Rob Herriot

DIRECTOR

Canadian Stage director Rob Herriot is thrilled to be coming back to the Rainbow Stage family to direct this production of The Wizard of Oz. He previously directed productions of Beauty and the Beast (2018) and Cinderella (2019). Rob did his very first show with Rainbow Stage back in 1985. Since that first magical time he returned to the company in various ways – as an ensemble member, apprentice stage manager and principal character playing the roles of Joe Cable in South Pacific (1997) and Jacey Squires in The Music Man (1998). He credits Rainbow Stage with being one of the major influences in his career.
Rob’s primary work is in opera where he has directed productions across North America.
This production is dedicated to the memory of John Shopka.

Paul De Gurse

Music Director/Conductor/Keyboard Programmer

Paul De Gurse is a Winnipeg-based music director, keyboard player, educator, and composer. He has been nominated for two Merritt Awards for Outstanding Music Direction (Mamma Mia!, Beauty and the Beast, Neptune Theatre) and has won a Winnipeg Theatre Award for best design (Sound Design, The Whipping Man – Winnipeg Jewish Theatre). His work as a music director and conductor for musical theatre productions has taken him to theatres across Canada, including Rainbow Stage, Drayton Entertainment, Neptune Theatre, and Toronto’s Musical Stage Company.

In addition to his work as a music professional, Paul is a passionate theatre educator. He has taught for the University of Winnipeg, the University of Manitoba, the Manitoba Conservatory of Music & Arts, and the SMarts conference. He is the Managing Director and one of the founders of the Village Conservatory for Music Theatre, a non-profit charitable educational organization based out of Winnipeg, which provides alternative post secondary performing arts education.

Narda McCarroll

Set Designer

Narda feels honoured to be returning to Rainbow to design its namesake musical this special summer. Favourite design credits include: Cinderella (Rainbow); The Wizard of Oz, Glory, Vimy (Western Canada Theatre); To the Light, The Circle, Red, Mary’s Wedding (Alberta Theatre Projects); Cipher, Sherlock Holmes and the Raven’s Curse, Sweeney Todd (Vertigo Theatre); Vigilante (Catalyst Theatre); The Garneau Block, Peter and the Starcatcher, The Penelopiad, Julius Caesar, True Love Lies (Citadel Theatre); Brontë: The World Without (Stratford Festival); The Drowning Girls (National Tour). Narda has an MFA in theatre design from the U of A. She was the costume designer for Edmonton’s Shakespeare in the Park for 16 seasons. She also designed the costumes for the feature film Cut Bank. https://narda.ca/

Scott Henderson

Lighting Designer

Scott is excited to be back at Rainbow Stage designing The Wizard of Oz for the second time. Now in his 20th season designing for Rainbow, Scott has lit over 30 Rainbow Stage productions including Cinderella (2019), Mamma Mia (2017), Les Misérables (2015), Rent (2010) and West Side Story (2002, 2015). Scott is a member of ADC/IATSE Local 659 and a graduate of Ryerson Theatre School. Special thanks to Karen, Sean and Alex for their love and support.

Cary Denby

Rehearsal Pianist

Cary is extremely pleased to be a part of this production. A versatile musician, Cary Denby maintains a busy schedule working as a freelance accompanist and has been fortunate to be involved with the Manitoba Opera, the Little Opera Company, Underground Opera, the Winnipeg Symphony, the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra, Canzona, the Winnipeg Singers, Dry Cold Productions, the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, and many other singers and instrumentalists. Cary holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Manitoba and has worked there as a choral accompanist.

Brittany Hunter

Assistant Choreographer

Brittany is a Winnipeg based choreographer, performer and educator. As a performer, Brittany has been a part of the Winnipeg theatre community for the past 20 years and has been involved with 12 seasons at Rainbow Stage. Most recently seen in MTYP’s A Midwinter Mosey. Other select local credits include: A Year with Frog and Toad (MTYP), Cinderella, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, A Chorus Line, Shrek The Musical, West Side Story (Rainbow Stage); Timon of Athens (Shakespeare in the Ruins); Reefer Madness, American Idiot, Heathers The Musical (WST); Billy Elliot (RMTC). As a choreographer, Brittany has worked with many students over the years in shows such as Freaky Friday, Hairspray (Glenlawn), James and the Giant Peach (West Kildonan) and The Addam’s Family (All Dentist Musical). Her choreography was most recently seen in The Winter’s Tale at Shakespeare in the Ruins. Over the past few years she has taught at Rainbow Stage for events such as Camp Rainbow and the Musical Theatre Conference for Students. Brittany is continually evolving as a performer and a teacher by attending professional development workshops and is continuously excited to share her gift and love of dance with the next generation of dancers.

Michael Duggan

Stage Manager

Michael is honoured to be stage managing this show. He’d like to thank the cast, crew and staff it takes to put on this production. Thank you to my family, and wife Katie; and to the tireless efforts of so many health-care workers over the past 2+ years. Michael has worked previously for Rainbow Stage on: Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Mamma Mia!, Les Misérables, Annie and Cats. Other recent credits include: The Flying Lovers of Vitebsk, Queens Girl in the World (WJT), Calpurnia (RMTC, NAC), The Mountaintop (RMTC) MTYP’s Midwinter Mosey (MTYP), The War Being Waged (PTE), Meet Me at Dawn (Theatre by the River), The Winter’s Tale / Le conte d’hiver (SIR & TCM)

Katie Robinson-Hoppa

Assistant Stage Manager

Katie Hoppa (she/her) is thrilled to be back at Rainbow Stage this year as the Assistant Stage Manager for The Wizard of Oz. Katie Hoppa is a Winnipeg based Stage Manager and alumna of the University of Winnipeg’s Production Program. Select credits include: Much Ado About Nothing, The Winter’s Tale/Le Conte D’Hiver (SIR), Midwinter Mosey (MTYP), The Paper Bag Princess (PTE), Cinderella (Rainbow Stage). You’ll see Katie next working with vAct and PTE on their production of Ins Choi’s Bad Parent. Thanks to everyone for their hard work in bringing this show to life along the very long yellow brick road.

Samantha Desiree

Apprentice Stage Manager

Samantha is humbled and grateful to be welcomed into the stage management community in Winnipeg. Previous apprenticeships include, Orlando, Lifespan of a Fact (cancelled), The Rez Sisters (MTC). Other theatre, Production and Tour Coordinator: Seven Visions Digital School Tour (Sarasvàti). Associate Producer/Sound Design: Othello (Echo Theatre). Stage Manager/PA: FemFest 2019 and 2020. Stage Manager: People, Places, and Things (U of W). Touring Stage Manager/Producer: Seascape with Sharks and Dancer, Tuesdays & Sundays. Director/Designer: Animosity (DownsideUp); Student Body, Women of Manhattan (Beau Theatre). Associate Company Member of Winnipeg Independent Theatre (WIT).
Training highlights: University of Winnipeg Bachelor of Arts Honours, Stage Management, Production, and Design and Creative Manitoba’s Mentorship program with Melissa Novecosky. —As always, couldn’t do it without my partner Matt, and cat Zella.