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Winner of the 2013 Tony Award for Best Play, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike revolves around the eccentric relationships of three middle-aged single siblings. Vanya and Sonia’s happy world is thrown into disarray when sister-turned-movie actress Masha returns home with her sexy new beau, Spike. A laugh-out-loud comedy that will tickle your funny bone and stimulate your mind.
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THE DIRECTOR
Steve Gillam – Director & Set Designer
Steve Gillam – Director & Set Designer
Steve has been an active member of Lakeshore Players Dorval for twenty-one seasons. With this production, he has now directed ten shows for us, including last year’s comedy, Boeing Boeing. He is also currently directing a murder mystery dinner show, Murder on the Bluenose to Valdor 11. As an actor, Steve was most recently seen as The Mayor in our fall play, The Inspector General, and in Motherhood Out Loud for Fusebox Productions at the Centaur. We have all lost track of how many sets he has designed for Lakeshore Players Dorval.
Steve has been an active member of Lakeshore Players Dorval for twenty-one seasons. With this production, he has now directed ten shows for us, including last year’s comedy, Boeing Boeing. He is also currently directing a murder mystery dinner show, Murder on the Bluenose to Valdor 11. As an actor, Steve was most recently seen as The Mayor in our fall play, The Inspector General, and in Motherhood Out Loud for Fusebox Productions at the Centaur. We have all lost track of how many sets he has designed for Lakeshore Players Dorval.
THE CAST
Sterling Mawhinney - Vanya
Sterling Mawhinney – VanyaSterling is pleased to be back for another Lakeshore Players Dorval production. Sterling has previously appeared in the LPD productions of The Cat’s Meow, The Real Inspector Hound, Picasso at the Lapin Agile, Rehearsal for Murder, The Mousetrap and last season’s wonderful romp, Boeing Boeing. Selected credits include Lion in the Streets (Bill) and Seven Stories (Rodney) for Tableau D’Hôte Theatre, Man of La Mancha (Juan) for The Segal Centre, The Crucible (Hopkins) for Centaur Theatre and Rope (Rupert Cadell) for La Maison. Sterling most recently appeared as Bert in the Geordie Productions holiday production of It’s A Wonderful Life. Enjoy the show.
Sylvia Mauri - Sonia
Sylvia Mauri – SoniaSince returning to the stage five years ago, Sylvia has enjoyed playing the tap-dancing Lorraine Fleming in 42nd Street (Hudson Music Club),the lovably crazy Duchess in Alice in Wonderland (Hudson Players Club), the ever-hopeful widow Tova Schwartz in The Widow Schwartz (HPC), Southern “cougar” belle Monette Gentry in Always a Bridesmaid (Stone Soup Productions), annoyingly efficient Berthe in Boeing Boeing (Lakeshore Players Dorval) and most recently Mrs. Michaelis – as well as a charleston-dancing flapper – in The Great Gatsby (HPC).
Many thanks once again to Lakeshore Players Dorval, to director Steve Gillam with whom it’s always a pleasure to collaborate, to the wonderful crew and great production team, and to the incredibly devoted and talented cast who brought out the very best in one another and who have made this a true delight. Heartfelt and special thanks go to my family and friends – your support and appreciation mean everything to me.
Claire Shamy - Masha
Claire Shamy – MashaClaire is excited to be back on the Lakeshore Players Dorval stage. She has been working box office and on the board of directors the last few seasons. Some of her performances with Lakeshore Players Dorval include You Can’t Take It With You, Bedtime Stories, Kindly Keep It Covered, Enchanted April, and others! May 2016 she performed in Motherhood OUTLOUD directed by Gordon McCall at the Centaur Theater. She will next be seen in the annual murder mystery dinner evening at Dorval Strathmore United Church . Claire has really enjoyed working with this talented cast, exceptional crew and gifted director . She wants to thank her son Harrison for working the box office and making it possible for her to be back on the Lakeshore Players Dorval stage .
Hi Ho, Hi Ho, it’s off to play we go ….
David Anderson - Spike
David Anderson – SpikeDavid is thrilled to be cast in the role of Spike in his first performance with the Lakeshore Players Dorval and is very appreciative for the guidance and support from everyone involved in the production. After a prolonged absence from theatre, David returned to the stage in 2016 as Tom Buchanan in the Hudson Players production of The Great Gatsby. He has previously appeared elsewhere onstage as Otto Flick in The British are Coming and Father in Christmas: 1933, in addition to dabbling in sketch comedy and improv.
Evy Kartus-Solomon – Cassandra
Evy Kartus-Solomon – CassandraEvy Kartus-Solomon has performed in many theatres in and around Montreal. She has also appeared in numerous Lakeshore Players Dorval main stage and Café Theatre productions. More recently, Evy was seen in LPD’s The Mousetrap (Mrs. Boyle), Shakespeare in Hollywood (Louella Parsons), and The Curious Savage (Mrs. Paddy). Selected film credits include Fatal Vows (Your Cheatin’ Heart) on the Investigation Discovery Channel, Crooked Laeves Grew on Trees and Sons of God.
Evy is delighted to be playing the part of Cassandra in Vanya, Sonia, Masha and Spike and is happy to have been working with such a talented director, cast and crew. She hopes that everyone enjoys the show as much as she has enjoyed being a part of this production.
Valerie Mervis - Nina
Valerie Mervis – NinaValerie is a Dawson Professional Theatre 2015 graduate. This is her first production with Lakeshore Players Dorval and will be her first time returning to the stage since graduating. For the past year, she’s worked on animation, commercials, television appearances and a video game voice-over. Although she’s been more active in the media industry, she’s extremely excited to get back to her core training and her love for the theatre. As Nina would say “I feel so fortunate, you’re all so nice to me here!” is exactly how she feels. She would like to thank the incredible team and her fellow players for their continuous growth, love and support! Hoo-Ah!
(N.B. In 2012 Valerie was the first recipient of the Lakeshore Players Dorval “Community Theatre Award For Excellence” bursary.)
THE CREW
Vickie Kuchlein - Executive Producer
Vickie Kuchlein – Executive ProducerVickie’s first appearance with Lakeshore Players Dorval was in 1998 in Anne of the Thousand Days and Cat’s Cradle. She returned in 2012 in Picasso at the Lapin Agile and as Suzette in Don’t Dress For Dinner in 2014. Vickie was also The Communications Director in this season’s The Inspector General while also being active behind the scenes working as producer, props mistress, and managing the finances as Lakeshore Players Dorval’s Treasurer. Vickie wishes to thank her family and her husband for their continued support.
Linda Sheshko - Stage Manager
Linda Sheshko – Stage ManagerThis is Linda’s eighth season with Lakeshore Players Dorval, and her second go-round as Stage Manager. After serving as Board Secretary for three years and playing a variety of roles onstage, she enjoys the challenges of this important but largely invisible job. She is grateful to all concerned in this production for their talent, dedication, and hard work. On with the show!
Alison Greenleaf - Producer
Alison Greenleaf – ProducerThis is Allie’s second time working with Lakeshore Players Dorval during their 2016-2017 season after designing the lighting for The Inspector General last November. Allie also works as a theatre technician for various companies and venues. She is also looking forward to accumulating more experience in lighting design, production/stage management, multimedia design, etc. Recent shows she has worked on include working backstage for Geordie Productions’ fundraising show It’s a Wonderful Life last December, and stage managing for St-Ambroise Fringe Festival Mostly Scripted last summer.
Molly O’Neil - Co-Producer
Molly O’Neil – Co-ProducerMolly is a recent graduate of the Arts Administration program at Bishop’s University where she participated in costuming and set dressing for The Importance of Being Earnest and Texas Werewolf: The Musical, among other productions. During her studies at Bishop’s she completed a marketing and communications internship at the Segal Centre for Performing Arts for their production The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz: The Musical. She is excited to be involved with Lakeshore Players Dorval for the first time.
Steve Woodward & Bill Fletcher - Set Construction
Steve Woodward & Bill Fletcher – Set Construction
Steve Woodward and Bill Fletcher are true Lakeshore veterans. Steve started set-building for Lakeshore 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 Lakeshore for a part in My Three Angels in 1995 and is still haunting the wings, serving as Production Manager on 31 shows since 2001.
Steve Woodward and Bill Fletcher are true Lakeshore veterans. Steve started set-building for Lakeshore 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 Lakeshore for a part in My Three Angels in 1995 and is still haunting the wings, serving as Production Manager on 31 shows since 2001.
Sharon Adams - Board operator
Sharon Adams – Board operatorSharon is so happy to be back behind the scenes as board operator for Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike!!! Other tech and stage credits include The Curious Savage, Frack in The Inspector General, Margaret in Sabrina Fair, Rheba in You Can’t Take it With You (LPD) as well as Diandra in Female Domination and Brenda in The Question is Why (all MSOPA). A big thank you to the cast and crew, and to family and friends, for all their inspiration and love.
Enjoy the show!
Eric Sauvé - Sound Design
Eric Sauvé – Sound DesignSo, a funny thing happened on the way to designing the sound for Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike. I was trying to record the sound of tires on a gravel road and I ran myself over with my own car!
True story.
Enjoy the show.
Seamus Ryan – Lighting Design
Seamus Ryan – Lighting DesignSeamus Ryan is a professional Stage Manager and theatre technician working in Montreal for the last twelve years. He has worked on several productions at the Centaur Theatre, the Segal Centre for the Performing Arts, Geordie Productions, Black Theatre Workshop and Theatre Lac Brome to name a few. His previous lighting designs for Lakeshore Players Dorval include And Then There Were None and Fools.
Gillian Gilbert - Assistant Stage Manager
Gillian Gilbert – Assistant Stage ManagerOriginally from the U.K., Gillian enjoyed a misspent youth singing in rock bands (notably with Steve Hackett of Genesis). In Canada, she appeared at Le Festin du Governeur and the Mount Royal Operatic Society. She has appeared on stage with Lakeshore Players Dorval hamming it up in Boeing, Boeing and Shakespeare in Hollywood as well as Jane Eyre, but most of all she enjoys her partnership backstage with Holli (stage left) & sharing chocolates and laughs with the cast & crew. Cheers to you all.
Holli Drum – Assistant Stage Manager
Holli Drum – Assistant Stage Manager
Holli has been a Lakeshore Players Dorval staple for more than 20 years, and a priceless member of the backstage team. In her other life, Holli is also involved with the Girl Guides and Brownies in Dorval.
Holli has been a Lakeshore Players Dorval staple for more than 20 years, and a priceless member of the backstage team. In her other life, Holli is also involved with the Girl Guides and Brownies in Dorval.
Karen Pearce - Costumes
Karen Pearce – Costumes
Karen has been involved in amateur theatre as a producer, director, stage manager, choreographer and performer since her first production in 1985. But it wasn’t long before she realized that costuming was a great excuse to expand her wardrobe, engage in a genetically predetermined hoarding tendency and stay in shape (clothes are heavy!). Since this discovery, costuming has been the one theatrical constant in her life. 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). Thanks to all who, through the years, have offered me this wonderful creative outlet.