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PROGRAMME Goes ToWar We go to a time when Heroes were made... February 25th – March 8, 2014 Presented at The McManus Studio Theatre at The Grand Theatre

written and composed by John MacLachlan Gray in collaboration with Eric Peterson Directed by Rick Kish featuring Stratford & Shaw Festivals, Kyle Blair as Billy Bishop

Presented by 519-GET-LINK(ed) 519-438-5465 amissinglinktheatre.ca BillyProgramme_Layout 1 14-02-24 11:17 AM Page 2 BillyProgramme_Layout 1 14-02-24 11:17 AM Page 3

PortStanley Billy Bishop GoesTo War An Epic Adventure FestivalTheatre SUBSCRIBE written and composed by John MacLachlan Gray & SAVE! in collaboration with Eric Peterson Directed by Rick Kish 2SEASON 014 Presented at The McManus Studio Theatre at The Grand Theatre 8 pm performances 2 pm performances BOX OFFICE: 519.782.4353 Feb. 25, 26, 27, 28 (opening night), Mar. 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 Feb. 26, Mar. 1, 5, 8 www.portstanleytheatre.ca Thurs., February 27 and March 6, 11 a.m. performance Artistic Director: Simon Joynes eatre Manager: Melissa Kempf Part Musical, part comedy, part drama... By his own admission, William Avery Bishop was the Royal Military College's “worst student ever.” But before he can be expelled, he enlists for service in the First World War. Before Billy Bishop's wartime days are over, this colourful young scrapper from Owen Sound will become a hero and a lightning rod of new confidence for a young . “Country Jukebox: Anchored by its haunted hero and his clear-eyed memories of war's tragedies and black e Best of Country Duets” comedies, this award-winning musical epic introduces us to 17 other characters that are Starring Leisa Way, given extra resonance by songs that are sometimes raucous, sometimes mournful, but Aaron Solomon & Randall Kempf always steeped in the realities of wartime. Experience Billy Bishop and connect body and May 27th to June 7th soul with a formative part of Canada's history. “e Melville Boys” THE COMPANY By Norm Foster The CAST June 11th to July 5th Kyle Blair Billy Bishop

“Bingo Ladies” Dean Harrison The Piano Player A World Premiere Musical Others making an appearance behind the scenes... Book, music and lyrics by Grant Tilly July 9th to July 26th Leanne Rich Stage Manager Eric Bunnell Set Designer “e Fixer-Upper” Bernadette Sperandeo Gall Props By Lorne Elliot Julie McGill Costume Designer July 30th to August 16th Anthony Gentile Lighting Designer Jenelle Carter Projections “Stag and Doe” Cassandra Griffin Production Assistant A Brand New Comedy Ricardo Blanco Production Assistant By Mark Crawford August 20th to September 13th

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Eric Bunnell (Set Designer) BIOS Eric Bunnell is honoured to design the setting for AMLTC's production of Billy Kyle Blair* (Billy Bishop) Bishop in this anniversary year of Canadian heroism in the First World War. He Kyle is a London native who now resides in Stratford, ON. Growing up is the grandson of veterans of the Philippine Insurrection and the Great War, he attended Lester B. Pearson and Oakridge S.S. He is grateful for the and the nephew of a decorated Bomber Command pilot in the Second World opportunities afforded to him by Original Kids, the Amabile Boys Choir, War. For AMLTC, Eric designed sets for Vigil and for last season's premiere of Norm Foster's Great Kooshog Lake Hollis McCauley Fishing Derby. His recent London Musical Theatre and the incomparable Art Fidler. Since graduating credits also include Blyth Festival, Port Stanley Festival Theatre, Lighthouse from the University of Windsor (BFA) and Stratford's Birmingham Festival Theatre in Port Dover, as well as UWOpera at Western University. Conservatory for Classical Theatre Training, Kyle has spent 12 seasons Next, he is designing the premiere of Bingo Ladies, a new musical, at Port between the Stratford and Shaw Festivals appearing in leading roles in many Stanley. Eric is a St. Thomas resident. musicals and in a range of work by Shakespeare, Noel Coward, J.M. Barrie and Oscar Wilde. He has worked across Canada at the National Arts Centre, Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, The Grand Theatre, Acting Up Stage, Theatre Aquarius, Drayton Anthony Gentile (Lighting Designer) Anthony has been involved in many theatrical and film productions in the past Entertainment, Talk is Free Theatre, and will be heading to Neptune Theatre in Halifax to play Bert in 20 years across Canada, and in 2012 he got the chance to worked at the Royal Mary Poppins this spring. Kyle sends thanks and love to his mentor and friend Bernard Hopkins. Shakespeare Company in Stratford, England. Anthony has worked in all areas of production from designing to building to running shows; even performing and photographing events. He is currently spending most of his time working at Dean Harrison (The Piano Player) The Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Stratford, and as a freelance Dean is a performer and arranger based in London, Ontario and has worked photographer. This is Anthony's first production with AMLTC, since collaborating for many years in theatre and live music. Credits include The Boneyard Man with Rick Kish’s production of Sweeney Todd at UWO. Anthony is very excited (Jayson MacDonald), Blue Suede Shoes Shoes (Drayton), Twist and Shout, Les to be working with AMLTC and looks forward to working with this fabulous Miserables, Guys and Dolls, West Side Story (The Grand Theatre). He has been company often in the future. a featured soloist with Orchestra London, the Kitchener-Waterloo Julie McGill (Costume Designer) Symphony and the International Symphony Orchestra. Currently, Dean enjoys Julie P. McGill is a Canadian Costume Designer and member of the Associated playing music in the New Orleans tradition with Enchanté and the “Bayou Soul Designers of Canada and USITT. She received her Masters in Fine Arts in Kings”. He is very pleased to be back with a missing link theatre company. Dean Costume Design from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. Her past appeared in A Really Retro Christmas Special 2013 as, you guessed it, The productions include Three Penny Opera at the Krannert Center for the Piano Player. Performing Arts in Illinois, A Dream Play with Chicago director Max Truax and more recently the UWO operas The Rape of Lucretia and Cinderella. Julie is Rick Kish* (Producer, Director) currently designing the operas Gisela In Her Bathtub and City Workers in Love For AMLTC, Rick has directed the Brickenden Award Winning - Vigil, the World for UWO. Wonderful to be back in Canada with family and friends! Premiere - The Great Kooshog Lake Hollis McCauley Fishing Derby by Norm Foster & his long time favourite – A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline. Rick served Bernadette Sperandeo Gall (Properties Designer) as Artistic Director at The Port Stanley Festival Theatre (PSFT), 1999 – 2001 Since first contributing her creative talents to London Community Players and Bluewater Summer Playhouse (BSP) in Kincardine, ON, 2001-2006. Selected by volunteering for The Shadow Box in 2009, Bernadette decided to pursue a directing credits include: A Closer Walk With Patsy Cline (AMLTC, BSP), Hedwig career in professional theatre, and has since graduated with Honours from & The Angry Inch (2012 London Fringe), Wang Dang Doodle (Grand Theatre), Sheridan College with a Diploma in Theatre Arts – Technical Production. Billy Steel Magnolias (SODA, U of Windsor), Sweeney Todd (UWO), Mary’s Wedding, Bishop Goes To War is Bernadette’s first production with A Missing Link The Wild Guys, Suds: The Rocking ‘60’s Musical Soap Opera, Forever Plaid & Theatre. Some past credits include: PROPS: Rent, Once Upon A Mattress, the World Premiere Production of Norm Foster's Storm Warning (BSP), Maggie's Getting Married, Assassins - Theatre Sheridan, The 39 Steps, The Last Resort, Dark of the Moon - London Community Players. WARDROBE: Miracle on 34th Street, Dance Pith, You'll Get Used To It! The War Show & Bordertown Cafe (PSFT). Rick says a big “THANK YOU” Legends - The Grand Theatre, Hairspray, Oliver, How The Other Half Loves, to everybody who has believed in and supported AMLTC thus far! There's more to come! The Buddy Holly Story - Drayton Entertainment, Amadeus, Sweeney Todd - Theatre Sheridan. STAGE MANAGEMENT: Oklahoma - Theatre Sheridan, and Brickenden Award Winner: To Kill A Mockingbird - London Community Leanne Rich (Stage Manager) Players. SET & COSTUME DESIGN: RED – Fountainhead Theatre. Special thanks to hubby Joe for being so supportive and making every day an adventure and a dream come true! PS – Miss you lots Leanne Rich is thrilled to be a part of the Billy Bishop team for her Third Uncle Frank. You will always be in my heart xoxox production with A Missing Link! Other Missing Link credits include A Really Retro Christmas Special 2013 and Vigil. A proud graduate of the Ryerson Theatre School some her most recent school works include: EnChoreo 2013, Cassandra Griffin (Production Assistant) Cassandra is delighted to be continuing her work with AMLTC in their second Production Manager; Marathon ’33, Front of House Manager; How to Succeed season! Between her many adventures, she loves to come home to the theatre in Business without Really Trying, Front of House Manager; The Bundle, Assistant where she enjoys taking on a variety of roles, including most recently as a Stage Manager. Other works: Performing Occupy , Stage Manager production assistant and weather mistress in AMLTC production of Vigil . She (Docket Theatre Company). also appeared in Vauxpunk Opera’s recent production of Rent as a performer and associate musical director. Cassandra first worked with Rick Kish on Theatre Western’s 2006 production of Sweeney Todd in the role of Mrs. Lovett. She will be appearing in AMLTC’s upcoming production of Saucy Jack and the Space Vixens this fall. 4 * This is a Canadian Actors’ Equity Associate production under the Artists’ Collective Policy. 5 BillyProgramme_Layout 1 14-02-24 11:17 AM Page 6 BillyProgramme_Layout 1 14-02-24 11:17 AM Page 7

OUR PATRONS Thank you for your support! Dr. Manu Panwar Maria Luisa Cantersi & Vince Diliello Carolyn & Allister Cameron real design group Richard Yake Julia Webb www.realdesigngroup.ca • 519 630 6183 LOGOS • BROCHURES • POSTERS • ADS Kim Poole, Real Design Group (see ad) Dave Kloetstra, Minuteman Press (see ad) Thanks Captain Michael O’Leary, CD (The RCR) Captain (ret’d) Ray Flemming, CD Sgt. Markus Brants, CD. Georgina Stanciu, Ph.D Curator: The Royal Canadian Regiment Museum Ian Raven. Executive Director: The Elgin Military Museum Billy Bishop Museum. Owen Sound, Ontario. Erin Napier. Curator: Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum. Mount Hope, Ontario. Tanya Ursual. E.G. Ursual, Military Antiquarian Inc., Kemptville, Ontario. Corporal David MacArthur: WW2 Medal Donation Lisa Wright. Head of Wardrobe. The Grand Theatre Catherine Murphy Kim Poole Kathryn Patton Andrew Tribe [email protected] Catherine Charlton Heather Davies Ian’s Cartage Carolyn Ledgley, Ledgley Pianos Ltd. Ron's Auto Service, St. Thomas North Pole Trim & Supplies (see ad) Dana Nosella Photography (see ad) The Grand Theatre St. Aidan’s Anglican Church

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