Soul Sisters
asouthin2019-02-20T17:34:14+00:00Wednesday, November 20th – Friday, November 22nd 8pm each evening
At The Historic Gayety Theatre
SOUL SISTERS
Created by Chris McHarge & Colin Stewart
Concert & storytelling
Soul Sister’s tells the story of the birth of Soul Music and R&B for women. Starting with Big Mama Thornton, Etta James, Soul Queen Aretha Franklin, and Gladys Knight, through the 60’s and 70’s with Patti LaBelle, Diana Ross and Tammi Terrell. The show also includes the music of Tina Turner, Chaka Kahn, and Janet Jackson.
The show includes two amazing lead singers and Chris & Colin’s outstanding band! These are the folks that brought us the very popular “Rockin’ All Night-Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, & The Big Bopper” show in 2018!
APRIL 25th & 26th at 8pm
AUGUST 20-24 
Beside Myself is Gabrielle’s first appearance for The Foster Festival but she has been fortunate enough to have performed some of Norm Foster’s work elsewhere:
Notable Theatre Credits Include:
Breton is zealous about making her Foster Festival debut, back in the city where she first began her acting career (thanks to all the folks at Garden City Productions!).
Griffin is an actor, writer, musician and composer from Regina, Saskatchewan. He is a recent graduate from Sheridan College’s Bachelor of Music Theatre Performance program.
THURSDAY APRIL 25th at 8pm
ONE STEP AT A TIME
Girls Nite Out is an all-female, all funny, mix of stand-up and improv comedy. Led by the fearless & fabulous, Elvira Kurt, these Canadian Comedy Award Winners, CBC darlings and Second City alumni will make you laugh and cry (tears of laughter!) as they celebrate womanhood. Audience participation is encouraged, so grab your friends and join Theatre Collingwood for a fun-filled evening!
Elvira Kurt is a Canadian Comedy Award-winning, Cannes Film Festival award winning (Real Women Seen), Toronto Fringe Festival Patron’s Pick (Parallel Play), sold out multi-solo show performing (Funny AF, Fearless, Homosexual Panic, Fired Up) and CSA nominated stand-up comic and Second City veteran whose credits as star, host, guest, writer and or talent director are simply far too many to mention. Except for these: Baroness Von Sketch Show, Iron Chef Canada, The Great Canadian Baking Show (Canadian Screen Award nominee), Master Chef Canada, SpinOff, NickMom Night Out NYC, The Debaters, Degrassi, YTV’s The Game, George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight, Cook’d, Popcultured with Elvira Kurt, Four Weddings Canada, Best House, The Gayest Show Ever, This Hour Has 22 Minutes, Ellen DeGeneres’ HBO special, Just For Laughs, Winnipeg, Halifax, Sydney and Melbourne Comedy Festivals and, of course, Elvira’s unforgettable stint on both of CBC Radio’s hit show, ‘Q’ and, ‘q’.
Jennine Profeta is a performer, writer, corporate workshop facilitator and MC/host. She has performed with The Second City (National Touring Company, Theatricals) across Ontario and aboard Norwegian Cruise Lines in the Mediterranean and Caribbean. As a writer, Jennine has penned scripts for television – Ollie The Boy Who Became What He Ate (CBC), Opie’s Home (TVO), Gemini and Genie Awards, and CBC Radio, and waxed poetic for Chatelaine, Today’s Parent and Best Health magazines. She’s appeared in numerous commercials and summer theatre productions, and was a principal player in Howie Mandel’s “Howie Do It” for NBC. She’s thrilled to be back with her sister act, Girls Nite Out, now entering it’s 12th (!!!) year.
Diana Frances is an award-winning improviser and comedy writer. Originally from Vancouver, she now calls Toronto home and is a writer on Corner Gas: The Animated Series (Comedy Network,) Still Standing (CBC) and The Beaverton (Comedy Network.) Diana has been nominated for 8 Canadian Comedy Awards for ‘Best Female Improviser’ and has entertained our Canadian troops in Bosnia, Egypt, Israel and Afghanistan
Karen is a three-time Canadian Comedy Award winning/Dora nominated actor and an alumnae of the Second City Toronto Mainstage (Facebook of Revelations, Tazed and Confused, Barack to the Future). She has Assistant Directed two MainStage shows, was Director of the National Touring Company , Family Co. and House Co. She has performed with theatre companies across Canada. Selected film and television credits include: Designated Survivor, People of Earth, Baroness Von Sketch Show, Hemlock Grove, Beauty & The Beast, The Firm, Saving Hope, Being Erica, The Jon Dore Show and Instant Star. You can currently catch her onstage in the all female sketch revue “She the People”. When not performing she is an acting and improv instructor at the Second City Training Centre and Making Box Theatre. Karen also travels the world teaching and performing with the Lusty Mannequins. The Lusty ’s recently took home the Best of the Fest award at the Toronto Sketch Festival.
Kevin is a celebrated music and drama educator, entertainer, singer/musician and improv actor originally hailing from rural Saskatchewan. He began his music career performing in multiple bands and currently performs bass and background vocals with indie rock band “Nickeltree”. Kevin is a graduate of The Second City Training Centre’s Conservatory Program and was musical director for The Second City Training Centre, Education Company and understudy for the National Touring Company (Canada). He has also served as musical director for the Bad Dog Theatre Company and independent troupes such as Slap Happy and The Kate Ashby Improv Academy. As an educator, Kevin specializes in instrumental/vocal music and the dramatic arts and currently serves the students of the Upper Canada District School Board, recently earning the “Trustees Innovation Award” for Teaching Excellence.
John, Paradises Lost (SummerWorks Festival), and Audrey II in Little Shop of Horrors (Lower Ossington Theatre and T3 productions). Musical Direction credits include A Misfortune (Next Stage Festival), HAIR (FirstAct Productions), One Song Glory ’10 ’11 & ’12 (ActingUp Stage), A Joyful Noise (co-composer/lyricist, Smile Theatre), Mickey & Judy (Toronto Fringe), and bare: the Canadian Premiere (WatersEdge Productions). Chris has also worked as an accompanist and teacher at Sheridan College, Randolph Academy and George Brown College. He has toured extensively with the Nathaniel Dett Chorale as a singer and with Sharron Matthews as an accompanist/arranger (Sharron’s Big Broadway Show, Jesus Thinks I’m Funny, GOLD, Full Dark).
Leah Allyce Canali is a Boston born, Toronto based vocalist with a BA in theatre performance from Northeastern University. Most recently Leah was a featured vocalist in A Very Christerical Christmas Cabaret at, you guessed it, Theatre Collingwood!! She is thrilled to be back for this show! Leah has performed internationally for such companies as Celebrity Cruise Lines, Spirit Entertainment and Pure Energy Entertainment. She has sung for both the Boston Red Sox and the New England Patriots and was a featured singer at the Official Inaugural Ball (Boston) of President Obama. Leah has a successful YouTube channel, that has been featured on NewNowNext, Gay Star News, and the Wow Report. She has performed on the main stage of Pride Toronto with Toronto Drag Legend, Tynomi Banks, opening up for such acts as RuPaul and Brandi! In addition to Toronto Pride, some of Leah’s most notable performances have been at Digital Pride, Mirvish Productions, “Bombshell” and “Limitless” shows, choreographed by Scott Fordham (Nelly Furtado, Deborah Cox), and as a featured vocalist at “Posers” in Los Angeles. Leah also has a bi-weekly residency at Statlers in Toronto’s LGBTQ Village. She is currently the lead vocalist for Toronto based soul band, The St. Royals.
Alexis hails from London, Ontario. Selected theatre credits include four seasons at The Stratford Festival: Virgilia in Coriolanus, The Fantasticks, The Tempest, Sarah Brown in Guys & Dolls, Anne in A Little Night Music, Julie in Carousel, Clara in Passion, The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, The Sound of Music. Mom/Steph/Heather in Hook Up (Tapestry Opera/Theatre Passe Muraille), Belle in A Christmas Carol (Grand Theatre), Sunday in the Park With George (TIFT), The Gravitational Pull of Bernice Trimble (Factory/Obsidian); Ob
Andrew is a solidly trained and versatile dancer as well as a musician, singer and actor. He is quickly becoming one of the leading tap dance artists in Canada, teaching and choreographing across North and South America. Andrew is an award-winning actor, composer and writer, having recently had his self-produced short film officially selected in 12 festivals around the world and winning 4 awards including BEST SHORT FILM. Andrew was a featured singer and dancer on the 20th Anniversary World Tour of RIVERDANCE after which he performed in ANYTHING GOES with Drayton Entertainment, the record-breaking world premier of MONSOON WEDDING, played Cogsworth in Young People’s Theatre production of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, Boutons in CINDERELLA at Neptune Theatre, and will be in Mirvish’s production of JUKEBOX HERO THE MUSICAL in February 2019. We are delighted to present his one man show “One Step At A Time” at The Simcoe Street Theatre April 4th & 5th.
SHAW 2018: Appeared in and assistant choreographer for Grand Hotel, appeared in Oh What a Lovely War; 6th season. David will be returning to Shaw Festival in 2019 to perform in Brigadoon and The Horse And His Boy.
Scott is happy to return for his third helping of Collingwood LOVE!, and he sends a big sloppy thank you to Erica Angus for including him again this year. In April patrons will hear him, if not see him, in Andrew Prashad’s ONE STEP AT A TIME at the Simcoe Street Theatre, and in May Scott heads to Regina to appear in the Globe Theatre’s production of Beauty and The Beast.
Colin Asuncion is a Toronto based performer and marketing professional. He has performed in musicals, plays, concerts, cabarets, and even a handful of television appearances. He most recently performed in Chris Tsujiuchi’s Very Chris-terical Christmas Cabaret at the Historic Gayety Theatre. He has also produced a number of solo cabarets and was a 2018 BroadwayWorld Toronto nominee for Best Cabaret Performance. By day, he is the Marketing Communications Manager for myBlueprint, a tech company that develops career/life planning software for Canadian students.
Originally from Wales, Natasha has spent her adult life performing in live bands and various musical outfits across the UK, as well as in theatre, film and television.
Jennifer Walls is a Toronto theatre performer, impressionist, producer and voice over actor. As a performer, she has earned critical acclaim for her portrayal of Liza Minnelli in her solo show Liza Live! as well as for her autobiographical rock cabaret Jagged Little Me. She has also enjoyed five seasons at the Victoria Playhouse in Petrolia and most recently spent the summer with Drayton Entertainment in Canada 151 Better Late Than Sorry. She has performed in and presented a number of hit shows at the Toronto Fringe Festival and was featured on the cover of Toronto’s NOW Magazine for her efforts at the festival and around the city. As an impressionist, Jennifer has toured across Canada and the United States, performing as a number of celebrity characters including Kelly Clarkson, Christina Aguilera and Lady Gaga. She is the host and producer of Singular Sensation, Toronto’s premier musical theatre open stage as well as a curator and mentor for a prestigious Cabaret Series at the 120 Diner in Toronto. As a voice actor, Jennifer is the voice of the Family Jr. network and can also be heard on a number of animated series including PBS’ Peg + Cat and Amazon’s Creative Galaxy. This fall, Jennifer made her directorial debut at Hart House Theatre directing Heathers The Musical. Follow her adventures on Instagram at @jeniwallsto
Shealyn Angus is a powerhouse singer who spends her days working in the business of LOVE, which makes it only fitting she play a part in this LOVE cabaret. She owns Shealyn Angus Weddings & Events and has been featured in such respected magazines as WedLuxe, Wedding Bells, and The Toronto Globe & Mail newspaper. She is a graduate of the Creative Ensemble program at York University, and has sang at the Toronto Raptors, Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Marlies games, The Women of Influence Awards at The Royal York, and in many cabarets and nightspots. Shealyn may have been the reason for the LOVE Cabaret taking the year off in 2018, as she was giving birth at the time to Executive Director Erica Angus’ first grandchild! She is thrilled to be back for this very special event.
Kevin Wong is a composer-lyricist, singer/musician, dramaturg. Past works include: Recurring John: A Song Cycle, STAR!(ving): A Collection of Songs; Misprint (with bookwriter Lauren Toffan, Women of Musical Theatre Festival 2016); Drama 101 (with bookwriter & co-lyricist Steven Gallagher, Bravo Academy 2017 / Etobicoke School of the Arts 2018 / Stage Door Academy 2018); and Reframed (Musical Stage Company / Art Gallery of Ontario, Dora Nomination – Best New Musical/Opera). Currently in Development: The Preposterous Predicament of Polly Peel (Act One) (with bookwriter Julie Tepperman, most recently a sold-out hit at the 2018 Toronto Fringe Festival and winner of the 2018 Playwrights Guild of Canada Stage West New Musical Award), and In Real Life (working title) (with bookwriter & co-lyricist Nick Green, most recently presented in reading at the 2018 Canadian Music Theatre Project’s Festival of New Musicals at Sheridan College). Kevin was the Musical Stage Company’s Associate Artistic Director from 2016-2018. He is a member of the vocal group Asian Riffing Trio (with Chris Tsujiuchi and Colin Asuncion).
Kyle Golemba has performed across the country from Nanaimo, BC to Summerside, PEI, including seasons at the Charlottetown, Shaw, and Stratford festivals. His favourite roles (so far!) have been Dickon in The Secret Garden, Bobby in Cabaret, Andy Lee in 42nd Street, Robert Martin in The Drowsy Chaperone, Antipholus of Ephesus in The Comedy of Errors, Eddie in Funny Girl, and Gilbert in Anne of Green Gables. Along with his best friend, Adam White, Kyle created a revue of Canadian musical theatre called Making Love in a Canoe. You can check out the show’s album on iTunes! This year, Kyle will be appearing at the Shaw Festival in Rope and Brigadoon. He’s delighted to have been invited to celebrate love here in Collingwood tonight.
Robin is a freelance drummer based out of Toronto. He graduated from the University of Toronto, with a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance where he studied with legendary Canadian jazz drummer Terry Clarke. Through his studies and performances with a wide variety of ensembles, Robin has become an extremely versatile musician, with tremendous fluidity in all genres of music. Robin has been performing since he was a child and has since shared the stage with iconic music figures such as Dame Cleo Laine, the late Sir John Dankworth, Louise Pitre, Nia Vardalos Matt Dusk, Guido Basso, Lorne Lofsky, the late Peter Appleyard, Maria Schneider, and Jackie Richardson. Robin has recorded on numerous albums and most recently, is the drummer for Canadian blues icon vocalist; Shakura S’Aida. 
Born in Stratford, Ontario, at the age of four Michael began lessons on the violin. After years of lessons, the violin was set aside in favour of the clarinet. The clarinet was soon replaced by the saxophone and after playing the saxophone for only one year, Michael auditioned and was cast for a part in Meredith Wilson’s “The Music Man” at The Festival Theatre when he was only thirteen years old.
Scott Neary is an international touring musician and award winning guitarist/composer/arranger. He is a graduate of the University of North Texas Master’s of Music program, where he was a member of the Grammy Nominated One O’Clock Lab Band, and can be heard on their recording Lab 2013.
Separately, they are 3 prominent powers.
