Grand Re:Opening Festival Digital Program

GRAND RE:OPENING FESTIVAL OCTOBER 13 TO NOVEMBER 6 Festival Director: Megan Watson With work curated and created by (shown left to right): Summer Bressette, Mark Uhre, Richard Gracious, Alexandra Kane

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WELCOME

are, the stories we want to tell, and how we tell them.

The Grand Re:Opening Festival was created to inaugurate a renewed, It seems to me that things, strangely, revived, and re-examined place of work out as they are meant to – live performance. As you experisometimes in the most magical ways. ence these extraordinary offerings presented by these wonderful artWe had planned on a renovation ists, it is their ideas and their voices of our theatre to begin in the sumthat I hope you take home with mer of 2020. The goal was clear: you. The renovation only matters brighter, cleaner, state-of-the-art, (and we do love our new upgraded and more inclusive for all. Enter COVID. It closed our theatre for an facility!) if the theatre we produce matters. impossibly long time – over a year and a half.

Let the new stories, new voices, and the new environment wash over you That’s where the magic came in. as you share with us the celebration Witnessing our city and world (and the magic) that is the Grand undergo a period of turbulence, Re:Opening Festival. uncertainty, and social upheaval, Welcome. ultimately gave us no choice but to reflect and to challenge ourselves.

The pandemic offered us an oppor- dennis garnhum tunity to really think about who we artistic director

LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT Springbank Park, London, Ontario. View of Deshkan Ziibi, or Antler River (Thames River). photo by Joanna Kurowski.

We are thrilled to welcome you back to the Grand Theatre, where we operate on the traditional lands of the Attawandaron (also known as Neutral) people and territories associated with various treaties of the Anishinaabeg, Haudenosaunee, and Lunaapewak. The Attawandaron peoples once settled this region alongside the Algonquin and Haudenosaunee peoples and used this land as their traditional beaver hunting grounds.

In London, our treaties include the 1796 London Township Treaty and the 1822 Longwoods Treaty. The London Township Treaty was a regional treaty signed by diplomats representing all parties living on the land that today we know as southwestern Ontario. The Longwoods Treaty was signed by representatives of the Crown and the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation and covers approximately 580,000 acres in the area.

Locally, there are three First Nations Communities. They are the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation, the Oneida Nation of the Thames, and the Munsee Delaware Nation. We would also like to recognize the growing Indigenous urban population, comprised of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit people.

We value the significant historical and contemporary contributions of local and regional First Nations, and all of the Original Peoples of Turtle Island (also known as North America), and acknowledge the traditional lands upon which we operate.

Spriet Stage, Auburn Developments Stage, Drewlo Lounge October 13 to November 6

With work curated and created by: Alexandra Kane, Mark Uhre, Richard Gracious, Summer Bressette Festival Director: Megan Watson Director of Design: Daniel Bennett

Producer: Lyndee Hansen

Festival Coordinator: Lauren Rebelo

The videotaping or other video or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited.

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DIRECTOR’S NOTES Through the ongoing uncertainty of the pandemic, the purpose of the Grand Re:Opening Festival became abundantly clear to me. Over the past twenty months, we have redefined what it means to gather, whether it’s a party on Zoom, huddling together with your “bubble” in blankets on a porch, or socially distanced and masked indoors. The impetus for all of this adaptation is our need to be with one another.

This is exactly what our festival is about: gathering. And, we are still adapting to how we experience the thrill and spark that happens when we connect – like really, truly connect – which allows us to see and hear each other in new ways. The connections that are made when we experience theatre, art, and music remind us of who we are as a community and what we strive to be.

Our four host artists were asked in February of this year if they wanted to come and “play” at the Grand. To add to this, they were tasked with the important job of helping us to reopen after a major renovation and a long time apart. What you will experience throughout the Festival is their response to these prompts.

And the response? It’s like nothing the Grand has ever experienced before!

If you are here because of a particular artist’s work, I encourage you to also check out what the other host artists have created. The programming is as diverse in form and in message as they are. They have each brought together incredible local artists and, along with the hard work and artistry of the Grand teams, their ideas have come to life and fill the building in unexpected and beautiful ways.

Thank you for joining us in celebrating the reopening of the Grand, the return of live theatre, and the brilliant offerings of our four host artists. Whether you are viewing in-person or online, I am so glad that you have decided to gather with us. I look forward to doing more of it in the future! megan watson

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MARK UHRE Artist/Storyteller/Curator How incredibly grateful I am to be included in this mighty community of passionate artists, in this magical space that we call “the Grand”. To be invited back to the place where a deep love of theatre began for so many of us is a beautiful gift. Seeds of Self is for everyone. This piece is a collection of personal memories that I hope will help remind you of the little person you once were.

Someday, when you are alone in a quiet place, close your eyes and try to remember the child that you no longer see in the mirror. If you listen hard enough, you will hear them. I promise. The child that you thought you grew away from is still within you. They are still deep within the person that you have become today. They are not lost. They help make up the most beautiful parts of you. They are proud of all that you have overcome, and they want to remind you that it isn’t over. Not quite yet. You still have time. Time to do what you once loved. That little person you were long ago still needs you. They want to join you in doing the things you thought you outgrew. They want to join you very, very badly. Remember they will always need your love, and they will always love you back. Best of all, if you listen very carefully, they might gently hold your hand and remind you that you are always allowed to use your imagination . . .

GRAND PROMENADE EXPERIENCE Mark Uhre’s original play, Seeds of Self | Auburn Stage IMMERSE yourself in a unique artistic encounter | Spriet Stage OBSERVE a documentary presentation and LGBTQ2+ visual arts gallery | Drewlo Lounge Content Advisory: Homophobia and homophobic language.

CAST & CREDITS ACT I

SEEDS OF SELF performerS Actor MARK UHRE* Musician WAYNE GWILLIM

PRODUCTION / creative team Writer Music Director & Composer Set & Costume Designer Director/Dramaturge Lighting Designer Sound Designer Stage Manager Assistant Stage Manager Apprentice Stage Manager

MARK UHRE* WAYNE GWILLIM MARK UHRE* MEGAN WATSON DANIEL BENNETT KAITLYN MACKINNON MELISSA CAMERON* KELLY LUFT* CIARAN BRENNEMAN

ACT II

UNIQUE ARTISTIC ENCOUNTER Host Musician

MARK UHRE* NOELLE FRANCES

ACT III

YOUTH VISUAL ARTS GALLERY AND Q&A Host MARK UHRE* Host MEGAN WATSON Video Editor CAMERON CARVER *The participation of these Artists is arranged by permission of Canadian Actors’ Equity Association under the provisions of the Dance Opera Theatre Policy

ALEXANDRA KANE Artist/activist I need you to know something—to feel something. I need you to know what makes us resilient. I need you to know, to feel what racism is, in order to see it end. And I need you to know that while you figure out how to become a more inclusive society, a more equitable city, I need you to know that we, the Black, work everyday to find joy.

We are loud in attempts to quiet the pain. We are always singing to soothe our soul. We are always dancing so that we don’t let the trauma win.

Black joy is a remarkable energy, and I need you to know that it exists as a response to oppression and in spite of it.

GRAND PROMENADE

EXPERIENCE the words of 19-yearold Nigerian-Canadian slam poet and author, Fauzia Agbonhin | Main Lobby ENGAGE in an interactive film installation, A Grave and A Mirror | Auburn Stage ENJOY a joyous musical journey in Finding Black Joy by Alexandra Kane | Spriet Stage Content Advisory: This presentation includes racially-charged language, and references to racial trauma.

CAST & CREDITS ACT I

GRAVE & A MIRROR

Director, Writer & Actor Actor Sound Designer Videographer Director of Photography Makeup Artist Consultant

ALEXANDRA KANE SAR AH ABBOTT ALEXANDRA KANE CHRIS EVANS MAI TILSON FLORENCIA TAYLOR E.B. SMITH

SPOKEN WORD POETRY

Spoken Word Poet & Author

FAUZIA AGBONHIN

ACT II

FINDING BLACK JOY PERFORMERS Keyboard & Ensemble Ensemble Drums Ensemble Guitar Ensemble Keyboard & Ensemble Ensemble Bass Ensemble Ensemble

MATTHEW ATKINS TATYANA AUSTRIE CURTIS BERNARD ALEXIS GORDON* RICHARD GR ACIOUS DIEGR A K AMBAMBA ALEX ANDR A K ANE GEORGE MCLEARY JUNIOR RIGGAN OLIVIA SINCLAIR-BRISBANE* MARQUE SMITH

PRODUCTION / creative team Director & Dramaturge Music Director Set Designer

Costume Designer

Lighting Designer Sound Designer Stage Manager Assistant Stage Manager Apprentice Stage Manager

VANESSA SEARS* ALEXANDRA KANE MARK UHRE & GRAND TEAM ALEXANDRA KANE & GRAND TEAM MICHAEL WALTON BRIAN KENNY KELLY LUFT* MELISSA CAMERON* HALEY HELM

ACT III

Q&A WITH ALEXANDRA KANE Speaker

ALEXANDRA KANE & GUESTS

*The participation of these Artists is arranged by permission of Canadian Actors’ Equity Association under the provisions of the Dance Opera Theatre Policy

RICHARD GRACIOUS musician/producer Over the past year, my certainty around being a professional musician, and creative individual, was wavering. I debated turning to other endeavours to get through this pandemic and put my music career on hold. Temporarily losing a career in the arts, due to factors out of my control, was an awakening to say the least. Within months, my 9-5 job was terminated, my tour festival dates cancelled, and my livelihood diminished to virtual performances. I took to renovating houses and private contracting to pay the bills. I decided that this break from the music industry was much-needed (and I was too old to tour, anyway). Director and festival coordinator, Megan Watson, then approached me to help re-open the Grand Theatre.

My drive was reignited.

Working on a production with the Grand (featuring my original music) has been a dream and a once in a lifetime opportunity. The Grand team is nothing other than world-class, and the songs I strummed in my living room during the pandemic, have now transformed into a larger-thanlife experience.

I can’t wait to share what we have created.

I hope it will inspire the same creative feelings that I felt when the Grand asked me to “come play in their sandbox.”

GRAND PROMENADE EMBARK on a shared musical journey with Richard Gracious and the debut of One Year | Spriet Stage DIVE IN to a pandemic-inspired musical wardrobe | Auburn Stage ENJOY an intimate performance by local singer and songwriter, Misha Bower | Drewlo Lounge

CAST & CREDITS ACT I

ONE YEAR performerS Vocals/Guitar/Keyboard/Piano Drums Ensemble Ensemble Drums Bass Guitar

RICHARD GRACIOUS BRENT HEBERT DIEGRA KAMBAMBA ASHLEY KIPPAX THOMAS PERQUIN KAYLA PURVES JOSH TRY

PRODUCTION / creative team Adapter/Dramaturge Music Director & Composer Set Designer Costume Designer Lighting Designer Sound Designer Stage Manager Assistant Stage Manager Apprentice Stage Manager

BEN SANDERS RICHARD GRACIOUS GRAND TEAM GRAND TEAM MICHAEL WALTON BRIAN KENNY MELISSA CAMERON* KELLY LUFT* CIARAN BRENNEMAN

ACT II

WHENEVER YOU’RE READY Dancer KAITLIN TORRANCE Dancer HANNAH ELIAS Guitarist MICHAEL TRUDGEN

ACT III

INTIMATE MUSICAL PERFORMANCE Musician

MISHA BOWER

*The participation of these Artists is arranged by permission of Canadian Actors’ Equity Association under the provisions of the Dance Opera Theatre Policy

SUMMER BRESSETTE Artist/Storyteller/Educator The Mush Hole (Mount Elgin Industrial School) was located just outside of London and was attended by my great-grandmother, whose lullaby provided the inspiration for Love Song for the Thunderbirds. The song locates us on this land that is shared by the descendants of the children who attended the Mush Hole, and who held on to their traditional knowledge despite the horrors.

Love Song is also a universe that lives inside of me – each character and storyline holds a piece of my own truth, desire, and learning. I am equal parts Nokomis, Jackrabbit, and Thunderbird – grappling with uncertainty, brilliance, and folly. Storytelling is ceremony, and each time we share the universe inside of us we become part of the collective dreaming of those around us.

GRAND PROMENADE

EXPERIENCE Love Song for the Thunderbirds by Summer Bressette | Auburn Stage REVEL in the musical experience of the Eagle Flight Singers and hoop dancing of River White | Spriet Stage ENJOY a live performance by the Red Skye Sisters and spoken word poetry of Awâsis | Drewlo Lounge Content Advisory: References to residential school violence.

CAST & CREDITS ACT I

LOVE SONG FOR THE THUNDERBIRDS perfOrmerS Jackrabbit KEESIS NADJIWON Thunderbird MONTANA SUMMERS Nokomis JESSICA WILDE

PRODUCTION / creative team Writer Director Set Designer

Costume Designer

Lighting/Projection Designer Sound Designer Cultural Consultant Spoken Word Coach Stage Manager Assistant Stage Manager Apprentice Stage Manager

SUMMER BRESSETTE DESIREE LEVERNEZ SUMMER BRESSETTE & GRAND TEAM SUMMER BRESSETTE & GRAND TEAM HAILEY VERBONAC KAITLYN MACKINNON SANDRA ALBERT SÂKIHITOWIN AWÂSIS KELLY LUFT* MELISSA CAMERON* HALEY HELM

Traditional Song recorded by Janice Ninham & Danielle Hill

ACT II

EAGLE FLIGHT SINGERS & RIVER WHITE HOOP DANCING Eagle Flight Singer Eagle Flight Singer Eagle Flight Singer Hoop Dancer

GORDAN SANDS LIAM SANDS V YDEL SANDS RIVER WHITE

ACT III

INTIMATE MUSICAL PERFORMANCE & SPOKEN WORD POETRY Musician DAWN REDSKYE Musician SHAWNA REDSKYE Spoken Word Poet & Coach SÂKIHITOWIN AWÂSIS *The participation of these Artists is arranged by permission of Canadian Actors’ Equity Association under the provisions of the Dance Opera Theatre Policy

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GUEST ARTISTS

sarah abbott

fauziA AgbONhIN

Sarah Abbott Actor, Grave & a Mirror

Sarah is making her Grand Theatre debut. She has her BFA in Acting (University of Windsor) with her B.Ed (UWO). Some acting credits include: Mrs. Wormwood Matilda (OKTC), Helena/Lysander Midsummer Night’s Dream (Passionfool Theatre Co), Portia Merchant of Venice (Theatre Nemesis), Cathy The Last 5 Years (Forest City Theatre), Valerie The Weir (By The Book Theatre), Eliza Doolittle My Fair Lady (Thistle Theatre), Louise Gypsy (Musical Theatre Productions), Sally Bowles Cabaret (Theatre Fuse) and Velma Kelly Chicago (Pacheco Theatre). She is grateful to her family, friends and students for their love and support. Know better, do better.

Fauzia Agbonhin Spoken Word Poet & Author, Spoken Word Poetry

As featured in CTV, CBC, and other publications, Fauzia is a 19-year-old Nigerian-Canadian slam poet and author of I Never Truly Hated You. She has represented London in two national festivals. She has performed for several organizations including The Pathways to Prosperity National Conference, for the Minister of Refugees, Immigration, and Citizenship, the Black Students’ Association at Western University, the Journeys to Migration 2019 event, the Life as a Refugee 2019 conference, and for the kids in care at the Children’s Aid Society.In her poetry, Fauzia addresses diversity, racism, mental health, anxiety, and many other social justice issues that face our society today.

SANDR A ALBERT

MATTHEW ATKINS

Sandra Albert Cultural Consultant, Love Song for the Thunderbirds

Sandra Albert is an Anishinaabe/ Haudenosaunee fancy shawl dancer, designer, and traditional knowledge keeper from Chippewas of the Thames First Nation. Sandra is the mother of four children and is a champion fancy shawl dancer and self-taught designer who specializes in traditional regalia. Sandra has travelled to New Zealand as an invited presenter to the Healing Our Spirit Worldwide Conference in 2015 and is currently working on her degree in Social Work from Ryerson University. Sandra has facilitated numerous workshops on Indigenous food sovereignty, Anishinaabe wellness practices, and cultural knowledge sharing. Sandra honours her Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee lineages, and her love for family and community is what grounds her work.

Matthew Atkins Keyboard & Ensemble, Finding Black Joy

Originally from Mississauga, Matthew Atkins is a musician, music director and teacher. He holds his B.Mus., B.Ed., and M.Mus. from Western University, and is thrilled to be part of this production! Matthew has over eight years of high school teaching experience and has also served as a worship leader for various churches in London. Previous music director credits include: The Great Grand Road Trip, Comfort & Joy – High School Project (Grand Theatre); Going Under, You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown, Snoopy: The Musical, Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical, A Christmas Story: The Musical (Original Kids Theatre Company. @matkinsmusic

GUEST ARTISTS

TATYANA AUSTRIE

SÂKIHITOWIN AWÂSIS

Tatyana Austrie Ensemble, Finding Black Joy

This is Tatyana’s debut for the Grand Theatre.

Additional theatre credits include: Dogfight (Allswell Productions); SJSV (Linx Theatre); Catch Me If You Can (Kings Players); Heathers (Musical Theatre Productions). Tatyana is a Graduate of the BMusA Program at Western University.

Sâkihitowin Awâsis Spoken Word Poet & Coach, Love Song for the Thunderbirds, Spoken Word Poetry

Sâkihitowin Awâsis is a mixed Michif, Anishinaabe, French, and Ukrainian two-spirit water protector, scholar, and spoken word artist from the Pine Marten Clan. They are a lecturer in the Centre for Global Studies at Huron University College and a Phd Candidate in the Department of Geography and Environment at Western University. As a poet, they have contributed to the books Watch Your Head (2020), Forever Loved (2016), and The Enpipe Line (2012).

Daniel Bennett Lighting Designer, Seeds of Self

Daniel Bennett is the Technical Director for the Grand Theatre, Artistic Producer of Curveball Creative and Associate Artist for the Production Design and Technical Arts (PDTA) Program at the National Theatre School. He has also worked as a freelance Production Manager with Eclipse Theatre Company, Festival Transamériques, Ame Henderson Projects, and SummerWorks Performance Festival. Previous lighting design

daniel bennett

curtis bernard

credits include the Grand Theatre’s productions of Cabaret and Beethoven Lives Upstairs; Festival Designer for the Paprika Festival. He believes the theatre is a place where we can collectively dissect the human condition. This can empower and engage communities to talk about delicate issues necessary for meaningful change. Daniel is a graduate of the PDTA program at the National Theatre School and holds a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience and Psychology from the University of Toronto.

Curtis Bernard Drums, Finding Black Joy

Curtis is a musician, producer, and music director. He has backed Grammy and Juno award winners such as Yolanda Adams, The Toronto Mass Choir and many more. Curtis continues to back several artists as well as produce and write his own music.

GUEST ARTISTS

MISHA BOWER

ciaran brenneman

Misha Bower Musician, One Year

Misha is a writer and musician based in London.

She is the author of a story collection called Music for Uninvited Guests, and has contributed to publications like Women to the Front Zine and Canadian Music Magazine. Misha’s main musical work is a full-length album called Trying to Have it All, with songs from the album appearing in TV series Kim’s Convenience and feature film Body and Bones. mishabower.com

Ciaran Brenneman Apprentice Stage Manager, One Year, Seeds of Self Ciaran Brenneman (they/them) is an emerging stage manager and recent graduate of the X University School of Performance: Production and Design BFA program. Previous stage management credits include: rabbit hole, X University (2021); Wonderful Town, Randolph College for the Performing Arts (2020); Beneath the Bed, Theatre Born Between (2019); The Doll Play, Blood Pact Theatre/Witchboy Productions (2019); and The Scarborough Project, Tarragon Theatre Education and Outreach (2018 and 2019). The Re:Opening Festival is their debut with the Grand Theatre.

Summer Bressette Host Artist & Writer, Love Song for the Thunderbirds

Summer Bressette is an Anishinaabe storyteller, curator, and educator from Kettle and Stony Point First Nation. Love Song for the Thunderbirds is her first play and is a tribute to her grandmothers and relatives who attended residential schools. Summer worked with the Grand Theatre’s 2020 production of Honour Beat

summer bressette

melissa cameron

and she also co-curated an exhibit for Museum London called Nnigiiwemin: We Are Going Home to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Ipperwash Crisis. For Summer, storytelling is ceremonious, and the stories of her grandparents, relatives, and community connects her to her homeland.

Melissa Cameron Stage Manager, One Year, Finding Black Joy, Love Song for the Thunderbirds, Seeds of Self Melissa’s Grand Theatre credits include: Honour Beat, Once, To Master the Art, The Hobbit, Shirley Valentine; High School Projects Shakespeare: The Mixtape, Much Ado About Nothing, The Important of Being Earnest, Anything Goes. Additional Theatre credits include: Sweeney Todd, The Gamblers, The Prince of Homburg, I Claudia, The Last of Romeo & Juliet, Offline (Talk is Free Theatre); Miracle on 34th Street (Chemainus Theatre Festival); The Last 5 Years, She Loves Me, A Christmas Carol, Cabaret, The 39 Steps (Rose Theatre, Brampton); Legally Blonde (Theatre Sheridan); Hedda Gabler (Theatre Erindale); The Gin Game, Cottagers & Indians, Crimes of the Heart, Boeing Boeing, Dial M for Murder, A Moon for the Misbegotten, Mrs. Warren’s Profession, Barefoot in the Park, Blithe Spirit, The Glass Menagerie (Watermark Theatre).

GUEST ARTISTS

CA MERON CARVER

hannah elias

Cameron Carver Video Editor, Seeds of Self

Cameron is a theatre and filmmaker. He holds an MA in theatre directing from the Bristol Old Vic and a BA in Musical Theatre Performance from Sheridan College. His journey onto the creative team has encouraged an exploration of many creative facets. He trained as a dancer, so movement plays a large role in his storytelling. Recently, he has been accepted to The Buffalo International Film Festival and Forest City FF for his breakout short film Chokablok. Additionally, Cameron acts as a mentor and video editor for Once Song Glory at The Musical Stage Company with students all across the country. Other memorable theatre credits include Little Mermaid (Theatre Royal Bath-UK Theatre Award 2018), The Addams Family, The Wizard of Oz, Sweet Charity (St. Lawrence College),Sweeney Todd UK/Toronto (Talk is Free Theatre), Cabaret (Grand Theatre), La Strada (UK Tour), Manhattan Parisienne (The Other Palace with Alain Boublil). @cam_carver

Hannah Elias Dancer, One Year

Hannah Elias is a professional contemporary movement artist from London, ON. She has trained and performed both nationally and internationally, including professional contemporary and classical dance training through the Leggere Strutture Art Factory International in Bologna, Italy (2015-2016) and the Disha Dance International Dance Gathering (Cochin, India; 2017). Hannah performed and trained with Dasein Dance Theatre (London, ON; 2011-15) and danced professionally with Compagnia

chris evans

noelle frances

Balafori (Milan, Italy; 2016). Back home in London, Hannah teaches guest workshops at schools and studios across southwestern Ontario, choreographs for several schools and theatre companies within London (Original Kids Theatre Company; Musical Theatre Productions), and is the founder and co-artistic director of the multidisciplinary artist collective Public Displays of Art.

Chris Evans Videographer, Grave & a Mirror

Christopher Evans is a London, ON based director and producer, with over a decade of experience in music videos, commercial work, music festivals and all forms of creative pursuits. www.itschrisevans.com and Instagram @chri7z

Noelle Frances Musician, Unique Artistic Encounter

Noelle writes in a way that is simple, honest and deeply emotional. Lyrically she taps into the angst and beauty of life. Each song has a soul and largely speaks to the resiliency of human beings.

Noelle is a witty and charismatic performer who draws in the audience with her joy. She meshes a lighthearted presence and stage banter with emotionally charged, uplifting and sometimes haunting songs.

GUEST ARTISTS

alexis gordon

richard gracious

Alexis Gordon Ensemble, Finding Black Joy

Alexis has previously acted in the Grand Theatre’s Room, Mary Poppins, and A Christmas Carol. Other select theatre credits include: Charley’s Aunt, Brigadoon, Rope (Shaw Festival); Hook Up (Theatre Passe Muraille/Tapestry Opera); Coriolanus, The Tempest, The Fantasticks, Guys & Dolls, A Little Night Music, Carousel, Passion, The Sound of Music (Stratford Festival); Sunday in the Park With George (Talk is Free Theatre); The Gravitational Pull of Bernice Trimble (Factory Theatre/Obsidian Theatre); A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Driftwood Theatre). Twitter: @ AlexisLGordon. Instagram: alexisgords

Richard Gracious Musician & Music Director, One Year, Finding Black Joy

Richard loves everything about records. When he’s not listening to them, he is creating them.

Whether working out of his home studio, making notes on test pressings, or writing songs in his living room, he enjoys all stages of creating a time capsule pressed into a thin, flat, piece of plastic and sharing it with thousands of people. This is why Richard started Forest City Records, and working with local artists to create and distribute art in his hometown of London.

Richard can also be found touring as part of Wolf Saga; an Indigenous-fronted electro pop group that enjoys getting people dancing, or at CBC London, hosting his own musical segment In The Mix. He credits his background as a music educator, entrepreneur and as artist-in-residence with London Arts Council for informing his knowledge of the arts world.

wayne gwillim

brent hebert

Wayne Gwillim Musician & Musical Director, Seeds of Self

Originally from Saskatchewan, Wayne is a graduate of University of Toronto’s Faculty of Music. He has previously been part of the Grand’s production of Cabaret, and has worked on productions across the country, inlcuding several seasons with the Shaw, Stratford, and Charlottetown theatre festivals. In Toronto, he has worked on productions of Strictly Ballroom, Kinky Boots, Les Misérables, The Wizard of Oz, The Sound of Music, as well as Mary Poppins for Young People’s Theatre, which earned him a Dora nomination for music direction. He was music supervisor and orchestrator for Gallagher & Lipovetsky’s Blackout with The Musical Stage Company, as well as inaugural productions of Tangled, Beauty & The Beast, and Frozen on the Disney Cruise Line. Other: Instagram: @wayneofgwillimbury

Brent Hebert Drums, One Year

Brent Hebert has been a London-based musician for over 15 years. This is his first theatre show since playing drums for the Original Kids production of Smokey Joe’s Cafe in 2003. He toured internationally as drummer for The Allens. He has been a musical collaborator with Richard Gracious for over ten years in various projects including performing across Canada in the band Mountain of Wolves. He is also a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist of Mystery-Bear with a debut album set to be released early summer of 2022.

GUEST ARTISTS

haley helm

diegra kambamba

Haley Helm Apprentice Stage Manager, Finding Black Joy, Love Song for the Thunderbirds

Haley is a graduate of Sheridan College’s Technical Production for Theatre and Live Events Program, and is currently working at the Grand on two Re:Opening Festival shows: Finding Black Joy and Love Song for The Thunderbirds. She was also part of the Grand’s 2014 High School Project, Much Ado About Nothing. Her other credits include 7 Stories and Punch Up for the TPG Theatre, the 2017-2019 seasons at the Port Stanley Festival Theatre, and The Cradle Will Rock and Senza Luce at Sheridan College.

Diegra Kambamba Ensemble, One Year, Finding Black Joy

Diegra’s credits for For Grand Theatre include: ensemble in the Grand’s High School Project; Les Misérables and Cabaret, 2016. Other theatre credits include: director for Little Women (King’s Players), Heather Chandler in Heathers (King’s Players), Paula Abagnale in Catch Me If You Can (King’s Players), Soloist in Where Do We Begin (Jake and Thalia), and Esmeralda in Hunchback of Notre Dame (AK Arts). Diegra is thrilled to be a part of another Grand production, and thanks all her friends and family as well as all those involved in this production for their endless support.

alexandra kane

brian kenny

Alexandra Kane Writer & Music Director, Finding Black Joy, Grave & a Mirror

Alexandra Kane is a performing artist, music director, producer, equity transformation coach and activist. Credits include: music director for Hunchback of Notre Dame (AK Arts Academy), One Song Glory (Musical Stage Company) and Home for the Holidays (upcoming Grand Theatre).

Event production works include: Forest City London Music Awards. Television production includes: Fracture, Nova: Prime and Shelter and B.L.A.C.K (upcoming Black London Network).

Alex holds a B.MusA (Piano) from Western University, a graduate certificate in Corporate Communications and Public Relations from Fanshawe College and a graduate certificate in Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell University.

Brian Kenny Sound Designer, One Year, Finding Black Joy

Brian’s Grand Theatre credits include: Mary Poppins, The Colony of Unrequited Dreams (Artistic Fraud), Big Shot (SurReal So Real). Brian’s additional theatre credits (select) include: Billy Elliott, The Rocky Horror Show (Stratford Festival); Dear Rita (Charlottetown Festival); Between Breaths (Artistic Fraud of Newfoundland); Once (Segal Centre); A Woman Is a Secret (RipJaw); Ballad of the Young Offender (SideMart). Brian is a graduate of Sheridan College as well as The National Theatre School of Canada. Brian is also a board member for I.A.T.S.E Local 659, The Associated Designers of Canada.

GUEST ARTISTS

ashley kippax

DESIREE LEVERENZ

Ashley Kippax Ensemble, One Year

Ashley is thrilled to be a part of the Grand Theatre’s Re:Opening Festival, appearing in One Year. Ashley most recently was the Assistant Director for the High School Project’s Great Grand Road Trip. Select credits include: Woman 2 in Songs for a New World, Karnak in Ride the Cyclone, Cabaret (Theatre Sheridan), Mandy in Living The Dream (CMTP Festival), Mary Poppins in Mary Poppins, Velma/Dance Captain in West Side Story (BMT), Dance Captain in She Loves Me (MTP), Dance Captain in Hello Dolly, The Addams Family (Grand Theatre HSP). Training: Graduate of the Honours Bachelor of Music Theatre Performance program at Sheridan College. Shoutout to Mum, Dad, Ty, Hen, Alex, Carl, and Iz for all the love.

Instagram: @ashkippax.

Desiree Leverenz Director, Love Song for the Thunderbirds

Desirée is a director and creator that won’t ever wash the Treaty 6 soil from beneath her feet.

She graduated from the MFA theatre program at York University and the drama program at the University of Alberta. Desirée created The Orange Girls, an experimental performance ensemble. She is also the associate artistic director of Shakespeare in the Ruff, and is continuously disrupting artistic traditions. Desirée is always searching for ways to decolonize the art sector: not only the art itself, but also the infrastructures and leadership models that have been built to uphold that art and uphold white supremacy.

kelly luft

kaitlyn mackinnon

Kelly Luft Stage Manager, One Year, Finding Black Joy, Love Song for the Thunderbirds, Seeds of Self

Kelly Luft has previously been part of the Grand’s productions of Mary Poppins, Prom Queen, Chariots of Fire, A Christmas Carol (’17, ’18), Art, and The Wizard of Oz (’16, ’09, ‘02). Her wide-ranging theatre credits include The Front Page and The Komagata Maru Incident at the Stratford Festival, The Sound of Music and Hairspray for Drayton Entertainment, Le Bal for Theatre Plus, Not Wanted on the Voyage at the Canadian Stage Company, and two years in London England’s West End. Her work on opera includes 12 seasons with Opera Lyra Ottawa, ten seasons with Hawaii Opera Theatre, six seasons with Orchestra London and Opera Pacific Victoria, 16 seasons with Opera Ontario, Wagner’s Ring Cycle - Götterdämmerung for the Canadian Opera Company, Countess Maritza f or the Pacific Opera Victoria, and Idomeneo for Opera Atelier. Kelly will be working with the Grand again this season with Home for the Holidays and Grow.

Kaitlyn Mackinnon Sound Designer, Love Song for the Thunderbirds, Seeds of Self

The Re:Opening Festival is Kaitlyn’s Grand Theatre debut. Other select theatre credits include: BLACKOUT (Musical Stage Company); Rose (Soulpepper); Brigadoon, Grand Hotel, Me & My Girl (Shaw Festival); Cabaret (Theatre Sheridan); Grease (Winter Garden Theatre); Hastings!, Aleck Bell (Tweed & Company); Sousatzka (Teatro Proscenium). Kaitlyn’s film and TV credits include: These Are My Mountains.

GUEST ARTISTS

george mcleary

keesis nadjiwon

George McLeary Ensemble, Finding Black Joy

George McLeary studied Musical Theatre Performance at St. Clair College and HB Beal Secondary School, and has previously taken the stage at the Grand for Comfort and Joy. His other credits include Hairspray for Drayton Entertainment, The Sound of Music at the Stratford Festival, Quarantine Story, Hello Dolly, The Little Mermaid, and Suessical for Musical Theatre Productions, and Disney Heroes and Villains with AK Arts Academy.

Keesis Nadjiwon Jackrabbit, Love Song for the Thunderbirds Thomas Perquin Drums, One Year

Thomas Perquin is an award-winning local musician and drummer in London bands Ivory Hours, Sunshine Makers, Gold Tongue and Bad Teeth. Between tours, Thomas teaches at The Drum Studio. Aside from pit-drumming in Mother Teresa Secondary School’s renditions of Grease and Back To The 80s, Thomas is relatively new to large-scale theatrical production and is eager to begin working in professional theatre with his debut in One Year.

thomas perquin

Kayla purves

Kayla Purves Bass, One Year

Kayla discovered a passion for bass guitar while playing with the high school jazz band. In recent years, she’s returned to the stage after developing her career working behind-the-scenes as a stage technician. She has performed with bands such as Gypsy Ghosts, Bad Teeth and Heart Attack Kids.

GUEST ARTISTS

dawn & shawna redskye

junior riggan

Dawn & Shawna Redskye Musicians, Intimate Music Performance

Dawn and Shawna Redskye are two sisters of Anishinaabeg and Irish ancestors, weaving personal narratives of love, land, displacement and medicine. Their songs carry forward threads of their ancestral homelands and waters of Shoal Lake 40 and Ireland. Threads that, although fractured, continue to find their way into voice and song. Through their poetic and sometimes hard-hitting lyrics and acoustic guitar and banjo sound, they aim to challenge colonial impressions of past and present.

Junior Riggan Bass, Finding Black Joy

Junior Riggan has previously worked at the Grand on Mamma Mia! Other credits include Yorkville: The Musical at the Blythe Festival. For Drayton Entertainment, he was part of Annie, 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, and A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline. Junior wishes to thank the Grand Theatre for the opportunity and being so incredibly caring. He would also like to thank Alexandra Kane for inviting him to join this fabulous journey. Blessings!

Ben Sanders Adapter/Dramaturge, One Year

Ben Sanders grew up in Elgin County, ON. He fell in love with theatre watching plays at the Grand, and acting with Original Kids and the Grand’s High School Project. Ben performed for

ben sanders

gordon sands

10 years with the Shaw Festival, where favourite productions include The Divine, The Intelligent Homosexual’s Guide…, Major Barbara, and The Sea. Recent TV credits include a recurring role on CBC’s Frankie Drake Mysteries, and appearances in What We Do in the Shadows (FX), Locke and Key (Netflix), Murdoch Mysteries, and the upcoming Five Days at Memorial (ABC/Disney/ Apple TV) and Mayor of Kingstown (Paramount+).

Gordon Sands Singer, Eagle Flight Singers

Gordon Nicotine-Sands is a fourth generation singer, originally from Bkejwanong territory, and the Poundmaker Cree Nation in Saskatchewan. The Eagle Flight Singers (lead

by Gordon) are a First Nations singing group based out of London, ON, and have been active for over two decades. The group has travelled extensively in the Great Lakes area (internationally on occasion), participating in festival-like celebrations known as pow-wows. Eagle Flight has also honoured invitations from professional and educational institutions in the form of educational song and dance performances. In addition to creating and sharing traditional music, Gordon also serves as an MC to many winter celebrations in the Great Lakes known as “Round Dance,” which are trending cultural events that originated out west. Gordon is a graduate of Fanshawe’s fine art program and father to four.

GUEST ARTISTS

liam sands

vydel sands

Liam Sands Singer, Eagle Flight Singers

For the Grand Theatre: Love Song For the Thunderbirds. A First Nations educator born and raised in London, ON, Liam has been involved with Indigenous culture singing and dancing from a very young age. Liam has travelled extensively throughout North America, participating in pow-wows (celebrations of life through the expression of song and dance). Along with his family dance troupe, Liam has honoured many invitations by both educational and professional institutions to share his expertise about the culture. In 2021, Liam graduated from Fanshawe’s ECE program. He is also a self-taught musician.

Vydel Sands Singer, Eagle Flight Singers

Vydel Nicotine-Sands is of Plains Cree and Ojibway decsent and currently residing in London, ON. He has been singing and drumming for approximately 30 years at various powwow, ceremonial, and Indigenous events across North America. He is also a proud father of three beautiful daughters and two granddaughters.

vanessa sears

olivia sinclairbrisbane

Vanessa Sears Director, Finding Black Joy

Vanessa Sears is a Dora, Toronto Theatre Critics, BroadwayWorld and Critic’s Pick Award winning artist based in Toronto. She has starred on stages and screens across Canada. Since beginning her training as a director through the Musical Stage Company’s apprenticeship program, she has directed at Theatre Sheridan, the Grand, Talk is Free Theatre, Musical Stage Co and most recently at the Stratford Festival as part of the Meighen Forum. She is beyond thrilled to have had the opportunity to collaborate on this piece and rekindle her own Black Joy. Up next, you can find Vanessa assistant directing and starring in Holiday Inn as part of the Shaw Festival’s winter season.

Olivia Sinclair-Brisbane Ensemble, Finding Black Joy

Olivia Sinclair-Brisbane is a graduate of Sheridan College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Musical Theatre Performance, and has previously performed at the Grand in Annie, Anything Goes (HSP), Footloose (HSP), Buddy! The Buddy Holly Story, and Cabaret. Some of her additional credits incude Gypsy*, Assassins in Concert, Charlie’s Aunt, Duke & the Two Irene’s, Fairground, and Shawground at the Shaw Festival, Mamma Mia! for Stage West, Million Dollar Quartet at the Capitol Theatre, Beauty and and Beast in Concert at Angelwalk Theatre, Mamma Mia! at Rainbow Stage, and In The Heights, How to Succeed in Business, and Footloose for Theatre Sheridan.

GUEST ARTISTS

marque smith

e.b. smith

Marque Smith Ensemble, Finding Black Joy

Marque was born in Toronto and studied classical piano at The Royal Conservatory of Music and jazz piano at Humber College.

Since moving to London in 2007, he has been the musical director for plays with Musical Theatre Productions, London Community Players and Original Kids Theatre Company, to name a few. He is also a very experienced choral musician and has been a member of The Karen Schuessler Singers, The Nathaniel Dett Chorale, The Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, The Toronto Mendelssohn Youth Choir and The Canadian Children’s Opera Chorus. Marque was the Recipient of the 2012 Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee. www.marquesmith.com.

E.B. Smith Consultant, Grave & a Mirror Montana Summers Thunderbird, Love Song for the Thunderbirds

For the Grand Theatre: Love Songs for the Thunderbirds. Theatre Credits (Selected): The Honouring, Medicine Bear, Continuance, The Mush Hole, Skén:nen (Kaha:wi Dance Theatre); The Other Side of the River (Backyard Theatre); Louis Riel (National Arts Centre). Film and TV Credits (Selected): I Lost My Talk (National Arts Centre) Kan^stote (Dusk Dances). Other: Indigenous Dance Residency (The Banff Centre) KTD Summer Intensive (Kaha:wi Dance Theatre).

Montana summers

florencia taylor

Florencia Taylor Makeup Artist, Grave & a Mirror

Florencia Taylor is an internationally recognized, five-time award-winning makeup artist. She has won both the prestigious North American Makeup Artist of the Year (NAHA) Award and the Contessa Canadian Makeup Artist of the Year Award twice, as well as the Mirror Award for Canadian Makeup Artist of the Year. Florencia uses the art of makeup to bring out the best in people by expressing their internal passion through an external medium.

She highlights the unique nature of her clients and uses makeup to enhance their beauty and personality. To Florencia, makeup is so much more than a job. It is her passion and her gift!

GUEST ARTISTS

mai tilson

kaitlin torrance

Mai Tilson Director of Photography, Grave & a Mirror

Mai is Mexican born and raised. Yes, she does own a chihuahua. Canadian for love. Mother of four. Wife of one. Coffee snob. Movie lover.

Romantic at heart. 90s forever. Yo hablo español. Her hips don’t lie. Hugger not a fighter.

World wonderer. Day dreamer. Portrait and fashion photographer.

Kaitlin Torrance Dancer, One Year

Kaitlin Torrance is a dancer, singer and actor with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from Ryerson University. She has danced for Karen Kaeja, Typecast Dance Company, William Yong/Zata Omm, Brendan Fernandes, and has performed in many Nuit Blanche, Fringe Festival and SummerWorks productions over the years.

For the past decade she has toured nationally and internationally with Corpus Dance Projects, Brazilian dance company Dance Migration, and as Sporty Spice with Toronto’s Wannabe: A Spice Girls Tribute. In London, Kaitlin creates and performs with Public Displays of Art, and is a Somatic Movement Practitioner at Thrive Family Wellness.

Michael Trudgen Musician, One Year

Michael Trudgen is a fingerstyle acoustic guitarist from London, ON. Michael was recently awarded Fan Favourite 2021 at the Forest City London Music Awards for songwriting, performing, and community involvement. As an autistic artist, Michael creates musical masterpieces that are high energy, full of twists and turns, and a fusion of jazz, folk, indie rock, with a touch of country.

Michael trudgen

josh try

Josh Try Guitar, One Year

Josh Try is an award-winning multi-instrumentalist with a wealth of experience in live and studio performance. A graduate of Western University’s Popular Music Studies program, Josh has toured internationally with acts like Ryan Langdon, POESY, and Stacey Kay, and has recording and production credits on several major-label releases. Josh is also a proficient technician, having worked as productions manager at the Western University Students’ Council since 2019. He is excited to be back at the Grand Theatre, having played a (very!) minor role in the 2009 High School Project, Grease.

GUEST ARTISTS

mark uhre

hailey verbonac

Mark Uhre Writer, Actor & Set Designer, Seeds of Self, Unique Artistic Encounter, Finding Black Joy

Marks feels incredibly grateful to be back at the Grand creating again with so many thrilling artists! As an actor, visual artist, singer and teacher, Mark has been fortunate to work with artistic companies across North America including leading roles on Broadway, Stratford Festival, Shaw Festival, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, and Mirvish Productions. As a painter and published illustrator, Mark is the co-creator of www.markitproud.com, a nationally distributed LGBTQIA+ greeting card company based in Toronto. Most recently, Mark illustrated the children’s book Once Upon A Story You’ve Always Been Told, available for free on iBooks. Instagram: @markuhre Thank you for loving live ART!

Hailey Verbonac Lighting Designer, Love Song for the Thunderbirds

Hailey Verbonac is a Red River Métis lighting and video designer and artist. Originally from Inuvik, NWT (on Inuvialuit and Gwich’in land), he trained at the National Theatre School of Canada in production design and technical arts.

Wiyaatikosiw eeako ooma ohci aacimowinis ekwa otaacimowak. Kinanaaskomitin. His design credits include: the NTS New Words Festival, Indecent, Hush, [ice land], and How Tulugak the Raven Stole the Sun.

michael walton

megan watson

Michael Walton Lighting Designer, One Year, Finding Black Joy

Michael’s Grand Theatre credits include: Fully Commited, The Drawer Boy, Moonlight and Magnolias, Over the River and Through the Woods.

Michael’s other theatre credits (selected) include: Piaf/Dietrich (Mirvish); 17 Seasons with the Stratford Festival including: Billy Elliot, Little Shop of Horrors, Birds of a Kind, The Rocky Horror Show, The Tempest, The Music Man, Guys and Dolls, A Chorus Line, Tartuffe, Macbeth, Hamlet, The Sound of Music, Oedipus Rex, Love’s Labour’s Lost, King Lear, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Othello, Fiddler on the Roof, Henry V, The Matchmaker, Twelfth Night; A Christmas Carol, The Little Prince – The Musical (Theatre Calgary); Cosi Fan Tutte (Israeli Opera/ Canadian Opera Company); A Word or Two with Christopher Plummer (CTG/ Stratford, Los Angeles); Il Trittico, Jenufa, Maria Stuarda, Albert Herring (Pacific Opera); Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, Sideways (La Jolla Playhouse).

Megan Watson Festival Director, One Year, Finding Black Joy, Love Song for the Thunderbirds, Seeds of Self

Megan has been making theatre for twenty years.

She is a director, writer, curator, and educator.

The Re:Opening Festival is a “midlife“ culmination of many of her previous ideas and dreams. She is so grateful to all the people who made this beautiful festival happen. Select Grand Theatre credits include; directing Mary Poppins and The Glass Menagerie, and writing and directing Juno’s Reward. She would like to send so much love to her friends and family who have tirelessly supported her through this beautiful and complicated life.

GUEST ARTISTS

river white

jessica wilde

River White Hoop Dancer, River White Hoop Dancing

River Christie-White is a First Nations hoop dancer in the production Love Song for the Thunderbirds. Previous productions include doing lighting for Damn Yankees (Palace Theatre).

River has been spotlighted in the media, including appearances in Smoke Dance #3 by DJ Shub, The Indigenous Collective, The Song of Ontario, and more!

Jessica Wilde Nokomis, Love Song for the Thunderbirds

Jessica Wilde is an Anishinaabe Kwe from Kettle and Stony Point First Nation. She used her gift of storytelling and toured across Canada, the United States, France, Czech Republic, Scotland, Australia, and the Netherlands.

Jessica is a writer, singer and actor who finds inspiration through her family and the desire to make her mother proud. Jessica had taken time off from the stage when someone close to her passed on to the spirit world. She believed her days of performing were over and returned to school. She then graduated as a social services worker with the Dean’s Award. After six years of being hungry to perform, Jessica Wilde has returned. Miigwech.

STAFF & BOARD ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Dennis Garnhum

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Deb Harvey

ARTISTIC ADMINISTRATION ARTISTIC ASSOCIATE

Megan Watson

EXECUTIVE ASSOCIATE

Breanne Ritchie

COMPANY MANAGER

Lauren Rebelo ADMINISTRATION

TESSITURA ADMINISTRATOR

Britt Duncan

RENTALS COORDINATOR

Karen Killeen IT DIRECTOR

Barb Whang

BUILDING MAINTENANCE BUILDING MANAGER

Mike MacDonald

AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

Suzanne Lanthier FRONT OF HOUSE/ PATRON SERVICES MANAGER

Carolyn Botten

FRONT OF HOUSE/ PATRON SERVICES ASSISTANT

Alicia Samuel

FUNDRAISING MANAGER

Grace-Day Hodson

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MANAGER

BOX OFFICE MANAGER

Denise Hay Karen McDonald

PRODUCTION MANAGER PROJECT MANAGER

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR

Daniel Bennett

ASSISTANT TECHNICAL DIRECTOR

Braydon Crawford

PRODUCTION DRIVER

Jim Doucette PROPERTIES

HEAD OF PROPS

marketing & digital strategy

Natalie Tsang

PROPS BUILDER/BUYER

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Lisa Wright

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Allison Birs

COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER

Caitlin Core

HEAD SCENIC ARTIST

Richard Lawler

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Elaine Ball

COSTUMERS

Karen Merriam Georgina Schinkel Kathryn Sherwin

PRESIDENT VICE-PRESIDENT PAST PRESIDENT TREASURER

David Brebner SECRETARY

Craig Guthrie

Anne Toal

SPRIET STAGE CREW

Richard Bain Blair Fantillo Alexis Gordon Jennifer Ho Ron Koudys Sherry Liu Richard McKenzie Amira Moussa Matt Parr Jennifer Slay Dr. Robert Sokol Tom Tillmann Judy White

HEAD STAGE CARPENTER HEAD OF SOUND

HEAD OF ELECTRONICS

Jared Whitty

Judy Risser

MARKETING PROJECT MANAGER

Chris Jackson

AUDIENCE SERVICES REPRESENTATIVES

Natalie Kearns

Rana Bajandooh

SCENIC ART

JM Plester

Wright Staines

Paul Fujimoto-Pihl

DIRECTOR

George Kerhoulas

Doug Johnstone

Cheryl Willison

SECURITY

FINANCE ASSOCIATE

CARPENTER

Aaron Ouellette

Lyndee Hansen

Ansel Tempral

Anita Shah

box office & audience services

PRODUCTION

DIRECTOR

FIRST CARPENTER

Craig Pearson

Allan Wilson-Lasso

Patricia Sexsmith Aaron Simmons

FINANCE

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Steve West

HOUSEKEEPERS

Shannon Goneau Marty Petersons Aaron Simmons Cliff Warren John Witty

HEAD SCENIC CARPENTER

Scenic carpentry

HEAD FLYPERSON WIG & WARDROBE MISTRESS

Raz Zemitis

BUSINESS AGENT FOR IATSE LOCAL 105

Terry Barker

AUBURN STAGE CREW HEAD TECHNICIAN

Steven Allen

TECHNICIANS

Holly Rundle Duane Lauzon

THE GRAND THEATRE FOUNDATION BOARD PRESIDENT

Ron Koudys VICE-PRESIDENT

Jamie Crich TREASURER

David Brebner SECRETARY

George Kerhoulas Tom Burnett Dianne Cunningham Elizabeth Drewlo Chris Jackman Peter Markvoort Bob Schram Tom Tillmann Judy White

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BE A PART OF

SOMETHING GRAND Taking a dream, an idea, and a vision and seeing it through to the stage requires support at many levels. In a typical theatre season, ticket sales accounts for 60% of our total revenue. The Grand relies on the collective passion of our donors whose gifts help bring theatre magic to our stages.

GRAND Visionaries $5000–20,000+

Ambassadors’ Circle / Patrons’ Circle / Directors’ Circle Pace-setting support at this elite level will, in turn, provide you with the most exclusive and personalized benefits, designed to bring you up close and personal with the artists working at our theatre, as well the Artistic and Executive Directors. Benefit highlights include: complimentary hosting opportunities for select performances, curated events, Opening Night subscriptions, and more.

GRAND Champions $2500–4900 LONDON PROUD CLUB

Grand Champions have a made a commitment to transforming the Grand, on and off the stage. As a Grand Champion, you will attend specially designed events with like-minded supporters that will unlock your onstage and backstage experience of play production. Benefits include exclusive behind the scenes events, sneak peeks into coming seasons, and front-of-line access to special events, talks and exclusive opportunities.

GRAND Supporters $10–2400

Partners / Members / Friends / Associates Support at these levels enables us to expand and enhance programming. Benefit highlights include recognition in house programs, complimentary drink tickets, coat checks, and a season poster collection.

There are many flexible giving options: monthly donations, gifts of securities, donations to commemorate a celebration or to honour or remember someone important to you. Contact Grace Day-Hodson in our fundraising office at 519.672.9030 x245 or by email at gdayhodson@grandtheatre.com for more information on how your donation can have the greatest impact. A complete list of donor benefits is available on our website.

GRANDTICIPATION!

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS December 1-24 Spriet Stage

CONTROLLED DAMAGE February 22-March 12 Spriet Stage

ROOM January 11-29 Spriet Stage

GROW March 29 -April 20 Spriet Stage

RUBABOO Songs and Stories with Andrea Menard February 1-12 Auburn Stage

JEANS ’N CLASSICS February 10 March 17 May 5