Elizabeth Stepkowski Tarhan

I am a theatre artist; director, actor, and educator.

My vision is to engage audience and performers in a vivid journey that explores all aspects of our human condition. I am particularly interested in the juxtaposition of what makes us beautiful, loving and nurturing against what makes us ugly, spiteful and greedy. What causes our fear, pain, anger? What inspires our joy, love, imagination? I desire to deepen our understanding of how we move through the world by never shying away from the depth of how dark and cruel we can be, as well as shining a light on how courageous and generous.

I am a theatre artist whose past and current practice encompasses many forms; traditional theatre, devised collaborations, mixed discipline, and opera. After 35 years as a performer, I’ve shifted my focus to directing. I have been developing concepts and projects that express my aesthetics and passions. My imaginings come from the text. I remain faithful and loyal to the writer and their intent. As director I specify, distill, and score rhythmically and emotionally the story for the audience. What do I want for them? What do I want from them? Everything I do is ultimately for the listener, the watcher, the audience.

My mission is to use my experience and expertise to engage with fellow artists in an unending discovery of possibility. To engage each artist in an individual way to inspire them. To tell visceral stories with creativity and ingenuity. To infuse all my work with beauty and surprise. I am committed to doing the work of theatre with courage and passion. I approach each project with enthusiasm, generosity, and integrity. My greatest desire is to encourage every artist I work with towards a greater potential, so that together we can tell extraordinary tales.

Director

• Clotho; Camille Claudel – Development Workshop                            
• Honk! – Storybook Theatre
• A dress With Pockets – Lunchbox Stage One   
• Ripcord – Guild Hall    
• Clochemerle – Development Workshop – Derek Demierre  
• Stone Soup – Calgary Opera     
• High and Splendid Braveries – Urban Stories/Drama on a Dime
• Bernard and Her Daughters – Development Workshop
• Arriving at the Fire – Calgary Opera; Development Labs
• Monster – Seadreamer
• Love’s Labour’s Lost – The Shakespeare Company
• Bernarda and Her Daughters – Banff Centre for the Arts and Creativity Residency
• Madagascar the Musical – Storybook Theatre
• Fiddler on the Roof – Stage West Calgary
• Father to Son – Soulocentric Festival
• Oedipus the King – Destiny Theatre
• Missionary in A Tree – Banff Centre for the Arts and Creativity Residency

Assistant Director

• Das Rheingold – Peter Hinton – Edmonton Opera
• La Traviata – Alain Gauthier – Calgary Opera
• The Merry Widow – Omer Ben Seadia – Calgary Opera
• Rigoletto – Michael Cavanagh – Calgary Opera
• Lord of the Flies – Kevin McKendrick – Sage Theatre

Actor Selected

• Murder on the Orient Express – Princess – Vertigo Theatre – Jovanni Sy
• Ragtime – Emma G. – TC, Calgary Phil., Arts Commons – Stafford Arima/ James Moore
• The Sound of Music – Mother Abbess – Western Canada Theatre – James MacDonald
• Noises Off – Dotty/Mrs. Clackett – Theatre Calgary – Mark Bellamy
• All’s Well That Ends Well – Countess/Widow – The Shakespeare Company – Peter Hinton
• Waiting for the Parade – Margaret – Alberta Theatre Projects – Kate Newby
• Romeo and Juliet – Nurse/Prince – The Shakespeare Company – Ron Jenkins
• The Winter’s Tale – Paulina – The Shakespeare Company – Natascha Girgis
• Gaslight – Elizabeth – Vertigo Theatre – Christopher Newton
• Chicago – Mamma Morton – Stage West – Max Riemer/Konrad Pluta
• Pride and Prejudice – Mrs. Bennet – National Arts Centre – Dennis Garnhum
• Requiem for a Lost Girl – Mother – New York Musical Theatre Festival – Doug McKeag
• Sweeney Todd – Mrs. Lovett – Vertigo Theatre – Mark Bellamy/Stephen Woodjetts
• August: Osage County – Mattie Fae – Citadel Theatre – Bob Baker
• Beauty and the Beast – Mrs. Potts – Citadel Theatre – Bob Baker/Don Horsburgh
• Glorious! – Florence Foster Jenkins – Stage West – Bernard Cuffling
• Gypsy – Mamma Rose – Mayfield Dinner Theatre – James Brewer/Van Wilmott
• Song and Dance – Emma – Theatre Calgary – James Brewer/Denise Clarke/David Rhymer Doing Leonard Cohen – Arden Theatre, Philadelphia /One Yellow Rabbit – Blake Brooker
• Thunderstruck – Naomi – Factory Theatre /One Yellow Rabbit – Blake Brooker
• The Beggar’s Opera – Mrs. Peachum – Citadel Theatre – Robin Phillips/Janice Flower
• Man of LaMancha – Housekeeper – Mirvish Productions – Robin Phillips/ Melody McShane

Creative Team

• The Sound of Music – Acting Mentor – Storybook Theatre
• Lord of the Flies – Movement/Vocal Score Facilitator – Sage Theatre
• Honk – Choreography – Globe Theatre
• Dads in Bondage – Choreography – Mayfield Dinner Theatre
• Screaming Fish – Text and Vocal Coach – Road Pictures
• Global Vibe – Text and Vocal Coach – Decidedly Jazz Danceworks
• Thunderstruck – Naomi’s Songs Creator – One Yellow Rabbit
• Death in New Orleans – Sound Design/composition – One Yellow Rabbit
• Oedipus the King – Sound/Vocal Score Facilitator – Destiny Theatre

Awards

• Betty Mitchell Award, Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Lead Role;
• Stone and Ashes – Shirley – Theatre in Exile – Jarvis Hall
• Betty Mitchell Award, Outstanding performance in a Musical;
• Marg Szkaluba: Pissy’s Wife– Marg– Mighty Pacer– Christopher Cinnamon/Tim Williams
• Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Award, Outstanding Performance in a Supporting Role;
• Cabaret – Fraulein Kost – Citadel Theatre – Bob Baker/Don Horsburgh

Education

• Bachelor of Fine Arts – University of Calgary
• Performance Diploma – Voice – Trinity College London

“Stunning vision in creation process! Watch out world!” – Daniel Kramer

“Calgary’s first lady of the stage, the incomparable Elizabeth Stepkowski Tarhan. ” Vancity vince

“She is a multi-talented, multi-disciplinary artist whose work ethic goes beyond that of most people in our industry.” – Valerie Ann Pearson

“A fantastic theatre experience for everyone involved. Her years of experience working with director after director shone brightly as she worked with her team of emerging artists. She constantly applied her gained knowledge from other directors, making them her own and always crediting the mentors and teachers she learned the skill from.” JP Thibodeau – Storybook Theatre

“Uniquely qualified to spearhead this project given the breadth of her experience in all genres of theatre, her commitment to artistic excellence, and her tireless work ethic.” Joe Slabe – Forte! Musical Theatre Guild

“In whatever facet of theatre production she has been involved, Elizabeth has consistently interested herself in all the integrated components of a play, not only in her role and her performance, but in complementing the work of her fellow actors, and in fully comprehending the director’s and designer’s vision of the play.” – John Murrell, OC, AOE

“…a theatre director of vision, compassion and excellence. She is highly motivated, deeply committed and full of integrity.”  Deborah Fannie Miller – poet and children’s book author

“Stepkowski Tarhan gets to rip at our hearts when Margaret tells us just how lonely she is.” Louis B. Hobson – Calgary Herald

“Acting is a breeze for Stepkowski Tarhan as she throws her personal spontaneity and 30 years of experience into the craziest of characters.” Jasmine Han

“The most grotesque comic character is Violet’s ample, blowsy, hilariously vulgar sister Matti Fae (Elizabeth Stepkowski-Tarhan).” Liz Nicholls – Edmonton Journal

“Elizabeth Stepkowski-Tarhan who brings the much-loved Nurse to life with warmth, love and tangible heartbreak.” danill1800  Alberta Theatre Guide