This production contains mature language.
This production contains mature language.
I don’t remember where the idea for a play about birdwatching came from. But I do know that I was looking for something completely different from what I have written in my previous seventy plays.
I started with two ‘birders’ who have decided to form an official birdwatching club in order to get a break on the admission fee to the national park which they frequent. And as usually happens, the story grew from there. The play is about three nice people who find each other through birdwatching. Each one of them is facing a loss of some kind, and learning about their loss is central to the story. In fact, it is the story.
- Norm Foster
Norm Foster has been called Canada’s preeminent comic playwright and is the most produced playwright in the history of the country.
Halifax Chronicle-Herald columnist Ron Foley writes, “Foster’s stage writing remains one of Canada’s greatest theatrical treasures”, and The Calgary Herald describes him as "one of the funniest writers of intelligent comedy in Canadian theatre today."
In 2016, Norm was appointed as an Officer of the Order of Canada, the highest civilian honour in the nation.
He has 74 plays to his credit including The Love List, Ethan Claymore’s Christmas, The Foursome, Screwball Comedy, Wrong For Each Other, Outlaw, Hilda’s Yard, Lunenburg, and Mending Fences.
Mr. Foster is the recipient of the Los Angeles Drama-Logue Award for his play, The Melville Boys and in 2009 he was a finalist for the Premier's Award For Excellence In The Arts.
David is enjoying his 24th season as Artistic Director of your theatre. David continues to share his extensive theatre experience and unparalleled professionalism, having directed more than 80 plays and musicals here at Theatre Orangeville. He remains passionately dedicated to the creation, development and production of Canadian theatrical works that enrich, entertain and deepen our understanding of ourselves as a community, as a people and as a nation.
As we continue to embrace our role in the vital conversation that will bring about systemic and lasting change in our community and in our theatre company, David continues to listen, learn and grow by seeking guidance and personal mentorship from BIPOC industry leaders / creators. He leads by example, inspires with vision and enthusiasm, and nurtures lasting community partnerships.
Reid is excited to make his Theatre Orangeville debut!
Selected theatre: My Hero (Port Stanley Festival Theatre), Toronto Circus Riot (Lookup Theatre), One Night Only – The Greatest Musical Never Written (Kliffer Ent.), The Little Mermaid (Ross Petty Productions).
Selected TV: Murdoch Mysteries, The Boys, American Gods, Private Eyes, Orphan Black, Odd Squad and dozens of commercials. Reid is an alumnus of The Second City, where he wrote and performed in multiple Canadian Comedy Award winning revues.
Big thanks and lots of love to David, Norm, this dynamite cast and crew, Lucy, Everett, Lynise and all the Janeedys.
Theatre Orangeville debut.
Theatre: Seven seasons with The Stratford Festival, six seasons with Drayton Entertainment, five seasons with Videocabaret, and Thousand Islands Playhouse, and has worked with Theatre Aquarius, Neptune theatre, Globe Regina, Theatre Kingston, Cleveland Playhouse, Cincinnatti Playhouse in the Park, New York Shakespeare Exchange, National Arts Centre, and Soulpepper.
Film/TV/Voice: Mayday, The Stranger Experiment (Crave original), Fireman Sam (US cast), The Martian Chronicles (BBC), TURN (AMC).
Upcoming: Sound of Music (Drayton Entertainment).
Jacob is a graduate of The National Theatre School, Birmingham Conservatory (Stratford Festival), and York U’s Teaching Artist Program.
Insta: @jacoboneilljames, YouTube: Theatre Curation Project (please subscribe).
Theatre Orangeville: Come Down From Up River, Off The Grid, A Christmas Story, Anne
Other Theatre: A Belly Full, Noises Off (Theatre Aquarius), The Melville Boys (Red Barn), Go Forth and Multiply (Summerworks), The Dispute (Toronto Fringe), Too Many Cooks (Lighthouse Festival Theatre), Saltwater Moon (Bluewater Playhouse), Book of Days* (Theatremanation), Last of The Red Hot Lovers (Victoria Playhouse), Waiting for Godot, Taming of the Shrew (Shakespeare by the Sea), Lion in Winter (Theatre&Company)
Film/TV: Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Luckiest Girl Alive, Titans, Mary Kills People, Celine, Mayday, The 11th Hour
Training: BFA University of Windsor
Et cetera: *Dora nomination
Specializing in design and building, Beckie has held positions in multiple venues including Props Master, Head of Carpentry, Project Manager, Technical Director, and Production Manager. She has been part of Theatre Orangeville’s family for over a decade. Working as a Scenic Designer and Production Manager offer completely different creative opportunities and Beckie is grateful to be surrounded by such a skilled and dedicated team, who are always up to tackling the daily challenges that make working in live professional theatre so exciting.
Her recent designs have been seen at Lighthouse Festival Theatre, The Capitol Theatre, Victoria Playhouse PEI and of course, at Theatre Orangeville, her home stage. Beckie has a passion for mentoring youth both in and out of the workplace. She lives in Orangeville with her beautiful family who support her in just about every crazy idea.
Rebecca is delighted to be back at Theatre Orangeville. Lighting designs for Theatre Orangeville include Jonas and Barry, Sugar Road and Same Time Next Year.
Bio Coming Soon
Select theatre credits include: Caroline or Change, The Wild Party (Dora Nominee), Grey Gardens (Dora Nominee), Onegin, and Next To Normal, (Dora Nominee); Musical Stage Co., To Life, The Jazz Singer and Brighton Beach Memoirs; The Harold Green Jewish Theatre , Mary Poppins, Mamma Mia and Beauty and the Beast; Port Hope Capitol Theatre.
As always, thanks to Carmen for saving my life.
Jory McLean has been working as a Stage Manager for the past six years and is thrilled to be back at Theatre Orangeville this season. It's an exciting feeling to be back in the room and creating theatre, especially for a live audience.
Selected credits include Where You Are, The Gentleman Clothier, Miracle on 34th Street (Theatre Orangeville), Five Alarm, Halfway There (Port Stanley Festival Theatre), Shear Madness (Drayton Entertainment).
"It's good to be back."
Selected Stage Management Credits: It Runs in the Family – Drayton Entertainment, 1812 – The Foster Festival, 20 Seasons with Drayton Entertainment, Suds – Carousel Productions, Steel Magnolias – Stage 237, Separate Beds – Stage 237, The Foursome, Stage West: Mississauga and The Gayety Theatre, Blue Suede Shoes: Memories of the King – C2 Productions/Theatre Orangeville, Godspell – North American Tour, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels – North American Tour.
Love and special mention to Jessica for being along for the ride.
This is Frances Johnsons Orangeville debut. Frances is currently working on her apprentice credits as she pursues a career in stage management. Her past stage management experience includes It Runs in the Family (Drayton Entertainment), 1812 (Foster Festival), and Seagulls (Shaw Festival).
Lisa is an experienced Technical Director, Carpenter, Scenic Artist, and Fabricator, working on countless shows over her 15 year career spanning across Southern Ontario, the East Coast and abroad. Lisa also dabbles in props, wardrobe, electrics and furniture making/upholstery when the skill is needed.
Beyond her love for her craft, Lisa is most passionate about education, enrichment through the arts and mentorship. She is incredibly proud of the of emerging designers and technicians work on this project, and endlessly grateful for the opportunity to work with this incredible team of creators.
Dan is in his fifth professional season here at Theatre Orangeville. With two years of experience as Opera House Technician, Dan has moved into the position of Assistant Technical Director. He is now closely involved with set construction and sound design. Dan has a background in Technical Production and freelances as an AV Technician in his spare time.
Clare is thrilled to be joining the Theatre Orangeville team after completing her education at Sheridan College in the Technical Production program. Clare’s passion for theatre was fostered through a co-op placement at Theatre Orangeville in 2018. Now, as a young professional with skills focused in props, carpentry and scenic paint, Clare is looking to expand on her skill set with the guidance of her Theatre Orangeville family.
Sarah is a muti-talented theatre technician. She has done everything from technical direction to designing sets and lights, to carpentry, paint, and props for more shows than she can count. Sarah has also taught stage craft skills to the students at the Theatre and Drama Studies program at UTM/Sheridan collage.
It is always a great joy to work at Theatre Orangeville. "I have been coming and going here for almost 20 years now, and I so appreciate that I am always welcomed back home."
Theatre Orangeville is a member of the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres (PACT) and engages under the terms of the Canadian Theatre Agreement, professional Artists who are members of the Canadian Actors’ Equity Association.
Ricky is a Canadian artist born in Brampton, Ontario in 1993. His love of animals, nature, and fantasy is rooted in his early childhood, and serves as the foundation of his paintings and drawings. He works as an artist, art instructor, and community arts advocate in the small town of Orangeville, Ontario, Canada. Ricky is self-taught but is always seeking new artistic knowledge and exploring new mediums, to expand his understanding and hone his craft. Current projects include writing and illustrating a children's picture book, and creating a new body of artwork including several large scale oil and acrylic paintings.
For more on Ricky and his work visit: https://www.rickyschaede.com/
Masking Mandate: Theatre Orangeville is continuing with our mandatory masking policy in the venue to protect our unmasked artists on stage. The health of our team and artists, and you - our valued patrons and supporters, is of the utmost priority to us. Losing an artist to illness not only means the health of the individual is compromised, but our production is too - and so is the financial viability of our charitable organization. Please note artists who unmask on stage have supplied a negative Rapid Antigen Test. Thank you for doing your part to keep our artists healthy and our Theatre company alive and vibrant!