Well Seasoned Productions

Trish Adams
For over 40 years, Trish Adams has performed, choreographed, created and adjudicated; appeared on TV and film, small stages and big stages across Canada and floating stages in the Caribbean for Disney Cruise Lines. Some of her favourite roles include Anita in West Side Story; Diana Morales in A Chorus Line; 42nd Street; Fairy Godmother and Mrs. Claus for Disney Cruise Lines. Trish conceived, created and danced with the Toronto Raptor’s senior dance team, the Northern Classics. Trish is a certified fitness instructor for older adults and a proud mom and granny. This is Trish’s 10th year with Well Seasoned Productions for which she wears a plethora of hats. It is always a pleasure to sing and dance for an audience.

Lisa Atkinson

Lisa is delighted to be joining the company of WSP – sharing the stage with friends old and new. From a family of musical artists, Lisa’s career spans over 30 years on stages large and small. Credits include Les Misérables (Mirvish), Sweeney Todd (CanStage), Guys and Dolls (Thousand Islands Playhouse) and Music of the Night (Livent North American tours). In 2000, Lisa released a solo CD, Good Thing Going, to critical acclaim - produced and arranged by Juno award winning jazz pianist, Jeff Johnston. Currently, Lisa is on the college faculty of Randolph College of the Performing Arts and runs a thriving private vocal studio. Her students are now trodding the boards on stages across the country and overseas – and many writing and recording their own music. Many thanks to WSP for enticing her to the stage and to her family (Kirk, Ella and Callum) for their love and support.

Mark Cassius

Mark Cassius is a singer, musical director and vocal coach. On Broadway, Mark was in the Original Cast of Ragtime and revivals of Jesus Christ Superstar and Shenandoah. He has spent seasons at both the Shaw and Stratford Festivals. Other credits include Damn Yankees, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (with Donny Osmond), Miss Saigon, Showboat, and Cats. He toured internationally with acclaimed Canadian quartet, The Nylons, for eight years.

https://www.facebook.com/MarkCassius
https://www.instagram.com/themarkcassius

Gretchen Helbig
Gretchen has performed across Canada in theatre and music theatre, Operatic Works, (including original works), symphonic concerts and seen on television, feature films, and on CBC Radio.
Gretchen is an original member of the Phantom of the Opera in Toronto, as well as the Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber concert series. Other roles include Kate, in Kiss Me Kate, Alexandra in Alexandra The Last Empress, Bertrande in The House of Martin Guerres, Iolanthe in Iolanthe. Other shows include Anne of Green Gables, The Boyfriend, The Picture of Dorian Gray and The Desert Song for Shaw Festival. Gretchen founded the quartet QuattroVoce. For four years, Gretchen played Mrs. Jeremiah in the award-winning television series Degrassi Jr. High. Gretchen is a renowned vocal instructor and can be seen performing at the St. Lawrence Market.

Janelle Hutchison

Toiling in the cultural trenches for more decades than might be prudent to admit, Janelle is best remembered for more than 1400 performances as Mme. Thénardier, the Innkeeper’s Wife, in the original Canadian production of Les Misérables. Other theatre credits include the première of Dead Right; Company; White Christmas; Oliver; Isn’t It Romantic?; Crimes of the Heart; Gypsy and, as a young actor, The Last of the Red Hot Lovers opposite Sid Caesar. On film/TV, she can be seen in the upcoming feature All That She Wants; MGM+’s crime drama The Westies; Young Werther; Handmaid’s Tale; Hairspray; The Kennedys mini-series; Being Erica; and as a proud survivor of the Saw films. After nearly ten years as the founding administrator for NYU/Tisch’s New Studio on Broadway, she recently company managed Bright Star for Garner Theatre Productions and Mirvish, and serves on the board of Studio 180 Theatre. A Renaissance Woman, Janelle is a damn fine Jeopardy player in her living room.

Cassel Miles
This is Cassel’s first time playing in the Well Seasoned sandbox. Over the past forty years he has accumulated many professional experiences (www.casselmiles.com) which have added to his personal seasonings. Since 2019, Cassel has been working on his one-person show, JOSIAH, (www.josiahtheshow.com), about the life of Josiah Henson. It was recently presented to critical and audience acclaim in February at The Alumnae Theatre in Toronto and again in August at The Gladstone Theatre in Ottawa. It’s good to be playing again with long-time friends in the Well Seasoned sandbox and creating new flavours. Much gratitude to my partner, Sandy, for his continuous love and support.

Jeffrey Prentice

Jeffrey is happy to be with WSP after last performing with them in Can’t Get Enough and Together Again!. Having weathered the pandemic, retirement and several more Canadian winters, it is a pleasure to be onstage once more. During his career Jeff has performed from coast to coast at theatres such as The Charlottetown Festival, The Shaw Festival, The Stratford Festival, Rainbow Stage, Winnipeg, The Citadel Theatre, Edmonton, and The Vancouver Playhouse. He recorded a CD in 1996 entitled Look Out For Love and continues to sing along with his ukulele whenever he can convince anyone to listen. Currently Jeff spends his time teaching jazz dance classes, teaching ukulele, going to the gym, baking cookies and cakes, and making hand-beaded moccasins. He couldn’t do any of these things without the support and encouragement of his long-suffering husband, Pol; shout out to you hon!

Kieren MacMillan - Musical Director and Arrangements

Kieren is in high demand as a musical director, conductor, and bandleader, with nearly a hundred productions on his “Done List”. When he’s not wearing his MD hat, you might find him wearing his Singer Hat (Phoenix Chamber Choir), his Classical Composer Hat (countless songs, choir pieces, and instrumental works), his Teacher Hat (Randolph College for the Performing Arts, Sheridan College), his Computer Programmer Hat (corporate clients throughout North America), his Mathematician Hat (a dozen papers published in peer-reviewed journals), or even multiple hats at the same time — which is ironic, because hats look terrible on him…

Kieren received a B.Mus. in piano from the University of British Columbia, and an M.Mus. from the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University, where he studied with Paul Cooper and Samuel Jones. He lives in Toronto with his wife Lada Darewych, and their two children Marianna and Theodore.

Mark Candler - Associate Director
I am thrilled to be working along side Director Lesley on this one. Credits with WSP include Young at Heart; Jerry Herman Concert; and Can’t Get Enough. Toronto credits include Cabaret; 42nd Street; Happy Birthday Al Capone; Dead Air the Musical; Hooray for Hollywood; Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. Some regional credits include Guys & Dolls; (Saskatoon), The Plays the Thing (Meaford); Anne of Green Gables (Charlottetown); The Vaudevillians (Port Dover); Fiddler on the Roof (Grand Bend); and Me & My Girl (Drayton). Thank you to everyone at WSP for the important work they do, there aren’t enough words. Scott, I couldn’t do it without you & Mom it’s always for you.

Dennie Theodore - ProductionStage Manager and Lighting Designer

Dennie Theodore (she/her/grama), stage manager, director, and writer, has contributed to shows and projects across the country, from BC to NFLD and all stops in between. Recent shows include Rock of Ages, The Musical McCoy, The Pirates of Penzance, Menopause the Musical, and Dion. A CAEA member since time began, Dennie also is a respected leadership coach and mentor, believing community is at the heart of all we do. And French fries and bourbon only make it better!

Vinetta Strombergs - Assistant StageManager and "as needed"

Vinetta Strombergs launched her directing career with an acclaimed all-female production of Caesar at TWP in 1986. Since then, she has directed everything from one-person shows to dramas, comedies, large cast musicals, and Shakespeare. She has worked in almost all the major centres in Canada, including Toronto, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Fredericton, Whitehorse, and points in between. She also works hard to ensure that current audiences connect with shows, noting that “you want to entertain, educate, surprise and be relevant, always finding a new way to tell a story.”

Charlotte Moore - Wardrobe Co-ordinator

Charlotte Moore has been in Canadian musical theatre for over 40 years, including seasons with the Shaw Festival, the Charlottetown Festival, Drayton Entertainment and Mirvish. She won a Dora Mavor Moore Award in 1990 for The Rocky Horror Show and was nominated again exactly 30 years later for Sunday In the Park with George. Charlotte has recently joined the board of Well Seasoned Productions, and is more than happy to be helping out with their latest awesome revue!

Lesley Ballantyne - Producer and DIrector

Lesley celebrates 50 years in the Canadian entertainment business! She has worked as a director, choreographer, performer, producer, teacher, and arts administrator. Her career has taken her across Canada, the US, and the Bahamas. She is a proud Dora Mavor Moore Award winner and a Jessie Richardson Award nominee for On Tap. Lesley is a past Artistic Director of the Muskoka Festival Theatre. Her experience of performing, directing, and choreographing shows in a range of theatres from small storefront locations to the National Arts Centre in Ottawa. Recent projects (outside of WSP) include: Director, Making it Up (One Playwright to Another); Director, Songs of the City (Sony Centre), United Way of Greater Toronto; Co-producer Voices for World AIDS Day (Jane Mallet Theatre), Co-Producer Confessions of an Operatic Mute, and many rewarding shows for Smile Theatre.