Smile Theatre - Theatre for Seniors

Edna Sharp broadcasts live from the studios of the BBC (the Bracebridge Broadcasting Corporation, that is!) Written and directed by Seana-Lee Wood and starring Abby Zotz (January 9 to February 12, 2006) and Seana-Lee Wood (February 13 to March 26 in Ontario and March 27 to April 8 in BC). This show tours to Vancouver and area as "Good Morning Cariboo Country". Click for show photos, candid rehearsal photos and the tour schedule.
Artist Biographies
	Seana-Lee Wood, Writer, Director,Edna Sharpe After years of touring across Canada and internationally, Seana-Lee Wood is bringing her brash style of heart-stirring musical comedy to Smile Theatre. Beloved by audiences for her versatile voice and sharp-witted characters, Seana-Lee has toured in Hal Prince’s Phantom of the Opera and Show Boat (with Cloris Leachman and Ned Beatty) in the United States and at home . Some of her favorite storm trouper roles include Marge in the smash hit Suds, Diamond Tooth Gertie in Dawson City Yukon, Dolly in Hello Dolly!, Mama Rose in Gypsy and Kate in Kiss Me Kate. She can do warm characters as well like in Sound of Music (Maria), The Music Man (Marion), and The Boyfriend (Maisie). Seana-Lee has been involved in several original Canadian musicals , nearest to her heart is Little Women--A Holiday Musical written by her partner Jim Hodgkinson. After the Toronto run of Good Morning Cottage Country, Seana-Lee will be returning to the west coast to head up the first Smile Theatre production in Vancouver. She is a proud member of Canadian Actor’s Equity.
	Abby Zotz, Edna Sharpe Abby is thrilled to be playing Edna Sharpe in Good Morning Cottage Country for Smile. Film and television credits include roles on Sue Thomas: F.B. Eye, Street Legal, Conspiracy of Silence, Nuremberg and Jean in the Oneira Pictures film, Strawberries and Wine. In addition to performances in dramas, new Canadian musicals, and children’s theatre, Abby spent a year at the state theatre in Pforzheim, Germany, where she performed in Evita, The Elephant Man, and her own two-person show, A Night on the Roof. Abby is the founder of the renaissance a cappella trio The MadriGALS. She is also one half of the acclaimed celtic folk duo Two Roads Home, whose debut CD, Dovetailing, was launched in the Spring of 2003.
	Jim Hodgkinson, Musical Director and Arranger Jim Hodgkinson originally studied with Lillian Freundlich and Armen Donelian in New York City. A busy career has followed including concerts with orchestras in Canada and the U.S., radio broadcasts on CBC and American NPR, music directing and composing for film and television. A noted accompanist, Jim has performed with Vera Lynn, Bob Hope, Red Skelton and John Denver. Recent work includes creating music and lyrics for Little Women--A Holiday Musical, and performing in the Broadway National tour of Saturday Night Fever. Jim is delighted to be making his first appearance with Smile Theatre.
	Bill Brillinger, Stage Manager Girl Crazy marked the beginning of Bill’s fourth season with Smile. Other Smile credits include Os De Genou: The Saga of Tom Kneebone, 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.
David W. Smith, Choreographer Since receiving his BFA in Musical Theatre from the University of Windsor, David has been working professionally in the theatre as both a performer and choreographer. Recent choreography credits include A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum and Forever Plaid (Sudbury Theatre Centre) and 42nd Street (Drayton Entertainment). As a performer, David spent four seasons with the Stratford Festival, appearing in both the musicals and the classics. He has also worked with Drayton Entertainment, Theatre By The Bay, Disney Cruise Line, and, most recently, he played the role of Harry in the Port Hope Festival Theatre’s production of My Fair Lady. David is thrilled to be working for the first time with Smile Theatre, and hopes that you will enjoy the show. Michelle Blore, Set, Costume, and Props Design This is Michelle’s third season with Smile having designed Everything’s Coming up Rosie, Home for the Holidays, Has Anybody here seen Willy? and Consider this Lillie. She is a proud graduate of York University’s Theatre Design Program. Her recent design credits include Market of Tales with Artword Theatre, The Train with Thirty Below Theatre, Klapps Trap with Film@York, Fillin’ the Blank with Arts Etobicoke and Expect Theatre and puppets for the film Labrats. She is delighted to be returning to Smile and looks forward to every bright moment shared with them.