The History of Rock ‘n Roll Stars & Stripes

Van Wilmott

Artistic Director / Musical Director

Welcome to the Mayfield Dinner Theatre and welcome to Stars & Stripes, our holiday season show that pays tribute to the origins of Rock ‘n Roll! It’s story starts at the beginning of “beat music” and unfolds as one artist inspired the next, and one generation inspired the next. The great rock ‘n roll pioneers of the 50’s learned what they knew from the Afro-American groups of the 40’s which in turn drew upon the swing and dance music of the 20’s and 30’s. Turns out it was all rock ‘n roll to begin with – we just didn’t know it yet! It has been a labour of love for all those involved with the creation of this show, and I thank them for their great work. This is a wildly talented cast and we are thrilled to have them on our stage to tell this story. This November marks the 20th year I have been Musical Directing for this theatre and this has to be one of my favorite groups of actors and musicians; maybe because the story is so important to all of us involved, and more importantly, to those who have been fortunate enough to have lived through at least some part of this amazing thing called rock ‘n roll. From the entire team at the Mayfield, we sincerely thank you for spending your time with us, and wish you a safe and happy holiday season.

John Kirkpatrick

Staging

John is an Edmonton based, award-winning actor/director and former Artistic Director of the Freewill Shakespeare Festival. Recent directing credits include: 9-5: The Musical, Boeing, Boeing and The 39 Steps (Mayfield Dinner Theatre); Human Remains (Studio Theatre); The Tempest, Julius Caesar, and Macbeth (Freewill Shakespeare Festival). Recent acting credits include: A Few Good Men, Rock ‘n’ Roll, Julius Caesar, Noises Off, and Fully Committed (The Citadel Theatre); The Pirates of Penzance (Edmonton Opera), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Mayfield Dinner Theatre), A Midsummer Night’s Dream and King Lear (The Freewill Shakespeare Festival); The Gift of the Coat and The Age of Arousal (Alberta Theatre Projects); Of Mice and Men (Theatre Calgary). John has had the good fortune to act for companies across Canada including; The Vancouver Playhouse, The Globe Theatre, The Manitoba Theatre Centre, The Canadian Stage Company and The National Arts Centre. John has a BFA in Acting (1993) from the University of Alberta. Enjoy the show!

Christine Bandelow

Choreographer

Christine last appeared on stage at the Mayfield in 9 to 5: The Musical. Choreography credits include Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story (Sterling Nomination), The British Invasion, Carousel, Little Shop Of Horrors, Rockin’ Vegas, Peace, Love & Rock n’ Roll, and The Super Groovy 70’s (Mayfield Theatre); Buddy -The Buddy Holly Story and I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change (Neptune Theatre); Rent (Mexico City, Barcelona, Montreal); and Hello…Hello (Kill Your Television). Love and thanks to Kevin, Maddy, Jack and to my Mom and Dad.

Orville Charles Cameron

Cast

So we meet again my friends! Having grown up and still living in Sherwood Park, I’m honored to be back and apart of this amazing show History of Rock n Roll: Stars & Stripes. Recent credits include The Full Monty and Ragtime with (Two One Way Tickets to Broadway Productions). Past Mayfield credits include; Super Groovy 70’s Part 2: Keep on Truckin’, Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story, The Full Monty, Peace, Love and Rock ‘n Roll Part 1, Little Shop of Horrors (as the voice of Audrey II) and The Golden Age Rocks On. I’m humbled and honored to lead you through this incredible story. I hope you have as much fun as I know I will, so sit back, relax and enjoy! This show is dedicated to my boys – the D, Famous and JJ – who inspire me every day! Much love.

Michael Clarke

Cast

Michael is thrilled to be back at the Mayfield Dinner Theatre in this fun filled ‘Rock n Roll’ ride. Last year he got to play sax in The Buddy Holly Story and he’s loving that he gets to play and sing the music that influenced Buddy this time around. Other theatre credits include: Miss Saigon, Tommy, The Lion King, Smokey Joe’s Cafe and Ain’t Misbehavin’. Michael would like to thank his family, agent and friends for all their love and support. Enjoy the show!

Tiffany Deriveau

Cast

Tiffany is so very grateful to have been invited to return to the Mayfield to be a part of this fantastic production. Tiffany previously performed on this stage in The Super Groovy 70’s, Parts 1 & 2, and in Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story. Other select credits: Mamma Mia (Royal Alexander, Toronto), Little Shop of Horrors (The Grand Theatre, London), Disney Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, Hairspray (Charlottetown Festival), Cookin’ at the Cookery (New Yorker Theatre). Last summer she kept busy recording background vocals for Canadian icon, the late Rita McNeil. Tiffany would like to thank her loving husband, Adil and family for their love and support. Tiffany will be in the lobby after the show and she would love to meet you. Her album of 50’s favorites is selling for $10. Thank you for your support and enjoy the show! (www.tiffanyderiveau.com) (facebook.com/tderiveau) (twitter.com/tiffanyderiveau)

Gerrad Everard

Cast

Hailing from his grain and cattle farm near Wawanesa Manitoba, Gerrad is thrilled to be returning to the Mayfield! Having travelled the Globe with over 50 productions, favorite’s include: Hair, Super Groovy 70’s, Rocky Horror Picture Show, British Invasion I and II, Buddy Holly Story, Anne of Green Gables, The Wedding Singer, Top of the Pops, Smokey Joe’s Cafe, and Disco Cirque du Soleil. Watch for him in recently filmed episodes of Paranormal Witness and Close Encounters but his favorite recent event was his marriage to Laura Mae! Please meet and pick up a copy of Gerrad’s album R0K 2G0 in the lobby after the show or for more info on Gerrad please visit www.gerradeverard.com. His album is dedicated to the Canadian Farmers and artists who work hard to feed and entertain the world. Please support them both, they matter. Happy Holidays to all and enjoy the show!

Pamela Gordon

Cast

Mayfield Theatre: Chicago, The British Invasion, Rockin’ Vegas, Country, Rock and a Whole Lotta Soul, 2000 – A Rock and Roll Odyssey, Poodle Skirts to Platform Shoes, Singin’ in the Rain, Guys and Dolls, Rock and Roll Reunion and Hair. Other Theatre: Citadel Theatre; Oliver, West Side Story, Grease, Cabaret, Little Shop of Horrors; Theatre Aquarius; Legally Blonde, Top of the Pops; Neptune Theatre; CATS, The Rocky Horror Show, Cabaret; Theatre Calgary; West Side Story; Norwegian Cruise Lines. Film/T.V.: Halo (2005 release), voice work for the X-box video game Jade Empire. Et Cetera: Pamela is a Sterling award nominee and recipient. She has also spent the majority of eleven years singing with her husband and their band, Earth Beat. Pamela would like to dedicate these performances to her husband and co-worker Brad, and to her very supportive group of friends and family. Have a great time tonight and enjoy the show!!!

Kieran Martin Murphy

Cast

This production marks my 21st appearance at the Mayfield Dinner Theatre! And what better way to celebrate such a milestone than to be doing a rock show with some of my old friends and some incredibly talented new ones. It’s good to be back home with you, the fantastic Mayfield audience. You are always warm and inviting, and make every performer feel like a star. Enjoy this rollicking Rock n Roll romp through the golden age of American music. I will be out in the lobby after the performance and I would love to meet you. My new CD The Painter’s Hand will also be available. Selected Credits: Jean Valjean in Les Miserables, Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story (Arts Club); CATS (Theatre Calgary); The Full Monty (Ground Zero/Hit & Myth); Jesus Christ Superstar, All Shook Up (Stage West); The Pavilion (Shadow); Gypsy, Evita, The Wizard of Oz, The British Invasion, The Full Monty, The Wedding Singer, 9 to 5: The Musical (Mayfield). Television: Mixed Blessings, Fear Itself and yes, that KIA commercial. Radio: CBC’s Irrelevant Show. www.kieranmartinmurphy.com

Laura Mae Nason

Cast

Laura Mae is happy to be back at the Mayfield for another Holiday season! Selected Theatre credits include: Susan in Tick, Tick…Boom!, Margot in Legally Blonde: The Musical (Theatre Aquarius), Amber Von Tussle in Hairspray (Drayton Entertainment, Charlottetown Festival, and Rainbow Stage), Josie Pye in Anne of Green Gables (Charlottetown Festival), Holly in The Wedding Singer, Chicago (Mayfield Theatre, Neptune Theatre), Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, British Invasion (Charlottetown Festival), Beauty & the Beast (Arts Club), Queen for a Day: The Musical (April 30th Entertainment), Guys & Dolls, Shout: The Mod Musical, Why Do Fools Fall in Love, and Cabaret (Stage West). Film/TV: Defiance (Universal Cable Prod.), Lexx: The Series (DZ2 Prod), Reefer Madness (Reefer Prod.), Snakes and Ladders (Political Prod.), and Black Harbour (Three Sheets Prod.). Thank you to everyone at the Mayfield, to the Talent House and my family for the love and support, and thank you to my new hubby Gerrad for making this year one of the best yet! Happy Holidays everyone!

Stephanie Pitsiladis

Cast

Stephanie is a native of Montreal and a graduate of John Abbott College’s Theatre program. She made her professional debut in Hairspray (Mirvish) in 2004 where she was the first Canadian to perform the role of Tracy Turnblad. She got her hair all ratted up again in 2010 for the Charlottetown Festival’s production of Hairspray, where she played Tracy opposite George Wendt. She has also revisited the role with Drayton Entertainment, Rainbow Stage, and is excited to become Tracy Turnblad once again for the Mayfield Theatre in 2014.
Other credits include: Jan in Grease, Dee Dee in Why Do Fools Fall In Love, Red Girl in Shout! (Stage West), Little Miss Muffet in Mother Goose (Theatre Athena), Chiffon in Little Shop of Horrors (Theatre New Brunswick), Young Rabecca /Maddison/Rabbi Epstein in Gefilte Fish Chronicles (CETM). This winter, Stephanie will be making her big screen debut as Mary in Patch Town when it premieres at the BORSOS Film Festival in Whistler. She would like to thank her friends, family, and everyone at Talent House for their love and support.

Brad Wiebe

Cast

Brad is thrilled to be returning to the Mayfield for another Christmas show! The last time he was here at this time of the year was for the original British Invasion but more recently he was last seen as Dwayne and an assortment of other roles in the Mayfield’s 9 to 5: The Musical. Brads other recent credits include several artists in Top of the Pops in Hamilton (Theatre Aquarius) and a spoof on Bill Murray in Ghostbusted in Winnipeg/Edmonton (Celebrations/Jubilations). Before returning to Canada to once again join the theatre world he toured the world with his band Earth Beat through Europe, S.E Asia and the Middle East. Brad would like to thank his family and lovely wife Pamela for their support and wish you all a safe and magical Christmas season!

Mike Zimmerman

Cast

Last seen on the Mayfield stage portraying Norman Petty in Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story, Mike is thrilled to be returning with such a talented cast of rock ‘n rollers! His love for performance has grown through varied experiences in stage, television, radio, a cappella ensemble and touring theatre. Selected credits include The Super Groovy 70’s Part 2: Keep On Truckin’, Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story, The Super Groovy 70’s, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Peace, Love & Rock N Roll 2: The Beat Goes On, The Full Monty, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, The Golden Age Rocks On!, The Golden Age of Rock, Pop & Doo Wop, The Wizard of Oz (as Tinman), Only In Canada, Eh? and Rockin’ Vegas (Mayfield Dinner Theatre), Jailbait (Northern Light Theatre), and Little Fish and Bells Are Ringing [Sterling nominated] (Plain Jane Theatre Co.). Enjoy the show!

Steve Hoy

Drums

One of the most respected and in-demand drummers in Western Canada, Stephen performs and records with numerous national and international artists. Known for his versatility and keen musicianship, Stephen is looking forward to performing again with the Mayfield Dinner Theatre.

Paul Lamoureux

Reeds

Multi-instrumentalist Paul Lamoureux was born here in Edmonton. He holds both Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in music from North Texas State University, and a diploma in Performing Arts from Grant MacEwan College. Paul has performed with Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas (“O” at the Bellagio), and the Tommy Banks Band. Mayfield Dinner Theatre productions include Hair, Jesus Christ Superstar, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, The Full Monty, The Wedding Singer, and 9 to 5. He has backed up Robert Goulet, Mickey Rooney, Red Skelton, and toured with Grammy-nominated Christian rock act Degarmo and Key. Fluently bilingual, Paul was Musical Director of CBC French radio’s Gala Albertain de la Chanson for 8 years and was Musical Director for Theatre Francais de Toronto’s musical retrospective Et si on chantait… in 2008. Paul has recorded 4 CDs of his own instrumental pop/jazz music on his own label. When not working in theatre, Paul travels the world as a musician with Princess Cruises, playing saxophone, woodwinds, piano, and piano/vocal. “Lam-Chops” is very excited that this “Rock & Roll” is NOT upon the sea.

Lisa MacDougall

Keyboards

Lisa’s music has taken her around the world with such greats as Rita MacNeil, Roger Whittaker, and Molly Johnson, to name a few. With a busy touring schedule, Lisa considers herself truly fortunate. Selected theatre credits include Le Cage Aux Folles, Elf, Legally Blonde, Jesus Christ Superstar, Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story, Flying On Her Own, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, The Rocky Horror Show, Cats, Annie, Chicago, The Sound of Music, Evita, Oliver and Beauty and the Beast (Neptune Theatre, Halifax); Nashville Icons, Super Groovy 70’s parts 1 & 2, and most recently A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline (Mayfield Dinner Theatre). Lisa is presently the music director with DRUM, a multi-cultural tourism theatre production out of Nova Scotia, which just completed their 2nd successful run at DOLLYWOOD in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Lisa is happy to be back in Edmonton. Enjoy the show!

Derek Stremel

Bass

Derek grew up in a musical family and learned piano from his mother. He also learned fiddle, mandolin and guitar from his father. He studied bass and five-string banjo on his own and started gigging as a bassist in venues with his father when he was fourteen years old. He moved to Alberta when he was eighteen, leaving his Manitoba farming roots behind, and began a musical career playing mostly the electric bass. He wanted to learn ‘what those smart guys knew’ so he enrolled in the GMCC Jazz program in 1989 and learned how to read ‘the little black dots’. For more than a decade he has been employed at the Mayfield Dinner Theatre playing musical revues and Broadway Musicals. He also has a home studio where he teaches, writes, records, produces, and plays all his instruments on recordings sent to him via the Internet. I know, I know…boring but true. He loves and respects the music of these rock ‘n roll pioneers. Derek is always delighted by the opportunity to write about himself in the third person.

Harley Symington

Guitar

Recently at the Mayfield Harley played the role of George Harrison in Four Lads Who Shook The World – The Beatles Story parts 1 and 2, and was the guitarist in the “Doggies” for this season’s hit A Closer Walk With Patsy Cline. Other Mayfield highlights as guitarist/performer include Dark Star – The Life and Times of Roy Orbison, The Super Groovy 70’s, Evita, and Jesus Christ Superstar. He has toured extensively with artists of many different genres, including stops at events such as Lilith Fair and major jazz festivals. Outside of the theatre he plays and sings with his own group in support of his debut jazz/blues CD, entitled “Don’t Talk”. He also holds a diploma with honors from the Computer Systems Technology program at NAIT.