Circle of Friends
AD HOC Theatre Company

The Ad Hoc Theatre Company was created by a group of friends who found themselves often performing together but without a name to describe who they were. The members of the Ad Hoc Theatre Company perform at fundraisers and special events on an "ad hoc" basis. In aulition to having made appearances individually with various groups in the National Capital Region, members of Ad Hoc have appeared together in musical theatre productions presented by the Orpheus Musical Theatre Company, the Savoy Society of Ottawa, the Ottawa Little Theatre, Adela Productions, S.J. Productions, Allegro Danceworks and the Company of Musical Theatre.

[ Core Company | Women's Ensemble | More Friends | Inner Circle | Performances ]

Our Core Company

These are our founding members: friends who have become family throughout the years, and who share a common passion for the performing arts. Occasionally one of us will request the talents of our friends and we willingly oblige... and so an Ad Hoc appearance becomes reality.

Cindy Beaton Theatre Credits: Orpheus Musical Theatre Society, Aylmer Community Theatre, S.J. Productions, Ottawa Little Theatre, Adela Productions, Spirit of a Nation, Allegro Danceworks. Other music/dance/theatre credits: Drama teacher. Artistic director. Television: Me, My House and I.

Tanya Chang Theatre Credits: Orpheus Musical Theatre Society, Opera Lyra Ottawa, Suzart Productions, S.J. Productions, GOYA Theatre Productions, Savoy Society of Ottawa, Ottawa Little Theatre, Allegro Danceworks, Company of Musical Theatre. Other music/dance/theatre credits: Member of the Nepean Concert Band. Past member of Hot Toddy, a Christmas quartet. Choreographer. Background performer (film/television).

Stephanie Coward-Yaskiw Theatre Credits: S.J. Productions, Orpheus Musical Theatre Society. Other music/dance/theatre credits: Composer. Music teacher. Conductor, pianist, accompanist. Past conductor of the Ottawa Gospel Choir.

Angela Dale Theatre Credits: Orpheus Musical Theatre Society, Allegro Danceworks.

Sandy Dale Theatre Credits: Orpheus Musical Theatre Society, Ottawa Little Theatre, Allegro Danceworks.

Laura Duncan Theatre Credits: Orpheus Musical Theatre Society, Ottawa Little Theatre, Adela Productions. Other music/dance/theatre credits: Artistic director. Producer.

Terry Duncan Theatre Credits: Orpheus Musical Theatre Society, S.J. Prodcutions, Ottawa Little Theatre, Adela Productions, Allegro Danceworks. Other music/dance/theatre credits: Music teacher. Musical director. Conductor of the Nepean Concert Band.

Robin Guy Theatre Credits: Orpheus Musical Theatre Society, S.J. Productions, Kanata Theatre, Ottawa Little Theatre, Adela Productions, Allegro Danceworks, Company of Musical Theatre. Other music/dance/theatre credits: Music & drama teacher. Choreographer. Voice-over actor. Eddie May Murder Mysteries. Television: Me, My House and I.

Minna Koch Donatucci Theatre Credits: Orpheus Musical Theatre Society, S.J. Productions, JCC Theatreworks, Allegro Danceworks. Other music/dance/theatre credits: Choreologist; Associate Teacher, British Association of Teachers of Dance; Scenic Artist, Zucchini Grotto Theatre Company; Arts Canterbury High School Drama Program Graduate; Television: "Fifteen" as "Lea"; BOB FM TV Guest Host.

Stephen Lenser Theatre Credits: Orpheus Musical Theatre Society, S.J. Productions, Allegro Danceworks. Other music/dance/theatre credits: Member of the Ottawa Choral Society.

Corinne McDonald Theatre Credits: Savoy Society of Ottawa, S.J. Productions, Orpheus Musical Theatre Society, Adela Productions.

Shawna McSheffrey Theatre Credits: Zucchini Grotto Theatre Company, Orpheus Musical Theatre Society, Aylmer Community Theatre, S.J. Productions, Ottawa Little Theatre, Allegro Danceworks, Company of Musical Theatre. Other music/dance/theatre credits: Drama teacher. Artistic Director. Eddie May Murder Mysteries. Television: Me, My House and I.

Paul Melsness Theatre Credits: Orpheus Musical Theatre Society, S.J. Productions, Savoy Society of Ottawa, Opera Lyra Ottawa, Allegro Danceworks, Black Sheep Productions, Company of Musical Theatre. Other music/dance/theatre credits: Member of Quintessence, vocal ensemble. Past member of Christmas Edition, Christmas ensemble.

Vivian Melsness (ACTRA) Theatre Credits: Orpheus Musical Theatre Society, S.J. Productions, Savoy Society of Ottawa, Company of Musical Theatre. Other music/dance/theatre credits: Dance teacher. Co-owner of Allegro Danceworks. Television: Butch Patterson, Private Dick.

Women's Ensemble

The Circle of Friends Women's Ensemble was formed as an a cappella ensemble which focuses on music with a Celtic or maritime flavour. The group includes many of our core company - Angela, Cindy, Corinne, Laura, Robin, Shawna, Stephanie, Tanya and Vivian - as well as new members to the Circle of Friends company.

Maureen Brannan Theatre Credits: Orpheus Musical Theatre Society. Other music/dance/theatre credits: Graduate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama (London, England). Solo vocalist. Past involvement with many choirs, choral and operatic groups.

Cheryl Jarvis Woods Theatre Credits: Orpheus Musical Theatre Society (Accompanist). Other music/dance/theatre credits: Member of Quintessence, vocal ensemble. Past member of Christmas Edition, Christmas ensemble.

The Expanding Core

The Expanding Core consists of friends with whom we've had the pleasure of performing under the Ad Hoc umbrella.

Wendy Berkelaar - Theatre Credits: Orpheus Musical Theatre Society, Zucchini Grotto Theatre Company, Ottawa Little Theatre, Tara Players of Ottawa, Spotlight Theatre (Queensland, Australia), The Piggery Theatre (North Hatley, Quebec). Other music/dance/theatre credits: Piano teacher. Accompanist. Musical Director.

Alexis Fakouri - Theatre Credits: Orpheus Musical Theatre Society.

Kris Joseph* (ACTRA, Equity) - Theatre Credits: NAC English Theatre, Welcome Wood Productions (Lansdowne, Ontario), Upper Canada Playhouse (Morrisburg, Ontario), Unicorn Theatre, Gruppo Rubato, New World Theatre Project, Zucchini Grotto Theatre Company, Orpheus Musical Theatre Society, S.J. Productions, Ottawa Little Theatre, Queen's Musical Theatre, Regina Summer Stage. Other music/dance/theatre credits: Producer. Co-founder of the Zucchini Grotto Theatre Company. Founder of Brown Bag Bards.

Ben Nowell - Theatre Credits: Orpheus Musical Theatre Society, Aylmer Community Theatre, U.C. Berkeley's BareStage. Other music/dance/theatre credits: Cantata Singers, Canadian Centennial Choir.

Shaun Toohey - Theatre Credits: Orpheus Musical Theatre Society, Aylmer Community Theatre, The Piggery Theatre (North Hatley, Quebec), Zucchini Grotto Theatre Company, Ottawa Little Theatre, S.J. Productions. Other music/dance/theatre credits: Artistic director and choreographer. Eddie May Murder Mysteries.

Melanie Walker - Theatre Credits: S.J. Productions. Other music/dance/theatre credits: Artistic director and choreographer of New Star Children's Theatre. Former lead singer of The Crowd.

Cheryl Woods - Theatre Credits: Accompanist, Orpheus Musical Theatre Society.

***

Honourary Expanding Core Members: All Saints Catholic High School drama students.

Our Inner Circle

Our Inner Circle consists of those people to whom we owe special thanks for their constant support.

Alan Born, Tim Morgan, Mark Muench, Sean Speer, Shaun Yaskiw

and

Clara, Anna, Thomas, Isabel, Samuel, Maggie, Katie, Sophie, Luka, Liam, Miriam, Noah, Cole

Places Where We've Performed

This list has been compiled as of June 2006 when we first started using the Ad Hoc name in a more official capacity; however, our history as a "circle of friends" dates back to 1996 and our performances together date back as far as 1992.

All Saints Catholic High School drama department fundraiser

Woodroffe High School music department fundraiser

Island View Retirement Residence (Arnprior, Ontario)