COME
FROM
AWAY
I had the very special privilege of performing in this beautiful show created by Irene Sankoff and David Hein, superlatively directed by Chris Ashley, choreographed by Kelly Devine, working with a generously talented cast, supported by wonderful musicians conducted by arranger Ian Eisendrath, and designers like Beowulf Boritt.
What a creative dream team! Originating Producer Michael Rubinoff commissioned Irene and David, and workshopped the show via his college’s student musical program - (before it was picked up by an American producing company: Junkyard Dogs!) - and like the rest of us, I don’t think he envisioned what a long vibrantly successful stage life it would enjoy, as it was embraced by audiences in La Jolla, San Diego, Washington D.C. and Toronto, before it arrived on Broadway, where it ran for close to five years, and won numerous awards, including a Tony.
I was lucky enough to be involved in every phase of Come From Away’s professional gestation, from a workshop in California, and throughout the show’s NYC run. (thousands of performances!) I also took part in the original cast album recording, and played the role I originated (of Beulah) in a very well crafted Apple TV movie version of the show, filmed on the stage of the Schoenfeld Theatre.
Not so finally, I also performed in Come From Away in Gander, Newfoundland in the summer of 2023, produced by Michael Rubinoff, and directed by Jill Keiley, featuring original cast member (and my BW dressing room pal) Petrina Bromley, though this time around I was cast in the role of Diane. And I feel blessed to be able to return to this gift that keeps on giving in 2024. So if you find your way to The Rock in the summer, I hope you’ll be able to check out this wonderfully compassionate, resonantly heartfelt ensemble musical theatre offering.
B e l l e s S o e u r s
Musical from the play by Michel Tremblay
book, lyrics, mise en scene
de Rene’ Richard Cyr
Music: Daniel Belanger
English book: Brian Hill *
English lyrics & additional music:
Neil Bartram
Orchestrations & musical direction:
Chris Barillaro
World Premiere
The Segal Centre Montreal
National Arts Centre Ottawa
with a dream ensemble, including
the one and only Lisa Horner
BINGO!
THE COLONY OF UNREQUITED DREAMS
Play by Robert Chafe Directed by Jillian Keiley with Colin Furlong as Joey Smallwood Canadian Premiere Artistic Fraud Co. Saint John’s, Newfoundland
MYTH OF THE OSTRICH
Canadian Premiere
Comedy!
by MATT MURRAY
Directed by Steven Gallagher
costarring Renee Hackett
and Alanis Peart
TORONTO FRINGE
&
NEXT STAGE FESTIVALS
THE WAY BACK TO THURSDAY
MUSICAL
composer/co-star ROB KEMPSON Directed by Briana Brown Canadian Premiere Theatre Passe Muraille Toronto - Reprised at 54 Below NYC
SUCKER
Play
written & directed by Kat Sandler
CANADIAN PREMIERE - Toronto
a wonderfully odd-ball BROUHAHA cast included ANDY TRITHARDT
(photo by Zaiden)
Ubu Mayor
Canadian Premiere
Play with music
written, directed, composed by ADAM SEELIG (inspired by Alfred Jarry)
POLITICS. MUSIC. BACON.
Richard Harte played Toronto bad boy Mayor Rob Ford, with Michael Dufays as his brother Doug.
* live band led by Tyler Emond *
(production photos by Yuri Doic, courtesy of One Little Goat Company)
MY MOTHER’S LESBIAN JEWISH WICCAN WEDDING
MUSICAL COMEDY by DAVID HEIN & IRENE SANKOFF
The Toronto Fringe Festival hit that transferred for a commercial run at The Pantages Theatre, where I was invited to join the festivities. Directed by Andrew Lamb, the cast featured Lisa Horner, Rosemary Doyle, Irene Sankoff, and David, singing and playing the guitar. This was the first show from David and Irene, and Michael Rubinoff remembered it when he was searching for composers to create a new musical about the extraordinary events that occurred in the wake of 9/11 in the community of Gander, Newfoundland. What a crazy idea for a musical! Lucky for us all that Irene and David were brave enough to accept the gig.
HABEAS CORPUS
Play by Alan Bennett
Directed by Morris Panych
Canadian Stage Co.
The crackerjack cast included Cliff Saunders, Cyrus Lane, and Tara Rosling
Sketch of me as LADY RUMPERS by designer Ken MacDonald
SHAKING THE FOUNDATIONS
(photo by Charlene Olson)
“A jazz pianist and five beltin’ babes take on Rough Trade and Canada’s original pissed-off chick”
REVUE
Songs by Carole Pope and Kevan Staples Canadian Premiere - Buddies in Bad Times Conceived & directed by Bryden MacDonald with Holly Arsenault on piano! The femme fatale cast included Gwneth Baille, Jane Miller, Tanya Rich, and Paula Wolfson The show was also filmed for TV-Ontario
M A M M A M I A
Musical - songs by ABBA story & book by Catherine Johnson directed, brilliantly, by Phyllida Lloyd, with Louise Pitre, killing it, as the lead Mama
Starting in Toronto at The Royal Alex, this Mirvish production was given a first class American tour, which lasted for several years!
In alphabetical order we visited, stayed and played for weeks or months at a time in Boston, Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New Orleans, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Washington D.C. It was an incredible life-on-the-show-road experience, as I also under-studied and went on for one of the female leads more than a few times. I’ll be forever grateful for the opportunity. It was the first time I thought that maybe I could actually earn a living as an actor…(though it took another 15 years or so before the blessing of being part of Come From Away happened for me…)
Benefit performance with the beloved Q. Smith