Tag: art

Introducing Scooter Productions

by Richard Young

This is the eighteenth in a series of Q&A Profiles of London area theatre companies and groups. Today, we profile Scooter Productions.

Q. When was your company founded? By whom and why?

Scooter Productions was founded in 2017. The founding members are Phil Cal, Heather Rivet, Brian Speagle, and Sherine Thomas-Holder. We got together to produce serious drama with current social themes. Our first production, Penguin Blues, tackled addiction and isolation.

Q. Is your company best described as professional or not-for-profit community theatre?

We are a non-profit community theatre group.

Q. What venue(s) do you use to stage your productions? 

Our last two productions have been staged at Manor Park Memorial Hall.

Q. Does your company have a Mission or Statement of Purpose?

“Scooter Productions strives to produce quality live theatre and to promote all of the arts in the Greater London Area.”

(Pictured: Brian Speagle, co-founder of Scooter Productions.)

Q. Does your company have a Board of Directors and paid Staff? 

There is no board of directors or paid staff.

Q. Tell me about your 2025-2026 Season. Does it have any underlying theme? 

At the moment, our 2025-26 season consists of one production, Memoir, by John Murrell. Our next show is TBD.

Q. What show(s) will you be staging this fall (September to December)? Tell me a little bit about each. 

Memoir will run from November 19th to 23rd.

Plot summary: It is the summer of 1922; Sarah Bernhardt’s last at her beloved island estate off the coast of Brittany. With her erstwhile secretary, butler, and general dogsbody Georges Pitou, she attempts to write volume two of her memoir. Sarah enters a world of memories, spanning her entire life and theatre career. Many of her reminiscences are of her many accomplishments, but there are also memories of pain and trauma. However, she is The Divine Sarah, and she triumphantly rises above them and overcomes! John Murrell has created a moving and complex script that has touched theatregoers around the world.

Q. Do you have any thoughts about the London area theatre community and your part in it?

It is my belief that community theatre groups in London need to collaborate and support one another to grow an audience that will appreciate theatre and all the arts in London. In practical terms, we should be attending each other’s shows and helping to promote them. We are all in the same boat.

For more information about Scooter Productions, visit https://scooterdotproductions.wordpress.com/

Follow on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/scooterproductions

Follow on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/scooterproductionsldn/

Why Have I Revived The Beat Magazine? It’s a labour of love and more.

by Richard Young

by Richard Young, Publisher & Content Manager, The Beat Magazine 2025.

(Pictured: The Beat Arts In London, Issue 1, October 2009. Cover Art by Lionel Morise)

After a nine-year hiatus, I recently revived The Beat Magazine, an independent arts magazine I founded and published from 2009 to 2013, as The Beat Magazine 2025 website.

Since then, several of my peers and contemporaries have asked me one simple question: Why?

It’s a question I have asked myself many times over the last few weeks.

First and foremost, my reason for doing so is my humble attempt to make up for the lack of local arts and culture coverage in the mainstream media over the last several years. Frankly, I think this is criminal in a city the size of London. London and area creatives deserve better.

As one of our volunteer writers, Dawn Lyons, sums it up:

“London’s arts scene is alive with talent, creativity, and passion. It’s full of amazing artists across disciplines who continue to create, perform, and inspire, often without the recognition they truly deserve. I see The Beat Magazine 2025 as a way to showcase that energy and help connect people in the community with the incredible work happening around them.”

Much like the former print publication, the website provides timely, informed local arts news and commentary, and previews and reviews of local arts events. It also includes profiles of the area’s creatives and arts and culture venues. It is ad-free, and subscriptions are free. 

(Pictured: The Beat Magazine, Issue 30, March 2012. We featured Ceris Thomas on the cover. Ceris was appearing in The Drowsy Chaperone, then playing at the Palace Theatre.)

Second, simply because I want to.

Since the print magazine folded in the summer of 2013, I have kept myself busy doing many things.

I wrote freelance for a variety of local print publications, including Lifestyle Magazine, Business London, London, Inc., Professionally Speaking (Ontario College of Teachers), Scene Magazine, and the Villager Group of community magazines.

(Pictured: The Beat Magazine, Issue 25, October 2011. This cover, featuring a cast member from Evil Dead: The Musical, proved to be one of our most popular ones. We had difficulty keeping our stands stocked!)

I worked part-time/casually at a well-respected London Advertising & Marketing agency, writing copy about heavy industrial machinery. Talk about a learning curve! I thank owners Robert Adeland and Mina Thaler for their patience in teaching me the ins and outs of large cranes, dump trucks, excavators, and the like.

From December 2022 until August 2025, I was the Publicity and Program Department Head for Silver Spotlight Theatre, London’s theatre company that gives those 55 and older a chance to sing, dance, and perform on stage or backstage.

Most recently, I have served on the London Public Library’s Historic Sites Committee, the body that erects plaques around the city commemorating people and places of local historical significance. One project I take particular pride in is an Interpretive Sign Celebrating Wonderland Gardens’ Contribution to London’s Music History, which I prepared in collaboration with the City of London Culture Office. It will be officially unveiled on a date TBD.

(Pictured: The original Wonderland Gardens Outdoor Bandshell. Wonderland opened on May 24, 1935.)

That brings me up to the summer of 2025.

An unexpected medical diagnosis of Chronic Kidney Disease in July forced me to reevaluate many aspects of my life.

First and foremost, was changing my dietary and exercise habits. Gone are all processed foods, fast foods, and those with high levels of sodium and potassium. No more putting off going to the gym at least three times weekly.

Second, was relieving those things that cause me mental stress and unnecessary anxiety.

At my age (70-something), I decided that I want to fully re-engage with the local arts and culture community, rather than focusing on one aspect of it with my involvement with Silver Spotlight Theatre.

I also want to work at my own beck and call and not be accountable to others who may not always share my at times unbridled enthusiasm and relentlessness.

(Pictured: The final issue of The Beat Magazine, Summer 2013, featuring London dancer and choreographer, Amy Wright, on the cover)

In short, reviving The Beat Magazine seemed to be the best course of action to follow at this point in my life.

Has it taken up a lot more of my time than I thought? Hell, yes! But it’s my time and I love it.

Is there any financial return? Hell no! It’s strictly, to use the old cliche, a labour of love.

So, welcome to the new Beat Magazine in the form of The Beat Magazine 2025 website!

Let us know what you would like us to cover.

Let us know if you would like to volunteer some writing about the local arts and culture scene.

Let us know how we’re doing.

Let us know what’s working and what’s not working.

Contact me at richardyoung@thebeatmagazine2025.ca

Thanks for taking the time to read this.

Richard Young, Publisher & Content Manager, The Beat Magazine 2025, https://thebeatmagazine2025.ca/

Addendum: Since going live in mid-August, the site has accumulated 4,007 Views and 2,901 Visitors.

Introducing Project G Force: An Interview with Matt Loop

by Richard Young

This is the seventeenth in a series of Q&A Profiles of London area theatre companies and groups. Today, we interview Matt Loop, co-founder of sketch comedy troupe, Project G Force.

Q. When was your company founded? By whom and why? 

Project G Force was founded by Matt Loop and Thomas Bogad in 2006 and included members of sketch troupes Channel Surfing and Sector 7 G. The troupe currently consists of original members Thomas Bogad, Norah Cuzzocrea, Laura DiTrolio, and Matt Loop. Past members include Pasqualina Cardu, Christian Gundlack, and Lorissa Sinasac. Project G Force was under the umbrella of local theatre group Channel Surfing Productions and is currently the longest-running sketch comedy troupe in London, under the direction of John Pacheco.

Q. Is your company best described as professional or not-for-profit community theatre? Or both?

Project G Force is a not-for-profit theatre.

(Pictured: Matt Loop, Laura DiTrolio, Thomas Bogad, and Norah Cuzzocrea)

Q. What venue(s) do you use to stage your productions? 

We have performed at the Palace main stage, Rum Runners, TAP, London Music Club, and most recently the Princess Ave Theatre in St. Thomas.

Q. Does your company have a Mission or Statement of Purpose? 

Our mission is basically to make people laugh with locally written comedy. Everything produced by Channel Surfing Productions, from sketch to past shows like ‘UnderAchievers’ and ‘PMS’, are all locally written. We hope to start producing some more plays under the Project G Force banner. 

Q. Does your company have a Board of Directors and paid Staff? 

We do not. We are just a bunch of friends who can barely decide where to meet for dinner.

Q. Tell me about your 2025-2026 Season. Does it have any underlying theme? 

We just finished a show this year called Stage Fright and are currently preparing a show for 2026, which will be our 20th Anniversary together. We tend to do one show a year to give everyone time to work on other theatre or comedy projects. Currently, Thomas is in the improv group Shut the Front Door, Norah is in The Front Page: SCOOPED at the Palace Theatre, and Matt Loop is currently on Jack1023 and has helped promote several recent theatre shows on Afternoons with Loop. 

Q. Do you have any thoughts about the London area theatre community and your part in it? 

It’s amazing to see the theatre community start to rebound after those years “we shall not speak of.”   The community goes in cycles, and it seems that it is starting to upswing with a great mix of exciting new companies (young and old), and diverse performers. It’s also nice to see actors who we haven’t seen in a while starting to get back on the stage, and it’s great to see some locally written works starting to get produced again. We would like to see more collaboration and promotion done for the theatre scene, as London is growing and so should the audiences, as long as we can reach them. The members of Project G Force have been around for a while and have loved being part of the local theatre scene, whether that be performing or in other productions. We are also getting older and don’t want to break anything. 

Follow Project G Force on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/projectgforce

Follow on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/projectgforcesketch/

Introducing The Palace Theatre Arts Commons

by Richard Young

This is the thirteenth in a series of Q&A Profiles of London area theatre companies and groups. Today, we profile the Palace Theatre Arts Commons.

Q. When was your company founded? By whom and why? 

London Community Players (LCP) were founded in 1974. London Youth Theatre Education (LYTE) in 2012. Palace Theatre Arts Commons (PTAC) was formed in 2020, and the London Fringe Festival joined us then.

Q. Is your company best described as professional or not-for-profit community theatre? Or both? 

Non-profit community theatre

Q. What venue(s) do you use to stage your productions? 

David Long Stage (350-seat auditorium) and Procunier Hall (75-seat backbox theatre)

Q. Does your company have a Mission or Statement of Purpose? 

We believe everyone who wants to be entertained, provoked, inspired, or moved by theatre should be afforded the opportunity to do so.

We inspire and nurture individuals through volunteer and educational experiences in theatrical production and management.

We support and promote theatrical youth programs. In conjunction with our partners, we produce, present, and promote high-quality, affordable, entertaining theatrical experiences.

We provide extensive theatre resources for the broader community. We own and manage a heritage venue that is a destination of choice and is available to host a wide variety of cultural and community events.

We create opportunities in the performing arts for everyone in our community.

Q. Does your company have a Board of Directors and paid staff?

Board of 13 members and paid staff of 2 full-time and 2 part-time.

Q. Tell me about your 2025-2026 Season. Does it have any underlying theme? 

London Community Players – Mainstage (David Long Stage)

The Front Page: SCOOPED
September 25 – October 5, 2025

    The Rocky Horror Show
    October 23- November 1, 2025
    Co-production with InFuse Productions

      Deathtrap
      November 27 – December 7, 2025

        Urinetown: The Musical
        February 19 – March 1, 2026

          Mamma Mia!
          May 28-June 7, 2026

            London Community Players – Procunier Hall (Black Box)

            Three Tall Women
            October 16 – 26, 2025

            Closer
            February 5-15,  2026

            Harris Cashes Out
            March 5-15, 2026

            The Family Creetin
            with Banished by the King Productions
            April 16-25, 2026

              London Youth Theatre Education (LYTE)

              Junior Musicals (ages 8–13)

              Elf Jr. – December 19–21, 2025

              Junie B. the Musical Jr. – January 2026

                Senior Musicals (ages 14–18)

                Mean Girls High School Version – March 2026

                Anne of Green Gables: The Musical – March 2026

                Q. Do you have any thoughts about the London area theatre community and your part in it? 

                No response was given.

                For more information about the Palace Theatre Arts Commons and to purchase tickets, visit https://palacetheatre.ca/

                Follow on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/atthepalacetheatre/photos

                Follow on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/atthepalace/

                Follow LYTE on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lyteatthepalace/

                Introducing The London Performing Arts Academy

                by Richard Young

                This is the ninth in a series of Q&A Profiles with London area theatre companies and groups. Today, we profile the London Performing Arts Academy (LPAA).

                Q. When was your company founded? By whom and why? 

                Renée and Courtney Murray founded the company in December 2019, with one high school cast of 14 students. 

                We wanted to provide a professional level of training for young people and make it affordable and accessible to people who may not otherwise have been able to be involved. We make sure our students feel included in the process and also learn what it is like to be part of a professional theatre production.

                (Pictured: Courtney Murray)

                Q. Is your company best described as professional or not-for-profit community theatre? Or both? 

                Not-for-profit, Community Theatre and Youth Performing Arts training in dance, vocals, and acting 

                Q. What venue(s) do you use to stage your productions? 

                We used to use The Wolf Performance Hall, but we just built our own 130-seat venue, so they will be at 3-80 Bessemer Road now, in the LPAA Family Theatre

                Q. Does your company have a Mission or Statement of Purpose? 

                We want everyone to have the opportunity to experience the world of Musical theatre and fine arts. We strive to create and maintain an inviting, inclusive community where our students have growth and performance opportunities while enjoying their love of theatre. 

                Q. Does your company have a Board of Directors and paid Staff? 

                Yes

                Q. Tell me about your 2025-2026 Season. Does it have any underlying theme? 

                This is a new year, a new direction for us. We have just built a 130-seat Performance venue in our new location. We are adding more programs and look forward to welcoming new families. We are adding programs as young as “mom and tot” and adding homeschool day programs to accommodate the needs of more families in the community.

                Q. What show(s) will you be staging this fall (September to December)? Could you tell me a little bit about each?

                Our first production is in December, presented by our Senior Company. They will be performing Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods. We have two very talented casts of High School Students. The show will run for ten days. 

                In January, we will be presenting Mary Poppins, and then in February, we will be presenting our Community Theatre Production of The Little Mermaid. Up next in May-June, we have Legally Blonde presented by our Seniors, Beetlejuice presented by our Juniors, and Alice in Wonderland presented by our Minis.

                Q. Do you have any thoughts about the London area theatre community and your part in it? 

                London is a city rich in talented people with a passion for the arts. We love watching theatre here, and we love being able to produce theatre here. 

                LPAA has been a proud supporter and sponsor of many community theatre and youth programs. The city has a place for all of us, offering various programs, training, and classes to both our students and patrons, and we love being part of that beautiful community.  

                For more information about London Performing Arts Academy, visit https://londonperformingartsacademy.ca/

                You can follow LAPA on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/londonperformingartsacademy.ca/photos

                Introducing Ingersoll Theatre Of Performing Arts (ITOPA).

                by Richard Young

                This is the seventh in a series of Q&A Profiles of London area theatre companies and groups. Today, we profile the Ingersoll Theatre of the Performing Arts (ITOPA).

                Q. When was your company founded? By whom and why?  

                In 1976, a group of people began meeting to explore the possibility of setting up a community theatre. A set of by-laws was drawn up, a name chosen, a logo designed, and ITOPA was incorporated under the Charitable Organizations Act.

                Q. Is your company best described as professional or not-for-profit community theatre? Or both?  

                ITOPA is a volunteer, non-professional community theatre company that provides live entertainment in the form of music, plays, and other events. 

                Q. What venue(s) do you use to stage your productions?  

                In the fall of 1980, ITOPA moved to its present location, 88 Thames Street South, Ingersoll, ON.

                Q. Does your company have a Mission or Statement of Purpose?  

                ITOPA is a theatre of and for our community. We are committed to connecting, inspiring, and enriching everyone who we welcome into our safe space. ITOPA believes that theatre is an essential component of life and that every aspect should be available to all. Through contact, involvement, and exposure to the arts, we utilize the power of the theatre environment to foster inclusion, expression, and positivity for our entire community.

                Q. Does your company have a Board of Directors and paid staff?   

                ITOPA is run by a volunteer board of directors who are selected from the membership.

                Q. Tell me about your 2025-2026 Season. Does it have any underlying theme?  

                The only theme for the 2025-2026 season is FUN!

                Q. What show(s) will you be staging this fall (September to December)? Tell me a little bit about each. 

                7-10 Split

                By Michael G Wilmot

                October 10, 11, 12*, 16, 17, 18*, 19*

                Showtime: 7:30pm

                *indicates Matinee performance 2:00pm

                Since his aspirations to be a pro bowler went off the rails, Earl has tried one get rich quick scheme after another.

                This time, things are different when a rich Count from the Internet has offered him money to help save his fortune.

                What could possibly go wrong?

                Inspecting Carol

                By Daniel Sullivan

                December 12, 13, 14*, 18, 19, 20*, 21*
                Showtime: 7:30pm
                *indicates Matinee performance 2:00pm

                A Christmas Carol meets The Government Inspector meets Noises Off in this hilarious hit from Seattle.

                A man who asks to audition at a small theater is mistaken for an informer for the National Endowment for the Arts.

                Everyone caters to the bewildered wannabe actor, and he is given a role in the current production, A Christmas Carol.

                Everything goes wrong and hilarity is piled upon hilarity. Perfect anytime, this delight is particularly appropriate at Christmas.

                Bingo!

                By Daniel MacIvor

                March 6, 7, 8*, 12, 13, 14*, 15*
                Showtime: 7:30pm
                *indicates Matinee performance 2:00pm

                 Five classmates come together for their 30th high-school reunion.

                Some see it as a welcome trip home, while others see it as an obligation, and a few never even left.

                But as the night wears on, the one-time classmates start to reconnect and reminisce.

                And the more alcohol that’s consumed, the closer the friends come to confronting their darkest secrets.

                The Drowsy Chaperone

                Music and Lyrics By Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison
                Book by Bob Martin and Don McKellar

                May 29, 30, 31*
                June 4, 5, 6*, 7*
                Showtime: 7:30pm
                *indicates Matinee performance 2:00pm

                With the house lights down, a man in a chair appears on stage and puts on his favorite record: the cast recording of a 1928 musical.

                The recording comes to life, and The Drowsy Chaperone begins as the man in the chair looks on.

                Mix in two lovers on the eve of their wedding, a bumbling best man, a desperate theatre producer, a not-so-bright hostess, two gangsters posing as pastry chefs, a misguided Don Juan, and an intoxicated chaperone, and you have the ingredients for an evening of madcap delight.

                Winner of five Tony Awards, including Best Book and Best Original Score, The Drowsy Chaperone is a loving send-up of the Golden Age musical, featuring one show-stopping song and dance number after another.

                For more information and to purchase tickets, visit https://www.itopa.ca/

                Follow ITOPA on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ingersolltheatre

                Introducing Banished By The King Productions.

                by Richard Young

                This is the fifth in a series of Q&A Interviews with representatives of London area theatre companies and groups. Today, we interview Sean Brennan of Banished By The King Productions.

                (Who is The Banished Guy? The Banished Guy was originally drawn by Sean Brennan in Grade 3. You can easily tell by the crooked smile, misshapen ears, and lumpy eyes why the King would banish this guy.)

                Q. When was your company founded? By whom and why?

                Our company was founded in 2009 as a dream to continue to produce, write, and act in shows after graduating from university. Many of our original and founding members attended King’s University College, and thus, once our studies were over, we became Banished By The King. Over the years, the group has morphed and grown to include the talents of many members of London’s thriving community theatre scene.

                (Pictured: Sean Brennan, Banished By The King Productions)

                Q. Is your company best described as professional or not-for-profit community theatre? Or both?

                We are a community theatre group.

                Q. What venue(s) do you use to stage your productions?

                As of 2019, we have been producing at Procunier Hall at The Palace Theatre. Previously, we produced our work at The Arts Project. As of 2024, we have become the Theatre Company in Residence at the Palace Theatre Arts Commons.

                Q. Does your company have a Mission or Statement of Purpose?

                We create original and unique theatre experiences for our audiences. Since 2009, we have produced eighteen full productions and staged readings, and will continue to push ourselves as artists and creative people.

                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?

                We will be remounting a previously successful production of The Family Creetin by Patrick Brennan in April 2026 at the Palace Theatre.

                Q. What show(s) will you be staging this fall (September to December)? Tell me a little bit about each.

                Our auditions for The Family Creetin booked up quickly, and the wait list continues to grow. Keep your eyes open as we’re hoping to have another staged reading or fundraising event in the fall. Check out banishedproductions.ca for all upcoming news.

                Q. Do you have any thoughts about the London area theatre community and your place in it?

                The London Theatre community is a vibrant tapestry that encompasses many differing groups, ideas, and organizations. With an aim to entertaining and enlightening audiences, we look forward to contributing to that tapestry and reflecting our original and unique community in our work.

                For more information and to purchase tickets, visit https://banishedproductions.ca/

                Follow Banished By The King on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/banishedbytheking

                And on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/banishedbytheking/

                Feature Story: Introducing London and Area Theatre Companies and Groups

                by Richard Young

                The Beat Magazine was London’s premier independent arts print magazine from 2009 to 2013. After a long hiatus (nine years!), I reactivated its website as The Beat Magazine 2025 in late July.

                My reason for doing so is straightforward. My goal is to gather together in one place the local arts and culture news that the mainstream London media outlets no longer seem interested in covering, unless there are exorbitant advertising dollars involved.

                Since going live online, thebeatmagazine2025.ca has published Weekly Arts & Culture listings, Q&A Interviews with local musicians and artists, Media Releases about local Arts & Culture events, reprinted theatre Reviews from Entertain This Thought, and other general arts news, most of which has not been reported in the local media.

                In mid-August, I invited all known active London and area theatre companies – community and professional – to participate in a Feature Story profiling them and their 2025-2026 seasons. Each company/group was sent a generic Questionnaire designed to enable me to gather the necessary information. Most (but, unfortunately, not all) responded with the information I was seeking.

                Some companies/groups had lots to say, others not so much.

                In light of this, I have decided to organize the responses in a Q&A format using the eight Guide Questions I sent to the companies.

                Over the next couple of weeks, I will be posting a new Local Theatre Q&A every other day.

                Posts will appear alphabetically, beginning with London’s AlvegoRoot Theatre.

                AlvegoRoot Theatre – Telling local stories and creating local theatre of Southwestern Ontario. An Interview with Adam Corrigan Holowitz.

                Q When was your company founded? By whom and why? 

                AlvegoRoot Theatre was founded in 2009 by Adam Corrigan Holowitz. Over our first three seasons, we found our mission to develop local plays which speak directly and meaningfully to London and the Souwesto Region.

                Q Is your company best described as professional or not-for-profit community theatre?  

                AlvegoRoot is a professional theatre ensemble that primarily focuses on presenting local plays and supporting new play development. A quick note of clarification: not-for-profit vs non-profit. I am not a tax expert by any means, so I may not have the finer points down, but a non-profit exists for the advancement of social good (this can include clubs or recreational organizations) whereas a not-for-profit means any organization that does not have shareholders or an owner to benefit directly based on revenue. Almost all theatres in Canada operate on a not-for-profit basis, meaning they do not have shareholders. This includes most professional theatres. The artists and employees being paid for their labour does not make the venture for one. There are very few commercial for-profit theatres in Canada; Mirvish is the most notable. So, the distinction I generally make is between professional theatre and community/amateur theatre. Both are important, and both take different kinds of sacrifice.

                Q Does AlvegoRoot Theatre have a Mission or Statement of Purpose? 

                Telling Local Stories, Creating Local Theatre

                London Ontario’s AlvegoRoot Theatre supports the work of local playwrights and puts local stories onstage. 2025 marks AlvegoRoot Theatre’s 17th Season. Over those 17 seasons we have produced over 67 productions, 29 of which were world premieres of local plays. At The Manor Park Memorial Hall, AlvegoRoot presents theatre year-round, dedicated to providing a range of dynamic theatre experiences for audiences and supporting the growth of professional regional theatre makers.

                Q What venue(s) do you use to stage your productions? 

                Our home base is The Manor Park Memorial Hall, where we present plays and special events year-round. We are honoured to manage and develop The Manor Park Memorial Hall into a performing arts venue that hosts the work of theatre artists and musicians from across our city. We also produce a summer production annually in June or July at Fanshawe Pioneer Village. We have been partnering with Fanshawe Pioneer Village since 2014.

                Q Does your company have a Board of Directors and paid Staff?

                Adam Corrigan Holowitz is the Artistic Director of AlvegoRoot Theatre, and Kydra Ryan is the Associate Artistic Director.

                Q Tell me about your 2025-2026 Season. Does it have any underlying theme?

                This season, our three mainstage productions, Medical Wonder, London Fog, and Sleigh Without Bells, have all had an overarching elemental theme of fire. The characters in each play must reconcile with humanity’s ability to create the means for destruction. In Medical Wonder, the character of Dr. Imogen Volek chooses between using her medical research as a means for healing or a means to create a biological weapon. In London Fog, the characters of Victoria and Albert use arson to disrupt and disturb the elite of Edwardian London. Finally, in Sleigh Without Bells, the massacre of the Donnelly Family of Biddulph is central to the play.

                Q What show(s) will you be staging this fall? Tell me a little bit about each. 

                This fall, we present Sleigh Without Bells: A Donnellys Story by James Reaney (October 22) and a theatrical concert version of Colleening: The Letters and Poetry of Colleen Thibaudeau (Nov 7 – 9).

                About Sleigh Without Bells:
                Lost in a blizzard, a young man finds himself at the Donnelly farmstead, the one place his father warned him not to tread. Now entangled in the darkest period in the lives of the Donnellys, his own life is in danger.

                Written by James Reaney
                Directed by Kydra Ryan
                Performed by Adam Corrigan Holowitz.

                About Colleening:
                Going COLLEENING is always an adventure for the friends of the great London poet Colleen Thibaudeau. You never know where you may end up. Her letters and poems create a captivating journey through childhood memories, home life, and Canadian culture.

                Featuring songs based on her poems by Oliver Whitehead and Stephen Holowitz, this theatrical concert celebrates a seminal figure in Canadian literature with all the playful intensity and tender wit for which Colleen was known.

                Directed and Created by Adam Corrigan Holowitz
                Text by Colleen Thibaudeau
                Music by Oliver Whitehead and Stephen Holowitz
                Music Direction by Stephen Holowitz
                Featuring Katy Clark, Paul Grambo, Kydra Ryan

                This concert version of Colleening is part of Colleening 2025, a grassroots celebration of the centenary of acclaimed London poet Colleen Thibaudeau (1925-2012).

                Q Do you have any thoughts about the London area theatre community and your part in it? 

                AlvegoRoot strives to create productions and events where our community can have meaningful interactions with live theatre. A goal of our work is to nurture rich relationships between the audiences, the artists, and the plays in a space where all members of the community can feel welcomed, needed, and comfortable to engage with theatre that tells our local stories and speaks to our local community.

                The Souwesto arts movement, of which James Reaney and Colleen Thibaudeau were prominent members, greatly influences our work. The use of local stories, people, and geography is central to AlvegoRoot. Reaney’s playwriting influences me through aesthetics, poetry, and symbolism to tell local stories. Thibaudeau’s ability to saturate her poetry with local and personal details has influenced our writing and theatre-making. While a wide range of writers and theatre artists influence our work, Reaney and Thibaudeau’s work continues to influence AlvegoRoot on a spiritual level more than any other artists.

                For more information about AlvegoRoot Theatre and to purchase tickets, visit https://www.alvegoroottheatre.com/

                You can also follow AlvegoRoot Theatre on Facebook and Instagram.

                The Palace Theatre’s Save Our Stage FUNdraiser a huge success

                by Richard Young

                Members of London’s theatre community came out in force at the Palace Theatre on Saturday night, September 6, to help one of their own.

                Organized by Director Mariann Sawyer, the Save OurStage FUNdraiser was held to raise money for badly needed immediate repairs to the historic Palace Theatre.

                “From a leaky roof dripping into our props basement, to pipes clogged with tree roots, some long-overdue painting and day-to-day wear and tear — we’re facing a short-term need of about $10,000 just to keep things running safely and smoothly,” said Mariann.

                To be sure, it was a wonderful night of entertainment and an illustration of the abundance of amazing, talented performers London is home to.

                Participants ranged in age from the young members of the Palace’s LYTE program to members of Silver Spotlight Theatre, a group of individuals fifty-five years and older dedicated to producing Broadway musical productions.

                Acts that graced the stage included the London Chorus, Pink Pony Club Experience, Caterpillar Chain, The Bohemians Choir, Three Worst Pies (Niccole Alcaidinho, Melissa Metler, and Ceris Thomas), Silver Spotlight Theatre, and The Improvables. Soloists and duos included Joanna Makinson, McKenna Langdon, Lesley Andrew, Rosalie Mattison, Jared Brown, Olivia Power, Kiefer & Grady Maclean, Edgar Yanez, Andrew Olmstead (who delighted the audience with his magic), Jenn Marino, Angie Jansen, Carol Taylor-Wilks, and Kate Milner.

                The appreciative audience gave the performers several well-deserved standing ovations throughout the evening

                According to Mariann, over one hundred people were involved in bringing the show to the stage.

                Over twenty items were generously donated by community members and businesses in and around London. Everything from experiences to custom-made items was up for grabs.

                It was nice to see so many members of the city’s arts community there to support their peers and lend support to the historic Palace Theatre. The arts are alive and well in London!

                For more information about the Palace Arts Commons and the theatre’s 2025-26 Season, visit https://palacetheatre.ca/

                Palace Theatre holding Save Our Stage FUNdraiser, Sept. 6.

                by Richard Young

                London’s historic Palace Theatre is badly in need of immediate repairs to the aging facility. The Beat Magazine 2009 spoke with Director, Mariann Sawyer, about the September 6th Save Our Stage FUNdraiser. What follows is a Q&A with Mariann. The interview has been edited for length and clarity.

                Why is the Palace Theatre holding the Save Our Stage Fundraiser? 

                The Palace Theatre Arts Commons is hosting the Save Our Stage FUNdraiser to raise money for immediate repairs to the historic Palace Theatre.

                Can you clarify the specific details of the event? Date? Time? Admission Cost? 

                The Save Our Stage campaign kicks off with the FUNdraiser on Saturday, September 6 at 7:30pm. Tickets are available at the palacetheatre.ca for $35

                What specific repairs are required for the facility?

                 From a leaky roof dripping into our props basement, to pipes clogged with tree roots, some long-overdue painting and day-to-day wear and tear — we’re facing a short-term need of about $10,000 just to keep things running safely and smoothly. 

                Can you identify some of the specific acts and performers who will take the stage on September 6th? 

                We are looking at close to 30 different acts for the evening with a variety of backgrounds and talents. Members of the LYTE program, Silver Spotlight Theatre, The Artful Players, The London Chorus, Caterpillar Chain, The Improvables, Andrew Olmstead and Leonardo Martins, and cast members of Infuse Production and LCP’s Rocky Horror including Olivia Power, Jared Brown, McKenna Langdon, Aidan Coutts and Jenn Marino just to name a few! 

                Can you tell me about tour Silent Auction?

                We have over twenty items generously donated by community members and businesses around London and area. Everything from experiences to custom-made items are up for grabs. We will accept cash or e-transfer for payment and the bidding closes at the end of the intermission! 

                What is your specific role in putting Save Our Stage together? 

                I am listed as the Director, but really I’m just the one who said, “Let’s do it”. Everyone has come together to make this night magical and a night for the community to celebrate the arts together. 

                Have any community partners come forward to help with the event? 

                We’ve been very fortunate to have members of the OEV BIA, The Bicycle Cafe, Fanshawe College, London Comic Con, AlvegoRoot Theatre, and many community members support us for this event! 

                Is there anything else you think readers should know about Save Our Stage?

                Tickets are selling quickly, and seats are general admission. 

                For more information and tickets visit: https://palacetheatre.ca/shows-events-listing/