joanne in Rent (Berklee College of Music) and Dee in Johnny Be Goode: A Rock & Roll Reunion (Jubilations Dinner Theatre). A special thanks goes out to my family and friends for always believing in me. I’m thrilled to make my debut on the Mayfield stage with their production of Hairspray! Enjoy the show everyone!

Scott Walters

Corny Collins

Scott Walters is thrilled to be returning to the Mayfield stage after spending the last two years in Vancouver! Originally hailing from Edmonton, Scott is ecstatic to be back playing in his hometown again! Recent credits include: Bert in Mary Poppins; Man 1 in I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change; Brad Majors in Rocky Horror Show (Arts Club Theatre); The National Tour of The Number 14 (Axis Theatre); Archdeacon Claude Frollo in Hunchback (Catalyst, Citadel & Playhouse Theatres); Khashoggi & Pop in the Original Canadian cast of We Will Rock You (Pantages & New Yorker Theatres) in Toronto. This summer, Scott returns to Vancouver for the upcoming roles of: Emmett Forrest in Legally Blonde (Theatre Under the Stars); Ash in Evil Dead: The Musical (DSR Productions). Special thanks to Scott’s family for their love and support. Fly Casual everybody!

Steve Hoy

Drums

One of the most respected and in-demand drummers in Western Canada, Stephen performs and records with numerous national and international artists. Known for his versatility and keen musicianship, Stephen is looking forward to performing again with the Mayfield Dinner Theatre.

Paul Lamoureux

Reeds / Keyboards

Multi-instrumentalist Paul Lamoureux was born here in Edmonton. He holds both Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in music from North Texas State University, and a diploma in Performing Arts from Grant MacEwan College. Paul has performed with Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas (“O” at the Bellagio), and the Tommy Banks Band. Mayfield Dinner Theatre productions include Hair, Jesus Christ Superstar, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, The Full Monty, The Wedding Singer, 9 to 5: The Musical and History of Rock ‘n Roll: Stars & Stripes. He has backed up Robert Goulet, Mickey Rooney, Red Skelton, and toured with Grammy-nominated Christian rock act Degarmo and Key. Fluently bilingual, Paul was Musical Director of CBC French radio’s Gala Albertain de la Chanson for 8 years and was Musical Director for Theatre Francais de Toronto’s musical retrospective Et si on chantait… in 2008. Paul has recorded 4 CDs of his own instrumental pop/jazz music on his own label. When not working in theatre, Paul travels the world as a musician with Princess Cruises, playing saxophone, woodwinds, piano, and piano/vocal.

Andreas Schuld

Guitar

Andreas Schuld is one of the most recorded guitarists in Canada. He has performed on hundreds of albums by artists ranging from Grammy winners Raffi and Long John Baldry to Juno winners/nominees Susan Crowe, Bill Bourne, Kenny Wayne, Laura Doyle, Farmer’s Daughter, One Horse Blue, and many others. In addition, he can be heard on many TV shows and movie soundtracks (ie: Anna & Christina’s Grocery Bags; Being Ian; Ice Pilots; Firewall; Dragon Boys; Hail Mary) and countless commercials (Future Shop, London Drugs, Kawasaki, Best Buy, Yamaha, Safeway etc). He has composed music for numerous TV shows such as The Oprah Winfrey Show, Pawn Stars, Anthony Bourdain, Frontline, National Geographic, and others. He has performed in numerous musicals for the Arts Club in Vancouver, including Xanadu, Next to Normal, Hairspray, Unforgettable, and was an original cast member of A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline.

Derek Stremel

Bass

Derek grew up in a musical family and learned piano from his mother. He also learned fiddle, mandolin and guitar from his father. He studied bass and five-string banjo on his own and started gigging in venues as a bassist with his father when he was 14 years old. He moved to Alberta when he was 18, leaving his Manitoba farming roots behind, and began a musical career playing mostly the electric bass. He wanted to learn ‘what those smart guys knew’ so he enrolled in the GMCC Jazz program in 1990 and learned to read ‘the little black dots’. For more than a decade now he has been employed at the Mayfield Dinner Theatre playing musical revues and Broadway musicals. He also has a home studio where he teaches, writes, records and produces and plays as many of the instruments as he can on the recordings. I know, I know…blah, blah, blah…boring but true. He loves and respects the music of Hairspray and is grateful and honoured to play this show and work with a bunch of old and new friends. Derek is always delighted by the opportunity to write about himself in the third person.