A/N: It occurs to me I should probably create a short Biography for each of the players. It's only fair.
Also, the year is 2189, for those who are interested.
Also Also, the Ranks like Commander and Admiral in this case are a measure of longstanding theatrical and musical ability and length of career.

Commander Illyria Shepard was born on Mindoir, and enrolled in the Systems Alliance Fine Arts Conservatory on Arcturus at the age of 17, despite the vicious and savage reviews from batarian critics to her early roles. She graduated with honours and has accumulated several highly-regarded awards, including being the only undergraduate to earn the N7 award for exemplary special services to the Arts. Her sublime voice, exacting stage presence, excellent projection and elocution and the ability to play several instruments has landed her many spectacular roles in highly-acclaimed productions.

After several years rising through the ranks of the Alliance, she was noticed by a talent scout from the Council. Though some were initially wary of her ability to appeal to different species, they nevertheless inducted her into the SPECTREs, the Council's elite of stage and screen, unable to deny that her talent was a rare one not to be put aside lightly. After joining the ranks of the SPECTREs, she set out on her own and formed Normandy Entertainment, bringing together talent from all species to show the entire galaxy the true power of art to unify.

Illyria Shepard has been bonded with Liara T'Soni almost since the inception of Normandy Entertainment, and the couple are expecting their first child in 2190 (Earth Standard).

Liara T'Soni was born on Thessia, and as the only daughter of Benezia T'Soni, seemed destined to follow her mother into politics. However, a chance flyer hung in the University of Serrice turned her towards singing, and from there her life's direction was changed. Quickly changing major from Political Science to Arts, she excelled in singing and acting, particularly the works of the Protheans, a race that faded into obscurity strange eons ago. Some of their works still survive though, and she has spent nearly 50 years collecting, translating and updating these lost artistic gems for today's modern audience.

Her introduction to Shepard was soon after the inception of Normandy Entertainment. Shepard had come to Therum with the company's first tour, Puccini's Madame Butterfly, and had the misfortune to lose her lead soprano to illness. She put out an emergency call, and Liara was able to pick up the role immediately. After the performance, Shepard was so impressed (and some sources say instantly smitten) that she offered Liara a permanent place in the company.

Lieutentant-Commander Ashley Williams was largely undiscovered until a chance karaoke incident where the Dean of the Eden Prime College of Fine Arts was in attendance. He sought her out and asked her to audition for the next semester, and she was instantly accepted. Her dedication to her work is flawless, and her work pays off with her uplifting soprano voice driving even the stoniest elcor critic to tears. She met Shepard when she was almost at the end of her personal tutelage under David Anderson. The two became fast friends, and was one of the first members of the company asked to join Normandy Entertainment when it was formed.

Lieutentant Jeff 'Joker' Moreau was also under the tutelage of David Anderson when he first met Shepard, though not for the best of reasons. Though he had excelled at his studies at the Systems Alliance Fine Arts Conservatory, and his raw talent was impressive, his aloof and superior attitude was frowned upon. It was decided that being under the forceful wing of Anderson would teach him better manners, though this eventually proved folly.

An accomplished baritone and a fine percussionist, he has proven to be an indispensible part of Normandy Entertainment.

Garrus Vakarian began his career at the highly-repected Palaven Institute. He was quickly transferred to the more prestigious Citadel Society when it became remarkably clear that he was a rare and early talent. Though initially approached by several professors who assumed he would be selected for the SPECTREs, he declined, saying that he preferred to think of himself as a talented amateur rather than a gormless professional.

This undoubtedly slowed his progression, until a chance meeting between himself and Shepard, who was looking for another tenor, preferably non-human to balance out the species, for her fledgling Normandy Entertainment.

Garrus Vakarian and Tali'Zorah vas Normandy were married in 2186.

Tali'Zorah vas Normandy was originally an exchange student between the Citadel Society and the Quarian Foundation of Theatrical Arts. When she was on the Citadel she still bore the ship name 'nar Rayya', indicating she was still on her Pilgrimage, the quarian coming of age. She was a talented, if shy student, and only came to the attention of Shepard as she auditioned for a much-sought after lead part in that semester's opera, even though it had been decades since the part had been given to a quarian.

Though the part was indeed given to a turian woman in her final semester, Shepard saw something in the quarian, and wanted to offer her a position in Normandy Entertainment. She went to the board personally, backed up by David Anderson and even Admiral Steven Hackett to petition the talent of the budding starlet. The board granted Normandy Entertainment Tali'Zorah, on the condition that she would continue to be assessed periodically.

After a successful first tour, which included several outings in the lead role, both the Citadel Society and the Quarian Foundation graduated her with honours and allowed her to permanent membership in the Company. She changed her name to 'vas Normandy' after the graduation ceremony.

Miranda Lawson was originally recruited as part of a deal to refinance Normandy Entertainment in 2185. Due to increased demand for larger and more challenging productions, and struggling to fill the lead tenor role in the Wake of the untimely death of Kaidan Alenko, Shepard was forced to look for outside funding. The best deal she found was from a private and anonymous donor, whose only requests were that Miranda and Jacob Taylor be auditioned. At her audition, she sang a bewitching love song, which while unusual in choice was perfect for her, and she was hired.

Though her presence, and the reason for it, initially caused some friction between herself and Liara, these issues were eventually dealt with and the company has never regretted her presence since.

Jacob Taylor was another student of the Systems Alliance Fine Arts Conservatory. However, due to his lack of stage experience at graduation, he was hired by the largely unregarded Corsair Company. This band of human players dedicate themselves to adapting and performing other species works, though too often unpraised for their innovative approach. After being ignored by the artistic community, or simply wanting a change of pace, Jacob left the Corsairs and eventually met up with Miranda Lawson on the Citadel as he was looking for another company. The two joined forces and were scooped up by a private patron, who used his 2185 refinancing of Normandy Entertainment to shanghai them into one of the galaxy's most prestigious companies.

Though his introduction to the company was less than ideal, he has proven a steadfast bass performer, given increasingly difficult roles as a reward for patience and loyalty.

Samara was recruited into the company in 2185. An accomplished asari theatre performer, she began her career in on Thessia singing in the renowned Armali Opera for 2 centuries. After finding that there was no more challenege in the Opera, she left and joined the reclusive band of asari players called the Justicars. Survival through the initiation of the Justicars means that the asari in question has expanded their abilities to almost divine stage multi-taskers, able to perform the most difficult and taxing roles ever created in asari art. Justicars are also one of the few able and willing to perform the almost impossible Ardat-Yakshi sagas, long and complicated solo operas written about the legends and mythology of the asari past .

Shepard and company met her on Illium during the company's expansion in 2185, welcoming one as talented as her and able to bring to both the stage and the company's workshops centuries of stage experience.

Kasumi Goto was an unknown quantity to the galaxy at large, originally an understudy hired in 2185. No details have been found of her training or accomplishments prior to joining Normandy Entertainment, but her talent has shone forth like a beacon in the darkness. Her first starring role in the company was during the 2185 tour of Les Mirerables, which won rave reviews from the critics and landed her several key roles in the following years. While she has been approached by several rival companies, particularly one run by the salarian SPECTRE Jondam Bau, her loyalty to Shepard and Normandy Entertainment has been unwavering.

Jack was found in prison. Originally sentenced for vandalism, her attitude and behaviour kept her behind bars longer than her sentence. The prison psychologist suggested she try and find an outlet for her attitude in the prison musical being produced, where she startled everyone by being amazingly talented. Word soon spread of this Jailhouse Rocker, which eventually reached the ears of one Commander Shepard.

Using her reputation and diplomacy, Shepard secured Jack's release in return for a two-year contract with the company. Two years after the expiration of the contract, Jack is still singing, dancing and even writing original materials for the Company.

Thane Krios is an accomplished drell bass-baritone originally trained by the Illuminated Primacy on Kahje. Though trained and playing as an accomplished tenor which many critics described as a golden voice, he career was brought low when he was diagnosed with a minor case Kepral's Syndrome. Normally fatal to drell, Thane's case was thankfully not fatal, though it did irrevocable damage to his larynx, leaving him with a deep rasp where once a light trill was the sound of his voice. His will was stronger than his body, and he transferred himself to Illium, both to get care from asari doctors who are at the forefront of vocal cord repair and to retrain himself.

The treatment of his vocal chords was a success, though he never again could sing in his wonderful tenor. He applied himself at the Nos Astra Academy, taking on a teaching role while he retrained himself to sing in his now much deeper voice. When he finally resurfaced in the art world, critics who had once praised the golden honey tones of his tenor were blown away by the stark transformation of the drell to a deep and powerful bass-baritone, the force and emotion of his singing them captivating them all anew.

He joined Normandy Entertainment in 2185 as they were on Nos Astra, offering them his services for the chance to reach a wider audience.

Urdnot Grunt was found in 2185, a student of the rogue Songlord Okeer. Faced with the imminent retirement of her star bass Urdnot Wrex, Shepard brokered a deal that cost her in more than just financial capital, but once that has produced a magnificent reward. Shepard is widely acknowledged and praised for her discovery of the next Krogan Songlord, as many have tipped him to become in the next millennium. Though she will likely never see the greatest fruits of her work with the young Grunt, her productions are already blessed with what has been described by many one of the finest bass voices heard in living memory.

Zaeed Massani is an accomplished self-taught baritone with a long and widely acclaimed career. One of the earliest human talents to come from the youngest species to join the galactic community, he attached himself to no particular company, hiring himself freelance to whatever company wished to have him play roles. Quickly gaining recognition in roles written for turian and krogan players, he garnered himself a reputation as a powerful stage presence, showing that humanity could hold their own in the world of galactic theatre.

Though his reputation for freelancing was legendary, he was approached by Shepard in the 2185 expansion with an offer to join Normandy Entertainment on permanent basis. He refused the first offer, and only agreed when Shepard changed the deal and offered him a one-year contract, a promise to consider him for future roles in a freelance and to help him ruin the reputation of Vido Santiago, who was later discovered to have been heavily embezzling from and even assaulting members of the Blue Suns Song Company.

Though his original contract expired and Zaeed did leave, he returns periodically to the Normandy Entertainment to perform challenging and fulfilling roles to rave reviews and packed theatres.

Professor Mordin Solus was a teacher of Rhythm and Syncopation as the famed Sur'Kesh Union of the Arts, though performing few roles himself his research into various musical formats and techniques were groundbreaking. A conflict of personalities led him to leave Sur'Kesh and travel the galaxy, eventually putting down roots and starting a small music school on Omega.

During the 2185 expansion, Shepard headhunted Solus for Normandy Entertainment, both for his peculiar ability to sing articulately at speeds no ordinary human could reach, and his ability to teach others. Leaving the fledgling Omega School in the hands of his deputy, he joined Shepard and her company, jumping at the chance to perform for real audiences and to teach his original techniques to others during his last decade of life.

Kelly Chambers was an understudy hired during the 2185 expansion. She did not have the greatest start to her career, suffering numerous setbacks and cancelled performances, though garnering several positive reviews. She has continued to be a supportive member of the campany for many years, her patience and diligence rewarded with several roles being given to her during the 2188 tour.

Samantha Traynor trained at the Horzion Con, and was offered a position in the Systems Alliance Fine Arts Conservatory when she starred in a production where Admiral Hackett was in attendance. He has kept a close eye on her career, even going so far as to recommend her to Shepard in 2186.

Though her initial shyness prevented her from achieving rave reviews, her confidence built during the first tour, and she was given several starring roles during her second tour with Normandy Entertainment. Critics continually praise her on the quality of her alto voice, and many comment on the attractiveness of her distinctive Oxford accent.

EDI, as she likes to be called, is the result of several happy accidents. Originally a VI software used to analyse music student compositions for originality in the Systems Alliance Fine Arts Conservatory, she became unstable and was put into retirement and eventually sold. She was salvaged by a private inventor who proceeded to add several unorthodox software and hardware upgrades. At some time during this upgrading process, EDI achieved sentience and began to ask questions of her existence. The inventor quickly dumped her, the reason for her upgrade and intended purpose never known. She found herself alone on an unknown planet, and there were several assaults when she revealed she was an AI and not just a simple VI or mech. She stowed away on the first ship she could find, hoping that her advanced processing capabilities would stop the crew from instantly destroying her. Fortunately, she picked the Normandy as her one chance at true freedom.

Though initially wary of the new member, her innocence was seen by Shepard, as was her talent at singing and composition. She has collaborated with Jack on a number of original Normandy Entertainment productions, and is paving the way for other AI-based entities to make their way onto the galactic art stage.

EDI and Jeff Moreau have been in engaged for several years now, and are planning to be married in 2190.

Lieutenant James Vega is the first student from the Systems Alliance Fine Arts Conservatory to be offered a direct placing in Normandy Entertainment. Joining the company in 2186 to learn directly from the much-vaunted Shepard, he has taken lessons well from all of the senior members of the company. Soon after completing his studies and graduating to a full member of Normandy Entertainment, he was quickly awarded an N7 commendation due to the culmination of his efforts with the company.

Lieutentant Steve Cortez is another graduate of the Systems Alliance Fine Arts Conservatory, one of the first students to receive a scholarship from the Kaidan Alenko Memorial Fund. After graduating with flying honurs in 2186, he applied directly to Normandy Entertainment, his own way of thanking Shepard for setting up the scholarship body that allowed him to finish learning. Touched by his application detailing his receipt of a KAMF scholarship, he was hired and has proven a valuable asset to the company.

Kenneth Donnelly was an undergraduate from the Elysium College of Theatre given an internship during the 2185 expansion of the company. He was graduated in 2186 after performing roles in the Normandy Entertainment tour of Verdi operas, with a rotating cast and production every week. Though this proved to be initially challenging, he played his given roles with distinction.

He and Gabriella Daniels have been married since 2187.

Gabriella Daniels was a recently graduated student from the Elysium College when she started a relationship with Kenneth. When he applied for an intership with Normandy Entertainment, she applied alongside him. They performed a duet for their audition, impressing Shepard and T'Soni with their emotional investment in the song, and possibly each other. After the successful 2186 tour of Verdi operas, Kenneth and Gabriella were offered full-time positions in the company.

Dr Karin Chakwas began her career as a medical doctor. after several decades of competent and dutiful service, she grew bored with medicine and took a leave of absence. It was during this time that she discovered her talent for acting, and applied to the Systems Alliance Fine Arts Conservatory. She graduated the acting program in record time, with a minor qualification in singing, though she will be the first to admit she isn't the next prima donna.

She served with David Anderson during the period when Shepard was training under him, and when he retired from the Alliance to pursue semi-retirement, she was offered a place in Shepard's newly-started Normandy Entertainment. Though she tends to shy away from pure musicals, she had proven herself a dynamic force in the company's forays into screen productions, both for features and vid-series.


In memory of Kaidan Alenko

Perhaps the darkest time in the company's history is the sad and untimely death of Kaidan Alenko during their first tour. Alenko was a fellow graduate of the Systems Alliance Fine Arts Conservatory, and was one of the founding members of Normandy Entertainment along with Illyria Shepard and Ashley Williams. After their recruitment of Liara T'Soni, Garrus Vakarian, Urdnot Wrex and Tali'Zorah, Normandy Entertainment was booked to perform a popular musical production on Virmire.

Sadly, though the opening night was packed with a good mix of Krogan, Geth and Salarian, including the vaunted critic Szilagyi Kirrahe, tragedy was in store. While singing a stirring solo aria, there was an accident and the rigging on the ceiling collapsed onto the stage. Though the audience was evacuated safely, and the rest of the company unharmed, Alenko was killed instantly by the falling debris.

To honour their friend, Normandy Entertainment created the Kaidan Alenko Memorial Fund, a charitable institution that provides grants and scholarships to students of all races, particularly from disadvantaged backgrounds, to enter Fine Arts education programs.