Glory Days: The Troubadours at the Troubadour

Orillia Opera House


	by Chris McHarge

Music by

Stephen Ingram Imogen Wasse John Kenny	Willem Cowan Joel Haynes Lew Mele	Sherman Dean Harrison Peter Mueller Aidan Wasse

Glory Days: The Troubadours at the Troubadour

Through music and storytelling, Glory Days celebrates the artists who first found their voices on the open mic nights of Hollywood's legendary Troubadour Club. Featuring songs made famous by the Eagles, Elton John, Billy Joel, Carole King, Bob Dylan, Gordon Lightfoot, and many others, the production highlights the musicians whose work has shaped the soundtrack of our lives.

Written and directed by Chris McHarge - former Artistic Director at Lighthouse Festival (Port Dover), Theatre Aquarius (Hamilton), and the Grand Theatre (Fergus), and founder of the Brave New Works play-reading series - Glory Days pays tribute to the passion, resilience, and enduring influence of some of the greatest songwriters in music history.

A Welcome from Emily Martin, Theatre Manager

On behalf of everyone at the Orillia Opera House, welcome to Glory Days: The Troubadours at the Troubadour!

There's something magical about the songs that came out of that one small stage on Santa Monica Boulevard. The Troubadour Club gave a generation of singer-songwriters — the Eagles, Elton John, Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Cat Stevens, Jackson Browne, Gordon Lightfoot, and so many others — the room to find their voices. Today, we celebrate that legacy right here in Orillia.

We're so grateful to creator Chris McHarge for bringing this heartfelt tribute to our stage, and to our incredibly talented band for breathing new life into these timeless songs. Whether you grew up with these artists on the radio or are discovering them for the first time tonight, I hope this production reminds you why these songs have endured for decades.

Thank you for choosing to spend your evening with us. Summer Theatre wouldn't be possible without the support of patrons like you, and I'm delighted you're here to share in these Glory Days.

Enjoy the show!

Warmly,
Emily Martin
Theatre Manager, Orillia Opera House

Song List

Act One

1. Seven Bridges Road – Eagles

2. Hotel California – Eagles

3. You're No Good – Linda Ronstadt

4. Poor, Poor Pitiful Me – Linda Ronstadt

5. Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down – Kristofferson (Johnny Cash)

6. Help Me Make It Through the Night – Kris Kristofferson

7. Your Song – Elton John

8. Rocket Man – Elton John

9. Big Yellow Taxi – Joni Mitchell

10. Both Sides Now – Joni Mitchell

11. Sundown – Gordon Lightfoot

12. Brown Eyed Girl – Van Morrison

13. Moondance – Van Morrison

14. Song Sung Blue – Neil Diamond

15. Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond

16. Thunder Road – Bruce Springsteen

17. Take It to the Limit – Eagles

18. One of These Nights – Eagles

Act Two
19. Desperado – Eagles
20. Heartache Tonight – Eagles
21. Tequila Sunrise – Eagles
22. Fire and Rain – James Taylor
23. You've Got a Friend – Carole King/James Taylor
24. I Feel the Earth Move – Carole King
25. So Far Away – Carole King
26. Morning Has Broken – Cat Stevens
27. The First Cut Is the Deepest – Cat Stevens
28. Wild World – Cat Stevens
29. Father and Son – Cat Stevens
30. Anticipation – Carly Simon
31. Mockingbird – Carly Simon/James Taylor
32. That's the Way I've Always Heard It Should Be – Carly Simon
33. You're So Vain – Carly Simon
34. Running on Empty – Jackson Browne
35. The Pretender – Jackson Browne
36. Peaceful Easy Feeling – Eagles
37. Take It Easy – Eagles
38. Load Out / Stay – Jackson Browne
39. Glory Days – Bruce Springsteen

Creative Team

Chris McHarge

Creator

Emily Martin

Theatre Manager

Claude Labrecque

Technical Director

Max Kane

Lighting Designer/Technical Supervisor

Jon Hutchinson

Audio Technician

Emma Ross

Client Services Coordinator

Nicole McMurdy

Audience Services Coordinator

Meet the Band

Stephen Ingram

Singer/Keyboard/Musical Director

Stephen is a Hamilton-born, London-based singer/songwriter, actor, composer, multi-instrumentalist, music director, and music teacher. A graduate from Western University’s Don Wright Faculty of Music, he has worked professionally in theatres across Ontario. Recent credits include The Importance of Being Earnest, Come From Away, Juno’s Reward (Grand Theatre), Gypsy, Brigadoon, A Grand Night For Singing (Shaw Festival), Cinderella: The Panto, Jack and the Beanstalk: The Panto, Memories of the Rat Pack, Glory Days, Memphis To Motown (Lighthouse Festival), Home for the Holidays, A Hamilton Holiday (Theatre Aquarius), Way Out There, Bad Hats’ Peter Pan (YES Theatre). He released his debut album "Fridge Magnet Symphony” in 2023 to critical acclaim, and his second album "Silly Things," is set for release in September 2026. Follow him @Stephenjamesingram on any and all social media platforms!

Willem Cowan

Singer/Guitars

Willem is a singer/songwriter, recording artist, and multi-instrumentalist based in London, Ontario. He is an experienced singer, and can wrap his head around most horizontal string instruments. A graduate of Fanshawe College’s renowned Music Industry Arts program, he has released three singles in the last two years and is gearing up to release a follow up to his 2022 album, Mourning in the Morningtime. Having performed in a variety of bands since the age of 10, Willem has opened for acts such as Bahamas, April Wine, Glass Tiger, and David Wilcox. Past theatre credits include Baby John in West Side Story, and Ewart Dunlop in The Music Man. Special thanks to his friends and family for their never-ending support! @willemjamescowan on all internet platforms

Sherman Dean Harrison

Keyboards

Dean Harrison is a keyboard player, singer, and arranger living in London, Ontario. He has toured all over the world in theatre and live music. Dean is at home with theatre, pop artists, swing bands, and orchestras. “I’m excited to be back with Chris McHarge because I know he loves roots rock n’ roll as much as I do, and it shows. His enthusiasm drives us to be authentic.”

Imogen Wasse

Singer/Guitar/Keyboards

A native of London, Ontario, Imogen was born into a family of musicians, actors, and artists. She has been joining them in song since day one, and is thrilled that her musical family has grown to include colleagues, classmates, and collaborators across the country. Imogen is a founding member of London bands “Waterbaby” and the “River Valley Stringband,” as well as a session vocalist and backup singer for multiple local acts. She is also a proud supporter of community arts organizations, having most recently worked with Sunfest and London Girls’ Rock Camp. After studying Voice Performance at the University of Toronto, Imogen completed her Bachelor of Musical Arts at Western University. She is also a proud alumnus of Fanshawe’s Music Industry Arts program, where she received the 2018 “Female Vocalist of the Year” award. Imogen would like to thank her incredible family, friends, and teachers for their endless support and guidance. Enjoy the show!

Joel Haynes

Drums

Based in Burlington, Ontario, Joel Haynes has grown from his early community musical experiences to playing with some of the finest jazz artists in the world. Career highlights include being nominated for a National Jazz Award in 2003, and nominations for CD of the Year and Drummer of the Year in 2009. Joel has played on over 30 recordings as a sideman, including artists such as Seamus Blake, Russell Malone, Ray Anderson, David Braid, The Cookers, and Denzel Sinclaire. His live performances have been featured at many international jazz festivals in North America, Europe, China, Japan, South Korea, South America, Australia, and the Caribbean. Joel has released three albums as a leader; ‘The Time is Now’ (Nov 2005) on Cellar Live Records, with special guest vocalist, Denzel Sinclaire. His second album, ‘Transitions’ (Feb 2008) was recorded live at the Cellar Jazz Club with special guest Seamus Blake. And after 15 years, his much anticipated third recording ‘The Return’ (Sept 2023) also on Cellar Records, features Seamus Blake, Tilden Webb, and Neil Swanson.

Peter Mueller

Guitar

Peter Mueller is a working Toronto guitarist and music writer whose career has involved backing many musical artists (mostly Canadian) including Tom Cochrane, David Clayton Thomas, Marc Jordan, Buffy St. Marie, Anne Murray, Alan Frew, Ian Thomas, Regatta (Q107 Homegrown winners), and many others. Peter has also worked behind the scenes in television and radio. Musical theatre credits include Mamma Mia!, Tommy, Les Miserable and Aladdin. Peter’s instrumental music is used in various music libraries across Canada and the US. For the six full years Canadian Idol aired, Peter worked in the show’s backing band on and off camera. This included working directly with contestants, such as Carly Rae Jepsen, as well as with many established international stars, including Tom Jones and Martina McBride.

John Kenny

Guitar

Toronto born guitarist and multi-instrumentalist John Kenny is a full-time musician and a first call for the area's bands and music projects. John's attachment to the guitar began around the time he was eight, when his uncle would drop by the house and play tunes on his Silvertone. By the eighth grade, he was playing at church dances and school parties across the city. Equally comfortable with country, rock, pop, and jazz, John has since performed in theatres and nightclubs across Canada (all ten provinces) and the U.S. with various entertainers including JUNO Award winners Patricia Dahlquist and Christopher Ward. John has taught guitar and bass to hundreds of students, both privately and at Fanshawe College in London.

Lew Mele

Bass (July 7-8)

Lew Mele is a professional bass player, composer, and producer, with more than 35 years’ experience on the Toronto music scene, working with such Canadian jazz greats as Bernie Senesky, Guido Basso, Eugene Amaro and Russ Little, as well as Lenny Solomon. Lew has also work with Hugh Jackman at the Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto, and even performed at Sean Connery’s 80th birthday party in 2010. Additional highlights include opening for Rush with CBC recording artists The Tenants, touring Europe and the US with international recording artist Roger Whittaker, extensive touring of Asia with Asian stars Dadawa and George Gao, Canadian touring with Zappacosta, as well as performances with Frankie Avalon, Don Rickles, Howie Mandel, and Joe Piscopo. Musical Theatre performances include Toronto productions of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, We Will Rock You, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and Little Shop of Horrors. Lew has also performed with the National Arts Orchestra and The Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra.

Aidan Wasse

Bass (July 9-11)

Aidan is a multi-instrumentalist and educator based in London, Ontario. A graduate of Fanshawe College's Music Industry Arts and Audio Post Production programs, he has a passion for performance, music production and audio engineering. Past theatre credits include Newsies (Grand Theatre); Memphis to Motown (Lighthouse Festival); Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (MTP). Aidan is grateful to be working with the talented cast and crew of Glory Days and would like to thank his family, friends, and wonderful girlfriend Hayley for their support.