This is the second in a series of Q&A Interviews with representatives of London area theatre companies and groups. Today, we profile David J. Pasquino and DJP Productions.
Q. When was your company founded? By whom and why?
DJP Productions was founded by David J Pasquino in April 2025, for the sole purpose of putting on Prescription: Murder. I discovered it a couple of years ago when I read that Pat Sajak was going to play the role of Dr. Roy Flemming in the play at a community theatre in Hawaii (it was on at the Hawaii Theatre, July 31 to August 10, 2025). Much to my surprise, the play, written in 1962, was the very first Columbo story and was adapted into a TV special in 1968. I grew up watching Columbo and could not pass up the opportunity to play him, so I had to figure out a way to get this play on a stage in London, and producing it seemed to be the best way to do all of this.
Q. Is your company best described as professional or not-for-profit community theatre? Or both?
Not-for-profit community theatre.
Q. What venue(s) do you use to stage your productions?
Prescription: Murder will be onstage at the Auburn Stage at the Grand Theatre.
Q. Does your company have a Mission or Statement of Purpose?
DJP could be my initials, or maybe it could stand for Discover Joy and Passion? Either way, this inaugural production is an expression of my love of theatre, and for the theatre community in London – something I discovered 12 years ago that I never knew was missing from my life. I hope people coming to the show experience that Joy and Passion as well.
Q. Does your company have a Board of Directors and paid staff?
No.
Q. Tell me about your 2025-2026 Season. Does it have any underlying theme?
I don’t know if one show can be called a season, but the purpose is to bring the original Columbo story to the stage and the people of London, Ontario.
Q. What show(s) will you be staging this fall (September to December)? Tell me a little bit about each.
Unfortunately, nothing in that time frame, but Prescription: Murder will be on March 19 – 29, 2026.
Q. Do you have any thoughts about the London area theatre community and your place in it?
I have been a part of the London theatre community since my first show, To Kill a Mockingbird, in March 2013, and have acted in over twenty plays since then. This is my first time producing a show (I am also acting in it), and I am a little anxious because I obviously want this to be a success and to have people (cast, crew, and audience) enjoy it. I will have to see how this goes before I commit to producing other shows, but there is at least one other one play I have always wanted to put on. Who knows, maybe I will catch the producing bug, and DJP Productions will put on regular shows! I owe a debt of gratitude to all of the directors, producers, stage managers, crew, and actors that I’ve had the good fortune to work with; they welcomed me with open arms and have become very important to me in the last decade, and maybe this is one way I can pay a bit of that debt.
Follow David on Facebook for updates about Prescription: Murder: https://www.facebook.com/David.Pasquino
The Beat Magazine 2025 