ABOUT The Western Ontario Drama League
Welcome to a community of people with a passion for theatre!
Theatre has played an important role in communities for centuries. The call to entertain is a very strong one; the call to be entertained is stronger still. WODL supports and encourages those who entertain.
Welcome to the Western Ontario Drama League (WODL)!
Theatre has brought communities together for centuries. Whether you love being on stage or enjoying a show from the audience, WODL is here to support, encourage, and celebrate everyone who helps make community theatre happen.
Who We Are
Founded in 1932 by D. Park Jamieson, the Western Ontario Drama League links over two dozen community theatre groups across Southwestern Ontario—stretching from Burlington in the east, to Sarnia in the west, and south from Welland all the way north to Tobermory.
Our Purpose
- Promote Community Theatre: Encouraging and assisting local theatre groups across the region.
- Annual Theatre Festival: Bringing top regional productions together for a celebrated annual event judged by a professional adjudicator.
- Theatre Education: Providing hands-on training and skill development in the theatre arts.
What We Do
- Professional Adjudication: From September through early April, a professional adjudicator travels the region to review member group productions and select the final showcase plays for the annual WODL Theatre Festival.
- Minifest Weekend: An annual weekend event, during the summer, dedicated to training directors, actors, and backstage technicians.
- Resource Sharing & Networking: Connecting local theatre groups so they can share access to resources, knowledge, and support.
- Member Newsletter & Website: Keeping the community informed with updates on festival news, regional workshops, and local theatre activities.
How We're Organized
WODL is managed by an elected Board of Directors made up of active members from our member groups.
Executive Officers:
- Past President
- President
- First Vice-President
- Second Vice-President
- Secretary
- Treasurer
Standing Committees & Area Representatives
In addition to the executive officers, the Board consists of:
- Standing Committees: Special focus groups led by appointed chairs to manage key operations, programs, and events.
- Area Vice-Presidents: Regional representatives serving as direct liaisons between local theatre groups and the WODL Board across six regions:
- Brant-Haldimand-Norfolk-Oxford;
- Bruce-Grey-Huron;
- Elgin-Middlesex-Perth-Oxford;
- Essex-Lambton-Kent;
- Halton-Hamilton-Niagara;
- Waterloo-Wellington.
Board Executive
| | |
| President | Shirley Marshall |
| 1st Vice President | Matt Walsh matt@wodl.on.ca |
| 2nd Vice President | Corey Robertson corey@wodl.on.ca |
| Secretary | Bricklin Perkinssecretary@wodl.on.ca |
| Treasurer | Peter Busbytreasurer@wodl.on.ca |
| Past President | Sue Hazelegersue@wodl.on.ca |
Appointed Positions and Committee Chairs
| Adjudications Chair | Renata Solski |
| Awards Chair | Gina Paradis |
| Constitution and Policy | Corey Robertson |
| Membership and Development | Shirley Steele |
| Webmaster | Linda Lloyd-McKenzie |
| Workshop Chair | OPEN |
| Life Members Chair | Michelle Spanik |
| Festival Chair | Sue Robinson scoooose@gmail.com |
| Festival Planning | OPEN festivalplanning@wodl.on.ca |
| Minifest Planning | Jay Peckham |
Area Vice-Presidents
Essex-Lambton-Kent Theatre Kent Theatre Sarina Windsor Light Music Ghost Light Theatre The Bank Theatre | Corey Robertson – |
Waterloo-Wellington Elmira Theatre Company Elora Community Theatre Cambridge Community Players Guelph Little Theatre Kitchener-Waterloo Little Theatre Theatre Wellesley | Bev Dietrich |
Elgin-Middlesex-Perth-Oxford Aylmer Community Theatre Ingersoll Theatre of the Performing Arts (ITOPA) Thistle Theatre - Embro London Community Players St. Marys Community Players Odesa Company Port Burwell Periscope Playhouse | Rob Coles |
Halton-Hamilton-Niagara Binbrook Little Theatre Peninsula Players Players Guild of Hamilton Theatre Burlington Dundas Little Theatre | Rob Blowey |
Bruce-Grey- Huron Kincardine Theatre Guild Inc Owen Sound Little Theatre Hanover Community Players | Debbie Deckert |
Brant-Haldimand-Norfolk-Oxford Theatre Tillsonburg Theatre Woodstock | Kim DiLello |
Present Life Members
Start Date | Joined WODL | Made Life Member | |
| Faye Bonanno | 1971 | 1996 | Made Honorary Life President 2000 |
| Sue Perkins | 1994 | 2010 | |
| Anne Mooney | 1986 | 2013 | |
| Bill Meaden | 1999 | 2012 | |
| Mark Mooney | 1997 | 2015 | |
| Ken Menzies | 1997 | 2015 | |
| Michelle Spanik | 1996 | 2015 | |
| April Chappell | 2002 | 2016 | |
| Bev Dietrich | 1993 | 2018 | |
| Shirley Steele | 1999 | 2019 | |
| Brandon Moore | 2002 | 2021 | Honorary Life Member |
| Dennis Johnson | 2002 | 2022 | |
| Peter Busby | 2006 | 2022 | |
| Gina Paradis | 2005 | 2023 | |
| Michael Grant | 2024 | Honorary Life Member | |
| Tricia Ward | 2012 | 2024 | |
| Jim & Leise Peddie | 2026 | ||
| Marion Smith | 2026 |
Deceased Life Members
Name | Joined WODL | Made Life Member | Deceased | |
| Lawrence Bonanno | 1967 | 1995 | 2019 | Made Honorary Life President 2000 |
| Sam Hunter | 1968 | 1988 | 2010 | |
| John Jenkins | 1971 | 1988 | ||
| Velma Mitges | 1972 | 1988 | 1992 | |
| Isabel Draper | 1973 | 1996 | 2002 | |
| Anne Wilson | 1974 | 1995 | 2014 | Made Honorary Life President 2000 |
| Armond LaPointe | 1977 | 2004 | 2007 | |
| Norma Hunter | 1977 | 1988 | 2003 | |
| Steve Repuski | 1985 | 2012 | 2012 | |
| Inez Hayes | 1985 | 2003 | 2012 | |
| Vince Mathewson | 1986 | 1995 | 2002 | |
| Fred Hadley | 1989 | 2006 | 2014 | |
| Val Hadley | 1995 | 2003 | 2013 | |
| John L'Heureux | 2019 | 2020 | ||
| April Chappell | 2002 | 2016 | 2020 | |
| Mona Brennan-Coles | 2005 | 2022 | 2025 | |
| Andre Paradis | 2009 | 2023 | 2026 |
Promote Your Theatre
- Free posting of playbills on WODL’s web site and Facebook page
- Share news and events through your Area VP, helping your group reach audiences across Southwestern Ontario.
Stay Connected
- Receive our monthly newsletter with information on the activities of member groups, the annual Theatre Festival and Minifest information, workshops in the Region, news from other Ontario Theatre Regions, and adjudication schedules for groups participating that season.
Adjudication & Festival Participation
- Enjoy subsidized adjudication fees, and take part in the adjudication process and be eligible for the annual Theatre Festival.
- Eligible to enter your group in our annual Minifest workshop/competition (see the Minifest tab under Festivals).
Have a Voice in WODL Decisions
- Opportunity to vote on major decisions put out by the WODL executive at the AGM and Delegates meetings (you are entitled to name two Delegates). These are generally held in October (AGM) and April (Delegates Meeting).
- Representation at delegates meetings where we discuss various aspects of theatre. You gain:
a) Shared awareness of what other theatres are doing,
b) Advanced notice of theatre seasons from other groups,
c) Fresh ideas and new perspectives,
d) Access to mentors and,
e) Great networking opportunities with fellow theatre makers.
Education & Advocacy
- Eligible to apply for financial assistance to host workshops.
- Eligible to enter in our annual Minifest - see Minifest tab under Festivals
- Unified advocacy – over a score of theatres can speak louder than individual theatres. Issues that directly affect theatre in Southwestern Ontario can be addressed and WODL is a recognized organization that has high standards and respectability amongst the theatrical world.
- Invitation to President of your theatre group to Gala opening ceremonies of WODL’s annual Theatre Festival.
- Access to information in WODL data bank.
To be eligible for membership, a group must have been in existence for a minimum of one year and performed at least two full-length productions and have a board of directors. An application along with the membership fee is needed in order to become a member group. Once this is received and a review done on your theatre group, the application will be processed before the group is accepted. Groups must be located in one of the following counties or former counties: Essex, Kent, Lambton, Elgin, Middlesex, Huron, Perth, Oxford, Brant, Norfolk, Waterloo, Wellington, Grey, Bruce, Wentworth, Lincoln, Haldimand, the Regional Municipality of Niagara, or the City of Burlington. The Board of WODL determines fees for Active Membership and to receive adjudication annually. The appropriate annual fees are due early each fall. Before becoming a Member Group, the interested theatre group needs to fill out an application for membership. WODL membership is also possible on an individual basis. You need to be a member in good standing to apply for adjudication.
Membership Application Form - Click Here
