The Ballad of Nickel Jim (1978)
Terry Belleville, Christine Henderson, Margaret Keith, Ken MacDonald, Donna Belleville, Chick Reid, Robert Walter
Recent Seasons
2022/23
Season
What's So Funny?
Co-Devised by Jean-Marie Alexandre and Monica Dufault with the company
Created with input from students in grades 4 – 6, What’s So Funny? is a lighthearted new play about three characters who need to learn how to accept each other’s differences, share space together, and ultimately leave behind a better place for those coming after them. Told through humour and playful clown physicality, this comedic live performance explored themes of friendship, inclusion and acceptance while making you laugh.
Creative Team
Jean-Marie Alexandre – Co-Creator
Monica Dufault – Co-Creator
Keira Forde – Performer
Alicia Plummer – Performer
Zanifa Rasool – Performer
Sara Allison – Stage Manager
Courtney Moses Orbin – Set & Costume Design
Meryl Ochoa – Sound Design
The Velveteen Rabbit
Adapted by Jocelyn Adema, Lena Maripou, Reanne Spitzer and Annie Tuma from the book by Margery Williams
At first the Velveteen Rabbit seems like an old-fashioned toy to B, who prefers more high-tech birthday presents. Soon though, B and “Bunny” become inseparable friends. together they invent worlds in the house and in the garden, and when B gets sick, the Velveteen Rabbit never leaves B’s side. Guided by the wise Toy Horse and the Magic Fairy, the Velveteen Rabbit discovers how toys become real through the power of a child’s love. This vibrant new stage adaptation of the classic story features original music and dance.
Creative Team
Director: Monica Dufault
Featuring: Aisha Jarvis, Fiona Cain, Pascale Berhman, Sofía Contal
Stage Manager: Sara Allison
Set Design: Rachel Forbes, Kara Pankiw
Cosume Design: Ming Wong
Music Director: Raha Javanfar
The Incredible Adventures of Mary Jane Mosquito
book, music, and lyrics by Tomson Highway
with additional arrangements by Ryan de Souza
Northern Ontario & GTHA Tour
Mary Jane Mosquito has no wings. At home and at school she is teased by the other mosquitos, and then she is sent away live with her auntie in the city. What she really wants to do is sing her songs, share her language, and make friends. But how will she fit in without wings?
Creative Team
Director: Monica Dufault
Featuring: Brianne Tucker, Catherine Teichman, Shane O’Regan
Stage Manager: Frankie Mulder
Set Design: Kelly Wolf
Costume Design: Alexa Fraser
Puppet Design: Clelia Scala
Music Direction: Ryan de Souza
Meet Chloe
by Cameron Grant
It’s another day of virtual history class. Chloe is working with her group on a research project about John Graves Simcoe, but she discovers another historical figure that is far more relevant to learn about, someone who even shares her first name: Chloe Cooley, a young Black woman enslaved in Fort Erie and Queenston, Upper Canadian the late 1700’s.
Creative Team
Director: Marcel Stewart
Assistant Director: Sid Malcolm
Featuring: Yvonne Addai, Daniel Jelani Ellis, Michael Man, Tsipporah Shendroff
Stage Manager: Sara Allison
Scenography: Michelle Tracey
Video Editor: Elizabeth Pereira
2021/22
Season
The Velveteen Rabbit
Adapted by Jocelyn Adema, Lena Maripou, Reanne Spitzer and Annie Tuma from the book by Margery Williams
At first the Velveteen Rabbit seems like an old-fashioned toy to B, who prefers more high-tech birthday presents. Soon though, B and “Bunny” become inseparable friends. together they invent worlds in the house and in the garden, and when B gets sick, the Velveteen Rabbit never leaves B’s side. Guided by the wise Toy Horse and the Magic Fairy, the Velveteen Rabbit discovers how toys become real through the power of a child’s love. This vibrant new stage adaptation of the classic story features original music and dance.
Creative Team
Director: Monica Dufault
Featuring: Aisha Jarvis, Lena Maripou, Reanne Spitzer and Annie Tuma
Stage Manager: Sara Allison
Set Design: Rachel Forbes, Kara Pankiw
Cosume Design: Ming Wong
Music Director: Raha Javanfar
Meet Chloe
by Cameron Grant
It’s another day of virtual history class. Chloe is working with her group on a research project about John Graves Simcoe, but she discovers another historical figure that is far more relevant to learn about, someone who even shares her first name: Chloe Cooley, a young Black woman enslaved in Fort Erie and Queenston, Upper Canadian the late 1700’s.
Creative Team
Director: Marcel Stewart
Assistant Director: Sid Malcolm
Featuring: Yvonne Addai, Daniel Jelani Ellis, Michael Man, Tsipporah Shendroff
Stage Manager: Sara Allison
Scenography: Michelle Tracey
Video Editor: Elizabeth Pereira
Pop! Pop!
by Linda Carson and Monica Dufault
Two characters who are very different from each other are exploring a strange new world and finding surprises in this colourful sensory experience. One instinctively hides, other other instinctively seeks. Together they find lots of surprises that pop up everywhere!
CREATIVE TEAM
Director: Monica Dufault
Featuring: Katherine Cappellacci, Kaylyn Valdez-Scott
Set, Puppet & Costume Design: Kelly Wolf, Alexa Fraser
Music Composition: Joe Lapinski
Stage Manager: Sara Allison
2020/21
Season
Lig & Bittle Audio Play
by Elyne Quan & Jared Matsunaga-Turnbull
Lig is very tall, and Bittle is very small. They both wish they could find someplace where everything is just the right size for each of them, where no one will notice that they are different. When Lig and Bittle hear about Perfeckt Phitt, they set out on a quest to this wonderful place where all their problems will be solved. Can Lig and Bittle overcome the Muckety Muck and the Ooga Monster to find the place where they both fit in?
For this season only, Lig & Bittle was available in the form of an Audio Play – like listening to a podcast or an old-time radio adventure story.
Creative Team
Director: Monica Dufault
Featuring: Demi-Lee Bainbridge, Nicholas Eddie
Sound Design: Shane O’Regan
Sound Engineering: Joe Lapinski
HBD2Me (Happy Birthday to Me)
HOW DO YOU CELEBRATE YOUR 11TH BIRTHDAY WHEN YOU CAN’T GET TOGETHER WITH ANY OF YOUR FRIENDS?
HBD2Me (Happy Birthday to Me) is about four friends in grade six who haven’t been together for a while, because of the pandemic.
A is celebrating her eleventh birthday online, and she can’t wait to see her friends again, but worries that they won’t want to come to her weird virtual party. When everyone does show up, they all find ways to laugh, to be themselves, and to support each other in these unusual times.
This show is the first Carousel on Film show, and was created entirely on Zoom!
Creative Team
Director: Monica Dufault
Featuring: Kat Khan, Lia Luz, Quianna MacGilchrist, Nicole Smieja
Set & Costume Design: Elahe Marjovi
Carousel in the Community
The Carousel Players Community Celebrations were a time for families, and particularly children, engage with their community in a safe and comfortable way. The goal was to safely allow families to experience creative activities created especially for COVID times.
The Carousel Players Community Celebrations project was made up of four events:
- in person Downtown STC Scavenger Hunt (Sept/Oct 2020)
- in person Halloween Happening (October 30 & 32, 2020)
- in person Winter World (December 2020)
- virtual At Home Adventures (April/May 2021)
These projects were supported by the City of St Cathairnes’ Arts and Culture Community Revitalization Program. We worked with many partner businesses and arts organizations to bring these projects to the community, which are listed on the Our Supporters page.
2019/20
Season
Water Wonder
by Cheryl McNamara
A water bottling company is set to clear-cut the forest near Richard’s house to build a new facility. He pleads with his friends and family to help protect the green spaces in their town, but no one seems to care about the brook and the trees, or the creatures who live there. Can Richard change their minds and convince the mayor to save the woods?
Creative Team
Director: Monica Dufault
Featuring: Nathaniel Kingham, Isaiah Kolundzic, Kate Werneberg
Stage Manager: Sara Allison
Set Design: Kelly Wolf
Costume Design: Sim Suzer
Sound Design: Ethan Rising
The Incredible Adventures of Mary Jane Mosquito
book, music, and lyrics by Tomson Highway
with additional arrangements by Ryan de Souza
Western Canada Tour
Mary Jane Mosquito has no wings. At home and at school she is teased by the other mosquitos, and then she is sent away live with her auntie in the city. What she really wants to do is sing her songs, share her language, and make friends. But how will she fit in without wings?
Creative Team
Director: Monica Dufault
Featuring: Haley Vincent, Catherine Teichman, Shane O’Regan
Stage Manager: Martine Beland
Set Design: Kelly Wolf
Costume Design: Alexa Fraser
Puppet Design: Clelia Scala
Music Direction: Ryan de Souza
CRANKED - a Green Thumb Theatre Production
by Michael P Northey
Stan, a.k.a. “Definition” is a rising freestyle MC – or at least he was, until his life’s passion lost out to his drug habit. Now on the road to recovery and prepping for a come-back show, Stan confronts his demons and recounts his harrowing journey through the wild highs and deep lows of addiction.
CRANKED is an award winning piece from Green Thumb Theatre that uses spoken word and hip-hop to create a pulse-pounding full-sensory experience that deals in the brutal realities of addiction and drug culture, and the redemption that can lie in recovery.
Carousel Players’ Youth Tour of CRANKED was supported by the Niagara Region’s Niagara Investment in Culture Program.
2018/19
Season
Bad Hat Theatre's Peter Pan
adapted by Fiona Sauder & Reanne Spitzer
music by Landon Doak & Company
A contemporary musical reimagining of the classic Peter Pan story. With live acoustic music, and minimal scenery, this playful adaptation encourages kids and kids-at-heart to dream, to imagine possibilities, and to remember the power of make-believe.
Creative Team
Director: Severn Thompson
Featuring: Jocelyn Adema, Andrew Cameron, Graham Conway, Landon Doak, Matt Finlan, Lena Maripuu, Matt Pilipiak, Victor Pokinko, Fiona Sauder, Reanne Spitzer, Annie Tuma, Micah Woods
Stage Manager: Lucia Corak
Production Designer: Amy Marie Wallace
Music Director: Noah MacDougall
Original Music Direction by Nathan Carroll
Fight / Flight Director: Jack Rennie
The Community Tour of Peter Pan was made possible by the Nigara Region’s Niagara Investment in Culture Program and the Niagara Community Foundation.
Whole World
by Sean Dixon
Omar is new in school, new in Canada. As he struggles to make himself understood in a new language, a group of students struggle to understand Omar at all. Unexpected friendships form as Nashira, Alex, and the Kid travel through school yards, junk yards, and back yards to learn more about Omar. Will these four find common ground?
Creative Team
Director: Monica Dufault
Featuring: Nicola Franco, Ahmad Meree, Josepeh Recinos, Brady Van Vaerenbergh
Stage Manager: Sara Allison
Set, Props, and Costumes designed by Christine Urquhart
Sound Design and Percussion Direction by Maddie Bautista
Fight Director: Anita Nittoly
The Incredible Adventures of Mary Jane Mosquito
book, music, and lyrics by Tomson Highway
with additional arrangements by Ryan de Souza
Mary Jane Mosquito has no wings. At home and at school she is teased by the other mosquitos, and then she is sent away live with her auntie in the city. What she really wants to do is sing her songs, share her language, and make friends. But how will she fit in without wings?
Creative Team
Director: Monica Dufault
Featuring: Nicole Joy-Fraser, Catherine Teichman, Shane O’Regan
Stage Manager: Jennifer Hare
Set Design: Kelly Wolf
Costume Design: Alexa Fraser
Music Direction: Ryan de Souza
Boys, Girls, and Other Mythological Creatures
by Mark Crawford
Deep in Simon’s basement is a secret world of imagination and adventure—where a young prince can transform into mythological creatures! Simon invites new neighbour Abby to help save a princess in a battle against a fire-breathing dragon. Meanwhile, in reality, Simon’s older brother Zach’s not so sure about all this dressing up and fairy tale business… A thoughtful and hilarious new play about our ability to transform!
Creative Team
Director: Jessica Carmichael
Featuring: Matt Pilipiak, Cynthia Jiminez-Hicks, Drew O’Hara
Stage Managers: Laura Granfield (January), Heather Bellingham (May)
Set & Costume Design: Brian Dudkiewicz
Sound Design: Sam Ferguson
Hare & Tortoise
by Brendan Murray
music by Joe Lapinski
Hare & Tortoise is a whimsical retelling of Aesop’s Fable about two friends who have opposite approaches to absolutely everything. As the seasons change from winter to spring, Hare impatiently waits for Tortoise to wake up so they can hurry up and have their race. But Tortoise has other things to do first: a little spring cleaning, taking care of the garden, and enjoying a holiday. Finally the race day arrives – but things don’t turn out the way Hare expected at all!
This charming adaptation won Best Play for Children and Youth at the Writers Guild of Great Britain Awards in 2012.
Creative Team
Director: Monica Dufault
Featuring: Kurtis Leon Baker, Kaileigh Gorka
Stage Manager: Jennifer Hare
Set & Costume Design: Kelly Wolf
Music Director: Joe Lapinski
Flying Hearts - a Theatre Direct Production
created by Michelle Silagy & Lynda Hill
original music by Kathy Nosaty
Flying Hearts is a dance/theatre performance conceived especially for children 2 years and up of all abilities. Flying Hearts takes children on a journey through the elements of earth, water, air, and light using dance, live music, and rich lighting. A Relaxed Performance experience with live music and gentle audience interactions, Flying Hearts is Sensory Friendly and Autism Friendly and welcomes children of all abilities and diverse needs.
Creative Team
Featuring: Allison Basha, Lucas Penner, Jake Ramos, Jessica Runge
Production Design: Jung-Hye Kim
Costume Design: Jennifer Dallas
Lighting Design: Jennifer Lennon
The Community Presentation of Flying Hearts was made possible by the Niagara Community Foundation.
Full Production History
2020+
What’s So Funny?
The Velveteen Rabbit
The Incredible Adventures of Mary Jane Mosquito
Meet Chloe
2021 – 2022
Meet Chloe
The Velveteen Rabbit
Pop! Pop!
50th Anniversary Festival
2020 – 2021
Lig & Bittle Audio Play
HBD2Me (Happy Birthday to Me)
Carousel in the Community
2010 - 2020
2019/20
Water Wonder
The Incredible Adventures of Mary Jane Mosquito
Presented: CRANKED
2018-2019
Bad Hats Theatre’s Peter Pan
Whole World
The Incredible Adventures of Mary Jane Mosquito
Boys, Girls, and Other Mythological Creatures
Hare & Tortoise
Presented: Flying Hearts
2017-2018
This Will Be Excellent
Hare & Tortoise
Presented: One Thing Leads to Another
2016-2017
iChild
Tick
Boys, Girls, And Other Mythological Creatures
2015 – 2016
Peg and the Yeti
Spelling 2-5-5
Hana Hashimoto, Sixth Violin
2014 – 2015
The Incredible Speediness of Jamie Cavanaugh
Peg and the Yeti
The Power of Harriet T
2013 – 2014
Water Under the Bridge
The Power of Harriet T
Dib and Dob and the Journey Home
Spelling 2-5-5
Presented: Paper Song
2012 – 2013
Water Under the Bridge
Here to Hear
The Forest in My Room
2011 – 2012
Here to Hear
Spelling 2-5-5
Showcase: Water Under the Bridge
2010 – 2011
Peg and the Yeti
The Remarkable Flight of Marnie McPhee
There’s a Mouse in My House
Presented: Offensive Fouls
2000 - 2010
2009 – 2010
Saving Lonesome George
Danny, King of the Basement
There’s a Mouse in My House
Presented: Rocket and the Queen of Dreams
2008 – 2009
There’s a Mouse in My House
The Incredible Speediness of Jamie Cavanaugh
Presented: Kindness
Presented: Brick Bros. Circus
2007 – 2008
Bluenose
The Big League
George & Martha
2006 – 2007
George & Martha
House at Pooh Corner
The Invisible Girl
2005 – 2006
George & Martha
Silverwing
Jelly Belly Makes Garbage Delight of Alligator Pie
Where the Wild Things Are
Wimp
Presented: Wonder Train
2004 – 2005
George & Martha
Where the Wild Things Are
Nightlight
Presented: Beggar Boy
Presented: Foolish Tales for Foolish Times
2003 – 2004
Baking Time
The Power of Harriet T
Dib and Dob and the Journey Home
Presented: Tea at the Palace
Presented: Daredevil
2002 – 2003
Dying to be Thin
Where the Wild Things Are
Wimp
Robot from Orion
Patty’s Cake
2001 – 2002
Rocks
For Art’s Sake
Patty’s Cake
The Hobbit
Presented: Theatre Kazenoko
2000 – 2001
The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe
The Last Drop
The Story of the Little Gentleman
1990 - 2000
1999 – 2000
The Ice Cream Store and More
Rocks
The Last Drop
1998 – 1999
Mella Mella
Dinosaurs and all that Rubbish
Presented: See Saw
1997 – 1998
Loon Boy
One Thousands Cranes
The Nightingale
Presented: Twelfth Night
1996 – 1997
Brazil Nut
The Power of Harriet T
Gandhi High
Presented: Cinderella
1995 – 1996
A Promise is a Promise
One Thousand Cranes
Book of the Dragon
Presented: Stuart Little
1994 – 1995
Emperor’s New Clothes
Ezzie’s Emerald
Hedges
1993 – 1994
Dinosaurs and all that Rubbish
Peacocks and Bandaids
Blush
1992 – 1993
Shall We Call A Teacher
Loon Boy
The Power of Harriet T
The Shadow Stealer
1991 – 1992
Brazil Nut
The Power of Harriet T
The Wizard of Oz
Liars
Snowsuits, Birthdays and Giants
1990 – 1991
Under the Coolabah Tree
Almighty Voice
The Best Present of All
A Festival of Robert Munsch stories
1980 - 1990
1989 – 1990
The Gift
The Singing Stone
The Magic Mirror
Little People of Christmas
Charlotte’s Web
1988 – 1989
The Gift
Silent Night
Ring of Song
Nobody’s Children
Peter & The Wolf
1987 – 1988
Not Like Us
The Torch
Belle of Amherst
The Snow Queen
1986 – 1987
Running The Gauntlet
The Nutcracker
Under the Coolabah Tree
Almighty Voice
Belle of Amherst
Aesop’s & Other Fables
1985 – 1986
Running The Gauntlet
The Best Present Of All
Earth Song
Canadians All
Tales of Four Seasons
Beauty & The Beast
1984 – 1985
Upper Canada Challenge
King Arthur’s Christmas
Ring of Song
The Harper’s Song
New Friends Old Friends
Charlotte’s Web
A Place To Grow
1983 – 1984
Singing Stone
Way To Go
Ice Wolf
Upper Canada Challenge
Tales of the Four Seasons
1982 – 1983
First People
A Place To Grow
Betty Byleorski Finds a Home
The Snow Queen
New Friends Old Friends
1981 – 1982
Totem Go Round
Iron Horse
Betty Byleorski Finds a Home
First Canadian Christmas
A Christmas Carol
Aesop’s & Other Fables
1980 – 1981
Not Like Us
Norse Saga
The Best Present Of All
Betty Byleorski Finds a Home
The Wizard of Oz
1972 - 1980
1979 – 1980
Earth Song
The Harper’s Song
The Torch
Mistletoes & Tales
A Christmas Carol
Where To, Turelu?
Bremen Town Musicians
Don’t Tell ‘Em You’re Irish
Summer 1979
Don’t Tell ‘Em You’re Irish
Lock Up Your Daughters
New Friends Old Friends
Cabaret I
Cabaret II
1978 – 1979
First People
A Place To Grow
Way To Go
Christmas Carousel
Escape From The Dark Galaxy
New Friends Old Friends
Tangle Tales
Summer 1978
Old Times
Confusions
1977 – 1978
Totem Go Round
Golden Age
Maritimes Show
The Ballad of Nickle Jim
Escape From The Dark Galaxy
On the Briny Ocean Toss’d
Summer 1977
A Day In The Death Of Joe Egg
Play Strindberg
The Ballad of Nickel Jim
1976 – 1977
Not Like Us
Norse Saga
Pipeline
The Best Present of All
Betty Byleorski Finds a Home
Grand Old Lady
5 Minutes To Morning
Mirror Mirror
1975 – 1976
Earth Song
Metric Circus
The Torch
New Friends Old Friends
Fair Game
Grand Old Lady
1974 – 1975
Peas In A Pod
Canadians All
Way To Go
Merritt
Tangle Tales
Earth Song
1973 – 1974
Totem Go Round
Norse Saga
Border Games
Oniagara
T’is The Season
1972 – 1973
In The Beginning
Almighty Voice
Checkmate
Dandy Lion
Four on the Floor