Aladdin

In a far away and exotic land, under the hot desert sun, a young boy’s life is about to change forever. After years of thieving to get by, Aladdin’s fortune is radically changed when he comes upon a magical artifact that manifests his every wish. Before long, however, Aladdin learns that his new found wealth and power comes with certain consequences, and that others wish to take it from him. Join Alberta Opera on a musical journey to a magical world filled with non-stop adventure!

Cast & Crew

Farren Timoteo 

Artistic Director/Playwright/Director 

Farren is an actor, writer and director. He became an Artistic Director of Alberta Opera in 2006, and has since co-written and directed a number of productions for the company, including Little Red Riding, Hansel and Gretel, Pinocchio and Sleeping Beauty. Other directing credits include Songs for a New World at the 2005 Edmonton Fringe Festival; Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Beefor the Mayfield Theater; Everybody Goes to Mitzi’s and The Infinite Shiver for Teatro for La Quindicina (both of which he wrote the lyrics for); and Pippin for The Young Company at the Citadel Theatre. Acting credits include Spamalot for the Citadel Theatre; Marvelous Pilgrims, The Scent of Compulsion and A Rocky Night for His Nibs for Teatro la Quindicina; Waiting for Godot for Wishbone Theatre; Early Bloomer for Concrete Theatre and Little Shop of Horrors for the Mayfield Theatre. Farren has been honored by the Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Awards on a number of occasions, most recently for his performance in Spamalot, and the year prior for his direction of Pinocchio. This season, in addition to his work at Alberta Opera, Farren will direct The Light in the Piazza at Grant MacEwan University, and perform in Tom Wood’s new play Make Mine Love at the Citadel Theatre. Farren resides in Edmonton with his incredible wife, Patricia, and his beautiful three year-old son, Leonardo.

Jeff Unger 

Artistic Director/Composer/Musical Director 

This season mark’s Jeff’s 20th consecutive year with Alberta Opera. During this time he has established himself as an important creative voice in Alberta, entertained millions of students and adults across Western Canada, and watched the company grow into a major force in school touring. He has co-authored and composed music for more than a dozen original fairy tale adaptations including Cinderella, The Frog Prince, Rapunzel, Puss in Boots, The Red Shoes, Snow White, Little Red Riding Hood, Hansel and Gretel, Jack and the Beanstalk, Pinocchio and Sleeping Beauty. His musicals, and efforts as a Musical Director, have been recognized by the Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Awards many times, and in 2012 he received the award for Outstanding Score for his work on Pinocchio. In 2010, after more than a decade touring his works, Jeff became an Artistic Director of Alberta Opera. Aladdin will be his fifteenth original score.

Adam Sanders 

Aladdin / Ensemble 

Adam is elated to be working with Alberta Opera this season! Adam is a recent graduate of Grant MacEwan's Theater Arts Program, with selected show credits such as: Jack in Into the Woods, Moritz in Spring Awakening, and Will in The Musical of Musicals, The Musical! Adam has also performed with Two One-Way Tickets to Broadway and their rendition of The Full Monty, and in the Edmonton Fringe with Impossible Mongoose Production's Coraline: The Musical, which won the Fringe's Artist's Pick Award.  
 

Erica Ullyot 

Yesenia / Ensemble 

Erica is over the moon excited to have the opportunity to work for Alberta Opera. Her excitement is fuelled mainly by the prospect of playing a Princess, a lifelong goal brought to fruition by the wonderful tale of Aladdin! After attending the Grant MacEwan Theatre Arts Program, she went on a nine month tour with Jubilations Dinner Theatre in a rock and roll review entitled Jail House Rock. Here, she was able to impersonate 60’s stars such as Dusty Spring Field and Nancy Sinatra. She also appeared in the Capitol Theatre's Blue Heaven, playing an ambitious vaudeville performer. Erica grew up and spent the majority of her elementary school years in rural Alberta. At that time, theatre was not an accessible extracurricular option in small towns and her performance outlet was attained mainly by appearing in annual Christmas pageants, singing at rodeos and hockey games, and dancing at a small studio. She didn’t realize that her three passions had a place together until moving to Spruce Grove and auditioning for her first musical. Having the opportunity now to tour to various small towns in Alberta and give children the chance to experience live theatre, is a dream come true! Enjoy the show! 

Byron Trevor Martin 

Maalik / Ensemble 

Byron is the founder and Artistic Director of Grindstone Theatre and The 11 O’Clock Number. He is a graduate of MacEwan Theatre Arts and The Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. Acting credits include Trout Stanley(Cold.Dead.Fish), Blue Heaven, Curse of Pigeon Lake (Capitol Theatre), Pinocchio(Alberta Opera), Guernica, After Lives (Surreal SoReal Theatre), BoyGroove, Let Me Entertain You (!mpulse Theatre), Three Sisters (Citizens Theatre) and Little Johnny’s Big Gay Wedding (National Theatre of Scotland). Byron works with kids through St. Albert Children’s Theatre, Trickster Theatre and Concrete Theatre. Byron is thrilled to be back with Alberta Opera to do Aladdin with such a great team! 

 

Talesa Caufield 

Accompanist 

Talesa Caufield has been involved in music all of her life, playing piano for 19 years of 23 and singing for longer she has been a part of many musical endeavours in her lifetime including music festivals, church, school, and community performances and/or functions where music is needed, theatre productions, solo and group performances at different venues, accompanying work, etc. Talesa has achieved as high as her Gr. 10 piano in her Royal Conservatory of Music exams and just recently finished a Music Diploma in Jazz Piano Performance at Grant MacEwan University in Edmonton, AB. Talesa has been involved in piano accompanying work for most of her life and quite enjoys this route as her career, and having been so immersed and passionate in music and performance, finds this fits her very well. She is very excited to join the Alberta Opera Touring Association in the performance of Aladdin this year and is thankful for the opportunity to perform and work with such fine people. 

Gil Miciak 

Stage Manager 

Gil is very happy to be working on his first show for Alberta Opera. Recent credits include apprentice stage manager The Soul Collector (Catalyst Theatre), Midsummer Night's Dream and King Lear (Freewill Shakespeare Festival), Aida(Edmonton Opera), Evie's Waltz (Shadow Theatre) and stage manager of Saint Joan(Studio Theatre). Later this season, Gil will be the apprentice stage manager on A Christmas Carol at the Citadel Theatre and the ASM on Nevermore for Catalyst Theatre. Gil was born and raised in Edmonton and graduated this past spring from the BFA, Stage Management program at the UofA.