Smile Theatre - Theatre for Seniors

Fanny Brice was one of the best known comediennes of the 20th century, as the star of the Zigfeld Follies, and as her famous creation, Baby Snooks. By Lezlie Wadley. Available October 10 to November 4, 2006 and January 8 to February 24, 2007. Click for show photos and the tour schedule.
Artist Biographies
	Gabi Epstein Gabi couldn’t be happier to be debuting her professional theatre career as the fabulous Fanny Brice in Make ’em Laugh. Favourite past credits include Maria in The Sound of Music (Curtain Call Players), Jan in Grease (Fallen Rock Productions), Fay Apple in Anyone Can Whistle, and Jelly in The Attic, the Pearls and Three Fine Girls which earned her and her cast mates an Ensemble award at the Ontario Sears Drama Festival. Film and TV credits include The Pact (Shadow Box) and the voice of Princess Sienna on Knights of the Zodiac. A graduate of McGill University’s Faculty of Music, Gabi currently teaches voice and piano lessons, and performs at various jazz clubs and lounges in the Toronto area. Thanks always to Mom, Dad, and Jake for their constant love, support, and encouragement to pursue my dream. Visit www.gabiepstein.com for more information.
	Lezlie Wade-Wadley, Writer, Choreographer Lezlie is a professional director, actor and writer. She is a graduate of The Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in NYC and George Brown Theatre School. She is a member of the Lincoln Center Director’s Lab and her adaptation of A Christmas Carol (included in the Smile Theatre 2006-07 season) was recently awarded three Jessie Awards for the Carousel Theatre Production in Vancouver. Upcoming directing credits include: A Christmas Carol (Smile Theatre), Waiting for the Parade (U of T) and Elegies (Berkeley St. Theatre). Lezlie was also Artistic Director of The Georgian Theatre Festival and co-founder and Artistic Director of Theatre in Port.
	Bill Brillinger, Stage Manager Bill is pleased to be returning to Smile for his fourth season, after finishing last season with Good Morning Cottage Country. This show also brought smiles to audiences in Montreal, Vancouver, Victoria and Nanaimo as part of Smile’s planned expansion. This past summer, Bill stage managed for Lighthouse Festival Theatre in Port Dover. He will also be touring with Smile’s Christmas show, and Queen of the Mist next spring.
Vincent de Tourdonnet, Director Vincent de Tourdonnet is a writer/director devoted to the form of musical theatre since 1985. His first Smile theatre tour, written with Jane Miller, was How to Get Rid of a Monster. He is developing a new piece with Ms. Miller entitled Goodbye, Chompy! Vincent directed the 2005 Atlantic Canada tour of his musical Pélagie, co-written with Allen Cole, originally co-produced by CanStage & The National Arts Centre. de Tourdonnet’s Snappy Tales, Short Satirical Musicals, was nominated for seven 2003 Dora awards for its run at the Factory Theatre. He co-directed his Joan of Arc musical Jeanne at the Saidye Bronfman Centre, which went on to Montreal’s La Place des Arts, as well as La Capitole in Quebec City. Vincent has taught musical theatre writing at Long Island University in New York City. Wayne Gwillim, Musical Arranger Wayne is pleased to be working with Smile Theatre again, having recently provided arrangements for Radio Daze, Popcorn Princess and How to Get Rid of a Monster. Music direction credits include john & jen and tick, tick…BOOM! (Acting Up Stage); Cotton Patch Gospel (Georgian Theatre Festival); Falsettos and Berlin to Broadway with Kurt Weill (Theatre Sheridan). Wayne serves on the faculty of Sheridan College and the Randolph Academy of Performing Arts as an accompanist and vocal coach. Originally from Saskatchewan, he is a graduate of the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Music. Jennifer Triemstra, Set, Costume and Props Design This is Jennifer’s second season at Smile Theatre and she is thrilled to be back. For Smile Theatre Jennifer has designed set and costumes for this season’s Radio Daze, as well as, Beautiful Dreamer, Christmas Lillies, Honey Bun, Mona Parson, Two on a Twoonie, Sweethearts and Son of Remade in Canada. Recent credits include costume and set design for The Fairy Queen (Toronto Masque Theatre) and Iris the Dragon (Workman Theatre) and costume designs for The Ballad of Stompin’ Tom, Schoolhouse, The Thirteenth One and Test Drive (Blyth Festival), A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Tempest (Festival of Classics), Shadow Ball (AGO) and Sparta, Mercedes and In The Wings (Theatre Passe Muraille). Jennifer is part-time faculty at York and Ryerson Universities. The Songs If a Girl isn’t Pretty Rose of Washington Square Sadie Salome I’d Rather be Blue Over You Cooking Breakfast for the One I Love My Man Make ’em Laugh Becky is Back in the Ballet Blind Date Second Hand Rose I was a Floradora Baby More Than You Know I Found a Million Dollar Baby (In a Five and Ten Cent Store) Me and My Shadow Make ’em Laugh (reprise)