The Importance of Being Earnest | Penny & Pound Theatre by pennypoundtheatre

DIRECTOR’S NOTE

LORI ROBINSON DISTEL, ARTISIC DIRECTOR | SHE/HER

Itseemsthatwe’relivingintumultoustimes. Betweenastronomicaltarrifs,highcostson essentialsandtheloomingthreatofwar,the worldisindisarray.Butitisintheseuncertain timesthatpatriotismtendstotakewing,whichis whywedecidedthatour2025/2026seasonwill beproudlyCanadian!Theatreisapowerfulagent whenitcomestosocialcommentary.Plus,it’sa greatdistractionwhentherealworldgetstoo overwhelming.Thisseasonweareoffering everythingfrompatrioticnewworkstorockstar murderessestointeractiveclassicsand reimaginedfavourites,plussomuchmore!So, ElbowsUp,everyone!It’stimetomakeourmark! Andit’stimetolettherestoftheworldknowjust whatwe’remadeof!OhCanada,thanksforagreat season!

PIPER J. DISTEL, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | SHE/THEY

Elbows Up! We are so excited to host our very first All Canadian Season, featuring written works and reimagined classics by local, Canadian playwrights and theatre creators. Each story features the social empowerment and bold storytelling you’ve come to expect from Penny & Pound whether it’s the queer joy of The Importance of Being Earnest, the female empowerment of Bloody Good or the bleak resilience of White Plague. Through it all, our mission shines true: to enrich, enlighten and empower local artists and audiences from all walks of life. We’re proud to be Canadian, and we’re proud to be theatre folk!

BY OSCAR WILDE

LORI ROBINSON DISTEL and ZACHARY LARSEN

LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT

Penny&Poundacknowledgesthatweperformonthetraditional territoriesoftheAttawandaron(Neutral)People,andlaterthe AnishinaabeandHaudenosauneePeoples.Wearegratefultothe IndigenouspeoplesofTurtleIslandwhohavecaredfortheselands throughcountlessgenerations.Westandwiththeminsolidarityas wecontinuetofightongoingdispossessionandcolonialviolence.

THE CREATIVES

THE CAST

JACK WORTHING | Jordan Raposo

JACK WORTHING | Liam Kingsbury *

ALGERNON MONCRIEFF | James Diamond

LORI ROBINSON DISTEL, ARTISIC DIRECTOR | SHE/HER

LADY AUGUSTA BRACKNELL | Steven B Andrews *

LADY AUGUSTA BRACKNELL | Cathy Goudie *

GWENDOLEN FAIRFAX | Liv Gray *

GWENDOLEN FAIRFAX | Melissa Ruegg

CECILY CARDEW | Halli Kerklaan *

CECILY CARDEW | Kit Gawne

MISS PRISM | Deanna Stevens

MISS PRISM | Holly Marshall

REVEREND-CANON CHASUBLE | Fred Brandenburg

REVEREND-CANON CHASUBLE | Jack Birss*

LANE | Emaan Ansari

MERRIMAN | Agraj Joshi

THE CREW

DIRECTOR | Lori Robinson Distel

APPRENTICE DIRECTOR | Zachary Larsen

STAGE MANAGER | Piper J Distel

LIGHTING/SOUND DESIGN | Piper J Distel

MAKEUP/HAIR DESIGN | Natalia Rhodes

HEAD OF COSTUMES/PROPERTIES | Piper J. Distel

WARDROBE TEAM | Cathy Goudie, Duncan Graham

SET DESIGN | Lori Robinson Distel, Duncan Graham

SET CONSTRUCTION | Lori Robinson Distel, Duncan Graham, Deanna Stevens

*= Penny & Pound Debut

MEETTHE CAST

Jordan Raposo as Jack Worthing

HE/HIM

JordanreturnstothePenny&Poundstageforhisfourthproduction,withprevious creditsincludingLittleHeaven(ThePeddler),Newsies(Wiesel/Nunzio)andLittle Women(Laurie) Hemadehisstagedebutin2022asGeorgeGibbsinCambridge CommunityPlayers’productionofOurTown

Liam Kingsbury as Jack Worthing

HE/HIM

Anathlete-turned-actor,LiammakeshisPenny&PounddebutinTheImportanceof BeingEarnest PreviouscreditsincludeMerryMenLive!(TheatreUnmade)and Urinetown(JohnF.Ross).LiamreturnstothePenny&PoundstageinAprilasRed McIntyreintheworldpremiereproductionofWhitePlague

James Diamond as Algernon Moncrieff

HE/HIM

JameshasbeenactingintheSouthernOntariocommunitytheatrescenesince2009and hasworkedinLondon,Brantford,Waterloo,Cambridge,Beamsville,Tillsonburg,Toronto andmore ThiswillbeJames’seventhshowwithPenny&Poundsince2021,having previouslyappearedinCuriouser,LittleHeaven,MissScrooge,HeadintheGame, HelloLove,andAChristmasCarol

Steven B. Andrews as Lady Augusta Bracknell

HE/HIM

StevenB AndrewsisthrilledtobeappearinginhisfirstproductionwithPenny&Pound Productions FavouritestagecreditsincludeIntotheWoods,MyFairLady,Chess,OfMice andMen,andTheImportanceofBeingEarnest LadyBracknellhasbeenadreamrolefor manyyearseversincehesawBrianBedfordplayheronBroadwayin2011,andheis delightedtofinallytacklethisiconiccharacteralongsidesuchatalentedcastand creativeteam

Cathy Goudie as Lady Augusta Bracknell

SHE/HER

Cathyhasbeenanactorandinvolvedintheatrefor45years;startinginhighschool, whichtookheroutofhershell andsheneverlookedback!Shehasperformedand taughtmime,Latindanceandimprov Shehasworkedinvariousrolesintheatre:acting, directing,playwrighting,props,frontofhouseandcostuming Inrecentyears,shehas hadadramaticreadingofherplay“IGuess Cat”inSheSpeakswithFlushInk,andher firstShakespeareroleinMerryWivesofWindsorwithEloraCommunityTheatre

Liv Gray as Gwendolen Fairfax

SHE/HER

LivisveryexcitedtobemakingherdebutatPenny&PoundasGwendoleninThe ImportanceofBeingEarnest PreviouscreditsincludeIraWellsinDracula,MrsPyein AnneofGreenGables(PlayfulFox);KareninRehearsalforMurder,ElleninFiveAlarm (GuelphLittleTheatre),aswellasCostumesforTheCompleteWorksofWilliam Shakespeare(GuelphLittleTheatre) Enjoytheshow,it’sbeenablast!

Melissa Ruegg as Gwendolen Fairfax

SHE/HER

MelissaRueggisatwenty-two-year-oldmultidisciplinarytheatreartist,whoisno strangertoPenny&Pound bothonstageandoff FavouritecreditsincludeMila (LittleHeaven),Past(MissScrooge),Marmee(LittleWomen),Madge(Hello,Love),Mrs Bedwin(Oliver!),TheDuchess(Curiouser),Elaine(Fourteen)andGrease

Halli Kerklaan as Cecily Cardew

SHE/HER

HalliisthrilledtobemakingherPenny&PoundTheatredebutasCecilyCardewinThe ImportanceofBeingEarnest FavouritepastcreditsincludeHeatherMcNamara (Heathers),Mal(Descendants),MayzieLaBird(Seussical),andCrutchie(Newsies) She hopesyouenjoytheshow!

Kit Gawne as Cecily Cardew

SHE/THEY

KitisveryexcitedtobepartofTheImportanceofBeingEarnest They’redelightedtobe apartofoneoftheirfavouriteplaysandhopethattheaudiencehasjustasmuchfunas theydo!

Deanna Stevens as Miss Prism

SHE/HER

DeannareturnstothePenny&PoundstageaftermakingherdebutinBloodyGood Adenizenofthelocaltheatrescene,shehasappearedinanumberofproductions includingIntotheWoodsandThePillowman

Holly Marshall as Miss Prism

SHE/HER

HollyisexcitedtobringPrismtoliveinherthirdPenny&Poundproduction Previousroles includeBloodyGood(LeslieVanHouten)andAChristmasCarol(Charwoman) Holly returnstotheP&PstageinMayasMissMurielStaceyinAvonlea:ANewMusical When she’snotonstage,she’slikelysinging90ssongswithherdog,Reggie

Fred Branenburg as Reverend-Canon Chasuble

HE/HIM

Fred’ssecondP&PproductionandtheycasthimasaMinister?!Earnestchangefrom KWLTroles:Scrooge(Mrs Cratchit’sWildChristmas),SaucyJack(SaucyJackandthe SpaceVixens)orTheDragon(ThePaperbagPrincess) LovetoBrendaforherpatience andunderstanding,andabighugforRay!

Jack Birss as Reverend-Canon Chasuble

HE/HIM

Jackisexcitedtoreturntotheatreafteranabsencefromthestage Hehaspreviously performedinstageproductionsofGuys&Dolls,WestSideStory,AliceinWonderlandas wellastimeworkinginradio

Emaan Ansari as Lane

HE/THEY/SHE

Emaan‘Wasp’Ansariisaqueer,POCperformerfromtheKWRegion SelectPenny& PoundcreditsincludeNickCarraway(TheGreatGatsby),Dr AnnRoss(TheGod Committee),Rizzo(Grease),Romeo(Newsies),J Marley(MissScrooge),WhiteRabbit (Curiouser)andRuhksanaAmir(Hello,Love) CreditselsewhereincludeBethinOZ(JHSS Drama),RamSweeneyinHeathers(UW)andKWGlee(2019/2020)

Agraj Joshi as Merriman

HE/HIM

AJispleasedtobereturningtothePenny&Poundstageforthesecondtimethisseason, havingmadehisdebutasJayGatsbyinTheGreatGatsby Inhissparetime,helikesto dabbleinfinanceandhangoutwithhisgirlfriend Heisalsoan‘agedgouda’enthusiast He hopesyouenjoytheshow!

MEET THE CREATIVES

Lori Robinson Distel as Director

SHE/HER

LoriRobinsonDistelisamulti-awardwinningdirector,performerandcomposer With overforty-fiveyearsofexperienceintheperformingarts,sheistheproudrecipient oftheCambridgeCulturalAwardforPerformingArts,TheJackE AwardforBest ActorandplacedTop20inthePrestigiousKlebanMusicalTheatrePrize PastdirectorialcreditsincludeDoubt,AParable,LesMiserables, OfMiceandMen, TheDiaryofAnneFrank,TheHunchbackofNotreDameandmore

PiperJ. Distel as Stage Manager

SHE/THEY

PiperJ Distelisanaward-winningqueer,neurodivergentmultidisciplinarytheatre artist,currentlyservingasExecutiveDirectorofPenny&PoundTheatre Recent directorialcreditsincludeAChristmasCarol,TheReturn,HeadintheGame,Newsies, Grease,Oliver!,TheGreatGatsbyandTheHauntingofHillHouse AKlebanAwardnominatedplaywright,PiperhaspennedthebookforanumberofCanadianmusicals, includingHelloLove,Curiouser,LittleHeaven,MissScroogeandBloodyGood Find herworkonlineviathePlaywrightsGuildofCanadaorThePledgeProject

Zachary Larsen as Apprentice Director

HE/HIM

ZacharyLarsenisnostrangertothePenny&Poundstage,havingappearedina numberofproductionssince2018–includingNewsies(JackKelly),Hello,Love (Michael),LittleHeaven(Joseph),Grease(Roger),YouCan’tTakeItwithYou(Tony), Dracula(ArthurHolmwood),Godspell(Himself)andmore Thisishisfirsttime directing,andhe’senjoyedworkingwiththistremendouslytalentedcastof comedians!

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR | Lori Robinson Distel

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | Piper J. Distel

PRESIDENT | Peter Tudisco

SECRETARY | Shelby Goncalves

TREASURER | Jason Dmitruk

DIRECTORS | Nikki Wills, Duncan Graham, Mya Leworthy

Little Women

Adapted

Piper J. Distel and Lori Robinson Distel

Follow the March sisters as they navigate love, loss and sisterhood against the backdrop of the American Civil War. This fresh adaptation is warm, witty, and deeply moving.

March 12-15 at Fergus Grand Theatre

White Plague

A New Play by Piper J Distel

A bleak new thriller about the cost of faith and celebrity, White Plague follows the inhabitants of St. Camillus Consumption Sanitarium as they blindly follow the man they believe to be their Messiah.

April 2-4 at Fergus Grand Theatre

Avonlea

A New Musical by Distel and Distel

LM Montgomery’s favourite redhead gets a fresh, down-East sound in this new folk musical adaptation of ‘Anne of Green Gables’ and ‘Anne of Avonlea,’ perfect for the whole family!

May 14-17 at Guelph Little Theatre

THE JOSEPH R. DISTEL AWARD OF OVERALL EXCELLENCE

ARTHURG.BROOK(ThePeddler)-LittleHeaven(2024)

ZACHARYLARSEN(JackKelly)-Newsies(2024)

JEREMYVANDENHELM(MaestroCovali)-LittleHeaven(2024)

JONATHANHOYTEMA(Anthony)-SweeneyTodd(2024)

DUNCANGRAHAM(HarryHarper)-MissScrooge(2024)

JOHNSETTLE(Silas)-HeadintheGame(2025)

MYALEWORTHY(Daphne)-TheReturn:AGhostStory(2025)

EMMAMARCHAND(InaLiddell)-Curiouser(2025)

WILLIAMCOOPER(YoungCharles)-Curiouser(2025)

TYLERHERGOTT(Eugene)-Hello,Love(2025)

CRISKELLAND(Eleanor)-TheHauntingofHillHouse(2025)

EMILYHARTMAN(LizzieBorden)-BloodyGood(2025)

SEANSAUNDERS(Fezziwig/Others)-AChristmasCarol(2025)

EMILYSCHNURR(Past)-AChristmasCarol(2025)

THE HUGH SUTHERLAND HEART OF THE ARTS AWARD

MATTHEWBRAGANCA(Roosevelt/Jacobi)-Newsies(2024)

MELISSARUEGG(Mila)-LittleHeaven(2024)

ZOEFAULKNER(Johanna)-SweeneyTodd(2024)

JORDANBENTLEY(Iola/Others)-MissScrooge(2024)

SHERRIEMILLER(Dr.O’Connor)-HeadintheGame(2025)

CAMERONSAMSON(Marcel)-TheReturn:AGhostStory(2025)

ANNACARTER(LorinaLiddell)-Curiouser(2025)

NIKKIWILLS(Tweedledum/Others)-Curiouser(2025)

SUSANEDANG(TokyoRose/Others)-Hello,Love(2025)

JASMINEROMANY(Minnie/Others)-Hello,Love(2025)

JACOBKOWALCHYK(Luke)-TheHauntingofHillHouse(2025)

KATIEBABINEAU(MollCutpurse)-BloodyGood(2025)

AUBREEREES(Demonette)-BloodyGood(2025)

TISHBAGLEY(Mrs.Fezziwig/Others)-AChristmasCarol(2025)

HOLLYMARSHALL(Charwoman)-AChristmasCarol(2025)

THE ANNE MEIGHAN AWARD OF THEATRICAL INNOVATION

ABIGAILKLASSEN(EbenezerScrooge)-MissScrooge(2024)

PETERTUDISCO(Sid)-HeadintheGame(2025)

SEBASTIANCUDNEY(Beau)-TheReturn:AGhostStory(2025)

EMAANANSARI(WhiteRabbit)-Curiouser(2025)

AIDABECKER(Lobster/Others)-Curiouser(2025)

DAISYNGUYEN(Chi)-Hello,Love(2025)

JORDANGRAHAM(MickeyMcCade/Others)-Hello,Love(2025)

NATALIARHODES(Phantom)-TheHauntingofHillHouse(2025)

EMILYWETTLAUFER(JollyJane)-BloodyGood(2025)

ASPENWALSH(BridgetSullivan)-BloodyGood(2025)

KYLAMCCALL(Mrs.Dilber)-AChristmasCarol(2025)

MICHAELASAUNDERS(Fan)-AChristmasCarol(2025)

THE GORD ROBINSON AWARD OF MUSICAL EXCELLENCE

TRAVISGOLEM(Guitar)-MissScrooge(2024)

ARYAVANDERVAART(AliceLiddell)-Curiouser(2025)

JOANNAMAKINSON(WhiteQueen)-Curiouser(2025)

THEOBANMAN(Aubrey)-Hello,Love(2025)

JOSHUAPERRYFLEMING(John)-Hello,Love(2025)

CAELANMILFORD(BonnieParker)-BloodyGood(2025)

KIMBERLYGODFREY(BelleGunness)-BloodyGood(2025)

THE MARTIN SMITH AWARD OF THEATRICAL DISCIPLINE

ARIELDIAMOND(Janice/Others)-Hello,Love(2025)

BRYANRUSH(Smitt/Others)-Hello,Love(2025)

HAYLEYWILLS(MovementCaptain)-TheHauntingofHillHouse(2025)

DIANATHOMPSON(NannieDoss)-BloodyGood(2025)

STEPHANIECLARK(BelleStarr)-BloodyGood(2025)

GARYKLASSEN(BobCratchit)-AChristmasCarol(2025)

JAMESDIAMOND(NephewFred/Marley’sGhost)-AChristmasCarol(2025)

BETHANYBAIR(JordanBaker)-TheGreatGatsby(2026)

KAITLYNRUEGG(Sallie)-TheGreatGatsby(2026)

AGRAJJOSHI(JayGatsby)-TheGreatGatsby(2026)

KEZIAALLEN(Myrtle)-TheGreatGatsby(2026)

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