“Old Love” Theatre - June 8-18, 2024 at Pioneer Church Hall

Norm Foster's comedy "OLD LOVE" spans three decades, and half a dozen meetings between Bud (Andy Bartle), a salesman, and Molly (Jodie Auckland), his boss's wife. One of them is smitten from the very first meeting—the other, let's just say—less so. Written by Canada's pre-eminent comic playwright Norm Foster this clever and witty play celebrates the pursuit of love, the kind of love that makes you breathe just a little bit faster. Charmingly written, with just a few curse words for effect, Foster's use of one-liner's serve the script well and has the audience smiling, chuckling and laughing throughout the entire play. Dot The T is very excited to bring this production to Pioneer Memorial Hall for 8 performances.

Contact downbythebayslob@gmail.com to RESERVE your spot today. Let us know your name, the performance date, number of tickets and e-transfer $40 per ticket.

Wednesday May 8 at 2 pm, Thursday May 9 at 7 pm, Friday May 10 at 7pm and Saturday May 11 at 2 pm.

Wednesday May 15 at 2 pm, Thursday May 16 at 7 pm, Friday May 17 at 7pm and Saturday May 18 at 2 pm.

Pioneer Memorial Church Hall, 2370 Highway 60 at Hillside, Lake of Bays

As seating is limited to 50 people/performance, reserving your spot is highly recommended.

If seats are still available, $40 Cash only will be accepted at the door. Doors open 30 minutes to show time. There is also a cash-only concession.

REMINDER, $10 from every ticket sold and all concession donations will contribute to the Pioneer Memorial Church's Furnace Replacement Campaign. NOTE: Over $4,000 has been raised so far! 

DOWN BY THE BAYS is a community cultural hub for performing arts in Lake of Bays. Dot The T Productions, Muskoka Players, Muskoka Stageworks and The Dorset Theatre Company share the stages at the Lake of Bays United Churches in Hillside (Pioneer Memorial Hall), Dwight (Stewart Memorial) and Dorset (Knox United).

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITY

Advertising spots are available for your business or organization in our PLAYBILL and on the SLIDESHOW on the big-screen TV that runs prior to  the show. Only $25 and your logo/message will be proudly displayed to our audience showing your support for this new cultural hub in Lake of Bays.

Contact us asap to get the exposure you want! Or maybe you have some bigger ideas! Let’s talk

Blooming Violet Theatre- April 10-13 at Pioneer Church Hall

Blooming Violet, written by Lake of Bays resident JS Jacklin, is a full-length stage play with 15 characters. Blooming Violet takes you back in time from 1916 to 1952 with a story about an ordinary British working-class woman during an extraordinary time in history.

Without the bells and whistles, and performed by 4 talented actors with no props, period costumes or sets, this heartwarming story comes to life, with a smattering of music and joviality throughout!

Contact dotthet@yahoo.com to RESERVE your spot today. Let Jan know your name, the performance date, number of tickets and e-transfer $20.

Wednesday April 10 at 2 pm, Thursday April 11 at 7 pm, Friday April 12 at 7pm and Saturday April 13 at 2 pm.

Pioneer Memorial Church Hall, 2370 Highway 60 at Hillside, Lake of Bays

As seating is limited to 50 people/performance, reserving your spot is highly recommended.

If seats are still available, $20 Cash only will be accepted at the door. Doors open 30 minutes to show time. There is also a cash-only concession.

REMINDER, $10 from every ticket sold and all concession donations will contribute to the Pioneer Memorial Church's Furnace Replacement Campaign. NOTE: Over $2,500 has been raised so far! 

Come to SHIRLEY VALENTINE, Theatre-Feb 29, Mar 1 at 7pm, Mar 2, Mar 3 at 2 pm at Pioneer

Have you booked your tickets for SHIRLEY VALENTINE?

Performed at PIONEER MEMORIAL UNITED CHURCH HALL

2370 Hwy 60, Hillside, Lake of Bays

Feb. 29 & March 1 at 7pm AND March 2 & 3 at 2pm

Tickets $40 These performances are a fundraiser for new furnaces at Pioneer Memorial Church ($10/ticket donated for this purpose)

Cash at the door OR reserve a spot with an e-transfer of $40 to dotthet@yahoo.com

Play runs 90 minutes plus one 15 minute intermission. Refreshments available.

The heroine in the actor’s tour-de-force is an ordinary middle-class English housewife. As she prepares chips and egg for dinner, she ruminates on her life and tells ‘the wall’ about her husband, her children, her past, and an invitation from a friend to join her on holiday in Greece to search for romance and adventure.

PLEASE NOTE: The content of this play is best suited for mature audiences. Some language may offend.

Entrance is from parking area around the back.

SHIRLEY VALENTINE, Theatre-Feb 29-Mar 3 at Pioneer

Pioneer Memorial United Church is thrilled to announce an exciting collaboration with Dot The T Productions, a professional theatre company in Lake of Bays, under the visionary leadership of Artistic Director Jan Jacklin and Minister, Rev. Meg Jordan.

Together, we will strive to bring entertaining, thought-provoking theatre to the local community with our first production, an award-winning one-woman show, “SHIRLEY VALENTINE” on February 29 and March 1 at 7 pm and two matinees on March 2 and 3 at 2 pm. Cash at the door OR reserve a spot with an e-transfer of $40 to dotthet@yahoo.com

Our 132-year-old heritage church, Pioneer Memorial, is located at 2370 Highway 60, Hillside in Lake of Bays. Our hall will serve as a vibrant cultural hub as we host our inaugural show and pave the way for future theatre productions.

SHIRLEY VALENTINE, written by Willy Russell, is a heartwarming comedy about a middle-aged woman stuck in a boring marriage who wonders what ever happened to all her dreams from her youth.

Jan Jacklin expresses her enthusiasm, stating, “We are delighted to collaborate with Pioneer, a welcoming venue steeped in history and community support. This partnership allows us to bring engaging theatre productions to Lake of Bays and provide a unique experience for both residents and visitors.”

Jan first attended Pioneer one recent Sunday and recognized the potential for pop-up theatre in the spacious hall. When she learned that funds were needed to replace the church furnaces, Jacklin met with Rev. Jordan and church leaders and received an enthusiastic and positive response to her proposal.

Each performance will seat 50 people and 25-50% of each ticket sold (dependent on ticket prices) will be donated for the installation of new furnaces for our church.

This initiative aligns with Pioneer’s commitment to open our doors to the community, preserve the heritage of the church, and ensure its warmth and vitality for generations to come.

We invite you to celebrate this union of heritage and the arts. Be part of the excitement as our charming, historic church takes center stage, becoming a haven for cultural expression in the community.

Things are Heating Up at Pioneer- Shirley Valentine- Feb 29, March 1 at 7:00 and March 2 and 3 at 2:00.

THINGS ARE HEATING-UP AT PIONEER MEMORIAL UNITED CHURCH IN LAKE OF BAYS

Lake of Bays is home to several historical churches strategically scattered across the township. Three of these quaint churches are the cornerstone of their respective communities in Lake of Bays: Hillside, Dwight, and Dorset. Strong in character and charm, the churches are also desirable venues for local arts communities, and, as such, it is essential they be kept alive.

Two of the Lake of Bays United Churches, Pioneer Memorial at Hillside (132 years old) and Stewart Memorial in Dwight (founded in 1887) are ideally located along the Hwy 60 corridor. The third, Knox United in Dorset is 128 years old. All three share the spirited leadership of the Reverend Meg Jordan. Additionally, with her love and zest for theatre, a partnership with Dot The T Productions (a professional theatre production company in Lake of Bays) has been established.

It began when Dot the T Productions’ Artistic Director, Jan Jacklin, attended a Sunday service in December. In conversation with Scott Winchester, a member of Pioneer Memorial United Church’s congregation, she learned from Scott (who also volunteers with building maintenance) that the church’s furnaces were well past their shelf life and would soon need to be replaced. It was then that Jan offered Reverend Jordan a solution. It was agreed that the utilization of these cultural community hubs and the performing arts would be a natural fit. Additionally, showcasing these local landmarks with professional events would attract people to Lake of Bays. Both church and local businesses would benefit from this influx.

The arts are a substantial economic driver for Muskoka and the township of Lake of Bays is ready to make its mark. This year, the plan is to perform several shows, taking advantage of Pioneer Memorial’s spacious hall and enthusiastic church council. Their hall is an ideal space to house a staging area and seating for a maximum of 50 people. There is also a kitchen which will come in handy for intermission refreshments to be served, adding more welcome proceeds going directly to the church. With donations of 25% - 50% from ticket sales from the shows throughout the year, the initiative is positioned to garner enough funds for new furnaces.

First up at Pioneer Memorial (2370 Hwy 60, Hillside, Lake of Bays) is the award winning one-woman show written by Willy Russell, SHIRLEY VALENTINE. A heartwarming comedy about a middle-aged woman stuck in a bored marriage and wondering what ever happened to all her dreams. Limited engagement of 4 performances only. Two evening performances on February 29 and March 1 at 7pm and two matinees on March 2 and 3 at 2pm.

Dot The T Productions started its professional theatre company in 2017 presenting the iconic Canadian hit, “Billy Bishop Goes to War,” in which they toured Muskoka, Parry Sound, Peterborough, Midland and Toronto. Building on the production’s success, the company followed with; “The Ladies Foursome”, “On a First Name Basis”, “For The Love of a Good Man”, “Shakespeare: A Most Rare Vision”, “A Christmas Carol”, and Maja Ardal’s Dora Award winning one-woman show, “Fancy Yourself,” performed by the playwright herself. Building a reputation for exceptional theatre over the past 5 years has provided memorable experiences for Dot The T audiences, and now, at the same time, excited to support the heritage churches of Lake of Bays.