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Cover image for Pinocchio program, High and Main Productions Pinocchio, written and directed by Konstantine Malakos Music, lyrics and musical direction by Ben Tremblay, Based on the novella by Carlo Collodi, June 12th-21st 2026 Vankleek Hill Collegiate Institute, produced with the support of the Vankleek Hill Creating Centre, Arcana Windows and Doors and Champlain Township
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Written and directed by - Konstantine Malakos Music, Lyrics & Musical Direction - Ben Tremblay Based on the novella by Carlo Collodi Stage Manager - Andrea Barbusci Choreographer - Kelsey Scotcher Assistant Stage Manager - Noah McRae Costume Designers - Susan Brown Graphic Designer - Anne Anderson Make-up Designer - Brenda Graham Special effects Designer - Lawrence Larouche Production Photographer - Jan Amell Set Designer - Mike Igaz Set Construction Team - Justine Spitz, Charles Lafleur, Juliet Igaz, Nicolene Basson, Susan David Angus David, and Tyler Jamms Technical Director - Taras Stasiuk Specialty Prop Designer - David Fisher Puppet Designer -Susie Fairbrother Puppet Team - Tania Price and Juliet Igaz CAST (in order of appearance) Joanne Cricket - Cynthia Martin Geppetto - Reg Harden Pinocchio - Joan Gottman Fox - Taras Stasiuk Cat - Kelsey Scotcher Matchstick - Maddie Janacek Candlewick - Lexie Wood Lucignolo - Charlie Kazak Puppet Master - Ben Tremblay Spirit of the Woods - Susan Brown Lucia - Rae-Anne St Pierre Special thank you to the Upper Canada District School Board, the Vankleek Hill Creating Centre, the staff at VCI, The Review, Andrea Belcham, Thaila Riden, BEast Tree Service, Ridgewood Industries, Ayesha Fanthima, The Hudson Player’s Club, DK, and Lorraine and Shawn Crowston Thank You to Our 2026 Season Sponsors Community Patron Arcana windows and doors, coomunity friends, foam geometrix, Riverest and Totem coffee Roasters and Champlain township for a community grant. We acknowledge that we gather on the unceded and unsurrendered territory of the Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee, Huron-Wendat, Mohawk, and Métis peoples. Their ancestors have cared for and told stories on this land for generations, and their presence continues today. As a theatre company, we honour these relationships and commit to respect, inclusivity, and truth in the stories we share. We recognize this acknowledgement is only a beginning and commit to listening, learning, and acting in solidarity with Indigenous communities. ACT 1 SONGS Once Upon a Time - Company Among the Pine Trees - Geppetto Real Boy - Pinocchio Our Chance - Fox/Cat Beautiful Things - Puppet Master fifteen minute intermission ACT 2 SONGS Let Me Out - Pinocchio Spirit Call - Spirit of the Woods/ Ensemble Finale - Company
A statement from the board of High & Main Productions, we create performances that are a place of connection, collaboration, and community engagement. We are constantly inspired by the enthusiasm and talent found in the community of Vankleek Hill and beyond, which makes this work possible. This summer, we are delighted to bring you a new interpretation of Pinocchio, complete with original music, innovative puppetry, and an engaging new perspective on a familiar story. We continue our mission to celebrate local artists and produce work that is creative and accessible. We would love for you to be a part of this by getting a membership and joining our mailing list. Our values of inclusiveness, diversity, and equity guide all that we do. Our work is produced through collaborative efforts of many different voices. We need all of you to succeed and we wouldn't be here without you. On behalf of the Board of Directors of High & Main Productions, we thank you for being a part of this journey as patrons, volunteers, supporters, sponsors, and community partners. We hope you enjoy this imaginative retelling of Pinocchio! Sincerely, The Board of Directors High & Main Productions Arcana Windows and Doors safety and installation experts Free Consultation! (905) 526-8544 - sales@arcanawindows.com
composer and musical director's statement Writing this score has been an absolute privilege. This is my first score for a theatre show, having previously written as a solo artist. When crafting this piece I was inspired by many different sources; my music idols Stephen Sondheim and Sara Bareillis come to mind. I also drew sounds from folk traditions. I wanted to represent the characters as sonically distinct entities. For Geppetto, I leaned into big brassy moments while Pinocchio’s music is soaring and effervescent with an emphasis on woodwinds. Thank you for coming to see our show and I hope you enjoy this stroll among the pine trees. Ben Tremblay Totem roasters proudly supporting our community and the arts. sting exceptional coffees from around the world. Environmentally responsible. Ethical and sustainably sourced. Certified Organic,® Fairtrade® and Smithsonian Bird Friendly.® At TOTEM we care about what goes into your cup.
writer and director statement at its core, Pinocchio isn't really a story about becoming "real." It's a story about wanting to be loved, and the ways we twist ourselves trying to earn that. Pinocchio has lasted through countless iterations because he feels familiar. He makes the same mistakes we make. He knows better and still does the wrong thing. He wants to belong, and starts to believe he has to become something else in order to deserve it. That's where we start. Geppetto is living with a quiet kind of longing, the kind that's learned to keep itself small. Pinocchio is trying to figure out where he fits, and keeps trading his instincts for the promise of being accepted. Around them are people doing their own versions of the same thing. Running. Performing. Pretending. Not because they're bad, but because they're trying to get through. When I was growing up, my father used to tell me the story of Homer's Odyssey. That idea of someone trying to find their way home, getting pulled off course again and again, and still continuing on. Pinocchio is on his own kind of odyssey. A human one. He makes the wrong choices. He loses himself for a while. And then, piece by piece, he tries to find his way back. What keeps pulling me to this story is the idea that you can come back. Come back after you've made the wrong choice, or trusted the wrong people and still be seen. In this version, the people who lose their way aren't written off. There's room for them. Because maybe becoming "real" isn't about turning into something better. Maybe it's just about finding your way home, and not being turned away when you get there. - Konstantine Malakos Riverest Proud sponsor of the High and Main Productions 2026 Season | Fier commanditaire de la saison 2026 de High and Main Productions At the Riverest, dreams come to life in a breathtaking waterfront setting, where elegance meets impeccable service. Whether it’s a grand wedding, a refined corporate gathering, or a meaningful life celebration, every occasion is thoughtfully crafted with care. info@riverest.ca
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Kelsey Scotcher - Cat | Choreographer Kelsey first fell in love with theatre by playing Sandy in Grease in the tenth grade. From then on as a John Abbott theatre workshop graduate, she has starred in Hudson Players Club and Encore productions such as The Full Monty, A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream, Charley’s Aunt ,Curtains , 9 to 5 and Head over Heels. She took jazz ballet for ten years and has sang for as long as she can remember. She is excited to be in her first play with High & Main! Ben Tremblay - Composer | Musical Director | Puppet Master Ben made his stage debut at the age of nine in a church Christmas pageant, for which he still remembers all his lines. Hopefully this portends well for tonight’s production of Pinocchio. In the event he does forget his lines, he hopes you enjoy his original score. Selected credits include Lazar Wolf in Fiddler on the Roof (St Michael’s College Troubadours) and Judge Turpin in Sweeney Todd. His previous direction credits include music director for Moby Dick the Musical (WINDS) and vocal director for Évita (St Michael’s College Troubadours). This is his second production with High and Main Productions, after he stage managed it’s inaugural show. Susan Brown - Spirit of the Woods | Costume Designer Susan is delighted to be returning to High & Main Productions as the Spirit of the Woods after having played Harriet in Overtones last fall. With over 25 years of community theatre, both onstage and backstage, she brings to the stage the experience of performing a large variety of characters from comedy to drama. She is very excited to be following up on her recent return to the stage after an absence of seven years. exie Wood - Candlewick | Sea Spirit Lexie is a passionate young actress who discovered her love for the stage a few years ago in The Little Mermaid. Since then, she has performed in Peter Pan and Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, building confidence and experience. She is especially excited to take on the lively role of Candlewick in Pinocchio, continuing to grow her talent and love for acting harlie Kazak - Lucignolo | Sea Spirit Charlie has loved storytelling from a very young age. He has spent many hours creating home movies and perfecting visual effects. He’s dabbled in magic and now has thrown his hat into the theatre ring. A true collaborator, he’s in it for the story, not the glory.
Maddie Janacek - Matchstick | Sea Spirit Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Maddie is a ten-year-old Pleasant Corner Public School student who enjoys piano, performing, and peanut butter. She is a Girl Guide, Student Council Member, and an avid reader. She is so excited to be part of this performance! Rae-Anne St Pierre- Lucia Rae-Anne was involved with the Prescott Players in their final years. She is excited to be back on stage as Lucia in Pinocchio. When not doing theatre, Rae-Anne enjoys curling and spending time with her family. onstantine Malakos - Writer | Director Konstantine Malakos is a theatre artist and director driven by the belief that great storytelling belongs in every community. He trained at the Atlantic Theatre Company in NYC, graduating from its Conservatory program in 2005. As an actor, his work includes four seasons of Shakespeare by the Lake in Hudson, QC(Hudson Players), Pride and Prejudice in Peterborough(Showplace), Here Lies Henry at the Arthur Seelen Theatre in New York City(Loose Marbles), and Jerry in The Zoo Story ( High & Main Productions). He is a co-founding member of High & Main Productions, where his directing focuses on bold, imaginative work rooted in connection, accessibility, and a strong sense of place. His directing credits include Overtones and The Glass Menagerie. ndrea Barbusci - Stage Manager By day, I’m a dedicated teacher and mom of two. By evening, I’m diving into the world of stage management — learning, growing, and supporting my daughter as she chases her dreams as an actress. It’s a new adventure, and I’m embracing every moment behind the scenes . Richard III directed by Simon Cote hudsonplayersclub.com
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