# Canada's Best. London Made.

   ![Grand Theatre: You Are Here](/sites/default/files/styles/hero/public/2025-09/HERO_Sep5Media.jpg?h=aeb5519f&itok=GeBxUsPv) 

 ## Grand Theatre Announces 2025/26 Season Company of Top Canadian Talent  


**September 4, 2025 – London ON** – Top artistic talent from across the country will come together for the Grand Theatre's 2025/26 season, **“You Are Here.”** Today, the Grand unveils its 2025/26 Company – one hundred and twenty-three professional theatre artists from St. John’s, Newfoundland to Victoria, British Columbia – representing Canada’s brightest talents and beloved audience favourites. The company proudly includes twenty-two arts professionals – including actors, musicians, designers, and stage management – who, like the Grand, call London their home.

The season promises to deliver compelling new works, big sets, bigger laughs, spectacular music – and the astonishment, wonder, and delight of pure theatre magic.

## Introducing:  
The Grand Theatre’s 2025/26 Company  


Joseph Abetria (Winnipeg, MB) – Costume Designer – *The Play That Goes Wrong*

Mary Ancheta (Vancouver, BC) – Music Director – *Piaf/Dietrich*

Alexander Ariate (Edmonton, AB) – Jonathan – *The Play That Goes Wrong*

Matthew Atkins (London, ON) – Musical Director – Disney's *Newsies*

Vance Avery (Edmonton, AB) – Pabbie – Disney's *Frozen*

Deena Aziz (Montreal, QC) – Miss Prism – *The Importance of Being Earnest*

Peter N. Bailey (Toronto, ON) – Bert – *Primary Trust*

Darrin Baker (Toronto, ON) – Claude – *Come From Away*

Judith Bowden (Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON) – Costume Designer – *The Importance of Being Earnest*

Alexa Brown (London, ON) – Trumpet – Disney's *Newsies* & Disney's *Frozen*

Divine Brown (North York, ON) – Hannah – *Come From Away*

Karen Burthwright (Toronto, ON) – Supporting Female – *Piaf/Dietrich*

Jennifer Cahill (London, ON) – Reeds – Disney's *Frozen*, Whistles – *Come From Away*

Melissa Cameron (London, ON) – Stage Manager – Disney's *Newsies*, Assistant Stage Manager – *Piaf/Dietrich*

Crystal Casera (Toronto, ON) – Ensemble – Disney's *Frozen*

Andrew Cownden (Vancouver, BC) – Weselton – Disney's *Frozen*

Eric Craig (Toronto, ON) – Supporting Male – *Piaf/Dietrich*

James Daly (Toronto, ON) – Algernon Moncrieff – *The Importance of Being Earnest*

Tony De Luca (London, ON) – Reeds – Disney's *Newsies*

Mike Dufays (Toronto, ON) – Fight Director – Disney's *Newsies*

Sheldon Elter (Edmonton, AB) – Oz – *Come From Away*

Izad Etemadi (Toronto, ON) – Stage Crew – *The Play That Goes Wrong*, Olaf – Disney's *Frozen*, Kevin T – *Come From Away*

Chariz Faulmino (Edmonton, AB) – Anna – Disney's *Frozen*

Rachel Forbes (Toronto, ON) – Costume Designer – *Primary Trust*

Julie Fox (Stratford, ON) – Set Designer – *Primary Trust*

Joema Frith (Toronto, ON) – Bob – *Come From Away*

Julien Galipeau (Montreal, QC) – John Worthing, J.P – *The Importance of Being Earnest*

Steven Gallagher (Hamilton, ON) – Nick – *Come From Away*

Dennis Garnhum (Toronto, ON) – Director – *The Play That Goes Wrong*

Lore Green (Kelowna, BC) – Assistant Stage Manager – *The Play That Goes Wrong* & Disney's *Frozen*

Steven Greenfield (Edmonton, AB) – Music Supervisor – Disney's *Frozen*

Marianna Grigg (London, ON) – Cello – Disney's *Newsies*

Jordan Guetter (Guelph, ON) – Stage Manager – *The Play That Goes Wrong*, Assistant Stage Manager – Disney's *Frozen* & *The Importance of Being Earnest*

Beyata Hackborn (Edmonton, AB) – Set Designer – *The Play That Goes Wrong*

Kristi Hansen (Edmonton, AB) – Disability Consultant – Disney’s *Newsies*

Jennifer Harding (Buckhorn, ON) – Queen Iduna – Disney's *Frozen*

Michael Hart (Stratford, ON) – Stage Manager – *The Importance of Being Earnest*

Kaylee Harwood (Toronto, ON) – Hon. Gwendolen Fairfax – *The Importance of Being Earnest*

Deborah Hay (Stratford, ON) – Edith Piaf – *Piaf/Dietrich*

Ainsley Hillyard (Edmonton, AB) – Choreographer – Disney's *Frozen*

Andrew Hodwitz (Toronto, ON) – Standby – *Come From Away*

Ray Hogg (Toronto, ON) – Director – Disney's *Newsies*

Kelly Holiff (Toronto, ON) – Elsa – Disney's *Frozen*, Janice – *Come From Away*

Za Hughes – Associate Lighting Designer – Disney's *Newsies*

Owen Hutchinson (Edmonton, AB) – Sound Designer – Disney's *Frozen*

Stephen Ingram (London, ON) – Guitar – *Come From Away*

Stephen Jackman-Torkoff (Toronto, ON) – Kenneth – *Primary Trust*

Vanessa Leticia Jetté (Red Deer, AB) – Sandra – *The Play That Goes Wrong*

Claire Jullien (St. Catharines, ON) – Lady Bracknell – *The Importance of Being Earnest*

Kaitlyn Kaemingh (Niagara, ON) – Apprentice Stage Manager – Disney's *Newsies*

Alexandra Kane (London, ON) – Musical Director – Disney's *Frozen*

Brian Kenny (St. John’s, NL) – Sound Designer – *Come From Away*

Billy Lake (Stratford, ON) – Lady Stella Clinton / Merriman – *The Importance of Being Earnest*

Tsz Ting Lam (Vaughan, ON) – Apprentice Stage Manager – *The Importance of Being Earnest*

Erik Larson (York, ON) – Bass – *Piaf/Dietrich* & *Come From Away*

Richard Lee Hsi (Edmonton, AB) – Sven – Disney's *Frozen*

Krista Leis (Stratford, ON) – Choreographer – Disney's *Newsies*

Jareth Li (Toronto, ON) – Lighting Designer – Disney's *Frozen* & *Come From Away*

Lawrence Libor (Toronto, ON) – Musician – *Primary Trust*

Kelly Luft (St. Thomas, ON) – Stage Manager – Disney's *Frozen*

Jeff Lupker (London, ON) – Guitar – Disney's *Newsies*

Andrew MacDonald-Smith (Edmonton, AB) – Max – *The Play That Goes Wrong*

Terra C. MacLeod (New York, NY) – Marlene Dietrich – *Piaf/Dietrich*

Jawon Mapp (Mississauga, ON) – Robert – *The Play That Goes Wrong*

Suzanne McArthur (London, ON) – Stage Manager – *Piaf/Dietrich*, Assistant Stage Manager – *Come From Away*

Heather McGuigan (Stratford, ON) – Standby – *Come From Away*

Sidnee McLeod (London, ON) – Trombone – Disney's *Frozen*

Emily Meadows (Winnipeg, MB) – Stage Crew – *The Play That Goes Wrong*

Erika Morey (Vancouver, BC) – Stage Manager – *Come From Away*

Celine Murray (London, ON) – Violin – Disney's *Newsies*

Alistair Newton (Victoria, BC) – Director – *The Importance of Being Earnest*

Finnley O'Brien (Surrey, BC) – Apprentice Stage Manager – *Primary Trust*

Denise Oucharek (Mississauga, ON) – Bonnie – *Come From Away*

Bernardo Pacheco (Calgary, AB) – Trevor – *The Play That Goes Wrong*

Thomas Ryder Payne (Toronto, ON) – Sound Designer – *Primary Trust*

Rachel Peake (London, ON) – Director – Disney's *Frozen* & *Piaf/Dietrich*

Scott Penner (New York City, NY) – Set Designer – *Come From Away*

Honey Pham (Winnipeg, MB) – Annie – *The Play That Goes Wrong*

Dave Pierce (Los Angeles, California) – Sound Designer – *The Play That Goes Wrong*

Anna Pin (London, ON) – Bass – Disney's *Frozen*

Emily Porter (Toronto, ON) – Sound Designer – Disney's *Newsies* & *Piaf/Dietrich*

Kimberly Purtell (Toronto, ON) – Lighting Designer – *The Play That Goes Wrong*

Joshua Quinlan (London, ON) – Set Design Consultant – Disney's *Newsies*

Michelle Ramsay (Toronto, ON) – Lighting Designer – *Piaf/Dietrich*

Cherissa Richards (Winnipeg, MB) – Director – *Primary Trust*

Sarah Richardson (Halifax, NS) – Music Director – *Come From Away*

Khadijah Roberts-Abdullah (Toronto, ON) – Corinna – *Primary Trust*

Dave Robilliard (Petrolia, ON) – Drums – *Piaf/Dietrich*

Ben Sanders (Toronto, ON) – Rev. Canon Chausble, D. D. / Lane – *The Importance of Being Earnest*

Lorenzo Savoini (Stratford, ON) – Set Designer – *Piaf/Dietrich*

Amelia Scott (Montreal, QC) – Projection Designer – Disney's *Frozen*

Genny Sermonia (Mississauga, ON) – Choreographer – *Piaf/Dietrich*

Alix Sideris (Toronto, ON) – Intimacy Director – Disney's *Newsies*

Lee Siegel (Fort Erie, ON) – Oaken/Bishop – Disney's *Frozen*

Cory Sincennes (Charlottetown, PEI) – Set & Costume Designer – Disney's *Frozen*

Mark Sinongco (Edmonton, AB) – Kristoff – Disney's *Frozen*

Siobhán Sleath (Toronto, ON) – Lighting Designer – *The Importance of Being Earnest*

Angela Southern (London, ON) – Keyboard II – Disney's *Frozen*

Darlene Spencer (Dayton, Ohio) – Beulah – *Come From Away*

Nicol Spinola (Vancouver, BC) – Choreographer – *Come From Away*

Cailin Stadnyk (Toronto, ON) – Beverley – *Come From Away*

Adam Stevenson (Hamilton, ON) – King Agnar – Disney's *Frozen*

Abby Stevenson (London, ON) – Apprentice Stage Manager – Disney's *Frozen* & *Come From Away*

Mirabella Sundar-Singh (Toronto, ON) – Cecily Cardew – *The Importance of Being Earnest*

Mark Swan (London, ON) – Drums – Disney's *Newsies*, Drums / Percussion – Disney's *Frozen*

Julie Tomaino (Toronto, ON) – Director – *Come From Away*

Michelle Tracey (Toronto, ON) – Set Designer – *The Importance of Being Earnest*

John Ullyatt (Edmonton, AB) – Dennis – *The Play That Goes Wrong*

Tahirih Vejdani (Toronto, ON) – Bulda – Disney's *Frozen*

Chris Vergara (Toronto, ON) – Ensemble – Disney's *Frozen*

Daniela Vlaskalic (Toronto, ON) – Krista – *The Play That Goes Wrong*

Aidan Wasse (London, ON) – Bass Guitar – Disney's *Newsies*

Olivia Wheeler (Toronto, ON) – Sound Designer – *The Importance of Being Earnest*

Sarah Wiebe (London, ON) – Violin – *Piaf/Dietrich*

Alex Wierzbicki (Toronto, ON) – Kevin J – *Come From Away*

Travae Williams (London, ON) – Standby – *Come From Away*

Imogen Wilson (Toronto, ON) – Lighting Designer – *Primary Trust*

Aran Wilson-McAnally (Edmonton, AB) – Hans – Disney's *Frozen*

Stephanie Wolfe (Edmonton, AB) – Hand Maiden – Disney's *Frozen*

Ming Wong (Toronto, ON) – Costume Designer – *Piaf/Dietrich* & *Come From Away*

Gina Woodward (Halifax, NS) – Apprentice Stage Manager – *The Play That Goes Wrong* & *Piaf/Dietrich*

Lisa Wright (London, ON) – Costume Designer – Disney's *Newsies*

Morgan Yamada (Edmonton, AB) – Fight & Movement Director – *The Play That Goes Wrong*

Kai Yueh-Chen (Toronto, ON) – Stage Manager – *Primary Trust*

Echo Zhou周芷會 (Toronto, ON) – Lighting Designer – Disney's *Newsies*



   
Visit GRANDTHEATRE.COM to learn more about this exceptional cohort of artists, as well as each of our 2025/26 productions.

The Grand Theatre’s 2025/26 season includes:

## The Play That Goes Wrong

By Henry Lewis, Henry Shields, & Jonathan Sayer  
Directed by Dennis Garnhum

OCT 14 to NOV 1 | Opens on OCT 17

<https://www.grandtheatre.com/event/play-that-goes-wrong>

Title Sponsor: Bluestone Properties

![Izad Etemadi](/sites/default/files/2526/media/MED_Sep4_IzadEtemadi.jpg)   
Above: Izad Etemadi (*Elf: The Musical*, *Grow*) returns to the Grand as Stage Crew in *The Play That Goes Wrong*, as well as Olaf in Disney's *Frozen*, and Kevin T in *Come From Away.*

## Disney’s Frozen

Music and Lyrics by Kristen Anderson-Lopez &amp; Robert Lopez  
Book by Jennifer Lee  
Originally Directed on Broadway by Michael Grandage  
Based on the Disney Film written by Jennifer Lee  
Directed by Chris Buck &amp; Jennifer Lee   
Originally produced on Broadway by Disney Theatrical Productions  
Directed by Rachel Peake  
A Co-Production with the Citadel Theatre

NOV 18 to DEC 28 | Opens on NOV 21

<https://www.grandtheatre.com/event/frozen>

Title Sponsor: McCormick Canada

With Thanks to: The Province of Ontario

![Kelly Holiff in costume as Elsa in Disney's Frozen](/sites/default/files/2526/media/MED_Sep4_KellyHoliff.jpg)   
Above: Kelly Holiff (*Million Dollar Quartet*) returns to the Grand as Elsa in Disney's *Frozen*, and Janice in *Come From Away.* Costume Design by Cory Sincennes. Photo by Mai Tilson.

## Primary Trust

By Eboni Booth  
A Co-Production with Crow’s Theatre

Directed by Cherissa Richards

JAN 14 to FEB 1 | Opens on JAN 17

<https://www.grandtheatre.com/event/primary-trust>

![Cherissa Richards](/sites/default/files/2526/media/MED_Sep4_CherissaRichards.jpg)   
Above: Cherissa Richards returns to the Grand to direct *Primary Trust.*

*Primary Trust* is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. [www.concordtheattricals.com](https://www.concordtheattricals.com/)

## Piaf/Dietrich

Written by Daniel Große Boymann &amp; Thomas Kahry   
Adapted by Erin Shields  
From the translation by Sam Madwar

Directed by Rachel Peake

FEB 17 to MAR 7 | Opens on FEB 20

<https://www.grandtheatre.com/event/piaf-dietrich>

![Deborah Hay](/sites/default/files/2526/media/MED_Sep4_DebHay.jpg)   
Above: Deborah Hay (*Strawberries in January*, *Kingfisher Days*, *Mary Poppins*, *Fall on Your Knees*) returns to the Grand Theatre as Edith Piaf in *Piaf/Dietrich*, directed by Rachel Peake.

## The Importance of Being Earnest

**A Trivial Comedy for Serious People**

By Oscar Wilde

Directed by Alistair Newton

MAR 25 to APR 12 | Opens on MAR 28

<https://www.grandtheatre.com/event/importance-of-being-earnest>

Title Sponsor: London Hydro

![Billy Lake](/sites/default/files/2526/media/MED_Sep4_BillyLake.jpg)   
Above: Billy Lake makes their Grand Theatre debut as Lady Stella Clinton, a new role written by Director Alistair Newton for *The Importance of Being Earnest.*

## Come From Away

Book, Music, and Lyrics by Irene Sankoff and David Hein  
Directed by Julie Tomaino

APR 28 to MAY 24 | Opens May 1

<https://www.grandtheatre.com/event/come-away>

Title Sponsor: Digital Extremes

![Scott Penner](/sites/default/files/2526/media/MED_Sep4_ScottPenner.jpg)   
Above: Scott Penner (*Hair*, *25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee*, *Elf: The Musical*, *The Phantom of the Opera*, *Charlie &amp; the Chocolate Factory*, *Waitress*) returns to the Grand from Broadway (*Job*) as Set Designer on the Grand’s original, non-replica production of *Come From Away.*

Subscriptions and single tickets can be purchased online at grandtheatre.com, by phoning the Box Office at 519.672.8800, or by visiting the Box Office in person at 471 Richmond Street (weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Saturdays from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.).

Subscriptions remain available and continue to offer the **best pricing** and **best theatre experience.**

The Grand Theatre would like to extend its appreciation to all funding partners, with special thanks to Season Sponsor**, BMO Financial Group**, and Downtown Community Partner, **Old Oak Properties**.

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The Grand Theatre is located on the traditional territories of the Original storytellers and caretakers of this land and the Nations, both settler and Indigenous, who continue to uphold the various treaties of the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, and Lunaapéewak. We value the significant historical and contemporary contributions of local and regional First Nations, and all of the Original Peoples of Turtle Island (colonially known as North America), and acknowledge the traditional lands upon which we live, work, share, and tell stories together.

**ABOUT THE GRAND THEATRE – WORLD CURIOUS. LONDON MADE.**

The Grand Theatre is known for **world-class theatre created and built in London, Ontario**. As **southwestern Ontario’s premier producing theatre** and **one of the most beautiful theatre spaces in Canada**, the company has deep ties to the community and to its artists, artisans, and technicians.

As a vibrant cultural hub and not-for-profit professional theatre, the Grand serves to gather, inspire, and entertain audiences in London and beyond. At our home in downtown London, we create productions on two stages: the Spriet Stage (839 seats) and the Auburn Developments Stage (144 seats). The Grand season of theatrical offerings runs from September to May, and we collaborate with companies and artists across the country through our co-productions that see London-made artistic and creative work travel to audiences nation-wide. Through our successful **New Play Development Program**, the Grand is committed to developing and premiering new, original works and supporting the growth and reach of theatre writers and creators. Our recently renovated venue offers a contemporary and welcoming environment that is also home to several successful music series’, community arts rentals, and cultural and special events.

A cornerstone of the organization is our place as a teaching theatre, exemplified in our many mentorship programs and highlighted in our annual **Grand Theatre High School Project**. As the first program of its kind in the country and currently in its twenty-sixth year, the High School Project involves as many as one hundred high school participants annually from schools across the region. These students participate at no cost and take on roles both on stage and off, in a fully realized mainstage production under the direction of a professional creative team.

For more information, visit: grandtheatre.com.

Follow us on [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/TheGrandLondon), [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/thegrandlondon/?hl=en), [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/user/TheGrandTheatre),[ LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-grand-theatre/), [BlueSky](https://bsky.app/profile/thegrandlondon.bsky.social) and [TikTok](https://www.tiktok.com/@thegrandlondon?lang=en).

**For more information please contact:**  
Melissa Mae Shipley, Communications and Public Relations Manager  
mshipley \[at\] grandtheatre.com (mshipley\[at\]grandtheatre\[dot\]com)   
office: 519-672-9030 ext. 266  
cell: 519-280-4008

**PHOTOGRAPHY**

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