Director
Capitol Theatre Port Hope
June & July 2023
Canadian Legend Stompin’ Tom grew up in an orphanage, travelled throughout Northern Ontario playing the bar circuit, faced naysayers of all sorts, but he eventually found his success in telling the stories of our country. His captivating story is told through this unique tribute to “The Man of the Land” and a true icon in Canadian music. Featuring his greatest hits, such as Bud the Spud, Tillsonburg, Sudbury Saturday Night, and of course, The Hockey Song.
I loved revisting this piece, after first directing in in Sudbury in 2018. This time, we condensed the cast, pulled back the curtains (both literally and figuratively), and hired an ensemble of actor-musicians who could serve as both the band and the acting company. It was a celebration of how theatre is made by showing everything live on stage: no strings, no hidden costume changes, no secrets. And we had a lot of fun coming up with hockey choreography. I think Tom would’ve loved it as much as we did.
Songs & Lyrics by Stompin’ Tom Connors
Music Direction by David Archibald
Featuring Jack Barr, Scott Carmichael, Donna Garner, Melissa Payne, Alex St. Kitts, Andy Trithardt, and Haneul Yi