Want to learn a little about our cast and crew? Well you have come to the right place! Scroll to find out biographies, see photos, watch our trailers and so much more!

Content Warning: This performance includes realistic gunshot sounds. Viewer discretion is advised, especially for those sensitive to loud noises or those who have experienced trauma related to firearms. Please be aware that the sound effects are carefully staged and controlled for artistic purposes. We prioritize creating a safe and respectful environment for all attendees. If you have concerns, please contact the venue or production team for more information.

The tradition of Tibb’s Eve originates on the South Coast of Newfoundland after World War II. At the time, small outport communities were deeply religious and observed the Advent period as strictly and soberly as they did Lent – namely, no libations. Tibb’s Eve, appropriately also called Tipsy Eve, was a loosening of the restraint. So, it became a tradition for outport men to go to each other’s houses the night before Christmas Eve (often in concert with the other time-honored outport custom of mummering) where they could ‘sample’ incognito all the goodies planned for Christmas. Lighthearted and humorous, it was a way to extend the season and tip a glass with your neighbours.

Originally a home-spun outport tradition, Tibb’s Eve has only taken root in St. John’s as a holiday event as recently as 2010. Around that time bar owners and media outlets saw an opportunity to capitalize on the appeal of Tibb’s Eve to both townies and CFA’s thirsty for a unique Newfoundland experience. Since then, the event has been celebrated in several cities across Canada including Halifax, Grande Prairie, and Toronto.

What a privilege it is for us to debut for you Mummering, Mischief, and Murder, an original Christmas play, written and co-produced by Michelle Clemens, which captures the spirit of this one-of-a-kind Newfoundland event. We believe that behind the comic wit, tom foolery, and antics of the characters in this play, lies the essence of the Newfoundland character: good-natured people who open their hearts and homes to neighbours be they from Tickle’s Cove or Trinidad.

And it is in this spirit of generosity, evident among the cast and crew of this production, which, I believe, lies the cornerstone of its warmth, appeal, and success. The play is produced in a flawless manner, worthy of a well-oiled, fully functioning theatre company. This gives us the freedom to direct. The costumes, posters, social media, and set have been rendered with such detail, care, and brilliance that we have a place to live and show. The technical knowledge and skill of the crew makes the piece shine. The cast has gotten inside the heads and hearts of these characters and makes them live. You warm our hearts! The dedication of our stage manager and the creative genius of our assistant director combine to make the show a work of art. Thank you.

Here’s hoping that the spirit of Christmas warms all of your hearts and fills all of your homes with joy. Enjoy the show.

Leo Converse

Cast in order of appearance

Gran Sharpe Janet O’Reilly

Billy Hannah Fowler

Sammy Declan Foley

Marie Kindal Jill Hickman

Anastacia Hopkins (Dec. 13)

Officer Newbody Teigan Follett

Lynn Bright Courtney Szabo

Frank Kindal Jim Healey

Brad Blad Jody Rideout

Patty Henchman Chad Furlong

Dr. Morte Peter Jones

Fanny Fiddler Karin Murray-Bergquist

Crew

Director Leo Converse

Assistant Director Anastacia Hopkins

Stage Manager Melissa Barnes

Producer & Playwrite Michelle Clemens

Producer & Media Bridget Ricketts

House Technician Tiff Roberts

Costumes Suzette Furey &

Keli Jo Healey

ACTOR BIOGRAPHIES

DECLAN FOLEY as Sammy Bright

PrinciPALS Productions is super excited to have Declan return after his success in Boomerang. Declan has been building his resume offstage as well, performing background work on TV and movies sets. Performing on Son of a Critch and on the Hallmark channel movie Everything Christmas. Declan became interested in acting and movie making at a very young age, watching and re-enacting movie scenes and insisted on taking acting classes. He started acting at age 7 with the NL Performing Arts Group and studied under Patricia Andrews. When not on stage you can find Declan on a basketball court.

*Watch Sammy & Billy’s Reel Here

TEIGAN FOLLETT as Officer Newbody

Teigan Follett is an actor from St. John's who has lived and worked in the arts his entire life. He holds a BFA in Theatre Acting from Memorial University, where his credits include Lennox (Macbeth), King of Hearts (Alice in Wonderland), Laurence (Bedlam), Tesman (Hedda Gabler) Gaston/Gold Medal (Anything to Declare). In the fall he directed and premiered his original short play Sit for the Directed Studies course. He also appears on CBC's Son of a Critch as Middle Fox. Teigan wishes you a Merry Christmas and hopes you enjoy the show.

*Officer Newbody meets his first Mummer!

HANNAH FOWLER as Billy

Hannah is a Grade 5 student at MQP and is thrilled to play Billy in Mummers, Mischief and Murder! Hannah has previously performed in Elf 2023 and Scrooge 2022 (Peter McDonald Productions). She enjoys many styles of dancing, singing and especially her newfound passion, acting. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends, playing video games, coding, and learning to play saxophone in the school band. Hannah is excited to share the stage with all the other actors and a special thanks to PrinciPALS Productions!

*Watch Sammy & Billy’s Reel Here

JILL KENNEDY as Marie Kindal

Jill has been a fixture in local theatre for over twenty years. Selected credits include performances with Beothuk Street Players (Scorched, A Flea in Her Ear), Shakespeare by the Sea (Richard III, Julius Caesar, King Lear, Much Ado About Nothing), Joint Productions (In a Forest Dark and Deep, Don’t Dress for Dinner) and of course with Nothing On Productions (Clue, Noises Off; August, Osage County; God of Carnage and Misery). Jill recently won a best actress award when she starred as Ruby for the PrinciPALS submission to Atlantic Canada’s 48Hr Film Project Pulling Strings.

*Marie is all ready for Tibb’s Eve!

KARIN MURRAY - BERGQUIST as Fanny Fiddler

Karin is a writer, actor, and artist currently pursuing a PhD in folklore at MUN. Some recent work include Dracula: A Radio Play (as scriptwriter and Dr. Seward), and The Importance of Being Earnest (as Jack Worthing), both with Pourquoi-Pas? Players. Karin has also performed in Shakespeare by the Sea's Pericles, as well as ITR Theatre's Tempting Providence, and co-wrote, co-directed, and acted in the radio play Corentin in Quarantine with the creative duo Practical Fantasists.

*Fanny’s favorite way to enjoy Purity Syrup!

JANET O’REILLY as Gran Sharpe

Janet studied theatre at MUN and the University of Toronto. She is a director and actor about town and has been for over 30 years. She has her own production company Nothing On Productions but also enjoys working with other local companies like Power productions, SBTS, St. John’s Players and Second Light. Some highlight roles include Puck in A Midsummer’s Night Dream and all the roles in The Compleat Wrks of William Shakespeare - both with SBTS. Some of her directorial productions include Clue and Noises Off with Nothing On. She is super pleased to be back on stage with the PrinciPALS and hopes you enjoy the show!

*Gran's knows how to have a time!

CHAD FURLONG as Patty Henchman

Born and raised in the Goulds, Chad had a passion for the arts from an early age. Taking comedic cues from his father, family and friends, he quickly developed an admiration for performance. He started his acting career in High School with inspirations from mentors Janet Graham & Tony Duffenais. He has starred in many originals and adaptations as an original member of the comedy troop Deadpan Alley. Chad most recently starred in the hilarious short Beggin' To Be Stolen written by Terry Doyle. He looks forward to demonstrating his comedic flair in tonight's showcase.

*Check out Blad and Patty’s Reel below

JIM HEALEY as Frank Kindal

Jim is a theatre veteran, and has acted in or directed over 100 plays. Active mostly in St. John’s, he has performed in centres across NL and in Kyoto, Japan. Jim has been heard in plays on CBC Radio and in several radio commercials. He has received critical praise for many performances and is a five-time award winner – including two for Best Actor and one for Best Supporting Actor – at the NL Drama Festival. He has also won several awards for singing, directing and public speaking. The greatest reward, he says, is performing in front of an appreciative audience.

*Frank shares his thoughts on the new Officer

PETER JONES as Dr. Morte

Although he gave it his all, Peter never learned to unicycle well enough to ride away with the circus. This is just his third time gracing the Barbara Barrett theatre stage in the last thirty years with his last performance being The Perfect Son by Second Light. He has recently tremendously enjoyed and benefitted from taking acting classes at Chuck Herriott's St. John's Actors Studio. He is thrilled to be part of such a wonderful cast and crew and hopes you enjoy the show!

*Dr. Morte gets ready to investigate the murder!

JODY RIDEOUT as Brad Blad

Jody is a high school theatre educator who started out his theatre journey on stage. He first acted with Shakespeare by the Sea in 2007, worked with local directors such as Danielle Irvine and Jamie Skidmore, to most recently being seen in Pulling Strings produced by PrinciPALS Productions. His many acting roles brought him to a point where he wanted to give back to his students and create his vision on stage - while helping train the next generation of talent in this city. He started Whadda Ya Call It? Productions in 2019 and most recently directed a fourth production with the group called Killer Halloween. He would like to thank the PrinciPALS, the cast, and the crew for a warm welcome back to the stage.

*Check out Blad and Patty’s Reel link below!

COURTNEY SZABO as Lynn Bright

Courtney Szabo is a 21 year old Memorial University student and is majoring in history. Her love of theatre began at age twelve when she participated in her first school drama festival. Since then she has performed in several shows, including Project Murder and In Laws, Outlaws, and Other People Who Should Be Shot, both produced by Whadda Ya Call It? Productions. Courtney is thrilled to be part of this hilarious holiday show, and she wishes everyone a very Merry Christmas!

*Lynn Bright is ready to get Tibb’s Eve started!

Check out Blad and Patty’s trailer

CREW BIOGRAPHIES

MELISSA BARNES – Stage Manager

Melissa hails from Clarenville and is currently enrolled in CNA’s new Film and Television Technical Program and will be part of their first graduating class of 2023. Melissa’s technical film experiences include working as an Intern Script Supervisor on City TV’s Hudson and Rex, Daily Art PA on Season Two of Canada’s Ultimate Challenge, Script Supervisor on NIFCO Picture Start 16 Northerner and Props Supervisor on PrinciPALS short film Pulling Strings. Previous theatre experience includes Sound Technician for PrinciPALS Bridey’s Birth Control at the St. John’s Short Play Festival.

MICHELLE CLEMENS – Writer & Producer

Michelle is a writer, director, actor and co-founder of PrinciPALS Productions. She is a two-time award winner of the Arts & Letter’s and a host for St. John’s Storytelling; her stories The Ruin and Bra Burning premiered at their fall festival last year. Michelle’s last stage performances were Clariee in Steel Magnolias and Kate in Boomerang. This year she is also busy directing O’Donel’s HS musical, Shrek, due to hit the stage in Feb. 2024. If you look closely you can also see her in the background on many locally produced television series. Michelle is particularly pleased with her three words and a scream in the TV series, Astrid and Lilly Save the World.

LEO CONVERSE - Director

Leo’s directorial credits include Grease, Fame, Annie Get Your Gun, Aida, The Wizard of Oz, Legally Blonde, and more recently PrinciPALS Productions Boomerang. This past year Leo appeared as Mr. Price in the musical Kinky Boots (Tada Entertainment), as a cleric in the short film Attar of Roses (PP), and as a BG actor on Surreal Estate (Blue Ice Pictures). He has also worked with The Beothuck Street and St. John’s Players, Corner Brook Playmakers, and Atlantic Light Productions. Leo is happy to find meaningful work as a singer, actor, and director and after learning how to dance in six-inch heels for the musical Kinky Boots, he says anything is possible!

SUZETTE FUREY – Costumes

Suzette is a retired high school teacher who worked with plays and musicals throughout her career. Last year she really enjoyed working with PrinciPALS Productions and the wonderful and talented cast and crew for their Christmas Production of Boomerang. She also helped with costumes for their short film, Attar of Roses. She is thrilled to be back onboard this year and doing costumes for Mummers, Mischief and Murder. Suzette wishes everyone a great holiday season.

KELI JO HEALEY - Costumes

Keli Jo’s is a retired teacher who has returned to her love of the theatre! Her first experience in costuming was with MUN’s Summer Shakespeare. She has since done marketing and PR for several high school musicals. Last year she did costumes for the short film, Attar of Roses and the Christmas stage play Boomerang, both with PrinciPALS Productions. She’s excited to once again be working backstage with this wonderful cast and crew and hopes you will enjoy the show. Merry Christmas!

ANASTACIA HOPKINS - Assistant Director & Marie (Dec. 13)

Ana is an award-winning actress, director, writer, producer, and filmmaker who hails from Stephenville, NL. After a long hiatus from theatre, Anastacia is pleased to be making her return with PrinciPals Productions. Previous role highlights include: Anita from Norm Foster’s Jenny’s House of Joy - NTBA Productions, Lepidus & Strato from Shakespeare by the Sea’s production of Julius Caesar, Maggie Duncan from Norm Foster’s Maggie’s Getting Married - Bay Theatre, the Friendly Co-worker/Chorus in Homechild a Musical Journey (World Premier) - Stone Home Productions and Princess Elizabeth/Narrator/Jule Anne from A Bunch of Munsch! The Paper Bag Princess and other Stories! Stephenville Theatre Festival.

*Marie has a few concerns and it’s not just the weather!

BRIDGET RICKETTS – Media & Producer

Bridget is co-founder of PrinciPALS Productions. She is a writer, director, editor and has produced eight short films in the last two years. These include several 48 Hour Film Challenges and her First Time Filmmaker’s short Attar of Roses which premiered at the Nickel Independent, Smith Sound and the Parrsboro Film Festivals. She has worked professionally designing logos, websites and graphics for companies across Newfoundland and the United States. Recently she wrote and produced the one act play Bridey’s Birth Control for the St. John’s Short Play Festival Sept. 2023.

Special Thanks To…

Arts & Culture Centre (Deborah Clarke, Maria Foley, Ryan Hiscock, Marie Jones, Tiff Roberts) O’Donel High School, Nothing On Productions and Ralph Clemens for the set, Andrew Ballam for poster modelling and soundtrack selection, Eric White for set decoration, and Shawn Walsh for brainstorming the concept MMM. Also thanks to friends who gave feedback at table reads and to Tonya Kearley for suggesting a tip of the hat to the Traditional Newfoundland Christmas Mummers Play.

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