Sometimes the perfect person comes along at exactly the right moment and that is precisely what happened when Temima Rocklin reached out during our casting call to offer her help with costumes (and props). Temima brings hands-on experience in sewing and costume drafting, with training at George Brown College, and Young People’s Theatre Drama School. She is currently pursuing her … Read More
Meet Ham’s Wife
Meet Tikka Smiley, who brings warmth and joy to the stage in the roles of Ham’s wife and Contestant #2. Tikka has been delighting audiences of all ages with her dynamic and soulful music, and it is easy to see why: her live performance credits include her Indie band HopefulPhoeniX, leading Hava N’ranena: the soulful song circle ensemble (NiggunToronto.com) and … Read More
Meet the Characters: The underestimated heroine: Meet Esther
We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Zalyzza Govia to the role of Esther; the heart and heroine at the very center of Who Is Esther. An alto/mezzo-soprano of remarkable range and versatility, Zalyzza brings both vocal power and deep emotional presence to this pivotal role. Her theater credits speak for themselves, most notably her portrayal of Lady Clapham in Something … Read More
Meet Vashti
We are delighted to welcome Michelle Kettrick to the role of Vashti. With a rich background in both Opera and Musical Theatre, Michelle brings a wealth of talent and stage presence to this production. She will also be lending her voice as a cherished member of the Chorus. By day, Michelle inspires the next generation of musicians as a band … Read More
Meet the Co-Producer
Behind every great production is someone who sees its potential long before the curtain rises, and for Who Is Esther, that person is Linda Craig, Co-Producer. With a keen eye for storytelling and a talent for bringing the right people and ideas together, Linda has been a driving force in shepherding this musical from vision to stage. A lifelong choral … Read More
Meet the Writer, Composer and Co-Producer – Trifactor Enabler
Randall Craig – composer, writer, co-producer: a man of many hats and boundless energy. Some may call him a serial entrepreneur, but we think “twenty-first century renaissance man” captures him far better. Whether he is writing books, earning countless speaking and volunteer awards, or coaching those with a business vision to pursue, Randall has a remarkable gift for seeing what … Read More
Meet the Director
Tracey Forster is a dynamic and multifaceted performing arts professional currently based in Kingston, Ontario. A graduate of Sheridan College Musical Theatre Program, Tracey has built an impressive career that spans acting, directing, vocal coaching, and musical theatre – bringing passion, expertise, and creativity to every stage she graces. Her dedication to the arts extends beyond performance, as she continues … Read More
Vocal Percussion
During the creation of Sing With Esther, our global program for choirs, we made the decision to enhance the arrangement with the addition of vocal percussion, aka “Beatboxing”. While there is a ton of information, and plenty of examples on the internet (here’s Wikipedia), we thought that we would highlight the work of OUR beatboxer, the very talented Jon Jon … Read More
Time for a rewrite? (yes, again)
I had the exceptional good fortune to meet Rob Corbett recently. Beyond teaching acting at several colleges and being a playwright in his own right, he is a most insightful script reader and dramaturg. And a pleasure to work with. One of the challenges of a first-time script writer (that’s me), is that you don’t know what you don’t know. … Read More