Monster.....................................................................................................................Elsa & Company
the cast
(in alphabetical order)
Ruth Acheampong (Head Handmaiden/Ensemble)
Drayton Entertainment: Dear Evan Hansen. Other theatre: The 90s: It’s All Coming Back to Me Now (Mayfield Dinner Theatre); Violet Beauregarde in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Young People’s Theatre); Miss Stacy in Anne of Green Gables (Tweed & Co.); Shirelle/ Uptown Singer in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Segal Centre/ RMTC). Film/TV: The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu/MGM Television). Ruth holds a Master of Music in Voice and Opera and a Graduate Diploma in Voice Performance from McGill University. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Music from the University of Guelph. Thank you to my family and the TH team for their support! www.ruthacheampong.com.
AJ Bridel (Anna)
Drayton Entertainment (selected): Buttons in Cinderella: The Panto, Sandy in Grease, Lauren in Kinky Boots, Sophie in Mamma Mia!, Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz. Other theatre (selected): Claire Chris in Chris, Mrs. (Elgin Winter Garden Theatre); Sherrie Christian in Rock of Ages (More Ent.); Anne Shirley in Anne of Green Gables (Charlottetown Festival); leading roles in several Ross Petty Pantos; Lauren in Kinky Boots (Mirvish). Film/TV: Odd Squad (TVO Kids); Murdoch Mysteries (CBC); Private Eyes (Global); Voice of Pipp Petals in My Little Pony (Netflix). AJ has also recently released original music as Amanda Jean, found on all music streaming platforms! @ajbridel.
Darren Burkett (Sven/Ensemble)
Drayton Entertainment: The Baker in Joseph…, Evita, Monsieur D’Arque in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Willie in Ghost: The Musical, Chino in West Side Story. Other theatre: Joe in 9 to 5 (TIP); The Pirates of Penzance, Sven in Frozen (Neptune Theatre); Bert in Mary Poppins (RCMT); Kinky Boots, Hairspray, White Christmas (Arts Club); Peter’s Final Flight, The Wizard of Oz (Ross Petty); Mamma Mia! (Stage West); Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story (Globe Theatre/CTF); Matilda (National Tour); Angelina Ballerina (International Tour). Awards: Outstanding Performance Jessie Richardson Award. Other: Many thanks to Hunter, TH and as always, his family!
Kyle Brown (Bishop/Pabbie/Ensemble)
Drayton Entertainment: Debut. Other theatre: Bob & Others in Come From Away (Junkyard Dogs with Mirvish/NAC/Newtheatricals Australia); Grow (Segal Centre); Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar, Herakles/Pluto in The Frogs, The Sermon (Talk Is Free Theatre); Robin Hood: A Very Merry Family Musical (Canadian Stage); Tyson in Tyson’s Song (Dora Nomination | Pleiades Theatre); Rob in Stag & Doe (Thousand Islands Playhouse); Jimmy Early in Dreamgirls (The Lower Ossington Theatre) TV/Film: Echoes (Chaos & Light). An ocean of thanks to all family, friends and colleagues for the constant support and encouragement. Instagram: @thekyleofkyles.
Amanda De Freitas (Bulda/Ensemble)
Drayton Entertainment: Debut. Other theatre: Hairspray (Broadway); The Tempest, West Side Story, Chicago, Frankenstein Revived (Stratford); The Lion King (Mirvish); Hairspray (Mirvish); Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Soul of Motown (Stage West); Obeah Opera (South African Tour). Film/TV: Mirror, Mirror (starring Julia Roberts), The L.A. Complex. Instagram: @Miuzia. Facebook: @AmandaMeliaDeFreitas. Amanda dedicates her debut season to her loving and supportive friends and family.
Tim Funnell (Weselton/King/Ensemble)
Drayton Entertainment: Anything Goes, One For the Pot, Ghost the Musical. Other theatre: Billy Elliot, Mamma Mia (Neptune Theatre); Chicago (Globe Theatre); Colours In The Storm (Grand Theatre); The Nether (Theatre Aquarius); Grey Gardens, Reframed (Musical Stages); My Night With Reg (studio 180/Mirvish); UK theatre: Billy Elliot, Tonight’s The Night, An Inspector Calls (West End); The PowerBook (Royal National Theatre); She Stoops To Conquer (Royal National Theatre/Out of Joint). Workshops: Paradise Square, Beyond the Musical. Thank you for supporting the Arts!
Eddie Glen (Oaken/Ensemble)
Drayton Entertainment (selected): Snow White and The Seven Tenors: A Panto, Finding Neverland, Kiss Me, Kate, It Runs in the Family, The 39 Steps, Spamalot, Les Misérables, Man of La Mancha, Little Me. Other theatre (selected): Spamalot, Music Man, Moby Dick (Stratford Festival); The Rocky Horror Show (CanStage, Dora Nomination). West End Theatre (selected): Miss Saigon (Theatre Royal Drury Lane); Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (London Palladium). Eddie has also starred in over 25 Ross Petty Productions at The Elgin Theatre. Film/TV (selected): The Testaments, Odd Squad, Murdoch Mysteries, The Firm. Eddie lends his voice to numerous animated series and has been “The Voice” of YTV for the last 28 years. Thank you to friends and family and T.H. for all the support. Thank you for supporting live theatre.
Seth Johnson (Kristoff/Ensemble)
Drayton Entertainment: Kenickie in Grease. Other theatre: Tommy Devito in Jersey Boys (Norwegian Bliss NCL); Ensemble in Flashback Fever (Mayfield); Johnny Casino/Danny-Kenickie US in Grease (Mayfield); Frankie Valli Alternate in Jersey Boys (YES Theatre); Sparky in Forever Plaid! (Stage West); Eddie in Mamma Mia (Stage West); Sky in Mamma Mia (Flin Flon); Eddie in Mamma Mia (Globe Theatre); Kenickie in Grease (Winter Garden Theatre); Ben in The Birds and The Bees (Victoria Playhouse Petrolia). Film/TV: Ginny & Georgia (Netflix). Seth hails from Grand Bay-Westfield NB, and is a proud graduate of the 2017 Bachelor of Musical Theatre Performance Program at Sheridan College. Thank you to my friends and family for all your love and support. @sethjohnsonn.
Ryan Maschke (Ensemble)
Drayton Entertainment: Priscilla: Queen Of The Desert (‘24). Other theatre: Footloose, The Full Monty, Grease, Rock Of Ages (Mayfield Dinner Theatre); The Wizard Of Oz (Alberta Theatre Projects); Bring It On: The Musical (The Globe); Elf: The Musical (Magnus Theatre); Jesus Christ Superstar (Thousand Islands Playhouse); Cinderella (Gateway Theatre); Kinky Boots (Arts Club Theatre); Hair (BrownCow Collective); The Louder We Get, Billy Elliot: The Musical (Theatre Calgary). (He/They/ Her) Ryan is an Alberta born and raised, Prairie Fairy and recent Toronto transplant and couldn’t be happier to return to Drayton Entertainment for their 2nd season! Sending love and light to their family, the coven, and a special thanks to Jessica and Sarah over at 10 Talent Management.
Naomi McIntyre (Young Elsa/Ensemble)
Drayton Entertainment: Debut. Other theatre: Young Elsa for Disney’s Frozen: The Broadway Musical (Theatre Aquarius); Michael for Elf: The Musical (Linus Hand Productions). Film/TV: Voiceover and vocals for Sandy on Thomas & Friends (Supersonic Studio). Naomi would like to thank Tenja Hagenberg (Performance on Point) for her coaching and mentorship, and to Drayton Entertainment for the opportunity to reprise this magical role. And, also thank you to my family for all their love, support and countless car rides! www.naomi-mcintyre.com.
Powell Nobert (Olaf/Ensemble)
Drayton Entertainment: Dear Evan Hansen, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, Peter Pan: The Panto. Other theatre: The Wizard of Oz (Neptune Theatre); Mary Poppins (Thousand Islands); Oliver (Gateway Theatre); Men Express Their Feelings (25th Street Theatre); The Wild Rovers, Let’s Dance Workshop (Terra Bruce Productions); Ride the Cyclone, Mamma Mia! (Tweed and Company); Cats, Theory of Relativity, The Rocky Horror Picture Show (St. Lawrence College). Powell is a graduate of St. Lawrence College and wants to thank his family, closest friends, colleagues, and professors for guiding him on his artistic journey. Instagram: @powellpuffgurls.
Melanie Paiement (Elsa)
Drayton Entertainment: Canada 151. Other theatre: Elsa in Frozen (Disneyland Paris); April in Company (Generation Opera Paris); Lead in L’Opera Saint Tropez (Famose Prod); Elle Woods in Legally Blonde (Theatre Lilles); Marie in Les Zinspirés (Theatre Français De Toronto); Starbright Christmas, Fiddler On The Loose, Summer Of 69, Little Miss County Fair (VPP); Kathy in The Last Five Years (BIBT). Melanie is a proud graduate of Sheridan University. Merci à ma famille and all my friends, happy to be back on the Canadian stage! Linktr.ee/melpaiement.
Sayer Roberts (Hans/Ensemble)
Drayton Entertainment: Kinky Boots, Red Rock Diner. Other theatre: The Music Man, The Rocky Horror Show, Guys and Dolls, HMS Pinafore (Stratford Festival); Fiddler Afn Dakh (Harold Green); Kinky Boots, Les Misérables, Red Rock Diner (Vancouver Arts Club); West Side Story (CTORA); Grease (WCT); A Gentleman’s Guide..., Beautiful (Stage West Calgary). Film/TV: Murdoch Mysteries, Reign. When not on stage, Sayer is a composer for tv and film, video games, podcasts, and has albums on various music streaming platforms.
Shane Simpson (Ensemble)
Drayton Entertainment: Shrek The Musical. Other theatre: Disney’s The Lion King (Mirvish); Hairspray. Film/TV: Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies (Paramount+); Schmigadoon (AppleTV+); Zombies & Descendants (Disney); Hairspray (New Line Cinema). Finalist on So You Think you Can Dance Canada (Season 4). Trained at Shenandoah Conservatory (BFA Dance) and Cardinal Carter Academy for the Arts. Shane is thrilled to return to theatre after several years! Grateful for the Love and Support! @shaneloctv
Addison Wagman (Young Anna/Ensemble)
Drayton Entertainment: Joseph and the Amazing... Other theatre: Young Anna in Frozen (Theatre Aquarius); Katy/Alice in The Welkin (Soulpepper); Tessie in Annie (Stratford Festival); Randy in A Christmas Story (Theatre Aquarius); Little Cee Cee in Beaches - world premiere (Theatre Calgary); Samantha in Chris, Mrs. (Winter Garden); Gretl in Sound of Music (Brott Festival). Voice Over: Peanuts, Wild Kratts, Vida the Vet, AOGG and more. Thank you to Mommy, Daddy, Meme, Jiji, Cha Cha and my family and friends for their constant support. Special thank you to my amazing agent Shari! Instagram: @addisonwagman
Christine Watson (Handmaiden/Ensemble)*
Drayton Entertainment: Choreographer: The Full Monty, Grease, Jesus Christ Superstar, Jersey Boys, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat; Assistant Choreographer: Shrek The Musical, A Christmas Carol, Peter Pan, and Jack and the Beanstalk: The Panto, Kinky Boots, Priscilla Queen of the Desert. Performer (selected): Finding Neverland, Shrek The Musical, Rock of Ages, Mamma Mia!, Grease, West Side Story, Disney’s The Little Mermaid, All Shook Up, Anne of Green Gables, Footloose, 9 To 5: The Musical. Other theatre: Choreographer/ Assistant Director for Jersey Boys, Associate Choreographer for Rock of Ages (Mayfield); Mamma Mia! (Tweed). Head Choreographer for Pop Nation Canada. Performer: Rock of Ages (Mayfield/Fallsview); Spamalot (Aquarius); Dance Legends (Grand); A Chorus Line (Rose). Special thanks to everyone at Drayton, 10 Talent, my loving husband, and my wonderful family.
*Dance Captain
Léah Zack (Queen Iduna/Ensemble)
Drayton Entertainment: Evita, Merry & Bright, Fiddler on the Roof (2023 & 2024). Other theatre: Elf (Chemainus Theatre Festival); Mary Poppins (Theatre Sheridan); Dark Day Cabaret (Icarus Theatre). Léah, pronounced like the princess from Star Wars, is a multi-disciplinary artist who was born in Montréal and raised on Vancouver Island. She graduated with an Honours Bachelor of Musical Theatre from Sheridan College. Léah is infinitely grateful for the unwavering support of her family and friends, her partner, and the wonderful team at AMI. Instagram: @leah_zack.
The creative team
Jeremy Webb (Director)
Drayton Entertainment: Debut. Jeremy is the twelfth Artistic Director in Neptune Theatre’s history. For Neptune Theatre: Rent, Come From Away, Mad Madge, Mamma Mia, How The Other Half Loves (co-pro with Thousand Islands Playhouse), The Little Shop of Horrors, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Disney’s Frozen, Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead (also transferred to MIRVISH Productions), Murder For Two (Festival Antigonish/Neptune co-pro; also at Thousand Islands Playhouse), The Play That Goes Wrong, Elf: The Musical, Alice, Fully Committed, Woman In Black, The Rocky Horror Show, Peter Pan, Mamma Mia!, Shakespeare In Love, Cinderella, Noises Off, Little Thing Big Thing, Calendar Girls, and Billy Elliot The Musical. On stage appearances include Gandalf in The Hobbit, Dr. Watson in The Hound of The Baskervilles (Festival Antigonish); Cogsworth in Neptune Theatre’s Beauty and The Beast (twice), Great Expectations (Neptune Theatre); Broadway on Argyle St. (WillPower/ OTL); I’ll Be Back Before Midnight (Valley Summer Theatre); Macbeth in Macbeth (WillPower Theatre); Max Bialystock in The Producers (Rainbow Stage); Rexy (Neptune); Under Milk Wood (touring 2013-15); Beowulf in Beowulf (Two Planks & A Passion); The Comedy of Errors, The Wizard of Oz and Friar Lawrence in Romeo & Juliet (Neptune Theatre); Iago in Othello (Shakespeare By The Sea); Beauty & The Beast (Niagara Falls). In 2022, he was awarded the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal for service to the arts. Up next: Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors and Les Misérables. If you ask him, he’ll tell you he is most proud of two ‘productions’ Dylan (11 years) and Samuel (13 years.) For more go to: offtheleashhfx.com.
Robin Calvert (Choreographer)
Drayton Entertainment: Bitter Girl, The Little Mermaid, Rock of Ages, The Drowsy Chaperone, Beauty and The Beast. Other theatre: Tell Tale Harbour (Mirvish Productions); Tell Tale Harbour, Anne of Green Gables The Musical, I’m Every Woman (Confederation Centre of the Arts); CinderellaThe Ross Petty Panto (Elgin Theatre); HMS Pinafore (Asst. Choreographer - Stratford Festival); Frozen, Christmas Story, Hairspray, Freaky Friday, Sound Of Music, Legally Blonde (Theatre Aquarius); The Full Monty, Rock of Ages, Mamma Mia (Mayfield). Robin is a proud graduate of TMU. Many thanks to Talent House and much love always to Mom, Gabe and Kitty.
Paul De Gurse (Music Director)
Drayton Entertainment: Sister Act (2016, 2026), Beauty and the Beast (rehearsal MD). Other theatre: Frozen, Billy Elliot, Mamma Mia, Beauty and the Beast (Neptune Theatre); On Native Land (Urban Ink); Afterlight, End of the Line (world premieres, Winnipeg). Paul is proud to be based in Winnipeg Manitoba, where he plays in bands and writes songs and works on theatre shows. Thanks to Drayton for having me back. This show and all future shows are for Tom.
Brian Dudkiewicz (Set Designer)*
Drayton Entertainment: Priscilla, Dear Jack, Dear Louise, The Marvelous Wonderettes, Kinky Boots, The Sound of Music, Billy Bishop Goes to War, Disney’s Newsies, Rocky: The Musical. Other theatre: Othello (Stratford Festival); A Strange Loop (Soulpepper/Crows/MSC/TOLive); Dixon Road (MSC); Controlled Damage, Titanic (The Grand); Frozen, King James, Never Not Once (Theatre Aquarius); Jukebox Hero (Mirvish/Jubilee); Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill (Theatre Calgary); A Streetcar Named Desire (Citadel); Clue, Prayer for the French Republic, Indecent, Bad Jews, April Fools (Segal Centre); Frozen, Billy Elliot, The Last Five Years (Neptune); Dozens of shows Off-Broadway and around the U.S.A. Brian is an awardwinning designer whose work has been seen across Canada, the United States, and in Asia. Brian holds an M.F.A. in Set Design from Yale.
Helena Marriott (Costume Designer)
Drayton Entertainment: Debut. Other theatre: Frozen, Rocky Horror Show, Cinderella, Kamp, Alice in Wonderland, The Full Monty, Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo. Film/TV: Blackfly. 30+ years as Head of Wardrobe, Neptune Theatre. Certificate in Costume Studies –Dalhousie University. Merritt Award, Costume Design for Cinderella.
Steve Lucas (Lighting Designer)
Drayton Entertainment (selected): How The Other Half Loves, I’ll Be Back Before Midnight, The Melville Boys, Peter Pan: The Panto. Steve has designed award-winning sets, lighting, and projections for more than 500 productions of theatre, opera, dance, and performance art. His work has been seen across Canada, the United States, UK, Europe, Scandinavia, Russia, Australia, and Asia. Steve’s focus has primarily been on new and original plays; he has designed the world premieres of literally hundreds of shows. He has received five Dora Awards for his set and lighting designs and has been nominated for several of Canada’s most prestigious awards, including 36 Dora Award nominations. Thank you to assistants Emerson Kafarowski and Arantza Luna. For more info, visit stevelucasdesign.ca.
Corwin Ferguson (Projection Designer)*
Drayton Entertainment: Debut. Other theatre: Sweat, Steel City Gangster, Elf (Theatre Aquarius); Life of Pi (Citadel/Royal MTC); Forgiveness, Macbeth, Salesman in China, Rent, Spamalot, Wrinkle in Time (Stratford); Brigadoon (Shaw Festival); Heist (Citadel/Grand); Homes: A refugee Story (Grand); Evil Dead the Musical, Ghost the Musical (Starvox); Into the Woods Jr., Newsies, Nobody’s Children, Hansel and Gretel, Robin Hood (Yellow Door Theatre Project); Mary Poppins, Driving Miss Daisy, Miracle on 34th St. (Saint John Theatre Company); Rinaldo (Pacific Opera Victoria); Hamlet, Julius Caesar, Richard III (The Shakespeare Company) Playing With Fire: The Theo Fleury Story (Alberta Theatre Projects). Graduate of Studio 58 Acting program, Bachelor of Performing Arts from Capilano University, member of Associated Designers of Canada. www. corwinferguson.com
Allan McMillan (Sound Designer)
Drayton Entertainment (selected): Return to Grace, Misery, Snow White and the Seven Tenors: The Panto, Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, Finding Neverland, Dear Evan Hansen, Cinderella: The Panto, Jesus Christ Superstar, The Full Monty, Crazy For You, White Christmas, Fiddler on the Roof, Evita, Jersey Boys, Kinky Boots, Man of La Mancha, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, Rock of Ages. Allan is a graduate of the Technical Production Program at Sheridan College, and over his 35+ years of experience, has held many positions in production, from Technical Direction, Lighting Design, Carpentry and Production Management.
Christine Watson (Associate Choreographer)
Drayton Entertainment: Choreographer: The Full Monty, Grease, Jesus Christ Superstar, Jersey Boys, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat; Assistant Choreographer: Shrek The Musical, A Christmas Carol, Peter Pan, and Jack and the Beanstalk: The Panto, Kinky Boots, Priscilla Queen of the Desert. Performer (selected): Finding Neverland, Shrek The Musical, Rock of Ages, Mamma Mia!, Grease, West Side Story, Disney’s The Little Mermaid, All Shook Up, Anne of Green Gables, Footloose, 9 To 5: The Musical. Other theatre: Choreographer/ Assistant Director for Jersey Boys, Associate Choreographer for Rock of Ages (Mayfield); Mamma Mia! (Tweed). Head Choreographer for Pop Nation Canada. Performer: Rock of Ages (Mayfield/Fallsview); Spamalot (Aquarius); Dance Legends (Grand); A Chorus Line (Rose). Special thanks to everyone at Drayton, 10 Talent, my loving husband, and my wonderful family.
*Indicated designers on this production are represented by the Associated Designers of Canada, IATSE Local ADC659.
Dayna Tietzen (Puppet Director)
Drayton Entertainment: Camelot, Oliver! Other theatre: Puppeteer in War Horse (Toronto/U.S. National Tour/Japan); Cirque du Soleil’s TORUK: The First Flight (World Tour); She Holds Up the Stars (Red Sky/ TSO); Sven in Frozen (Aquarius). Puppetry Director/Specialist: Life of Pi (Citadel/RMTC); Frozen (Neptune/Aquarius); Beauty and the Beast, Frozen, The Little Mermaid, Tangled, The Golden Mickeys, Disney Dreams (Disney Cruise Line). Favourite other credits include: Cassie in A Chorus Line (Stratford Festival/Riverside Theatre/Arvada Centre); Morticia in The Addams Family (Neptune); and Columbia in The Rocky Horror Show (Aquarius). dtietzen.wixsite.com/mysite.
Laurel Oneil (Stage Manager)
Drayton Entertainment: The Sound of Soul, Jesus Christ Superstar, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Fiddler on the Roof, A Few Good Men, Buying the Farm, Annie, Fiddler on the Loose. Other theatre: (Select Credits) Escape to Margaritaville, Come From Away (Theatre Calgary); Beauty & the Beast, Jesus Christ Superstar, Wizard of Oz, Sound of Music (Western Canada Theatre); 60+ productions at Stage West, including: Jersey Boys, Legally Blonde, Rock of Ages, & Avenue Q Laurel would like to dedicate her work to the loving memory of her mom, who helped her find her love of theatre at young age. She would also like to thank Roman, her family, & friends for their unending love & support.
Stephanie Bignell (Assistant Stage Manager)
Drayton Entertainment: Grease, Jersey Boys, Rock of Ages, Fiddler on the Roof, Evita, Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, Good Ol’ Country Gospel, Fiddler on the Loose, Annie, Rocky: The Musical, Holiday Inn, Sexy Laundry. Other theatre: Guys & Dolls, Annie (Stratford Festival); Hairspray (Theatre Aquarius). A heartfelt thank you to my family and friends for their unwavering support, and to my fiancé Ryan for his unconditional love and his shoulder that’s always there to lean on.
Sadie Wannamaker (Assistant Stage Manager)
Drayton Entertainment: 42nd Street, Shrek The Musical, A Christmas
Carol: The Panto, Kiss Me, Kate, The Prom, A Few Good Men, Rocky: The Musical, The Drowsy Chaperone, Footloose, The Men’s Foursome, Little Shop of Horrors, Les Misérables, White Christmas, Mary Poppins, Sleuth, Tap Dogs, Shear Madness, The Pirates of Penzance, A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline. Other theatre: Mix Tapes From My Mom (RMTC Tour); Tales of An Urban Indian (TIFT); The Secret to Good Tea (RMTC); Assassinating Thomson (Blyth Festival); British Invasion (Stage West); Sword and the Stone (Theatre Orangeville); The Neverending Story (Roseneath). Sadie is glad to be in her 27th season with Drayton Entertainment. She would like to pass on love to her family for all their support.
Max Craven (Apprentice Stage Manager)
Drayton Entertainment: Debut. Max Craven is thrilled to be joining Drayton Entertainment! He is excited to begin his first Stage Management Apprenticeship with Frozen. Max began his theatre career as a performer before transitioning into stage management. Following his training at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, he spent two years performing on the U.S. national tour of CATS. Max looks forward to bringing his performer’s perspective to the stage management team.
the band
Paul De Gurse (Music Director/Keys)
Drayton Entertainment: Sister Act (2016, 2026), Beauty and the Beast (rehearsal MD). Other theatre: Frozen, Billy Elliot, Mamma Mia, Beauty and the Beast (Neptune Theatre); On Native Land (Urban Ink); Afterlight, End of the Line (world premieres, Winnipeg). Paul is proud to be based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, where he plays in bands and writes songs and works on theatre shows. Thanks to Drayton for having me back. This show and all future shows are for Tom.
Brian Barber (Keys II)
Drayton Entertainment: Jesus Christ Superstar, Fiddler on the Loose, Sister Act. Drayton Entertainment Youth Academy (Music Director): Dare to Dream, Rising Stars. Brian Barber is a freelance musician based in Waterloo. With over twenty years of performing experience, Brian has a highly diverse musical background. He holds a Masters in classical piano and spent two years entertaining from the piano bar on Australia-based cruise ships. In 2023 he performed with Mark Payne and the Windsor Symphony and has been involved with several musicals at the Victoria Playhouse Petrolia. Brian is thrilled to be part of this production.
Paul Mitchell (Trumpet)
Drayton Entertainment: 42nd Street, Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, Crazy For You, Jersey Boys, Fiddler On the Roof, Evita, Holiday Inn, Elf The Musical, The Drowsy Chaperone, Little Mermaid, and Anything Goes. Other theatre: Disney’s Frozen (Theatre Aquarius). Many venues across the northern US, Ontario, and western Canada, including tribute shows: Memories of The Rat Pack, Sound of Soul, Bee Gees and Abbamania, Elton John meets Billy Joel, Blues Brothers, Steely Dan. Film/TV: Hemingway vs. Callaghan (PCBC/Shaftsbury). Paul is featured regularly at the Jazz Room in Uptown Waterloo, and performs with many of the top R&B and jobbing bands in the GTA. He considers himself fortunate to play with many of Canada’s top musicians.
Richard Moore (Drums)
Drayton Entertainment (selected): 42nd Street, Jesus Christ Superstar, Crazy For You, Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, Priscilla Queen of the Desert the Musical, Kinky Boots, Holiday Inn, Beauty and the Beast, Mamma Mia! Other theatre (selected): Wicked, Aladdin, Mean Girls, Ain’t Too Proud (Mirvish Productions, 2023/24). Richard’s musical background includes years of experience performing in musicals, symphony orchestras, jazz ensembles, and pop/rock bands. He serves on faculty at both York University and the Oscar Peterson School of Music at the Royal Conservatory in Toronto. Richard is a proud member of the American Federation of Musicians Local 226.
Paul Pacanowski (Soprano Sax/Clarinet)
Drayton Entertainment: Shrek The Musical, Crazy For You, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, Fiddler on the Roof, Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Les Misérables, Big Band Legends, Annie, Blood Brothers, How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Evita, Camelot, Oliver!, Fiddler on the Roof, Chicago. Other theatre: Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, Oklahoma! (Theatre Aquarius); The Wild Party (Canadian Stage); Chicago (Mirvish Productions). As both a classical and jazz musician, Paul has appeared with symphonies and chamber music ensembles. His jazz groups have performed his own compositions in a number of music festivals in Canada and abroad. Many of his compositions can be found on YouTube. Paul is happy to be spending another season with Drayton Entertainment. www.paulpacanowski.ca
Junior Riggan (Bass)
Drayton Entertainment: The Full Monty, Dear Evan Hansen, Sound of Soul, Jesus Christ Superstar, A Christmas Carol: The Panto, Jersey Boys, Rock of Ages, Footloose, Peter Pan: The Panto, Wizard of Oz: The Panto, The Crooner (2022), Jack and the Beanstalk: The Panto, Rocky: The Musical, Hairspray, Rock of Ages, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Cinderella, Footloose, Little Shop of Horrors, Aladdin, Anne of Green Gables, A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline. Drayton Entertainment Youth Academy: Mean Girls, Legally Blonde – the Musical. Other theatre: Jesus Christ Superstar (Theatre Sheridan); Mamma Mia!, Finding Black Joy (The Grand Theatre London); Yorkville: The Musical (Blyth); Now and Forever, a diva spectacular …, 9 to 5: The Musical (St. Lawrence College); The River Rolls (New Hamburg); … Patsy Cline (Leisa Way Productions). Junior thanks the Drayton family for the opportunity.
The Musicians and Music Director engaged for this production are members of the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada, and are performing in the jurisdiction of the London Musicians’ Association, Local 279.
the authors
Kristen Anderson-Lopez (Music & Lyrics)
Kristen Anderson-Lopez is part of the Oscar, Grammy, and Emmy winning songwriting team behind the Disney animated films, Frozen and Frozen 2, with her husband Robert Lopez. Together they also wrote the Oscar winning song “Remember Me” from Pixar’s Coco, as well as songs for Marvel’s WandaVision (Emmy Award win for “Agatha All Along”) and its spin-off series Agatha All Along. They adapted Frozen for the Broadway stage and are co-creators of the Hulu original series Up Here. Robert co-conceived and co-wrote the hit musicals Avenue Q and The Book of Mormon, both earning him Tony Awards. Kristen’s show In Transit made history as the first all a cappella musical to run on Broadway after an award-winning Off-Broadway run. Lopez and Anderson-Lopez have written for television, film and stage, including Finding Nemo: The Musical; songs for “The Wonder Pets” (two Emmy Award wins) and the Winnie the Pooh animated film. Lopez and Anderson-Lopez both serve on the Dramatists Guild Council. Graduates of Yale University and Williams College, respectively, they now reside in Brooklyn with their family.
Jennifer Lee (Book)
Jennifer Lee is the Academy Award®-winning writer and director of Walt Disney Animation Studio’s Frozen. For her work on Frozen, Lee received numerous awards including a Golden Globe, a Critics’ Choice Award, a BAFTA Award, and an Academy Award®. She wrote the book for the Broadway stage adaptation of Frozen, receiving a Tony Award® nomination for Best Book of a Musical, and wrote and directed the animated feature Frozen 2. Her Disney Animation career began as co-writer of the Oscar®-nominated Wreck-It Ralph. She went on to co-write the story for the Academy Award®-winning Zootopia, and served as Chief Creative Officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios from 2018 to 2024, when she began working on Frozen 3 and Frozen 4. She has executive produced numerous award-winning animated films including Moana 2, Raya and the Last Dragon and the Academy® Award-winning Encanto. Her graphic novel As I Dream of You will be published in 2026.
Robert Lopez (Music & Lyrics)
Robert Lopez is part of the Oscar, Grammy, and Emmy winning songwriting team behind the Disney animated films, Frozen and Frozen 2, with his wife Kristen Anderson-Lopez. Together they also wrote the Oscar winning song “Remember Me” from Pixar’s Coco, as well as songs for Marvel’s WandaVision (Emmy Award win for “Agatha All Along”) and its spin-off series Agatha All Along. They adapted Frozen for the Broadway stage and are co-creators of the Hulu original series Up Here. Robert co-conceived and co-wrote the hit musicals Avenue Q and The Book of Mormon, both earning him Tony Awards. Kristen’s show In Transit made history as the first all a cappella musical to run on Broadway after an award-winning Off-Broadway run. Lopez and Anderson-Lopez have written for television, film and stage, including Finding Nemo: The Musical; songs for “The Wonder Pets” (two Emmy Award wins) and the Winnie the Pooh animated film. Lopez and Anderson-Lopez both serve on the Dramatists Guild Council. Graduates of Yale University and Williams College, respectively, they now reside in Brooklyn with their family.
music theatre international
Music Theatre International (MTI) is one of the world’s leading theatrical licensing agencies, granting theatres from around the world the rights to perform the greatest selection of musicals from Broadway and beyond. Founded in 1952 by composer Frank Loesser and orchestrator Don Walker, MTI is a driving force in advancing musical theatre as a vibrant and engaging art form.
MTI works directly with the composers, lyricists and book writers of these musicals to provide official scripts, musical materials and dynamic theatrical resources to over 100,000 professional, community and school theatres in the US and in over 150 countries worldwide.
MTI is particularly dedicated to educational theatre, and has created special collections to meet the needs of various types of performers and audiences. MTI’s Broadway Junior® shows are 30- and 60-minute musicals for performance by elementary and middle school-aged performers, while MTI’s School Editions are musicals annotated for performance by high school students. Launched in May 2025, MTI’s Broadway Senior™ musicals are geared and adapted for adult performers 55 and over.
