A Christmas Carol : The Panto | King's Wharf Theatre
By Caroline Smith
Director & Choreographer
David Connolly
Music Director
Steve Thomas
Set Designer
Brandon Kleiman
Stage Manager
Amber Archbell
Justin Bott
Elysia Cruz
Timothy Harder
Randy Hughson
Stacey Kay
Billy Lake
Teddy Moynihan
Costume Designer
Rachel Berchtold
Assistant Choreographer
Christine Watson
Assistant Stage Manager
Sadie Wannamaker
The Cast (in alphabetical order)
Lighting Designer
Jeff JohnstonCollins
Apprentice Stage Manager
Anna Whitehead
Julia McLellan
Kale Penny
Emma Rudy
Darcy Stewart
Robbie Towns
Christine Watson
Travae Williams
The video or audio recording of this performance by any means whatsoever is strictly prohibited.
Season Media Sponsor
Production Sponsor
Design Sponsors
Media Sponsor
The Company
(in alphabetical order)
Justin Bott (Mrs. Cratchit)
Drayton Entertainment: Peter Pan: The Panto, Perfect Wedding, On Golden Pond. Other Theatre: Avenue Q (Sterling Award Winner; Citadel); Wizard of Oz (Toronto Theatre Critics Award Winner, Best Supporting Male; Young People’s Theatre). Film/TV: Ginny & Georgia (Netflix), The Hyperborean, Cult Hero (Collingwood Film Co); Emerge: The Series (TLN Media). Justin is an award-winning stage and voiceover actor who dabbles in film/tv and commericals. He’s also a husband, dad and voiceover/acting coach. Many thanks to Alex & David for the stage to play on, the 10 Talent team and DD, Pipes and Mr. O for their love and support. Follow Justing: IG @justin. bott.a.mic, @jeybott or at www.justinbott.com.
Elysia Cruz (Tiny Tim/Ensemble)
Drayton Entertainment: Debut. Other theatre: SIX the Musical (Mirvish Theatre); An Incomplete List… (Toronto Fringe Festival); Jesus Christ Superstar, He Is Coming (Theatre Sheridan). Training: Sheridan College Honours Bachelor of Music Theatre Performance. Love and gratitude to The Talent House, Jay and my family for all the support! @elysiacruz.
Timothy Harder (Phil Anthropist/Paul/Ensemble)
Drayton Entertainment: Priscilla Queen of the Desert the Musical, Fiddler on the Roof. Other Theatre: Let’s Dance! (Terra Bruce Productions), The Roaring Twenties (Victoria Playhouse Petrolia), Mary Poppins (Theatre Sheridan), Ghost the Musical (Starvox). Training: Honours Bachelor of Muisc Theatre Performance from Sheridan College. Many thanks to David, Alex, and the entire Christmas Carol Team. Much love to his parents and his partner Jordan for all their love and support. IG: @timothy.harder.
Randy Hughson (Ebenezer Scrooge)
Drayton Entertainment: A Few Good Men, Driving Miss Daisy. Nine seasons at the Blyth Festival. Thirteen seasons at the Stratford Festival. Randy has played leading roles at theatres across Canada, including Canadian Stage, Tarragon, Factory, Theatre Passe Muraille, National Arts Centre, Necessary Angel, Crow’s, Soulpepper, Citadel, Mirvish, The Arts Club, Neptune, Theatre Calgary, Centaur Theatre and the Segal Centre. He has been nominated for nine Doras, three Edmonton Sterlings, two Vancouver Jessies and two Broadway Worlds, a Calgary Betty Mitchell and Gemini and has won one of each, as well as 2 Doras. He has worked extensively in film, TV, and radio.
Stacey Kay (Ghost of Christmas Present/Fairy)
Drayton Entertainment: Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Lion in Wizard of Oz, Kinky Boots, Jack and the Beanstalk, Legends of Rock, Legally Blonde. Other Theatre: Godspell (US National Tour); Parfumerie (Soulpepper Theatre). Film/TV: Canada’s Got Talent (City TV); America’s Got Talent (NBC); Painkiller, My Little Pony, Go Dog Go (Netflix); Big Block Sing Song, Blue’s Clues (Nickelodeon/Disney). Stacey is a Juno Award winner and podcast host of “I Have To Call My Sister”. She is also a motivational speaker who travels the world spreading her message about positive body image! You can stream her original music on all major platforms. @StaceyKayMusic @ IHaveToCallMySister.
Billy Lake (Fred)
Drayton Entertainment: Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (Felicia/Adam in 2019, Mitzi/Tick in 2024), Kinky Boots (2020 & 2023), The Wizard of Oz, Sleeping Beauty, Beauty and the Beast, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Cinderella, Lucky Stiff. Other Theatre: Barry Mann in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Stage West Calgary), Cinderella... if the Shoe Fits (Theatre Orangeville); Camelot (Victoria Playhouse Petrolia); Dancing Lessons (Miracle Theatre); Directed The Judas Kiss (Talk is Free Theatre); Stonecliff (Yukon/Alaska); Snow White and 007 (The Elgin & Winter Garden Theatre); HONK! (Globe Theatre); ten seasons at the Shaw Festival, including Peter and the Starcatcher, Cabaret, Guys and Dolls, Major Barbara, My Fair Lady, Saint Joan. Love and huge thanks to Aidan. Instagram: @billyonthelake.
Teddy Moynihan (Ghost of Christmas Past/Ensemble)
Drayton Entertainment (selected): Stacee Jaxx in Rock of Ages (2023/24), Dr. Mike Connolly in It Runs in The Family, Scarecrow in Wizard of Oz: The Panto. Other theatre: Canada (selected): Anne of Green Gables, Kronborg, Mamma Mia! (Charlottetown Festival); Mordred in Camelot (Victoria Playhouse Petrolia); Anne of Green Gables (Tweed & Co); Buttons in Cinderella (Smile Theatre). West End (selected): Bumblescratch; Sondheim’s 85th Birthday Celebrations. Film/TV: Jergen Weber in VWards (Netflix); Maxim Petrov in Red Iron Road (Amazon Prime).
Julia
McLellan (Belle/Carol)
Drayton Entertainment: Priscilla, Queen of the Desert the Musical, Newsies, Lucky Stiff, Kings & Queens of Country, Snow White, Footloose. Other Theatre: SIX (Mirvish); Kinky Boots (Broadway, First National Tour, Mirvish); A Chorus Line (Stratford); Mythic (Segal); Kelly v. Kelly (Musical Stage Co.); The Wizard of Oz (First National Tour, Mirvish); 9-5 (Citadel). Julia is also the Executive Director of the Canadian Green Alliance, an organization dedicated to bridging the gap between theatre and sustainability. Thank you to Mike, the biffs, T House and my family! www. juliamclellan.com @juliaemilymclellan / www.canadiangreenalliance.com @canadiangreenalliance.
Kale Penny (Bob Cratchit)
Drayton Entertainment: Jersey Boys, Drew in Rock of Ages, Sleeping Beauty: The Panto, Jack Kelly in Disney’s Newsies, Man of La Mancha, Canada 151. Other Theatre: Chris, Mrs (Boldly Productions); Rock of Ages (Mayfield, Arts Club); Tommy Devito in Jersey Boys (Citadel, Thousand Islands Playhouse); Carl Perkins in Million Dollar Quartet (Citadel, Arts Club, Theatre Aquarius, Theatre Calgary); Godspell (Arts Club); Little Shop of Horrors, Alice Vs Wonderland, Cruel Tears/Lagrimas Crueles (Blue Bridge Theatre). Kale also composed and starred in The Tracks alongside his wife Lauren, which premiered at Here For Now Theatre in 2021. Find Kale in the lobby after the show selling his CDs! @kale.penny kalepenny.com.
Emma Rudy (Ghost of Christmas Future/Ensemble
)
Drayton Entertainment: Tinkerbell in Peter Pan: The Panto, Judy in Perfect Wedding, Rosabella in Sleeping Beauty: The Panto. Other Theatre (selected): Anne Shirley and Diana Barry in Anne of Green Gables: The Musical, Francine in Jersey Boys, Princess Elizabeth in Munschables!, Mamma Mia!, Kronborg: The Hamlet Rock Musical (Charlottetown Festival), Ariel in The Little Mermaid, Maria in The Sound of Music, Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, Belle in Disney’s Beauty and The Beast (Capitol Theatre NB), Marty in Grease (Wintergarden Theatre Toronto), Babette in Beauty and The Beast (YPT- Dora Nominated Production). All thanks to Drayton Entertainment and TH. Big love to my family. For mum, always.
Darcy Stewart (Sally/Ensemble)
Drayton Entertainment: Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, Grease. Other theatre: Six (Mirvish), Bend it like Beckham the Musical (Starvox), Matilda the Musical (1st National Tour & Mirvish), Juke Box Hero (Annerin), The Heart of Robin Hood (Mirvish), Seussical & RENT (LOT). Select film/TV: The Madness (Netflix), Slo Pitch (Shaftesbury), Private Eyes (Global), Sensitive Skin (TMN). The biggest hug to her two beyond supportive parents, family, and friends. Let’s have a laugh!
Robbie Towns (Fezziwig/Mary/Ensemble)
Drayton Entertainment: Shear Madness, Disney’s Newsies, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Priscilla Queen of the Desert (2019). Other Theatre: Legally Blonde (Savoy Theatre, West End), Scrooge (Palladium Theatre, West End), Evita (UK Tour), Lift (Soho Theatre, UK), The Tempest (Bath Theatre Royal), Rock of Ages (The Arts Club), Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead (Persephone Theatre), Bittergirl (Globe Theatre), CONTACT (Elgin Theatre), Our Man in Havana (Vertigo Theatre). Instagram: @robbietowns.
Christine Watson (Ensemble)*
Drayton Entertainment: Performer (selected): Peter Pan: The Panto, Rock of Ages, Mamma Mia!, Grease, West Side Story, Disney’s The Little Mermaid, All Shook Up, Anne of Green Gables, Footloose, Spamalot, 9 To 5: The Musical. Choreographer: Jersey Boys, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat; Assistant Choreographer: Peter Pan: The Panto, Kinky Boots, Priscilla Queen of the Desert the Musical, Jack and the Beanstalk: The Panto. Other theatre: Associate Choreographer for Rock of Ages (Mayfield); Mamma Mia! (Tweed). Head Choreographer for KW Glee. Performer: Rock of Ages (Mayfield/Fallsview); Spamalot (Aquarius); Dance Legends (Grand); A Chorus Line (Rose). Special thanks to everyone at Drayton, 10 Talent, and my wonderful family.
*Dance Captain
Travae Williams (Marley/Peter/Ensemble)
Drayton Entertainment: Jersey Boys. Other Theatre: Sebastian in The Little Mermaid (Théâtre Capitol Theatre); Swing in RENT, Dancer in Richard II (Stratford Festival); Bob in 9 to 5 (Port Hope Festival); Ensemble in Dixon Road (Musical Stage Co.). Biggups, sincere gratitude and love to my family and friends. Blessings on blessings. All Glory to Yeshua! You can find him on social media platforms @travaewilliams.
the children’s chorus
RED team:
Front
Back Row (left to right): Millie Leduc, Sophie Charlebois, Callum Goodhue, Ella Kuypers, Cora-Lynn Harrod, Amelia Diening
Row (left to right): Ella Burke, Colson Good, Michael Belcourt, Henley McDonald, Sadie Clarke. (Not pictured: Brooke Rind-Lediard)
Back Row (left to right): Jillian Woodman, Carina Jones, Cooper Reynolds, Ainsley Morris, Carmele Coward-Mavrou, Middle Row (left to right): Mackinnley Sallows, Cohen Morris, Roy Koets, Ava Gravelle, Front Row (left to right): Zoe Nihll, Scarlett Gendron, Aria Ramsbottom
blue team:
the creative team
David Connolly (Director & Choreographer)
Drayton Entertainment: Priscilla, Beehive, Peter Pan: The Panto, Kinky Boots, The Prom, Mamma Mia!, Wizard of Oz: The Panto, Newsies, Annie, Sleeping Beauty: The Panto, Hairspray, Jack and the Beanstalk: The Panto, Red Rock Diner, HONK!, Lucky Stiff, Singin’ in the Rain, Cinderella: The Panto, Legally Blonde, High School Musical, Miss Saigon, and Crazy For You. David is also the Director of Education for the Drayton Entertainment Youth Academy who is the recipient of the 2024 Canadian Actors’ Equity inaugural Change Maker Award, a recipient of the Ontario Premier’s Award of Excellence, and is an internationally recognized disability inclusion advocate. Insta:@ deyouthacademy.
Steve Thomas (Music Director)
Drayton Entertainment: Peter Pan: The Panto, The Prom, Wizard of Oz: The Panto, ELF: The Musical, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Rocky: The Musical, Kings & Queens of Country, Disney’s The Little Mermaid, HONK!, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, All Shook Up, Mamma Mia!, Aladdin: The Panto, The Pirates of Penzance, The Music Man, Anne of Green Gables, Spamalot, The Last Resort, Damn Yankees, South Pacific, Guys and Dolls, Me and My Girl, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (North American Tour); Jasper Station. Other theatre: various productions acorss North America, including Theatre Aquarius, The Elgin Theatre, Lighthouse Festival Theatre, Vancouver Playhouse, Charlottetown Festival, Showboat Festival. Visit Steve at www.sthomasmusic.com.
Brandon Kleiman (Set Designer)
Drayton Entertainment: Mamma Mia!. Brandon is a set and costume designer based in Hamilton. He’s had the pleasure to design at The Stratford Festival, Mirvish Productions, Theatre Aquarius, The Grand Theatre, Musical Stage Co., Canadian Stage Co., The Globe Theatre, Young Peoples Theatre, Neptune Theatre, and countless other independent companies across the country. Up next, you can find his work in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Young Peoples Theatre), and A Christmas Story: The Musical (Theatre Aquarius). For more information and to see his portfolio, please visit www. brandonkleimandesign.com.
Rachel Berchtold (Costume Designer)
Drayton Entertainment (selected): Kiss Me, Kate, Peter Pan: The Panto, ShBoom! Life Could Be a Dream (2023), Mamma Mia!, Annie, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Sleeping Beauty: The Panto, Disney’s Newsies, Holiday Inn, The Drowsy Chaperone, Million Dollar Quartet, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Sister Act, Cinderella, Anything Goes, Anne of Green Gables, The Music Man, Snow White: The Panto, The Wizard of Oz, Les Misérables, Mary Poppins. Other theatre: Million Dollar Quartet (Stage West Calgary/Mirvish Productions); The King and I, Crazy For You (Theatre Under the Stars). Thanks always to Jennie, Jess and Alex.
Jeff JohnstonCollins (Lighting Designer)
Drayton Entertainment (selected): Lights: Show Stoppers! (1996), Me & My Girl (1999), Dads, the Musical (2001), Twist & Shout (2005), Legends of Rock ‘n’ Roll (2007), Miss Saigon (2007), Dance Legends (2010), Spamalot (2013), Canadian Legends (2015), Rock of Ages (2017), Million Dollar Quartet (2017), Mamma Mia! (2022). Technical Director/Lights: Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Camelot (North Americam Tours). For over 30 years, I have created set & lighting designs for theatres across Canada, toured numerous productions, and operated a scene shop in my hometown of Hamilton. Thank you to the entire Drayton Family for creating the magic of live theatre. Love and thanks to the light of my life, my wife Susan for her constant support and encouragement. Enjoy!
Christine Watson (Assistant Choreographer)
Drayton Entertainment: Choreographer: Jersey Boys, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat; Assistant Choreographer: Peter Pan: The Panto, Kinky Boots, Priscilla Queen of the Desert the Musical, Jack and Beanstalk: The Panto. Performer (selected): Peter Pan: The Panto, Rock of Ages, Mamma Mia!, Grease, West Side Story, Disney’s The Little Mermaid, All Shook Up, Anne of Green Gables, Footloose, Spamalot, 9 To 5: The Musical. Other theatre: Associate Choreographer for Rock of Ages (Mayfield); Mamma Mia! (Tweed). Head Choreographer for KW Glee. Performer: Rock of Ages (Mayfield/Fallsview); Spamalot (Aquarius); Dance Legends (Grand); A Chorus Line (Rose). Special thanks to everyone at Drayton, 10 Talentm and my wonderful family.
Amber Archbell (Stage Manager)
Drayton Entertainment (selected): Beehive - the ‘60s Musical, Peter Pan: The Panto, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Wizard of Oz: The Panto, Sorry...I’m Canadian, Sleeping Beauty: The Panto, Jack and the Beanstalk: The Panto, The Birds & The Bees, Cinderella: The Panto, HONK!, Lucky Stiff, Marathon of Hope: The Musical, Aladdin: The Panto, Snow White: The Panto, Run For Your Wife, Weekend Comedy, Annie, High School Musical. Other theatre: Outheis (TIFT); Sleeping Beauty: Panto (Stirling Festival Theatre); As You Like It Everybody, Fefu and her Friends, Really Really (Theatre Erindale); The Amish Project (Green Light Arts); Salt Baby, If I Were You, Mary Poppins, The Sound of Music, Legally Blonde (Aquarius).
Sadie Wannamaker (Assistant Stage Manager)
Drayton Entertainment: Kiss Me, Kate, The Prom, A Few Good Men, Rocky: The Musical, The Drowsy Chaperone, Footloose, The Men’s Foursome, Little Shop of Horrors, Les Misérables, White Christmas, Mary Poppins, Sleuth, Tap Dogs, Shear Madness, The Pirates of Penzance, A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline. Other theatre: Mix Tapes From My Mom (RMTC Tour); Tales of An Urban Indian (TIFT); The Secret to Good Tea (RMTC); Associating Thomson (Blyth Festival); British Invasion (Stage West); Sword and the Stone (Theatre Orangeville); The Neverending Story (Roseneath). Sadie is glad to be in her 25th season with Drayton Entertainment. She would like to pass on love to her family for all their support.
Anna Whitehead (Apprentice Stage Manager)
Drayton Entertainment: Peter Pan: The Panto, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Other theatre: Immolation, She Kills Monsters, Portia’s Julius Caesar, EVERYBODY, Mustard (University of Waterloo Theatre and Performance). Anna is a recent graduate of the University of Waterloo’s Theatre and Performance Program. Thank you to family and friends for the suppport.
THE BAND
Steve Thomas (Music Director/Piano)
Drayton Entertainment: Peter Pan: The Panto, The Prom, Wizard of Oz: The Panto, ELF: The Musical, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Rocky: The Musical, Kings & Queens of Country, Disney’s The Little Mermaid, HONK!, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, All Shook Up, Mamma Mia!, Aladdin: The Panto, The Pirates of Penzance, The Music Man, Anne of Green Gables, Spamalot, The Last Resort, Damn Yankees, South Pacific, Guys and Dolls, Me and My Girl, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (North American Tour); Jasper Station. Other theatre: various productions acorss North America, including Theatre Aquarius, The Elgin Theatre, Lighthouse Festival Theatre, Vancouver Playhouse, Charlottetown Festival, Showboat Festival. Visit Steve at www.sthomasmusic.com.
Kevin
Dempsey (Drums)
Drayton Entertainment: Peter Pan: The Panto, Sh-Boom! Life Could Be a Dream, The Crooner, A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline, Jack and the Beanstalk: The Panto, Kings & Queens of Country, Hairspray, Lucky Stiff, Red Rock Diner, Anything Goes, Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, Footloose, Big Band Legends, The Songs of Sinatra, Country Legends, Swing!. Kevin is an active member in the Toronto jazz scene and can be heard frequently on CJRT. He has also been on the McMaster University and Mohawk College music faculties for the last 30 years. Kevin has been performing with Drayton Entertainment since 1994.
Earl Filsinger (Guitar)
Drayton Entertainment: Peter Pan: The Panto, Beehive - the ‘60s Musical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Sorry...I’m Canadian 2, A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline, Rocky: The Musical, Jack and the Beanstalk: The Panto, Hairspray, Kings & Queens of Country, Marathon of Hope: The Musical, Man of La Mancha, Evita, Me and My Girl. Other theatre: Grow, Mamma Mia! (Grand); The Music Man, Camelot (Stratford Festival); Hank Williams Show (Petrolia); Jesus Christ Superstar, High School Musical. Earl has played lead guitar on the Queen Elizabeth II and Queen Mary cruise ships touring Europe. He also toured Canada and the U.S in various bands, and has produced numerous CDs.
David Myers (Keys II)
Drayton Entertainment (selected): Priscilla, Queen of the Desert the Musical, Beehive - the ‘60s Musical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Hairspray, Footloose, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert the Musical, Smokey Joe’s Cafe, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Little Shop of Horrors, White Christmas, Mamma Mia!, and numerous pantos. One of Toronto’s main auditon pianists, David has also taught at both Sheridan College and The Randolph Centre for over 20 years. Outside of theatre, David was a founding member of The Musical Box, the world’s premiere tribute to Gensis, where he enjoyed 15 years of touring Europe and the Americas, repeatedly.
Drayton Entertainment: Jersey Boys, Rock of Ages, Footloose, Perter Pan: The Panto, Wizard of Oz: The Panto, The Crooner (2022), Jack and the Beanstalk: The Panto, Rocky: The Musical, Hairspray, Rocky of Ages, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Cinderella, Footloose, Little Shop of Horrors, Aladdin, Anne of Green Gables, A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline. Drayton Entertainment Youth Academy: Legally Blonde - the Musical. Other theatre: Jesus Christ Superstar (Theatre Sheridan); Mamma Mia!, Find Black Joy (The Grand Theatre London); Yorkville: The Musical (Blyth); Now and Forever, a diva spectacular..., 9 to 5: The Musical (St. Lawrence College); The River Calls (New Hamburg);...Patsy Cline (Leisa Way Productions). Junior thanks the Drayton family for this opportunity.
THE AUTHOR
Caroline Smith
Drayton Entertainment: Peter Pan: The Panto, Jack and the Beanstalk: The Panto, Cinderella: The Panto, Aladdin: The Panto, Snow White: The Panto. Choreographer: Nunsense, Big River, You’ll Get Used To It (The War Show). Director: Dads: The Musical. Celebrating over 45 years as a professional Director, Choreographer and Playwright, Caroline currently serves as a Councillor for the Township of Stirling-Rawdon, and designs the awardwinning public gardens in her home village of Stirling, Ontario. Caroline’s comedic play The Kitchen Witches was the winner of the 2005 Samuel French Best Canadian Play Award and has been in continuous production across Canada and the U.S. ever since. Thanks to Alex, David and Drayton Entertainment for making this another unforgettable Panto experience!
The Musicians and Music Director engaged for this production are members of the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada, and are performing in the jurisdiction of the Toronto Musicians’ Association, Local 149.
