Paper Moon Theater Presents: Rock Of Ages at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Ottawa

Marlayah McLeod has graced many different theatrical productions, with her most memorable being ‘The Wizard Of Oz’ as Dorothy Gale at Meridian Centerpointe Theatres. A few others include Brooke Wyndham from ‘Legally Blonde’, Kaylee from ‘The Prom’, and Crystal from ‘Little Shop Of Horror’s’. Also known as Miss McLeod, she’s a singer, rapper, songwriter, music producer, composer, musician, and performer, with over 5 original albums released, and some of her singles earning awards such as the SOCAN Young Songwriters Award. Marlayah is so honoured to bring the role of Sherrie to life, and thanks the team for believing in her and bringing her onto the production. Now, it’s time to rock on!

Salem Valentine is a born and raised Ottawa performer that has been in the theatre scene for 6 years. Recently graduated from the University of Ottawa with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Theatre. Salem’s recent credits include ‘Billy’ from Carrie (uOttawa Theatre Club), ‘Riff Raff’ from The Rocky Horror Show (Lost Baggage Musical Theatre), and ‘Gabe’ from Next To Normal (Elevator Theatre Company). Rock holds such a hold on Salem’s heart, and it transports him back to the passenger seat of his dad’s Jeep while his father would flip the radio to just the right song. He hopes to bring true passion and energy to each moment, and that you all have a genuine great time.

Brennan is absolutely amped to rock out as Lonny once more, having previously worn his tight but tubular pants for Orpheus Musical Theatre’s production back in 2020. You may also have seen him at the NAC playing Beadle Bamford in Paper Moon’s Sweeney Todd (2024). Other Ottawa credits include As Rome Burns (Phaon), 9 to 5 (Franklin Hart), The Fight (FY6N), Carousel (Billy Bigelow), Footloose! (Chuck Cranston), RENT (Mark), Macbeth (Macduff), Romeo and Juliet (Friar Lawrence), Mercutio & Ophelia (Mercutio). Epic appreciation for his beloved, the bodacious Alex Sinha, the support of the righteous Richardson family, and his less supportive but still beloved cats.

DJ is thrilled to be revising his role as Stacee Jaxx with Paper Moon Theatre! DJ is an Ottawa-based performer and educator who has spent years on stage in musical theatre. Past highlights include the role of Pepper in Mirvish's original production of Mamma Mia!; Stacee Jaxx (Rock of Ages), Emmett Forrest (Legally Blonde: The Musical), Roger (RENT), Danny (Grease), Nick Bottom (Something Rotten!), and making the Top 44 on Canadian Idol. DJ is also a classically trained dancer and singer, holding accreditation from the Royal Conservatory of Music. Outside of performing, he has worked as a director on productions of both Beautiful and Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. A huge thank you to Colin, KG, and his close friends for their unwavering support.

Prior to immigrating to Canada in 2018, Benjamin lived in Chicago, Illinois, where he worked with numerous theatrical companies in various and sundry roles: actor, fight choreographer, stage manager, lighting and sound design, and technical director. He also proudly served as an Equestrian Actor Technician at the outdoor drama, Blue Jacket for 4 seasons. Some favorite roles include: Judas Escariot in Jesus Christ Superstar, Tybalt in Romeo & Juliet, the Headless Horseman in The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, and Egeus/Flute in Midsummer Night's Dream. Locally, Benjamin has performed as Sir Danvers Carew in Jekyll and Hyde, Dr. Jafar in A New Brain, Jonas Fogg in Sweeney Todd, and Jim in One Small Misstep. He was last seen in August Osage County in the role of Charlie Sr. All my love and thanks to my wonderful family for supporting my theatrical passion.

Joy Mwandemange is thrilled to be bringing the soul and powerhouse vocals of Justice to Rock of Ages. A seasoned performer with a love for storytelling and big musical moments, Joy loves to sink her teeth into roles that let her live somewhere between a heart-wrenching ballad and a full-on rock anthem. She has a passion for work that explores transformation, power, and a little bit of chaos. Select credits include Mrs. Lovett (Sweeney Todd), Lady Macbeth (Macbeth), Felicia Farrell (Memphis), and she has directed various productions with Lost Baggage Musical Theatre, where she sits on the board as Vice President. She is currently developing her original musical, A Little Death, that will be part of the upcoming Ottawa Fringe Festival. Endless love to her family and friends for the constant support, and to this incredible cast for what is sure to be an unforgettable experience. Now let’s rock!

A certified 80's-man and evergreen Ottawa native, Nick is positively jacked to be making his Paper Moon debut as part of the Hard Rock Kickass-ino's inaugural musical theatre explosion! Previous performing credits include Cry-Baby: the Musical (as Cry-Baby), Little Shop of Horrors (The Dentist) and The Taming of the Shrew (Katherine). Writing credits include ARNOTT: a Masterclass in Good Theatreing (Outstanding New Work - Ottawa Fringe Festival 2019), As Rome Burns, and Mercutio & Ophelia.

Amanda is thrilled to make her Paper Moon Theatre debut as Constance Sack in Rock of Ages. An Alumnus of John Abbott College Theatre Workshop, Randolph College for the Performing Arts, and Concordia University, she spent 15 years teaching elementary school, before returning full-time to performance. A two-time BroadwayWorld Montreal Award winner (2024), recent stage credits include Trina (Falsettos - Contact Theatre), Adelaide (Guys and Dolls - Lakeshore Players), Niki Harris (Curtains) & Doralee Rhodes (9 to 5 - Encore Musical Theatre), as well as Buttons (Cinderella: The Panto) & Bella Bella (Peter Pan: The Panto - Hudson Players Club). She continues to work across theatre, television, film, and commercial projects in Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto.

Danica is thrilled to be in the cast of Rock of Ages. Recent credits include ‘Ensemble’ Music Man (Orpheus), ‘Betty/Ensemble’ Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Orpheus), ‘Cinderella’ Cinderella (Kanata Theatre), and ‘Pugsley’ The Addams Family (LBMT). She hopes you enjoy the show!

Kayla McSorley (She/Her/Elle) is a French-Canadian Performer, Educator and Arts Administrator originally from Ottawa and now residing in Buffalo, NY. With a BFA in Theatre Performance and BA in French from Niagara University, NY, she has performed, taught & toured internationally with some favorite credits including: SIX The Musical (Boleyn/Cleves/Parr), Islander The Musical (Arran), The Last Five Years (Cathy), Come From Away (Janice), RENT (Maureen), Titanic The Musical (Kate McGowan), The Prom (Kaylee), Legally Blonde (Serena), Comedy of Errors (Luciana/Duke) and Julius Caesar (Brutus). Some favorite Ottawa credits include: Pirate Life Theatre (Performer/Art Director/GM), Oh Canada Eh? (Kitty) and now, Rock of Ages with Paper Moon Theatre!

Kay is absolutely thrilled to rock out with Paper Moon Theatre this summer. They are beyond excited to join the stage with such a talented cast + team. Offstage, Kay can be found designing and building escape rooms as their day-job, but don’t worry, you won’t need to escape this show. Recent credits include The Rocky Horror Show with TotoToo Theatre, and Urinetown with Suzart. Kay is incredibly grateful for friends and family who support their dream to rock and roll.

Darren is excited to be performing in his first [Paper Moon Theater] production of Rock of Ages. A high-range baritone, his voice is best described as full and powerful with a rich, warm colour. His previous credits include the Bonnie & Clyde [Lost Baggage Musical Theater] as Henry Barrow and Captain Frank Hamer, The Drowsy Chaperone [Confidential Musical Theater Project] as Ensemble Baritone, and The Prom [Suzart Productions] in the ensemble. Voice training includes classical, jazz, and Irish folk music. Darren also plays guitar and harmonica and sings regularly at Brigid's Well Irish sessions. When not on stage, he is a black belt in karate and CEO of an Ottawa-based commercial real estate brokerage.

GianPaolo Lattanzio is an Italian-Canadian actor, singer, dancer, and creator born in Peterborough, Ontario and raised all over the world. He is a theatre, film, and voice actor. He has a huge passion for music and hopes to ignite your passion for it too. GianPaolo has always been a huge fan of rock music. His most fond memories are of him riding in the car while his older brother blasted everything from Avenged Sevenfold to Weezer on the old fashioned car radio (The kind that still took CDs). GianPaolo is so excited to bring Rock of Ages to the stage in Ottawa and is ready to leave you faceless by the end of the show… Because it’s been melted off. Notable credits: Fector/Male Swing (Dogfight/Elevator Theatre Company), Stiva Oblonsky (Anna Karenina/George Brown Theatre School), Tarzan (Tarzan – The Musical/Kanata Theatre), Seymour (Little Shop of Horrors/Belleville Theatre Guild).

Katya is stoked to join the cast of Rock of Ages and bring some slightly unhinged, rock-fueled chaos to the stage. Recent credits include Ariel Moore in Footloose and Rizzo in Grease with the Greely Players, as well as Magenta in The Rocky Horror Show with TotoToo Theatre. Offstage, she recently graduated from uOttawa with a degree in Ethics and Political Philosophy. She would like to thank her partner, her mom, and her friends for their constant love and encouragement.

Stephen Beneteau is delighted to be in his first Paper Moon Theatre production with such a hilarious cast. He is hoping you enjoy the show. Last seen as the quartet bass Olin Britt in Music Man (Orpheus), Don Kirshner in Beautiful (Orpheus), Bumble in Oliver (Suzart), and all around town in whatever shows he can sneak into.

Pascale Lacroix (she/her) is a 3rd year Musical Theatre Student at St.Lawrence College. She grew up in Ottawa Ontario, where she had advanced training in Ballet and Jazz and was a part of the theatre program at her High School DeLaSalle. Her training continued when she got into the musical theatre program at St.Lawrence College, where she loved being in the productions of Iris (Says Goodbye), Seussical, Bad Hats Theatre’s Peter Pan, and Springs Awakening. She loves working with everyone and making new connections with people who are as passionate about musical theatre and as hard-working as she is. Pascale is so incredibly thrilled to be a part of this show, and hopes everyone has a blast watching it. Rock on!

Born and raised in Oakville, Ontario, Carly Montgomery is thrilled to be a featured dancer in her first Paper Moon Theatre production! The theatre bug was inherited from both her parents: growing up, she would always hear them singing show tunes around the house. Carly has been training in dance and music since the age of three, and has not stopped since. She has competed in multiple music festivals in Ontario, and, at age seventeen, won first place in Self-Accompanied Pop Vocal at provincials. Currently, she is completing her second year in the Musical Theatre Performance Program at St. Lawrence College, where she is taking on nine characters as the role of Adult Man in Spring Awakening. Follow her theatre journey on Instagram and TikTok @carlymontgomerymusic Select theatre credits include: John Darling in Bad Hats Theatre's Peter Pan, Annabeth Chase in The Lightning Thief, and Janis Sarkisian in Mean Girls.

Emma Gover is a professional dancer and choreographer with 20 years of training and performance experience. She began her career in the competitive dance world before advancing to the professional level as a member of the Ottawa BlackJacks Dance team for 3 seasons. Throughout her career, Emma has taught and choreographed at multiple studios, as well as with the City of Ottawa at the Shenkman Arts Centre. She brings strong technical training and performance quality to every piece she develops. With more than a decade of teaching experience, Emma works with dancers of all ages from young children to adults and currently teaches dance full-time in schools throughout Ottawa. Her love for hip hop developed into a passion for all major dance styles. She is deeply committed to fostering confidence, artistry, & connection through dance. Now, as an Artistic Director for CultureShock, she can’t wait to continue delivering classes to her community and to grow together.

Megan Gonzalvo is a dancer from Ottawa, Ontario, recognized for her versatility and commanding stage presence. Trained in Hip Hop, Heels, and Afro, she brings a dynamic blend of power, musicality, and performance quality to her work. Megan has extensive experience performing in live stage productions, film and television, as well as music video projects. Her professional credits include work with global recording artist Drake. Known for her confidence, energy, and expressive performance style, Megan continues to expand her artistry while collaborating with creatives across the entertainment industry.

Mia Weekes is a dancer from Ottawa, Ontario, with over 20 years of training in styles including ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop, and more. Throughout her career, she has trained and performed in cities such as Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, Arizona, and Los Angeles, experiences that have broadened her artistic perspective and strengthened her versatility as a performer. Mia currently dances with PNL Dance Co. and teaches choreography at Flava Factory, where she shares her passion for movement. She uses dance as both a creative outlet and a way to connect with audiences, and is passionate about sharing her love of the art while supporting the growth of young performers. Mia is honoured to be part of this production and grateful to perform and collaborate with such talented peers!

Performing as a background dancer alongside Paula Abdul, Grace Lister is a Toronto and Ottawa based performer and dance artist currently pursuing a diploma in Dance Performance at George Brown Polytechnic under the direction of Derek Sangster. She specializes in hip-hop, contemporary, modern, jazz, ballet, and musical theatre, and is recognized for her musicality, versatility, and strong stage presence. Grace is the recipient of multiple national awards and scholarships, including being the winner of Ontario’s Got Talent. Grace is known for her grounded movement quality, adaptability across styles, and for bringing a positive, focused, and uplifting energy into every creative environment. A passionate performer who loves acting and storytelling on stage, Grace is thrilled to be part of the production of Rock of Ages and is incredibly excited for this amazing opportunity. She is known for her grounded movement quality, adaptability across styles, and for bringing a positive, focused, and uplifting energy into every creative environment.