Meet The Staff - Emma Ferrante

Today we are thrilled to be introducing you to Emma Ferrante (she/her), one of our fabulous Box Office Attendants! Emma joined the team at GCTC in October 2021, and has been a fantastic addition to the Box Office team.

Emma is a theatre artist and emerging director, who attended a Music Theatre performance program. After working in Toronto for several years, Emma moved to France to study under the clown master Philippe Gaulier. Moving back to her hometown of Ottawa, she wanted to work in a place that aligned with her values of inclusion and that elevated new work. She found those qualities at GCTC and was pleased to reconnect with familiar faces; "There is a feeling of community here."

Now, day-to-day for Emma looks like helping patrons with purchasing tickets and helping subscribers navigate the season.

"Almost every interaction is different," she says, "not just because I'm new to the job, but because of the pandemic; things are constantly evolving."

Emma also acts as Show Captain during show runs. This involves taking care of the audience experience, helping with front of house operations, supporting the volunteer ushers and communicating with stage management.

Additionally, Emma is working towards her BAH in Drama and is working alongside Seth Gerry (Production Manager), Kyle Ahluwalia (Technical Director), and Celina Hawkins (Company Manager) to gain internship hours. "Today in the shop I was carving styrofoam into rubble for the Blissful State of Surrender set," Emma says. Never a dull moment!

[Image description: A photo of Emma in Venice, Italy. She is wearing a green dress with beige florals, sunglasses, and a brown bag. One arm is at her side and the other is reaching up to hold the back of her neck. She is smiling widely at the camera.]

Outside of work, Emma spends her time with her Beagle, Keeva, who she helped rehome during the pandemic. Pre-pandemic you could find her planning a road trip or travelling to another location most weeks. With past performances as far as Dubai, summer's spent in her father's Italian village, clown school in France and being an avid globetrotter, as soon as it feels safe, she will be jet setting again.

When asked what she loves most about GCTC, Emma says: "I like how friendly it is and how, even though I'm new to the GCTC, my manager has recognized my prior experience and treated me with warmth and compassion. The staff welcomed me with open arms, and everyone who walks through the door has been kind to me. It's nice to find a place to land during a difficult time in the world. A soft place to land is how I would describe it."

Emma is back in O-town, and excited to see where this ride takes her.

You can catch Emma in the Box Office and around the theatre during “Heartlines” March 22-April 3, 2022. Get your tickets here.