April 2, 2026
Port Dover Maple Leaf
By Donna McMillan
It takes a village of creative people to showcase the annual and much-anticipated community show at Lighthouse Theatre. Twenty-one actors have been rehearsing three times a week since the beginning of December for Curtains, which runs from April 10 to April 26. Behind the scenes are director David Leyshon and a host of others working around stage management, costume design, set design and props, music, choreography, and all technical aspects required for the production.
Curtains “is a combination of two things audiences always love,” Mr. Leyshon said. “It’s a murder mystery musical that is fun and energizing for the audiences.”
Heather Reichheld of Jarvis is the stage manager for Curtains—her 11th community play in that role since 2014. She attends auditions in November and is at rehearsals three times per week for months. She is responsible for communicating with the cast and crew regarding times, changes, and a myriad of other directions.
The director oversees the play until opening night. Following that, the stage manager keeps the show running smoothly and deals with any crises, she said. In addition to the rehearsal time, Ms. Reichheld spends three to four hours or more per week on paperwork and communications. It’s a volunteer job of love, she shared.
She pointed out that when she started in theatre and stage management, she was working with a cassette player and a slider lighting board. “Now, you just press buttons,” she said.
Ms. Reichheld first became involved in theatre while acting on stage during her high school years. She was in a couple of shows but did not feel comfortable being on stage, she said. When her husband, Brian Reichheld, was performing in a Simcoe Little Theatre production around the time they married, she jumped at an opportunity to work backstage. Mr. Reichheld also performs in Lighthouse Festival community plays, including Curtains.
Ms. Reichheld said she has been involved in 50 plays at SLT. She also worked with former Lighthouse artistic director Robert More on Jesus Christ Superstar and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at Lighthouse Theatre, she said. In 2014, she worked with Derek Ritschel, Lighthouse Festival’s former artistic director, on Drowsy Chaperone, the first of many community shows on which they collaborated. She said that she felt fortunate to be offered plenty of on-the-job training opportunities, including working as an apprentice stage manager for three regular-season performances.
Ms. Reichheld said she is enjoying Curtains, calling it a wonderful murder mystery musical with great songs. The biggest challenge is between rehearsals and the beginning of the show, she shared. Everyone is ensuring everything is ready: lights, sound, props, costumes, actors’ lines, and more. She looks forward to seeing it all come together on stage, offering lots of laughs to the audience, she said.
Other members of the creative team include: Val Smith, assistant director; Katie Edwards, dance consultant; Michelle and Tony Proracki, musical directors; Hailey Parker, technical director; Don Kearney-Bourque, costume designer; Crystal Stephens, assistant stage manager/wardrobe; Sabrina Pringle, assistant technical director; Mary Keefe, wardrobe; Stephanie Grant, wardrobe; Andy Dominick, head technician; Alice Barnett, production manager; Rob Ciccotelli, assistant stage manager; Grace McFarland, set design.
For tickets to Curtains, visit the box office at the corner of Main and Market streets in Port Dover, go to lighthousetheatre.com, or call the box office at 519-583-2221 or 1-888-779-7703.
