Winner of “Best Off Broadway Musical” in its original New York production, Nunsense, The Musical is the story of a hilarious fundraising show staged by five survivors at the Little Sisters of Lachine nunnery, the rest of the sisterhood having succumbed to botulism after eating vichyssoise prepared by the convent chef, Sister Julia, Child of God.

Thursday Nov. 14 – 7:30pm (Open Night Gala)
Friday Nov. 15 – 8:00pm
Saturday Nov. 16 – 8:00pm
Sunday Nov. 17 – 2:00pm (matinee)
Thursday Nov. 21 – 7:30pm
Friday Nov. 22 – 8:00pm
Saturday Nov. 23 – 2:00pm (matinee)
Saturday Nov. 23 – 8:00pm

Corey CASTLE – Director
Corey has directed numerous productions in and around Montreal, including Cabaret (Theatre Lac Brome and Centaur Theatre), Into the Woods (Concordia University), Blokes, Blokes II, Troubadours Through Time, Mainly Montreal (Centaur Theatre, starring Bowser and Blue), The Last Five Years (Hudson Village Theatre), many musicals (Lyric Theatre) and Gilbert & Sullivan operettas (Montreal West Operatic Society, Lakeshore Light Opera). This is Corey’s seventh time directing for Lakeshore Players Dorval. He is a graduate of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York. While there he assisted in the off-Broadway production of the musical Falsettoland.

Corina VINCELLI – Musical Director
Corina is a Montreal based singer/songwriter/actress. She has trained in the classical voice program at Université de Montréal, which led her to teaching voice, piano and composition. Reaching her 10th year in teaching, it then led her to musical direction. Having performed in several musicals in Montreal, such as Rent (Joanne) and Legally Blonde: The Musical (Enid Hoops) – to name some, Corina is now thrilled to be working on her 3nd project as MD and will be musical directing a fourth show for the Université de Montréal, opening in March 2020.

 

Sylvia MAURI – Sister Mary Regina, Mother Superior
“Let me start at the beginning…” with thanks to Corey, Corina, Linda and Mel, the crew, the production teams and technicians, the musicians and an amazingly talented cast. You give true meaning to community theatre. During the last few seasons with the Lakeshore Players, Sylvia has enjoyed playing Berthe (Boeing Boeing), Sonia (Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike) and Miss January (Calendar Girls). You may have seen her in Hudson Music Club’s 42nd Street and In the Mood; Hudson Players Club ‘s The Widow Schwartz, Alice in Wonderland and The Great Gatsby; Stone Soup Productions’ Always a Bridesmaid and West Enders’ Love Potion (Montreal Fringe). “I tell ya, it isn’t easy…” but donning the habit of Mother Superior has certainly been an “uplifting transition”! When not actively volunteering in her community, Sylvia enjoys teaching an adult tap class in Hudson and being part of The Moonlighters – a group of actors bringing theatre into seniors’ residences. She is truly grateful for her “earthly rewards” : Pierre (a saint), their sons, and her wonderful friends. Marina, this one is for you xxx

Candace HOLDER – Sister Mary Hubert
Candy is no stranger to amateur theatre in the Montreal area. She has volunteered for many years with the Becket Players onstage acting, singing and dancing, as well as behind the scenes as choreographer, director, board member and spotlight operator. She was also involved with the Hudson Music Club for two years, playing the Minstrel in the 2018 META nominated production of Once Upon a Mattress, and Lucky the Gangster in The Drowsy Chaperone in spring of 2019. Nunsense marks her first performance with the Lakeshore Players. She’d like to thank her family and friends for all of their love and support, and hopes everyone enjoys the show!

Stephanie von RORETZ – Sister Robert Anne
Stephanie discovered her love for the stage at a very early age. She performed in many plays throughout elementary school and high school and went on to graduate from Dawson College’s Professional Theatre Program in 2010. After graduating she toured with the Montreal Shakespeare Theatre Company for four years performing adapted Shakespeare plays such as Romeo and Juliet, The Taming of the Shrew, Macbeth, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. She loves to belt out a tune and is thrilled to have been cast in Lakeshore Players’ first musical! This is her seventh time onstage with the Lakeshore Players having performed in the past productions of And Then There Were None, Don’t Dress for Dinner, Sabrina Fair, The Mousetrap, Crimes of the Heart, and last season’s META nominated production of The Miracle Worker as Annie Sullivan. She has had a blast working with the cast and crew of this show learning to tap-dance and singing wacky songs and can’t wait to show you a little Nunsense!

Ashley DUNN – Sister Mary Leo
Ashley is thrilled to be taking part in her first production with Lakeshore Players. Recent theatre credits include Winnifred in Once Upon a Mattress and The Baker’s Wife in Into the Woods. Ashley is a 2007 graduate of John Abbott College’s Professional Acting Program and went on to study Theatre, Music and Education at Concordia University while taking part in professional theatre and film productions in Montreal. She is currently a member of ACTRA. Ashley has a background in competitive hip-hop dancing and is very happy to add her new-found love of tap and ballet to her dance repertoire. Musical theatre has always been close to her heart, as it is where her love of theatre began. She is now a music teacher at St. Patrick Elementary, which allows her to share her passion for the arts (and obsession with musicals) with her students.

Julia LEMIRE – Sister Mary Amnesia
Julia is beyond thrilled to be part of LPD’s production of Nunsense along with its amazing cast & crew.  Having been an avid musical theatre geek for many years, she is ecstatic about having the opportunity to tap dance, work with Annette and portray a character so polar opposite to herself.  While this is her first production with LPD, she has been part of the Montreal musical theatre community for many years as part of The Lyric Theatre Singers, Unisson & Full Circle Productions. Thanks go out to Corina & Mireille for convincing her to audition.

Annette STEVENS – Sister Mary Annette
Annette wants you to know she is only participating in this show because the judge at her arraignment hearing imposed it as part of her “community service”.  She probably would have reconsidered that night of joy riding after stealing Julia’s car if she had known what it would lead to. She tried to convince the judge that she was really a victim in all of this.  That she in fact had been kidnapped by the ‘unknown’ car knappers. But because those idiot brothers of hers had been fooling around taking selfies of HER driving the car, the judge was convinced that she had masterminded the whole thing!  What’s a sister to do? At least she made off with Julia’s new tap shoes as her consolation prize…

 

Brother Ian BAIRD – Piano

Sister Lisa TRUBIANO-ARNOLD – Bass

Brother Elijah BAKER – Drums

 

Charyl HYNDMAN – Co-Producer
This is Charyl’s second time co-producing a show & what a show she has chosen! Lakeshore Players Dorval’s FIRST ever musical! She feels privileged & an honoured to be a part of this production, from the auditions that had her in tears to the thrill of watching the cast prepare for what promises to be a memorable show! Charyl co-produced last season’s The Miracle Worker, which was nominated for a META. She has been seen on stage in Not Now Darling as well as Calendar Girls. She would like to thank everyone who has been involved in bringing this musical to you and knows you will all love it as much as she does! ENJOY!

Jim VOYSEY – Co-Producer
After talking fellow board member Charyl Hyndman into producing Nunsense with him this will be Jim’s 5th, yes 5th time co-producing a show for LPD. After working on the successful Odd Couple (female version) last season, this show has been Nuns and tap shoes and puppets, Oh My! A musical first for Jim and for LPD. This has been a unique experience and Jim wants to thank the cast and crew for all the hard work and time that has been put in by everyone to make Nunsense a success. He also wants to thank you, our audience, for coming out and supporting live theatre because without you there would be no success and the theatre would be really really quiet…..

Jean-Claude OLIVIER – Set Designer
Jean-Claude is an award-winning set designer and scenic artist whose work has been seen across Canada for more than forty years. A graduate of McGill University and Université de Montréal, he also studied at the National Theatre School of Canada, and was taught and mentored by noted designer Robert Prévost. He has designed for Les Grands Ballets, Théâtre du Rideau Vert, and Théâtre du Nouveau Monde, and he also worked one season at the Stratford Festival. Locally, his work has graced productions by the Segal Centre, the Lyric Theatre, and Hudson Village Theatre, as well as the Beth Israel, Beth Tikvah and Arcadians musical theatre groups, including many Gilbert & Sullivan operettas along the way. In 2006, he won the OVATION Award for Best Scenic Design for Peter Pan (Vancouver), for which he was also received a JESSIE nomination. And in 2008, he received a second OVATION Award for Best Scenic Design for The Drowsy Chaperone, a co-production of the National Arts Centre and the Vancouver Playhouse. He has also worked in Drayton (Ontario), Toronto and Quebec City. Recent Hudson Village Theatre productions include Jack of Diamonds, Savannah Sipping Society, Snow White (the Panto), The Drowsy Chaperone, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and Rumors. JC is pleased to be designing again for Lakeshore Players Dorval. Past LPD credits include Amadeus, Anne of 1000 Days, Matchmaker, Pygmalion and My Three Angels.

Linda SHESHKO – Stage Manager
This is Linda’s eleventh season with Lakeshore Players Dorval, and her fifth go-round as Stage Manager. After serving as Board Secretary for three years and playing a variety of roles on stage, she enjoys the challenges of this important but largely invisible job. She is grateful to all concerned in this production for creating onstage miracles with their talent, dedication, and hard work. On with the show!

Mélanie DESJARDINS – Co-Stage Manager
This is Mélanie’s sixth year with Lakeshore Players Dorval and her second time working behind the scenes as assistant stage manager. In the past, you may have seen her on stage as Alice in You Can’t Take it With You (2013), Janie McMichael in Not Now, Darling (2015), Puck in Shakespeare in Hollywood (2015), Gloria in Boeing Boeing (2016), Mary in The Inspector General (2016) and Sylvie in The Odd Couple, Female Version (2019). She is very excited to be part of Lakeshore Players Dorval’s first ever musical!

Karen PEARCE – Costume Designer
Karen has been involved in many aspects of theatre production over the years; producer, director, choreographer but at some point in time Karen realized that costuming was a great excuse to expand her wardrobe, engage in a genetically predetermined hoarding tendency (it’s not my fault, it’s in my genes) and stay in shape (weight training!). She’s on her way to having the biggest walk-in closet on the West Island (some people call them garages). If you’re a Lakeshore Players Dorval regular you’ve probably seen Karen’s work over the past couple of years in Picasso at the Lapin Agile, The Cat’s Meow, And Then There Were None, The Mousetrap, Tartuffe and Calendar Girls. Karen loves to paint a picture with color, pattern and sparkle and some people say they can recognize her costumes even before reading the program (Karen hopes this is a good thing). Karen is grateful to LP for their support.

Marian PINE – Script Assistant
Marian has been a member of Lakeshore Players Dorval since 2011 after retiring. She has worked Front of House, helped with costumes, and been a script assistant. She has been on the play selection committee for three years. She was in Fiddler on the Roof in high school and later in the ’90s a member of a small theatre group called PIG DOG PLAYHOUSE. She hopes everyone enjoys our wonderful production of Nunsense, The Musical.

Jo-Ann PINE – Script Assistant
Jo-Ann joined Lakeshore Players Dorval during the 1997-98 season and has worked behind the scenes for approximately 45 plays, (costumes, script, hair, baker) and Front of House for most of the plays from her membership through this year. She was a member of the board twice and chair of the nominating committee. She once belonged to a small theatre group in the last century. She had the grey hair long before joining Lakeshore Players Dorval.

Holli DRUM – Assistant Stage Manager
Holli, a Lakeshore Players Dorval Lifetime Member, has been a LPD staple for almost 25 years, and a priceless member of the backstage team. Holli and Gillian have volunteered to work backstage for all three productions for the last several years. Lakeshore Players Dorval would like to express their gratitude for her dedication to community theatre. In her other life, Holli works with seniors and is very involved with the Girl Guides as a Brownie and Ranger leader in Dorval.

Gillian GILBERT – Assistant Stage Manager
Originally from the U.K., Gillian started her stage appearances in rock bands (notably with Steve Hackett/Genesis). In Canada she appeared with Le Festin du Gouverneur and Mont Royal Operatic Society before joining Lakeshore Players Dorval. Over the past 24 productions, Gillian has absolutely loved being part of the “Players” family appearing on stage in the fabulous Calendar Girls, Shakespeare in Hollywood and Jane Eyre as well as backstage with Holli and all the wonderful casts & crews and wishes to thank everyone for such a rich and rewarding experience. Please go on supporting community theatre – it’s so much better than “twitter”!

Rebecca CAVANAGH – Props
This is Rebecca’s first production with Lakeshore Players Dorval. She was bit by the theater bug in high school when she played Daisy Mae in L’il Abner and was Stage Manager for Macbeth. Rebecca attended Dawson College Creative Arts program in the 80’s but life had other plans and she never did pursue her theater dreams. After recently turning 50, she decided that it was now or never!  Besides joining LPD this year, she also signed up for an Acting class in the ACTion program at John Abbott College. Rebecca is a Mother and a Grandmother. She works at the Douglas Hospital and in her spare time she enjoys photography, drawing, painting and spending time with her partner, Claude <3, who pushed her to pursue this theater dream!

Bill FLETCHER & Steve WOODWARD – Set Construction
Steve Woodward and Bill Fletcher are true Lakeshore Players Dorval veterans. Steve started set-building for LPD in the late 1980’s and, after a 20-year absence, returned to the fold in 2010 and has worked on every show since then, as well as developing set designs for The Mousetrap and The Curious Savage. Bill came to LPD for a part in My Three Angels in 1995 and is still haunting the wings, serving as Production Manager over 30 shows since 2001.

Adam WALTERS – Lighting Designer
Adam Walters has been in theatre since he was 8 years old. Starting off as an actor he eventually became more interested in the design aspect of theatre. He has since graduated from the National Theatre School of Canada in Production Design and Technical Arts with a focus on Lighting Design for Theatre. He has since worked with directors Alisa Palmer, Anthony Black and Djanet Sears. His most recent design was for the world premier of David Fennario’s new play “fessenden follies”. He is delighted to be joining Lakeshore players for their production of Nunsense.

Eric SAUVÉ – Sound Designer
Only 3 weeks old, Eric was left in a old crate on the steps of the Little Sisters of Lachine nunnery. They adopted him, raised him a little, and put him right to work, cleaning, gardening, rat catching, and most of all, helping out in the kitchen. His favorite saying was “Beati mundo corde quoniam ipsi pascentur et esuriit.” Eric liked to add different spices to the dishes, unbeknownst to the sisters. He just had to be careful not to get things mixed up between the spices and the rat poison, nudge, nudge, wink, wink…