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

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
Music Direction: Ryan de Souza

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

by Jordi Mand

Daniel and Izzy  are struggling to complete grade six. Determined to ignore their situation, they daydream of meeting their favorite rapper, Arrow. After Daniel’s mother and their principal deliver ultimatums, the pair decide to hatch a plan to make their dream become a reality. They encounter hard realities in carving out their independence in the face of expected responsibilities as they tackle pre-adolescence.

Creative Team

Director: Erin Brubacher
Dramaturg: Jessica Carmichael

Featuring: Maddie Bautista, Theo Gallaro, Nicole Joy-Fraser, Diana C. Reyes

Stage Manager: Maureen Callaghan
Set & Costumes Designer: Anahita Debonehie
DJ/ Sound Designer YouTube Video Choreographer: Fly Lady Di

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: Sara Allison
Set & Costume Design: Kelly Wolf
Music Director: Joe Lapinski

A Collective Collaboration by Maja Ardal, Audrey Dwyer, Mary Francis Moore and Julia Tribe

Developed from the original concept, research, and theme by Maja Ardal. Directed by Mary Francis Moore

The award-winning show for babies that transforms everyday objects into fabulous, fanciful phenomena!

As they develop and thrive, babies use all of their senses to learn about the world. In this play, performers engaged with the audience using music, enticing visuals, and tactile experiences. Carousel Players was proud to present the Niagara tour of this innovative work of theatre created specifically for infants, which received Dora Mavor Moore Awards for Outstanding New Play and Outstanding Performance, Ensemble.