Alexander Showcase Theatre (AST) stages two full-scale productions every year. The group is comprised of people from all walks of life, each with the same goal: To put together a wonderful show, and to enjoy every aspect of the process! Under the passionate leadership of Director, Vinnie Sestito and our accomplished Creative Team, people spend several evenings a week combining their various gifts: music, dance, acting, costuming, building, painting, and a hundred other things besides. The people are what make the show, and they perpetuate the feelings of joy, energy, fun, and focus. Working together in this environment of collaboration and creativity feels like being part of a big, loud, talented, affectionate family. In order to achieve the goal of staging a wonderful show, members of the group share their skills and their time. Every day is an adventure, with talented members spearheading set building and painting, cast members and choreographers alike running dance rehearsals in the hallways, singing in the stairwells, and dialogue drilling at dinner. Is it quite a bit of work? Yes. Is it the highlight of everyone’s week? Absolutely. Will you want to come back for more? Without a doubt.
The company we know today as Alexander Showcase Theatre began thirty years ago, under the artistic direction of Angela Hawaleshka. Six music students joined together with the plan of forming a summer choir. They took on the name “The Alexander Singers” as a tribute to Angela’s father, Alexander Stephen. Their music delighted audiences immediately, and it wasn’t long before the choristers were ready for greater challenges! Six months passed, and they were able to present a half-hour long Gilbert and Sullivan operetta “Trial by Jury”. The group continued to perform, and was inspired to produce bigger and better musicals – Gilbert & Sullivan’s “H.M.S. Pinafore”, “The Mikado”, “The Gondoliers”, “The Yeomen of the Guard”, “The Pirates of Penzance”, and “Ruddigore”. Spurred onwards by their success, they turned to operetta, performing “The Merry Widow” and “Die Fledermaus”, and to Broadway musicals, including “Oklahoma”, “Fiddler on the Roof”, and “Sweeney Todd”. These full-scale productions called for costumes, make-up, props, lighting, elaborate sets, and a small orchestra. The group known as The Alexander Singers cast and crew grew to over 80 members, including backstage technicians and front of house helpers. With the astronomical growth came more passionate, dedicated people who wanted to join in pushing the boundaries further, to see what they could achieve using their gifts, determination, and joy. With more shows each year and an ever-expanding family, The Alexander Singers and Players became Alexander Showcase Theatre in the fall of 2012.
Operating self-sufficiently as a not-for-profit organization, AST has always been involved in community support: performing for seniors, differently-abled communities, and charities such as:
- The Arthritis Society
- Perla Arditti’s MS Access Support Association
- The Cabbagetown Fair, which raises money for musical education for inner city children
- ORT Canada
- Patrons of Wisdom
- The Marie Curie Scorbaska Association
It has also worked in partnership with the Downsview Park Arts Alliance to mentor disadvantaged youth in theatre arts in cooperation with the City.
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Vinnie Sestito
2024 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Chairman: Carly Pal
President: Seth Mukamal
Treasurer: Ian Scott
Secretary: Jo-Anne Wurster
Members-at-Large: Steve Kyriacopoulos, Erin Leneeuw, Christine Lindo, Brenda Massey-Beauregard, Beth Roher, Eliot Winkler
1987 | Trial By Jury
1989 | The Mikado
1990 | Pirates of Penzance
1991 | H.M.S Pinafore
1992 | The Gondoliers
1993 | Yeomen of the Guard
1994 | Pirates of Penzance
1995 | Oklahoma
1996 | Ruddigore
1997 | The Mikado
1998 | Fiddler on the Roof
1999 | The Merry Widow
2000 | Sweeney Todd / H.M.S Pinafore
2001 | Die Fledermaus
2002 | Iolanthe
2003 | The Gondoliers
2004 | The Most Happy Fella
2005 | The Mikado
2006 | Fiddler on the Roof
2007 | Pirates of Penzance
2008 | Guys & Dolls
2009 | Yeomen of the Guard
2010 | Cabaret / The Fantasticks
2011 | My Fair Lady / It’s a Wonderful Life
2012 | Man of La Mancha / It’s a Wonderful Life / Mambo Italiano
2013 | Young Frankenstein / The Crucible
2014 | The Mystery of Edwin Drood / A Christmas Carol
2015 | Sweeney Todd / Lend Me A Tenor
2016 | The Addams Family / A Christmas Carol
2017 | Kiss Me Kate / Pygmalion / 30th Anniversary
2018 | The Hunchback of Notre Dame
2019 | Guys & Dolls / 12 Angry Jurors
2022 | Cinderella / Anne of Green Gables: A Radio Play
2023 | Anything Goes / Music Hall Revue
2024 | Anastasia / Son of the Horse Lord
Visit our Gallery
We have a new production every season. Don’t forget to take a look at what we’ve already done!
Support
If you believe as strongly as we do that AST does important, awesome, fun work, please consider supporting us with a contribution!