Jeff Hyslop
Vancouver-born Jeff Hyslop is indisputably one of Canada’s foremost performing artists. Equally masterful as a singer, dancer and actor, he has starred with unqualified success in such landmark musical productions as Cabaret, Kiss of the Spider Women, Jacques Brel , The Music Man, The Producers, and of course, the role of Mike in both the London West End and Broadway productions of A Chorus Line. To many, he is the quintessential Phantom of the Opera, a role he embraced in the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical for over 975 performances.He starred as Jeff the Mannequin in the TVO series ‘Today’s Special’ which maintained a huge popularity for over 10 years.
At age 21 Jeff was dancing and singing in Norman Jewison’s film - Jesus Christ Superstar. His numerous television appearances include series for both CTV and CBC-TV. The most memorable of these was his own Dancin’ Man Superspecial where he partnered his favourite leading lady, Karen Kain.
He has received numerous awards including, 3 Jessie Awards(Vancouver) - 2 for Best Choreography, the other for Best Director; 5 nominations for the ACTRA Award for Best Variety Performer and a Dora Mavor Moore Award in 1984 for “On Tap”.
Choreography and directing are a real love for Jeff and it shows in productions such as Peter Pan, A Chorus Line, On Tap, Guys and Dolls and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. Local productions under his direction - The Matchmaker, Nutcracker (w/Danette Bell), Anything Goes, and Stepping Out, all with the community players of Campbell River, B.C.
Continually broadening his career Jeff is in demand for his teaching expertise in the realm of Musical Theatre, encompassing adjudication, scene, song and dance workshops and an ever-growing resurgence of interest for adult tap & jazz classes.
Showcase Festival has occupied Jeff’s time over the last 5 years, and as Artistic Director he was able to bring to the stage a broad variety of entertainment – A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Dream on Royal Street, Taming of the Shrew and Kiss Me, Kate. Of course all of this could not be done without a very flexible cast and an incredibly adept crew. In 2007, Jeff devoted his time to an original new work – ‘The Life and Times of Ginger Goodwin’ – ‘Dancing In The Coal Dust’, which he is determined to bring to audiences across this great country of ours.
May, 2007