Celebrating 25 Years of music and laughter at the
Drayton Festival Theatre
Photo credits: Robert Creighton in Brighton Beach Memoirs, 1991; Jackie Mustakas and Rebecca Poff in 42nd Street, 2004; Neil Aitchison in Sorry ... I’m Canadian, 2008. Eddie Glen and cast in Guys & Dolls, 2010, Chilina Kennedy and Branch Fields in South Pacific, 2014; Keith Savage and cast in Country Legends, 2009.
Page 2 | Drayton Festival Theatre - Celebrating 25 years
From Drayton to Broadway Actor Robert Creighton recounts a few memories from his early career in Drayton
It is unbelievable to think that it has been 25 years since that first summer! To this day I describe Drayton Festival Theatre as my “home theatre.” I will always feel that way. I have lifelong friendships that sprung from my several summers there and lessons both on and off the stage that still guide me today. It was a place where at the very beginning of my journey as a professional actor, I got an opportunity to be directed by, and be on stage with, some of the very best in this crazy business! You cannot pay for that kind of training. I remember the first season when Alan Lund choreographed me in Yankee Doodle Dandy for the show Vaudeville! - choreography that I have basically used for the last 25 years! I remember standing in the wings every night and watching Alex Mustakas in a sketch with Barbara Mantini where she was yelling and he was eating spaghetti. I don’t remember what the sketch was about, but I remember feeling like it was a masterclass in funny! Knowing Terry Doyle and watching him handle a line of comedy on stage (or off, for that matter) was a life highlight and why I used to sign every note to my dear friend with TDIT – “Terry Doyle in Training!”. I still count my experience in Brighton Beach Memoirs as one of the most exciting and fulfilling times I have ever had on stage. An example of one of the little, but not so little, lessons I took away from my time in that
“Say the words and let them do the work.” To this day – seven Broadway shows later – I still remember and try and employ that simple but crucial direction. - ROBERT CREIGHTON
theatre was when during rehearsal for that show Alex gave me the direction on a punch line to just “say the words and let them do the work.” To this day – seven Broadway shows later – I still remember and try and employ that simple but crucial direction. My memories of the joy I have experienced and the things I learned on stage in Drayton could fill several chapters of a book – so I have mentioned only a few. But how could I talk about Drayton Festival Theatre without mentioning the people of Drayton who through their commitment, took Alex’s vision and supported it all the way to the institution it is now. We actors lived in their homes (Ron and Barb Ellis were my home/family away from home), hung out on their docks, drank in their back yards, drove their cars. It was and is a unique and wonderful place
The Drayton Town Hall has showcased talent for over 100 years and that continues today with Drayton Entertainment. Mapleton is proud to be a part of the Drayton Festival Theatre’s roots and we are pleased to share our community and history for the past 25 years. The Merchant of Venice at Drayton Town Hall, 1907 Wellington County Museum & Archives, ph 9949
Back Row: Alvin Schieck, Blake Patterson, John MacNab, Ella Lowes, Mable Leslie, Orton Cardy, Willie Quinn, Clayton Stewart. Centre Row: Elva Haack, Russel Dynes, Alva Armstrong, Roy Short, Myrtle Burrows, J.W. Yake (Principal). Front Row: Weston Berry, Milton Hambly, Pardy Quinn, Cyril Lunz, Cedric MacNamara.
for which I’ll always be grateful. And speaking of family, for several of the shows I did in Drayton over the years it was an extra special place to work as my brother Bill Creighton was there as the General Manager helping to grow the vision. The last time I worked in Drayton it was to bring a show I created, about the life of James Cagney, to the stage there. Just one of the many things for which I will always be grateful to my “home theatre. “ Happy 25th Anniversary! Editor’s Note: Robert Creighton has appeared in a number of Broadway productions, including The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Anything Goes, Chicago, Disney’s The Lion King, and Disney’s The Little Mermaid.
Drayton Festival Theatre - Celebrating 25 years | Page 3
A quarter-century of success Chris Daponte
DRAYTON - This season a quarter of a million people will take in a live performance of one of 19 productions at seven Drayton Entertainment venues across southern Ontario. It’s a remarkable achievement considering the theatre company’s modest beginnings in 1991 in the village for which it was named. “I remember bringing in a dozen lights that I had in my basement,” Alex Mustakas said with a chuckle, recalling the production of Vaudeville! that summer at the Drayton Festival Theatre (the company’s productions now include over 300 “instruments” above the stage). Mustakas, the company’s Artistic Director and Chief Executive Officer, remembers a few days prior to the July 1 premiere asking early theatre proponents if the group could really pull off an ambitious first season that included three professional productions over nine weeks. “We didn’t question it until about two days before the first show,” Mustakas said with a smile. All apprehensions were soon assuaged, as the historic first season was a resounding success, attracting more than 14,500 visitors to Drayton. “We knew after the first season we had something special,” Mustakas said. That has never been more apparent than this year, as the Drayton Festival Theatre presents its milestone 25th season. About 400 seasonal part time employees, 50 of which are with the company year round (a far cry from about a dozen early proponents), will help ensure things run smoothly at seven locations: - the original 385-seat Drayton theatre; - the Huron Country Playhouse (650 seats) and Playhouse II (300 seats) in Grand Bend; - King’s Wharf Theatre in Penetanguishene (385 seats); - the Schoolhouse Theatre (120 seats) and Country Playhouse (close to 400 seats) in St. Jacobs; and - the newest facility, Dunfield Theatre Cambridge (500 seats). “It’s an extraordinary story when you think about it,” said Mustakas, who noted it took him a long time to be able to reflect on the theatre’s resounding growth and success. “It’s actually hard to believe 25 years have gone by. Some things still feel like yesterday.” The same holds true for Neil Aitchison, a Harriston native who was involved from the beginning and still sits on the company’s board of directors. “Who would have guessed ... it would become what it is? It’s an amazing success story,” said Aitchison. “Drayton is no longer just a community; it’s a brand now.” But 25 years ago, long before the brand emerged, and indeed prior to the curtain rising for the first time, Mustakas had to find a venue to fulfill his dream of a “country playhouse” in small-town Ontario. It just so happened that around the same time local councillors in Drayton, including village reeve John Green, were looking for something to do with the historic building at the corner of Wellington and Spring streets. Built in 1902, the downtown building once housed Drayton’s municipal office, council chambers, library, fire hall, garage and jail. The opera
house on the second floor at one time was part of a theatrical touring circuit, but by the 1980s the space was seldom used. Revived in 1983 by the Drayton Community Players, an amateur group of area thespians that staged two shows annually, the theatre was again closed six years later - this time for safety reasons. A determined group of Drayton residents hoping to save the landmark from the wrecking ball rallied to raise $110,000 to retrofit the facility to meet the fire code.
“If it wasn’t for the community of Drayton all those years ago, we wouldn’t be here today.” - ALEX MUSTAKAS Around that time Aitchison introduced Green and other municipal officials to Mustakas, who had just obtained a Masters Degree in Arts Administration from City University in London, England (after graduating from Wilfrid Laurier University with an Economics Degree). Within seconds of an opera house tour with Jean Campbell, another early theatre proponent, Mustakas could envision great things for the old building. Not long thereafter, on Sept. 1, 1990, Mustakas presented his vision to members of the community and a committee of council. “I couldn’t believe the positive response that night,” said Mustakas, adding the community again rallied to raise enough money to get started. He specifically mentioned vital contributions from Aitchison, Green and Campbell, as well as from Ab Hesselink, Ron Ellis, Allan Cherrey, Bob Thurston, Kathy Watt and Reta Weber - many of whom are still directors or involved with the company in another capacity. In the beginning, those individuals - and many others like them - not only provided financial and moral support, but also helped fill myriad positions, from greeters to ushers, to laundry and technical support. The group faced numerous obstacles in the beginning, not the least of which was a deep recession at the time that had actually forced some businesses to close their doors for good. “The trend was going the other way,” Mustakas said, noting the group got a lot of attention for what many perceived as a bold move in an uncertain economic climate. He explained one of the keys to the theatre
Above: Alex Mustakas, Artistic Director and CEO. Below: Neil Aitchison as Constable F. Inkster.
overcoming early financial challenges was Aitchison, who used his connections as General Sales Manager at the CFCA/ CKKW FM radio station in Waterloo to offer free promotion for the theatre. “I had great faith in Alex. I knew exactly what he could do already,” said Aitchison, who witnessed firsthand Mustakas’ talents through previous collaborations for K-W Musical Productions and for the area’s Gilbert and Sullivan Society. “I told Alex, ‘we’ll get [people] to the theatre once and it’s your job to get them to come back.’ And he did.” Over the next two and a half decades the theatre company, buoyed by a dedication to reasonable prices and excellent customer service, grew by leaps in bounds, not only in terms of theatre venues, but also the size and quality of its productions and its artistic reputation. “It’s not elitist ... it’s affordable and accessible,” Aitchison said when asked what makes the company so successful. “People really feel like part of a family there ... it’s very, very connected to the community.” Mustakas said the company has taken what’s worked in Drayton and applied those foundations to every one of its six other locations. “We try to balance artistic integrity with fiscal responsibility,” he said. “We’ve never forgotten the basics.” Much like the original festival theatre in Drayton, the company’s newest jewel, Dunfield Theatre Cambridge, is owned by the local municipality, with Drayton Entertainment occupying the building as long-term lessee. The arrangements not only supply an impressive home for the Drayton Entertainment season, but they also allow the buildings to be used as year-round performing arts facilities. For example, in Cambridge, the theatre helped consolidate the company’s production facilities in Grand Bend and its administration headquarters in Drayton, but it is also used often by school musical groups, the Cambridge Symphony Orchestra and other local arts groups. “It’s great that they’ve taken ownership of it,” said Mustakas. “It’s not a burden to taxpayers.” CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
Page 4 | Drayton Festival Theatre - Celebrating 25 years
Theatre’s ‘grassroots’ key to longevity
From previous page
He hopes the Cambridge arrangement, as well as those in place at all seven Drayton Entertainment venues, continue to be a success going forward. “We want to just keep doing what we’re doing,” Mustakas said. “We want to be here for another 25 years - at least.” Yet that doesn’t mean the company is resting on its laurels. Mustakas admits one of the greatest ongoing challenges facing Drayton Entertainment - and almost all theatre companies - is an evolving demographic, as the reliable older crowd is shrinking in size. “Our goal is to attract a younger audience,” Mustakas said, noting the task is considerably hindered in the current technological age. “But there really is nothing like taking in a live theatre performance.” To attract younger customers the company has offered a number of recent productions that appeal to children including Snow White, The Little Mermaid and Aladdin - and continues to offer student matinees with a “very low” price point, Mustakas explained. “We want them to be future theatregoers and experience live performances early on,” he said. Of course the company also caters to more mature theatregoers through popular productions and returning characters such as the beloved Mountie, Constable Archibald F. Inkster, played by Aitchison. “Alex and I created him years ago,” Aitchison said of his theatrical alter ego. The character, who pokes fun at the apologetic and unassuming nature of Canadians, as well as famous and infamous Canuck celebrities and politicians, first appeared in Bending the Bows at the Drayton Festival Theatre about 20 years ago. This summer Aitchison will again bring
TRAVEL IN COMFORT AND STYLE
“We want to be here for another 25 years - at least.” - ALEX MUSTAKAS Inkster to life in Canadian Legends at the Dunfield Theatre Cambridge, marking the character’s fifth or sixth incarnation on a Drayton Entertainment stage. For Mustakas, personal highlights over the past 25 years include shows such as Blood Brothers, Big River and You’ll Get Used to It: The War Show - but he hesitates to name just a few, as “there have been so many amazing productions.” What makes Drayton Entertainment’s success even more
u o y k n a Th for 25 years of
Stratford and Listowel, ON
Charter and Tour Service
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remarkable is that it has retained its not-for-profit charitable status. The company receives no funding whatsoever from the Canadian Arts Council and uses other grants for capital upgrades only. It remains relatively self-sustaining in part by rotating shows between venues, which benefits actors and can save money in costumes, props, lighting and sets. And, after becoming one of the greatest theatrical success stories in the country, Drayton Entertainment is able to draw “the cream of the crop” when it comes to actors, musicians, directors and choreographers. “It’s thoroughly professional,” said Aitchison, noting the company’s actors are the same ones appearing in productions in Toronto or at famous festivals in Stratford or Niagara-onthe-Lake. “Actors love working with Alex because he was one .... he is very accommodating and he treats people very well.” Despite the on-stage talent and the company’s many other accolades, Mustakas remains humble and re-directs any praise for the theatre’s success to the people in the community and to Drayton Entertainment’s staff, volunteers and board of directors. “I tend to get way too much credit. This thing is a success because of the grassroots,” he said. “If it wasn’t for the community of Drayton all those years ago, we wouldn’t be here today. They continue to be our ambassadors ... it’s just amazing.” It appears the original allure of the Drayton Festival Theatre - dedicated local ambassadors, combined with an historic venue, quality productions and a nice country drive to the quaint community - is alive and well a quarter of a century later. For more information on Drayton Entertainment, including the 2015 season, visit draytonentertainment.com.
CONGRATULATIONS on entertaining our community for
25 YEARS! Proud to be a partner with Drayton Festival
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Drayton Festival Theatre - Celebrating 25 years | Page 5
An overnight success ... years in the making Neil, Alex and I met for lunch over a number of occasions, and it was there the Drayton Festival Theatre was born. I remember looking Alex squarely in the eye, and he said to me, ‘I want to be an Artistic Director, and I want to start a theatre, and my career, in Drayton.’ And that’s exactly what happened.” “I couldn’t believe my good fortune,” says Mustakas. “Here was the beautiful opera house, basically at the crossroads of two county roads, and a community leader who inherently understood the contribution that live theatre would bring to the area.” On Sept 1, 1990, Mustakas outlined this contribution to members of the community and a committee of council. The response was unbelievable, with the community of 1,000 residents again rallying together to raise enough seed money to start the fledgling theatre festival.
John Green
When the Drayton Festival Theatre officially opened its doors on Canada Day, 1991, it was an immediate triumph and heralded by the media as the quintessential overnight success story. But the instant acclaim was, in actuality, the result of groundwork laid several years earlier by key individuals such as Ab Hesselink, Bruce Schieck, Ron Ellis, Bob Thurston, and then-Village Reeve John Green. Built in 1902, the gorgeous opera house was part of a vaudeville era touring circuit hosting such notable performers as Beatrice Lillie. Its use declined, trapping the space in a time capsule for decades. It was ultimately revived in 1983 by The Drayton Community Players, a group of area residents that staged two amateur shows annually until the theatre was closed for safety reasons in 1989. That, in turn, generated great debate locally about the future of the building. Upon hearing talk of a possible demolition, a determined group of Drayton residents rallied to raise $110,000 to retrofit the facility to meet the fire code. Then debate heated up again about what exactly to do with the grand structure now that it was saved from the wrecking ball. “Local councillors at the time were like-minded,” says John Green. “We all wanted to do something with the building and use it more, but we didn’t know how.” Enter Alex Mustakas, who, after attaining a Masters degree in arts administration from City University in London, England, wanted nothing more than to open a “country playhouse” in small-town Ontario. Green smiles as he recounts the story. “Neil Aitchison called me, and said that there was someone he wanted me to meet – a bright and talented young man. And so
“Here was the beautiful opera house, basically at the crossroads of two county roads, and a community leader who inherently understood the contribution that live theatre would bring to the area.”
it’s really exciting to see so many people participating in the arts.” Green himself started the Drayton tradition of greeting patrons at the front door of the theatre for each and every performance. “As Mayor and board president, I felt a responsibility to be there, and I was naturally curious to see who exactly was coming to the theatre. I knew a good number of the people, but when people started coming from surrounding towns like Mount Forest, Harriston, Listowel, and Kitchener-Waterloo, I was totally amazed. I knew then we had created something special.” Reflecting on 25 years of memories, Green still considers the theatre’s inaugural production, Vaudeville!, as a standout moment. “It was so special for me, because the show was written by Alan Lund, a famous Canadian whom I watched on television as a child. And to meet him, in the village of Drayton of all places, was such a highlight. I’ll always remember it fondly.” Editor’s Note: It is a little known fact that in 2010, as part of its 20th Anniversary and in recognition of John Green’s sustained leadership, the Drayton Festival Theatre officially re-named the Artist Green Room, which is the common space where performers congregate when not appearing in a scene onstage, as The John C. Green Room.
- ALEX MUSTAKAS
“It was just the right time, with the right people, in the right place,” he says. One of the first to speak in favour of Mustakas’ plan was Bruce Schieck, whose grandfather helped build the opera house. Schieck spoke about the need for an artistic presence in the area to complement the already established sports community – and others such as Ab Hesselink echoed that sentiment. Green, Schieck, Aitchison, and Hesselink were among the theatre’s founding Board members, and 25 years later are still providing stewardship to the organization through their continued participation on the Board. For Green in particular, 2015 is special because he served as President for the theatre’s inaugural 1991 Season, then followed suit in 2000 for the 10th Anniversary, and now comes full circle in 2015 for the 25th Anniversary. Green credits his lasting involvement and personal interest due to a continual education in the arts. “I knew nothing about the industry previously, but I’ve learned a lot about live theatre and the challenges of operating a successful charity,” he says. “Our audience has grown over the years and stimulated growth in other communities, and
Alan Lund and Alex Mustakas Theatre’s first in Drayton Fest production, Va udeville (1991) ival .
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The arts are good business
It is a fact that arts and culture not only enrich society, but they are important drivers of economic activity. The Drayton Festival Theatre launched its 1991 season in the midst of one of the worst economic recessions in Canadian history. As such, the fledgling theatre festival adopted a modest $99,000 budget, and retained only one employee - founding Artistic Director Alex Mustakas. Twenty-five years later, Drayton Entertainment shines as a model of sustainability for both the live theatre industry and the not-for-profit charitable sector. By carefully amortizing costs for set construction, costumes and other production related elements, shows are easily transferred between the organization’s 7 different theatres, providing valuable savings which are then passed on directly to theatregoers so that ticket prices remain affordable and accessible. Drayton Entertainment now operates with a $10.0 million budget and will employ more than 450 artists, musicians and stage managers during the 2015 Season at its various theatres – a remarkable feat for a charitable arts organization that receives no annual operating funding from any level of government or arts council. “We are extremely proud of the role that the Drayton Festival Theatre has played in business, the economy, and society in general,” says Brad Carr, Past President of Drayton Entertainment’s Board of Directors.
“We are extremely proud of the role that the Drayton Festival Theatre has played in business, the economy, and society in general,” - BRAD CARR, PAST PRESIDENT, DRAYTON ENTERTAINMENT BOARD OF DIRECTORS Cultural offerings such as the Drayton Festival Theatre greatly enhance the market appeal of Mapleton. Not only do they play a critical role in community revitalization, but they are integral to the expansion of tourism – one of the fastest-growing economic markets in the country today. Quite simply, the arts attract tourism dollars. The Province of Ontario’s Tourism Regional Economic Impact Model (TREIM) estimates the Drayton Festival Theatre generates close to $1.7 million in annual visitor spending for food, beverage, recreation, retail, transportation and accommodation. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is estimated at $1.3 million – impressive for a village with less than 1,000 residents.
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Business in general, and an individual company specifically, benefit financially, competitively, strategically, and sustainably from operating in an economically vibrant community that enjoys a high quality of life. “The arts naturally foster innovation and creativity,” says Carr. “But they also create jobs and contribute to the economy, which speaks to their fundamental value to a prosperous, well balanced society.” The increasing importance of the arts is being further validated through emerging economic trends. Hill Strategies Research reports that Canadians spend more on performing arts ($1.4 billion) than on movie theatre admissions ($1.2 billion) or sports events ($.065 billion). The most recent research by the Ontario Arts Council revealed that 55% of Ontarians attended a professional play or musical at least once in 2011, with 75% describing this activity as being “very important” to them. “The Drayton Festival Theatre is extremely fortunate to be a beneficiary of the goodwill Ontarians are extending to the arts,” says Carr. “Many of our theatregoers have been attending for all 25 years, and we look forward to commemorating this landmark Season with them, as well as introducing many new people to the magic of the Drayton Experience™ for the first time.”
Drayton Festival Theatre - Celebrating 25 years | Page 9
Q&A with Jean Campbell An Interview with a volunteer
Q A
You’ve been involved with Drayton Festival Theatre from the beginning. What about the idea of a theatre in the village of Drayton was interesting for you? Tell me about your early experiences with the Drayton Festival Theatre?
Jean Campbell
Q
My initial reaction to Alex Mustakas’ proposal was that it would be a good thing, and a good use of the building. There would be entertainment and employment opportunities for people in the community. I remember Alex Mustakas asking me, “What kind of theatre do you like?” and I remember telling him “Life’s stressful enough, what we need is to be entertained.”
What experiences have you gained being a part of Drayton Festival Theatre through the years?
A
I think really meeting the most interesting people. Not only the actors, and the crews, but also, you meet a lot of interesting patrons too. I had dual roles being on the board and working in wardrobe, so, I experienced both sides of the story. Over the years, as Drayton Entertainment expanded, being part of the Board, we had the chance to travel Ontario as the new venues opened.
QA
What made you stay on to continue to be a part of this organization?
I’ve just always been interested in it, and Alex and I got along pretty well. I started as secretary treasurer and during the first year with the theatre I started volunteering time in wardrobe. After that, I became employed with the theatre and helped out with whatever had to be done – looking after the books, and selling tickets in the off season when we didn’t have a ticket machine. After the ticket sales became automated, I continued solely in the wardrobe department, once we had someone takeover sales in the summertime.
QA
What was your initial involvement (duties, jobs, etc)?
I was first involved with the theatre as secretary treasurer as it originally started out as a committee of Council, and I was clerk treasurer at the time. Later on I became a board member but not at commencement. At the beginning, I helped recruit accommodations for actors, talked with parents about letting their children usher, and surprisingly, after their first year, we had lots of children signing up. It’s just amazing to watch each usher when they first begin in May, they’re timid and shy, but by the end of the summer they walk up to every patron asking “ What can I help you with?” and “Can I show you to your seat?” They’ve completely changed, and I think it’s a great experience for the youth. It was during those first few years that Alex learned I could sew. I helped create a lot of the costumes. I was head of wardrobe and there was one, sometimes two of us, involved in the department at the time. Back then, many of the costumes were borrowed from other theatre groups and we were mainly doing alterations.
QA
Are there any particular special moments that stand out over the years?
The most touching moment was the opening night of Blood Brothers. I’ll never forget that show. It’s kind of a sad show actually – dramatic – but, the cast was on stage singing the finale; everyone one of them had tears running down their cheeks, and you looked around the audience and there were a lot of tears there too. You think, “Oh. Even after all the song and dance, you can put on a drama that caught the hearts of everybody as well.” Behind the scenes, a few moments stand out. When we did Me and My Girl, we made this robe out of velvet curtains and in the show the actor has to swing the robe around. Alex kept saying it wasn’t working right. So, we got some chains and we put it in the hem and it worked perfectly, although we warned all the rest of them to stand back. In that same production, there’s a wedding scene, and you had to run upstairs with all the wedding dresses and set them just right so they could jump in, zip them up and away they went. Memories like that stand out.
Fun Fact #1
Fun Fact #2
Fun Fact #3
Young Enid Schieck was the first person ever to perform at the Drayton Opera House. The child snuck in at lunchtime to say her recitation on the unfinished stage. After bowing to her imagined audience, Enid announced that she would be “the first to entertain in Daddy’s new building.”
A host of famous performers have played on the Drayton stage from its opening in 1902 to present day including vaudeville actress and comedienne Beatrice Lillie, Scottish Soprano Jessie McLachlan and Canadian pop star Serena Ryder.
Throughout the depression of the 1930s, talent competitions were held annually and the winner was awarded money to help their family through the difficult financial times.
Drayton Festival Theatre
- Recalled by Drayton resident Grant Schieck, whose family was involved with the original construction of the venue.
Drayton Festival Theatre
Drayton Festival Theatre
Fun Fact #4
Drayton Festival Theatre The Drayton Festival Theatre made Canadian theatrical history by completely selling out both its 1993 and 1994 seasons. All 36,000 available seats for the 1994 season were sold one month prior to the beginning of rehearsals.
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A Tribute to Musical Pioneers
May 14 - June 6
Relive the incredible discography from the 1950s through 1970s that forever changed the landscape of modern music. The most important and influential rock and roll acts of the 20th century are here: Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis, The Beach Boys, The Everly Brothers, Elton John, ABBA, The Monkees, Simon & Garfunkel, Sonny & Cher, and many more. By Alex Mustakas Orchestrations & Vocal Arrangements by Robert Foster
A letter from The Mantini Sisters With Love - Sandra, Barbara and Ann
A Comedy About Finding Love
June 10 - June 27
An insightful examination of the human condition, Looking is a winning comedy that celebrates our desperate need to love and be loved, regardless of our age or stage in life. By Norm Foster
An Uplifting Comedy
July 2 - July 18
A heartwarming, nostalgic comedy that lovingly harkens back to a simpler time, Norm Foster’s gem peeks over the picket fence with touching insight to show the unbreakable ties that bind a family together. By Norm Foster
An Award-Winning Broadway Classic
Aug 5 - Aug 29
Broadway blockbuster filled with exuberant dance numbers and a veritable hit parade of classics like “Ya Got Trouble,” “Seventy-Six Trombones” and “Till There Was You.” The Music Man is family entertainment at its best. Book, Music & Lyrics by Meredith Willson Story by Meredith Willson & Franklin Lacey
It is hard to believe that we are celebrating the Drayton Festival Theatre’s 25th Anniversary. Has it really been that long? It seems like yesterday that our dear friend, Alex Mustakas, invited us to be part of his new venture in the Village of Drayton. What seemed to be a journey into the unknown, soon became a life and career changing experience for The Mantini Sisters. We are very proud and honoured to be a part of the Drayton alumni and their first production of Vaudeville!. It was a magical time. During that year, there was no glitz and glamour, no elevator, no high tech sets and certainly, no air conditioning. But it was one of the best creative, exciting and collaborative times and working with such a talented cast, crew, and the late Alan Lund was truly a wonderful experience. Since that time, The Mantini Sisters have continued to be part of the Drayton family. We have been featured as a trio and individually in productions such as Hurray for Hollywood, The Mikado, Swing!, Nunsense and You’ll Get Used to It: The War Show. Throughout the years, the Drayton Festival Theatre presented our own productions of Moments to Remember and The Ladies of Broadway. We were always made to feel welcomed by the staff, crew and the audience, who over the years, have become loyal supporters. We met so many wonderful people and have developed lasting friendships. To this day we consider Drayton our home away from home. It is a thrill for us to be part of this year’s production of The Music Man. We want take this opportunity to congratulate Alex Mustakas and the Drayton Festival Theatre on celebrating this milestone. We are very proud of Alex, staff and the community for their dedication and hard work and for bringing outstanding entertainment to Drayton.
Congratulations, dear friends!
Fun Fact #5
Drayton Festival Theatre Many notable theatre performers have graced the Drayton stage including Bobby Creighton who appeared in Brighton Beach Memoirs in the first season in 1991 and now regularly performs on Broadway; Michael Therriault, one of the great leading men of Canadian theatre, who made his professional stage debut on the Drayton stage in She Loves Me in 1996; Louise Pitre who appeared as Mrs. Johnstone in the 1998 production of Blood Brothers and went on to star in Mamma Mia! on Broadway; and Chilina Kennedy who played Nellie in last season’s production of South Pacific and is currently starring in Beautiful: The Carole King Story on Broadway, among others.
Wishing you many more years of successful entertainment!
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Drayton Festival Theatre - Celebrating 25 years | Page 11
Volunteerism key to success of Drayton Festival Theatre Community service is often referred to as the rent we pay for the space we occupy. Volunteerism is key to the enduring success of the Drayton Festival Theatre. This fundamental value dates back to the theatre’s humble beginnings, when Artistic Director Alex Mustakas was the lone employee, relying on a network of community-minded citizens to provide necessary support. Volunteers were engaged in myriad ways in the early days. Some volunteered their sewing skills and worked through the night so that costumes were ready for opening night; others, like the dishwasher from the neighbouring restaurant, worked backstage releasing the curtain each night after final bows. Still others, like Ron Ellis, Vic Roberts, and members of Council at the time volunteered their skills to help restore the 1902 Opera House to its former glory. “Getting the theatre ready was a big undertaking,” says Ellis. “Preparing the theatre for an audience included sanding the floors, stripping the painting off, removing seats from the upstairs, pulling up carpet, and painting the walls. Like everyone else who was volunteering, I was a jack-of-all-trades. It definitely was a community effort.” Ellis knows a thing or two about the impact of volunteerism. He has been working on various projects on behalf of the theatre for the past 25 years. Today, his involvement takes the form as Chair of Friends of the Drayton Festival Theatre, a volunteer organization that facilitates community involvement by providing ongoing support through greeting, ushering, grounds beautification, marketing, and fundraising. The group has raised over $40,000 through various
Ron Ellis
“Like everyone else who was volunteering, I was a jack-of-all-trades. It definitely was a community effort.” - RON ELLIS fundraising projects and campaigns over the years, and is always eager to welcome new volunteers to the fold. “Countless individuals have been involved in the success of the Drayton Festival Theatre over the years,” says Ellis. “Personally, I enjoy the fact that we’re bringing people into the village. Volunteering at the theatre, you meet lots of new people, work with the staff, and meet artists from all across the country. Overall, it’s been amazing just to be part of it and to see the growth over the years.”
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Prior to his involvement with the Drayton Festival Theatre, Ellis had never seen a professional play, but he knew that the community had a chance to do something great with this building that had such a rich history. Ellis has since become a theatre-lover and arts advocate. For his significant contribution to the theatre, Ellis was awarded the Volunteer of the Year Award in 2009 from the Volunteer Centre of Guelph Wellington during National Volunteer Week. He was subsequently awarded a Volunteer Service Award in 2013 by the Government of Ontario. When asked if there was a particular moment that stands out to him, Ellis chuckles. “Alex Mustakas has a way of convincing people to do things they would normally refuse. I had the opportunity to be on stage once for a talent show, dressed in drag. It got a good laugh. That was definitely memorable!” According to the Canada Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participating, the most common reason people volunteer is because of a desire to make a contribution to the community. The residents of Drayton and Mapleton Township have exemplified this statistic for the last 25 years. Community pride is at the heart of the success of the Drayton Festival Theatre, and volunteers like Ellis and many others who donate their time will always be essential to the past, present and future achievements of this small town theatre that is rightfully considered one of the country’s greatest theatrical success stories. Editor’s Note: For more information on how to volunteer with Friends of the Drayton Festival Theatre, contact Ron Ellis at 519-638-3056 or fill out the Volunteer form on www.draytonentertainment.com.
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Page 12 | Drayton Festival Theatre - Celebrating 25 years
Building a better community starts with the right foundation. THE WELLINGTON ADVERTISER
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