Drayton Entertainment: Debut. Other Theatre (selected): Doubt, Harvest, Rabbit Hole, Romeo and Juliet, For the Pleasure of Seeing Her Again; Elva Maiâs A Conversation (Act 3 Theatre). Film/TV (selected): Elvira Lawson on Road to Avonlea, Christmas Chalet, The Handmaidâs Tale, The Expanse, Mama, Murdoch Mysteries. With more than fifty years of experience, as well as five separate Gemini and Genie nominations, Elva Mai is the very definition of a working actor. A graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada, she has appeared at the Stratford Festival, and played leading roles in regional theatres all across Canada.
Rob McClure (Arthur Beech)
Drayton Entertainment: It Runs In The Family, The Miracle Worker, Harvest, The Odd Couple, Looking, Deathtrap, How the Other Half Loves, The Drawer Boy, Caught in the Net. Rob has performed in theatres from Vancouver to Halifax, including The Second City and four seasons at the Stratford Festival. He is a graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada.
the creative team
David Nairn (Director)
Drayton Entertainment: Director: Debut. Actor: Jonas & Barry In The Home. David is currently enjoying his 26th season as Artistic Director of Theatre Orangeville, where he has directed over 90 plays and musicals, many of which were world premieres. He is also a co-producer for many Way To Go Productions including Wichita Lineman, Rhinestone Cowgirl, Opry Gold, Early Morning Rain. David has shared many a stage as a fellow actor with our playwright, Norm Foster, the two having appeared together in countless productions of The Love List, The Long Weekend, Skin Flick, Outlaw and most recently, in over 200 performances of Jonas and Barry In The Home. David is the proud recipient of the Queenâs Diamond Jubilee Award.
Beckie Morris (Set Designer)*
Drayton Entertainment: Naked Radio, The New Canadian Curling Club, Jonas & Barry in the Home. Other Theatre: Appropriate (co-design The Coal Mine), Sweet Delilah Swim Club, Halfway There, Where You Are, On the Air, Prairie Nurse, Iâll be Back Before Midnight (Lighthouse Festival); CinderellaâŠif the Shoe Fits, Beneath Springhill, Lunenburg, The Gentleman Clothier, Little Women, Theyâre Found in Trees, Sugar Road, Miracle on 34th St, Stag & Doe, Queen Milli of Galt (Theatre Orangeville). Thank you as always to my beautiful and always supportive family! www.beckiemorrisdesigns.ca.
Joanna Lee (Costume Designer)
Drayton Entertainment: Maryâs Wedding; Apprentice Stage Manager for A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline. Other Theatre: Stitcher for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Mirvish Productions). Joanna is the First Hand in the Wardrobe Department. She is a graduate of Fanshawe College with an Advanced Diploma in Fashion Design and a Graduate Certificate in Technical Costume Studies. Joanna is also a graduate of Kwantlen Polytechnic University with a Bachelor of Design in Fashion and Technology. Much love to family and friends for all their support!
*Indicated designers on this production are represented by the Associated Designers of Canada, IATSE Local ADC659.
Jeff JohnstonCollins (Lighting Designer)
Drayton Entertainment (selected): Lights: Show Stoppers! (1998), Me & My Girl (1999), Dads: The Musical (2001), Twist & Shout (2005), Legends of Rock ânâ Roll (2007), Miss Saigon (2007), Dance Legends (2010), Spamalot (2013), Canadian Legends (2015), Rock of Ages (2017), Million Dollar Quartet (2017), Mamma Mia! (2022). Technical Director/ Lights: Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Camelot (North American Tours). For over 30 years, I have created set and lighting designs for theatres across Canada, toured numerous productions, and operated a scene shop in my hometown of Hamilton. I have been a full time member of the Drayton Entertainment production team since 2006. Love and thanks to the light of my life, my wife Susan for her constant support and encouragement. Enjoy!
Paula Stewart (Stage Manager)
Drayton Entertainment: Stage Manager for Perfect Wedding, Shear Madness, Jonas and Barry in the Home, Assistant Stage Manager for Evita, One for the Pot, Anything Goes, The Sound of Music, Bedtime Stories. Other Theatre: Stage Manager for The Darktown Strutters Ball, Cinderella⊠if the Show Fits, Midsummer Nightâs Dream, Boys Girls and Other Mythological Creatures (Theatre Orangeville). Paula is a graduate of the Ryerson University theatre program. Mâeudail, tapadh leat. Enjoy the show!
Arlen Otten (Assistant Stage Manager)
Drayton Entertainment: Fiddler on the Loose. Over the past couple of years, Arlen has worked on crew at several theatres. Last year he started his journey in stage management with Drayton Entertainmentâs production of Fiddler on the Loose. Thank you to my family and friends for their love and support!
the author
Norm Foster (Playwright)
Norm Foster has been called Canadaâs preeminent comic playwright, and he is also one of the most prolific and most produced of all Canadian playwrights. Halifax Chronicle-Herald columnist Ron Foley writes, âFosterâs stage writing remains one of Canadaâs greatest theatrical treasuresâ, and The Calgary Herald describes him as âone of the funniest writers of intelligent comedy in Canadian theatre todayâ. Mr. Foster has close to forty plays to his credit including Ethan Claymore, The Foursome, The Melville Boys, The Affections of May, Wrong For Each Other, Jasper Station (with Steve Thomas), The Last Resort (with Leslie Arden), The Love List, Outlaw, Jennyâs House of Joy, and Mending Fences. He is the recipient of the Los Angeles Drama-Logue Award for his play, The Melville Boys, and he was recently honoured with an award from Theatre Ontario for his âdistinguished service to Ontarioâs theatre community.â
