What we do…
The funds generated for Gaslight Community Theatre Productions through ticket sales, donations, and sponsorships, are used in ways that benefit our whole community:
THE GASLIGHT TOUR
Our pride and joy, The Gaslight Tour, is a week-long event (including dress rehearsals) that entertains 720 patrons, involves over 60 cast, crew, and production people, highlights Collingwood’s beautiful historic downtown, and celebrates Collingwood’s colourful past. The Tour provides top-notch entertainment through performances by local people, of original plays, written by local people. We sell out quickly every year and judging from the patron surveys, people love what we’re doing.
THE PAGE-TO-STAGE WRITING PROGRAMS
We subsidize two writing programs each year so that people in the community can take advantage of the expertise of two successful, professional playwrights, Dan Needles and Caroline Smith. Janet Wilkinson is the Producer of this very important part of our company. Small class sizes, low tuition costs, and lots of personal attention make these programs such a hit with our writers.
When Arlene left Collingwood at the end of the 2015 tour, she passed the baton to one of her assistants, Monica Wilson. In turn, at the end of the 2019 tour, Monica passed the baton to Laurie May. Laurie has been involved in Gaslight for many years, as a writer, actor, guide director and board member. She is the perfect leader to take our company into the next decade.
VISION STATEMENT
Gaslight Community Theatre Productions seeks to provide an outlet for creative inclusive community involvement while producing quality education and entertainment in a safe and supportive space.
New Executive Producer for 2020
A long-time Gaslight volunteer, Laurie May, is taking over as Executive Producer of Gaslight Community Theatre Productions, effective immediately.
Over the years, Laurie has participated in our Scene-writing course as a writer, as well as a 4-Scenes actor. She has been a Guide, as well as Guide Director & Script Writer. She stage-managed our full-length production of Marion Bridge, and she had an acting role in The Legacy in the 2019 tour.
Past leader, Monica Wilson, is going to remain a volunteer on the Gaslight team; however, greater family commitments (4 grandsons) and lower energy levels (ageing process) have led to this decision. Passing the baton to such a vibrant, talented person as Laurie seems to be a smart move to ensure the continued success of Gaslight Community Theatre.
Board Members:
Laurie May (President/Chair), Monica Wilson (Secretary), Susan Brindisi (Treasurer), Dawn Hanley, Janet Wilkinson.
What we did…
How many of these Tours do you remember?
- 2010 – ALL ABOARD, FULL STEAM AHEAD
- 2011 – WHISKEY & WICKEDNESS
- 2012 – TALES FROM THE HEARTH
- 2013 – LAUNCHING A LEGACY
- 2014 – THE GREAT WAR, 1914 – 1918
- 2015 – OUR SPORTING HERITAGE
- 2016 – LIGHTHOUSE LEGENDS
- 2017 – 150 YEARS OF GREATNESS
- 2018 – TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS
- 2019 – THE HERSTORY OF COLLINGWOOD
- 2021 – CEMETERY STORIES
- 2022- UNSOLVED MYSTERIES
Over a decade ago, Arlene Noble brought the idea of the Gaslight Tour to Collingwood. She had the opportunity to attend a similar theatre experience in Waterford, Ontario and she loved the concept! Lincoln also has a similar-format event, the Lamplighter Tour, now in its 18th year. With the support of the Collingwood Rotary Club and the assistance of a great team of volunteers, the Gaslight Tour was born. From the start, the Collingwood community embraced this project. As you know, the tickets are still in high demand and we generally sell out in a matter of days.
Many Gaslight volunteers have been involved from the very start, as you can see from their biographies. We are also thrilled to add new members to our team every year. New enthusiastic members and new stories will keep the Gaslight Tour alive for many years to come.
“An audience is privy to the glittering final product, but what goes unseen is the incredible amount of mental energy that propels a play to that final trial. There is laughter, there is frustration, there are late nights, snacks, sleep deprivation, and burning motivation. There are terrible failures and great surging victories. Above all, and without exception, there is drama. Whatever the outcome, what you see on the stage has been accomplished collectively and as a community.”
– Anne Raciunas
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Town of Collingwood Land Acknowledgement:
For more than 15,000 years the First Nations walked upon, and cared for, the lands we now call home: Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, Ojibwe, and many others who cared for their families and communities, the way we now seek to care for ours.
The Town of Collingwood acknowledges the Lake Simcoe-Nottawasaga Treaty of 1818 and respects all of the Nation-to-Nation agreements that have formed relationships with the original inhabitants of Turtle Island; the reality of our shared history; the current contributions of Indigenous people within our community and seeks to continue empowering expressions of pride amongst all of the diverse stakeholders in this area.
We seek to do better, to continue to recognize, learn, and grow, in friendship and community, Nation-to-Nation.