NORTHUMBERLAND PLAYERS - Key Persons
Allena Godfrey comes to Northumberland Players with a background in Arts Administration from programming and event planning to executive directorship, all for arts organizations.
Her interests include theatre, but extend to art, dance, music, reading and travel. She devotes time to family and friends regularly and somehow manages to find time to co-direct and co-produce productions for The Players.
Fran has worked in various areas including, academia, accounting, law, corporate and the music business. In all these areas she was an executive secretary/administrative assistant. When she was a mere teenager, she did help with makeup for the St. Peter's Gilbert and Sullivan Society in Scarborough, Ontario.
Fran moved to Cobourg and quickly joined the Northumberland Players starting with painting sets and then filled a number of positions for various plays, including, Props Lead, Assistant Props, Stage Manager, Assistant Stage Manager, Dresser, Producer. For the last couple of years she has taken on the role of Office Manager at the Player's Fire hall Office.
Having not been fully involved with theatre until recent years, she has met many interesting and colourful people and enjoys experiencing the excitement of being involved in the productions.
Job Titles:
- Artistic Director
- President
I am a proud member of the Northumberland Players. I am the longest standing member of the Board of directors and have been President on two occasions. I enjoy being involved in making decisions with a group of dedicated people who love theatre and enjoy contributing to the culture of Cobourg.
After attending The University of Western Ontario, Brock University and Queen's University, I taught elementary school for four years and taught at East Northumberland Secondary School for 27 years. I was the Head of English and taught art and drama as well. I was actively involved in coaching basketball and track and field for my entire career. I enjoyed running a theatre club before I retired in 2014.
I have directed a couple dozen plays at the Secondary School level and for the Northumberland Players including two musicals. When I don't direct I enjoy being on stage in dramas and musicals. I learn something new about directing every time I am on stage and something new about acting each time I direct.
I am blessed to be in the same household as my talented choreographer and teacher Alina Adjemian and my daughter Alexia who can't get enough of musical theatre and acting. I am fortunate to be surrounded by some of the most passionate and creative people in the community: so fortunate to call them my friends. Theatre has enriched my life in this town. I hope to continue to enrich lives through theatre.
Jackie first became involved with the Players in 2015 when she and Mary Doig sought permission to take a musical play reading of Dickens' A Christmas Carol to retirement homes in Cobourg and Port Hope and to the rural community in Grafton. This was the first of several Outreach productions, all supported by Christine and Chris Sharp and the C# Singers.
Subsequently Jackie became involved in productions at the Firehall. Her professional life has been spent in teaching and administration at post-secondary institutions.
I came to the Northumberland Players 14 years ago when I auditioned for a part. At the time I was not a member but during my acting debut I came to realise this was a real family of dedicated, caring, fun people. I became a member immediately and have been fortunate to have honed my acting skills with the various committed Directors.
When not on stage I am often asked to work on props and set decor. It is impressive how volunteering at any level can provide a volunteer with new skill sets and new friends.
I was on the Accessibility Advisory Committee for 14 years and am passionate that as the Players move forward we provide accessibility for all who are interested in joining this dedicated community group.
Leslee has been involved with the Northumberland Players for over a decade filling many roles including producer, stage manager, set designer, set dresser and lead painter. In addition, she has served for a number of years on the Northumberland Players Board of Directors, as Secretary, Vice President, Treasurer, and now as a Director.
Prior to retirement Leslee gained a wide range of knowledge, experience and skills in human resources consulting, managing her family-owned direct mail fundraising business and running her own landscape design business.
Leslee is passionate about the Players, viewing it as "a well run, welcoming organization that gives back to the community and provides many opportunities for individuals to use their talents and make lasting friendships". She feels privileged to serve the Players and the broader community as part of the Board of Directors team.
New to Cobourg, post-retirement, Lynn joined the Northumberland Players in 2022. Having worked for decades in a predominantly left brain environment as a Quality Operations Director for a major vaccine manufacturer, she brings to the board, strong work ethics, logical, rational and objective thinking and excellent organizational and people management skills. She is thrilled that her involvement with the Northumberland Players has awakened her creativity, imagination and holistic thought. In other words, her right brain is now in over drive!
Over the last three years Lynn has proudly participated in various Northumberland Player productions as dresser, props crew, Assistant Stage Manager and Stage Manager. Additionally she was a member of the EODL Festival Host Committee which organized the highly successful 2024 EODL Festival Brunch and Awards Ceremony. Lynn feels privileged to have the opportunity to work with all the intensely creative, passionate and dedicated people that make up Northumberland Players.
She is honoured to have the opportunity to bring her experience, skills and abilities to her position of Director.
Rebecca was involved with numerous theatre productions in her youth, tackling most roles in the backstage area. After what has been a very long hiatus, building her career in Advertising, she is delighted to join the Northumberland Players and re-enter the world of theatre as a participant.
Joining the NP this year, Rebecca signed up to be the Producer on Gibson & Sons and the Co-Producer on Something Rotten. In this position she has been able to touch all aspects of the productions and work with many exceptional and talented people.
She is thrilled to join the Board and contribute her skills and time so she can keep learning and growing and give back to such a wonderful community.
The Northumberland Players is a key part of my retirement. I have contributed to costumes and props on many productions, and volunteer at the Costume House. This is my second two-year term on the Board and this year I have taken on the role of Secretary.
Prior to our retirement to Grafton, I was a Human Resources professional and in the last ten years I was an Office Manager in charitable organizations. I hold a post-graduate certificate in not-for-profit and arts sector management. My other commitments in Northumberland include hospice volunteering and tutoring for Rebound and sit on the Board of Northumberland Hills Hospital. I knit, sew, make jewellery, scuba dive, and ride my bike around the area.
Job Titles:
- Executive Producer
- Vice - President
In the forty-four years since becoming a founding member of the Northumberland Players, I have directed and produced countless plays and musicals with the organization, served on the board and acted as chairperson for several terms. This time, I'm hoping to bring my years of experience with the company combined with fresh ideas to try and help shape the next ten years of NP.
Job Titles:
- Director of Health and Safety and Technical Coordinator
Northumberland Players has been a great place to land after retiring. My first show was Quartet fall of 2017 as sound design.
I have spent my whole professional life in some aspect of technical entertainment. My early days as a sound designer for Toronto Workshop Productions, and the Shaw Festival. From there to a technical director for Harbourfront Centre and twenty years at the Mississauga's Living Arts Centre. I also spent some time working for Strand Lighting Canada as a sales rep.
I have had the opportunity to work on thousands of events, shows and performance venues over the years. Every day is different and there is something electrifying about the industry, the people, the challenges and the ever-changing technology.
I have lived in Port Hope for over twenty-five years and have volunteered as production manager for the All Canadian Jazz Festival and am a founding member of Northumberland 89.7. I am also a founding member of the Canadian Institute for Theatre Technology (CITT).