Laura Thornton
Artistic Director, Producer, Director
A producer, director, actor, administrator and writer based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Laura is heavily involved in the arts community. You may have seen her around town working in the box office at Neptune Theatre, formerly managing the clowns at Halifax Circus or casting for film and television with Hennessey Casting, or on-stage and off at the Atlantic Fringe Festival.
After working with and learning from Saints Alive Theatre for just shy of a decade, and a few stints working with Dartmouth Players, Laura took what she learned from these strong community theatres and founded her first professional company - Whale Song Theatre.
Laura produced Heathers: The Musical and it's remount (Feb & May 2017), Stop Kiss (Fringe 2017) and Peter and the Starcatcher (Feb 2018). She has been announced as the director for Starcatcher as well.
Sarah Richardson
Founding Member, Musical Director
Sarah has been studying music since the age of five with the Royal Conservatory of Music, beginning with piano, followed by voice, flute, viola and bass. As well as a performer, she has been a musical director for over 20 years, in both Ontario and Nova Scotia. Past credits include Chester Playhouse (Merritt Award Winner - Best Musical Director - Ruthless), Neptune Theatre School, Liverpool International Theatre Festival, DramaFest, Dartmouth Players, and Halifax Feast Dinner Theatre
Ian Gilmore
Founding Member, Choreographer
Ian Gilmore, Choreographer- Ian is thrilled to be part of the creative team of Whale Song Theatre. A performer, director and educator for many years, Ian's talents have taken him across Canada and beyond.
Emily Jewer
Director - Heathers: The Musical (2017)
Emily Jewer began her work in theatre at the age of four as a mermaid in a very inspiring kindergarten production of Peter Pan. She graduated from Mount Allison with a BFA and spent a year training with Neptune Theatre’s PPTP. Emily works as a photographer with her company MJ Photographics and as an actor/director in both theatre and film. Credits include: Spirits, 30/60, Too Much Light - Up the Hill Theatre; Drood, Proof, Doubt - TAG; Company - Dartmouth Players; Haven - Syfy/Showcase
Olivia McGinn
Stage Manager - Heathers: The Musical (2017), Stop Kiss (2017), Peter and the Starcatcher (2018)
Previous Stage Management credits include: The Advent Show (2016), Dark Matter - Atlantic Fringe Festival (2016), Many Loves - QueerFest (2016), Evening of Ives- Lion’s Den Theatre (2016), Seminar- Kick at the Dark Theatre (2016), The Advent Show (2015), Story of a Sinking Man- Kick at the Dark Theatre (2015), Apprentice on A Christmas Story - Neptune Theatre (2014)
Levente Lakner
Assistant Stage Manager - Heathers: The Musical (2017)
Props Master - Heathers: The Musical (2017)
Assistant Choreographer - Heathers: The Musical (2017)
Wardrobe - Peter and the Starcatcher (2018)
Coming Soon.
Naomi Froese
Wardrobe/Costume Designer - Heathers: The Musical (2017)
Naomi is a costume maker in Halifax. She recently completed her theatre degree in Costume Studies at Dalhousie University. She has worked on costumes with the Fountain School of Theatre and 2b Theatre Company as a builder and dresser, the Fortress of Louisbourg as a costume assistant, and for Halifax Fringe Festival as a designer. She’s delighted to be designing for Heathers with Whalesong Theatre
Sean Skerry
Publicity Design - Heathers: The Musical (2017), Stop Kiss (2017), Peter And The Starcatcher (2018)
Projection Design - Heathers: The Musical (2017)
Sean is an actor and graphic artist in charge of designing the marketing material for Whale Song's productions. He studied design at Holland College and has worked in the industry for the past decade at shops in Calgary, Charlottetown and now Halifax, where he studied performance at Neptune Theatre. He recently appeared on stage for Whale Song's 'Stop Kiss' in 2017. www.skerry.ca