Board of Directors
Co-President, John DuSomme
John started his theatrical career in public school and never looked back, being on stage in a number of school and community productions.
John was part of the Queensville Players 30 years ago. He was involved in several shows shouldering many responsibilities both on and off stage. In his role as producer, director and musical director over the years, he has brought to the QP stage such productions as Gilbert and Sullivan’s Princess Ida, the Broadway sensation Man of La Mancha and most recently Disney’s Beauty and the Beast.
Theater and technical production is a passion for John. His goal, along with the rest of the team, is to bring Queensville Players together as the premier theatre company in the region.
He has worked closely with the previous board and is excited to take the helm with co-president Tanya Gripich to guide QP into an exciting new chapter.
Co-President, Tanya Gripich
After living in various areas across the GTA and beyond while growing up. Tanya eventually moved to the Georgina area to establish roots and raise a family in 2003.
After a 23 year career as a Police Officer in the City of Toronto, Tanya turned in her badge and is now an active, full-time local Real Estate Agent. Tanya was previously on the Board as Costume Manager for the Queensville Players, and has been a part of a number of other boards and committees including, Peaceful Hearts, Jericho Youth Services, Parent Council for Keswick Public School and Newmarket High School, Town of Georgina Safe Streets Committee, Executive member of Udora-Leaskdale Lions Club and Past Chair for the Sutton and District Lions Club. Tanya is also currently a member of the Chamber of Commerce in the Town of Georgina.
A former competitive track and field sprint athlete throughout high school as well with Ontario Master’s in previous years, Tanya is a bargain hunter by nature, a DIY’er at heart as well as a movie enthusiast. She currently resides in Jackson’s Point with her husband and two children.
Tanya became involved with Queensville Players several years ago when attending the production of “The Sound of Music” both of her children then became involved in theatre productions (Wizard of Oz, Honk Jr, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Elf Jr, High School Musical, and Beauty and the Beast.
Starting off as a parent behind the scenes, and helping to coordinate front of house before moving onto the Board of Directors as Costume Manager, outfitting for the productions of “That Summer” and “High School Musical” before taking on the role of Stage Manager for “Beauty and the Beast” and “Little Shop of Horrors”.
Tanya looks forward to continuing to represent Queensville Players in the light it deserves to maintain the reputation of being the best Community Theatre
Family that people wish to belong and move forward with for years to come.
Lauren was born and raised in Keswick, having lived there for 29 years. The Queensville Players has always been her home-base Community Theatre group, being seen on and off stage in many of their productions over the years as well as being a board member several years ago. She has had a deep love for theatre since childhood, pursuing a post secondary education in Musical Theatre Performance (Sheridan College, St. Clair College, St. Lawrence College). Lauren has spent extensive time honing her craft and has studied nearly all aspects of theatre, having a very in depth understanding of what it takes to put on a show. By day, Lauren has worked in Customer Service, Retail Management, and currently in the Utility Services in IT, which has allowed her to develop an assortment of skills to bring to her role with QP.
Lauren has been very fortunate to have had so many wonderful experiences in the theatre world, many credited to The Queensville Players, and she is beyond grateful for the opportunity to give back to such an amazing group and play an integral role in the future of the QP. Lauren hopes to see you at the theatre soon!
Christopher White is very excited to be joining the board of Queensville Players after having performed in their spring production of Beauty and the Beast as Gaston.
Singing and performing has always been a passion of Christopher’s, having gotten his first lead role in a musical in Grade 8. He has been performing in community theatre for 35 years now, with groups across the GTA. He actually got his start in his career of hairdressing through theatre, working backstage styling hair for a number of productions before he was a professional.
Christopher opened his own salon in 2019, just before the pandemic, and thought he wouldn’t be able to spare the time for theatre anymore. However, being a part of Queensville Players showed him that theatre is an essential part of his life! He is looking forward to helping to shape the next chapter of Queensville Players’ story.
Some of his favourite past roles include, Jerry in the Full Monty with Whitby Courthouse Theatre, Lancelot in Spamalot with Scarborough Musical Theatre, Lord Evelyn Oakleigh in Anything Goes with Etobicoke Musical Productions, and Dr. Sanson Carrasco (The knight of the mirrors) in Man of La Mancha with Etobicoke Musical Productions.
When not performing Christopher loves to travel the world with his partner Marcelo and visit New York to see more theatre.
Secretary, Beth Jones
When not on or around the stage, Beth works as a medical receptionist at a family doctor’s office. This has allowed her the flexibility to be more involved with theatre.
Beth is excited for this coming year and is ready for all the challenges and opportunities it has in store.
Artistic Director & Publicity, Alyse Squirrell
Alyse is thrilled to be a part of The Queensville Players family! Living in Barrie but originally from Keswick, Alyse has been an avid part of the GTA’s performing arts community for over 20 years, both as artist, educator and leader. As an educator she has had the pleasure of working with amazing companies such as Ovation Performing Arts for many years, Judy and David’s various shows, The Queensville Players, Dance Express Art Academy and a few other schools across the GTA and Simcoe County as a Dance and Musical Theatre Teacher. Alyse specializes in creating strong characterization in her students/ cast, helping them to tell the story of their piece, instilling them with proper technique/training, helping them to understand the “big picture” is and what a performance should look and (most importantly) feel like at the end. She has a deep understanding of what it takes to bring a show to a stage, from backstage to onstage, artistic team to seamstress, she has done it all. Alyse has very strong beliefs when it comes to the importance of team work, organization and commitment in everything she does. Alyse‘s most recent stage credits include: Choreographer and Costume Designer for Anastasia ( Queensville Players), Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors ( Queensville Players), Babette and the Dance Captain in Beauty and the Beast (Queensville Players), Columbia in The Rocky Horror Picture Show (Mariposa Arts Theatre), Jetsam in The Little Mermaid (SCS Musicals), Thelonius in Shrek the Musical (Marquee Theatre), Margot and Assistant Choreographer in Legally Blonde the Musical (ASTC) and Sharpay Evans in High School Musical (Queensville Players 2010). There isn’t a day that goes by where she doesn’t have some sort of Musical playing in her brain! When she’s not performing or teaching, Alyse can be found at her full-time job, a Sales Manager at St Onge Recreation, where she manages and sells FUN or spending a quiet night at home with a good book and pet snuggles! Alyse is so excited to bring her skills and love of the arts to The Queensville Players as Artistic Director.
Co-Property Manager, Michelle Charrette
Michelle is a retired high school French teacher who always ran choirs and shows as an extra-curricular activity. She has been singing and dancing forever, but didn’t fall in love with community theatre until her 40’s, when she played some of her favourite lead roles as Sweet Charity, Aldonza and Baker’s Wife. She has also produced, directed, choreographed, stage managed, music directed and done set design & builds in various productions for OnStage Uxbridge, Borelians, Uxbridge Youth Theatre, and now Queensville Players. Aside from theatre, her passions include languages, travel and gardening.
Co-Property Manager, Neil Shanks-Marshall
Neil is happy to be a part of The Queensiville Players family. Neil got started in community theatre in 2008 when he was 9 in the Queensillve Players’ production of Oliver! He has spent a number of shows on and off the stage as a cast member, stage hand, lighting or sound operator and stage manager. Neil had a 6 year long gap during college and the pandemic when he was not involved in theatre and is thrilled to be back. You may have seen him recently as Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors, and not seen him assisting with lighting and sound for Anastasia behind the scenes. He is very excited to continue to be a part of future productions, on and off the stage, and is happy to be a part of the board and have a more active role in putting together these amazing shows for his community.
Co-Property Manager, Joanna Kaufman
Costume Manager, Katarina Steiger
Grants and Fundraising, Doug Hammond
Director at Large, Damien Allford
Director at Large, Michael Black
Director at Large, Nicole Blinoff
Director at Large, Stacey Brown
Director at Large, Anthony Chow
Director at Large, Emily Fahlgren
Emily brings a wealth of enthusiasm and excitement in joining the Queensville Players as a new member! She currently works in the drinking water and wastewater compliance field. Throughout her early years, she developed a passion for theatre and performed in a variety of plays throughout her school years. After taking a brief pause, she is ready to make her theatrical debut in the Queensville Player’s production of Narnia: the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe!
Outside of the theatre, she can be found singing, reading a book, exploring nature, and cuddling with her cat, Mr. Jinx. Emily is excited to collaborate with fellow actors, directors, and crew members to create memorable and inspiring performances that resonate with our community and learn more about the team work involved in theatrical productions.
Director at Large, Rhonda Gribbon
Rhonda discovered her love of music and theatre at an early age, performing in various choirs and theatre productions throughout
her school and university years. She is a longstanding member of the award-winning York Harmony Chorus and has served various roles on both their Management Team and Music Direction Team over the years.
Director at Large, Jackie Hart
Jacqueline Hart lives in Keswick. She has 2 daughters and is semi-retired.
Jacqueline has been on stage since she was 4 years old, either dancing or singing! She sang with Sweet Adelines acapella York Harmony Chorus for 20 years.
Jacqueline has been involved off stage with Queensville Players for 15 years, but this will be her first time on stage. She hopes you will enjoy the show – and the costumes where you will find much of her blood, sweat, and tears entwined!
Director At Large, Nicole Hill – has lived in Georgina since 2002 and has been involved with The Queensville Players since her ensemble role with QP in The Sound of Music.
Nicole is a Programmer in her day job and has combined her skills and her passion for community by donating time to maintaining websites for the community, including this QP website, Georgina Cares, and Georgina Historical Society.
Nicole has several hobbies and passions including reading, working out, travel, gardening, knitting, and oil painting.
Director at Large, Cindy Leitch
Cindy began her formative years in East Gwillimbury, with her first theatre experience being at Sharon Public School, where she played a sailor in H. M. S. Pinafore. Life events moved her to eastern Ontario where she lived on the shores of the St. Lawrence River, a stone’s throw from the Thousand Islands. In her career as an educator, she had the opportunity to direct and produce a wide variety of plays and musicals.
More recently she has moved westward across the province working in environmental restoration. Cindy has had the pleasure to be a member of various community theatre groups and found that collaborative, community art brings much satisfaction. She has developed programming for a summer theatre camp and is not afraid to tackle procedural guides and policy documents. One of her mantras is “We have to build capacity.” To that end Cindy would like to encourage workshops and information sharing through the newsletter. She is currently working with her Board colleagues to update the by-laws and develop a production procedural manual for Queensville Players.
Director at Large, Ryan MacDougall
Ryan hails currently from Stouffville. He got his start to theatre upon discovering drama,the arts of makeup special effect and costume design in high school. While in school he participated in Carol Shields-Departures and Arrivals as well as EWC productions and the Sears Drama Festival.
Director at Large, Kathryn Tom