Participants in the musical comedy concert
''INSPIRE ME! Songs of Inspiration from Broadway''
are among the region's best talents!

They include:

Producer/Director/Performer STEPHEN PIETRANTONI

Born and raised in the U.S., Stephen was trained at the famous Tufts Arena Theatre. He produced and directed ''Oh, Coward!'' and more recently ''The Club''. He also performed for a year with Boston Symphony Orchestra's Tanglewood Festival Chorus, and recently produced a mini CD entitled ''Broadway, Baby!''.

In Montreal, he appeared as the M.C. in David Langlois' new play, ''Music of the Stars'' at the Village Theatre West. He was also seen in the critically acclaimed musical productions ''The Great Houdini'' with the Yiddish Theatre of the Saidye Bronfman Centre and in the Lyric Theatre production of ''Company'' at the Centaur.


Performer MICHELLE HEISLER

Michelle graduated from the theatre program at McGill University and the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City. Favourite theatre credits include: Suzie in ''Mind Games and Body Talk'' (American Theatre of Actors), the title role in ''Evita'' (Lyric Theatre) Jenny in Stephen Sondheim's ''Company'' (Second.com/p@n.y.), Katherine in ''Henry V'' (Studio One) and Desirée in ''A Little Night Music'' ( Da Capo).

Michelle has been seen on the ABC-TV production of ''Audrey Hepburn'' and the CBS biopic ''Jackie Bouvier Kennedy Onassis''. She has provided voices for such animated films as ''Caillou'', ''Arthur'', ''Mona the Vampire'' and ''Miss Mallard Mysteries''. She is the proud mother of Jake, 3, and Sophie, 4 months.


Performer ANDEE SHUSTER

A clasically trained soprano, Andee has appeared in numerous Gilbert and Sullivan operettas, including portraying Yum Yum in 'The Mikado', Casilda in 'The Gondoliers' and Kate in 'The Pirates of Penzance'.

Andee's most recent musical theatre roles include Mr. Bertie in 'The Club', Golde in the Yiddish Theatre's 'Fiddler on the Roof' and the Narrator in Hudson Studio Theatre's 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Andee had her big screen debut in the the movie 'Abandon' and has since worked on the sets of 'Timeline', Mambo Italiano' 'Wicker Park' and 'Noël'.


Performer MARTINE WHITING

Martine holds a Bachelor of Music degree from McGill Unversity with a major in voice performance. She studied violin at the École de musique Vincent d'Indy. She has recently rejoined the St. Lawrence Choir and has also sung with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra choir.

Martine originated the role of the cue girl in the original production of 'Music of the Stars' and was featured as the Maestro in the recent production of 'The Club'. she has been a featured soloist and musical assistant with the Lyric Theatre Singers, and is one-fifth of the vocal ensemble Guffman 5.


Hostess YVETTE GHATTAS

Yvette has performed in theatre, musicals and radio commercials for many years. She particularly enjoys acting as M.C. at special events and has even written a one-woman stand-up comedy show called 'Fresh Off the Boat' about her immigrant parents.

In addition to her artistic talents, Yvette speaks five languages, is an amateur kickboxer and recently launched Multply Inc., a company that trains non-profit organizations how to fundraise more efficiently. The company's website is www.multiply.ca.


Performer BURNEY LIEBERMAN

Burney's deep, enveloping voice has graced many stages over the years. He has performed numerous leading and supporting roles in such Gilbert and Sullivan operettas as 'The Mikado'. A regular of the Yiddish Theatre, he toured internationally in their production of the musical revue 'On Second Avenue'.

An active, committed volunteer, Burney devotes time every week to the Montreal Jewish General Hospital. He is also the pride of the Shaar Hashomayim synagogue choir. He pursues a parallel career in found art and portrait photography.


Performer NEIL NAPIER

Neil is one of the busiest actors in Montreal. His recent credits include roles in 'Into the Woods' (One Foot Productions), 'subUrbia' (Persephone), 'The Shape of Things' (Centaur) and 'The Foursome' (Townships Stage). Other credits include 'The Language of Angels'Alternate Theatre), 'Coriolanus/Portrait of Dorian Gray' (Gravy Bath/Saidye B) and 'The Cyclops' (Rabbit in the Hat).

Neil will return this summer to the Eastern Townships to perform in the musical 'I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change' with the Townships Stage at the Piggery Theatre in North Hatley. He has also appeared in a number of horror films, including the 'Slashers' movie series.


Performer AMANDA STRAWN

Amanda has been seen on stage in 'Barnum', 'The Owl and the Pussycat', 'Ododo', 'House of Blue Leaves' and 'The Big Mama Thornton Story'. A film and television actress, Amanda has taken a five-year break to concentrate on her role as wife, mother and homeowner. However, this jazz and R&B singer thought it was time to return to the stage once again.


Performer TONY SHARKEY

Tony has had a multi-faceted performing career that has brought him to many of Canada's most prestigious theatres. Originally from Montreal's West Island, Tony has lived and worked for a number of years in Toronto and Edmonton, where among his many roles he played Brick in 'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof' and Bogdanowitsch in the Edmonton Opera's production of 'The Merry Widow.' He is a graduate of Humber College. In addition to his performing talents, Tony is also a skilled fitness trainer.


Performer SHANNON LYNCH

A multi-talented actor/musician, Shannon got an early introduction to performing during family gatherings in his native Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. By age 10, he had already starred in 'Blizzard Island', a CBC children's television series. Shannon has extensive experience as a solo musicial (folk, jazz, blues) and children's entertainer in Halifax. His film credits incude a role in the World War II drama 'Lifeline to Victory'. Shannon has just received his B.A. with simultaneous concentrations in music and theatre from Concordia University.