Director
Designer
Educator
performer
Randy Leslie
Randy LEslie
Based in Kelowna, British Columbia, Randy Leslie is a theatre director and designer, with tremendous experience directing small, medium and large productions. He is currently the artistic managing director of Kelowna Actors Studio.
Randy has over 150 directorial and production credits in Toronto, Ottawa and Kelowna, including years of programming and marketing, and he holds several positions on cultural boards. His talent includes hiring, training, and supervising actors and trades people alike. He has passion for musical theatre, production, choreography, lighting/costume design and performing.
Randy is skilled in teaching and mentoring performers of all ages, and is the driving force in Kelowna Actors Studio’s educational programming. Former students of his are currently attending Ryerson University, Sheridan College, The American Academy of Dramatic Arts - Los Angeles/New York City and Carnegie Mellon University.
Under Randy’s guidance, Kelowna Actors Studio maintains an annual attendance of over 35,000 with six main stage productions, as well as student showcases and special events. Over the past 12 years, Actors Studio has successfully produced over 80 major productions, grown to accommodate over 250 students a semester and won civic and regional awards for their contribution to the arts.
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Director Randy Leslie has demanded an enormous amount from his cast – and they deliver. Some actors play 7 different roles and go through dozens of costume changes. SPAMALOT scores a perfect ten by all measure of what it takes to put on a hilariously irreverent musical. You will leave the theatre with a new look on the bright side of life.
AM1150 Gord Vizutti - On Spamalot
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It may have been the usual assembly of superb acting, staging and direction by Kelowna Actors Studio or maybe something simpler; maybe the magic of watching kids watch the show – transfixed – for two full hours…It’s a great show for all ages that works on every level…
Bell Media, Talk Radio- on Shrek, The Musical
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Director Randy Leslie always does a fabulous job with musicals, and this show has just as much grandeur and spectacle as all the other ‘big shows’ that the Actors Studio create on a regular basis.
Sunshine & Drama Queens, Rob Mason Brown on My Fair Lady
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Once the lights lit the stage, the show was a non-stop Hollywood musical extravaganza. The opening sequence was brilliantly executed, set to the bouncy beat of a bumpy 1912 steam train, tightly choreographed as the actors rhythmically wove dialogue through rhyme and syncopation. The huge cast was animated and it felt like watching live Technicolor.
Artifact, Daily Courier, Anna Jacyszyn - on The Music Man
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A Must See. Once again, Kelowna Actors Studio has hit the ball right out of the park, creating yet another smash hit!
Daily Courier, Kelowna - Glenna Turnbull - on Spamalot
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reviews
Experience & Achievements
Career Highlights
ARTISTIC MANAGING DIRECTOR
Kelowna Actors Studio, Kelowna, BC
Conceive, develop, and implement the artistic vision and focus of a 230 seat dinner theatre and performing arts school.
January 2003 - present
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Orchard Park Mall, Kelowna, BC
Christmas Santa Display & Character Training
May 2009 - Present
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Rotary Centre for the Arts, Kelowna, BC
Opening operating model and community development of a new 46,000 sq ft arts facility.
January 2002 to January 2003
DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMMING AND MARKETING
St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, Toronto, Ontario
Advocate artistic vision and programming on a local, regional and national level.
Management and fund development strategy including contracts and media communication.
September 1990 to December 2002
Select PRODUCTION CREDITS
Mary Poppins
Jekyll & Hyde - Musical
All Shook Up
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Jesus Christ Superstar
Catch Me If You Can
The Addams Family
Freckleface Strawberry
Forever Plaid
Footloose
Cabaret
The Music Man
Company
Cat In The Hat
The 39 Steps
Shrek-The Musical
Les Miserables
Spamalot
9 to 5
Noises Off
My Fair Lady
Nonsense
A Streetcar Named Desire
Into The Woods
Harvey
Joseph….Dreamcoat
The Miracle Worker
Sweeney Todd
Lost In Yonkers
Cinderella
Singing In The Rain
Shirley Valentine
The Fantasticks
The Diary of Anne Frank
Steel Magnolias
Godspell
Little Shop of Horrors
King & I
Fiddler on the Roof
The Laramie Project
Sound of Music
Merry Wives of Windsor
100 Years of Broadway (Revue)
Oklahoma
The Wild Guys
I’ll Be Back Before Midnight
You Can’t Take It With You
Damn Yankees
Orpheus in the Underworld
Into The Woods
Sweeney Todd
Moon Over Buffalo
Barefoot In the Park
The Wizard of Oz
Oliver
Annie
Blue Champagne
Godspell
Importance of Being Earnest
Torch Song Trilogy
Nuts
The Gingerbread Lady
Rumpelstiltskin (Opera)
Director/Producer
Producer/Set Design
Director/Producer
Producer/Set Design
Director/Producer
Director/Light Design
Light Design
Director/Choreographer/Set & Light Design
Director/Choreographer/Set & Light Design
Instructor/Director/Light Design
Producer/Light Design
Director/Instructor
Director/Light Design
Director/Choreographer/Light Design
Producer/Light Design
Director/Set Design/Light Design
Director/Dragon Choreography/LightDesign
Light Design
Director
Director/Producer
Director/Light Design
Director
Director/Choreographer
Director
Director/Light Design
Director/Choreographer/Light Design
Director/Set Design
Director/Choreographer/Light Design
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director/Choreographer/Costumes
Director
Director
Director/Choreographer
Director/Choreographer
Choreographer
Director/Choreographer
Director
Director/Choreographer
Director
Directors Assistant
Director/Costume Design
Director
Director
Director
Director/Set Decor
Assistant Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Co Producer
Director/Choreographer
Co Producer
Co Producer
Director/Set Design
Director/Costumes
Director
Director
Director
Theatre Guild
Players
Etobicoke Musicals
Toronto Operetta Theatre
Theatre Guild
Music Etobicoke
Prominent Feature
Stellar Productions
Ottawa Children’s Chorus
Teaching & Adjudication
Workshops with KAS Young Company in NYC
The Business of Broadway, Disney Musical Theatre, Roundabout Educational Department
Adult Master Scene Study Intensive
Improvisation, movement for the actor, music theory, text analysis. theatre history
Production & Stagecraft Apprenticeship
Guest Adjudicator for School District 23
Public Speaking
Theatre/TV/Film for Teens and Adults - Ottawa, Toronto, Kelowna
Specialty Musical Theatre
Music Theatre International Jr. and Kids; classic musicals, Disney favourites and modern works including Winnie the Pooh Kids, Hairspray Jr., Fame Jr. (over 20 Junior productions taught in the past 15 years - Ottawa, Toronto, Kelowna)
Advanced Programs
Teen Performance Troupe, School Version Productions: Rent, Sweeney Todd and Les Miserables
Private coaching
Monologue art, scene study, preparation for Kiwanis Music Festival, RCM exams and University auditions
Adjudicator Meadowvale Music Theatre Awards - Mississauga
Dora Mavor Moore Award Jury
General Theatre Category - Toronto
Guest Instructor for the Toronto Board of Education
Specialty Drama classes for those with physical and mental challenges
Awards & Honours
Best of Kelowna - Best Teacher/Professor
City of Kelowna - Civic Honour In The Arts
Okanagan Angel Award - Leadership in Theatre - West Kelowna Arts & Business Council
Scarborough Music Theatre, Toronto, Ontario has named an arts award in Randy Leslie’s honour for outstanding contribution to the performing arts.
‘Best Theatre Company’ by readers of Okanagan Life for eleven years running
Editors Choice, Okanagan Life Magazine ‘Best Multi- Talented Group of Actors.’
Best of Kelowna - Best Arts Company
Best of Kelowna - Best Theatre Group
Select Performance Credits
Catch Me If You Can
The Addams Family Musical
Cabaret
Les Miserables
La Cages Aux Folles
Noises Off
My Son Pinocchio
Evita
White Christmas
The Producers
Kiss of the Spider Woman
Man of La Mancha
The Odd Couple
Oklahoma
Lend Me A Tenor
Second Time Around
Carl Hanratty
Gomez Addams
Ernst Ludwig
Jean Valjean
Zaza/Albin
Garry LeJuene (Replacement)
Geppetto
Juan Peron
Bob Wallace
Max Bialystock
Molina
Don Quixote/Cervantes
Felix Ungar
Jud Fry
Max
Mike Curtis
by no means comprehensive, but a selection of history and accomplishments
Contact
Office : 1379 Ellis Street, Kelowna, BC Canada
Phone : 250-979-8083 Fax : 250-763-3107
Email : Randy@KelownaActorsStudio.com
Visit
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While serving the audience so well on so many levels the production most importantly confirms that Randy Leslie is one of the finest musical theatre actors in Canada. Leslie pulls off a performance as the overtly feminine “Albin” that showcases every ounce of his years of experience in Canadian theatre. His singing, comedic timing and quick-witted off-script rapport with the audience is without parallel.
AM 1150, Gord Vizzutti - on La Cages Aux Folles
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Randy Leslie in the lead role of Jean Valjean brings his decades of musical theatre experience full circle and takes his “dream role” to the top. I can not imagine an actor more suited to this role than Leslie.
Bell Media - Talk Radio on Les Miserables
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We were lucky enough to be in the jam-packed crowd last night for the KAS presentation of Irving Berlins' "White Christmas". The entire cast did a marvellous job, but we especially enjoyed Randy Leslie -- he reprised Bing Crosbys' role as Bob Wallace. What a voice!!!
EZ Morning, Andy & TJ - on White Christmas
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Carl Hanratty, played by Randy Leslie, is also a bright spot throughout the entire performance as he mixes the determination of a weathered FBI agent with perfectly timed physical comedy. When Frank calls Carl on Christmas, the chemistry between the actors is spectacular. Though the two aren’t even looking at one another, the audience can see them connect on a deeper level through this cat-and-mouse game they’ve been playing.
Kelowna Now - Catch Me If You Can
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From the opening number, the energy given off by Randy Leslie, who played the character of Gomez, was electric and each cast member sang and performed to their strengths giving us, the audience, and a spooky spectacular of a night out!
Kelowna Daily Couier - Addams Family
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Randy Leslie had the entire crowd in a fit of laughter with his witty and spot-on impression of patriarch Gomez Addams
Kelowna Now - Addams Family
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reviews
randyleslie.com
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