AProductionof MusicbyJohnAlcornTheatreRonnieBurkettofMarionetes
Great theatre lives here.
We are pleased to suppor t the Grand Theatre and the per formers that are captivating audiences with exciting, innovative, and enter taining produc tions.
BMO is proud to be the Grand Theatre’s 2025/26 Season Sponsor – Wonder ful Joe
Photo Credits: Ian Jackson, Epic Photography
Welcome to the Grand Theatre
We’re so glad you’re here.
The Grand Theatre acknowledges that we are located on the traditional territories of the Original storytellers and caretakers of this land, and of the Nations, both settler and Indigenous, who continue to uphold the various treaties of the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, and Lunaapéewak.
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, and affirm our commitment to welcoming these communities to the Grand Theatre, while working to remove barriers to access and participation.
We value the significant historical and contemporary contributions of local and regional First Nations, and all of the Original Peoples of Turtle Island (colonially known as North America), and acknowledge the traditional lands upon which we live, work, share, and tell stories together.
Designed by Katie Wilhelm
WELCOME
Many years ago, I fell in love with Ronnie Burkett’s work when seeing a show called Street of Blood. It was about AIDS and vampires and small-town sensibility. Through Ronnie’s writing, his acting, and his marionettes, I felt like I was seeing something I had never seen before and something I knew in my heart, all at the same time. I particularly fell in love with a marionette character named Edna, whose optimistic philosophy on life is “keep your fork, ‘cause there’ll be pie.” That slogan touched my small-town Saskatchewan soul –bringing to mind the potlucks and Fowl Suppers of my childhood, but also such a beautiful reminder to stay at the ready because sweeter things are coming. Years later, when I saw Edna again in a cameo in another one of Ronnie’s plays, I burst into tears. It felt like seeing an old friend I thought was gone forever, and here she was back again, unchanged.
The Grand has had the incredible opportunity to present Ronnie’s The Daisy Theatre cabaretstyle shows a few times before and they have been phenomenal. And now, what you are here to witness tonight is, in my opinion, the most outstanding of his work – his original scripted plays. Ronnie’s unique insight into the world, as a marionettist from Medicine Hat, Alberta turned into an internationally-recognized star, is unparalleled. The way he sees the world with humanity, heart, and the most daring humour is a point of view I am always hungry to live in, if only for the length of a play.
Aisling Murphy, theatre reporter for The Globe and Mail said, “If I had to pick only one favourite piece of theatre from this year, Wonderful Joe was it.” The Guardian has said about Ronnie’s work, “It nuzzles at your heart and takes a great big bite out of it.”
As all great theatre should.
RACHEL PEAKE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
TITLE SPONSORS
The SprieT STage iS generouSly SponSored by helen & andy SprieT.
HIGH SCHOOL PROJECT PROGRAM SPONSORS
PRODUCTION SPONSORS A DVERTISING PARTNER VOIP SPONSOR
LONDON MADE SPONSORS
SPRIET STAGE SPONSORS
COMMUNITY SPONSORS
PUBLIC FUNDERS
AUBURN Stage, november 4 TO 23, 2025
Opening Night november 5, 2025
created and performed by
ronnie burkett
and lyrics
Ronnie Burkett Theatre of Marionettes is exclusively represented by John Lambert & Assoc., Montreal, Canada (www.johnlambert.ca)
WONDERFUL JOE runs approximately 95 minutes without an intermission.
The photographing and video/audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited.
Music composition
by john alcorn
stage managed by Crystal Salverda
Marionettes built by Ronnie Burkett
Th EATRE Of M ARIOn ETTES
ROnn IE bu R k ETT
RONNIE BURKETT
CAST
CREATOR A nD pERfORMER
CREW
JOHN ALCORN
KEVIN HUMPHREY
TERRI GILLIS
CRYSTAL SALVERDA
JOHN LAMBERT
RONNIE BURKETT
KIM CROSSLEY
ALEXANDER MANTIA, AIDAN SPARKS,
ANGELA TALBOT, DINA MESCHKULEIT, WITH MARTIN HERBERT, ANDY HAYWARD, SHANNA MILLER, JUSTIN MEZZAPELLI AND BRIGITTE SAMPOGNA
CAMELLIA KOO
GREG BAL LORA (AFTER LUMAN COAD)
MARCUS JAMIN
ROBBIE BUTTINSKI
SHOP DOGS, MONTREAL
DANIEL BARKLEY
AIDAN SPARKS
COCO LOVE ALCORN
JEFF WOLP ERT
DESERT FISH STUDIOS
MuSIC pRODuCTIOn, A RRA ngEMEn TS, vOCA lS, kEybOARDS, A nD DIgITA l
pROgRAMMIng
lIghTIng DESIgn
pRODuCTIOn M A nAgER/A RTISTIC ASSOCIATE
STAgE M A nAgER/TEChnICA l DIRECTOR ASSOCIATE pRODuCER
M ARIOnETTE A nD COST uME DESIgn
COST uMES
puppET ST u DIO
ShOES
M ARIOnETTE COn TROlS
M ARIOnETTE STRIngIng
M AjORDOMO
SCEnIC COnSTRuCTIOn
SCEnIC pAIn TIng
MODEl A nD DRA fTIng
fEAT u RED vOCA lS
MIxIng A nD MASTERIng
WONDERFUL JOE was co-commissioned by Stanford Live (Stanford CA, USA), UCLA’s Center for the Art of Performance or CAP UCLA (Los Angeles CA, USA) and TO Live (Toronto ON, Canada), with developmental support from Theatre Network (Edmonton AB, Canada) in association with Ronnie Burkett Theatre of Marionettes.
Ronnie Burkett received development support for Wonderful Joe from the Canada Council for the Arts Explore and Create Program.
P ulling HEART STRINGS
Wonderful Joe tells the heartwarming journey of Joe and his canine companion, Mister, who embark together on a final adventure after losing their home and facing the threat of separation. Along the way, Joe discovers magic in the ordinary, beauty in the midst of a callous world, and companionship through the promise of loneliness.
This extraordinary magic is conjured by Ronnie Burkett's celebrated and storied style of puppetry, through the framework of one of his critically acclaimed scripted works, set to a glorious score by John Alcorn. Recognized as one of Canada’s foremost theatre artists, Burkett has garnered accolades for creating some of the world’s most elaborate and provocative puppetry, including the 2024 Governor General's Lifetime Achievement Award and the 2009 Siminovitch Prize in Theatre, among many others. In 2019, he was appointed as an Officer of The Order of Canada.
Since the formation of Ronnie Burkett Theatre of Marionettes in 1986, his work has drawn an unprecedented adult audience for puppet theatre, consistently receiving praise on Canada’s major stages and earning invitations as a guest company on numerous international tours. The Grand Theatre has proudly presented Ronnie Burkett's The Daisy Theatre (twice, to sold-out runs), as well as Little Dickens, his cheeky adaptation of A Christmas Carol.
Ronnie Burkett has been captivated by puppetry since the age of seven, when he opened the World Book Encyclopedia to “Puppets”. He began touring his puppet shows around Alberta at the age of fourteen and has been on the road ever since. Ronnie was a protégé of puppeteers Bil Baird (whose puppets were featured in the 1965 film, The Sound of Music), Frank Paris (Howdy Doody), Noreen Young (Under the Umbrella Tree), Martin Stevens, and Bonnie Erickson (the Muppets designer of Miss Piggy). He has written, designed, and puppeteered on a number of television series, specials, industrials, and commercials.
Provocative, topical, compassionate, and entertaining, Ronnie Burkett’s work has revitalized puppet theatre, populating miniature worlds with colourful characters... and big, universal ideas.
ARTISTS
Ronnie Burkett
Creator and Performer
Ronnie Burkett has been captivated by puppetry since the age of seven and began touring his shows around Alberta at the age of fourteen. Ronnie Burkett Theatre of Marionettes was formed in 1986, continuously playing on Canada’s major stages, and as a guest company on numerous tours abroad.
Ronnie received the 2009 Siminovitch Prize in Theatre, The Herbert Whittaker Drama Bench Award for Outstanding Contribution to Canadian Theatre, a Village Voice OBIE award, and four Citations of Excellence from the American Center of the Union Internationale de la Marionnette. In 2019, Ronnie Burkett was appointed as an Officer of The Order of Canada and in 2024 he was awarded Canada’s Governor General’s Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Achievement.
John Alcorn
Music Production, Arrangements, Vocals, Keyboards, and Digital Programming
John Alcorn is one of Canada’s premiere jazz vocalists, delivering his distinctive renditions of jazz standards on the most prestigious bandstands and concert stages across Canada. His list of citations and acknowledgements in music and theatre include both Jazz Report (Male Vocalist of the Year) and Dora (Outstanding Music) awards. As composer, lyricist, musical director, arranger and producer, he has collaborated with numerous significant Canadian theatre artists, including Daniel MacIvor, Deanne Taylor, Sky Gilbert, Theresa Tova, and Tomson Highway, and eight collaborations with Theatre of Marionettes.
Crystal Salverda
Stage Manager/Technical Director
With over 30 years in the entertainment industry, Crystal has been blessed to work both across the country and internationally stage managing some wonderful productions. She has had the pleasure of working with Ronnie fo the past 11 years. She has also worked with companies such as Blyth Festival, Kidoons Network, Calgary Stampede, Necessary Angel, Soulpepper Theatre, Canadian Stage, Harold Green Jewish Theatre, just to name a few. Other work experience includes Operations for Field of Dreams and Little League Classic (BaAM Productions), Sales Manager (Westsun), Concert Stage Manager (Marquis Entertainment).
ROnn IE bu R k ETT jOhn A l COR n CRy STA l SA lv ERDA
The Grand Theatre Small Business Collective unites local businesses in supporting live theatre. Through funding, they help bring world-class entertainment to our stages, while strengthening community ties.
Thank you to our inaugural organizations for helping us bring Ronnie Burkett back to London.
PROUD SUPPORTERS OF WONDERFUL JOE
FOR THE GRAND THEATRE
COMMS & p.R. MA nAgER
Melissa Mae Shipley
MAR k ETIng pROjECT
MA nAgER
Kyle Greenwood
DIgITA l M AR k ETIng
SpECIA lIST
Gwen Blackwell
bRA nD AMbASSADORS
Jewel Boerkamp
Chiedza Gondoza
Mariana Hrnjak
Diegra Kambamba
Mya Matos
Haleigh Paschink
RESEARCh ASSISTA n TS
Meghan Falco
Kira McCallum
DEVELOPMENT
DIRECTOR
Heather Siskind-Levite
DIRECTOR Of buSInESS
DEv ElOpMEn T
Monica Coddington
buSInESS DEv ElOpMEn T
& R En TA lS COORDInATOR
Jacob Wiley
InDI v IDuA l gI v Ing
COORDInATOR
Farrell Tremblay
In TER n
Havana Laskowski
vOlun TEER
Amandeep Kaur
patron services front of house
MA nAgER
Ali Samuel
MA nAgER
A SSISTA n T hOuSE
Haley Helm
Ella Harrison
bAR & bEv ERAgE
Mackenzie Bishop
Riya Changani
Ahri Diaz
Jason Downie
Michaelanne Hathaway
Mariana Hrnjak
Tai Novak
Haleigh Paschink
Emma Semple
Peter Trigg
Hannah van-Alphen Fyfe
Emma Vanderkuyl
Lisa Wright
Helen Zhang
Box office
SupERv ISOR
Denise Hay
REpRESEn TATI v ES
Trinity Harrison
Brittney-Lee Lowey
Karen McDonald
Cheryl Willison
Production
DIRECTOR
Paul Fujimoto-Pihl
TEChnICA l DIRECTOR
- SCEnIC
Julia Callon
TEChnICA l DIRECTORSTAgE
Sonja Niedermaier
pRODuCTIOn DRI v ER
Jim Doucette
Properties
hEAD Of pROpS
Natalie Kearns
pROpS buIlDER/buy ER
Natalie Tsang
A ppREn TICE
Emma Gray *
WARDROBE
hEAD Of wARDRObE
Lisa Wright
Cu TTER
Elisabeth Mastrandrea
ASST. TO T hE hEAD
Of wARDRObE
Meghan Choma
AppREn TICE
Rae Hutchinson *
SCENIC CARPENTRY
hEAD SCEnIC CAR pEn TER
John-Michael Plester
fIRST CAR pEn TER
Zac Barker
2nD SCEnIC CAR pEn TER
Jonathan Tschirhart
SCENIC ART
hEAD SCEnIC ARTIST
Richard Lawler
SEnIOR SCEnIC ARTIST
Craig Guthrie
SPRIET STAGE
hEAD STAgE CAR pEn TER
Rory Leydier
hEAD Of Au DIO
Aaron Ouellette
hEAD Of flyS
Jared Whitty
hEAD Of lIghTIng
Liam Arbogast
hEAD STAgE wARDRObE
In TERIM hEAD STAgE
wARDRObE
Sherry Williams
AUBURN STAGE
hEAD TEChnICIA n
Steve Allen
STAgEh A nD
Joe Recchia
Mike Gagain
Jason Taggart
Lisa Cardinal
Regine Li
Jessica Vizniowski
Carter Bayley
Board of Directors
ChAIR
Matt Parr
vICE-ChAIR
Nicole Blanchette
pAST ChAIR
George Kerhoulas
TREASuRER
Jamie Campbell
SECRETARy
Anne Toal
DIRECTORS
Christopher Alleyne
Sukhveer Bains
Robert Bierbaum
Carl Cadogan
Blair Fantillo
Alexis Gordon
Ron Koudys
Jennie Kraehling
Tyler Reavell
Jane Scholes
Jennifer Slay
Dr. Robert Sokol
Foundation Board
ChAIR
Ron Koudys
vICE-ChAIR
Jamie Crich
SECRETARy/TREASuRER
Bill Assini
DIRECTORS
Tom Burnett
Dianne Cunningham
Elizabeth Drewlo
Chris Jackman
George Kerhoulas
Peter Markvoort
Matt Parr
Bob Schram
Anita Shah
Sarah Tracy
THE SEASON OF STATEMENT COATS
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