Cast

In order of appearance

(cast photos courtesy of Terry Fieldhouse)

Andrew House (Grindoff)	Andrew House makes his debut with Garrison Theatricals in the role of the miller, Grindoff. Andrew is a physician by trade, but his performing arts skills include piano, percussion and voice, and he has performed in the International Eisteddfod in Wales, served as Music Director for a number of musical theatre / variety shows at the University of Ottawa, and most recently has enjoyed singing bass with London Pro Musica under the direction of Ken Fleet. Andrew and his wife Cindy have two wonderful children, Jessica and Michael, and two very busy Jack Russell Terriers.
Penny Jones (Ravina)	Penny Jones is an elementary teacher with two great kids of her own. She has directed many musicals with her students and took to the stage herself two years ago. She has recently completed her second play, Dry Streak, with the Thorndale Dinner Theatre. Penny is excited to be a part of The Miller and his Men.
Joseph Lella (Dick Deadeye)	A retired academic, Joe Lella has had extensive ‘night job’ theatre experience. At McGill, he wrote, Willie: A Dream, then played Willie, the great physician, Sir William Osler, across North America. Back in Montreal, as Director, Medicaster Theatre, he staged classic, non-musicals. In community theatre, among other musical comedy roles, he played Nathan Detroit in Guys and Dolls, and leading Gilbert and Sullivan characters. At Western he has directed Jesus Christ Superstar, and A Modern Day Mikado and was Harold Hill in The Music Man. Recently he played Roy Cohn in Fountainhead’s Angels in America. He sings with London Pro Musica.
Alondra Vega-Zaldivar (Margot)	Originally from Cuba where she first got involved in the world of music, studying Choral Conducting at the Conservatory of Music in Havana, Alondra moved to Canada in 2007 where she began her singing lessons and began to prepare for University. She is currently at the University of Western Ontario studying voice in the Theory and Composition program. Her singing experience includes studio recitals and singing recitals in Toronto and London.
Neila Lawson (Caroline)	Neila Lawson is the music director at Riverside United Church. She also teaches private piano/voice lessons. She sings with the Broadway Singers. She was very involved with musical theatre in the Tillsonburg Theatre where she was the music director for Anything Goes, Fiddler on the Roof, and many others. Her proudest achievement was her portrayal of the Rev. Mother in Nunsense.
Alasdair Beaton (Jack)	Alasdair Beaton has been around music all his life. Over the last 30 years he has been a chorister and soloist across the region and currently sings with the Karen Schuessler Singers. With degrees in mathematics and physiotherapy, he retired early from healthcare management. He lives with his wife Mary and spends much of his time working on their heritage home or his record collection. The Miller and his Men is Alasdair’s first foray into musical theatre.
Dave Burnett (Kelmar)	Dave Burnett is part of the real life couple in our ensemble “searching for love amidst the pangs of poverty”. His musical background is primarily classical choral with recent musical theatre cast parts in Anything Goes and Bye Bye Birdie. He is one of three of our cast in the Broadway Singers. A tidbit of trivia—Dave is trained as a real life miller but alas the perils of misfortune have caused him to pursue a desk job.
Hannah Drew (Claudine)	Hannah Drew is heading into her fourth year as a Theatre and Drama Studies student at the University of Toronto and Sheridan College. Past work has included: Hermione in The Winter’s Tale, Ensemble and co-creator of A Child of Survivors (Theatre Erindale), Tess in Tess of the D’Urbervilles, Jo in Little Women (London Fringe Festival), Lady Eldred in Listen to the Wind, and Juliet in Romeo & Juliet (The Grand Theatre: High School Project). She is very excited to be working with such a talented cast and crew in her first musical, and would like to thank everyone, but especially her mum for her constant support! Much love!
Benjamin Dyck (Lucas)	Benjamin Dyck grew up in the wilderness of northern British Columbia. Growing up as a ‘farm boy’ he naturally fit into the role of “Lucas”. Raised in a singing family he developed a love of music from an early age. He has studied voice and piano at Bob Jones University as well as Bible Missionary Institute. After moving to London in 2010 he quickly became involved in theater and various choral groups. He has sung with the Fanshawe Chorus as well as the Fagan Singers. His theatrical debut was in a religious drama, The Great Banquet.
John Biehn (Wilbur)	John Biehn is a veteran of several shows with London Musical Theatre Productions, including Music Man, Guys and Dolls (Arvide Abernathy) and Pirates of Penzance. He is an original member of London’s Broadway Singers and has 20+ years of experience as member of St. John’s Anglican Church choir. John is Professor Emeritus, Department of Family Medicine at Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, UWO.
Mark Tovey (Sir Walt)	An award-winning playwright, Mark Tovey is the author of Play on Words, and the creator of a one-man theatre history show, How to Become Ridiculously Cultured in One Evening. Directing credits include Janus, The Perfect Essay, The Illumination of Dr. Bucke, and The Importance of Being Earnest. This production draws on primary-source research from Mark’s paper, The First Stage: The Officers of the London Garrison and the Theatre Royal (London and Middlesex Historian, vol. 29).
Julie Comfort (Dora)	Julie Comfort is the other half of the real life couple in our ensemble. Julie’s theatrical initiatives to date have been in that significant supporting role known as a “mom”. The Miller marks her own debut on stage. She brings with her a musical background and a love of theatre.