Shining Star

Joanne Languay

Joanne Languay is a dedicated volunteer who has worn many hats at Theatre Ancaster. She has been a youth supervisor, dresser, usher, hair and make-up stylist, and a set painter. Since 2022, she’s been the Chairperson for our Mainstage Production Committee, helping to produce some of Theatre Ancaster’s splashiest shows. This fall she takes her first turn as Lead Producer for the perennial classic, The Sound of Music.

Joanne got her start working behind the scenes with Theatre Ancaster in 2008 when her daughter Hilary (last month’s Shining Star!) performed in Beauty and the Beast. “The whole company was welcoming and professional,” recalls Joanne. Since then, Joanne has become a vital, respected member of the Theatre Ancaster team thanks to her years of commitment and hard work.

As a producer, Joanne has the important job of overseeing nearly all aspects of a production, from casting and rehearsals, right through to the final bows. According to Sound of Music Director, Bob Carle, it’s a challenge Joanne is made for: “She has an amazing eye for details and doesn’t overlook anything. She’s reliable and a great collaborative partner. Theatre Ancaster is lucky that Joanne’s decided to devote her time and skills to making our shows run smoothly.”

Fellow Theatre Ancaster producer, Laura Bottrell, likewise praises Joanne’s valuable skill set: “Joanne is the perfect combination of passionate and professional. She truly cares about our shows and creating meaningful experiences for everyone involved in them, from cast to volunteers to patrons. Joanne also does a superb job of managing all the practical, often business-like, aspects of mounting many large productions each season with a focus on the continuous growth and improvement of our mainstage company.”

When it comes to The Sound of Music, Joanne is excited about the opportunity to bring the beloved musical to the stage. “The audience is so familiar with the movie and will come to the theatre knowing all the songs,” says Joanne. “It is a big responsibility to create a show that captures the heart of Maria and the von Trapp family, the sweeping landscape of Austria against the foreboding of pre-World War II but also feels familiar to audiences. This production of the show is as high-level as you are going to get in community theatre in Ontario!”

In Joanne’s view, the multifaceted role of producer comes down to strong relationships and connections with everyone involved in a show. “Everyone needs the necessary resources to do their part,” she explains. “Most of community theatre work is voluntary. People are freely giving their time and expertise to a production and that should be valued and appreciated.” A good producer is also a problem solver. “The main job description of a producer is ‘fix things that arise’ as there are always things arising,” says Joanne.

Joanne honed her exceptional interpersonal and problem solving skills during her over 30 year career in education. She was an elementary teacher, teacher consultant and then worked as Executive Staff in Professional Development at the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO). “I was able to travel across the province working with teachers and developing professional programs and resources for teacher learning,” she explains.

Now in retirement, Joanne enjoys travelling, spending time with her retired teacher friends, gardening and attending musicals, concerts and comedy shows. This is all when she isn’t giving generously of her time to Theatre Ancaster, of course. For Joanne, it’s time well spent: “I like working with talented and creative people who all have very different skill sets but join forces to create stage magic for audiences.”