Peter Pan: The Panto | Huron Country Playhouse South Huron Stage | Aug 7 to Sept 1
By Caroline Smith
Orchestrations & Vocal Arrangements by Steve Thomas
Set Designer
Jean Claude Olivier
Stage Manager
Amber Archbell
Director & Choreographer
David Connolly
Music Director Steve Thomas
Costume Designer
Rachel Berchtold
Assistant Choreographer Christine Watson
Assistant Stage Manager
Loralie Pollard
Lighting Designer
Jeff Johnston-Collins
Apprentice Stage Manager Anna Whitehead
The Cast (in alphabetical order)
Miles Avery Justin Bott
Zoë Brown Bryce Johnson
Fae Lewis Lia Luz
Hadley Mustakas
Powell Nobert
Andrew Scanlon
Savanna Wright
Jackie Mustakas
Stephanie Pitsiladis
Christine Watson
Seth Zosky
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)
Miles Avery (John Darling)
Drayton Entertainment: Debut. Other Theatre: Children’s ensemble in Pollyanna (World Premiere at Theatre Aquarius). Miles is excited to be making his debut with Drayton Entertainment as John Darling in Peter Pan: The Panto. He would like to thank his friends and family for their continued love and support.
Bott (Nelly Copperbottom)
Drayton Entertainment (selected): Perfect Wedding, Wizard of Oz: The Panto, On Golden Pond, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. 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: 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 commercials. He’s also a husband, dad and voiceover/acting coach. Many thanks to Alex & David for the stage to play on and to DD, Pipes and Mr. O for their love & support. Follow Justin: IG @justin.bott.a.mic @jeybott or at www.justinbott.com
Justin
Zoë Brown (Wendy Darling)
Drayton Entertainment: Wendy in Peter Pan: The Panto, Louisa in The Sound of Music, Chip in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Honk!, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Aladdin: The Panto. Other Theatre (selected): The Sound of Music, The Music Man, Billy Elliot (Stratford Festival); Miracle on 34th Street (Neptune Theatre); Fun Home (Calithumpian); The Hockey Sweater: A Musical (NAC); A Christmas Carol (Soulpepper); Once, Shrek The Musical, ELF: The Musical (Grand Theatre); Superdogs (Segal Centre); Pegeen and the Pilgrim (Here for Now); The Nutcracker (National Ballet of Canada). Film/TV: Anne with an E (CBC, Netflix); Odd Squad (PBS, TVOkids); Homeschooled (CBC Gem); Toothbrush Song (CBC Kids). Grateful to be back onstage with Drayton Entertainment; thanks always to the TH gang and huge hugs to Mom and Dad. This one is for my Nunni and Nonno.
Bryce Johnson (Ensemble)
Drayton Entertainment: Fiddler on the Roof. Other Theatre: Seas the Adventure (Disney Cruise Line); Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus (TYT Theatre); Fame (Randolph College For The Performing Arts); White Christmas (SaskExpress). Bryce is a graduate from Randolph College for the Performing Arts and hails from Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. He’d like to thank Darla, Anita, Stella, Bob, Danny, and all the teachers and supporters that help him to continue performing onstage. You can find him on Instagram @brycecgjohnson. Enjoy the show!
Fae Lewis (Michael Darling)
Drayton Entertainment: Michael Darling in Peter Pan: The Panto, Youth Chorus in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Other Theatre: Matilda in Matilda (Royal City Musical Productions Inc.). Fae is in her seventh year as a company dancer with Performance Dance Academy of Guelph. She is thrilled to be performing again in Peter Pan: The Panto and has enjoyed every minute of the experience. She is grateful to the cast, crew, and creative team for their patience, trust and kindness. Fae greatly appreciates the help, encouragement and love of her family. She would like to thank her parents and amazing sisters Yvaine and Aelish for supporting her dreams. Instagram: @heyheyfaefae
Lia Luz (Peter Pan)
Drayton Entertainment: Dorothy in Wizard of Oz: The Panto. Other Theatre (selected): Janet in The Rocky Horror Show (Stirling Festival Theatre); Puring in Prairie Nurse (Lighthouse Festival Theatre); Little Sally in Urinetown (Toronto Musical Concerts). TV/Voiceover: Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora (Ubisoft); Mayday (Cineflix). Lia is a proud Filipino-Canadian performer from Toronto, Ontario, and a graduate of the Music Theatre program at Sheridan College. Love to DCT, my family and friends, NLM, Drayton Entertainment, and everyone else who makes me think I’m funny. @mslialuz
Hadley Mustakas (Tinker Bell)
Drayton Entertainment: Hodel in Fiddler on the Roof, Kaylee in The Prom, Ali in Mamma Mia!, Jane in Mary Poppins, Wendy in Peter Pan. Other Theatre: Sarah in Simone, Half and Half (Carousel Players); Liesl in The Sound of Music (Thousand Islands Playhouse); Sophie in Mamma Mia! (Tweed & Company); Ensemble in The Roaring Twenties (Victoria Playhouse Petrolia). Thank you to my family for their love and support, to my mom who’s taught me the value of kindness, and to my friends Lyrie and Timothy who encourage me to be the best version of myself and make it easy to live every day with a smile.
Jackie Mustakas (Mrs Darling/Mermaid Queen)
Drayton Entertainment (selected): Trish in Kinky Boots, Angie in The Prom, Donna and Tanya in Mamma Mia!, Kate Keller in The Miracle Worker, Jack and the Beanstalk: The Panto, The Rainmaker, Velma in Hairspray, Death of a Salesman, Baroness in Cinderella: The Panto, Queen Diabolica in Snow White: The Panto, Wicked Witch in The Wizard of Oz, The Affections of May, Winifred Banks in Mary Poppins, Miss Hannigan in Annie, Adelaide in Guys and Dolls, Polly in Crazy For You, Shelby in Steel Magnolias, and Peggy Sawyer in 42nd Street. Choreographer: Kings & Queens of Country, Dance Legends, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Music Man, 42nd Street, Anything Goes, Little Me, The Mikado. “Believe in the magic!”
Powell Nobert (Ensemble)
Drayton Entertainment: Debut. Other Theatre: Men Express Their Feelings (25th Street Theatre); The Wild Rovers (Terra Bruce Productions); The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Cats, Let’s Dance (SLC); Mamma Mia!, Ride The Cyclone (Tweed). Powell is a St. Lawrence College graduate and welcomes you to explore the magic of theatre and music. @powellpuffgurls
Stephanie Pitsiladis (Smee)
Drayton Entertainment: Smee in Peter Pan: The Panto (2023), Wizard of Oz: The Panto, Kinky Boots, Grease, Hairspray, Aladdin: The Panto, Snow White: The Panto, Backstage Pass. Other Theatre: Grease (Winter Garden); Hairspray (Mirvish/Charlottetown/Rainbow/Mayfield); Grease, Why Do Fools Fall In Love?, Shout! The Mod Musical (Stage West); Mother Goose (Theatre Athena); Little Shop of Horrors (Theatre NB); Gefilte Fish Chronicles (CETM); History of Rock and Roll: Stars and Stripes, Class of ‘63: A Rockin’ Reunion (Mayfield); Our Broadway Love Song, Steel Magnolias, The Importance of Being Earnest, My Fair Lady, Sugar Road (RuBarb); Christmas Express (Upper Canada Playhouse). Stephanie would like to thank her family, and everyone at Drayton Entertainment and The Talent House!
Andrew Scanlon (Mr Darling/Captain Hook)
Drayton Entertainment: Mr Darling/Captain Hook in Peter Pan: The Panto (2023), Barry Glickman in The Prom, Dusty in The War Show, The Padre in Man of La Mancha, Aldolpho in The Drowsy Chaperone, Kinky Boots, Rocky: The Musical, Out of Order, Sleeping Beauty: The Panto, Snow White: The Panto, Footloose, Les Miserables. Other Theatre: Kinky Boots (Mirvish, First US National Tour, Tokyo & Osaka, Japan); Franklin Hart Jr. in 9 To 5 (Capitol Theatre); Vice Principal Panch in Spelling Bee (The Grand); The Beadle in Sweeney Todd (Neptune); Reginald in Screwball Comedy (Stage West, Calgary Critics Award Nomination); Leo in Dogbarked (The Globe); Director of Stealing Sam (Alberta Theatre Projects). Thanks to the TH gang, Alex, David and the entire Drayton Entertainment family.
Christine Watson (Ensemble)*
Drayton Entertainment: Choreographer: Jersey Boys, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat; Assistant Choreographer: Kinky Boots, Priscilla Queen of the Desert the Musical, Jack and the Beanstalk: The Panto Performer (selected): Rock of Ages, Peter Pan: The Panto, 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 Talent, and my wonderful family. *Dance Captain
Savanna Wright (Ensemble)
Drayton Entertainment: The Prom, Mamma Mia!. TV: The Next StepSeason 9, Jessie Reyez’s Mutual Friend, Canada’s Got Talent, Finger Eleven’s Together Right. Savanna has been dancing for over 18 years, and professionally for three years. She’s had the incredible opportunity to learn from and work alongside some of the industry’s best. Performing is a way for her to express herself and extended her talents across many different platforms. @sav.dwright
Seth Zosky (Ensemble)
Drayton Entertainment: Fiddler on the Roof. Other Theatre (selected): Pain To Power (Winnipeg Jewish Theatre); Oil Rush (Petrolia Playhouse); The Last Five Years (Blue Bridge Theatre); One Hit Wonders (Stage West); BLOCKED (TheatreWorksUSA); The Last Five Years, A Night On Jewish Broadway (Olive Branch); American Idiot (Stephenville TF). Seth is a Jewish-Canadian artist from Toronto and a graduate of Sheridan College. His Pop/RnB singing trio, CZN, was chosen by Simon Cowell as the winners of Canadian Family’s Got Talent. Seth is also a Juno-nominated songwriter/producer at 254sound. Thank you to Alex, David and everyone at Drayton. Love to my parents, family and the TH team! @sethzosky
the children’s chorus
Back Row (left to right): Delaney Grover, Tessa Pritchett-White, Nico Hiltz, Junior Van Geffen, Anthony Frescura-Deonomme, Cordelia Mcauley, Maria Van Geffen
Front Row (left to right): Tevin Pritchett-White, Aelish Lewis, Norah Shaffer-McIntosh, Ellie Maguire, Eden Krawetz, Kole Parks
RED team:
Back Row (left to right): Fiona Short, Daxton Scurr, Brady Wilson, Nolan McKee, Sidney Gingerich, Claire Steckle, Madilynn Laidlow
Front Row (left to right): Avery Wakem, Fiona Smith, Ella Berg, Ocean Wuerth, Alison Weeks, Zuri Taylor
blue team:
the creative team
David Connolly (Director & Choreographer)
Drayton Entertainment: Beehive, Peter Pan: The Panto, Kinky Boots, The Prom, Mamma Mia!, Wizard of Oz: The Panto, Disney’s Newsies, Annie, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Sleeping Beauty: The Panto, Hairspray, Jack and the Beanstalk: The Panto, Red Rock Diner, HONK!, Lucky Stiff, Singin’ in the Rain, Cinderella: The Panto, Aladdin: The Panto, Legally Blonde, Disney’s High School Musical, Miss Saigon, and Crazy For You. David is also the Director of Education for the Drayton Entertainment Youth Academy who holds an Honours Bachelor Degree in Musical Theatre, 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: 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 across North America, including Theatre Aquarius, The Elgin Theatre, Lighthouse Festival Theatre, Vancouver Playhouse, Charlottetown Festival, Showboat Festival. Visit Steve at www.sthomasmusic.com
Jean Claude Olivier (Set Designer)
Drayton Entertainment: Wizard of Oz: The Panto, Annie, Jack and the Beanstalk: The Panto, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Cinderella: The Panto, Anne of Green Gables, Peter Pan: The Panto, Oliver!, and more. Other Theatre: Seussical (Aquarius), Cinderella (Ross Petty). A graduate of McGill University and the National Theatre School of Canada, Jean Claude has worked as a Scenic Artist and Set Designer across Canada for over 30 years. His work is often seen in Vancouver, for the Dunbar, Gateway, T.U.T.S., and Royal City Musical Theatre organizations. Awards: Ovation Award (2006 Best Scenic Design, Peter Pan, RCMT), 2006 Jessie Award nomination for Peter Pan (RCMT), Ovation Award (2008 Best Scenic Design, The Drowsy Chaperone, National Arts Centre/Vancouver Playhouse).
Rachel Berchtold (Costume Designer)
Drayton Entertainment (selected): Peter Pan: The Panto, Sh-Boom! 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, HONK!, 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); My Favorite Year, Cyrano de Bergerac (Randolph).
Jeff Johnston-Collins (Lighting Designer)
Drayton Entertainment (selected): Lights: Show Stoppers! (1998), 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 American 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: Kinky Boots, Priscilla Queen of the Desert the Musical, Jack and the Beanstalk: The Panto. Performer (selected): Rock of Ages, Peter Pan: The Panto, 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 Talent, and my wonderful family.
Amber Archbell (Stage Manager)
Drayton Entertainment (selected): Beehive, Peter Pan: The Panto (2023), 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 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).
Loralie Pollard (Assistant Stage Manager)
Drayton Entertainment: Singin’ In The Rain, The Drowsy Chaperone, Jack and the Beanstalk: The Panto. Other Theatre: Liars at a Funeral, Sexual Misconduct of the Middle Classes, The Sound of Music, Back in ‘59 (Thousand Islands Playhouse); shaniqua in abstraction (Crow’s Theatre); Orlando, Mary Stuart, The Witch of Edmonton (Theatre Erindale); Of the Sea (Tapestry Opera); Meet My Sister (Lighthouse Theatre); A Northern Lights Dream (Toronto Operetta Theatre); The Events (Necessary Angel); Freaky Friday: The Musical (Theatre Aquarius). Loralie is a proud graduate of Sheridan College’s theatre production program.
Anna Whitehead (Apprentice Stage Manager)
Drayton Entertainment: 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 support.
Joe Bostick (Fight Director)
Drayton Entertainment: Disney’s Newsies, The Miracle Worker, Rocky: The Musical, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, One for the Pot, Deathtrap, I’ll Be Back Before Midnight, Crazy for You. Other Theatre (selected): Miss Saigon, Les Misérables, Ragtime (Broadway & U.S. National Tours), Les Misérables, Heart of Robin Hood, Dirty Dancing, The Lord of the Rings, Beauty and the Beast (Mirvish), Heart of Robin Hood (National Theatre, Iceland/Grand Theatre, Hong Kong), Beauty and the Beast (Aquarius), Trainspotting (Canadian Stage), Romeo and Juliet (Theatre by the Bay), I Hate Hamlet (Stage West). Trained with S.A.F.D and various Fight Masters. Founding member of Fight Directors Canada. Love to Stephanie, Devon and Jesse.
THE BAND
Steve Thomas (Music Director/Piano)
Drayton Entertainment: 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 across 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: 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: Beehive, Peter Pan: The Panto, 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.
Steve Lavoie (Keys II)
Drayton Entertainment: Wizard of Oz: The Panto, Mamma Mia!, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Annie, Canada 151, Hairspray. Other Theatre (select): Ghost the Musical (Starvox), Freaky Friday (Theatre Aquarius), Evita, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Man of La Mancha, Damn Yankees, Spamalot, Sweeney Todd, The Who’s Tommy (Scarborough Music Theatre), Les Miserables, Ragtime (Etobicoke Musical Productions). In addtion to music directing, Steve is an audtion and rehearsal accompanist in and around the GTA. Find him online on Youtube or visit www.theaccidentalaccompanist.com. Enjoy the show!
Peter Telford (Bass)
Drayton Entertainment: Sh-Boom! Life Could Be a Dream. Peter has been active in the Toronto theatre, club, and studio music scene for over 35 years. He has toured Canada, the US, and parts of Europe, and also performed locally on electric or acoustic bass with some of Canada’s finest jazz musicians. Peter has had the pleasure of working with Don Thompson, Mark Eisenman, Jane Bunnett, Bernie Senensky, Pat Labarbera, Kirk MacDonald, Kevin Turcotte, Dianna Krall, Ted Quinlan, John Macleod, Reg Schwager, Colleen Allen, Terry Clarke and Brian Dickinson among many others.
THE AUTHOR
Caroline Smith (Music Director/Piano)
Drayton Entertainment: 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 almost 40 years as a professional Director, Choreographer and Playwright. Caroline thoroughly enjoys her “sideline” writing career, penning panto scripts, children’s plays, revues, and has two full-length plays published by Samuel French. Her comedy The Kitchen Witches was the winner of the 2005 Samuel French Best Canadian Play Award and is in continuous production across Canada and the U.S. Thanks to Alex, David and Drayton Entertainment for making this another unforgettable experience!
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