- Leslie Arden
Leslie Arden is a
Canadian musical theatre composer ,lyricist andlibrettist . [ [http://www.northernriver.com/lesliearden.html Leslie Arden] , www.northernriver.com] She has been described as "arguably Canada's most talented Musical Theatre writer". [http://northernriver.com/lesliearden.html] She is best known for her workThe House of Martin Guerre (co-book by Anna Theresa Cascio) produced by Theatre Plus (1993), theGoodman Theatre (1996) in Chicago and the Canadian Stage Company (1997). Her latest musical "The Boys are Coming Home " was part of theAmerican Music Theatre Project at North Western University and was showcased by the National Alliance of Musical Theatre in New York City. TheToronto Star has commented that her work is “beautifully crafted” andUSA Today states she is a “major talent”. ["Broadway North: The Dream of a Canadian Musical Theatre" Natural Heritage/Natural History Inc. ISBN 1-897045-08-5] She also wrote theChalmers Award -winning "The Happy Prince". Her mother, Cleone Duncan, was a theatre actress who performed many years in the Canadian musical hitAnne of Green Gables - The Musical . [Atkey, Mel. (2006) "Broadway North: The Dream of a Canadian Musical Theatre" Natural Heritage/Natural History Inc. ISBN 1-897045-08-5]Education
Early in her career she took classes with
Lehman Engel in Toronto. In 1990, she was chosen along with 12 other participants to study with legendary musical theatre composer and lyricistStephen Sondheim at Oxford University. The sessions were organized by theatre producerCameron Mackintosh . [ [http://www.canadiantheatre.com/dict.pl?term=Arden%2C%20Leslie Leslie Arden] , www.canadiantheatre.com]Currently
She is the Artistic Director and co-founder of The Children’s Trio, a company dedicated to theatre for young audiences. She is currently playwright-in-residence at the renowned
Stratford Festival of Canada and is working on a new musical forLorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People . She is also working on a new musical aboutMoll Flanders . [http://www.stratfordfestival.ca/about/pdf/NR512008.pdf]----
Her other works include:
"Harvest Moon Rising" (book by Peggy Sample)
"The Prince and the Pauper" (with Joey Miller)
"A Meeting of Minds: Leslie Arden and Friends"
"The Last Resort" (book byNorm Foster )
"The Greatest Gift"
"Rumplestiltskin"
"The Princess and the Handmaiden"References
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