PrideArts announced today that Craig Ramsay and Catherine Wreford will bring the magic of Broadway to the Hoover-Leppen Theatre at Center on Halsted in BEHIND THE CURTAIN: UNTOLD STORIES FROM CANADA’S TEAM BROADWAY for one night only - Monday, July 6 - under the music direction of Robert Ollis - an artistic associate of PrideArts.
Craig and Catherine—winners of THE AMAZING RACE CANADA— will raise the curtain on their incredible journey from the ballet barre in Winnipeg to Broadway stages and beyond. Through song, dance and unfiltered storytelling, Craig and Catherine share hilarious, heartfelt, and often outrageous behind-the-scenes moments from their experiences performing on Broadway in high profile productions of musicals including FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, 42ND STREET and OKLAHOMA! and their encounters with some of the biggest names in show business. The PrideArts engagement of their critically acclaimed show is a stop on their second tour of American and Canadian cities, which will play through summer and fall of 2026.
This high-energy musical cabaret celebrates resilience, friendship, and the magic of theatre, featuring iconic Broadway show tunes, dazzling dancing, and inspiring tales of triumph - both onstage and off. They will also share some highlights of the AMAZING RACE competition that swept them across Canada to a thrilling series win. Lovers of theatre or reality TV will leave with a smile on their face and a song in their heart.
Craig, who started his career in ballet, tells how he entered show business as part of a lengthy tour with the original pre-Broadway cast of the hit show MAMMA MIA!. Catherine, his best friend, then convinced him to join her in New York City and before long, they were each involved in various Broadway shows as singer/actor/dancers.
Over the years, they were able to work with many notable directors, composers and choreographers, as well as the famous leading actors and actresses that they shared the stage with. This one-night cabaret show gives Craig and Catherine a chance to relate some of the humorous, startling or racy anecdotes of their theatrical pasts, including stories of some unusual auditions. They will also express gratitude for the theatre training and professional opportunities that they each experienced during extended stays in Chicago.
Craig has deep ties to Chicago’s theatre scene, from his roles in MAMMA MIA! (Cadillac Palace), CATS and HOT MIKADO (Marriott Lincolnshire), workshops at Steppenwolf and in the cast of the world premiere production of Stephen Sondheim’s BOUNCE, directed by Harold Prince at the Goodman Theatre.
Catherine also spent many months in Chicago in the national touring companies of the award-winning Broadway revivals of 42ND STREET and ANNIE GET YOUR GUN. Craig and Catherine are excited to be performing their show at the intimate Hoover-Leppen Theatre, located in the heart of Lakeview. This modern theatre space in the Center on Halsted will provide an ideal setting for Craig and Catherine’s lively evening of song and dance, plus video highlights of their favorite moments on Broadway and in THE AMAZING RACE CANADA.
Scenes from Behind the Curtain: Untold Stories from Canada's Team Broadway.
LISTING INFORMATION
BEHIND THE CURTAIN: UNTOLD STORIES FROM CANADA’S TEAM BROADWAY
Performers: Craig Ramsay and Catherine Wreford
Music Director: Robert Ollis
Monday, July 6, 2026, at 7:30 pm
Hoover-Leppen Theatre,
Center on Halsted
3656 N. Halsted, 773-661-0770
Tickets $35
Further information at https://www.pridearts.org
Broadway performers and reality TV stars Craig Ramsay and Catherine Wreford, winners of THE AMAZING RACE CANADA, will perform a cabaret of songs, dances and stories from their lives on the stage and on the road. Through song, dance and unfiltered storytelling, Craig and Catherine share hilarious, heartfelt, and often outrageous behind-the-scenes moments from their experiences performing on Broadway in high profile productions of musicals including FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, 42ND STREET and OKLAHOMA! and their encounters with some of the biggest names in show business. This high-energy musical cabaret celebrates resilience, friendship, and the magic of theatre, featuring iconic Broadway show tunes, dazzling dancing, and inspiring tales of triumph - both onstage and off.
BIOS
Craig Ramsay (Performer): Craig Ramsay was born in a small farming town near the City of Windsor, Canada. He attended the Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s Professional Division under full scholarship. He recently returned there to portray Sir Danvers Carew in a production of JEKYLL AND HYDE by the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. He was an original cast member of the North American pre-Broadway musical MAMMA MIA (including Chicago - the Cadillac Palace) and appeared in numerous original Broadway productions including the 2004 - 2006 revival of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, plus CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG, where he worked closely with famed choreographer Gillian Lynne.
Other notable credits include BOUNCE by Stephen Sondheim and Hal Prince (Goodman Theatre), ON THE 20TH CENTURY with Joanne Worley, HAIR with Jennifer Hudson and RuPaul, ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW with NBC Universal and CATS as Rum Tum Tugger (Marriott Lincolnshire). Craig has also acted alongside John Hurt, Cynthia Nixon, Denis O’Hare and Swoosie Kurtz in the film AN ENGLISHMAN IN NEW YORK. He performed with Carol Burnett and Tracey Ullman in ONCE UPON A MATTRESS and appeared regularly on daytime soap operas. Craig is also a fitness expert, author and model. In 2022, he and Catherine Wreford won THE AMAZING RACE CANADA.
Catherine Wreford (Performer): Catherine Wreford is from Winnipeg, Canada. She began her career in the Stratford Festival’s famed production of WEST SIDE STORY and appeared in 42ND STREET - THE REVIVAL on Broadway. She understudied the role of Ado Annie in OKLAHOMA! and toured with 42ND STREET and ANNIE GET YOUR GUN (with extended stays in Chicago). She played Marian Paroo opposite Jeff Goldblum in THE MUSIC MAN. Other favorite roles include Cassie in A CHORUS LINE; Roxie in CHICAGO, Alison in FUN HOME and Gussie in MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG.
One of her most exciting experiences was winning THE AMAZING RACE CANADA with her best friend Craig. Catherine is now a motivational speaker and advocate, while continuing her acting career. She most recently appeared in Winnipeg and Hamilton, Canada as Princess Diana in CASEY AND DIANA.
Robert Ollis (Music Director) recently music-directed A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE, VICTOR/VICTORIA, and THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA in Palm Springs, CA. Robert has served as Music Director for PrideArts’ productions of [TITLE OF SHOW], GAY CARD, GIRLFRIEND, THE THINGS I COULD NEVER TELL STEVEN, A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE, SOUTHERN COMFORT, YANK!: A WWII LOVE STORY, THE NANCE, PRISCILLA: QUEEN OF THE DESERT, THE BOY FROM OZ, SONGS FROM AN UNMADE BED, A HISTORY OF SUMMER,” THE BOOK OF MERMAN, and UNDER A RAINBOW FLAG. He served as Music Director for Underscore Theatre’s musical HAYMARKET: A NEW FOLK MUSICAL. Robert received a Jeff Award for music direction of KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN, in addition to his nominations for seven other shows. Robert is the music director and co-creator of JUDY AND LIZA: THE LONDON PALLADIUM CONCERT - A TRIBUTE and often accompanies notable cabaret performers in New York City, Palm Springs, CA and Chicago venues.
ABOUT PRIDEARTS
PrideArts tells queer stories on a variety of platforms, including both live and virtual performances. Since its founding in 2010, PrideArts has had several chapters, including operating as an itinerant theater for their first six seasons, the developer and primary tenant in the Pride Arts Center from 2016 to 2024, and its current residency in the Hoover-Leppen Theatre in Center on Halsted.
The company produces full seasons of plays and musicals, as well as events including cabaret, and more. The company has earned 50 Jeff Awards and nominations, and six nominations in the 2019 ALTA Awards from the Alliance of Latinx Theater Artists of Chicago. Programming has reflected the diversity of queer communities by including work made by and illuminating the experiences of women, gay men, transgender people, and BIPOC.
PrideArts is supported by Illinois Arts Council, a State Agency; City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE), Alphawood Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, Arts Work Fund, Driehaus Foundation, The Saints.
PrideArts is a member of Northalsted Merchants Association, League of Chicago Theaters, Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce of Illinois, Lakeview East Merchants Association.
For more information and to donate, visit www.pridearts.org or call 773-661-0770.