Rafe Wadleigh

Guitar • Vocals

Guitarist and vocalist Rafe Wadleigh’s background perfectly prepared him for the theatrical and musical hijinks of Joy Street: His dad founded the Pullman Summer Palace stock theatre company and was the Head of Drama at Washington State University. His mom was the company’s choreographer and ran a dance studio, so music, theater and dance was the family business.

Rafe studied classical guitar at Western Washington University and graduated with degrees in Choral Conducting and Education. He’s spent his life performing in musical theater. When Rafe performed at Tacoma Musical Playhouse in 2017, he won Outstanding Lead Performer at the national AACT competition for his portrayal of Gomez Addams in The Addams Family.

Locally, Rafe teaches musical theater and choir at Hunt Middle School, and he plays guitar in numerous rock bands with artists such as, Star Anna, Carrie Akre, Assertion, and Sevalynn.  “You may be surprised to know I also play heavy metal,” he says – “and was a ballet dancer in my youth.”

Rafe joined Joy Street in the summer of 2022 after artistic director Dean Paton telephoned and said, “Joy Street wants to add some classic Rock n’ Roll and Blues to the repertoire  and you’re our guy.” Rafe finds playing with amazing musicians and watching couples waltzing under twinkle lights beneath a Pacific Northwest moon pretty darn joyful!

Rafe’s Favorite dessert: Banana cream pie does the trick.

Something surprising about Rafe: He’s an auctioneer.

Rafe says, “What I love about playing with this group is the whimsical scene they manage to conjure at every show; a pop-up community devoted to timeless music and…joy!”