Stafford Arima

Born and raised in Toronto, Arima thrived in the New York theatre scene for over 20 years. In 2015, he became the first Asian Canadian to direct a musical on Broadway when Allegiance opened at the Longacre Theatre, starring George Takei and Lea Salonga. Arima was also nominated for a 2004 Olivier Award for his direction of the West End premiere of the musical, Ragtime. Some additional directing credits include productions of Altar Boyz (Off-Broadway) Carrie (MCC Theater, Off-Broadway), The Tin Pan Alley Rag (Roundabout Theatre Company), Red Velvet (The Old Globe Theatre), Poster Boy (Williamstown Theatre Festival), Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living In Paris (Stratford Festival), Abyssinia (Goodspeed Musicals), A Tribute to Sondheim (Boston Pops), and Billy Elliot: The Musical, The Secret Garden, Mary and Max – A New Musical, and A Christmas Carol (2019), and the online filmed version of A Christmas Carol (2020) (Theatre Calgary). Arima has shepherded new musical development at the New York Musical Theatre Festival, National Alliance for Musical Theatre, Toronto Fringe Festival, New York Stage and Film, and the SPF Festival. He is a graduate of York University, where he was the recipient of the Dean’s Prize for Excellence in Creative Work. He also serves as Artistic Advisor for Broadway Dreams, and is an Adjunct Professor at UC Davis.