The Drowsy ChAPERONE

ASTC is proud to present The Drowsy Chaperone for our 2023 Winter Musical! It is a parody of musical comedy of the 1920s and the story concerns a middle-aged, asocial musical theatre fan. As he plays the record of his favorite musical, the show comes to life onstage, as he wryly comments on the music, story, and actors.
ASTC will be performing their production of The Drowsy Chaperone in March at the Market Hall Performing Arts Centre on the following dates:
​March 10th 7:30pm 
March 11th 7:30pm
March 12th 3:00pm
March 17th 7:30pm
March 18th 3:00pm
March 18th 7:30pm
Tickets can be purchased below:
tickets.markethall.org/eventperformances.asp?evt=269

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Meet the cast

Connor Leshner as ALDOLPHO      
Connor Leshner is fulfilling a bucket list item by being in his first play since 2014, and his first musical ever. He completed two years at a performance arts high school, Arizona School for the Arts, and moved to a public school, where he played a small part in The Best Man, and played the hard-boiled main character Charlie Nickels' in Kill Me, Deadly. This is Connor's first stage performance in about nine years. Connor spends his days as a PhD student at Trent University in Psychology, playing Ultimate Frisbee and watching amazing talent, both in movies and on-stage via the Anne Shirley Theatre Company.
Elias Trivett as FELDZEIG
Elias Trivett started his theatre career in Muskoka with roles such as Tulsa in Gypsy (2016) and Jimmy/Chad in Almost, Maine (2019). He gained experience with stage managing and directing in the Sears Festival, including the award winning show Korrigan. Elias then jumped into the Peterborough arts scene when he began his adventure at Trent University pursuing a BA in Business and Psychology. With ASTC, Elias has played Bobby in Cabaret (2019) and Oliver in Theory of Relativity (2020). During lockdown, Elias took Zoom Master Classes with Broadway’s Alex Brightman, Stratford’s Steve Ross, and Bad Dog Theatre. Most recently, Elias had the role of The Prince in St James Players production of Beauty and the Beast (2022). This year Elias has taken on the joint role of Cast Member and Company President and is excited to graduate with a full bucket!
​Sam Hall as ROBERT MARTIN
Samuel Hall was formerly a Northumberland-based actor who has performed with various theatre companies. He performed as Shrek in CCI’s Shrek the Musical, was awarded the 2020 Eastern Ontario Drama League award and has been involved in over 25 theatrical productions. He is also the Camp Director of the Northumberland Players Theatre Camp. Hall is currently working on the third year of his BSc for Mathematics at Trent University. He is also working towards his Bachelor of Education and a Dramatic Arts Teachable. Sam is thrilled to be back on the stage and making his Peterborough theatre debut. ASTC’s The Drowsy Chaperone is not only his first opportunity to perform on a Peterborough stage but also is the first production he has starred in since the beginning of the pandemic. He is excited to roller skate his way through this production and many more in Peterborough.
Tristan Cruise as THE MAN
Tristan is a local artist who has mostly worked behind the scenes. She was the props builder and scenic painter at 4th Line Theatre for; Bombers: Reaping The Whirlwind (2017), The History of Drinking in Cavan (2017), Crow Hill (2018), Who Killed Snow White (2018), Bloom: A Rock 'n' Roll Fable (2019), and Carmel (2019). Tristan is also a Trent alumnus who worked with ASTC throughout her undergrad. She was a lead make up artist for Sweeney Todd (2015), props master for Heathers (2016), Bare: A Pop Opera (2017), and head of make up and costumes for Heaven (2016), and Wit (2017). In 2018 she directed The Hunchback of Notre Dame with ASTC, with it being the production she holds closest to her heart. Although she has played many characters in various plays in her on stage career, The Drowsy Chaperone marks the first character she's played in a musical since her high school production of South Pacific nearly 15 years ago (2009).
Taylor Allen as ​GEORGE​
Taylor has been a theatrical performer for 10 years at school and with Original Kids Theatre Company. Hailing from London, Ontario, her credits include the Artful Dodger in Oliver! (2016), ensemble in Cinderella (2019), and Fruma Sarah, Yussel, and a Bottle Dancer in Fiddler on the Roof (2019), for which she received CCH Drama's Outstanding Commitment to Character award. Taylor specializes in musicals, but has experience acting in plays as well; her most notable role was as Macbeth in CCH's Scots on the Rocks (2019), a parody of the classic Shakespeare play. Not only is ASTC's The Drowsy Chaperone Taylor's debut on a Peterborough stage, but it also marks her 20th production. Currently, Taylor is in her second year of studying Conservation Biology at Trent University. After a one-year break to focus on her fisrt year of studies at Trent, Taylor is thrilled to be back on the stage.
Ashley Downer in the Ensemble
Ashley Downer has been performing along with assisting behind the scenes in the theatrical arts for 5 years, taking part in various school productions and classes. She was involved in the set design of her school's production of The Little Mermaid (2019) and was included in a comedic rendition of Macbeth (2020) juggling various roles such as the Old Man, the Porter, Malcolm and Donalbain. Along with performing in a play collaboratively written by the students and teacher of her drama class in her last year of highschool. Ashley has been a part of the fine arts for longer than her acting career within the theater, taking basic dance lessons and a few vocal classes, alongside creating within the digital arts. She is presently an undergrad at Trent University aiming for her Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Ashley is thrilled to make her big debut as ensemble in ASTC’s The Drowsy Chaperone, being her very first musical!
Robyn Hawthorne as ​KITTY
Robyn Hawthorne has been part of the Peterborough theatre community for over 10 years. You may have seen her as Lisa in SJP’s production of Mamma Mia in 2019. Robyn became involved with ASTC in 2021, as a cast member in the radio play The Laramie Project where she played various roles, most notably Marge Murry and Amanda Gronich. At age 12, Robyn began dancing competitively with A. Frost Dance Experience in Peterborough, were she became well versed in all styles of dance. Robyn has been training vocally with Shannon McCracken since 2015, she is currently part of her performance stream class. Other productions for Hawthorne include; Shrek, Mary Poppins, The Wizard of Oz (SJP), and Guys and Dolls (Adam Scott). Robyn is a fourth-year student at Trent majoring in Mathematics with a statistics specialization. Robyn is so happy to be performing again and with such a wonderfully talented group! ​
Abigail Carey as JANET VAN DE GRAAFF
Abigail Carey, a proud Maritimer from Truro Nova Scotia, is ecstatic to be a part of ASTC’s The Drowsy Chaperone! Abigail, aka, Abby, is a 2018 Toronto graduate from Randolph College finishing with a diploma in the Performing Arts. She was 1 of 3 in her graduating class nominated for the Triple Threat award. Some of her previous roles include two production runs of 9 to 5, first as Doralee (CEC 2016) and again as Roz (Randolph 2018). Other impacting roles include Fiona (Shrek), and Katherina (Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew). From the age of 5 Abby was passionate about competing in the local music festival, particularly the musical theatre division. During this time she won several awards including the Rob Bruce cup and Festival Award, and earning her a nomination for a spot in the Nova Scotia provincial competition in 2016.
Anna Hykawy as THE DROWSY CHAPERONE
Anna Hykawy is a performer from the Durham Region with a broad background in theatre and comedy. Since the age of six, her talent has been showcased across numerous productions, including Annie (Annie), The Audition (Carrie), improvisational showcases, and original sketch shows. At her high school graduation, she was awarded the highest proficiency award for the Dramatic Arts. Anna recently made her debut with the Anne Shirley Theatre Company as Amy March in Little Women. She is a first-year student at Trent University in Honours Sociology, and plans to specialize in Criminology and Socio-Legal Studies. Anna is thrilled to perform alongside her talented castmates in this positively delightful production!
Miriam Felman in the Ensemble
Miriam Felman has been a musical theatre enthusiast for most of her life. She has participated in several productions with New Star Children’s Theatre in Ottawa, including West Side Story (Ice), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat (Narrator), and Peter Pan (Wendy). Miriam also has an interest in writing theatre, and was lucky to have her one-act play, State of Mind, produced by her senior drama class in high school. She is currently in her second year at Trent University, studying History and English. This production is her first with ASTC, and she is excited to be joining such a dedicated group of artists.
Jessica Johnson as GANGSTER #1
Jessica Johnson (yes, Sarah is her sister) is a classically trained singer and musical theatre enthusiast from St. Catharines, Ontario. She has been involved in a number of professional, community, and school performances, starting with Oklahoma! and Anything Goes in secondary school. Johnson has performed internationally with Robert Pilon, Manteca, James Bryan, Barbara Lica, and Canadian pop singer Lights! Since graduating from Laura Secord Secondary School’s DNA Musical Theatre program in 2016, she has been featured in Brock University’s All By Myself (2016), Garden City Productions’ (GCP) Damn Yankees (2017), played the role of Marcy Park in Firehall Theatre’s The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (2017), the role of Wednesday Addams in GCP’s The Addams Family (2018), and a member of the ensemble in a cancelled production of GCP’s Sister Act (2020). Johnson has a high level of proficiency in piano and harp, but not an ounce of formal dance training. Watch her light up the stage in her brand new tap shoes which she purchased just for this show! She is thrilled to be back in action and expanding her horizons. Many thanks to Dance Captain Robyn Hawthorne for keeping everyone upright and on their toes (literally!).
Carmen Milewski as ​GANGSTER #2
Carmen Milewski has had a passion for theatre and dance since she was in high school, performing as Velma Kelly in her schools production of Chicago as well as Gladys Hotchkiss in Pajama Game. She was also a member of the ensemble in The Addams Family and How to Succeed in Business. Outside of high school theatre, Carmen has performed at the National Arts Centre in the Cappies chorus and as a nominated cast member. Performing is not the only thing that interests Carmen about theatre - she also has worked as a sound and stage technician in multiple plays, dance shows and musicals. This is Carmen's first return to the stage since she was in high school, and she is greatly honoured to be working with such a talented group of people. ​
Jenna Milner as SUPERINTENDENT and in the Ensemble
Jenna Milner is excited to return to the stage as part of the ensemble of The Drowsy Chaperone. Now in her 4th year at Trent, Jenna has had a passion for theatre since she was young. Participating in school plays and musicals since high school, Jenna played the role of Helena in a 2016 production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, starred as Sarah Brown in a production of Guys and Dolls in 2018, and played the role of Catherine in the ASTC's production of Theory of Relativity in 2020. While not a professionally trained vocalist, she has sung alongside her very musical family all her life and with their help has developed her vocal skills over time. Jenna is also a trained violinist with 13 years of experience and has a deep appreciation for music and the arts. When she is not working towards her archaeology degree, Jenna loves to reconnect with nature and has picked up hobbies such as foraging and hiking. She is so happy to be part of a theatre group once again and hopes everyone enjoys the show!
Sarah Johnson as ​TRIX​
Sarah Johnson, younger sister of Jessica, has been a musician since she was a child, and in recent years has entered the world of musical theatre. Johnson has performed in numerous music competitions, and has performed on stage with artists such as Robert Pilon and Bakithi Kumalo. Johnson has acted in several shows, with her first performance being the role of Grace in Annie Jr. when she was 12 years old. She was also a part of Laura Secord Secondary school’s The Addams Family (2018), and Garden City Production’s Beauty and the Beast (2019). Johnson has played a wide variety of instruments, and is proficient in clarinet, tenor and baritone saxophone and various percussion instruments. She looks forward to getting back into the world of theatre post-pandemic, and hopes to be a part of many shows both on and off the stage.
Kate Ormerod in the Ensemble
Kate Ormerod has been singing from a young age. Kate was diagnosed with High Functioning Autism at a young age but refuses to let that slow her down. While mostly self-taught, Kate did take formal vocal lessons for four years before having to cancel lessons to focus on school. Her first show was in elementary school as the mayor's wife in Seussical, for which she received the music award upon graduating. This will be Kate’s second time performing in a musical. Before coming to Trent University, Kate graduated with honours and was an active member of her high school choir. While her main focus is on her honours bachelor's of forensic biology, Kate also makes time for her hobbies, with a focus on making stickers and more for her personal side business.
Blair Waller as UNDERLING
Blair Waller is a 4th year Biology student at Trent University. Born and raised in Hamilton, he performed in several productions in high school appearing as Bill in Mama Mia and Leaf Coney Bear in the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Additionally, he was cast in two plays for the Sears Drama Festival: The Velvet Guillotine and Bring on the Dancing Horses. Blair received piano lessons starting at a young age, switching to viola at 10 and participating in orchestras and choirs in and outside of school throughout high school. Recently, Blair was cast in a musical put on by the Anne Shirley theater company in 2020, the Theory of Relativity. Cast as Adam, a mathematician confounded by the illogic of love, he enjoyed his time immensely. In his spare time Blair is a homebody often found playing DnD or playing with his cat Daisy.
Maggie Brennan as MRS. TOTTENDALE
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Maggie Brennan is a Toronto based performer with experience working behind the scenes. She graduated with honours from Rosedale Height's School of the Arts musical theatre program where she performed and worked on the set construction team in Legally Blonde (2019) and the cancelled production of Anything Goes (2020). Maggie has been involved with the arts since childhood with her mother as her first teacher. She began taking formal dance lessons in tap and ballet in middle school and was a part of several choirs. This is Maggie's first performance since the beginning of the pandemic. In her spare time Maggie likes to crochet. She is currently working on a sweater. ​
Maya Chowen in the Ensemble
Maya has been a dancer since she was two years old, specializing in musical theater in her later years. She has won various scholarships and overall awards for her duets The Spartans and Morning Announcements. Training, teaching and competing in 12 styles of dance and performing in the few plays her school put on, this is Maya’s first musical. Having done workshops with Cirque du Soleil and being accepted into Disney's Premiere program, Maya credits her achievements to her dance teachers and improv coaches. Participating in her school improv team since she was 8, she later became her teams captain, competing all around Ontario. When her school no longer had any teachers willing to take on the role of coach, Maya stepped up and led the younger teams in their after school practices and competitions. Later, Maya then became the stage manager of The Nutcracker and finally, joining Trents improv executive team.