A world premiere musical based on the extraordinary life of Major John McCrae - soldier, doctor and poet - writer of the legendary elegy "In Flanders Fields". A touching story of courage, hope and triumph. Runs September 14 to November 14, 2009.
Artist Biographies
	Jesse Martyn This is Jesse’s first production with Smile and he is excited to share this show with you. Most recently, Jesse played Theseus in A Midsummer Night’s Dream as part of the Rose Theatre’s Flower City Festival in Brampton. Jesse has also performed at the Shaw Festival, including the role of Cyril Bennet in the North American premiere of The Stepmother (dir. Jackie Maxwell), After the Dance (dir. Christopher Newton), Saint Joan, A Month in the Country, and staged readings of Lilies by Michel Marc Bouchard and Serious Money by Carol Churchill. Previous credits include Royal Gardner in the new Canadian musical Anne and Gilbert (Summerside, PEI). At the University of Alberta: Scenes from an Execution, As You Like It (dir. Dean Gilmour), Shaw’s Candida, 4.48 Psychosis, the King in Love’s Labour’s Lost, Feydeau’s An Absolute Turkey, and John Proctor in The Crucible. Jesse is a proud graduate of the University of Alberta’s BFA Acting program.
	Mark Allan Mark is so happy to be performing for all of you again. The last time you saw him performing here was in Come Fly With Me. Most recently he played Tobias in Sweeney Todd at The Sudbury Theatre Centre. Mark has been performing all over Canada and the U.S.A. for the past 15 years, and truly believes that “Smile” audiences are the warmest and most appreciative audiences he has ever played for! He is very excited to be working with such great people on this show. He dedicates his performance to the memory of his friend Tom Kneebone. Miss you T.K.!
	Jim Betts, Director Jim is at various times a writer, director and teacher, and is currently in his second season as Artistic Director of Smile Theatre. Last season, he wrote and directed the Smile production of Extraordinary (The Extraordinary Life Of An Ordinary Woman), a show he wrote to celebrate the life of his mother on the occasion of her 90th birthday. He has written award-winning plays for Young People’s Theatre in Toronto, and a number of musicals that have been performed across the country – including Thin Ice (The Hockey Musical) and Colours In The Storm.
	Greg Gibson, Musical Director SMILE debut! Most recently, Greg was the Musical Director for Sweeney Todd (STC). Other Musical Direction credits include Kiss of the Spider Woman (TIFT); Beauty and the Beast (Silvermist); The Apple Tree (RAPA); Side By Side By Sondheim (Theatre Collingwood); two seasons with The Shaw Festival, three seasons with Talk Is Free Theatre. Recordings: Jeff Madden’s debut CD Taking The Wheel. Vocal Faculty at the Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts (Toronto). Bachelor of Music from Queen’s University (Kingston). www.greggibson.org
	Robert Gontier, Book/Co-Lyrics Robert was chosen to be part of the Johnny Mercer Songwriters Workshop in Chicago. He last work, Johnny Jackson and His Heavenly Passion, a one-man show which he wrote and performed was seen at the Toronto International Fringe Festival. He also adapted Dvorák’s Rusalka for the Canadian Opera Company’s Summer Youth intensive. Robert is a graduate of Ryerson University’s BFA Performance Acting Program. He would like to thank Nicky Phillips, Jim Betts (and the whole Smile team), Leslie Arden, Ned Loach and his family.
	Nicky Phillips, Composer/Co-lyricist Nicky is thrilled to be premiering her first musical with Smile Theatre Company. A graduate of the Ryerson Theatre School, she has spent the last ten years as an actor, arts educator and most recently a composer. Nicky’s many acting credits include spending three seasons with Theatre Direct Canada on Dora Nominated Productions. Most recently, she was one of 14 songwriters accepted into the Johnny Mercer Songwriters Project in Chicago. Nicky would like to thank Jim Betts and Leslie Arden for their guidance on this project, and a special thanks to Rob and her family for all of their support.
	Michael Greves, Set and Costume Design This is Michael’s first show with Smile Theatre. His most recent work includes There’s A Mouse in My House (set and costume design, Carousel Players), Mending Fences (set design, Lighthouse Theatre Festival) and Urinetown, the musical, (set design, Theatre Sheridan). Other credits include The Big League and The Invisible Girl (set and costumes design, Carousel Players), Kiss of the Spider Woman (set, costume and lighting design, Theatre Proteus) and two seasons as design assistant at the Shaw Festival. Michael is a Graduate of Brock University and Niagara College, and spends his spare time taking care of his garden with his husband.
	Kevin Olson, Stage Manager Kevin is thrilled to be working with Smile Theatre for the first time. A recent Torontonian just in time for the garbage strike, his past works include Outlaw and Mending Fences (Lighthouse Festival Theatre), Here on Earth and A Story Before Time (Kaha:wi Dance Theatre), Toronto, Mississippi (Theatre Aquarius/Vancouver Playhouse). A heartfelt thanks to Daisy, Jim, Cathy, Stephanie, Bill and the entire creative team for letting me be a part of such a fabulous show!
	Bill Brillinger, Stage Manager Bill is pleased to be returning to Smile Theatre for his eighth season. Previously he Stage Managed Smile’s productions of Come Fly With Me, Gift Of The Magi & Other Stories, Fever, Come by the Hills and The Canadian Comedy Cabaret. Bill has just finished his second season as Production Manager of The Lighthouse Festival Theatre in Port Dover.

The Songs

Kiss Your Ma Goodbye, Boys • Over The Wall
Be A Man • Maybe He’s Right
A Room Full Of Women • Finding The Words
Love Poem* • I Don’t Think That’s A Good Idea
Be A Man (Reprise) • Over The Wall (Reprise)
In His Eyes • All This Talk
Finding The Words (Reprise) • In Flanders Fields*
Kiss Your Ma Goodbye, Boys (Reprise)

*Words by John McCrae