Famous People Players
| Formation | June 1, 1974 |
|---|---|
| Type | Theatre group |
| Purpose | Black light production |
| Location | |
Artistic director(s) | Joanne Dupuy |
| Website | famouspeopleplayers |
Famous PEOPLE Players is a black light theatre company. It is based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and tours worldwide. It is a non-profit organization that is known as Canada's Goodwill Ambassadors to the world. They are famous for bringing inclusion and integration for people with disabilities. Those individuals, also known as Players, share duties in dining room management, arts administration, and theatrical and visual arts performances.[1]
Since inception, the company has paid homage to the works of famous people within its own theatrical context, hence the name Famous PEOPLE Players.
History
[edit]Famous PEOPLE Players (FPP) was founded on June 1, 1974, by Diane Dupuy of Hamilton, Ontario. At inception, the company consisted of Dupuy, an assistant, eleven performers, and Dupuy's mother Mary Gioberti Thornton; Thornton designed and built the costumes and props.
The company's original piece was Aruba Liberace, in which a life-size character of Liberace plays the piano. It is still the company's signature performance. Liberace attended a showing of Aruba Liberace, and was so impressed he invited FPP to perform with him in Las Vegas. The company debuted in Las Vegas at Las Vegas Hilton Hotel in October 1975; over the subsequent ten years, the company performed with Liberace both in Las Vegas and internationally.
As a result of the increasing popularity of Famous PEOPLE Players, the company was featured as regulars on CBC Television's 1976–1977 variety series, The Wolfman Jack Show; the network also later produced and aired Carnival of the Animals hosted by Canadian Actor Gordon Pinsent. In 1980, FPP was featured with the Rockettes at the re-opening of Radio City Music Hall in New York, where the Sorcerer Apprentice premiered.
In 1982, Famous PEOPLE Players was invited to perform in the People's Republic of China. The company's first Broadway Show, A Little Like Magic, opened at the Lyceum Theatre in New York City and ran for 49 performances in 1986.[2] They returned to New York in 1994 for a 4-week run, under the sponsorship of Phil Collins and actor Paul Newman, where they performed the show A Little More Magic for inner city kids to dream BIG![2] In 2001, Famous PEOPLE Players were invited to Kobe, Japan to raise money for children, who orphaned in result of a Great Hanshin earthquake. They are expected to return in 2026, with an invitation by a delegation from Kobe for the 25th commemomoration of the Great Hanshin earthquake.
Dine & Dream Theatre
[edit]In 1994, the company opened the Dine & Dream Theatre; Paul Newman funded the restaurant's development by donating a portion of the sale of Newman's Own salad dressing products and Phil Collins funded the theatre's sound system. In 2009, facing the demolition of its 25-year location for condo development, the company relocated to Etobicoke. It reopened its first show on October 23, 2009.
The Dine & Dream Theatre is located at the company's Toronto west-end headquarters. Guests first arrive to the restaurant for lunch/dinner, where they are served by the Players — who also perform in the show productions. After the meal, guests are led to the Phil Collins Theatre, where the show production is performed. The theatre is named after Phil Collins, who became a source of inspiration for thePlayers when he viewed a performance interpretation of his music. It is currently the only theatre in Canada exclusively devoted to live animation under blacklight, showcasing life-size characters that glow and float in the dark. Currently, Famous PEOPLE Players is #1 of 125 Theatre & Concerts in Toronto.
The Stars of Tomorrow
[edit]As the company evolved over the years, the Dine & Dream Theatre has grown to expand its services towards education as well. Approved by the Ontario Ministry of Education, the Stars of Tomorrow is FPP's holistic education program that works in close partnership with Boards of Education and secondary school administrators.
Under this program, high school students are given an alternative pathway to education — where they undergo co-op placements to train in the company's various departments in exchange for high school credits. This has led to multiple successful partnerships with various school Boards, such as Michael Power - St. Joseph High School, Father John Redmond Catholic Secondary School and Regional Arts Centre, Bishop Marrocco/Thomas Merton Catholic Secondary School, and most recently — George Brown College.
FPP also hosts Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) workshops for students of all grades. Under these workshops, students get to learn essential business and entrepreneurial skills from renowned professionals.
Recognition
[edit]The troupe has been subject of numerous talk shows, specials and documentaries. A 1984 CBS movie-of-the-week entitled Special People was based on the company's early history. A Little Like Magic, which detailed the company's operation and success, was an Emmy Award-winning documentary that hosted Ann-Margaret. The company was also featured in the plot of an episode of the popular U.S. television drama 7th Heaven in 2002. TV Special called "Blacklight Dreams" was aired on Bravo! CBC in 2004. In co-production with Treehouse's "Roll Play", Famous PEOPLE Players' children series [clarification needed] became hugely popular. They also appeared in the Rick Mercer's documentary on CBC in 2013.
On June 1st 2024, FPP hosted its 50th Anniversary Gala to huge success — blessed with the presence of distinguished guests such as her excellency the Right Honourable Mary May Simon, Governor General of Canada, and the Honourable Bob Rae, Canadian Ambassador to United Nations. It featured a live auction led by Jay Mandarino, and including works donated by leading Canadian contemporary artists Greg Hardy, Stephen Appleby-Barr, Derek Besant, Alexandra Haeseker, Michael Smith, and Lorraine Simms.
On September 22nd 2024, FPP hosted another successful fundraiser in light of its 50th anniversary — an Italian Gala featuring the chefs of Amanti Della Cucina. This event was also generously sponsored and supported by Pristine Fine Foods and Printing, I&A Professional Corporation, Bianchi Presta LLP Active, Green+Ross IC Savings, Pizzeria Via Napoli, PEEL, TK Fresh Produce, Schmidt Mediation Group, Cheese Boutique, Pizza Nova.
President and Founder
[edit]Renowned as the President and Founder of Famous PEOPLE Players, Diane Dupuy C.M. O.Ont is also a renowned motivational speaker. Most notably, she was invited by Deepak Chopra to be a guest speaker at the Alliance of New Humanity in Puerto Rico, where she spoke alongside former US Vice President Al Gore in 2008. She is also an author of 7 books and counting, all available at FPP.
In light of her outstanding contributions to the social fabric of Canada, here are her notable awards:
- Order of Canada (1982)
- Ernest & Young Social Entrepreneur Award (2009)
- Lifetime Achievement Award (2024) - Brilliant Minded Women
- First Canada Frontrunner (2025) - Urban Economy Forum
- King Charles III Coronation Medal (2025)
- Order of Ontario (2025)
She has also received Honourary Degrees from the following universities: University of Windsor (1986), University of Trent (1988), University of Toronto (1995), University of Brock (2001), University of Calgary (2015).
In tribute to her efforts in fostering social inclusion in Canada, the Maple Leaf Theatre Company will be hosting a new, original musical production based on the story of Diane's life and founding of Famous PEOPLE Players — called Changing The Label. It is written by Canadian historian and playwright, Gord Carruth, with music written in conjunction with Amy King and Director Willard Boudreau. It will premiere on June 19th 2025 at the Dine & Dream Theatre.
Her mother, Mary Gioberti Thornton, has also won many accolades, like The Toastmasters as woman of the year and Queens Jubilee Medal.
Productions
[edit]Famous PEOPLE Players has created many productions over its 50-year history.
Leave the Porch Light On was the company's first original, full-length musical production on the story of Famous PEOPLE Players and was created for the company's 25th-anniversary. The initial performance of Leave the Porchlight On was attended by a number of celebrities and other well-known people, including the Governor General of Canada.[3] The production was very successful and is still occasionally performed at the company's theatre in Toronto and on tour. A sequel of sorts followed two years later, entitled Hide and Seek: A Game of Human Spirit and A.D.H.D.(Awesome Dreams with High Drama) The Musical.
References
[edit]- ^ "Famous PEOPLE Players Dine & Dream Theatre". See Toronto. Archived from the original on 11 February 2017. Retrieved 8 February 2017.
- ^ a b Playbill Vault: A Little Like Magic, accessed April 17, 2014
- ^ "Governor General of Canada: Opening Performance of "Leave the Porch light On" -- the 25th Anniversary Production of the Famous PEOPLE Players". Archived from the original on 2005-02-15. Retrieved 2005-05-15.
- ^ "Shantero Productions - Archives: Leave the Porch Light On". Archived from the original on 2005-02-12. Retrieved 2005-05-15.
External links
[edit]| Name | First Performance | Last Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Aruba Liberace | 1974 | still performed |
| Sorcerer Apprentice | 1980 | 1980 |
| Scheherazade | 1981 | 1981 |
| A Little Like Magic | 1985 | still performed |
| Night On Bald Mountain | 1986 | 1986 |
| A Little More Magic | 1994 | 2001 |
| The Best of the Best | 1994 | 2001 |
| The Oldies But Goodies Show | 1996 | 1998 |
| A Magical Christmas | 1997 | 2000 |
| Leave the Porch Light On[4] | 1999 | still performed |
| Rock Around The Clock | 2000 | still performed |
| Hide and Seek: A Game of Human Spirit | 2001 | 2007 |
| Jumpin' and Jiven' | 2005 | still performed |
| Shake, Rattle & Roll | 2005 | 2005 |
| Hollywood Rocks | 2006 | 2006 |
| On Broadway | 2006 | 2006 |
| Alice in Funky Land | 2006 | still performed |
| Good Rockin' | 2007 | still performed |
| Going Bananas | 2008 | still performed |
| Rock and Roll Heaven | 2010 | 2015 |
| A Black Light Night at the Opera | 2012 | 2014 |
| A.D.H.D.(Awesome Dreams with High Drama) The Musical | 2014 | 2014 |
| Rock & Roll Heaven | 2015 | 2015 |
| Under The Big Top | 2015 | 2015 |
| Mistletoe Magic | 2015 | 2015 |
| Great Balls of Fire | 2015 | 2016 |
| Too Darn Hot | 2016 | 2016 |
| TreeMendous | 2016 | 2016 |
| Shufflin' On Broadway | 2017 | still performed |
| Canada Stands Tall | 2017 | 2017 |
| Sleigh Bells Ring | 2017 | still performed |
| Rock This City | 2017 | 2023 |
| Made in Canada | 2018 | 2018 |
| A Rockin' Good Time | 2018 | still performed |
| Jingle Around the Clock! | 2018 | 2019 |
| Winter Wonderland | 2019 | 2020 |
| Flashback Fun | 2024 | 2024 |
| Believe in Magic | 2024 | 2024 |
| Deck the Halls | 2024 | 2025 |
| Twist & Shout | February 2025 | June 2025 |
| Changing the Label: a Musical | June 2025 | June 2025 |
| Joy to the World | November 2025 | January 2026 |