Hello!
My name is Ryan Leenheer. I was born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta. Since late 2019, I've been pursuing a career in theatre. In September of 2025, I expect to graduate from Rosebud School of the Arts with an F.R.S.A. (Fellow of Rosebud School of the Arts) in the Theatre Arts Programme.
​
From there, we'll see where my life goes. I trust God has brough me here, and will continue to walk with me on this journey.
My Story
I'll never forget the week in High School that birthed my interest in theatre. In my Grade 12 English class, we were reading through Shakespeare's play Othello. We were assigned a role the class before, went home to look over the next scene or two, and then returned to class to read the scenes aloud. My teacher, Suzanne Knol, who was coincidentally the Drama instructor, noticed that I had a talent in what we were doing, and started giving me the role of Iago over and over again. I read more than anyone else in the class by the end of the unit.
​
At one point, Iago tries to get his friends drunk at a bar, and he sings two songs to get them drinking. Mrs. Knol pulled me aside, warning me about the coming songs. She told me I didn't have to sing if I wasn't comfortable. I initially declined, but overnight decided to try. What was the worst that could happen? When I returned the next day, I performed the songs to a small tune I created, and received an enthusiastic round of applause. After class again, Mrs. Knol pulled me aside to talk. She asked why I hadn't joined the school play that year. I told her it was largely a scheduling conflict, and that I was nervous about performing. I'll never forget her response. "Ryan, it's too late to cast you now, but if someone drops out of the play, I'm not holding auditions. I'm putting you in."
​
That hugely encouraging statement caused me to try and minor in Drama at The King's University in Edmonton, while working towards a Psychology degree. While there, I was pushed to join a school production of Norm Foster's Opening Night, in the role of Tom Delaney. That was my first ever performance for an audience, and I was instantly hooked.
Ultimately, King's didn't provide what I was searching looking for in post-secondary education. I spoke with my Drama teacher, who pointed me towards Rosebud School of the Arts, and within a month I'd switched from King's to Rosebud. Four years later, the student era of my life is drawing to a close, and I look forward to seeing where life goes from here.
An Artist's Statement is meant to be a sort of manifesto for an artist, describing the art they want to make, why it's significant, why what they do matters to them.
​
The short form of mine is that I want to produce stories that give hope. If they end happily, wonderful. If they end with tragedy, there must be reason to believe that the characters will change, or will improve.​ There's enough fear, hurt, and hopelessness in our world already. I don't need to add more to it.
​
For my favourite example, see the ending of Hadestown. See Orpheus fail to rescue Eurydice. See everything fall apart, and see Orpheus' whole objective fail permanently, irrecoverably. And then see Hades and Persephone make up. See the residents of Hadestown stand up for themselves. See Hermes stand up and tell the sad song again, "as if it might turn out this time." It's a tragic ending, but deeply hope filled.