It is only fitting that we celebrate the life of our favourite Canadian performer in the best way we know how -- by presenting it in a Tom Kneebone-style show to the audience who loved him most. This show was written and directed by Kneebone's long-time friend and performing partner, Dinah Christie. Presented from April 25 to June 25, 2005.
Click for the Tour Schedule and for show photos.
Artist Biographies
Allyson Pratt
Allyson hails from Edmonton, Alberta, where her loving parents nurtured her theatrical dreams from the age of three. A graduate of the Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts, and winner of the 2004 Triple Threat Award, Allyson is a now a budding singer, actor and dancer in the theatre community. Favourite roles include Anne Shirley (Anne of Green Gables) and Cecile Volanges (Les Liaisons Dangereuses) She is especially excited to be sharing this show with her good friend Serge. Thanks to Mom, Dad and Kevy.
Serge Charlebois
Serge is so happy to be touring with Smile. Growing up in Ottawa, Serge knew he wanted to perform for a living. He then moved to Toronto two years ago to study the performing arts at the Randolph Academy and is proud to say that he is a working actor! Serge is looking forward to touring around his home town and in his native city, doing what he loves to do. He is very excited to be a part of this show for both the personal challenge and for the opportunity to learn and share about this wonderful man, Tom Kneebone. Serge has recently returned from Calgary where he performed in Grease the Musical but his most memorable role was as Lt. Ralph Clark in Timberlake Wertenbaker’s Our Country’s Good. Thank yous to Dinah Christie for her many inspirations, to my parents Monique and Bernard, my girlfriend Kasey and my whole family of relations and friends for all their love and support. Thank you. Enjoy the show.
Bill Brillinger, Stage Manager
Os de Genou: The Saga of Tom Kneebone marks Bill’s third production with Smile this season. Other credits include Fred & Adele, Has Anybody here seen Willy?, Consider This Lillie, Tonight We Raid Berlin, Sweethearts and Two on a Toonie. 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.

Dinah Christie, Writer and Director
Dinah Christie has been singing, dancing and acting all over North America with indefatigable energy since her twelfth birthday when her father gave her a guitar. Christie’s eclectic career covers the spectrum from the Stratford Shakespearean Festival in Canada to her role of singing Hostess on the highly contraversial C.B.C. Television network show, This Hour Has Seven Days. Her 10 years on the comedic Party Game series and her co-star role with Don Adams in Check It Out lead to two Gemini awards. She earned another for her C.B.C. special, Dinah and Friends. The writer, Dinah Christie, has been creating musicals for Tom Kneebone’s Smile Theatre Company for the past several years. Between them, they have 20 one-hour original Canadian stories. In 1999 Kneebone and Christie created A Marvellous Party, in honour of Sir Noel Coward’s 100th birthday and toured it to theatres everywhere. She has directed the U.S. Premier of Dean Regan’s A Closer Walk With Patsy Cline, assisted with his Black And Gold Revue and assisted in the direction of two International Tours of Forever Swing out of Baltimore. This versatile lady has become an inventor and entrepreneur. She has a bronze plaque in Ottawa’s Museum of Science and technology for her Hot Heels – protectors for the backs on drivers’ shoes. Her hemp line of ‘adventure accessories’ are available at Tilley Endurables and from her web site www.baddsisters.com She raises money for causes that are close to her heart, including Breast Cancer Research, Childrens’ Hospitals, AIDS Research, Big Sisters, South Simcoe Theatre and Shakespeare-by-the-Sea in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Jennifer Bunt, Set, Costume, and Props Design
Jennifer Bunt is no stranger to Smile Theatre and is pleased to be joining the company’s creative team as set and costume designer for Os de Genou. Her credits include costume designs for the School of Toronto Dance Theatre, the BravoFact/ Bookshorts film What Casanova Told Me, Cabaret at the New Yorker Theatre, and the Dora nominated production of Brookstone’s Dixie Gospel. Fresh from designing the fanciful costumes for The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, currently touring southern Ontario with Brookstone Productions, Jennifer is excited to be working on yet another wonderful touring show. Thanks go out to friends and family for all their love and support and to Tom Carson and Dinah Christie for giving me this fantastic opportunity.

Mark Rutherford, Arranger
Mark is a Canadian musician originating in Winnipeg who enjoys a multi-faceted career, participating variously as Pianist, Keyboardist, Composer, Musical Director, Producer, and Accompanist. Professional associations with Dinah Christie, Dianne Heatherington, Buffy Ste. Marie, Louise Pitre plus a two decade involvement in the Toronto theatre scene has enabled him to encompass a broad range of musical styles. His career has included a year-long regular stint on CBC’s Morningside, many TV and radio appearances, film and recording credits. Besides numerous cross-Canada trips, touring opportunities have taken him throughout the U.S., across Europe, and to the Middle East. Since 1990 he has provided Musical Direction and recorded arrangements for over 50 productions for Toronto’s Smile Theatre, and composed for and performed with his jazz group MRQ at festivals and concert events. He anticipates another action-packed 2004-05 season with the Smile Theatre.