Category Archives: Faces of Carousel

Playwrights, designers and directors work together to shape the work at Carousel Players. This is not something new or revolutionary. Look at what this gentleman has to say about the early days of Carousel Players.

David MacKenzie
I joined Carousel Players as an actor in February of 1972. Within two years I was also writing and performing music; and writing plays. Carousel was founded on the principle of allowing children to participate in the action of the plays. You knew you had been successful if you could honestly say to the people involved: “Now you know what it was like to be…” We created most of the work we performed and this meant creating four, five, and six new plays every season. We performed these before upwards of 50,000 children a year. Writing twenty plays for Carousel as playwright-in-residence and dramaturge was the most creative and satisfying time of my life. Continue reading →

There were three generations of audiences at our opening of Here to Hear, as observed by our MPP, Jim Bradley. Guess who was there too?

Garry, Barbara Blain and family

As adults attending a Carousel Players presentation, we already subscribe to the belief that what they present is theatre you never outgrow; however, when you attend with a young child you are struck with the MAGIC of theatre you never outgrow.

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Here are two people who blur the line between “artist” and “technician” regularly in their work, if that line even really exists.

Brad Trenaman and Giselle Clarke-Trenaman
One of the things that make Brad and Giselle such a fantastic team is the way they collaborate. Giselle has always known how to connect to our audiences and Brad is open to the creative conversations that allow us to excel in our work.

Working at Carousel Players was like working in a world of possibility, adventure and fun. This is how I remember my six seasons at Carousel Players.
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For November, we wanted to give you a sense of the range of private supporters who believe in our work, so you get a double feature.

Liz Palmieri and the Niagara Community Foundation

Liz has carried her beliefs in the impact Carousel Players has on our community to her own work at the Niagara Community Foundation.

Glen McCann and Sullivan Mahoney LLP

Glen McCann has been a member of the Board of Directors at Carousel Players since 1997, but his relationship with Carousel goes back considerably further than 1997. Continue reading →

Have you met Doug and June Gibbs? The Gibbs are volunteers, audience members, supporters and… our friends.

Doug and June Gibbs

When our son was three we took him to see a performance put on by Carousel Players. He and we were “bitten by the bug” at once, and it seems we have been smitten ever since.

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Teachers, principals and support staff champion our work in the schools, so in September, we celebrate the contributions of educators over our 40 year history.

Mac Dodge

I joined Carousel as an actor for the 1974/75 season. I had been teaching Dramatic Arts at Governor Simcoe S.S. That second year we developed our own plays and toured everywhere… It was a great year and I returned to the classroom inspired to give my students TYA experience. Eventually I became a board member and enjoyed many years engaging in the development of what theatre for young audiences can be.

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Let me introduce you to our longest-serving staff member, our Accounts and Tour Manager, Donna Vandecoevering. In August, we celebrated all of the staff members who have helped us reach children and their families over the years, so we thought we’d ask Donna to reflect on her time at Carousel Players: As I sit at my desk and realize that I am about to start my sixteenth year at Carousel Players, a movie of the past fifteen years plays in my mind. But then I guess when you work in live theatre, it should be a play and not a movie! So many wonderful performers and performances, too many to name but the database in my head reminds me of not only them but the behind the scenes talented people in production and administration. Thank you to all of you for bringing your best… Continue reading →

In July we celebrate all of our Youth Participants, so we thought we would introduce you to two siblings who may know a thing or two about being creative.

Paul and Katherine Drotos
Both Paul and Katherine have been involved with Carousel Players for many years. As a matter of fact, they have been here longer than I have. A couple of weeks ago, when Paul was assisting with one of our summer camps, I asked him if he could write a few words about his experience at Carousel Players. Here’s what he sent me: Ever since I was five years old and Carousel Players’ own Linda Carson came to my school and taught a drama class, Carousel Players has been an important part of my life. Continue reading →

Four decades ago, Des and Faye Davis launched Carousel Players into seasonal participation theatre for young people for the first decade of its life.

Des Davis (Artistic Director from 1972 to 1980)
When speaking of the early years, Des says: Unzipping the occasional Kindergarten out of his or her full-length snow suit before the show became a skill we never thought we had. Reading Des’ comments and hearing the road stories from those early shows, you get a sense that the first decade was exactly about that: surprises, discoveries, creative trouble-shooting… It must have been an adventure and a half. Continue reading →