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Neptune Theatre is located on sacred land that has been the site of human activity since time immemorial. We are in Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq, and we acknowledge them as the past, present and future caretakers of this land.
As artists, we are grateful to work and build community here. As stewards of culture, we commit to continuing to improve our relations with Indigenous people and upholding values of collaboration and inclusivity in all that we do.
We recommend that masks be worn in our venues. As our theatres place the audience so close to the action on stage, masking helps protect not only audience members but also the actors, who cannot wear masks when performing. By keeping them safe, we all can help prevent COVID-related performance cancellations.
Any videotaping or other video or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited. The use of cameras, cellular phones, paging devices and all other recording devices is strictly prohibited in the theatre. Please ensure all cellular phones and watch alarms are turned off. Neptune Theatre is a scent-free environment.
Neptune Theatre is a member of the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres and engages, under the terms of the Canadian Theatre Agreement, professional Artists who are members of Canadian Actors’ Equity Association. Neptune Theatre engages professional technicians represented by IATSE Local 680.
Neptune Theatre acknowledges the support of our government partners:
CAST
Alex Annis Shelby / Dance Captain
Alex MacDonald Mr. Hawkins
Ben Walker Nick
Catherine Kozousek Ensemble / Trent Understudy
Conor Pottie Ensemble / Barry Understudy
Ella Murphy Mrs. Greene
Hannah DeJong Ensemble / Alyssa Understudy
Jill Wishart Ensemble / Emma Understudy
Jordan Angevine Ensemble
Kaitlyn McQuillan Emma
Kalan McKay Barry
Katie Sulley Ensemble / Angie / Sheldon Understudy
Louisa Morris DeeDee
Lyla Emery Ensemble / Shelby / Kaylee Understudy
Milo Meuse Kevin
Neve Lohnes Kaylee
Rylan Hislop Ensemble / Mr. Hawkins Understudy
Samira George Angie
Sivan Nurilov Sheldon
Sol Miller Ensemble / Kevin / Nick Understudy
Solène Gadbois Alyssa
Tennessee Toombs Trent
Vera Dunlop Vaillancourt Ensemble / Swing
CREATIVE TEAM
Laura Caswell Director of Education/Producer
Gina Thornhill* Director
Geordie Brown Music Director
Liliona Quarmyne Choreographer
Tomas Hiseler Set Designer
Katherine Penner Costume Designer
Alison Crosby Lighting Designer
Jordan Palmer Sound Designer
Samantha Wilson* Intimacy Director
Nicole Flynn Technical Director
Sara Courtney Stage Manager
Gina Woodward Assistant Stage Manager
Alistar Syms Apprentice Stage Manager
Kat Jones Technician
Sean Burke Technician
THE BAND
Geordie Brown Keyboards
Matthew Gallant Drums
Julian Kitson Guitar/Saxophone
* The participation of these Artists are arranged by permission of Canadian Actors’ Equity Association under the provisions of the Dance•Opera•Theatre Policy.
Creating safe and brave spaces where our company members can thrive is an essential part of the values of YPCo. Thanks for joining us in creating this space to share this wonderful show.
Selecting the titles for our YPCo productions is one of the most exciting (and sometimes nerve-racking) parts of my job. As we entered into the 2023-2024 season, the state of the world informed my choices; the arts and culture industry and the artists within it were struggling, there seemed to be constant stories of judgment and misinformation about our 2SLGBTQIA+ communities and audiences desired entertainment that would warm the heart and inspire joy. That is how I knew The Prom was the perfect opiton for our musical production; a queer led story with a message of acceptance and perserverence, as well as a lovely score offering an amazing vocal showcase for our won-
derful company of young artists. I promise you will laugh, be moved and find yourself wowed by these performances!
As Emma says: “I’m who I am and I think that’s worth fighting for, and nobody out there ever gets to define the life I’m meant to lead with this unruly heart of mine.” Hopefully when you leave this show you will be inpired to fight for something you believe in. I work, live and fight everyday for this amazing company including the amazing professionals that make up our creative and leadership team - many of whom came up and through the Neptune Theatre School and YPCo themselves. Congrats to the entire team for bringing this marvelous show to life. Now, its time to dance!
Laura Caswell Director of EducationABOUT THE PLAY
Four eccentric Broadway stars are in desperate need of a new stage. So when they hear that trouble is brewing around a small-town prom, they know that it’s time to put a spotlight on the issue…and themselves. The town’s parents want to keep the high school dance on the straight and narrow—but when one student just wants to bring her girlfriend to prom, the entire town has a date with destiny. On a mission to transform lives, Broadway’s brassiest join forces with a courageous girl and the town’s citizens and the result is love that brings them all together. Winner of the Drama Desk Award for Best Musical, THE PROM expertly captures all the humor and heart of a classic musical comedy with a message that resonates with audiences now more than ever.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE
Welcome to YPCo’s production of The Prom, I am thrilled that you came out to support this show and the incredible team that created it. YPCo is a place for our homegrown talent to forge their next steps and learn along the way. We’re honoured to play a role in their development and witness the greatness they forge along that path
This program is near and dear to my heart, many of our participants go on to amazing careers with in the performing arts and beyond.
Now get ready to dance in your seats with our cast of The Prom!
Kimberlee Stadelmann Executive Director
First of all, thank-you for coming to The Prom and supporting Neptune Theatre’s Youth Performance Company!
These 23 talented young performers have been working tirelessly since December to bring this production to life. I wish to thank them from the bottom of my heart for their dedication, vulnerability and courage. It is no small feat what this cast has accomplished, especially in the current political climate. At a time when people’s freedoms are being threatened, access to education and medical care are in question and living authentically is a daily risk - it is more important than ever to explore the themes The Prom raises. Themes of acceptance, bravery, and second chances.
Thank-you to the incredible crew and creative team; Geordie, Liliona, Sara, Gina, Alistair, Kat, Alison, Jordan, Tomas, Sean, Kat, Nicole, Andrew, John, and Garrett.
Thank-you for being exemplary leaders and sharing your passion for your craft with these nuggets! Thank-you to the Theatre School staff; Maddie, Sara, Harmony, Lucas for your support from day one. Thank-you to Laura for trusting me with this one and for everything you do for these nuggets! Finally thank-you to the families, loved ones, and friends of the cast who drive long hours for drop off & pick ups, who listen to hours of kitchen rehearsal, run lines, and witness dance steps over and over. For being their anchors when they are out exploring their passion. The support at home cannot be understated, and it does not go unseen.
This is for all of the Unruly Hearts out there; live the life you were meant to lead! With love, G
Gina Thornhill Director, The Prom
Entrance Scholarships Available to New Students
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FOR SUMMER 2024
VISIT HGS.NS.CA/ATHLETICS/GRAMMAR-BASKETBALL-ACADEMY
MEET YOUR COACH
Coach Colley-Leger '09, Athletics Director of the Halifax Grammar School, has played for the Saint Mary's Huskies and Team Canada. During her five years at SMU, she earned many awards and broke several records, including the Most Points Scored in Canadian University Women's Basketball. In 2019, Coach Colley-Leger was the youngest person to be inducted into the Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame.
THE CAST
Ensemble
Ensemble
Jordan Angevine
Ensemble /
Mr. Hawkins Understudy
Rylan Hislop
Emma
Kaitlyn McQuillan
Angie
Samira George
Barry Kalan McKay
Sheldon Sivan Nurilov
Catherine Kozousek
Ensemble /
Angie / Sheldon Understudy
Katie Sulley
Ensemble /
Kevin / Nick Understudy
Sol Miller
Mrs. Greene
Ella Murphy
Conor Pottie
DeeDee
Louisa Morris
Alyssa
Solène Gadbois
Ensemble / Shelby / Kaylee Understudy
Lyla Emery
Trent Tennessee Toombs
Ensemble / Alyssa Understudy
Hannah DeJong
Kevin
Milo Meuse
Ensemble / Swing
Vera Dunlop
Ensemble / Emma Understudy
Jill Wishart
Kaylee
Neve Lohnes
Vaillancourt Apprentice Stage Manager
Alistar Syms
GINA THORNHILL
ROLE: Director NEPTUNE: The Woman in Black, Tour Co. 2019 OTHER THEATRE: Beyond the Sea (Mulgrave Road Theatre); Some Blow Flutes (HomeFirst Theatre); Romeo & Juliet: A Drinka-long, A Midsummer Night’s Wet Dream (TeaTime Creation); Pugwash (Ship’s Company Theatre); How Quickly Things Change (Secret Theatre); Big Sister, Little Brother (Festival Antigonish); Slut: The Play (LunaSea Theatre); This is Nowhere (Zuppa); FILM/TV: Chapelwaite (Epix); Diggstown (CBC); Flimsy (producer) OTHER: Special love to Henri for listening to me butcher these songs in our kitchen, and to Matt - you would’ve loved this one buddy.
GEORDIE BROWN
ROLE: Music Director / Keyboard NEPTUNE: Stan Rogers: A Matter of Heart, The Songs of The Rat Pack, Disney’s High School Musical, ELF (‘12), YPCo’s SpongeBob OTHER THEATRE: Jukebox Hero (Ed Mirvish, Toronto); Singalong Jubilee, Pleasureville, Tapestry: A Tribute to Carole King, Stan Rogers: A Matter of Heart, Anne & Gilbert (The Guild, PEI); Could I Have This Dance? (Rebecca Cohn / Anne Murray Centre); A Rat Pack Christmas (Spatz); RENT (DGM); Rocky Mountain High, Starbright Christmas (Victoria Playhouse Petrolia); Forever Plaid (Chester Playhouse); The Advent Show (7 seasons); Million Dollar Quartet, The Comedy of Errors, Into the Woods, A Tribute to Elton John (Music Director, The Grove Theatre, Ontario) FILM/TV: The Tenth Circle, The Single Mom (Lifetime); Made In Canada, Mr. D (CBC); Haven (SyFy); Stephen King’s Bag of Bones, The Riverman (A&E).
LILIONA QUARMYNE
ROLE: Choreographer NEPTUNE: Murder For Two SELECTED CHOREOGRAPHY: The Movements (Zuppa Theatre), Washington Black (Disney), Shifting Verse (Prismatic Arts Festival), Intersect (Mayworks Kjipuktuk), Resonances of a Warrior Boy (various); SELECTED ACTING: The New Canadian Curling Club (Festival Antigonish), Night of the Bat (Villains Theatre); The Movements (Zuppa Theatre); SELECTED DANCE: Whodunit?! (Votive Dance), Where Dance and Music Meet (Mocean Dance). OTHER: Shout out to so many who create magic in the hardest of circumstances! It’s been a joy to be on this ride.
TOMAS HISELER
ROLE: Set Designer NEPTUNE: Debut TRAINING: Graduate of Sheridan College’s Technical Production for Theatre and Live Events program and student of the Banff Center’s theater internship program, he has been working at Neptune Theatre for five seasons as the Assistant Scenic artist OTHER: Tomas’s debut set design at Neptune Theatre, returning to YPCO as a designer after being in performances of Les Mis and Brigadoon with the company as a teen.
KATHERINE PENNER
ROLE: Costume Designer NEPTUNE: WARDROBE CUTTER: The Play that Goes Wrong, Cinderella 2023, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, The Full Monty WARDROBE STITCHER: Elf the Musical & Billy Elliot the Musical OTHER THEATRE/FILM:WARDROBE STITCHER: Shaw Festival 2019 Season & Washington Black TRAINING: Dalhousie University Costume Studies
ALISON CROSBY
ROLE: Lighting Designer NEPTUNE: The Last Show on EarthTM! OTHER THEATRE: Downed Hearts, Dayboil (Ship’s Company Theatre); Gaslight, Steel Magnolias (Watermark Theatre); Leaving Home, Footnotes, Joyride, The Little Years, The Woodcutter, Peter Fechter: 59 Minutes, Bone Cage (Matchstick Theatre); Lauchie Liza & Rory, The Myth of the Ostrich (Theatre Baddeck); House, YAGA, John & Jen, See Jane Run (Highland Arts Theatre); Harmonia (Painted Dance Co.); Strike Tone, Don’t Wake the Lions, Synced Systems (Votive Dance); The Realistic Joneses (KAZAN Co-op). TRAINING: Mount Allison University. AWARDS: TNS Merritt Award – Lighting Design (Dayboil).
JORDAN PALMER
ROLE: Sound Designer NEPTUNE: The Last Show on EarthTM! , In Lieu of Flowers, Misery, Ballad of the Motherland, Billy Elliot, Elf, The Play That Goes Wrong OTHER THEATRE: Old Stock: A Refugee Love Story (2b Theatre, Merritt Nominated), Footnotes, Joyride, The Little Years, The Woodcutter, Peter Fechter: 59 Minutes, Bone Cage (Matchstick Theatre); The Aliens (Theatre in Space); The Hydrofoil Mystery (Theatre Baddeck. Merritt Nominated); The Proletariat, YAGA, Little One (Highland Arts Theatre) TRAINING: OIART, Diploma in Audio Recording Technology.
SAMANTHA WILSON
ROLE: Intimacy Director NEPTUNE: The Full Monty,Misery, Cradle and All (Actor); Rocky Horror Show, In Lieu of Flowers, Almost Maine (ID), Shape of a Girl, Liars (Director) OTHER THEATRE: Downed Hearts, Dayboil, Odd Ducks, Tuesdays and Sundays (Ship’s Company Theatre); Steel Magnolias (Watermark Theatre); Cottagers and Indians (ARC); When it Rains (2b Theatre); Where You Are, Sexy Laundry (Theatre Baddeck); Strawberries in January (Live Bait Theatre); Marion Bridge (STC) TV/FILM: To The Moon, Look at Me, Diggstown, Moonshine, Night Blooms, S&V, Trailer Park Boys, Haven, Queer as Folk and Legends. OTHER: Samantha has taught and directed at Sheridan College, Mount Allison, York, Acadia and Dalhousie University. UPCOMING: This summer Samantha is directing Dear Rita for Neptune Theatre and Til Death Do Us Part at Ship’s Company Theatre. Forever and always, thanks to Peter, Jack and Nick for their love and support.
NICOLE FLYNN
ROLE: Technical Director NEPTUNE: debut OTHER: NICOLE FLYNN (she/her) is a creator, carpenter, and problem-solver. She has pursued studies in visual arts, graphic design and theatre/ entertainment design in Winnipeg and Toronto. Nicole has worked at Ship’s Company Theatre as the technical director, with Matchstick Theatre as a scenic carpenter and painter, and at Neptune Theatre as a scenic carpenter and assistant technical director. Prior to moving to Halifax, she freelanced in advertising as a prop builder and stylist, and as a teacher with the Chang School for Continuing Education. When she’s not rolling around in sawdust, Nicole is most likely sleeping, eating ice cream, or doing both at the same time.
SARA COURTNEY
ROLE: Stage Manager NEPTUNE: Runaways, My Side of the Country, Almost Maine (ASM), Les Misérables (ASM) OTHER THEATRE: The Firebird (Terra Novella), Into the Woods (Alive Theatre), Mind the Light (EFT Stages Festival), Grafton Street Dinner Theatre, and Project Arc AWARDS: National Musical Theatre Emerging Artist Award - 2022 FCMF National Music Festival. OTHER: Sara has been working with the Neptune Theatre School for six years, in roles of teaching, camp direction, administration and stage management.
GINA WOODWARD
ROLE: Assistant Stage Manager NEPTUNE: Rumour Has It: The Songbook of Adele, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead (2024) Billy Elliot The Musical, The Play That Goes Wrong, (2023), OTHER THEATRE: The America Show (Fringe 2023) Downed Hearts (Ships Company Theatre 2023), Memories Beyond the Grave (2023), Peer Gynt (FSPA 2023), Seven Stories (FSPA 2022), People Place and Things (FSPA 2021) TRAINING: BA Dalhousie University, Stage Design and Technical Theatre Fountain School of Performing Arts OTHER: Thank you to the friends who are always waiting for me to get out of rehearsal
JULIEN KITSON
ROLE: Guitar / Bass / Saxophone NEPTUNE: YPCo’s SpongeBob, Stan Rogers: A Matter of Heart OTHER THEATRE: Singalong Jubilee,Tapestry: A Tribute to Carole King, Stan Rogers: A Matter of Heart, Anne & Gilbert (The Guild, PEI); OTHER: From Stratford, PEI, Julien has been active in the island music scene as a musician, singer, songwriter and producer, earning a Music PEI nomination at the age of 13. More recently, he performs as a founding member of Charlottetown rock band Gizmo, and studies saxophone at Halifax’s Fountain School of Performing Arts. When not on stage, “junior” can be found jamming with his dad Joey (lead singer of Rawlins Cross), and eating lobster with his mother Nancy in Cap-Pelé.
MATT GALLANT
ROLE: Drum Kit NEPTUNE: YPCo’s SpongeBob, Rumour Has It.
OTHER: As an independent musician in the Nova Scotia Music scene for 20 years, Matthew has performed in Canada, the States and Europe, with many bands from the East Coast. As a recording artist, Matthew has won numerous ECMA, and MNS awards. Matthew graduated from Dalhousie with a Bachelor of Music degree, and studied Ethnomusicology in Ghana through the University of Alberta. Some notable artists Matt has worked with include Ben Caplan, Amelia Curran, Erin Costelo, The Brood, Alan Syliboy, Dave Sampson, Mike Trask, Julie Aubé, Squid, Symphony NS, and Neptune. Matthew currently teaches drums and percussion at Long and McQuade.
Head of Wardrobe:
Helena Marriott
Stitchers:
Joan Stewart
Rachelle Bunbury
Sandra Zeyl
Sarah Paterson
Pamela Stone
Head of Props
Hanna Laaksonen
Props Assistant
Tessa Brentwood
SPONSORS & PARTNERS
SEASON
SPONSOR
PRODUCTION
SPONSOR
Nova Scotia Teachers Union
Nova Scotia Teachers Union
FOUNDATIONS
JASON ROTH AND CHERYL STEADMAN ROTH
THEATRE PARTNERS
GOVERNMENT PARTNERS
