Joy Mwandemange
Artistic Director
James McGowan
Composer, Writer, and Music
James is a composer (MMus Toronto), pianist (ARCT), music theorist (PhD Eastman), conductor, published author, and award-winning educator, at home in classical, jazz, rock, theatrical and improvised musics. He is an Associate Professor of Music at Carleton University, where he often serves as Supervisor of Performance Studies, the managing director of Carleton’s summer music camps, and a teacher at CAMMAC.
James has released ten albums as leader/co-leader, including three by the 14-member James McGowan Ensemble that performs his original theatrical music in jazz-classical fusion style. The original cast album for New Life is #11. Some of these albums were funded by competitive grants (including Reaching In, Reaching Out, and Threads of Fate, from the Canada Council for the Arts). In his review of Reaching In, Simon Defty (Simply Jazz Talk, UK 2023) wrote: “The writing is first-class, as is the playing, and the storytelling so vivid and emotionally connected. It is not often I hear such an affecting work of art that is equally theatrical, classical, and jazz inspired.” As a musical director, he has directed choirs at three different universities, community ensembles, and several churches where he also directed children’s musicals and conducted five of his original cantatas. He has performed in jazz, chamber music, and folk music festivals in Ottawa and beyond.
James is grateful to his family for their support in his 15-year journey to create New Life, and is also thankful to several dozens of people who were involved at different stages of the creative process, workshops, performances, and now this production, in particular Joy M, Beverley S, Jamie H, Skye M, Susan B, and Lost Baggage.
Mathieu Charlebois
Producer
Troy Arsenian
Stage Manager
Nataly Kais
Set Designer
Jesse Kahat
Costume Designer
David Magladry
Lighting Designer
John Rosefield
Sound Designer
Publicity Manager
Kenzie Barrera
Mal Ryan
Publicity Manager
Blaire Palmer
Production Assistant, Wife
Sutida (May) Turcot
Mom
A younger May once sighed, “All I want to do is sing jazz songs by a piano.” While life had other things in store for her, May has, nonetheless, found ways to keep making music. Diving deep into community musical theatre since 2023, when she appeared as part of the ensemble in Newsies (Orpheus Musical Theatre), May has been involved, in some way, in every Orpheus production since. While even her own father didn’t recognize her, she did play ‘Mrs. Wormwood,’ in Matilda (Suzart Productions, 2024). Earlier this year, she was on stage at The Gladstone, playing ‘Bobby,’ a two-year old musically telepathic alien in One Small Misstep (Lost Baggage Musical Theatre). New Life marks May’s first lead role, and she is honoured to bring ‘Mary Smith’ to life, for the first time. Through the magic of theatre, and the transformative power of music, May hopes that New Life nourishes you. When the house lights go down, surrounded by darkness, together, we open our hearts to the joys and pain of living, and in doing so, we grow anew. (May’s convinced that Mary’s favourite hymn in her own new life is MV 79, Ruth Duck, 1994). May is grateful to have such a loving family and community surrounding her. So much more is possible when there’s love.
Maggie Wolfe
Alex
Like many in the cast, Maggie is a Carleton alumna, having graduated with a bachelors in music and a minor in psychology. She is thrilled to be working once again with Dr. James McGowan to bring his new musical New Life to the stage with such a wonderful cast and crew. Maggie started doing musical theatre at a young age after watching her older brother in a production of Aladdin Jr., and deciding that that was exactly what she wanted to be doing too! Since then she has been both onstage and backstage in many shows both here in Ottawa and in her home town of North Bay, Ontario. Alongside being a performer, Maggie works as a Vocal coach here in Ottawa. Select credits include: ‘Tobias’ in Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (NAC), ‘Audrey’ in Little Shop of Horrors (CMTS), ‘The Bakers Wife’ in Into the Woods (CMTS), ‘Performer’ in Songs for a New World (Elevator Theatre Company), ‘Linus’ in You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown (CMTE), ‘Natalie US’ in Next to Normal (Elevator Theatre Company). Vocal & Music Directing credits include: Into the Woods and 9 to 5: The Musical (CMTS), Disney’s Descendants: The Musical, A Twist of the Tongue and Adventures of a Comic Book Artist (Dreamcoat Fantasy Theatre)
Adrien Pyke
Robbie
Steph
Samantha Brown
Samantha is excited to be making her Lost Baggage Musical Theatre debut with New Life. She is a recent graduate of the Carleton University Music Program and works as a voice teacher in the Ottawa area. Samantha would like to thank her friends and family and the fantastic cast and crew of New Life for being so supportive during this production.
Amelia Pelley
Norah
Amelia is thrilled to be a part of New Life as ‘Norah’ and working with her castmates on such an exciting project. Amelia graduated from the Bachelor of Music program at Carleton University in 2016 and is delighted to be working with Dr. James McGowan again. As a transgender vocalist, Amelia is very familiar with the difficulties and struggles that trans people, trans women in particular, continue to face on a daily basis. She is extremely grateful for the opportunity to bring the character of ‘Norah’ to life and to share her story. Amelia would like to thank her family for supporting her and her singing journey, Dr. James McGowan for his unwavering enthusiasm and encouragement in her, and her performances and her vocal instructor, David MacAdam, for his dedicated instruction, support, and wonderful friendship. Finally, Amelia would like to thank Sherrie Spelchuk for being a constant and consistent presence in her life, and for always being the very best friend she could ever ask for.
Euan Wheaton
Gerald
Sam Dillon
Bartender
Hailing from Newmarket, Ontario, Sam has performed in over 25 musicals between the Greater Toronto Area (Wavestage Theatre Company) and Ottawa (Carleton Lyric Theatre Ensemble). She is thrilled to be returning to the stage in this new musical. As an alumna of the Carleton University Bachelor of Music program, Sam would like to give thanks to mentor James McGowan, as well as Lost Baggage Musical Theatre for the opportunity to be part of this special show. Sam would also like to thank her husband, Braedon, for being her number one fan! Select credits include: ‘Dorothy’ in The Wizard of Oz, ‘Teen Fiona’ in Shrek the Musical, ‘Kate Murphy’ Titanic the Musical, ‘Ensemble’ in Ragtime and ‘The Flagmaker, 1775’ in Songs for a New World.
Sharon P.
Mildred
Melodi Uygur
Mom Understudy
Born and raised in Ottawa, Melodi has been performing in the Ottawa theatre scene since 2008. Melodi has been performing with Lost Baggage Musical Theatre since 2021. New Life is Melodi’s sixth production with Lost Baggage, and her second time performing and participating in an original piece of work. Melodi has performed at both the community and professional level. She has training in both theatre and voice acting. Melodi is thrilled to have the opportunity to play ‘Mary Smith (Mom)’ for the understudy performance, as well as be a member of the ensemble, and spark important conversations surrounding gender-based violence, addiction, transphobia, and homophobia. Melodi thanks you all for supporting local theatre and being willing to participate in these discussions, by watching this very important piece of work. Melodi sincerely hopes you enjoy the show and learn something along the way. Melodi extends her thanks and gratitude to Lost Baggage Musical Theatre and Dr. James McGowan for the opportunity to perform in this production. Melodi would like to end by highlighting something the great author and poet Maya Angelou has said, which she thinks is very poignant in this production. “Words are things. They seep into your walls, your wallpaper, and eventually into you. Be careful of the words you choose. Be careful of the words you decided to use and let into your home.”
Ashley Barnes
Alex Understudy
Ashley is pleased to join the cast of this new musical and has enjoyed the workshopping experience. A graduate of the University of Ottawa’s theatre program and its translation program, and as the self-proclaimed biggest fan of Les Misérables, Ashley translates Victor Hugo’s infamous novel in her free time, when she isn’t performing in shows or practising aikido. To date, her other roles include ‘Doctor/ensemble’ in Matilda and ‘Magenta’ in the Rocky Horror Show. She has also participated in cabarets with Suzart and Lost Baggage Musical Theatre. She would like to extend special thanks to the cast and crew of New Life, her parents, her dojo, her friends, and her dogs.
