A rootin’ tootin’ cowboy musical based on the life of Will James.

Although he was born and raised in Quebec, he’ll wrangle you in to the life and times of the American West. Enjoy the ride! Presented from August 23 to October 23, 2004. Click here for complete performance listings. And click here for photos of the show. And here for a couple of Candid Photos.
Artist Biographies
Dwayne Evens, Bopy
Dwayne Evens began his performing career during his years at Ryerson University, where he received his Bachelor Degree in Radio and Television Arts. Since moving to Toronto from Langton, Ontario, he has been involved in many productions in every medium, especially Television, Film and Theatre. This summer Dwayne released three films, one of which received awards internationally. The film, “A Stolen Moment” also received an honourable mention at the Toronto Filmmakers Festival in Toronto. His most recent theatre credits include Aaron in “Moses”, Amos in “Prodigal Son”, and Joshua in “Corpus Christi”.
Steve Lendt, Will James
Steve is completely overjoyed to be making his debut with Smile Theatre. He loves touring, his latest one being with Little Red Theatre, performing a bilingual Big Bad Wolf for primary school children all over Ontario in a musical version of Little Red Riding Hood. Before that, he wasn’t touring but he was proud to be part of Scarborough Music Theatre’s production of “Oliver.” He loves singing, contributing recently to Elizabeth Davidson’s “Snow Tunes & Show Tunes”, a seasonal production which combines big broadway hits with Christmas standards. Other non-touring, non-musical theatre credits include Lucky in “Waiting for Godot” (Black Dog Productions), Robert Ross in “Jitters” (Theatre Cambrian), and Lorne Sanderson in “An Act of Love” (Weston Little Theatre).
Bill Brillinger, Stage Manager
Has Anybody Here Seen Willy marks Bill’s fifth production with Smile, following the last two seasons 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.
Tom Kneebone, C.M., O. Ont., Writer
For fifteen wonderful years, Tom was the Artistic Director of Smile. As a performer, Tom 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. We dedicate our efforts to his memory and are proud to continue his legacy of smiles.

Dinah Christie, Writer, Composer 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 2 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.

Michelle Blore, Set, Costume, and Props Design
This is Michelle’s second production with Smile after having designed Consider This Lillie last season. She is a recent Graduate from York University’s Theatre Production Program. Other 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 be returning to Smile Theatre and looks forward to every bright moment shared with them.

Mark Rutherford, Musical 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.