wellseasonedproductions.ca

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SAVE THE DATE!!!

We're in the process of re-booking "With a Song in My Heart" the last week of February 2026. Details will be available in lateJanuary

Our performers: TRISH ADAMS, LISA ATKINSON, MARK CASSIUS, MICHAEL DONALD,

GRETCHEN HELBIG, JANELLE HUTCHISON, CASSEL MILES, JEFFREY PRENTICE.

Musical Direction & Arrangements: KIEREN MacMILLAN

ProductionStage Manager: DENNIE THEODORE

Assistant Stage Manager: VINETTA STROMBERGS

Directed by: LESLEY BALLANTYNE

Associate Director: MARK CANDLER

Well Seasoned Productions 2025 – a year of rewarding projects for our company

Celebration and fundraiser for our colleague, Christopher Mounteer, May 5th at PAL Toronto

Chris is a wonderful composer, Musical Director, and beloved instructor at Sheridan College. He has advanced Parkinson’s now so we put our efforts into letting him know how much he is loved and appreciated. Our thanks to all who volunteered time and talents to make this event a success.

Community Choir Partnership with South Riverdale Community Health Centre – June to September, performances Oct 2 & 7, 2025 Our team: Susan Wesson – choir leader, Doug Balfour - accompanist, Trish Adams – Sr. fitness specialist, Lesley Ballantyne – director. Special thanks to Mark Cassius and Jill Diane Filion for filling in when needed. We were delighted that The Pearly Ukes, led by Jeffrey Prentice, were able to join us for the two concerts. Funded by the Federal Government’s New Horizons for Seniors Program.

Grant Cowan 90th Birthday Celebration – August 17, 2025 at PAL Toronto

We hosted a 90th birthday celebration for national treasure Grant Cowan in partnership with PAL Toronto. Once again, our thanks go to the many volunteers who made this event a success.

Musical Salute to David Warrack – October 20, 2025 – Nancy & Ed Jackman Performance Centre, Toronto. Presenting Partners: Canada’s Theatre Museum, Northern River Arts & Entertainment. Promotional Support by: Well Seasoned Productions

This was a long-overdue and welcome celebration of David’s many talents. The event was sold out and we hope it is the first of many celebrations of our Canadian composers.

With A Song in My Heart Musical Revue

We rehearsed and were getting ready in the new Nancy and Ed Jackman Performance Centre in November to present “With a Song in My Heart” when the theatre experienced a flood which damaged the floor! We’ve re-booked the theatre for the last week of February. Please watch for details of show times. We’re delighted the original cast and crew is available: photo: (top row) Kieren MacMillan, Janelle Hutchison, Jeffrey Prentice, Stage Manager Dennie Theodore, (second row) Cassel Miles, Trish Adams, Director Lesley Ballantyne, Michael Donald (bottom row) Gretchen Helbig, Associate Director Mark Candler, Lisa Atkinson, Mark Cassius.

Funded by the Federal Government’s New Horizons for Seniors Program.

Musical Musings – Holiday Sing-a-Long Concerts

Thanks to funding from the Ontario Government, we were able to present holiday concerts at no charge to over 250 seniors in late November to Dec 22nd. This funding extends to March 31st so we will prepare a new concert series for presentation. Thanks to Trish Adams, Michael Donald, Jill Diane Filion, Jeffrey Prentice, and Lesley Ballantyne for helping to spread some holiday cheer.

Each of these projects has a page on our website so please take a few minutes to explore the work our small-but-mighty charity does, benefitting from the time and talents of our dedicated group.

From all of us at Well Seasoned Productions, we wish you good health, good fun, and all the best that 2026 has in store.

Board of Directors: Lesley Ballantyne, Jane Gardner, Rhoda Green, Charlotte Moore, David Warrack

Stalwart Team: Trish Adams, Mark Candler, Mark Cassius

PRESS RELEASE SEPTEMBER 2025

Well Seasoned Productions Receives Funding from the Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors Program
Well Seasoned Productions (WSP) is delighted to announce funding from the Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) for a 2-part project in 2025-2026.
Part one is a Community Choir in partnership with South Riverdale Community Health Centre (SRCHC). This Community Choir is open to all seniors, with no singing experience necessary or ability to read music required. The focus for participants includes: the physical and mental health benefits of singing together through learning songs and some simple choreography to enhance the songs, learning songs for the audience singalongs, learning warm up exercises and enjoying social time with refreshments after each rehearsal. Our emphasis on fitness and safety ensures seniors with disabilities are easily accommodated.
This choir is unique to the Riverdale region because it is free to all participants, with music and rehearsal refreshments provided by WSP and SRCHC. There are 2 planned free performances, October 2nd, celebrating National Seniors Day and October 7th at 2 SRCHC locations.
Part two is a new 2 act Musical Revue featuring professional Canadian Performers aged 55+.
A request for participants is being circulated and we begin rehearsals for this Revue in September with 3 performances planned for November 14, 15, 16 (details to be announced). The performances take place in the beautiful new Nancy and Ed Jackman Performance Centre, 877 Yonge St, Toronto ON.
For further information please contact: Lesley@wellseasonedproductions.ca

Well Seasoned Productions (WSP) is a Toronto-based theatre company led, inspired, performed, accompanied, and created by professional Canadian artists aged 55+. Producer Lesley Ballantyne and Artistic Associate Mark Cassius, and their dedicated team bring their collective musical theatre expertise to an under-served area of the theatre industry – that of senior professional artists.

Age should not be a defining factor in one’s ability to entertain and move audiences, yet older artists are often neglected. Their years of experience are an invaluable resource and WSP is tapping into that and celebrating their talent. Our performances aim at enriching audiences of all ages, while specifically shedding light on issues and emotions pertinent to mature artists.

We embrace the “delights” of ageing. At the heart of our musical revues is a genuine and humorous look at the issues and emotions we will all face as we age. We want everyone to leave the shows with a song in their heart, a laugh on their lips, and a spring in their step. The repertoire includes Canadian musical theatre, Broadway, and popular music selections.

There are three ways to make a tax deductible donation to support our work:

Via Canada Helps (accepts credit cards, PayPal, gift cards)

Cheque - made out to Well Seasoned Productions and mailed to 181 First Avenue, Toronto ON M4M 1X3

E-Transfer: email Lesley@wellseasonedproductions.ca

For further information on Well Seasoned Productions please contact:

Lesley Ballantyne Lesley@wellseasonedproductions.ca