About us...

Unexpected Théâtre traces back to 2017 in Phoenix, Arizona, when three university creatives—opera singer Alyssa Lu, educator and dancer Kalyn McNicol, and perfomer/director Micah Jondel DeShazer—came together with a shared vision for a more inclusive, spirit-led artistic community. What began as written dreams soon evolved into 'Voices', a quarterly multidisciplinary series hosted at 9 The Gallery. For three years, Voices brought together spoken word, dance, music, short theatrical works, and visual artist, always ending with an open mic that invited audiences to share from the heart. These early projects shaped the company’s belief that art becomes transformative when everyone is empowered to participate.

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When the pandemic paused the program and prompted Micah’s move to Canada, the spirit of the collective travelled with him. During his leadership at TACTICS Theatre Group, he met singer-songwriter Malia Rogers, whose collaboration helped revive the original vision through the creation of a new musical, Trainwreck, which premiered at the 2024 Ottawa Fringe Festival to great enthusiasm. Later that summer, ongoing funding instability forced the difficult decision to sunset TACTICS—a hard loss and an admitted moment of failure for Micah. Yet this experience clarified the immense need within Ottawa’s arts ecosystem for consistent, sustainable opportunities for artists developing new work and audiences seeking theatrical experiences that both delight and deepen perspective.

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Determined to meet that need with intention and stability, Micah began gathering a core team for the company’s next (official) chapter. He invited leaders and artists he had collaborated with across nine different organizations and numerous independent projects throughout Canada and the U.S., selecting those whose values, craft, and vision aligned with the company’s future. In July2026, he commissioned four regional artists to bring to life a bilingual theatrical experience, slated to debut in Ottawa in November of 2027. Through all of this he began to bring in experts from outside the arts—professionals in fundraising, business operations, and organizational design—to help widen his perspective and aide in the building of sustainable producing practices from the ground up. With this foundation in place, Unexpected Théâtre was formally incorporated in October 2025 and publicly launched January 2026. The company stands as an emerging, bold, community-rooted force committed to nurturing artists, empowering audiences, and presenting theatrical work that sparks wonder, widens perspectives, and inspires meaningful action.