Board of Directors

Jack Boyagian - President and Artistic Director (1st)

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.

Valerie Russell - Vice-President and Executive Producer (2nd)

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.

Strategic planning and continuing to mount exceptional productions are key, however, increasing membership through outreach, tapping into the strengths of members new and old and increasing interest through instruction by offering workshops are just some initiatives I hope to further integrate this year and beyond.

My dedication to excellence in performance and creative collaboration with such members has produced several notable productions, most recently Sister Act, Secret Garden, Les Miserables, Forever Plaid, Twelve Angry Men, Glengarry Glen Ross and Sexy Laundry.

Leslee Argue - Treasurer (2nd)

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 and now as Treasurer.

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.

Sharon Anderson - Secretary (1st)

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.

Kim Brouwer - Director (1st)

Kim is originally from London Ontario where she performed with The Gallery Theatre, Huron County Playhouse, Grand Theatre, UWO Gilbert and Sullivan Society and London Community Players.

After a 30+ year career as a Producer and Director in Canadian TV, Kim retired to Cobourg & joined The Northumberland Players.

She has appeared on stage in A Night In Provence, Sexy Laundry and The Odd Couple. Other memorable roles with The Players include Minnie in Leaving Home, Lady Bracknell in The Importance of Being Ernest, Kate in All My Sons and most recently as Mrs. Peacock in CLUE.

Hoping to give back to the community that welcomed her to her new home, Kim is looking forward to contributing her knowledge of production and leadership skills to the Northumberland Players.

Anne-Marie Bouthillette - Director (1st)

Anne-Marie has been a member and volunteer with the Northumberland Players since 2008, fulfilling a number of roles both on and off stage in well over 40 productions. She has also previously served as Treasurer of the Board of Directors, and has returned to the Board after a short hiatus. The Players provided many opportunities for Anne-Marie and her family to integrate into their new home community, and she is proud to look back at the work she has taken part in to take the company to where it is today. She is excited to see where the future takes us, and to continue to be part of the team.

Lisa Kapp - Director (2nd)

I am keen to have a voice on the NP Board. Over the years I have taken on a variety of theatrical roles including: actor, director, choreographer, producer, stage manager, costumier, make-up/hair, set design, décor and construction. I am an organized, approachable, detail-oriented team player and look forward to bringing these skills to the table.

Community theatre is incredibly important and brings together some of the most amazing people! I can safely say that involvement in theatre fostered some of my most valued life lessons (planning, shared commitment, discipline, creative imagination …) and likely led to my career as an English/Dramatic Arts teacher at CDCI East (Cobourg), Koc School (Istanbul), and Appleby College (Oakville).

It is my belief that theatre should both entertain and challenge the status quo, though not necessarily in the same show! Nothing beats a good belly laugh and leaving a production with an extra bounce in your step, but it’s also incredible to be moved to tears, or to examine things from a point of view that challenges your ideas and values.

Over the years, NP has produced an impressive array of shows that challenge performers, behind the scenes creatives and audiences alike. As a community theatre company, they get it. I am so proud to be a member!

Fran Martin - Director (1st)

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.

Jennie Ryan - Director (1st)

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.

Rebecca Sumners - Director (1st)

Victor Svenningson - Director of Health and Safety and Technical Coordinator (1st)

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).

I love working in the arts and being part of the creative process. I have huge respect for creative people.

Jackie Tinson - Director (1st)

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.

Bill Walker - Director (2nd)

A graduate of the York University Graduate Theatre program, Bill is an accomplished and award-winning actor/director and teaches theatre at Trinity College School in Port Hope. Bill has participated in Soulpepper Theatre’s Directors Lab led by Joseph Ziegler and courses with the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Bill has directed numerous productions including Ten Lost Years, Inherit the Wind, and his directorial debut, All My Sons, for which he won the Theatre Ontario Richard Howard Award for Direction in 1999.

He has acted in and directed a number of productions for the Players including The Odd Couple and last year's All My Sons. In his first acting performance with the Players, Bill played the role of Harold in the David French play, Leaving Home, for which he won the Ron Hazelgrove “Cameo” Award for the Eastern Ontario Drama League Festival. Bill was also awarded the Canadian Forces Decoration in 2022.