Board of Directors

Jack Boyagian - President and Artistic Director

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

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.

Allena Godfrey - Treasurer

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.

Claire Russell - Secretary

Leslee Argue - Director

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.

Carol Beauchamp - Director

I am honoured to have been elected to serve as a Director on the Board of the Northumberland Players and to join such an exciting and dynamic group of individuals as we begin to help develop a strategic plan to guide the Players next few years.

A little bit about me, for those that don’t know me. I currently live in Cobourg, and have been an active member of the Northumberland Players as an actress, director and producer for the last 10 years. I retired from my full-time role as the Executive Director of Rebound Child & Youth Services – a child & youth mental health agency in 2023, and have been providing leadership coaching and organizational development consultations to not for profits and small businesses over the last couple of years. Prior to moving to Cobourg, I held the role of Executive Director of Theatre Ontario until 2013. I am currently a Leadership Development Consultant, and provide strategic services including coaching and mentoring not-for-profit and small business leaders.

Theatre has been a huge part of my life for over 40 years and I have worked and volunteered with many theatre groups in many capacities over the years, including servicing on several Boards including ACT-CO (Association of Community Theatres of Central Ontario). Currently I am the President of the Eastern Ontario Drama League (eodl.ca). Some of the groups I worked with no longer exist – (that really makes me feel old), and others are continuing to thrive and grow. One of the constants through the years has been the opportunity to meet interesting, creative, and downright great people – for that I will be eternally grateful. It has been so much fun to learn, play, laugh and create with so many amazing actors, directors, producers, technical whizzes, designers, and amazing builders, as well as the many unsung heroes who work in the background on our boards, and doing the administrative tasks to keep our organizations moving forward. I look forward to working with the Board on behalf of our members with an inclusive, equitable and strategic lens.

April Corning - Director

April has been involved with the Northumberland Players for 10 years in various roles, such as actor, stage manager and producer. She is excited to bring her theatre experience to the position of Director.

In her daily life, she has worked for the Correctional Service of Canada as a Parole Officer and Programs Officer in a medium-security men’s prison for over 18 years. She is familiar with juggling multiple tasks, addressing conflict in a productive way, and answering to a diverse group of stakeholders.

April has lived in Cobourg since 2011 and absolutely loves the inclusion, creativity, and fun the Northumberland Players brings to their volunteers and the community. She is thrilled to have been elected to the Board and is looking forward to committing her hard work, desire to learn and creative curiosity to the organization.

Anthea Goodwin - Director

Anthea has proudly called Northumberland home for over 25 years, where she raised her family and developed strong ties to the local community. She has been actively involved with the Northumberland Players since 2016 and brings nearly a decade of volunteer experience across multiple areas of the organization.

From performing in many of our full-scale musicals to serving as an Assistant Director and Stage Manager, Anthea also manages the Players’ rehearsal and performance calendar on the website. She helps to coordinate the many volunteers who bring each production to life! Her involvement across performance, production, and administrative roles has given her a well-rounded understanding of the organization and the importance of encouraging members to explore a variety of theatre experiences.

Theatre has been a full-circle journey for Anthea. She grew up performing and working backstage at Pickering West-Hill Music Theatre alongside her mother and continues that tradition today with the Northumberland Players. Their shared involvement makes for a meaningful multi-generational experience that she values deeply.

Professionally, Anthea works as a secretary with the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board. She brings strong organizational, administrative, and computer skills to the Board.

Anthea genuinely believes in the power of theatre to connect people in our area, and strengthen the community she is proud to call home.

Mandy McConkey - Director

Amanda (Mandy) McConkey grew up in Clarington and now lives in Bowmanville with her husband and two boys, ages 10 and 12. A lifelong lover of the arts, Mandy has always enjoyed performing, acting, singing, and dancing, and attended a performing arts high school in Oshawa. She has worked in Northumberland County for the past 14 years, building experience in volunteer management, program development, communications, and social media. In her spare time, Mandy loves to read, bake, and spend quality time with her family.

Rebecca Reid - 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.

Marley Soutter - Director

Marley has been involved with the Northumberland Players for 25 years in various capacities, including on stage as an actor and production teams as a producer, hair and makeup lead, costume designer, and social media. Marley previously served as Secretary on the Northumberland Players Board of Directors.

Marley is deeply committed to the long-term success and sustainability of the Northumberland Players and brings with her a background in executive leadership within the healthcare sector. Marley has previously led large-scale provincial and regional health system transformation initiatives which provides her with experience in program development, strategic and operational planning, quality improvement, government relations, and operations management.

Victor Svenningson - 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).

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

Lynn Wilcox - Director

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.