Based on the Miramax Motion Picture written by David Magee and the play The Man Who Was Peter Pan by Allan Knee
Orchestrations
Simon Hale
Arranger
David Chase
Vocal Design
AnnMarie Milazzo
Produced on Broadway by Weinstein Live Entertainment Len Blavatnik Ron Burkel Radneko Milakovic
Brian Cranston The Madison Square Garden Company
Finding Neverland was developed and premiered at The American Repertory Theatre.
Based on the film produced by Richard Gladstein, Associate Producers Melie Bellflower and Tracy Becker/Previous Executive Producer Robert Ahrens
Director & Choreographer
David Connolly
Music Director Jeff Newberry
Set Designer Brandon Kleiman
Stage Manager
Amber Archbell
Costume Designer
Jenine Kroeplin
Lighting Designer Kevin Fraser
Assistant Choreographer
Christine Watson
Assistant Stage Manager Kevin Etherington
George Absi
Thom Allison
Xander Bechard
Leif Bernal-Manninen
Justin Bott
Nicola-Dawn Brook
Ellen Denny
Assistant Stage Manager Molly Mück
The Company (in alphabetical order)
Eddie Glen
Mark Harapiak
Jennifer Harding
Lennox Johnston Potter
Eamon Knell
Kae Kae Lee
Amanda Leigh
Robert Markus
Zoë O’Connor
Julius Sermonia
Julian Surdi
Petra Toop
Aaron Walpole
Sound Designer Allan McMillan
Apprentice Stage Manager
Sabrina Weinstein
Thomas Winiker
Blythe Wilson
Oliver Woon
Wallace
Christine Watson
FINDING NEVERLAND is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com
The video or audio recording of this performance by any means is strictly prohibited.
Finding neverland show sponsors
Season Sponsor
Production Sponsor
Design Sponsors
Media Sponsors
2026 season support
Hamilton Family Theatre Cambridge Naming Sponsor
Major Sponsor
Hamilton Family Theatre Cambridge Auditorium Naming Sponsor
Act One
Welcome To London..............................................................................Company
My Imagination.....................................................................................JM Barrie
Believe..................................................JM Barrie, Sylvia, Davies Boys, Company
The Dinner Party..................JM Barrie, Sylvia, Frohman, Mrs. DuMaurier, Mary, Lord Cannan, Davies Boy, Company
We Own The Night.................................JM Barrie, Sylvia, Davies Boys, Company
All That Matters...........................................................................................Sylvia
We Own The Night Reprise.................................................................Davies Boys
We’re All Made of Stars.....................................................................Davies Boys
When Your Feet Don’t Touch the Ground...................................JM Barrie, Peter
Something About This Night..................................................................Company
Neverland (Reprise)..............................JM Barrie, Sylvia, Davies Boys, Company
Finale (Believe)......................................................................................Company
The use of the music and lyrics is by arrangement with Sony/ATV Publishing.
the cast
(in alphabetical order)
George Absi (Ensemble)
Drayton Entertainment: Cinderella: Panto, Kinky Boots, Sleeping Beauty: Panto, Disney’s Newsies, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Wizard of Oz: Panto. Other theatre: The Importance of Being Earnest – Choreographer (The Grand); La Cage Aux Folles, Wendy and Peter Pan (Stratford Festival); Chris, Mrs. (Winter Garden); Mamma Mia! (Aquarius/Western); Beauty and the Beast (Neptune). Film/TV: Choreography: Cadillac Fairview Campaign, Skip commercial, Canada’s Got Talent, Ukulele U; Actor: Once Upon A Time (ABC); Schitt’s Creek (Netflix); Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu); Zoeys Ex. Playlist (NBC); Let’s Go Luna (PBS Kids); Full Out (Netflix); Cirque Du Soleil, Cirque Eloise. Dancer: International artists, Psy (MMVAs), Deborah Cox, Fefe Dobson, Classified, Jade Eagleson. Love and thanks to my family and friends. Instagram: @georgeabsi.
Thom Allison (Charles Frohman/Captain James Hook)
Drayton Entertainment: Mr. Darling/Captain Hook in Peter Pan: the Panto, Javert in Les Misérables. Other theatre: Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (Broadway); original Canadian companies of Miss Saigon, and Rent; Into the Woods (Stratford Festival); Ragtime, A Little Night Music (Shaw Festival); Cabaret (Theatre Calgary); Evita (Manitoba Theatre Centre, Theatre Calgary). Directing: Million Dollar Quartet (Theatre Calgary); RENT, La Cage Aux Folles (Stratford Festival); Mary Poppins (Young People’s Theatre). Film/TV: Coroner, Canada’s Drag Race, Your All-Time Classic Hit Parade, Frankie Drake Mysteries, Hudson & Rex, Murdoch Mysteries, Killjoys, Kim’s Convenience, CBC’s Over The Rainbow. www.thomallison.com.
Xander Bechard (Ensemble)
Drayton Entertainment: Shrek The Musical. Other theatre: Guard in Cells of Wind (FAWN Chamber Creative); Emcee in Cabaret (KWMP); Brayden in Why I Said Goodbye (New Musical Debut); Narrator in Into the Woods (Opera Laurier), Reuben in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (KWMP); Nicely-Nicely Johnson in Guys & Dolls (KWMP); Laurie in Little Women (Opera Laurier); Gastone/Giuseppe in La traviata (Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony). Extending much gratitude to all my family and friends for your continued love and support, and a big thank you to Drayton Entertainment for this experience! IG @xander_bechard.
Leif Bernal-Manninen (Michael Llewelyn Davies)
Drayton Entertainment: Dare to Dream Jr. DE Youth Academy, A Christmas Carol: The Panto. Other theatre: High School Musical (Globe Productions); Frozen (Globe Productions); The Sound of Music (Drury Lane Theatrical Productions); Mary Poppins (Globe Productions). Many thanks to my family and friends for their enthusiastic support, and my teachers and directors for their guidance. Play on!
Justin Bott (Mr. Henshaw/Ensemble)
Drayton Entertainment: Pantos of Cinderella, A Christmas Carol, Peter Pan & Wizard of Oz, and “normal shows”, like Perfect Wedding & On Golden Pond. Other theatre: Avenue Q (Sterling Award Winner; Citadel Theatre); Wizard of Oz (Toronto Theatre Critics Award Winner, Best Supporting Male; Young People’s Theatre). Film/TV: Ginny & Georgia (Netflix); Death Cycle (Latefox); The Hyperborean & Cult Hero (Collingwood Film Co); Emerge: The Series (TLN Media). Justin is an award-winning stage and voiceover actor who dabbles in film/TV and commercials. Many thanks to Alex & David, the 10 team and DD, Pipes and Mr. O for their love & support. IG @justin.bott.a.mic @jeybott. For more, check out www.justinbott.com.
Nicola-Dawn Brook (Miss Bassett/Ensemble)
Drayton Entertainment: Mamma Mia!, Sound of Music. Other theatre: Mamma Mia!, Copacabana, Fame, Aspects of Love, Taboo, The Sound of Music (West End), Kinky Boots (Mirvish); Mamma Mia!, Maggie, Anne of Green Gables, Bittergirls, I’m Every Woman, Kronborg (Charlottetown); Maggie, Mamma Mia! (Aquarius); Bend it Like Beckham (St Laurence); Les Belles Soeurs (Segal); Smarty Pants (Magnus) Leader of the Pack, The Happy End (Clwyd), Thing about Men (Kings Head, London); When Harry Met Barry (Gatehouse, London); Hard Times, Dames at Sea, Funny thing...Forum (Queens, Hornchurch) Chess (UK tour). Film/TV: De-lovely, The Little Matchgirl. Cirque du Soleil: Saltimbanco & Joyà. www.nicoladawn.com & Insta:@nicoldawn. Thanks to Bruce and the TH gang.
Ellen Denny (Sylvia Llewelyn Davies)
Drayton Entertainment: A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder, Steel Magnolias, Mary’s Wedding, Brighton Beach Memoirs. Other theatre (selected): Fiona in Shrek (Young People’s Theatre); Maria in Sound of Music (Thousand Islands Playhouse); Red Velvet (Crow’s Theatre); Life After (Canadian Stage / Musical Stage); Eliza in My Fair Lady (Capitol Theatre Port Hope); Belle in Beauty & the Beast (Neptune Theatre); Anne in Anne & Gilbert (National Arts Centre). Film/TV: The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu); Murdoch Mysteries (CBC). Also a playwright, Ellen’s work has been produced by Neptune Theatre, The Guild Charlottetown, Here For Now Theatre and streamed on STRATFEST@HOME. www.ellendenny.com.
Eddie Glen (Mr. Cromer/Ensemble)
Drayton Entertainment (selected): Kiss Me, Kate, It Runs in the Family, The 39 Steps, Spamalot, Les Misérables, Man of La Mancha, Little Me. Other theatre (selected): Spamalot, Music Man, Moby Dick (Stratford Festival); The Rocky Horror Show (CanStage, Dora Nomination). West End Theatre (selected): Miss Saigon (Theatre Royal Drury Lane); Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (London Palladium). Eddie has also starred in over 25 Ross Petty Productions at The Elgin Theatre. Film/ TV (selected): The Testaments, Odd Squad, Murdoch Mysteries, The Firm. Eddie lends his voice to numerous animated series and has been “The Voice” of YTV for the last 28 years. Thank you to friends and family and T.H. for all the support. Thank you for supporting live theatre.
Mark Harapiak (Mr. Turpin/Ensemble)
Drayton Entertainment: The Full Monty, Kiss Me, Kate, Rock of Ages, The Prom, The Sound of Music, Rock of Ages, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, The Foursome, Camelot, High School Musical, Footloose, Damn Yankees, Mamma Mia!. Stratford Festival: Billy Elliot, The Music Man, Camelot, Coriolanus, Equus, Two Gentlemen of Verona, The Winters Tale, Man of La Mancha, The Boyfriend, Alice Through the Looking Glass. Shaw Festival: She Loves Me, Pal Joey, Pygmalion, Floyd Collins. Other theatre: Mary Poppins (North American tour); Billy Bishop Goes to War (Rose Theatre); The Gingko Tree, Cruel Tears, McGillicuddy (Blyth Festival); Cabaret, Legally Blonde, Sound of Music (Theatre Aquarius); Man of La Mancha (Mirvish Productions); Evita, Camelot (RMTC, Theatre Calgary, Citadel Theatre); The Last Resort (Charlottetown Festival).
Jennifer Harding (Mary Barrie)
Drayton Entertainment: Debut. Other theatre (selected): Frozen: The Broadway Musical, The Graduate (Grand Theatre); Into The Woods, The Comedy Of Errors (The Grove Theatre); Frozen: The Broadway Musical (The Citadel Theatre); Night Of The Living Dead (Pleasance Theatre, London); Company (Aberdeen Arts Centre, Scotland); Funny Girl (UK, Cinematic Release); Legally Blonde (UK); Mamma Mia! (Premiere UK Tour/International); The Clockmaker’s Daughter (World Premiere, London); Copacabana (UK National Tour). Selected Recording: The Division 2 (UbiSoft Games); Debut Album: Sunday School Teacher (aRTy Records); Cool Rider (Studio Cast Recording). Select Nominations: Rising Star 2018 (Hello Magazine); BroadwayWorld UK Best Leading Actress in a Musical (The Clockmaker’s Daughter). Training: George Brown Theatre School, Royal Academy of Dramatic Art Professional Program. Special thanks to my family for their constant, beautiful support.
Lennox Johnston Potter (Jack Llewelyn Davies)
Drayton Entertainment: Debut. Other theatre (selected): Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz, Frozen Jr., and Frankie Builds Androids (Original Kids Theatre Company). Lennox studies voice at Rick Kish Studio and earned second place at the regional and provincial Kiwanis Music Festival in 2025. When not rehearsing at OKTC, he’s making movies, keeping the beat as a stage band percussionist, listening to film scores, or trading Pokémon cards with his best buddies. Lennox is thrilled to soar into Finding Neverland and grateful for the opportunity. Huge thanks to friends and family especially his little brother and big sister for supporting his creative, slightly Neverland-esque antics onstage and offstage alike.
Eamon Knell (George Llewelyn Davies)
Drayton Entertainment: Debut - professional role as George in Finding Neverland, Children’s Chorus in Wizard of Oz: The Panto, Evita, Peter Pan: The Panto, and A Christmas Carol: The Panto. Soloist in Term 27 of KW Glee, Soloist in Term 1 and 1 of Pop Nation. Eamon is a proud member of Drayton Entertainment Youth Academy. Thank you to my mom and dad, Lily, Rowan and Lucky, and my friends at Drayton and Pop Nation for their love and support!
Kae Kae Lee (Wendy/Ensemble)
Drayton Entertainment: Rock of Ages, Peter Pan: The Panto, Kiss Me, Kate, Evita. Other theatre: Rock of Ages (Elgin Theatre/More Ent). Live Show (select): Art on Ice 2018, 2019, 2020, 2024, 2025 (Switzerland Tour); Big Ticket Summer Tour (Family Channel); The Fine Line (Royal Caribbean); Brace Yourself (Debra Brown). Dancer for Emeli Sande, Aloe Blacc, James Blunt, Eurythmics, Natalie Imbruglia, Paloma Faith and more. Film/TV (select): Zombies 3 (Disney); What We do in the Shadows (Fox); SPIN (Disney); A Christmas Dance Reunion (Lifetime); Cross (Amazon); Frankie Drake Mysteries (CBC); The Next Step (Family Channel). Thank you to my wonderful friends and family for all the love and support. @kaekaelee.
Amanda Leigh (Miss Jones/Ensemble)
Drayton Entertainment: The Full Monty, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, Fiddler on the Roof, It Runs in the Family, Beauty and the Beast, Man of La Mancha, Out of Order, One For the Pot, Sister Act, Anne of Green Gables, Oliver, Blood Brothers, Evita, A Flea in Her Ear. UK credits: Cosette in Les Misérables, Rapunzel in Into the Woods, Doris in Gay Divorce, Beyond the Barricade. TV: Small Achievable Goals. BFA in Music Theatre from University of Windsor. Thanks to her wonderful agents at AMI, TR, her planner gals, and her family for their constant support.
Robert Markus (JM Barrie)
Drayton Entertainment: Dear Evan Hansen, Jesus Christ Superstar, Twist and Shout, Chicago, Backstage Pass. Other theatre: Evan Hansen in Dear Evan Hansen (Dora Nomination, Toronto Theatre Critics Award); Tommy in Tommy, Mark in Rent, Riff Raff in The Rocky Horror Show, and appeared in A Wrinkle in Time, The Music Man, Fiddler on the Roof, and Chicago. (Stratford Festival). He has performed on stages across Canada, including The Shaw Festival, Theatre Aquarius, Grand Theatre, Young People’s Theatre, Ross Petty Productions, Theatre Calgary, Citadel Theatre, Vancouver Playhouse, and Musical Stage Company. Robert’s work has been nominated for Dora Mavor Moore, BroadwayWorld, My Entertainment World, Sterling, Betty Mitchell, and Calgary Critic’s Awards. Online: robertmarkus.com
Zoë O’Connor (Ensemble)
Drayton Entertainment: Debut. Other theatre: Life After (Mirvish); Disney’s Frozen (Neptune Theatre/Theatre Aquarius); Screwball Comedy, Jenny’s House of Joy (The Foster Festival); Into the Woods (The Grove Theatre); Jack! A Beanstalk Panto (Capitol Theatre Port Hope); Cabaret (Ovation Productions); 9 to 5 (Stage West Calgary); Jersey Boys (Thousand Islands Playhouse); Mamma Mia! (Tweed & Co); Ghost the Musical (Starvox Entertainment). Training: Sheridan College Hon. Bach. of Music Theatre. Zoë is a proud Bermudian-Canadian artist. Thank you to my friends in Canada and my family back home. Sending kisses and pixie dust across the sea. Instagram: zoe.o.connor.
Julius Sermonia (Albert/Ensemble)
Drayton Entertainment: Jesus Christ Superstar, Priscilla, Marathon of Hope, Damn Yankees, Beauty and The Beast. Other theatre: Recently: The Tale of The Gifted Prince (Theatre Calgary); Robin Hood (Canadian Stage); Rizal workshop (NAC); Waitress (Grand/Aquarius); Frozen (Neptune); asst. chor Something Rotten (Stratford); asst. dir/chor Maggie (Aquarius); The Play That Goes Wrong (Charlottetown). Selected: Miss Saigon, The King and I, Zhivago, JCS, Cats (Broadway); Miss Saigon, The King and I, Contact, Cats (Broadway National Tour); 9 seasons with Stratford Festival; Holiday Inn (Shaw); Beauty and the Beast (Aquarius); Elf, Mary Poppins (Neptune); Charlie and The Chocolate Factory (Grand); The Drowsy Chaperone (MTC); Sweet Charity (StageWest); Hair (Canadian Stage). Film/TV: Mother of All Shows (Goldstrike); The Boys (Sony/ Amazon); Hellcats (CW); The Tony Awards (CBS). Social: @juliussermonia.
Julian Surdi (Ensemble)
Drayton Entertainment: Debut. Other theatre: Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (Doctor Bird Productions). Film/TV: Canada’s Drag Race (Crave). IG: @julian_surdi.
Petra Toop (Ensemble)
Drayton Entertainment: Debut. Film/TV: The Copenhagen Test (Peacock); A Nutcracker Christmas (Hallmark); and Backstage Season 2 (Family Channel). Petra is a company member with Toronto contemporary dance company ProArteDanza and has performed internationally. She is also a dance educator and is currently completing a degree in Biomedical Science at the University of Guelph. Petra Toop is thrilled to be making her Drayton Entertainment debut in Finding Neverland. @petra_jordann
Aaron Walpole (Lord Cannan/Ensemble)
Drayton Entertainment (selected): Cinderella: The Panto, Fiddler On The Roof, Evita, Rock of Ages, Man Of La Mancha, The Drowsy Chaperone, You’ll Get Used To It: The War Show. Other theatre (selected): Les Misérables (Broadway/Toronto/Tour); Jesus Christ Superstar (Broadway/Japan/Stratford Festival); Kinky Boots (Tour/ Japan); Rock of Ages (Mirvish); Camelot, Guys ’N Dolls, Anything Goes (Stratford Festival); Grease (Citadel Theatre). Aaron has also appeared in film and TV productions and has a self-titled album through Sony/ BMG Canada.
Christine Watson (Peter Pan/Ensemble)*
Drayton Entertainment: Choreographer: Grease, Jesus Christ Superstar, The Full Monty, Jersey Boys, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat; Assistant Choreographer: Shrek The Musical, A Christmas Carol, Peter Pan, and Jack and the Beanstalk: The Panto, Kinky Boots, Priscilla Queen of the Desert. Performer (selected): Shrek The Musical, Rock of Ages, Mamma Mia!, Grease, West Side Story, Disney’s The Little Mermaid, All Shook Up, Anne of Green Gables, Footloose, 9 To 5: The Musical. Other theatre: Choreographer/Assistant Director for Jersey Boys, Associate Choreographer for Rock of Ages (Mayfield); Mamma Mia! (Tweed). Head Choreographer for Pop Nation Canada. Performer: Rock of Ages (Mayfield/Fallsview); Spamalot (Aquarius); Dance Legends (Grand); A Chorus Line (Rose). Special thanks to everyone at Drayton, 10 Talent, my loving husband, and my wonderful family.
*Dance Captain
Thomas Winiker (Elliot/Ensemble)
Drayton Entertainment: Michael Hobbs in Elf: The Musical, Les in Disney’s Newsies, Priscilla Queen Of The Desert. Other theatre: Seth in Kimberly Akimbo (Segal/Mirvish); The Music Man (Stratford Festival). Thomas is enrolled at Carnegie Mellon University for a BFA in Musical Theatre (Class of 2030). Thank you to my family, David, Stephen at DaCosta, and my friends for all of the love! @thomaswiniker
Blythe Wilson (Mrs. du Maurier)
Drayton Entertainment: Shrek The Musical, The Full Monty, Steel Magnolias, Evita, The Prom, Kinky Boots, Mamma Mia!, All Shook Up. Other Theatre: Into the Woods (TIFT); Mary Poppins (Broadway/ US Tour); Sound of Music, Mamma Mia!, Man of La Mancha (Mirvish); Billy Elliot, Guys and Dolls, Oliver!, Oklahoma! (Stratford Festival); A Christmas Carol (Grand Theatre); The Three Musketeers (Chicago Shakespeare); 25th Annual...Spelling Bee (Connecticut Rep); Mystery of Edwin Drood, Happy End (Shaw Festival); The Last Five Years (Can Stage); Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, with Donny Osmond (Chicago Theatre). Film/TV: The Handmaid’s Tale (MGM). Blythe dedicates her season to Carolyn.
Oliver Woon (Peter Llewelyn Davies)
Drayton Entertainment: Debut. He was most recently seen as Young Simba in Mirvish Productions’ Disney’s The Lion King (Toronto, 2025). Oliver is passionate about singing, acting and storytelling on stage. He studies voice and theatre at Harriet Chung Performing Arts and trains at the Canadian Dance Company. He sings with St Ignatius Youth Choir and Young Voices Toronto. When not performing, Oliver enjoys tennis, golf, and travelling. He would like to thank his parents and teachers for always encouraging him to follow his dreams, agents at Colin McMurray and Associates, family and friends. @oliver_woon.
Wallace (Porthos)
Wallace (Wally) the Old English Sheepdog is excited to be making his acting debut in Finding Neverland. When he isn’t acting, he enjoys long walks with his family around his hometown of Cambridge, playing with his dog friends, and watching animals on tv. He dreams of one day being able to herd an actual sheep, but for now he has to settle for trying to herd the cat and the squirrels in the backyard. Wally also loves practicing his tricks for treats, so if you see him off stage, be sure to ask him to shake a paw and then roll over.
the creative team
David Connolly (Director & Choreographer)
David Connolly is the Artistic Director of Drayton Entertainment, where his director/choreographer credits include the beloved Pantos: Cinderella, A Christmas Carol, Peter Pan, The Wizard of Oz, Sleeping Beauty, and Jack and the Beanstalk as well as Dear Evan Hansen, Shrek, Beehive, Kinky Boots, The Prom, Mamma Mia!, Annie, Hairspray, Singin’ In The Rain, Miss Saigon and more. He is the recipient of the 2024 Canadian Actors’ Equity inaugural Change Maker Award and the Ontario Premier’s Award of Excellence.
Jeff Newberry (Music Director)
Drayton Entertainment: Debut. Other theatre: Conductor/Music Director for Disney’s The Lion King (Mirvish); Divine Interventions (Corpus Dance Projects); Come From Away, A Year with Frog and Toad, Little Shop of Horrors, A Closer Walk With Patsy Cline (Capitol Theatre); Jacob Two Two (Stratford Festival). Music Supervisor/Orchestrator/ Arranger for Rez Gas, I’m Every Woman: The Whitney Songbook, Red: A Big Bad Wolf Panto, Hansel and Gretel: A Sticky and Sweet Panto, Rapunzel: A Hairy Merry Panto (Capitol Theatre). Composer/Sound Designer for The Wind in the Willows (Shaw Festival), Christmastown, Prairie Nurse (Capitol Theatre). Training: M.Ed (York), Mus.Bac (U of T), B.Ed (Queen’s). Other: @jeffnewberrymusic.
Brandon Kleiman (Set Designer)*
Brandon is a set and costume designer based in Hamilton with work appearing on stages across Canada. He’s had the pleasure to design at The Stratford Festival, Drayton Entertainment, Mirvish Productions, Theatre Aquarius, The Grand Theatre, The Citadel Theatre, Musical Stage Co., Canadian Stage Co., The Globe Theatre, Young Peoples Theatre, Neptune Theatre, and countless other independent companies across the country. Brandon is a multiple Dora Award nominee and two-time winner, and he also won a Merritt Award for his work bringing Viola Desmond to life in the world premiere of Controlled Damage in Halifax. For more information and to see his portfolio, please visit www.brandonkleimandesign.com.
Jenine Kroeplin (Costume Designer)
Drayton Entertainment (selected): The Crooner, Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline, Marathon of Hope: The Musical, Legends...of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, I’ll Be Back Before Midnight, Sleuth, 9 to 5: The Musical, Robin Hood, Country Legends. Jenine is delighted to be back for her 19th season with Drayton Entertainment and her 17th season as the Head of Wardrobe. Jenine is a graduate of York University’s Technical Theatre Program where she specialized in costume and set design. She would like to acknowledge her family and friends for their constant support.
Kevin Fraser (Lighting Designer)*
Drayton Entertainment: Plaid Tidings, Misery, Shrek The Musical, Evita, The Full Monty, Jersey Boys, Fiddler on the Roof, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, An Inspector Calls, Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, A Few Good Men, ELF: The Musical, Man of La Mancha, Death of a Salesman, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Little Shop of Horrors, Les Misérables, and many more. Other theatre: Gypsy (Shaw Festival); Cirque Ambiente (Canada’s Wonderland); Shakespeare In Love, Carousel (Stratford Festival). Kevin is a member of Associated Designers of Canada, and a graduate of Ryerson Theatre School. Web: kevinfraserlighting.com.
Allan McMillan (Sound Designer)
Drayton Entertainment (selected): Dear Evan Hansen, Cinderella: The Panto, Jesus Christ Superstar, The Full Monty, Crazy For You, White Christmas, Fiddler on the Roof, Evita, Jersey Boys, Kinky Boots, Man of La Mancha, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, Rock of Ages. Allan is a graduate of the Technical Production Program at Sheridan College, and over his 35+ years of experience, has held many positions in production, from Technical Direction, Lighting Design, Carpentry and Production Management.
Christine Watson (Assistant Choreographer)
Drayton Entertainment: Choreographer: Grease, Jesus Christ Superstar, The Full Monty, Jersey Boys, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat; Assistant Choreographer: Shrek The Musical, A Christmas Carol, Peter Pan, and Jack and the Beanstalk: The Panto, Kinky Boots, Priscilla Queen of the Desert. Performer (selected): Shrek The Musical, Rock of Ages, Mamma Mia!, Grease, West Side Story, Disney’s The Little Mermaid, All Shook Up, Anne of Green Gables, Footloose, 9 To 5: The Musical. Other theatre: Choreographer/Assistant Director for Jersey Boys, Associate Choreographer for Rock of Ages (Mayfield); Mamma Mia! (Tweed). Head Choreographer for Pop Nation Canada. Performer: Rock of Ages (Mayfield/Fallsview); Spamalot (Aquarius); Dance Legends (Grand); A Chorus Line (Rose). Special thanks to everyone at Drayton, 10 Talent, my loving husband, and my wonderful family.
*Indicated designers on this production are represented by the Associated Designers of Canada, IATSE Local ADC659.
Amber Archbell (Stage Manager)
Drayton Entertainment (selected): Cinderella: The Panto, Mean Girls –High School Project, A Christmas Carol: The Panto, Beehive – the ‘60s Musical, Peter Pan: The Panto, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Wizard of Oz: The Panto, Sorry…I’m Canadian, Sleeping Beauty: The Panto, Jack and the Beanstalk: The Panto, The Birds & The Bees, HONK!, Lucky Stiff, Marathon of Hope: The Musical, Aladdin: The Panto, Snow White: The Panto, Run For Your Wife, Weekend Comedy, Annie, High School Musical. Other theatre: Outheis (TIFT); Sleeping Beauty: Panto (Stirling Festival Theatre); Edward II, As You Like It, Everybody, Fefu and her Friends, Really Really (Theatre Erindale); The Amish Project (Green Light Arts); Salt Baby, If I Were You, Mary Poppins, The Sound of Music, Legally Blonde (Aquarius).
Kevin Etherington (Assistant Stage Manager)
Drayton Entertainment: ASM: Agatha Christie’s Witness for the Prosecution, Oliver!, Camelot, Evita, On Golden Pond, Melville Boys, Who’s Under Where?, Harvey. Other theatre: ASM: Tons of Money, Major Barbara, One Man, Two Guvnors, Witness for the Prosecution (Shaw Festival). As an actor Kevin has performed in several Drayton Entertainment productions since 1993 and was last seen as the Mailman in Anne of Green Gables in 2015. Love and thanks to his lovely wife Director/ Playwright/Lyricist Lezlie Wade. In his spare time Kevin likes to play chess, watch NFL football and spend time with his new puppy Digby.
Molly Mück (Assistant Stage Manager)
Drayton Entertainment: Flight Risk, The Full Monty, Merry & Bright, The Marvelous Wonderettes, Footloose, Peter Pan: The Panto, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, The Prom, The Crooner, Mamma Mia!. Other theatre: Three Sisters & Co., The Corsican Complaint (GBTS). Molly is excited to be a part of Drayton Entertainment this season. Thanks to her friends and family for the support.
Sabrina Weinstein (Apprentice Stage Manager)
Drayton Entertainment: Grease. Other theatre: Love You Forever and More Munsch (Young People’s Theatre); Xtraordinaire (Paris and California Tours, Starvox Entertainment); Bad Roads, Earworm (Crow’s Theatre); Maanomaa My Brother (Canadian Stage); Carried By The River (Red Snow Collective); Fertility (Light Echo Theatre); The Strange and Eerie Memoirs of Billy Wuthergloom (Eldritch Theatre); Gulp, Jackes and Jills (Toronto Fringe); The Gray: A Wilde Musical (Hart House Theatre). Sabrina is a proud graduate of the Centre for Drama Theatre and Performance Studies at UofT. Much love to Liam and Otis, as well as my friends and family for their endless support.
the band
Jeff Newberry (Music Director/Keys I)
Drayton Entertainment: Debut. Other theatre: Conductor/Music Director for Disney’s The Lion King (Mirvish); Divine Interventions (Corpus Dance Projects); Come From Away, A Year with Frog and Toad, Little Shop of Horrors, A Closer Walk With Patsy Cline (Capitol Theatre); Jacob Two Two (Stratford Festival). Music Supervisor/Orchestrator/ Arranger for Rez Gas, I’m Every Woman: The Whitney Songbook, Red: A Big Bad Wolf Panto, Hansel and Gretel: A Sticky and Sweet Panto, Rapunzel: A Hairy Merry Panto (Capitol Theatre). Composer/Sound Designer for The Wind in the Willows (Shaw Festival), Christmastown, Prairie Nurse (Capitol Theatre). Training: M.Ed (York), Mus.Bac (U of T), B.Ed (Queen’s). Other: @jeffnewberrymusic.
JT Kim (Bass)
Drayton Entertainment: Debut. Other theatre: The Lion King (Mirvish). Juno Award nominations Jazz Album Of The Year (2021): “Conpambiche” by Junior Santos Gospel Album Of The Year (2025): “Hymns Alive” by Toronto Mass Choir. Instagram: @jtkimmusic.
David Myers (Keys II)
Drayton Entertainment (selected): Cinderella: The Panto, Christmas Carol: The Panto, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert the Musical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Hairspray, Footloose, Smokey Joe’s Cafe, Disney’s Beauty And The Beast, Little Shop of Horrors, White Christmas, Mamma Mia!, and numerous pantos. Best known as a Toronto audition pianist, David also taught at both Sheridan College and The Randolph Centre for over 20 years. He was a founding member of The Musical Box, the world’s premiere tribute to Genesis, where he enjoyed 15 years of touring Europe and the Americas.
Kia Persad (Guitar)
Drayton Entertainment: Debut. Other theatre (selected): Electric/ Acoustic Guitar: SIX (Royal Alexander Theatre); The Michael Jackson Musical (CAA ED Mirvish); Billboard in Concert (The Capitol Theatre); REZ GAS (The Capitol Theatre). Bass Guitar: 25 Band (Rebel); ToastTO (El Mocambo). Vocals/Guitar: Markham Music Festival (Main St Markham); Talent Nation (Revival); Downtown Young’s Play in the Parks (Collage Park); Kia and the Kids (The Drake Underground, The Piston, DROM, Sneaky Dee’s, BSMT254, The Painted Lady). Other: More info at https://www.kiarosemusic.com/.
David Robilliard (Drums)
Drayton Entertainment: Yesterday Once More, Fiddler on the Loose, Good Ol’ Country Gospel. Other theatre: Summer of ’69, Mark Payne’s East Coast Kitchen Party, You’ve Got a Friend, Happy Together 1967, Starbright Christmas (Victoria Playhouse Petrolia); Piaf/Dietrich, Waitress, Dreamgirls (Grand Theatre); Waitress (Theatre Aquarius). Musician: Duo Percussion, Windsor Symphony, London Symphonia, Jeans ’n’ Classics Rock Symphony, Oklahoma City Philharmonic, Hamilton Philharmonic, Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony. Dave is a proud graduate of Western University and Oklahoma City University, and he is honoured to play Pearl/Adams Drums and Concert Percussion and DREAM Cymbals and Gongs. This season is for Dad.
Aysel Taghi-Zada (Violin)
Aysel Taghi-Zada is a passionate violinist/violist devoted to the performance of classical and contemporary music. She has collaborated with some of the most distinguished composers and musicians from North America and Europe such as Philip Glass, Brian Current, Salvatore Sciarrino, Kevin Lau, Pierre Leroux, David Geringas, Gidon Kremer and Pascale Beaudin. She is frequently invited to perform with contemporary ensembles such as Tapestry Opera, New Music Concerts, Freesound Ensemble, Thin Edge New Music Collective, Soundstreams Canada, and Continuum Contemporary Music. As a recording artist, she can be heard on albums by Jason Doell, Catherine Daniel, Sophie Dupuis and Thin Edge new Music Collective’s latest album featuring composer Linda Catlin Smith.
The Musicians and Music Director engaged for this production are members of the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada, and are performing in the jurisdiction of the Central Ontario Musicians’ Association, Local 226.
the authors
James Graham (Playwright)
James Graham is a playwright and screenwriter. His Olivier awardwinning play Dear England, about Gareth Southgate’s transformation of the national team had a sold-out run at the National in 2023, transferred to the West End and was broadcast on NT Live. An updated version returned to the National Theatre before a national tour this Spring, and it is being adapted for TV with the BBC. His play Punch, opened at the Nottingham Playhouse in 2024 to rave reviews, and transferred to the Young Vic in March 2025. It will be opening on the West End and Broadway this autumn. His new play, Make it Happen, starring Brian Cox, previewed at Dundee Rep in July 2025, before its world premiere at the Edinburgh International Festival. Other work includes Tammy Faye, having originally opened at the Almeida Theatre in 2022, it opened on Broadway in 2024, and Ink, originally performed in 2017 at the Almeida Theatre, which then transferred to the West End and Broadway in 2019 where it was nominated for six Tony Awards. James’s breakout play This House – also at the National Theatre – went on to have an Olivier-nominated sell-out revival in the West End in 2017 and it was chosen by popular vote as the best play of the 2010’s for the major theatre publisher Methuen.
Gary Barlow (Music)
Gary is one of Britain’s most successful songwriters and record producers. As part of Take That, he has won eight BRIT Awards and sold over 45 million records. Aside from his achievements with his fellow bandmates, he has released six solo albums and co-written and produced music for other renowned artists, including Dame Shirley Bassey, Sir Elton John and Robbie Williams. Earlier this year, he hit the road for a huge solo tour, The Songbook Tour 2025, which celebrated his illustrious fourdecade-spanning career. Barlow delighted sell-out audiences around the UK with an array of songs from his much-celebrated back catalogue of hits with both Take That and as a solo artist.
Eliot Kennedy (Music)
Eliot Kennedy is a multi-award winning songwriter and record producer who has turned his hand in recent years to also writing musical theatre shows and music for film and TV along with music for mental health therapy. Eliot’s first global songwriting success, the Spice Girls smash bit single “Say You’ll Be There,” was followed by a string of major hits written and produced for the likes of Celine Dion, Bryan Adams, Boyzone, Blue, S Club 7, Five, Billie Piper and Atomic Kitten to mention a few. In 1997, Eliot won an Ivor Novello for Boyzone’s “Picture Of You,” and in 2006 his song “Never Gonna Break My Faith” was awarded a Grammy award performed by Aretha Franklin and Mary J Blige for multi-award winning feature film Bobby. The song has now been adopted by the Black Lives Matter movement. Something that Eliot feels is one of his biggest achievements. Alongside Bryan Adams, Eliot also won Canada’s Juno Award for Songwriter of the Year for “When You’re Gone” and was nominated for a Critics Choice Award for “Never Let Go” which featured in the 2006 film The Guardian as well as collaborating with Hans Zimmer on the Dreamworks movie - Spirit
music theatre international
Music Theatre International (MTI) is one of the world’s leading theatrical licensing agencies, granting theatres from around the world the rights to perform the greatest selection of musicals from Broadway and beyond. Founded in 1952 by composer Frank Loesser and orchestrator Don Walker, MTI is a driving force in advancing musical theatre as a vibrant and engaging art form.
MTI works directly with the composers, lyricists and book writers of these musicals to provide official scripts, musical materials and dynamic theatrical resources to over 100,000 professional, community and school theatres in the US and in over 150 countries worldwide.
MTI is particularly dedicated to educational theatre, and has created special collections to meet the needs of various types of performers and audiences. MTI’s Broadway Junior® shows are 30- and 60-minute musicals for performance by elementary and middle school-aged performers, while MTI’s School Editions are musicals annotated for performance by high school students.
