Cast || Creative Team
Ed Schroeter
(PLAYWRIGHT)
Ed began his professional writing career as a newspaper reporter. Wheatland Theatre and the Turgeon International Youth Hostel produced Ed’s first professional plays while he was working as a theatre and film critic at the Regina Leader-Post. Ed’s specialty is small cast, claustrophobic historical fiction. He has won four national one-act playwriting awards for his work. He is a former Artistic Associate at 4th Line Theatre, Artistic Producer of Arbor Theatre, and founder of Heritage Pavilion Stage. Ed is grateful to his longtime friend Gerry McBride for co-writing Crossing Over with him, long-time script reviewers Randy Banderob, Paul Quinn, and Suzanne Schroeter, historical researcher Don Willcock for spending countless hours sharing his extensive knowledge about the voyage of the John Barry (sorry we ignored some of the facts!), the Trent Valley Archives Theatre committee for their hard work producing the play, and last but not least, Drew, Barb, the cast, and crew for elevating the play to new heights.
Gerry McBride
(CO-PLAYWRIGHT)
Gerry is a retired elementary school teacher and versatile theatre artist. He is the co-writer of the production script, Crossing Over. He performed the role of Feste in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night (The Electric City Players) this winter. In 2024, he directed Trent Valley Archive Theatre’s production of Tide of Hope. He was grateful for the opportunity to direct a cast of actors older than 12 and thoroughly enjoyed this experience, although as he told the cast more than once, it’s exhausting sitting around telling people what to do all evening and watching them work.
Drew Mills
(DIRECTOR)
Drew has directed multiple shows in Peterborough, mostly focusing on musicals and children’s shows. Most notably, Drew co-directed Shrek the Musical in 2018 and produced or directed the prior five Spring shows as the Spring Show Coordinator for the St. James Players. He has also directed with the Peterborough Theatre Guild and acted with companies like the Anne Shirley Theatre Company (as Paul in Theory of Relativity), Cordwainer Productions (as Ernst in Spring Awakening), the St James Players (as Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz), and with the Trent Valley Archives Theatre (as David in Tide of Hope). In 2018, Drew suffered 4 acquired brain injuries and has only acted in shows since. After a long hiatus, he wants to get back into directing to provide the community with the quality of shows he has learned to foster.
Barb Mills
(STAGE MANAGER)
Having always loved the theater, Barb dove into the Peterborough scene 10 years ago when her son Drew asked to help backstage for a play he was directing with the St James Players: Princess Whatsername. Since then she has stage managed everything from musicals (Beauty and the Beast, All Shook Up, Evil Dead the Musical) to thought-provoking plays such as Twelve Angry Jurors. “I love helping the director bring their vision to life on the stage. Putting all the pieces together to present an amazing experience for the audience”. Ms. Mills is excited to join TVAT with their continuing saga Crossing Over as they jump into the Peterborough theater scene.
Mary & Greg Conchelos
(CO-PRODUCERS/PROPS)
Mary and Greg became involved in the Peterborough theatre scene in 2004. They took over management of Heritage Pavilion Stage, which provided school tours of Canadian history plays throughout the Kawartha region and beyond. Plays included Ed Schroeter’s Shadow of Genius, A Figure of Peace, And Freedom for All, and numerous others. Greg and Mary also commissioned Ryan Kerr to write Bonfire House about Dr. Hutchison, and Beau Dixon to write Freedom Belles based on Ed Schroeter’s outline. Some of their productions were done as “environmental theatre,” in which plays are produced in places other than on a stage. One example was A Figure of Peace, which took place at the Peterborough Cenotaph. Greg and Mary also volunteered for several years with the Trent Valley Archives Cemetery Pageant. Greg contributed dramatization ideas and acting. Both were involved in writing scripts.
Michael Ketemer
(MUSICAL DIRECTOR)
Michael Ketemer is a Peterborough-based musician. He plays lyrical and lively tunes from various folk traditions, as well as ragtime and classical. He is a multi-instrumentalist on fingerstyle guitar, hammered dulcimer, tin whistle, and concertina. He returns to Trent Valley Archives Theatre for its second production as Crossing Over’s musician and musical director, after appearing in the 2024 production, Tide of Hope.
Elaine Day
(VOCAL DIRECTOR, COSTUME DESIGNER)
On stage, Elaine has performed in musicals, children’s musical variety shows, and dramas. Behind the scenes, Elaine led the costume team dressing a cast of 30 adults and a children’s choir in the Peterborough Theatre Guild’s recent production of Joseph and The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. She has done sets, props, makeup, and costumes for many productions at the Guild, St James Players, and many others. She believes there are always new things to learn in theatre.
Cathy Brand
(COSTUME ASSISTANT)
Cathy is excited to be part of the Crossing Over commemorative event and have the opportunity to relive the experiences of her ancestors. Cathy has recently started performing on stage, appearing in the Peterborough Theatre Guild’s production of Fiddler on the Roof (2024). Cathy developed a love of acting while participating in a Toronto-based American Civil War reenactment group. She educates students and spectators about the 50,000 Canadians who participated in the American Civil War.
Don Willcock
(CONSULTANT TO THE PLAYWRIGHTS)
Don is an authority on the 1825 voyage of the Irish emigrant transport ship John Barry, some of its notable passengers such as Peter Robinson emigrant James Kelleher, and on the transport ship’s superintendent of emigrants, Royal Navy Surgeon William Burnie. He is the author of many articles such as “Captain John Armstrong: An Unusual Peter Robinson Settler” (2023), “The Adventures of John Keleher: An Irishman, A Sailor, An Immigrant” (2009), a Peterborough Historical Society Occasional Paper, “Two Men, Two Wars: Peterborough’s John Kelleher and James Rollins” (2017), and he has hosted countless history tours for Trent Valley Archives, including ghost and military walk. He has also led many historical walking tours for the Peterborough Historical Society, is a long-time docent and volunteer for Hutchison House Museum, and is the current President of the Peterborough Historical Society. He is a staff member of the Peterborough Museum & Archives.