OVATION! AWARD FOR LONGTIME CONTRIBUTION
The following individuals have been presented with a LONGTIME CONTRIBUTION OVATION AWARD awarded annually to a member(s) of the community who has significantly contributed 15+ years to the development, promotion and/or continuation of musical theatre in the Lower Mainland. We are so grateful to all of them for the work they have done. (Listed in alphabetical order)
Wendy Bross Stuart
Wendy Bross Stuart is an incredible role model for the community. Born and raised in New York, she holds degrees from McGill University and UBC. She is a vocal coach, an ethnomusicologist, a music director/composer/arranger, and a piano accompanist. Stuart is the author of two books on music and First Nations communities, has collaborated on 4 CDs, and has published more than 20 choral arrangements. She has tremendous experience in theatre, having worked as the music director for 10 years with Theatre Under the Stars and with many other companies such as Electric Company, Touchstone Theatre, Intimate Theatre Productions and the Arts Club On Tour. Wendy co-founded the Gotta Sing, Gotta Dance! Summer musical theatre program, with which she has worked with over 2000 young and talented kids through 20 summers. She is a three time Jessie nominee.
Wendy Bross Stuart is an incredible role model for the community. Born and raised in New York, she holds degrees from McGill University and UBC. She is a vocal coach, an ethnomusicologist, a music director/composer/arranger, and a piano accompanist. Stuart is the author of two books on music and First Nations communities, has collaborated on 4 CDs, and has published more than 20 choral arrangements. She has tremendous experience in theatre, having worked as the music director for 10 years with Theatre Under the Stars and with many other companies such as Electric Company, Touchstone Theatre, Intimate Theatre Productions and the Arts Club On Tour. Wendy co-founded the Gotta Sing, Gotta Dance! Summer musical theatre program, with which she has worked with over 2000 young and talented kids through 20 summers. She is a three time Jessie nominee.
James Bryson
James Bryson is a well-known Musical Director in the lower mainland. He is also well known for holding the title of the Musical Director for Royal City Musical Theatre Company (RCMT). RCMT was hatched in 1990 around a kitchen table in New Westminster. The famous show ‘Annie’ is one of his choral and instrumental music productions. He has been nominated many times for an Ovation Award. His students have won many honours in festivals. He has led a Pit Choir made up entirely of trained singers who volunteer their talents to non-profit community theatre. In 1998, he formed James Production with his musical friends to bring his show to the lower mainland’s community, in which his dedication continues on with his very special show JUST BROADWAY.
James Bryson is a well-known Musical Director in the lower mainland. He is also well known for holding the title of the Musical Director for Royal City Musical Theatre Company (RCMT). RCMT was hatched in 1990 around a kitchen table in New Westminster. The famous show ‘Annie’ is one of his choral and instrumental music productions. He has been nominated many times for an Ovation Award. His students have won many honours in festivals. He has led a Pit Choir made up entirely of trained singers who volunteer their talents to non-profit community theatre. In 1998, he formed James Production with his musical friends to bring his show to the lower mainland’s community, in which his dedication continues on with his very special show JUST BROADWAY.
Johnny Duncan (1930-2022)
Johnny Duncan is a director, writer, producer, fundraiser and volunteer. He has directed numerous musicals over the years, including the western Canadian premiere of Blood Brothers. Much of his involvement has been with Metro Theatre, where he as also written their annual panto for numerous years. He also directed Seesaw, My Fair Lady, I Do I Do, Paint Your Wagon and Oh Coward with Metro. Other companies he has been associated with are Richmond Musical Theatre, Theatre Under the Stars and Dunbar Musical Theatre.
Johnny Duncan is a director, writer, producer, fundraiser and volunteer. He has directed numerous musicals over the years, including the western Canadian premiere of Blood Brothers. Much of his involvement has been with Metro Theatre, where he as also written their annual panto for numerous years. He also directed Seesaw, My Fair Lady, I Do I Do, Paint Your Wagon and Oh Coward with Metro. Other companies he has been associated with are Richmond Musical Theatre, Theatre Under the Stars and Dunbar Musical Theatre.
Perry Ehrlich
Perry Ehrlich has been the director and founder of Gotta Sing! Gotta Dance! for over ten years, which has attracted hundreds of enthusiastic and talented participants from throughout BC and as far away as Israel. He combines a busy legal career with his love of musical theatre working with children. Perry is a composer, pianist, teacher, arranger, producer, adjudicator, writer and talent coordinator. He is also the director of ShowStoppers, a teenage performance troupe. His programs have provided the training grounds for many of Vancouver's most successful musical theatre performers.
Perry Ehrlich has been the director and founder of Gotta Sing! Gotta Dance! for over ten years, which has attracted hundreds of enthusiastic and talented participants from throughout BC and as far away as Israel. He combines a busy legal career with his love of musical theatre working with children. Perry is a composer, pianist, teacher, arranger, producer, adjudicator, writer and talent coordinator. He is also the director of ShowStoppers, a teenage performance troupe. His programs have provided the training grounds for many of Vancouver's most successful musical theatre performers.
Ed Harrington
Retired teacher and director of high school musicals, Ed was the founding Artistic Director of Royal City Musical Theatre in New Westminster. He has directed and acted with such diverse Lower Mainland groups as UBC, Metro Theatre, Vagabond Players, and the Vancouver International Festival.
Retired teacher and director of high school musicals, Ed was the founding Artistic Director of Royal City Musical Theatre in New Westminster. He has directed and acted with such diverse Lower Mainland groups as UBC, Metro Theatre, Vagabond Players, and the Vancouver International Festival.
Earl Hobson (1936-2015)
Earl Hobson has been a long-time music director for a range of musical theatre companies over the years including Dunbar Musical Theatre, TUTS, and the Greater Vancouver Operetta Society. Earl's life revolved around music. He was a talented, much-loved musician and music educator. In his roles as teacher, conductor and concert band member, he touched the lives of many, many people. He conducted the Richmond Singers, the Royal City Alumni Band, the Kitsilano Boy's Band and approximately 50 musical theatre productions.
Earl Hobson has been a long-time music director for a range of musical theatre companies over the years including Dunbar Musical Theatre, TUTS, and the Greater Vancouver Operetta Society. Earl's life revolved around music. He was a talented, much-loved musician and music educator. In his roles as teacher, conductor and concert band member, he touched the lives of many, many people. He conducted the Richmond Singers, the Royal City Alumni Band, the Kitsilano Boy's Band and approximately 50 musical theatre productions.
Jeff Hyslop
Jeff Hyslop is a Canadian musical theatre actor, singer, dancer, choreographer, and director. His most famous roles were as Jeff the mannequin in the children's show Today's Special and as the title role in the Canadian travelling production of The Phantom of the Opera. Hyslop is married to Vancouver-born singer and actress Ruth Nichol. They have one daughter, Gemma Nichol Hyslop, born in 1976. He moved to Campbell River on Vancouver Island in 2003 to find peace and to be able to spend more time with his family. He has been doing weekend musical theatre workshops with as many as 32 children. His sister, Sandra Bailey, manages his career.
Jeff Hyslop is a Canadian musical theatre actor, singer, dancer, choreographer, and director. His most famous roles were as Jeff the mannequin in the children's show Today's Special and as the title role in the Canadian travelling production of The Phantom of the Opera. Hyslop is married to Vancouver-born singer and actress Ruth Nichol. They have one daughter, Gemma Nichol Hyslop, born in 1976. He moved to Campbell River on Vancouver Island in 2003 to find peace and to be able to spend more time with his family. He has been doing weekend musical theatre workshops with as many as 32 children. His sister, Sandra Bailey, manages his career.
Bruce Kellett
Bruce has been associated with most professional theatres in Canada as a musical director, pianist, and composer. He has worked with the Arts Club Theatre Company for over 38 seasons. He composed the scores for Only in Vancouver, Easy Money, and, in workshop, A Little Princess. Kellett is a graduate of the University of British Columbia. He is known for giving back to the artistic community and is celebrated as a source of encouragement for young performers as they work their way up to professional theatre.
Bruce has been associated with most professional theatres in Canada as a musical director, pianist, and composer. He has worked with the Arts Club Theatre Company for over 38 seasons. He composed the scores for Only in Vancouver, Easy Money, and, in workshop, A Little Princess. Kellett is a graduate of the University of British Columbia. He is known for giving back to the artistic community and is celebrated as a source of encouragement for young performers as they work their way up to professional theatre.
Roger & Nancy Nelson
Roger and Nancy Nelson have a combined service of over 50 years with the North Shore Light Opera Society. In addition to performing with the North Shore Light Opera, the two of them have volunteered many hours of their time to the organization, serving on the board of directors, building sets, sewing costumes, and everything else it has taken over the years to ensure that the show will go on, helping keep the company moving forward.
Roger and Nancy Nelson have a combined service of over 50 years with the North Shore Light Opera Society. In addition to performing with the North Shore Light Opera, the two of them have volunteered many hours of their time to the organization, serving on the board of directors, building sets, sewing costumes, and everything else it has taken over the years to ensure that the show will go on, helping keep the company moving forward.
Alex McLeod (1935-2016)
In the early 1960s Alex moved to Vancouver where he taught elementary school. He then worked for the Vancouver School Board before becoming a Senior Instructor in the department of Music Education at UBC. A born entertainer, Alex was always very active in local theatre, performing with Dunbar Musical Theatre, MUSSOC (UBC Musical Theatre Society), Theatre Under the Stars, Metro Theatre, the North Shore Light Opera, and APPLAUSE! Musicals. He was also a long-time member of the Vancouver Opera chorus. He served on the boards of the Vancouver Youth Symphony and Theatre Under the Stars and was active in the Vancouver Opera Guild.
In the early 1960s Alex moved to Vancouver where he taught elementary school. He then worked for the Vancouver School Board before becoming a Senior Instructor in the department of Music Education at UBC. A born entertainer, Alex was always very active in local theatre, performing with Dunbar Musical Theatre, MUSSOC (UBC Musical Theatre Society), Theatre Under the Stars, Metro Theatre, the North Shore Light Opera, and APPLAUSE! Musicals. He was also a long-time member of the Vancouver Opera chorus. He served on the boards of the Vancouver Youth Symphony and Theatre Under the Stars and was active in the Vancouver Opera Guild.
Bill Millerd
As the Artistic Managing Director of the Arts Club Theatre Company, Bill Millerd continues to make a significant contribution to the musical theatre community, especially with the presentation of more professional musicals than any other company in the lower mainland. He has demonstrated a real desire to attend and support other productions often scouting out new talent and ideas for possible co-productions or show transfers.
As the Artistic Managing Director of the Arts Club Theatre Company, Bill Millerd continues to make a significant contribution to the musical theatre community, especially with the presentation of more professional musicals than any other company in the lower mainland. He has demonstrated a real desire to attend and support other productions often scouting out new talent and ideas for possible co-productions or show transfers.
Lloyd Nicholson
Lloyd Nicholson was the artistic director of Royal City Music Theatre and an instructor at Studio 58, and had worked across the country in a career that spanned more than three decades. Lloyd passed away in the fall of 2009.
Lloyd Nicholson was the artistic director of Royal City Music Theatre and an instructor at Studio 58, and had worked across the country in a career that spanned more than three decades. Lloyd passed away in the fall of 2009.
Ruth Nicol
A longtime favourite performer with Vancouver audiences…started at U.B.C. in MUSSOC (Musical Theatre Society). Best remembered for Love Letters and Same Time Next Year and Jacques Brel at the Arts Club Theatre… appeared with her husband Jeff Hyslop in Pippin and A Little Show at the Arts Club. Ruth received the Vancouver Sun’s Readers Choice Award for her performance in Closer Than Ever. She has appeared on most of the major stages across Canada including the Stratford Festival production of The Pirates of Penzance.
A longtime favourite performer with Vancouver audiences…started at U.B.C. in MUSSOC (Musical Theatre Society). Best remembered for Love Letters and Same Time Next Year and Jacques Brel at the Arts Club Theatre… appeared with her husband Jeff Hyslop in Pippin and A Little Show at the Arts Club. Ruth received the Vancouver Sun’s Readers Choice Award for her performance in Closer Than Ever. She has appeared on most of the major stages across Canada including the Stratford Festival production of The Pirates of Penzance.
Shel Piercy
Shel Piercy has been writing, directing, and producing theatrical plays, musical TV specials, documentaries and feature films for over 35 years. He has worked with and continues to work with a number of theatre companies throughout the lower mainland; however, he is most widely known for his incredible involvement with Theatre Under the Stars. When not directing and producing, he serves as president of the company.
Shel Piercy has been writing, directing, and producing theatrical plays, musical TV specials, documentaries and feature films for over 35 years. He has worked with and continues to work with a number of theatre companies throughout the lower mainland; however, he is most widely known for his incredible involvement with Theatre Under the Stars. When not directing and producing, he serves as president of the company.
Cecilia Smith
A long time performer, and volunteer with many organizations in the lower mainland, Cecilia Smith's forte is accents: at Metro Theatre she used her talents in Stop The World with Russian, German, Bronx and terrible English. She has worked in feature films, commercials, radio plays, taped books and dinner theatre and teaching. She is remembered for being the definitive Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady at Centennial Theatre and Malkin Bowl. Cecilia has won Best Supporting Actress in Dominion Drama Festival, the EV Young Award (TUTS) and Best Actress in the BC Drama Association. She has also spent countless volunteer hours as the archivist for Theatre Under The Stars, Vancouver's oldest musical theatre company.
A long time performer, and volunteer with many organizations in the lower mainland, Cecilia Smith's forte is accents: at Metro Theatre she used her talents in Stop The World with Russian, German, Bronx and terrible English. She has worked in feature films, commercials, radio plays, taped books and dinner theatre and teaching. She is remembered for being the definitive Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady at Centennial Theatre and Malkin Bowl. Cecilia has won Best Supporting Actress in Dominion Drama Festival, the EV Young Award (TUTS) and Best Actress in the BC Drama Association. She has also spent countless volunteer hours as the archivist for Theatre Under The Stars, Vancouver's oldest musical theatre company.
Roger Smith
Roger Smith was instrumental in working with a dedicated and driven group to resurrect Theatre Under The Stars after the demise of the professional company in the 60's. Roger applied his knowledge of all aspects of production including stage management, lighting design etc. to build the society as well as conduct many seminars teaching the principles of stage management. Roger sat in the board with TUTS for many years and in 2004, the board recognized his and his wife Cecilia's many years of service and dedication with the creation of a new volunteer award named in their honour. Roger has also worked with numerous other companies in the lower mainland including Dunbar Musical Theatre, North Shore Light Opera, Ophidian Theatre, and Royal City Musical Theatre.
Roger Smith was instrumental in working with a dedicated and driven group to resurrect Theatre Under The Stars after the demise of the professional company in the 60's. Roger applied his knowledge of all aspects of production including stage management, lighting design etc. to build the society as well as conduct many seminars teaching the principles of stage management. Roger sat in the board with TUTS for many years and in 2004, the board recognized his and his wife Cecilia's many years of service and dedication with the creation of a new volunteer award named in their honour. Roger has also worked with numerous other companies in the lower mainland including Dunbar Musical Theatre, North Shore Light Opera, Ophidian Theatre, and Royal City Musical Theatre.
Pat Waldron
Pat Waldron's theatre career spans over many years in some 37 musicals and plays. Highlights include Chicago (Vancouver Playhouse), Anne of Green Gables (Charlotterown), Showboat (LiveEnt), Sweeney Todd (Arts Club). Pat established the "Singin' Dancin' Actin' Studio" and saw many students go through the courses to become professionals across the country. Pat produced the first four family musicals at Gateway Theatre including Annie Wizard of Oz, and Anne of Green Gables. In 1987, Pat was the executive producer of Peter Pan, the musical for SDA productions starring Cathy Rigby and Long John Baldry which toured to Seattle and Spokane and received four Jessie Awards including Best Musical and Outstanding Production of the Year. Pat was also the founder and producer of the former Dunbar Musical Theatre.
Pat Waldron's theatre career spans over many years in some 37 musicals and plays. Highlights include Chicago (Vancouver Playhouse), Anne of Green Gables (Charlotterown), Showboat (LiveEnt), Sweeney Todd (Arts Club). Pat established the "Singin' Dancin' Actin' Studio" and saw many students go through the courses to become professionals across the country. Pat produced the first four family musicals at Gateway Theatre including Annie Wizard of Oz, and Anne of Green Gables. In 1987, Pat was the executive producer of Peter Pan, the musical for SDA productions starring Cathy Rigby and Long John Baldry which toured to Seattle and Spokane and received four Jessie Awards including Best Musical and Outstanding Production of the Year. Pat was also the founder and producer of the former Dunbar Musical Theatre.