Written & Created by
Roger Bean
Musical Arrangements by Roger Bean, Michael Borth, Jon Newton & Steve Parsons
Directed by David Rogers
Choreographed by David Hogan
Music Direction by Melissa Morris
Set Designer Douglas Paraschuk
Stage Manager
Nadene Riehl
Neil Aitchison
Kaden Forsberg
Joema Frith
Costume Designer Rachel Berchtold
Lighting Designer Lyle Franklin
Assistant Stage Manager June Zinck
The Company (In alphabetical order)
Connor Meek
Michael Vanhevel
Jennifer Walls
Originally Produced by David Elzer, Roger Bean & Peter Schneider.
Life Could Be A Dream premiered at Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Joseph Hanreddy, Artistic Director and Timothy J. Shields, Managing Director
Sh-Boom! Life Could Be A Dream is presented by special arrangement with Broadway Licensing, LLC. (www.broadwaylicensing.com)
NOTE TO AUDIENCE: The videotaping or audio and/or visual recording of this production is a violation of United States Copyright Law and an actionable federal offense.
musical numbers
Act One
Life Could Be a Dream (Sh-Boom) ...................................................................... Denny and Eugene
Get a Job ............................................................................................................. Denny and Eugene
Mama Don’t Allow It .......................................................................................... Denny and Eugene
Tears on my Pillow ................................................................................................................ Eugene
Fools Fall in Love....................................................................................................................... Duke
Runaround Sue ......................................................................................................................... Duke
Lonely Teardrops ........................................................................................................................ Lois
Lovin’ Louis Medley (Devil or Angel/Earth Angel/Only You)............................................. Dreamers
I Only Have Eyes for You ............................................................................................................. Lois
Stay ................................................................................................................................... Dreamers
(Just Like) Romeo and Juliet .................................................................... Denny, Eugene, and Wally
A Sunday Kind of Love .............................................................................................................. Duke
Unchained Melody ..................................................................................................................... L ois
Act Two
Dreamin’ .................................................................................................. Denny, Eugene, and Wally
Easier Said Than Done ............................................................................. Denny, Eugene, and Wally
The Magic Touch...................................................................................... Denny, Eugene, and Wally
Lonely Teardrops (Reprise) ......................................................................................................... Lois
Buzz Buzz Buzz .................................................................................................................. Dreamers
The Glory of Love ............................................................................................................. Dreamers
Duke of Earl .............................................................................................................................. Duke
Pretty Little Angel Eyes ..................................................................................................... Dreamers
Do You Love Me/The Twist/Rama Lama Ding Dong/Life Could be a Dream (Reprise) ...... Company
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the company (in
alphabetical order)
Neil Aitchison (DJ “Bullseye” Miller)
Drayton Entertainment: Canada 151: Better Late Than Sorry, Canadian Legends, Sorry ... I’m Canadian, Canadian Toonie, Canadian Loonie, Bending the Bows. A former radio personality, Neil was also the CTV Romper Room Santa for 14 seasons. He is currently a construction executive, as well as a sought-after speaker. He is an avid community builder, and the recipient of The Waterloo Award (2015), The Citizen of the Year Award (2016), and the Queen’s Golden/Diamond/Platinum Jubilee Medals (2002/2012/2023). Born in Harriston, Neil was the first graduate of Conestoga College, and now lives in Waterloo with his first wife, Helen, whom he thanks for her unwavering support of his wacky lifestyle. Thanks to Melloul-Blamey for so many reasons. This show is dedicated to Neil’s four favourite grandchildren Patrick, Rebecca, Tanner, and Brier.
Kaden Forsberg (Denny Varney)
Drayton Entertainment: Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Sh-Boom! Life Could Be a Dream, Naked Radio. Other Theatre (selected): The Pillowman (Theatre Yes); Dion: A Rock Opera (Coal Mine Theatre); Cabaret (Ovation); Almost a Full Moon (Citadel Theatre); One Day (Segal Centre, Playwrights’ Workshop Montreal); It’s a Wonderful Life, Naked Radio, Classic Country Roads (Chemainus Theatre Festival); Little Women, Candide, Fiddler on the Roof (NUOVA). Opera (selected): Mary’s Wedding, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (POV); Les Contes d’Hoffmann (Aspen Music Festival); Orlando Paladino (Mozarteum); Gianni Schicchi (Amalfi Coast Music Festival). Film/TV: March Hare/Card #2 in The Garden of Alice. For life, music, and album updates: @kk_brett and www.kadenforsberg.com
Joema Frith (Wally Patton)
Drayton Entertainment: Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. Other Theatre: Disney’s The Little Mermaid (Rainbow Stage); Universal Child Care (Canadian Stage/Quote Unquote); Matilda, The Curious Incident of The Dog In the Night-Time (YES Theatre); Of The Sea (Tapestry Opera); Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella (Brampton Music Theatre). Awesome to be back. Thank you to my family, friends and the team at Talent House for the endless support, and thank you Drayton Entertainment for having me back!
Connor Meek (Eugene Johnson)
Drayton Entertainment: Sh-Boom: Life Could Be A Dream (2023). Other Theatre (selected): Sparky/Jinx/Francis Alternate in Forever Plaid (Starvox); Dwayne Rhodes in 9 to 5 (Stephenville); Featured Soloist in One Hit Wonders (Stage West); Prince William in Cinderella: If The Shoe Fits (Theatre Orangeville). Film/TV: Fredrick Banting in 100 Days To Victory (History Channel). Connor was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta and graduated from the Randolph College for the Performing Arts’ Triple Threat Program in Toronto. Connor has a particular love for ‘50s and ‘60s quartet music and it seems to love him back! Thanks to everyone at home both in Toronto and Calgary for your love and support, couldn’t do this without you.
Michael Vanhevel (Duke Henderson)
Drayton Entertainment: Sh-Boom: Life Could Be A Dream, The Crooner, Big Band Legends. Other Theatre: Camelot, The Starbright Christmas, Songs We Love, Norm Foster’s Outlaw, Hollywood Sings, Songs Of Sinatra (Victoria Playhouse Petrolia); Million Dollar Quartet (Magnus Theatre, Thousand Islands Playhouse, Sudbury Theatre Centre, Theatre Calgary, Grand Theatre). FilmTV: Billy Bishop in The Ace and The Scout (Electric Motion Pictures). Thanks so much to my wonderful friends and family for their love and support. www.michaelvannhevel.com
Jennifer
Walls
(Lois Franklin/Mrs Varney)
Drayton Entertainment: Sh-Boom! Life Could Be A Dream, Canada 151: Better Late Than Sorry. Upcoming: Naked Radio. Other Theatre: (selected): Dynamic Duos, Little Miss County Fair, Wonderful World with Ben Vereen, Starbright Christmas (Victoria Playhouse Petrolia); Reefer Madness (Canadian Premier, Hart House Theatre); Beauty and the Beast (Fallen Rock); Liza & Barbra, Together At Last (Angelwalk Theatre); Into The Woods (Talk Is Free Theatre). Jeni is an accomplished impressionist, voice actor, host and educator. She is the current voice of the Family Channel. This summer, Jeni will make her debut at the Stratford Festival as a host/performer with the Funny Forum Fridays series.
the creative team
David Rogers (Director)
Drayton Entertainment: Jean Valjean in Les Misérables, Harold Hill in The Music Man, Joseph in Joseph…, Che in Evita, Broadway Heroes (one-man show), Fiddler on the Loose (Creator), Canada 151, Sinatra Seven, Good Ol‘ Country Gospel (Creator and Director). One of Canada’s leading musical theatre artists, David has appeared as a soloist with the Symphony Orchestras of Toronto, Edmonton, Nova Scotia, Sudbury, Kitchener, Florida, National Arts Centre, and Kingston. He has played many leading roles in musicals across North America, including: The Phantom of the Opera, Tommy, Camelot, Cats and Into the Woods. David is currently the Co- Artistic Director of the Victoria Playhouse Petrolia.
David Hogan (Choreographer)
Drayton Entertainment: Fiddler on the Loose, Man of La Mancha, Broadway Heroes, Hollywood Sings, Godspell, The Songs of Sinatra (Director); Blood Brothers (Performer). Other Theatre: Co-Artistic Director of the Victoria Playhouse Petrolia (2012 – present); Artistic Producer of the Starbright Summer Festival in Sarnia, ON (2009 –2011); Producer and Director of Starbright Christmas (2004 – present); Producer and Director of Broadway on the Avenue, Banff, AB (2007 –2008). Thank you Alex and the Drayton Entertainment family. Thank you for joining us.
Melissa Morris (Music Director)
Drayton Entertainment: Sh-Boom! Life Could Be a Dream (2023), Bittergirl – The Musical. Drayton Entertainment Youth Academy: March Break Musical Director. Other Theatre: Director for Don Giovanni (Toronto City Opera); Annie Kenney in Lancashire Lass (Watershed Festival); Mrs. Cratchit/MD for A Christmas Carol, Corie in Barefoot in the Park (Upper Canada Playhouse); Feste/MD for Twelfth Night, Puck/MD for A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Phebe/MD for As You Like It, Bianca/MD for Taming of the Shrew (St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival); Jane Bennet/ Georgiana Darcy/MD for Pride & Prejudice, Sister Margaretta/Maria Understudy/MD for Sound of Music (Chemainus Theatre); Pianist for Dean and Jerry (Theatre Orangeville). Melissa is a proud faculty member at Queen’s University. @missmelissamorris
Douglas Paraschuk (Set Designer)*
Drayton Entertainment (selected): Jersey Boys, Fiddler on the Roof, American Son, The Music Man, South Pacific, Dial M for Murder. Over 30 productions for the Stratford Festival. Director of Design and Associate Director for the UAE Golden Jubilee Celebration (2021) Expo, Dubai. Designer for Stephen Fry’s Mythos (Shaw Festival, Edinburgh Festival, English National Tour). Director of Design for the Calgary Stampede Grandstand show (2014-23). Director of Design for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics opening, medals, and closing ceremonies. Director of Design for the opening and closing ceremonies for the Asian Games in Doha, Qatar. For over 35 years, Doug has designed for television, theatre, film, opera, ballet, and touring productions and has created hundreds of productions in Canada, the United States, Asia, and Europe.
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).
Lyle Franklin (Lighting Designer)*
Drayton Entertainment: Sh-Boom! Life Could Be a Dream (2023), Billy Bishop Goes to War, Buying The Farm, Kings & Queens of Country, Out of Order, Office Hours, Hilda’s Yard, A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline, The Affections of May, Lend Me A Tenor, Too Many Cooks, The Love List, Perfect Wedding, Twelve Angry Men, Separate Beds, The Odd Couple, Funny Money, Boeing Boeing. Other Theatre: The Last Enchanted Forest (Petrolia); Walking on Water (Fanshawe College); The Anger of Ernest and Ernestine (Lost & Found Theatre); A Funny Thing Happened … (Ryerson University). He is a graduate of Ryerson University. Lyle is pleased to be working on another lighting design with Drayton Entertainment.
*Indicated designers on this production are represented by the Associated Designers of Canada, IATSE Local ADC659.
Nadene Riehl (Stage Manager)
Drayton Entertainment (selected): Footloose, Bittergirl: The Musical, Sh-Boom! Life Could Be a Dream (2023, Assistant Stage Manager), The Crooner, Wizard of Oz: The Panto, American Son, Legally Blonde – the Musical, We’ll Meet Again, Billy Bishop Goes to War, Good Ol’ Country Gospel, You’ll Get Used To It! … The War Show, Hairspray, Kings & Queens of Country, Million Dollar Quartet, Red Rock Diner, Legends of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Canadian Legends, Twist & Shout, Snow White: The Panto, Footloose, Legends of Harmony. Other Theatre: Seussical The Musical, Grease, Bye Bye Birdie, The Full Monty, Hairspray, The Sound of Music (KWMP); KW Glee. She’s excited to return for her 11th season at Drayton Entertainment. Enjoy the show!.
June Zinck (Assistant Stage Manager)
Drayton Entertainment: Debut. Other Theatre: The Full Monty, Cinderella, The Play That Goes Wrong, Kitchen Party, The Last Five Years, The Last Wife, Noises Off, Mamma Mia!, Dark Side of the Heart, Shakespeare in Love, Chrysalis Sound Designer for Cinderella (Neptune Theatre); It’s A Wonderful Life (Western Canada Theatre); Kamp the Musical (Eastern Front Theatre); Kronborg 1582 (Charlottetown Festival). Film/TV: Dirty Deeds (SwearNet); Sifting (Eastlink TV).
the author
Roger Bean (Writer & Creator)
Roger Bean created the long-running hit The Marvelous Wonderettes (over 1,200 performances Off-Broadway), along with the sequels Wonderettes: Caps & Gowns, Winter Wonderettes, Wonderettes: Dream On, and the new large-cast Wonderettes: Glee Club Edition. Original cast albums for all Wonderettes shows are available from iTunes and Amazon. The Marvelous Wonderettes received the 2007 LA Ovation Award for Best Musical for its record-breaking Los Angeles run and continues to be an audience favorite in theatre companies throughout the country. Mr. Bean’s do-wop hit Sh-Boom! Life Could Be A Dream had a record-breaking 12-month run in Los Angeles, receiving the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award, the LA Weekly Theatre Award, and the Backstage Garland Award for Outstanding Musical. Other popular musicals created by Mr. Bean include The Andrews Brothers, Summer of Love, Route 66, Honky Tonk Laundry, and Why Do Fools Fall In Love?, all published by Stage Rights/Broadway Licensing. More info at www.rogerbean.com.
the band
Melissa Morris (Music Director/Piano)
Drayton Entertainment: Sh-Boom! Life Could Be a Dream (2023), Bittergirl – The Musical. Drayton Entertainment Youth Academy: March Break Musical Director. Other Theatre: Director for Don Giovanni (Toronto City Opera); Annie Kenney in Lancashire Lass (Watershed Festival); Mrs. Cratchit/MD for A Christmas Carol, Corie in Barefoot in the Park (Upper Canada Playhouse); Feste/MD for Twelfth Night, Puck/MD for A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Phebe/MD for As You Like It, Bianca/MD for Taming of the Shrew (St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival); Jane Bennet/ Georgiana Darcy/MD for Pride & Prejudice, Sister Margaretta/Maria Understudy/MD for Sound of Music (Chemainus Theatre); Pianist for Dean and Jerry (Theatre Orangeville). Melissa is a proud faculty member at Queen’s University. @missmelissamorris
Kevin Dempsey (Drums)
Drayton Entertainment: Sh-Boom! Life Could Be a Dream (2023), 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.
Peter Telford (Bass)
Drayton Entertainment: Sh-Boom! Life Could Be a Dream (2023). 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.
song credits
THE MUSIC OF SH-BOOM! LIFE COULD BE A DREAM Music Clearance by Rubicon II Music Clearance, Burbank, CA. All Songs Used By Permission. All Rights Reserved.
Sh Boom written by James Keyes, Carl Feaster, Floyd McRae, Claude Feaster, James Edwards © 1954 (renewed) Unichappell Music Inc. (BMI)
Get A Job written by Earl Beal, Raymond Edwards, William Norton and Richard Lewis © courtesy of EMI Longitude Music (BMI)
Mama Don’t Allow It written by Charles Davenport © 1929 (renewed) Chappell & Co., Inc. (ASCAP)
Tears On My Pillow written by Sylvester Bradford and Al Lewis © courtesy of Cherry Lane Music Publishing Company, Inc., on behalf of Gladys Music (ASCAP) and Sovereign Music Co. (ASCAP)
Fools Fall In Love written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller © Courtesy of Sony/ATV Tunes LLC (ASCAP)
Runaround Sue written by Ernie Maresca and Dion Di Mucci © 1961 (Renewed) Mijac Music (BMI) and Bronx Soul Music Inc. (ASCAP). All rights on behalf of Mijac Music administered by Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Lonely Teardrops written by Roquel Davis, Berry Gordy Jr., Gwendolyn Gordy Fuqua and Tyran Carlo © 1958 Third Above Music, Inc. (ASCAP), Jobete Music (ASCAP)
Devil Or Angel written by Blanche Carter © 1955 (renewed) Unichappell Music Inc. (BMI)
Earth Angel written by Jesse Belvin © 1954 Embassy Music Corporation (BMI)
Only You written by Buck Ram and Ande Ram © Courtesy of Hollis Music Inc. (BMI)
I Only Have Eyes For You written by Al Dubin and Harry Warren © 1934 (Renewed) WB Music Corp. (ASCAP)
Stay written by Maurice Williams © Used by permission of Cherio Corp. (BMI)
(Just Like) Romeo & Juliet written by Freddie Gorman and Bob Hamilton © Courtesy of Jobete Music Co. Inc. and Stone Agate Music
Sunday Kind Of Love written by Barbara Belle, Anita Leonard Nye, Louis Prima, Stan Rhodes © Universal Music Corp. (ASCAP), EMI April Music Inc. (ASCAP), and Larry Spier Music LLC/Memory Lane Music
Unchained Melody written by Hy Zaret and Alex North © Courtesy of Frank Music Corp. (ASCAP)
Dreamin’ written by Barry DeVorzon and Ted Ellis © 1960 Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (BMI) and Jelinda Music Inc (BMI)
Easier Said Than Done written by William B. Linton and Larry Freedie Huff © Courtesy of EMI Longitude Music
(You’ve Got) The Magic Touch written by Buck Ram © Universal Music Corp. (ASCAP)
Buzz Buzz Buzz written by Robert Byrd and John Dolphin © Courtesy of Stone Agate Music (BMI)
The Glory Of Love written by William J. Hill © Used by permission of Shapiro, Bernstein & Co., Inc. (BMI)
Duke Of Earl written by Eugene Dixon, Earl Edwards, Bernice Williams (BMI) © Courtesy of Conrad Music (BMI)
Pretty Little Angel Eyes written by Tommy Boyce, Curtis Lee © Universal Music –Careers on behalf of itself (BMI)
Do You Love Me? written by Berry Gordy © Courtesy of Jobete Music Co. Inc. (ASCAP)
The Twist written by Hank Ballard © Courtesy of Round Hill Carlin (ASCAP) & BMG Rights Management (BMI)
Rama Lama Ding Dong written by George Jones Jr. (BMI) © 1958-1961 (renewed) Jimbo Publishing Co., Girard, Ohio.
Grand Bend Campus Huron Country Playhouse
Week 1 | July 8 - July 12
Musical Theatre (age 8-18)
Week 2 | July 15 - July 19
Musical Theatre (age 8-18)
ADMINISTRATION
Artistic Director & CEO
Alex Mustakas
Executive Director
Steven Karcher
Associate Artistic Director
David Connolly
Director of Audience Services
Ellen Berwick
Director of Facilities
Alan Card
Director of Finance
Siobhan Lovejoy
Director of Human Resources
Natasha Hopf
Director of Marketing & Development
Jonathan Randall Director of Production
Dave Horner
Accounting Clerk
Joanne Labrecque
Ticketing & Systems Specialist
Randi Perriam
ARTISTIC
Artistic Administrator
Brenley Charkow
Artistic Administrative Assistant
Stephanie Reeve
AUDIENCE SERVICES
Audience Services Manager
Gary Good
Box Office Manager
Laurie Castro
Box Office Supervisor
Paige Corriveau
AUDIO
Head of Audio
Allan McMillan
Audio Assistant
Nicholas Wadel-Tucotte
MARKETING & DEVELOPMENT
Development Manager
Lindsay Bellaire
Group, Events & Rentals
Manager
Karen De iuliis
Community Engagement
Specialist
Danielle Dixon
Marketing & Development
Associates
Nigel Gordijk
Lia Tunstall
PRODUCTION
Production Coordinator
Jeff JohnstonCollins
Technical Directors
Lyle Franklin
Jeff JohnstonCollins
Austin Wilson
Head of Electrics
Lyle Franklin
Head of Construction
Rob Clarke
Assistant Head of Construction
Jenna Barry
Lead Carpenter
Lindsey Woelfle
Carpenters
John Bigelow
John Graham
Toofik Boulus
Ajae Whittaker
House Technicians
Glenn Beckner
El D’Almanda
Matthew Canning
Naomi Damasco
Richard McLeod
Production Administrator
Caitlyn Hill
PROPS
Head of Props
Kat Theriault
Senior Props Builder
Madeline Samms
Junior Props Builder
Josiah Bosse
SCE NIC PAINT
Senior Scenic Painters
Frank Crickmore
Kristen McCormick
WARDROBE
Head of Wardrobe
Jenine Kroeplin
Assistant Head of Wardrobe
Jessica Pembleton
Cutter
Rachel Berchtold
First Hand
Joanna Lee
Wardrobe Supervisor
Julia Nelham
Stitchers
Sarah Hunsberger
Heather McKenzie
Wardrobe Maintenance
Grace Robinson
Wig Stylist
Anne May
Rich Halliday
FOR SH-BOOM! LIFE COULD BE A DREAM
Audio Operator
Abbey MacDonald
Dresser
Janine Oblak
Running Crew
Katrina Kosta
Spencer Seiling
Assistant to David Hogan
Caitlin McKeon
HURON COUNTRY PLAYHOUSE
Facility Manager
Caitlyn Hill
Mainstage House Manager
Chris Morchain
South Huron Stage House
Manager
Jason Dannock
House Technician
Katrina Kosa
Bartender
Jordan Clarke
Pamela Jonah
Abby Verberne
Box Office Staff
Petra Aisenpreis
Julia Barrett
Stacy Bastiaansen
Cassidy Galvin
Custodian
Chelsea Brooks
DRAYTON ENTERTAINMENT
YOUTH ACADEMY
Director of Education
David Connolly
General Manager
Natasha Hopf
Marketing & Development
Associate
Christian Rose
Arts Administrator Assistant
Hanna Freitas
Administrative Intern
Simon Zenker
staff
Lyrics
The Story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons on stage next huron country playhouse How did four blue-collar guys from the streets of New Jersey climb the charts and make it to the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame? Have we got a story for you! JULY 10 TO AUGust 3 huroncountryplayhouse.com
Book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice
Music by Bob Gaudio
by Bob Crewe
