Homes Program

season sponsor

Great theatre lives here.

We are proud to support the Grand Theatre and the artists who have been captivating audiences with exciting, innovative, and entertaining productions.

BMO is proud to sponsor the Grand Theatre’s 2022/23 season.

Artwork: Leah Dorion

WELCOME

It was in her classroom in Edmonton, Alberta, when Winnie Yeung first heard Abu Bakr’s story. Because of a language barrier, the retelling was fragmented. Yet, Winnie immediately realized that she was in the presence of someone remarkable, who had a story – a deep, complex, inspiring story – that craved to be documented and widely shared. And this is how the novel Homes: A Refugee Story was born.

I will never forget reading this book and being so completely engrossed that, as soon as I finished it, I immediately reached out to Winnie. Six months later, I was having lunch with this extraordinary teacher – and internationally-recognized author – in Edmonton and humbly suggesting that this would make a very powerful play.

So here we are, three years later, watching this World Premiere stage adaptation emerge. With Winnie and the impressive Haysam Kadri at the helm, this dynamic duo has carefully and thoughtfully brought Abu Bakr’s story to life in a way that will tug at your heartstrings, set your imagination ablaze, and reframe the way you think about home.

Spending time with Abu Bakr and the Al Rabeeah family is an incredible opportunity to gain knowledge and understanding of what it means to come to Canada as a newcomer. It is also is a chance to experience what potential young people have in enduring, but also in adapting. I am in awe of Abu Bakr, and I have a feeling you will be too.

Welcome.

dennis garnhum artistic director

PHOTO BY DAHLIA KATZ

LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT

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) peoples 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, which 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.

the installation of feathers in our lobby represents the lives lost in canada’s residential school system. photo by dahlia katz.

auburn developments Stage, february 21 to march 5, 2023

Opening Night february 24

World Premiere

homes a refugee story

Written by Winnie Yeung & Haysam Kadri

Adapted from the book by Abu Bakr Al Rabeeah & Winnie Yeung

Homes: A Refugee Story was originally commissioned and developed by the Grand Theatre, London, Canada, as part of the COMPASS New Play Development Program.

The play runs approximately 80 minutes with no intermission.

Any video and/or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

government funders

season sponsor

title sponsors

Grand Ghosts

Rubaboo

high school project

Boom X Elf: The Musical

Controlled Damage

East Coast Kitchen Party

East Coast Kitchen Party Guest Artist Sponsors

Title Sponsor Program Sponsors

Make a Difference Youth Programs Sponsor

jeans 'n classics presenting sponsor student club

grand gala presenting sponsor

compass new play development

Grand Ghosts

community partners

Hotel Apparel Vehicles Printing

Framing Catering Florist

THE SPRIET STAGE IS GENEROUSLY SPONSORED BY HELEN & ANDY SPRIET.

CAST & CREDITS

Cast

Abu Bakr NABIL TRABOULSI

creative team

Co-Playwright WINNIE YEUNG

Co-Playwright/Director HAYSAM KADRI

Assistant Director ALEX RIZKALLAH

Projection/Set Designer CORWIN FERGUSON*

Costume Designer LISA WRIGHT

Lighting Designer SIOBHAN SLEATH*

Sound Designer JORDAN LLOYD WATKINS

Stage Manager SUZANNE MCARTHUR

Apprentice Stage Manager CAITLIN MEARS

The Grand Theatre is an active member of the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres (PACT) and engages, under the terms of the Canadian Theatre Agreement, professional artists who are members of the Canadian Actors’ Equity Association. The Grand Theatre acknowledges with thanks the co-operation of Locals 105 and 828 of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists, and Allied Crafts of the United States, its Territories and Canada, and The London Musicians’ Association Local 279.

*Indicated designers on this production are represented by the Associated Designers of Canada, IATSE Local ADC659.

DIRECTOR'S NOTES

When Dennis Garnhum asked me to read the book Homes: A Refugee Story, it coincidentally came at time where my family had been supplementary supporters of a group of sponsors for a Syrian refugee family. The story of Abu Bakr and the Al Rabeeah family's harrowing journey from Iraq to Syria to Canada was an immediate page turner. I could not put it down. I felt an overwhelming sense of appreciation for this extraordinary account because, although I had direct insight into the challenges faced by refugees, I did not expect to relate to the story on so many levels.

Having the opportunity to co-write and direct this World Premiere stage adaptation has been inspiring and humbling. Like the book, the play narrows its focus through the lens of Abu Bakr. This was crucial when developing the structure of the play because the genesis of the story is born from the recounting and conjuring of his personal experiences.

Abu Bakr’s perspective offers an immediate visceral, captivating, and intense insight and new depth of gratitude for a firsthand account story. This journey comes from the understanding and knowledge of a world and circumstance that

thankfully few of us here in Canada will ever experience. Through the magic of real, painful, eye-opening, humane, and ever-hopeful storytelling, we hope this play helps humanize an issue that is often treated as political or abstract.

It’s often said that the best solo shows are those written with passion and care, and I could not have asked for a better partner on this journey than Winnie Yeung. Winnie saw courage and enthusiasm shining from this young man and was the catalyst to a new path of storytelling, which led to a book, a graphic novel, and now a play.

I send my deepest gratitude to Dennis Garnhum for his unwavering support, Nabil Traboulsi for his care and attention, Alex Rizkallah for her invaluable insight, and the crew, stage management and creative teams for their support. Lastly, a big thank you to Abu Bakr for being an inspiration, and for gifting us this beautiful story.

haysam kadri

What is it like to live through a civil war?

Based on the award-winning novel by the same name, Homes: A Refugee Story tells the remarkable true story of the Al Rabeeah family and their harrowing journey in finding a safe place to call home. From Iraq, to Syria, to Canada, in this heart-wrenching solo performance, audiences will join the young Abu Bakr Al Rabeeah as he recounts his years in Syria and the juxtapositions of growing up in a war zone: horrific, unimaginable events punctuated by soccer, cousins, video games, and the love of friends and family.

When I first read this novel, I was mesmerized. I was uplifted by this young boy’s resilience, horrified at the violence he navigated, and deeply grateful for his honesty and reflection. I can’t stop thinking about this powerful story, and believe that you too will feel the same after experiencing this illuminating world premiere. – DENNIs

IN-PERSON VIDEO Learn more about the road to Homes with co-writer, Winnie Yeung

“This young man – our first Syrian refugee student – is a gift to us.”

Those were the astonishing, prophetic words my principal, Brad Burns, used to describe a new student I would be teaching. Brad could see Abu Bakr Al Rabeeah’s potential and light and though neither of us knew the extent then, Bakr truly would become a gift to so many lives, especially mine. Weeks after that conversation, I met my new Grade Nine ESL student. Now, there was no Writer-Muse meet-cute here: we didn’t bond instantly. In fact, Abu Bakr was painfully shy! I laid out breadcrumbs of language and laughter to coax him out of his shell but, as many new language learners are, he was too self-conscious to speak much to me. So, imagine my surprise when Abu Bakr told me he wanted to share his story. Years later, Bakr confessed that even though those words just tumbled out, in that same breath he knew he could trust me.

Abu Bakr’s trust was his gift. His story was his offering. With his permission and participation, I wrote Homes in order to honour a life beautifully-lived despite the casual horrors of growing up in a war zone. Based on my interviews with Abu Bakr and his family, the book chronicles the strange twists of fate that led them from Iraq, to Syria, and finally Canada. But the universe and Dennis

Garnham brought another gift to our journey: Haysam Kadri. With Haysam’s intuitive, quietly-brilliant skills, we teased out more gems of joy and resilience in adapting Homes for the stage. But through all this, Abu Bakr shares his life with you, not because he wants to highlight the violence, but because he feels like it can “move people to love each other” more. For this is the magic of art: it doesn’t just feed our imaginations, art builds bridges of understanding and compassion. In sharing his life, Bakr felt less like a lonely outsider. The relationship of sharing, receiving, and honouring each other is the true gift of storytelling – something I am so grateful to be a partner in. I hope Abu Bakr’s story feeds your soul the way it fed mine in writing it.

winnie yeung

WINNIE YEUNG, ABU BAKR

Photography: Jackie Noble

ARTISTS

Nabil Traboulsi Abu Bakr

f or t he Grand t heatre: Debut. t heatre c redits (selected): Martyr (ARC); Entre Deux Mondes (Théâtre La Tangente); Gloria (ARC, Crow’s Theatre); A Tonic For Desperate Times (Theatre Gargantua); Towards Rebirth (Shakespeare in the Ruff); Oil (ARC); La Seconde Surprise de l’Amour, Le Menteur, Les Zinspirés 6 (Théâtre Français de Toronto). film and tv c redits (selected): Borje (Viaplay); Accused (Fox); The Boys (Amazon); Titans (Netflix).

other: 2 Dora awards and 2 nominations across the performance, writing and music composition categories. www.nabiltraboulsi.com.

Winnie Yeung Co-Playwright

Abu Bakr's story has been a wellspring of many literary firsts for Winnie! Although she has been an English teacher for over fifteen years, Homes: A Refugee Story is Winnie's first book, play, and graphic novel. The book has been inducted into the Library of Parliament in Ottawa and received extensive critical acclaim. It was shortlisted for both the Governor General’s Literary Award for Nonfiction and the Writers’ Trust Shaughnessy Cohen Award for Political Writing. Homes was also a finalist on CBC’s Canada Reads 2019. Homes was awarded the Wilfrid Eggleston Award for Nonfiction and named the Alberta Book Publisher 2019 Non-Fiction Book of the Year. Winnie was also awarded the University of Alberta Alumni Award of Excellence for her contribution to the literary community in 2019.

When she is not teaching, writing, or reading, Winnie likes to spend her days cooking, baking, and hiking with her black pug, Zoe. Edmonton, Canada is her permanent home, but her writing

retreat/tiny home (named, The Mini Winnie, of course) is on Vancouver Island.

Haysam Kadri

Co-Playwright/Director

f or the Grand t heatre: A Thousand Splendid Suns, A Street Car Named Desire, Einstein’s Gift. theatre c redits (selected): Clue, Nero Wolfe: Might As Well Be Dead (Vertigo Theatre); In Wonderland (ATP); A Thousand Splendid Suns (Arts Club, MTC); The Shoplifters, Romeo and Juliet (Theatre Calgary); Three Musketeers, Titus Andronicus, Hamlet (The Shakespeare Company); Prairie Boys Winter, A Mid-Summer Night's Dream, Dracula (Mount Royal University); Metamorphoses (U of C); Dracula (Red Deer College).

film and tv c redits (selected): Last of Us, The Revenant, Hell on Wheels.

other : Haysam is the Artistic Producer of The Shakespeare Company in Calgary. shakespearecompany.com

Alex Rizkallah Assistant Director

f or the Grand t heatre: Debut.

t heatre c redits (selected): Upcoming: Sticky Fingers: A Musical (OKTC, World Premiere). Hopscotch (Festival Of Original Theatre); Boundaries (London Fringe Festival); Bring it On: The Musical (Theatre Western); Hopscotch, Boundaries (Mississauga MultiLingual Fringe Festival); A Little Big Thing (Black Swan Production Company). Love’s Labour’s Lost (Stratford Festival, Dir. Peter Pasyk).

other: Western University. Stratford Festival Post-Secondary Intensive.

Instagram: @alexandra.riz_

nabil traboulsi winnie yeunG

h aysam kadri a lex rizkallah

ARTISTS

Corwin Ferguson Projection/Set Designer

f or t he Grand t heatre: Debut.

t heatre c redits (selected): Brigadoon (Shaw Festival); Sweat, Steel City Gangster (Theatre Aquarius); Nobody’s Children, Hansel & Gretel, Robin Hood (Yellow Door Theatre Project); Driving Miss Daisy, Miracle on 34th St, Enemy of the People, Wizard of Oz, The Great Gatsby, 1984 (Saint John Theatre Company); Rinaldo (Pacific Opera Victoria); Julius Caesar, Richard III (The Shakespeare Company); Playing with Fire, Buyer & Cellar, You Will Remember Me (Alberta Theater Projects).

other: Graduate of the BPA Program at Capilano University, Studio 58 Acting Graduate, Okanagan University College Animation Certificate. www.corwinferguson.com

Lisa Wright Costume Designer

f or t he Grand t heatre: Head of Wardrobe 2008 to present. High School Projects: Into the Woods, Titanic, Prom Queen, Evita, Les Misérables School Edition, Hello, Dolly!, The Addams Family: A New Musical, Legally Blonde, My Fair Lady, Footloose, Anything Goes, Grease. Other: Art, The Mountaintop, Fly Me to the Moon, Hair. Assistant Head of Wardrobe for 7 seasons; came to the Grand Theatre as a tailor in 1989.

theatre credits (selected): The Stratford Festival, Livent, Lighthouse Festival Theatre, Banff Theatre Centre.

Siobhan Sleath Lighting Designer

f or the Grand t heatre: Debut.

theatre c redits (selected): Snow White (YPT); Come From Away: The Concert (Marquis Productions); Ring of Fire, Steel City Gangster and On a First Name Basis (Theatre Aquarius); The Hobbit (Adirondack Theater Festival);

Ephemeral Artifacts: Travis Knights (Anandam Dancetheatre); The Great Divide (Harold Green Jewish Theatre); Ann (Arkansas Rep Theatre); The Horse and His Boy, Wilde Tales (Shaw Festival); Figaro’s Wedding (Against the Grain); Miracle on 34th Street, A Year with Frog and Toad, Shrek, The Addams Family (Neptune Theatre).

other : www.siobhansleathdesign.com

Jordan

Lloyd Watkins Sound Designer

f or the Grand t heatre: Debut.

t heatre c redits (selected): Le Voyage (Flip the Switch); Oh What a Beautiful Morning (Fight With a Stick); Nomadic Tempest (Caravan Stage Company); Inside the Seed (Upintheair Theatre).

other: jordanlloydwatkins.com

c orwin f erGuson l isa w riG ht

siobhan sleath jordan lloyd watkins

ARTISTS

Suzanne McArthur Stage Manager

f or t he Grand t heatre: 13th season.

t heatre c redits (selected): Hamlet-911, Hosanna, The Tempest (Stratford Festival); The Birds and the Bees, Aladdin: The Panto, Snow White: The Panto, Weekend Comedy, Perfect Wedding (Drayton Entertainment); The Fixer-Upper, It’s Your Funeral, Lunenburg, Buying the Farm, Birds of a Feather, Storm Warning, Wrong for Each Other, Knickers! A Brief Comedy (Port Stanley Festival Theatre); The Normal Heart (Studio 180/Buddies in Bad TimesTheatre); Forests (Tarragon Theatre); Beauty and the Beast (Silver Mist Productions). upcominG: Les Belles-Soeurs (Stratford Festival).

other: Love to Phil, Michael and Charlie.

Caitlin Mears

Apprentice Stage Manager

f or t he Grand t heatre: Home for the Holidays.

theatre credits (selected): Chicago, The Miser, Three Tall Women (Stratford Festival); The Tender Land (University of Toronto Opera); Angel, The Resurrection, Don Giovanni (Opera Atelier); Cinderella: The Panto (Capitol Theatre); August: Osage County (Soulpepper); rochdale (SummerWorks); Twelfth Night, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (a Company of Fools).

other: Graduate of the BFA Theatre Production Program at York University. Caitlin would like to thank her friends, family, and mentors for their help and support over the years.

suzanne mcarthur c aitlin m ears

Written by Andrea Menard

Music by Andrea Menard and Robert Walsh Co-Produced with Arts Club Theatre Company

artwork by leah dorion

title sponsor

A beautiful dream lives on. A hundred years of silence is broken today.

Derived from the Michif word for “leftovers stew” or “big pot,” Rubaboo will take audiences on an intimate, moving, and joyous musical journey – guided by powerhouse, Métis performer, Andrea Menard. An award-winning singer-songwriter and actor, Andrea’s lyrical voice and masterful storytelling will envelop you into the beauty of Métis culture. Featuring the sounds of drums and guitar, this grand musical feast will include songs of reconciliation, unity, love, frustration, and resilience.

Expect your hearts to fill and your spirits to soar as Andrea Menard uses her wisdom, warmth, and formidable voice to take us all on a very personal journey in the world premiere of Rubaboo. It's a real honour to have Andrea here with us. –

DENNIS

IN-PERSON VIDEO

Get to know more about the WORLD PREMIERE of Rubaboo from writer and creator, Andrea Menard

With the blazing heart of a storyteller, Leah Marie Dorion believes in utilizing various forms of artistic expression to share stories. Art is a spiritual expression for the notable Métis writer and artist. Thus, her paintings are influenced by traditional cultural teachings, such as the medicine wheel and the sacred circle of life. Balance and harmony, along with the four sacred elements of life, are foundational aspects of her work - as represented in Earth, Air, Fire, and Water.

LEAH DORION ART

How do we have hope in the face of new beginnings? My first day of school nervous but excited new place, new friends playing, eating, dancing together kicking soccer balls, laughing we spend our days joyfully then everything changes How do we have hope in the face of war? Fear strikes like lightning conflict and confrontation burning like fire people are asking for help, running homes are destroyed families torn, scared cities full of pain peace taken from people left crying left dying left wondering “why is this happening?” How do we have hope in the face of loss? it feels like the world is ending missing memories, old homes as families leave for other countries suffering, drowning, burning like birds we fly to other countries to find safety How do we have hope in the face of leaving? living in camps trying to make home in a place that isn’t home starting this new life is like a dead flower growing again it is being born again after lots of struggle but it is sadness again, we begin to realize our dreams but racist screams stand in our faces telling us to go back home will we return to our homes and die with dignity? but then, a call a phone ringing with hope and the promise of a new home How do we have hope in the face of the unknown? Sent to Canada but we did not know what Canada was afraid, worried, sad would it be a bad place? but we are welcomed and we begin to rebuild with joy, safety, love new language, new life needing to find ourselves needing to find each other building our futures, again first day of school, again butterflies swirling nerves and sadness excitement and happiness school is like a river, always changing different languages, cultures, people different ways people look at me something in our hearts is broken but we try to stay strong we have dreams to follow so, we never give up Together in the face of all of this we still have hope

WE STILL HAVE HOPE

We Still Have Hope is a mural that tells a story about home, about the fragility of home, the rebuilding of home and the yearning for home. It tells a story of war, displacement, migration, and land. 31 highschool newcomer youth volunteering with the Muslim Resource Centre for Social Support and Integration (MRCSSI) created the mural with social artist Melanie Schambach in 2019.

The youth then worked with local poet and educator, Holly Painter, to write a collective poem giving voice to the story of loss, pain, struggle, and possibility. In late February 2020, the youth unveiled the mural in a celebration with their families and friends at Pillar Non-Profit. Due to the pandemic, other plans to share in community had to be cancelled. It is exciting that it will be exhibited at the Grand Theatre for Londoners to see.

This mural was made possible by funds received from the City of London, the London Arts Council and the Laidlaw Foundation.

National Arts Centre, Vita Brevis Arts, Canadian Stage Company, Neptune Theatre, Grand Theatre Production

Stage adaptation by Hannah Moscovitch and Alisa Palmer

Co-Created & Written by Hannah Moscovitch

Co-Created & Directed by Alisa Palmer Production Dramaturgy by Mel Hague

Based on the Novel by Ann-Marie MacDonald

Behind-the-scenes in the

DEVELOPERS REHEARSAL HALL

From the cast and crew meet and greet until the team moves to its final rehearsals on the Spriet Stage, the magic of theatre comes alive in the rehearsal hall.

We are grateful for the financial support provided by the following companies whose contributions assisted in the refurbishment of our main rehearsal hall – now aptly named: The Developers Rehearsal Hall.

NABIL TRABOULSI, HAYSAM KADRI

NABIL TRABOULSI

NABIL TRABOULSI, HAYSAM KADRI

SUZANNE MCARTHUR, CAITLIN MEARS, NABIL TRABOULSI

STAFF & BOARD

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Dennis Garnhum

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Evan Klassen

ARTISTIC ADMINISTRATION

PRODUCER

Lyndee Hansen

COMPANY MANAGER

Christine Gruenbauer

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR INTERN

Lennette Randall

EDUCATION MANAGER

Breanne Ritchie

ADMINISTRATION IT DIRECTOR

Barb Whang

TESSITURA ADMINISTRATOR

Britt Duncan

operations

BUILDING MANAGER

Mike MacDonald

ASSISTANT BUILDING MANAGER

Aaron Simmons

HoUSEKEEPing

Luke Morrison

Patricia Sexsmith

Ben Storie

SECURITY

Shannon Goneau

Marty Petersons

Gaurav Thukral

John Whitty

FINANCE

DIRECTOR

Ansel Tempral

FINANCE ASSOCIATE

Judy Risser

ACCOUNTING ASSISTANT

Kelly Fraleigh

marketing & digital strategy

DIRECTOR

Lia Karidas

DIGITAL MARKETING

STRATEGIST

Rana Bajandooh

MARKETING PROJECT MANAGER

Allison Birs

COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER

Caitlin Core

fund DEVELOPMENT

DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS AND EVENTS

Sarah Hilton

DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR

Jacob Wiley

AUDIENCE SERVICES

FRONT OF HOUSE

FRONT OF HOUSE MANAGER

Ali Samuel

ASSISTANT FRONT OF HOUSE MANAGER

Haley Helm

BAR & BEVERAGE

Mackenzie Bishop

Melissa Cameron

Laura Gallant

Amelia Hilton

Ben Kennes

Sabrina Sa

Sabrina Stewart

Hannah VanAlphen-Fyfe

Landon Wright

box office AUDIENCE SERVICES SUPERVISOR

Denise Hay

REPRESENTATIVES

Caitlin Cahill

Trinity Harrison

Karen McDonald

Cheryl Willison

PRODUCTION

DIRECTOR

Paul Fujimoto-Pihl

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR

Brayden Crawford

ASSISTANT TECHNICAL DIRECTOR

Sonja Niedermaier

PRODUCTION DRIVER

Jim Doucette

PROPERTIES

HEAD OF PROPS

Natalie Kearns

PROPS BUILDER/ BUYER

Natalie Tsang

PROPS APPRENTI CE

Kassidy Noble

WARDROBE

HEAD OF WARDROBE

Lisa Wright

ASSISTANT HEAD OF WARDROBE/ACCESSORIES BUILDER

Elaine Ball

CUTTER

Kathryn Sherwin

WARDROBE APPRENTICE

Meghan Choma*

Scenic carpentry

HEAD SCENIC CARPENTER

Craig Pearson

FIRST CARPENTER

Tom Stewart

SECOND CARPENTER

Rory Leydier

SCENIC ART

HEAD SCENIC ARTIST

Richard Lawler

SENIOR SCENIC ARTIST

Craig Guthrie

SPRIET STAGE

HEAD STAGE CARPENTER

Steve West

HEAD OF AUDIO

Aaron Ouellette

HEAD OF LIGHTING

Liam Arbogast

HEAD OF FLYS

Jared Whitty

HEAD STAGE WARDROBE

Sarah Tracy

AUBURN STAGE

HEAD TECHNICIAN

Steve Allen

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

PRESIDENT

George Kerhoulas

VICE-PRESIDENT

Matt Parr

PAST PRESIDENT

Anita Shah

TREASURER

Bill Assini

SECRETARY

Anne Toal

DIRECTORS

Christopher Alleyne

Nicole Blanchette

Jamie Campbell

Blair Fantillo

Alexis Gordon

Jennifer Ho

Ron Koudys

Amira Moussa

Jane Scholes

Jennifer Slay

Dr. Robert Sokol

THE GRAND THEATRE FOUNDATION BOARD

PRESIDENT

Ron Koudys

VICE-PRESIDENT

Jamie Crich

TREASURER

David Brebner

SECRETARY

George Kerhoulas

Tom Burnett

Dianne ElizabethCunningham Drewlo

Chris Jackman

Peter Markvoort

Bob Schram

Tom Tillmann

Judy White

*Supported by The George Cedric Metcalf Charitable Foundation

AfterWORDS

On Wednesday evenings immediately after the performance, remain in the Auburn Lounge for a brief guided discussion with artists, creative team members, and Grand staff!

Enhance your theatre experience with this informal chance to dive deeper into the show’s content while mingling with fellow patrons and artists. Please visit our website or social media channels for special guest announcements and schedules.

PHOTO BY DAHLIA KATZ

MORE THAN EVER BEFORE

YOUR GIFT

As we continue to build back audiences after two years of shutdown due to COVID19, we need your support more than ever before!

Your donation will ensure we are able to continue to deliver on our mission of creating transformative experiences on our stages, through our stories, to connect with and inspire our communities.

Donations of any and all amounts are valued by our Grand theatre family and come with a range of benefits. Thank you for your generous support.

GRAND Visionaries

$5,000–20,000+

Directors’ Circle / Ambassadors’ Circle / Patrons’ 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 staff and artists working at our theatre, as well as the Artistic and Executive Directors. Benefit highlights include: complimentary hosting opportunities, curated events, Opening Night subscriptions and more.

GRAND Champions

LONDON PROUD CLUB

$2,500–4,999

Donors at this level will directly assist your fellow Londoners who may not be able to afford access to the Grand through programs like Student Club, Holiday Wish for Kids and the CANOO program welcoming new Canadians to London. As a Grand Champion, you will attend specially designed events with like-minded supporters that will unlock the backstage experience of productions. Added benefits include: exclusive behind the scenes events including invitation to sneak peeks of coming seasons and a full season of posters!

GRAND Supporters

$10–2,499

Partners / Members / Friends / Associates

Your support will enable the Grand to expand and enhance programming. Benefits highlights include: recognition in our house programs, complimentary beverage tickets, a season poster collection and more!

A complete list of donor benefits is available on our website at grandtheatre.com. Any comments, questions, or suggestions can be directed to our Development Coordinator, Jacob Wiley, at jwiley@grandtheatre.com or 519.672.9030, ext. 245

THANK YOU TO OUR DONORS

Please note this donor list contains all donations received within the past 18 months

GRAND VISIONARIES DIRECTORS’ CIRCLE $20,000+

Lynn Davis • Elizabeth & Allan Drewlo • Caroline & Rodney Hancock • Nicole Le Riche & John Howard • Ron & Deb Koudys • Linda & Cecil Rorabeck • Debbie & Bob Schram •

Helen & Andy Spriet • Carol Stephenson • Marty & Susanne Thrasher • Judy White •

1 Anonymous Donor

patron's CIRCLE $10,000–19,999

Lynne Cram • Noreen De Shane • Alison Hannay • Susan & Ron Holliday • Jacqueline Crosby & George Kerhoulas • Diane & Michael Smith • Anne Toal & Paul Brisson

AMBASSDOR'S CIRCLE $5,000–9,999

Jane & Justin Amann • Heidi Bayley & Jamie Crich • Sharon Bryan • Allan & Susan Edwards

Suzanne Lanthier • Harry Joosten & Kathleen Murphy • Peter Markvoort • Deanie Markvoort

• Jackie & John Porter • Alison & Doug Ross • Anita & Amit Shah • Susan Smith-Goddard

Roberta & Dr. Robert Sokol

Nicole Spriet & Sandy Mikalachki • Zelinka Family

GRAND CHAMPIONS LONDON PROUD CLUB $2,500–4,999

Ahria Consulting

Anne & Bruce Barran

Chris Alleyne & Chris

Costello

Jim Cressman

Deb Harvey

Jennifer Ho

Lily & Grant Hopcroft

Joan & Glenn Johnson

Evan Klassen

Lesley MacAskill & Chris

Jackman

Sandra & Don Letton

Mike Meddaoui

Amira Moussa

North Moore Catering

Jenny, Matt & Finn Parr

Carey & Holden Rhodes

Eleanor Schnall

Jennifer Slay

Elaine Stalker & Jack Norman

Domenico Strano

Debbie & Dave Tennant

Jane & Tom Tillmann

GRAND SUPPORTERS ASSOCIATES $1,000–2,499

Linda Frosst Adams & Stephen N. Adams QC

Jill & Brian Allen

Yvonne & Dr. Ross

Archibald

Rachael Berta

Brenda & Kerry Benson

David & Terianne Brebner

Susan Carlyle & David

Southen

Diana & Charles Coates

Dr Paul E Cooper & Mr

David J Hiebert

Dianne Cunningham

Jan & Guy De Rose

Danna DeJong

Chandlee Dickey & Larry

Panych

Emma Donoghue & Chris

Roulston

Jennifer Duncan

Glen & Marg Gagan

Dennis Garnhum & Bruce

Sellery

Mary Gillett & Thomas

Burnett

Jo-Anne & Richard

Hammond

Barbara & Paul Hebert

Eleanore Huang & Jack Jung

Sandy Jamieson

Elana Johnson & Christopher Collins

Michael Johnson

Kirsten Knight & Craig

Emptage

Mary Margaret & Gary

Koreen

Ruth Laidlaw

Diana Bennett & Spencer

Lanthier

Sharon & Brian Lessard

London Foods Ltd.

Liz & David Macdonald

Mary-Jane & Rick Mann

Darlene & Larry Marsh

Libby & Earl McMillan

Teresa & Ron McRae

Cydna Mercer

Michael and Valerie Milde

Ina Pakkert

Dawn & Franco Paron

Paul Butler and Chris Black

Foundation

Sandra & Robert Pearson

Dr Janet Pope

Deborah & Ronald Purdy

Glenda Robinson

Sarah Tattersall & Kevin Endo

K L Turner

Rick Verrette & George Jolink

Peter & Beth Whatmore

Mark Wilton

Mina Samuels

Pam Samuels

Georgina & Ralph Schinkel

Heather & Peter Scott

Liisa Sheldrick

Kim Shuit

Elaine & Ian Simpson

Joanne & Jack Smit

Erin & Dave Stimac

Diane Baird & Jurgen Tietz

The United Church of Canada

Foundation-The Mary and Norman Warner Fund

Margo Visser-DeVuono

John Zubick Limited

Anonymous Donor (1)

GRAND SUPPORTERS

FRIENDS

$500–999

Sharon & Harold Arbuckle

Doreen & Mike Bartlett

Beverly & David Bell

Maureen Boland

Carolyn & Colin Botten

C Chamberlain & C Bell

Moira Burke

Janet & James Caskey

Grace Coutinho

Jennifer & Peter Day

Midge & Phil Dean

Eileen Dobell

Marilyn & Art Fidler

Paul Fujimoto-Pihl

Joyce Garnett

Kathryn Glasgow

Rhonda Hallberg

Najet & Hanny Hassan

Margaret & John Hewitt

Ms Patricia Hoffer

Nitzan Holzberg

Brenda & Morrison Hurley

Jenna Hutchison

Alicia Jeffery

Ann & John Judson

Marty Kolls Schram & Dave

Schram

Steve Kopp

Ruta & William Lawrence

Michael Leopold

Dianne Lesperance

Catharine & Trev Luke

Jennifer Matthews

Scott McKowen & Christina

Poddubiuk

Kate Milner & Andrew

Petrasiunas

Julie Nicholson

Bekki Ollson

Deborah & Joe Owens

John Peebles

Lili Rechnitzer

Linda & Scott Ritchie

Judith & Wilson Rodger

Sabrina Sater & Dave

Schram

Mr. Bob Schram

Andrea M. Scott

Carolyn & Jack Scott

Celia & Rod Silverson

Anne Souter & William

Dawson

Jacqueline & Erich Specht

Linda E. Staudt

Norma Stokes

Maureen & Michael Tilson

Judy & Gerry Wheaton

Faye & Rod Willis

Jacki Yellowlees

Dr. Betty Anne Younker

Anonymous Donors (5) supporters

$100–499

Judy & Jack Abell

Susan Agranove

Henry J. Albers

Carole Alton

Mary Arrand

Reg Ash

Karen & Eric Auzins

Ruby Bantock

Sister Simone Batte

Alice Beddoe

Pat & Rodney Bell

Jane & Don Benson

Helene Berman

Ingrid & Monica Betz

Patricia Black & Bryan

Burwash

Sherri and Brandon

Bocchini

Joan & Robert Boyce

Lorena & Jack Brown

Sharon & Bill Burns

Linda & Larry Burt

Pamela Cameron

Madeline Campbell

Paul & Sandi Caplan

Lesley Carmichael

James Cassidy

Judy & Peter Castle

Jacklyn Chang-Cardoso

Donna Chute-Dolan

Eileen & Hugh John Cook

Jane Corbett

Ada & Henry Cornelissen

Catharine Cornhill

Larry Cornies

Aindrea Cramp

Cecilia & William Davies

Noreen Davis

Bonnie Dawe

Alfred Day

Barry Deathe & Susan

Brown

Eileen Dobell

Joanne Dow & Harry Homer

Dorothy Downs & Thomas

Sobut

Vicki & Gord Drimmie

Joseph Driskill

Mary Dryden

Phil Dwyer & Christen

Shoesmith

Frances Dyson

Jeanette & Stuart Eberhard

Penny Eizenga

Doris England

Betty Escaf

Liz & Jim Etherington

Kim Eyre

Laurie Farquharson

Rudy & Lorna Fast

Barb & Bruce Fearnall

Linda & Louis Ferraro

Pat Fewster

Andrew First

Ann & Bill Fleming

Chuck and Valerie Ford

Lorie Forwell & William

Clark

Elizabeth Fowler

Suzanne Fratschko Elliott

Rhonda & David Freeman

Barbara Froats

Kim Gadsdon

Aaron Garber

Nathan Garber

Haley & Ryan Gauss

Rigmor & Gary Glen

David Gliddon

Basil and Belinda Gracious

Sheila & Al Green

Deb Greenfield

Jane Hair

Bea & Gavin Hamilton

Leah Hamilton

Pauline & Peter Hart

Manfred and Judith Harth

Muhammad Hassan

Margaret & Bruce Hastings

Denise Hay

Glenn and Lois Hayter

Maureen & Ian Herrick

Jennifer Hiltz

Mark Hodgkinson

Gail & Rick Hoevenaars

David Hoff

Kathleen Holland

Nancy & Martin Holmes

Cheryl Hooper

Nicole Le Riche & John

Howard

Louisa Howerow

Marian Hundt

Heather & Paul Huston

Susan & Howard Isaacs

Allan Johnson

Terry & Evelyn Julian

Mabel & Elton Kane

Michelle Kaplansky

Maureen & Shayne Kasiurak

Heather & David Keast

Tanis Kelly

Jordan Kilfoy

Marianne & Paul Kippax

M. E. Kirk

Rose & William Klein

Sheila & Stan Kogon

Susan & John Koval

Margaret E Laird

Jennifer & Wayne Lawrence

William & Shirley Lawrence

Cheryl and Doug Lester

Marie Liddell

Karen Lilley

Susan and Mike Liska

Frank and Bonnie Littell

Dennis and Sharon Lunau

Suzanne Majhanovich

Mary Lynn & Paul Mansell

Lynn Marshall

Cheryl Masson

Janine & Jeff Mathyssen

Judith McBride

Sheila McBride

Gwen McBurney

Jamie and Cheryl McCallum

Joan McCarthy

Ms Mary Ellen McDermott

Nancy & Ian McDowell

Ann McEwan-Castellan

Ken McGuffin

Sheilanne Lindsay

Dianne & Ian McIntosh

Ann & Hugh McIntosh

Jason McIntyre

Nancy & Bill McKeough

Luella Barath & Paul

McKnight

Marilynne McNeil

Robert Mepham

Louise Milligan

Beverley & Paul Mills

Shirley Mitchell

Michelle Mylemans

Larry and Nancy Needham

Celia Nichols & Cam

Johnston

Colleen O'Brien

Sandra O'Brien

Helen & Gordon Olmstead

John and Norine Opper

Dorothy & John Palmer

Maura Pare

Steven Parfeniuk

Elizabeth Parmeter & William Horne

Susie & Larry Patrick

Cam Pettinger & Tracey

Watters

Ann Pinchin

Norma & Jim Poel

Blair Poetschke

Mary Possmayer

Wesley & Wilma Prescod

Claire A. Prins

Karen & Rick Pritchett

Lisa Putman & Bruce Reed

Nancy Quinn & Jeff

DeLuzio

Gail & Gary Rains

Susan Wallace & James

Reaney

Bonnie & Peter Regier

Linda Rempel

Eleanore Reynolds

Sharon Rich

Kathleen & Douglas

Richards

Doris & Frank Robak

William & Barbara Robins

Garrett Rodman

Karen & Paul Romanson

Trudy Roth Walker & Lloyd

Walker

Elizabeth & Ralph Rudy

Dianne & Rick Rumney

Lynda & Howard Rundle

Peggy Sattler

Denise & Gordon Saylor

Alan G. Sellery

Catherine & Gordon Sellery

Ms Julia Sert

Todd Shaddick

Valerie & John Sharpe

Kathryn Sherwin

Jennifer Shields

Margaret & Robert Shirley

Lynne Sinclair-Ifill

Judy and Kevin Smith

Judith & Robert Southcott

Mr. and Mrs. Nancy and

Jerry Springer

Helena Steinmetz & Bruce

Hewitt

Susan Steven

Shonagh Stevenson-Ramsay

Sarah Stewart

Karen Stone

Janice & Paul Strickland

Bill & Sheila Strybosch

Joan & Ken Sumnall

Anne Sutton

Janet Szilagyi

Anne & Don Thede

Diane Thrasher

Gerard Tillmann

Jane Tillmann

Jody Timmerman

Anne Toal & Paul Brission

Joan & Ross Totten

Shannon Twynstra

Dr. Jane Upfold

Christine & Jake Van Dyk

Jan Vanesch

Catherine Vermue

Jennifer and Keith Vincent

David Wake

Judith Walker

Janis Wallace

Beth-Anne & Alex Wasko

Susan Waugh

Alice Wehlau

Margaret & Mark Whitley

Sandra-Pat Willis

Cheryl & Mark Willison

Joe Wilson

Ian & Mary Wilton

Pam & Paul Wilton

Ailene Wittstein

Sharon Wright-Evans

Richard Yake

Elizabeth Yurkiw

Beverley Zaifman

Anonymous Donors (6)

ENDOWMENTS & GIFTS THROUGH the LONDON COMMUNITY Foundation

The Barbara & John Cronyn Fund • The Grant & Lily Hopcroft Fund • The Larry & Susan

Agranove Family Fund • The Megan Holliday Memorial Fund

• The Verna D. Davis

• The William and Katharine Kostuk Family Fund • Crawford MacLeod Foundation

Endowment for the Arts

In Memoriam

Thank you to those who gave in memory of Shirley Brown, Mary Loncke, Pam Samuels, and Lister Waugh, cherished friends of the Grand who are dearly missed.

PROSCENIUM SOCIETY

We are deeply grateful to the compassionate individuals who have made the important and thoughtful decision to make a planned gift to the Grand Theatre. We honour them through their membership in the Proscenium Society.

Barbara Belbeck

Lynn Davis

Cathy & James Dunlop

Dr. Nicole le Riche & Dr. John Howard

EJ Lamb

Mary & Roger Lilliman

Susan Nickle

Diane & Gary Alan Price

Glenda Robinson

Judy White

Michael Wojtak

Karen Killeen

Membership to the Proscenium Society is available to those who have chosen to make a planned gift in one or more of the following ways:

• Bequests (donations through your will)

• Listed Securites

• Life Insurance Beneficiary Designation

• Charitable Remainder Trust and gifts of Residual Interest

• Charitable Gift Annuities

• Life Insurance Policies, rrsp, rrif

We remember the following members of the Grand Theatre family who have made a bequest to the theatre. Their legacy will help ensure that the Grand continues to flourish.

Hazel E. Bell

Day

• Marista Ateena Brooks (Mikolaski)

• Walter R. (Wally) Duffield

• Douglas McCullough

• Elizabeth Stratton

• Robert Crawford

• Innis Hammond

• Mary Eleanor Miller

• Barbara Horne

• Buck A. M. Cuddy

• Beryl Ivey

• Maureen Elizabeth Ryan

• Theresa Cutler

• Elizabeth Ann Jones

• Joseph Samuels

• Helen Ann

• Myrtle McCallum

• Donald Smith

• Doris Spence

We would also like to thank the members of our community who have welcomed visiting artists into their homes as Artist Housing Partners for this season:

Lesley Beagley

Pam Mandich

Mark Uhre

• Ross & Cathy Burgar

• Cam Quinn

• Jill Ellis-Worthington

• Patricia Reilly

• Peter & Jan Vogel

• Anna Grigg

• Wendy Sanderson-Culley

• Bob Ward & Susan Yerema

• Christine Hoover

• Anita & Amit Shah

• Megan Watson

• Denise Jung

• Lene Stentoft

• Doug & Connie Weir

• Beth Leibovitz

•

• Allan Stichbury •

support our grand theatre dining partners

The past few years have impacted many businesses and industries in our city. Please take note of and support the Grand Theatre Dining Partners listed below. Try out a new dining experience before or after your performance!

6-show Spriet Stage subscribers can enjoy 15% off their meal at participating dining program restaurants

PARTICIPATING RESTAURANTS

www.marriott.com/yxudl

The Church Key Bistro Pub

476 Richmond Street 519-936-0960

thechurchkey.ca

Che Resto Bar

Street 519-601-7999

cherestobar.ca

RESTAURANT DINING STYLE PRICE RANGE

Fellini Koolini’s Casual Fine Dining $$$

155 Albert Street

519-642-2300

fellinikoolinis.com

Garlic’s of London

481 Richmond Street

519-432-4092

garlicsoflondon.com

Upscale Rustic Cuisine $$$

Gnosh Dining & Cocktails Casual Fine Dining $$$$

125 Dundas Place

519-601-8050

gnoshdining.com

Grace Restaurant Farm-to-Table $$$$

215 Dundas Street (at Clarence) Fine Dining

226-667-4822

gracelondon.ca

Joe Kool’s Casual $$

595 Richmond Street

519-663-5665

joekools.ca

Marienbad Restaurant Casual Fine Dining $$$

122 Carling Street

519-679-9940

marienbad.ca

Moxie’s Grill & Bar Premium Casual $$$

441 Richmond Street

519-936-0745

moxies.com

Toboggan Brewing Company Brew Pub $$$

585 Richmond Street

519-433-2337

tobogganbrewing.com

Villa Cornelia Restaurant Continental $$

142 Kent Street Fine Dining

226-234-6267

villacorneliarestaurant.com

Winks Eatery Casual Dining Pub $$

551 Richmond Street (on Albert)

519-936-5079

winkseatery.com