The Next Chapter in the Beatrice Lillie Story

Beatrice Lillie was a Canadian girl who became a star of the London stage. Dubbed, "the funniest woman in the world" she won a place in the hearts of thousands. Memorable songs and true adventures are brought to life as Beatrice is recreated before the audience's very eyes. Presented from April 26 to June 26, 2004. Click here for complete performance listings.
Artist Biographies
Michelle Piller, Beatrice Lillie
Michelle Piller is delighted to return to Smile Theatre following her performances as Beatrice Lillie in Christmas Lillies and Mona Parsons in Mona Parsons. Other Toronto credits include Toronto The Good (Artword Theatre), The Dance of the Dead (Berkeley Street Theatre) and You Thought Your Family Was Strange (Young People’s Theatre). Regional credits include Side be Side by Sondheim, Nunsense, Hair, Dads, Anything Goes, Assassins, The Last Resort, Beautiful City, Body and Soul and Toad! Michelle dedicates this performance to the incomparable Tom Kneebone, who she misses dearly.
Nathan Wellman, Hartwell DeMille
Nathan is happy to be on the road again, after touring the province over the winter with the children’s show More Munsch Madness (Touring Players). Nathan trained in musical theatre at the University of Windsor (BFA 2002). Some favourite credits include My Fair Lady (Thousand Islands Playhouse), The Fantasticks (Heritage Theatre), Forever Plaid (Bluewater Summer Playhouse), Anne of Green Gables (Sunshine Festival Theatre) and It Runs in the Family (Stirling Festival Theatre). When he’s not singing and acting, Nathan can be found selling theatre tickets at pretty much any box office across Toronto. He hopes you enjoy the show!
Bill Brillinger, Stage Manager
Consider This Lillie marks Bill’s fourth production with Smile, following a successful run of Two on a Toonie last season, Sweethearts and Tonight We Raid Berlin earlier this year. He spent the summer seasons of 2001 and 2002 in Nova Scotia with Ship’s Company Theatre, and was fascinated by the enormous tides in the Bay of Fundy. He has toured with a production of Bush Ladies, a show about the early experiences in Canada of Susannah Moodie, Catherine Parr Traill and Anne Langton. Bill is delighted to be back with the wonderful audiences of Smile Theatre.
Tom Kneebone, C.M., O.Ont., Writer
For fifteen wonderful years, Tom has been the Artistic Director of Smile, the driving force and visionary behind the company. As a performer, Tom has appeared with the London Old Vic, the Stratford Festival, the Shaw Festival, the Canadian Opera Company, the National Ballet of Canada, the Charlottetown Festival, on Broadway and in countless films and television productions. The Smile Theatre Company is very proud that Tom has been honoured this past year with the Order of Ontario, the Order of Canada and the Queen’s Jubilee Medal, for his work creating theatre for Ontario’s seniors. We are sad to inform you that Tom passed away November 15, 2003. We dedicate our efforts to him, and we intend to continue his legacy of Smiles.

Sandra Margolese, Director
Sandra is honoured to be directing her second show this season for Smile. She studied under the master, Tom Kneebone, and assisted in direction of the first two shows of this season. Other Smile experience includes work in administration and production as well as performing and touring four shows. Sandra wrote, directed and performed her own one-woman show, Say it With Jazz, for a limited tour with Smile and was director and producer for the Voices of Hope benefit concert, staged at The Winter Garden Theatre. Other performing credits include: Phantom of the Opera (Pantages Theatre), Pirates of Penzance, Mikado, and Vaudeville (Drayton Entertainment), The Music Man (Theatre Aquarius), and Fiddler on the Roof (Huron Country Playhouse). Sandra has recorded a Jazz CD with Juno winning producer Peter Mann and is heard singing her original folk/pop tunes on This Old Harbour Town CD. Sandra dedicates this show with love to the memory and magic of T.K.

William Orlowski, Choreographer
William Orlowski is not only one of the greatest tap-dancers Canada has produced, but is an award-winning choreographer as well. He is the recipient of two Dora Mavor Moore Awards for Best Choreography in a Musical, and both choreographed and performed at the Shaw Festival from 1994-2001. Mr. Orlowski’s vast experience ranges from founding the National Tap Dance Company of Canada to choreographing for the likes of Ginger Rogers and Liza Minnelli. He had the privilege of collaborating with Tom Kneebone, as a choreographer and performer with the Smile Theatre Company, for many projects since 1979. He is delighted to return to Smile with his favourite assistant, Rosie Kneebone.

Michelle Blore, Set, Costume & Props Design
Michelle Blore is a recent Graduate from York University’s Theatre Production Program. Her most recent work as a Designer has been making Puppets for the Film Labrats, Set Design for Big Love with Theatre@York, and Puppet/Set Design for Puppetwerx’s The Pied Piper of Hamelin. She has also stage managed for several companies including Sown Prop Theatre and Clay and Paper Theatre. She participates in collective creation theatre; just having finished two pieces entitled Blacked Out and The Ongoing Adventures of Sado, Narc, Butch and Ped. She is delighted to have joined Smile Theatre and looks forward to every bright moment shared with them.

Douglas Romanow, Score & Musical Arrangements
Douglas Romanow has been composing for theatre since 1993. Highlights include the Dora nominated The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe for Brookstone Theatre, Tales from the Arabian Nights for Youtheatre, Montreal and Songs from the Treehouse for Prairie Theatre Exchange. This year he has composed music for two short films and a number of commercial television spots. He has produced several CDs for recording artists, including the 2003 Juno nominated CD for Toronto blues band, Rockitt 88. He works from his recording studio, Fire Escape Recording, and lives in Toronto with his wife and two children.