Shining Star
Janet Delsey – January 2025

Janet Delsey
Creating great community theatre requires the collective effort of many dedicated individuals. Theatre Ancaster is fortunate to have long-standing volunteers who have been instrumental to our success and growth. This includes Janet Delsey. For two decades, Janet has been an invaluable member of the Theatre Ancaster team. Whether on stage or behind the scenes, Janet is part of the very fabric of our company thanks to her extensive talents and impressive work ethic.
The list of Janet’s accomplishments is long. Currently, Janet is Theatre Ancaster’s Chorus Program Coordinator, Website Manager, and member of the IT Committee. She also performs in the Chorus, Mainstage shows and Classics Company plays. If that wasn’t enough, she sources costumes, creates props, and paints sets. “I love being creative, whether it’s designing a web page, crafting a prop, discovering hidden treasures at the thrift shop, or performing on stage,” explains Janet. “And of course, I like the people! Theatre Ancaster is a great group to be a part of and I have formed many cherished friendships.”
Janet’s commitment to Theatre Ancaster started in 2005 when she and her husband Paul were cast in the ensemble of Guys & Dolls. Having worked on her dance skills since the 90s, Janet was thrilled to have the opportunity to show them off on stage, complete with fishnets and feathered fans. Singing, on the other hand, was all new. “Little did I realize that I would have to sing, which I had never done,” recalls Janet. Luckily, Janet found her voice and a whole new passion for performing. Her Whippet, Roz, even made an appearance in the show. “She pranced across the stage in a rhinestone-studded leash and collar during the opening and closing scenes.”

Theatre Ancaster's Hairspray, 2012
One of Janet’s most significant contributions to Theatre Ancaster is founding the Chorus. Following another turn on stage in Theatre Ancaster’s production of Beauty & the Beast, Janet gained an interest in choral singing. “After several years, I realized that a theatre chorus would be a fantastic addition to the company,” says Janet. “The youth programs were thriving, but there was nothing for adults besides the Mainstage shows,” she explains. So in 2013, Janet and Paul submitted a proposal to develop a new program, and the Theatre Ancaster Chorus was born. Since then, the Chorus has flourished, growing to 50 members and two knockout concerts a year.
Theatre Ancaster co-founder Gord Conroy has the highest praise for Janet: “Jan is super talented, super reliable and a really nice person. I love working with her. She has great ideas and she does that little extra whatever-it-takes to make things work out just right. Jan cares about people. And whether she is dancing on stage or preparing an acting role or looking after the website or working on props or sourcing costumes, or looking after whatever has to be looked after with the TA Chorus, she gives it her all. I think she’s wonderful.”

Director of Programming, Sam Frisk, likewise appreciates Janet’s dedication and skills. “Janet is so smart about so many different things,” says Sam. “I’ve worked with her in a variety of capacities over the years and I am continually thankful to have her in our corner. She is an absolutely integral part of the Theatre Ancaster community.”
It’s that very sense of community that motivates Janet: “Community theatre brings people together with a common sense of purpose. It fosters connections, encourages collaboration, and builds a sense of belonging. Through shared experiences, whether on stage or behind the scenes, people form bonds and create lasting friendships. The word ‘community’ is key.”