THE JASON CAST

Cathy - ALICIA D’ARIANO
Jamie - BLUE FREE COOPER

THE ROBERT CAST

Cathy - BRITTANY BALINA
Jamie - KYLE STEWART

These two casts will be alternating performances. Please see below for a full list of the performance schedule.

The casts will be performing as follows:
Friday, May 31 at 8:00 pm - The Robert Cast
Saturday, June 1 at 2:00 pm - The Jason Cast
Saturday, June 1 at 7:00 pm - The Robert Cast
***The performance time for the Sat June 1 show has been moved to 7:00 pm. All other evening performances remain at 8:00 pm.
Sunday, June 2 at 2:00 pm - The Robert Cast
Wednesday, June 5 at 8:00 pm - The Jason Cast
Thursday, June 6 at 8:00 pm - The Jason Cast
Friday, June 7 at 8:00 pm - The Robert Cast
Saturday, June 8 at 8:00 pm - The Jason Cast

CREATIVE TEAM

Produced by CHRISTINE GRUENBAUER
Directed by HAILEY HILL
Music Directed by BEN LEIBOVITZ
Props & Costume Design by BARBARA RAND
Lighting Design by INDRANI MAHADEO
Stage Managed by REGINE LI
Assistant Stage Managed by AMY FAIRCLOUGH-CLAY

ORCHESTRA

Piano/Conductor - BEN LEIBOVITZ
Guitar - ROB HAYNES
Bass - CHRISTOPHER NEWTON
Violin - ALYSSA STEVENSON
Cello - GRACE THERIAULT
Cello - PATRICK THERIAULT
Drums/Percussion - HEATHER WILLIAMS

Additional orchestrations adapted from the film version by Heather Williams.

Alicia D’Ariano, Cathy
(she/her)

Alicia is so excited to be making her Allswell Debut! Selected credits include the International Tour of Scooby-Doo! And the Lost City of Gold (Warner Bros/Monlove Productions); Fun Home (OKTC Alumni Project); Elf: The Musical (Grand Theatre); Chicago (Theatre Western); Beauty and the Beast (LCP); Saucy Jacks & the Space Vixen (LINK Theatre); Heathers: The Musical (MTP); Rocky Horror Show (Pacheco Theatre). Alicia has also Music Directed for Original Kids Theatre Company. She would like to thank her family and friends for their love and support, as always xx

Blue Free Cooper, Jamie
(she/her, they/them)

Blue is a London born Scorpio, proficient in Adobe Creative Suite. They are a graduate of Sheridan College's Performing Arts Preparation and Honours Bachelor of Music Theatre Performance programs. They have written three one-act musicals, including their most recent work THE TORCHIE SHOW: a 70's children TV show meets b-horror movie/murderous British muppets from space. Recent Theatre Credits include The Moon in NOBODY ASKED TO BE HERE (Sheridan College/Musical Stage Co.); "B" in BOUNDARIES (First Step Theatre Group); Officer Barrel in URINETOWN (Theatre Sheridan); Ensemble/Micah u/s in AN INCOMPLETE LIST... (Sheridan College/The Maker's Ensemble); Director/Music Director for JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR (Theatre Erindale). They thank their family, both born and chosen, for all the support.

Brittany Balina, Cathy
(she/her)

Brittany is extremely thrilled to be returning to the stage for the first time since 2019. Brittany studied Vocal Music in University/Teachers College and has been singing and performing in shows for many years. Recent credit includes playing Holly in The Wedding Singer (MTP). Brittany would like to thank her friends and family for their ongoing support; specifically her husband Chris, for watching the kids (James and Avery) as she rehearsed for this fabulous show!

Kyle Stewart, Jamie
(he/him)

Having done shows for over 24 years, this will be Kyle’s first step back onto a main stage for a full musical since COVID. Previously he was seen in The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Palace Theatre), Shrek the Musical (Ridgetown Players), Title of Show (Musical Theatre Productions), The Normal Heart (Palace Theatre), and Chicago (Theatre Kent). Kyle thanks his amazing husband for supporting his journey and the cast and crew of Allswell for their support, guidance, and learning.

Amy Fairclough-Clay, Assistant Stage Manager
(she/her)

Amy Fairclough-Clay is an artist & historian who relocated to London, Canada from London, UK five years ago. In the UK, Amy worked in heritage; telling stories and avoiding ghosts inside old castles. In her spare time she builds puppets, birdwatches and writes ever-expanding campaigns for her tabletop gaming group. She is so excited to be back with Allswell after returning to the theatre as Assistant Stage Manager for The Drowsy Chaperone!

Christine Gruenbauer, Producer
(she/her)

Christine is an experienced producer, stage and arts manager, having co-founded Allswell Productions with Hailey and Ben in 2018. Her recent production credits include: Dogfight (Allswell, 2018), The Laramie Project (Theatre Aezier, 2019), The Woolgatherer (Scooter Productions, 2019), Sweeney Todd (MTP & Allswell, 2019), Patchface (Allswell, 2021), The Romeo Initiative (Allswell, 2022), The Drowsy Chaperone (Allswell & MTP, 2023) and Craving (Curveball Creative, 2023). Christine is the current Company Manager of the Grand Theatre, and serves on the Board of Directors for Musical Theatre Productions. Upcoming: Confidential Musical Theatre Project (MTP).

Rob Haynes, Guitar
(he/him)

Rob Haynes is local guitar teacher based out of South London. He is married, and has a cat.

Hailey Hill, Director
(she/her)

Hailey is a director and proud Artistic Director of Allswell Productions. She directed Allswell’s *last five years* of shows, including 3 musicals: Dogfight (2018), Sweeney Todd (2019, co-production with MTP) and The Drowsy Chaperone (2023, co-production with MTP). Other notable directing credits include Chicago (Blue Canoe Productions, 2016), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (King's Players, 2016), and The Laramie Project (Theatre Aezir, 2019). Directing both casts in this special show has been an absolute pleasure and Hailey cannot wait for everyone to see all of their hard work come to fruition, along with the hard work of the dedicated crew and band. Special shout-outs to her partners in crime, theatre and life; you’re all the best.

Ben Leibovitz, Music Director & Piano/Conductor
(he/him)

Ben is the Director of Music for Allswell Productions. For Allswell: The Drowsy Chaperone (2023, co-production with Musical Theatre Productions), The Romeo Initiative (2022, original music), Patchface (2021, original music), Sweeney Todd (2019, co-production with MTP), and Dogfight (2018). Other recent credits include The Prom (Original Kids, 2024) and The Who's Tommy (OKTC, 2024). Next up: The Confidential Musical Theatre Project (MTP, 2024). Ben is immensely grateful to be working with such a talented group to bring this beautiful piece to life. He extends a special "thanks" to Jason Robert Brown for writing an impossibly difficult piano book, and dedicates this show to his family and friends for their endless love and support.

Regine Li, Stage Manager
(she/they)

Regine is a producer, musician, and the Production Coordinator for Allswell Productions. She is so excited to be back in the Stage Manager’s seat, especially with a bucket list show such as this. For Allswell: The Drowsy Chaperone (Producer/Keyboard 2, 2023, co-production with MTP), The Romeo Initiative (Stage Manager, 2022), Patchface (Stage Manager, 2021), Sweeney Todd (Stage Manager, 2019, co-production with MTP), Dogfight (Crew, 2018). Select musician credits include: For MTP: Company (2024), The Beauty Underneath (2023), Hello, Dolly! (2018). OKTC: The Prom (2024), White Christmas (2022). Working with these talented, patient, and hardworking artists has been an incredibly fulfilling process and she is so excited audiences will finally get to experience this show. She would like to thank her friends and family for their continued support!

Indrani Mahadeo, Lighting Designer
(they/them)

Indrani is new to the Allswell team. Fueled by coffee and sushi, their past lighting design credits include Young Frankenstein the Musical (Mavis Productions), Her Naked Skin (New Stage at PTAC), Iphigenia at Aulis (New Stage at PTAC), and the PTAC production of 1949 (as co-designer). Many thanks to Steven Allen for mentoring, support, and coffee!

Christopher Newton, Bass
(he/him)

Christopher has been playing bass since middle school always finding a live for big band, jazz, and musical theatre. Recent performances include Tommy (Original Kids), The Drowsy Chapeone (MTP), Company (MTP), London Jazz festival. He is always so happy to be part of the show.

Barbara Rand, Props Designer

Barbara’s love of theatre started around age 8, when she saw her first live production of The Music Man. She was hooked! This is her fifth production with Allswell. Previously she worked as Props Designer for Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street and The Drowsy Chaperone and as Props and Costume Designer for Patchface and The Romeo Initiative. Other select credits include Production Assistant, A Permanent Image and Associate Producer, The Laramie Project (Theatre Æzir); Props Designer, On a First Name Basis and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time (LCP).

Alyssa Stevenson, Violin

Alyssa Stevenson is an avid performer and educator currently residing in London, Ontario. Alyssa is a proud alumna of Western University’s Don Wright Faculty of music and the University of Ottawa. Alyssa regularly performs across Ontario with London Symphonia, the Windsor Symphony Orchestra, the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra, the Niagara Symphony Orchestra, the former Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony and now the Musicians of the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony. In addition to her performance schedule, Alyssa is a passionate teacher working with students of all ages to hone their skills in violin and theory and impart a love of music, teaching at organizations such as Arts 4 All Kids, Young Artists Pre-College Academy, Forest City Strings Summer Camp, and Maple and Spruce Music Academy (founder).

Grace Theriault, Cello II

Grace is a versatile performer, equally comfortable on the stage or in the pit. As a singer, she can be seen leading the alto section at Metropolitan United Church, and performing often with early music chamber choir Kammerchor. As a cellist, she has joined the pit orchestra for multiple productions by Allswell, MTP, and the London Community Players, and also plays regularly with “It’s a String Thing” for weddings and events. Grace is thrilled that The Last 5 Years calls for two cellists, so she can play next to her husband Patrick! A giant thank you goes to Patrick’s mother who is putting in lots of babysitting hours for our little E so we can be here together.

Patrick Theriault, Cello I

Patrick is married, and may or may not have a cat.

Heather Williams, Drums/Percussion & Additional Orchestrations
(she/they)

Heather would like to take this chance to thank the creative team for entrusting her with the opportunity to create a drum/percussion book for this show that has been on her bucket list for many years. An especially large thanks to Ben for providing many resources that streamlined the composing process. Heather hopes that everyone who is familiar with the show can find room for this new part in their ears and heart. Thanks to Regine for being so supportive and helping to find solutions to the challenges of this new creative project. Recent credits include: The Drowsy Chaperone (w MTP), Patchface, The Romeo Initiative, Dogfight (Allswell); Company, The Beauty Underneath, Show Off!, Hello, Dolly!, Broadway to the Max! (MTP); The Prom, Tommy, The Battle of Boat, Spongebob Squarepants, White Christmas, Newsies (OKTC); Damn Yankees (LCP).

A special thank you to Diana Barr and Palace Theatre Arts Commons (Props & Wardrobe Departments)