March 14 – April 6

GUYS ON ICE

 

Book & Lyrics by Fred Alley | Music by James Kaplan

Conceived & Researched by Fred Alley & Frederick Heide

 

Huddle up on a winter day in a cozy ice shanty by the Great Lakes. Join lifelong friends and fishermen Marvin and Lloyd, as they laugh, sing and philosophize about life’s essentials -beer, bait and hockey.

Chemainus Theatre Festival’s 2025 season will begin with the musical Guys on Ice, a tale of fish and friendship.

In this slice-of-life comedy, audiences will join lifelong friends Marvin and Lloyd as they share their hopes, lives and dreams next to a cozy plywood ice shanty waiting for the next ‘big one’ to bite. As Marvin (Sean Baker) anxiously awaits his opportunity to appear on a cable TV fishing show and share secrets of his life on the lake, Lloyd (Mark DuMez) ponders a recent squabble with his wife concerning plans to spend their anniversary at a hockey game. Even a simple day of fishing can present obstacles and the friends must stay alert to protect their cold ones from fellow angler, Ernie the Moocher (Antony Knight).

This play comes to us from Fred Alley and James Kaplan, the same team who wrote Lumberjacks in Love, a Chemainus Theatre Festival favourite back in 2019. Guys on Ice is a “A bittersweet and moving story about friendship.” (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel).

Behind the scenes Max Reimer will be leading this show as Director along with cast members Antony Knight as Music Director and Mark DuMez as Artistic Director. Liz King brings years of experience as Stage Manager and will have Finnley O’Brien supporting her as Apprentice Stage Manager. Chemainus Theatre Festival is known far and wide for their high caliber productions and with James Maronek as Set Designer, Sarah Shepherd as Costume Designer, and Mark Carter working as Lighting Designer this play will be no exception. Graham Coffeng will have his work cut out for him as the understudy for all three characters.

Make 2025 a year of live theatre and start with Guys on Ice from March 14th to April 6th. Subscription packages are on sale now for the 2025 season and provide theatre-goers with additional benefits, including discounts on tickets for family and friends, discounts in the Gallery Gift Shop, and guaranteed seats at the best price. Single tickets starting from $23 are available online at chemainustheatre.ca or by calling the box office at 250-246-9820. If you’d like to arrange for dinner or brunch in the Playbill Dining Room before the show this is also available online and at the box office.

Get your tickets soon for Guys on Ice and spend a day in the life with Marvin and Lloyd as they laugh, sing and philosophize about life’s essentials – beer, bait and football. According to BroadwayWorld audiences will “treasure this enduring and heartwarming musical.”

“Treasure this enduring & heartwarming musical.”
BroadwayWorld

“A bittersweet and moving story about friendship.”
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Recommended for ages 10+

Cast & Design Team

MAX REIMER

Director

MAX REIMER

Max Reimer has directed over 200 plays at over 30 theatres: The Drowsy Chaperone (NAC/Citadel/Vancouver Playhouse/Drayton), Jesus Christ Superstar (Aquarius/Stage West), Man of La Mancha, Billy Bishop, Gunmetal Blues (Globe). Artistic Director: Huron Country Playhouse; Theatre Aquarius; Vancouver Playhouse; Manitoba Theatre for Young People (Interim). GM: Drayton Entertainment. Awards: Calgary Theatre Critics’, Vancouver Ovation, Jesse Richardson – Best Director; Ontario Lt Governors – Business in the Arts; Canada Council John Hobday – 1st Business/Arts Mentor.

SEAN BAKER

Marvin

SEAN BAKER

Guys On Ice will be the 4th time Sean’s performed for the Chemainus Theatre Festival, and he’s always delighted to be performing so close to home. Some
of his prior theatre credits include: Hurry Hard, Ghost, Classic Country Roads (Chemainus Theatre Festival) Where you Are (Theatre Northwest) A Funny
Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Bluebridge Reparatory Theatre).

MARK CARTER

Lighting Designer

MARK CARTER

Delighted to return to Chemainus after designing Gaslight in 2023 (Chemainus & WCT). For United Players: The Trip To Bountiful, Hedda Gabler,
Silent Sky, Amphitruo, and The Thursday Night Bridge Circle. Other favourite design credits include The Wizard of Oz (St. George’s), Sizzlin’ Summer,
RESPECT! and Making Spirits Bright (VMC), Mary Poppins and The Drowsy Chaperone (TUTS) Mark is also a director and technician in Vancouver.

MARK DUMEZ

Lloyd

MARK DUMEZ

Mark has served as Artistic Director at the Chemainus Theatre Festival since 2009, acting in shows including Lumberjacks in Love, Harvey, Queen Milli of
Galt, Mass Appeal and Streetcar Named Desire. In other regions shows include Mercy Wild (Pacific Theatre), John Gabriel Borkman (Theatre X), Godspell (Saltworks), Finding Center (Tour), Island of the Blue Dolphins (First Stage) and Two Gents and Henry V (KSF). Love to family near and far.

GRAHAM COFFENG

Understudy

GRAHAM COFFENG

Victor is a Vancouver-based Métis actor and voice-actor. He’s so grateful to return to Chemainus to help this incredible team tell this beautiful story. Theatre credits: Guys & Dolls (Arts Club), Little Shop of Horrors (Arts Club & Citadel), Parade (Raincity), Grease (Chemainus), Matilda: The Musical (Theatre Under the Stars). Voice credits: Dragalia Lost (Nintendo), X-Men: Day of the Sentinels (Marvel Move). Other: Sharlayan Dropouts: A Final Fantasy XIV Podcast. @victorehunter

LIZ KING

Stage Manager

LIZ KING

Liz is thrilled to be on her 18th show with CTF. Her first show was Delicious Lies in 2013. Some of her favourites at CTF include Once and Mamma Mia. A
recent career highlight was being the first SM of the newly renovated Globe Theatre in Regina. Other high points include Peter Pan (Globe Theatre), Beaches (Theatre Calgary), The Unplugging (Belfry), and Hand to God (Arts Club). Liz spent the Lost Years as Operations Manager for the Victoria Symphony.

ANTONY KNIGHT

Music Director/Ernie the Moocher/Pianist

ANTONY KNIGHT

Antony is a Vancouver-based composer, performer and music director. He holds a BMUS in Opera Performance and Composition from UBC. For Chemainus: Naked Radio, Ghost, Jeeves at Sea, 9 to 5. Other theatre: Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol (Arts Club), The Allihipporhinocrocadilligator (Kaleidoscope), On Native Land (Workshop) (Urban Ink), Something Rotten! (Theatre Under the Stars). Love to Cassandra for the endless support.

JAMES MARONEK

Set Designer

JAMES MARONEK

Jim Maronek’s professional career as a stage designer has embraced and graced stages across the country and his theatrical work has been exhibited around the world. With designs from Las Vegas industrial shows to a Broadway musical, he also holds two Joseph Jefferson awards. Selected Midwest credits include the Goodman Theatre, Lyric Opera Chicago, Goodman Children’s Theatre, Chicago Opera Theatre, Northlight, DePaul University, Peninsula Players, and Northern Sky. Jim’s fine art can be found at Silver Poplar Studios in Ellison Bay, WI. Member: USA Local 829, IATSE

FINNLEY O'BRIEN

Assistant Stage Manager

FINNLEY O'BRIEN

Finnley (she/her) is an emerging stage manager. She works as a stagehand at the Arts Club and holds a BFA in Theatre Production and Design from UBC. Select stage management credits include Jesus Christ Superstar, Mary’s Wedding (Thousand Island Playhouse), Chelsea Hotel (Firehall), Hurricane Mona (Touchstone/Ruby Slippers), Cabaret (Ovation), Matilda, The Prom, and We Will Rock You (TUTS). Enjoy the show!

SARAH SHEPHERD

Costume Designer

SARAH SHEPHERD

Sarah is a costume designer and theatre creator based in Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh territory, and they hold a BFA in theatre from UVic. Previously, Sarah worked with Chemainus Theatre in crew positions on Ghost: The Musical and The Fiancée, and they are excited to be back! Sarah is also an award-winning playwright, and they strive to make theatre that centres queer and disabled voices.

LISA SCHLENKER

Resident Designer, Northern Sky Theatre

LISA SCHLENKER

Lisa is delighted to assist Jim and Chemainus on this production of Guys on Ice. She has a passion for storytelling through scenic and prop curation and creation, to guide the audience eye and uplift the human condition. Lisa’s design collaborations span grand opera to small story theatre: Florentine Opera, Tulsa Opera, Milwaukee Rep, Renaissance Theaterworks, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Next Act, First Stage Children’s Theatre, Third Avenue Playworks, Forward Theatre, Opera Lafayette, and Northern Sky. Member: USA Local 829, IATSE

MADELEINE LIEFFERTZ

Apprentice Music Director

MADELEINE LIEFFERTZ

Madeleine Lieffertz is thrilled to be part of this production with Chemainus Theatre Festival! Initially trained in classical music right here in Chemainus, Madeleine has expanded from their original focus and is now exploring other musical paths including jazz and musical theatre. Credits include: Little Shop of Horrors, WWRY (LMA); The Value of Gold, Here’s to the Fools (Theatre Royal).

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