Our Valuable Team Members

Erica AngusExecutive Director

Erica came to us at Theatre Collingwood in 2013 as Executive Director. Prior to working for Theatre Collingwood, Erica was the Associate Producer for Theatre by the Bay in Barrie. Erica brings with her a wealth of experience in the arts and culture sector. She was a board member for Tourism Barrie for 6 years, with a special focus on marketing and collaborating with hoteliers, restaurants and the arts community, to attract tourists. Erica was a founding member of Barrie’s “Lawn Chair Luminata” (arts festival) and was on the Downtown Community Theatre Advisory Group where she played a key role in the development of Barrie’s Five Points Center for the Performing Arts. She coordinated a highly successful program that toured the region to over 25 schools each year, teaching students about the works of William Shakespeare. Collingwood has really become Erica’s second home, and she is passionate about creating an Arts & Culture Hub in Collingwood in a new Centre for the Arts. Erica has worked with The South Georgian Bay Institute and was a contributor to their report: THE POWER OF ARTS AND CULTURE: A Strategy for Southern Georgian Bay and Beyond. She is a founding member of the South Georgian Bay Arts Network and the Collingwood Arts, Culture & Entertainment Group (working diligently to have a much needed, purpose built, performing arts centre built in Collingwood). During the pandemic she curated an outdoor festival called The Porchside Festival, which is now in its third year and has taken on a life of its own, bringing much entertainment and happiness to the community. Erica is thrilled to have such a great team to work with at Theatre Collingwood, including the staff, volunteers and board members. It is her belief that the arts is not just ” the icing on the cake”. It is the “cake stand, the counter it sits on, and the house it is in”. Ask her why! erica@theatrecollingwood.ca

Anne RaciunasBox Office Manager

Anne Raciunas has been a part of the Theatre Collingwood team since July of 2014. A graduate of the University of Guelph, Anne has previously worked in hospitality, tourism, children’s programming and balloon twisting. Anne spent the summer of 2007 as Theatre Collingwood’s summer student employee. She has always looked back at her time spent in the railcar box office with great fondness, and is grateful to be an established part of the current Theatre Collingwood family.

Anne spends her free time involved in community theatre as well as independent theatre projects. This has offered her the opportunity to engage in acting, directing, producing and marketing roles. Her other interests include travelling, reading, and sleeping.

Mary Beth SharpeBookkeeper, Volunteer Coordinator

Mary Beth has managed her own bookkeeping business for over eighteen years, representing a variety of clients in Toronto. Having spent many years as “weekenders”, Mary Beth and her husband Peter left their sons in Toronto to retire and become full time residents of the Town of the Blue Mountains in May 2006. Both Mary Beth and Peter now give so much back to their new community by volunteering for Theatre Collingwood, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Meals on Wheels and several social clubs. We thank Mary Beth for her expertise and commitment to TC!

Valerie O'BrienBusiness Development Manager

Valerie O’Brien is delighted to play a role on Theatre Collingwood’s leadership team as the charitable organization’s Business Development Manager. She joined the company after working for other dynamic non-profits, including Concerned Children’s Advertisers and UNICEF, Canada. In her most recent role, Valerie was head of marketing for Drayton Entertainment, and was responsible for the promotion of seven live theatre venues in South Western Ontario.

With strong ties to South Georgian Bay, she relocated to Collingwood with her husband and their toddler in 2015 because they wanted to provide their child with the incredible lifestyle and benefits that come with growing-up in our beautiful town. She joined Theatre Collingwood a few years later and now uses her expertise in arts marketing to fundraise for the company.

Making connections with individuals and businesses that want to demonstrate their community support in a way that has lasting benefits is Valerie’s specialty. Through Sponsorship opportunities, she helps businesses reach audiences with their key messages in unique and creative ways. She shows that theatre sponsorship performs more than typical advertising, and she’s always looking for partners in the community who want to bring PLAY back to life!

Valerie also volunteers with South Georgian Bay Tourism Association and is Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors. Please reach out to her if you would like promote your business and help elevate arts and culture in South Georgian Bay!

Linda MilthorpeOutreach & Volunteer Coordinator

Linda has been coming to Collingwood all her life, to take advantage of the wonderful recreation and skiing opportunities. Her family had a year-round cottage at Wasaga Beach for many years. After graduating in Civil Engineering she chose to work with her parents in the health and wellness industry. As the favorite aunt, her gift of choice to her 8 nieces and nephews was to take them to a theatre performance or send them to drama camp. Linda moved to Collingwood full-time in 2011 and started as a volunteer with Theatre Collingwood. She now works as our Outreach & Volunteer Coordinator along with filling the gap wherever needed. In her free time, Linda enjoys gardening, reading, travel, volleyball, slo-pitch and margaritas!

Ginny GilbertDevelopment Assistant

Ginny has been a lover of theatre since she was a teenager, hanging out at the Stage Door of the O’Keefe Centre! While living in Niagara, she worked with Garden City Productions for seven years as a member of their Production Team.

She has a BA in Psychology and Sociology from McMaster University and completed a Certificate in the Fund Raising Program at Humber College while Assistant Director of Alumni Affairs at Brock University.

She moved with her husband to Collingwood 4 years ago and soon after began volunteering with Theatre Collingwood and Gaslight Community Theatre. She feels very privileged to be a part of Theatre Collingwood’s Admin Team, helping to support theatre in her new community.

Special Thanks to our Theatre Advocates!

Monica WilsonBoard Meeting Recording Secretary (non-voting), Administration Assistant (Volunteer)

Monica Wilson is a former CCI English teacher and Library Department Head, who has been working & volunteering for Theatre Collingwood, since retirement in 2008. Her passion for theatre has been satisfied through drama training courses & play-writing workshops. She has performed in 3 Gaslight Tours, as well as other amateur stage productions, including Collingwood’s “Vagina Monologues” (2014). Past community involvement includes: Cub Leader, Public Library trustee, Western Line Dance instructor, and administrator of Chow Rescue Ontario.

Katherine HuyckeEvent Specialist

Katherine Huycke immigrated from Northern Ireland in 1950. Educated and married in Toronto, she moved to Collingwood in 1970 to raise her family in a healthy rural setting. Katherine operated The Cloth Shop of Collingwood for 20 years, Katsue, and Katherine Huycke Int. She is an amazing volunteer for such organizations as: Simcoe Mental Health, YMCA, Trillium Foundation, Theatre Collingwood and Gaslight. Special installations by Katherine include The Hummingbird Center, the King Edward Hotel, Woman’s College Hospital and the refurbishing of the MS Chi Cheemaun. Today she continues to create and divides her time between Collingwood and the south of France.

Hella SandbergPin-up Girl

In 1981 Hella started her professional theatre career as the Wardrobe Designer/Supervisor with the Laughing Waters Festival in Meaford. Her mantra quickly became “I didn’t know that it could not be done, so I did it!” In 1984 she became the Wardrobe Designer for Theatre Collingwood, which was the beginning of her 36 year involvement with the company. Throughout those years she has designed costumes and constructed them, maintained the wardrobe storage, created hair and make-up, stuffed envelopes and put up posters! Her and her beloved husband, Allan, were constant figures in the audience though the years and her love of theatre and the arts is palpable.