Laura and Samara spend their days as non-profit unicorns and fill every spare minute exploring the world of musical theatre as BFFs (that’s Broadway Friends Forever). Follow @bffs613 on X, Instagram and Facebook.
When Elevator Theatre Company (ETC) landed in Ottawa at the end of 2023, we couldn’t wait to see what the company would have in store for Ottawa’s theatre fans. When they announced their first season just a few weeks ago, we knew we needed to learn more! The BFFs got to sit down with founder Josh Rigo to get more details about the new company on the scene and the upcoming 2024–2025 season.
This interview has been edited for length.
Tell us a bit about how Elevator Theatre Company came to be. What are you hoping it can add to the Ottawa theatre scene?
Elevator Theatre Company has been a long-time dream of mine, especially as I shifted from acting to directing. Before moving to Ottawa last year, the timing and circumstances just never seemed quite right. Once I arrived here, I found myself surrounded by such a vibrant theatre community and met so many inspiring people—it felt like the perfect moment to make it happen.
Ottawa’s theatre scene is buzzing with creativity, providing a welcoming space for artists to thrive and bring their visions to life. With ETC, my goal is to bring thought-provoking and emotionally resonant stories to the stage. It is those intimate, more reflective moments in theatre that really get me.
I believe theatre’s power lies in its ability to foster empathy. Through watching characters go through their journeys, we cannot help but feel for them. That is why I am passionate about bringing stories to the stage that might touch on sensitive topics, but are essential to be told.
Josh Rigo, Elevator Theatre Company. Photo provided.
What can actors get excited about when looking to be a part of an ETC production? What can they expect from the audition process and the availability of roles?
When joining an ETC production, actors can expect a supportive environment, a creative space to take risks and grow as performers, and a focus on truthful and emotional storytelling. I feel that we as artists thrive when we feel safe and valued, and that is my foremost goal when having actors join us for a show.
As for auditions, we are starting each audition process with virtual submissions, which will take some pressure off and allow actors to showcase their skills comfortably. We will then move to in-person auditions for callbacks, allowing us to dive deeper into character exploration. Our casting decisions are made thoughtfully, respecting each actor’s unique contribution to the production.
For those interested in working behind the scenes, what kind of opportunities can they look forward to from ETC?
If you are interested in working behind the scenes, ETC has plenty of opportunities for you! We’re on the lookout for musicians, stage managers, set designers, light designers, and more. You can expect us to post calls for available positions as each production nears—but if you are eager to get involved, feel free to send in your resume through our website. We will be keeping resumes of local creative artists on file, and we will reach out whenever there is an opportunity that matches your skills and interests.
You recently announced a very ambitious five-show 2024–2025 season—we can’t wait! Tell us what will be included in this season and what audiences can get excited about.
Our “preseason” premiere production will be The Last Five Years by Jason Robert Brown. The musical chronicles the five-year relationship between Cathy and Jamie through divergent timelines—Cathy’s story moving backward and Jamie’s moving forward—exploring themes of love, ambition, and the complexities of relationships. The show runs May 1–4 at the Léonard Beaulne Studio, and tickets are on sale now on our website!
Top to Bottom: Emma MacEachern and Kodi Cannon, the leads of The Last Five Years. Photo provided.
Our official 2024–2025 season will begin this fall. We will be starting off by putting our own unique spin on the coming-of-age musical, Spring Awakening, playing at LabO Theatre in September. In November, audiences can join us at LIVE! on Elgin for a concert performance of Songs for a New World. Running in February at The Gladstone will be the play Late Company, written by Ottawa’s very own Jordan Tannahill. Finishing up our season in May of 2025, we will be returning to The Gladstone to present the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning musical Next to Normal.
Elevator Theatre Company 24-25 Season. Photo provided.
Things are just getting started, but what have you enjoyed most about the theatre community in Ottawa so far?
What I have enjoyed most about the theatre community in Ottawa so far is the vibrant sense of collaboration and creativity. Everyone has been so welcoming and there is a true sense of camaraderie among Ottawa’s artists. All the shows I have attended so far in town have been filled with enthusiastic and supportive audience members—a testament to the thriving theatre scene here.
Learn more about Elevator Theatre Company on their website, about how you can audition or work behind the scenes. The first show of the 2024 season, The Last Five Years, begins its run on May 1 and tickets are on sale now, ranging from $20 to $30.
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