On May 31st we will transform the Simcoe Street Theatre into an intimate Vegas nightclub, reminiscent of when “Sammy” played The Sands! A NIGHT IN VEGAS will run through to Sunday, May 5th. To check out show times or to purchase tickets click theatrecollingwood.ca.

I’d like to tell you more about this incredible ensemble and I will begin with the shows music director.

Diane Leah is an experienced and well respected pianist, composer / arranger, educator, and music director, with credits that span 40 years in Canadian music. As a young musician, she founded her own jazz vocal group, Cloudburst, which performed during the 1970s and 80s. She went on to serve as music director for Catherine McKinnon and Don Harron from 1983 to 2000. From 1999 until September 2019, Diane served as the Director of Music for the Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto. Her keen musical sense and original compositions were instrumental in growing its choir into an acclaimed and sought-after vocal ensemble that has sung at events ranging from sports awards to the Celebration of Life for NDP leader Jack Layton. Upon her retirement from MCCT, Diane received a scroll from the City of Toronto acknowledging her “leadership and dedication” and proclaiming her “an inspiration and an example of what makes Toronto a special place.” Diane’s many music theatre credits include Beauty and The Beast (Music Director–Young People’s Theatre [YPT]) and We Will Rock You (Associate Music Director–Mirvish). She was nominated for a Dora Mavor Moore Award for her work on YPT’s production of A Year with Frog and Toad, and in January of 2013, Diane was awarded the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for public service. Diane has worked with a vast array of artists and as long-time music director / pianist for Tony Award–nominated Louise Pitre (Mamma Mia), Diane has performed in various concert formats throughout Canada and the U.S. She also collaborated on Pitre’s album La Vie en Rouge, a tribute to Edith Piaf. Diane currently works with aspiring actors at Toronto’s Randolph Academy.

Micah Barnes is an acclaimed Canadian singer and songwriter. He has performed both as a solo artist and with the band the Nylons. Born in Vienna, Barnes is the son of composer, conductor and jazz drummer Milton Barnes, and author, TV and CBC Radio writer Lilly Barnes. He is the brother of drummer Daniel Barnes and cellist Ariel Barnes. This family has so much creative talent it isn’t even funny!

Micah sang in Toronto cabarets and nightclubs during the 1980s while appearing in theatre, film, television and radio productions as an actor. Audiences know his rich baritone best from his time from 1990-1996 when he was a member of the global sensations The Nylons, as well as from his own chart topping solo Jazz albums such as New York Stories and his latest release, Vegas Breeze, which he is currently touring across Canada.

Micah Barnes is also an in demand Voice, Performance and Career coach whose clients include Juno, Grammy & Emmy Award Winning Artists. Micah's Singer's Playground Workshops have helped support thousands of artists in Los Angeles, New York and Canada in building a more powerful vocal performance and realizing their career goals. He is also a regular "Vocals" columnist for Canadian Musician Magazine and on faculty coaching performance at Seneca College for the Independent Performing Singer-Songwriters program.

Billy Newton-Davis is a Canadian R&B, jazz and gospel singer and songwriter, originally from Cleveland, Ohio.

He grew up in Shaker Heights, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland. He was one of two lead singers in a local soul band called The Illusions. After working as a singer and dancer on Broadway, he moved to Toronto in 1980. How lucky are we! His debut album, Love Is a Contact Sport, won the Juno Award for best R&B/soul recording in 1986 and included the hits "Deeper", "Right Beside You" and "Find My Way Back". His 1989 follow up, Spellbound, included his biggest Canadian chart hit, "I Can't Take It", as well as the Celine Dion duet "Can't Live With You, Can't Live Without You" and again won the Juno for best R&B/soul recording. Billy joined The Nylons in 1991. He also performed vocals on a number of DJ Deadmau5 tracks, including "All U Ever Want", and "R My Dreams". In 2008, Newton-Davis won the Juno Award for All You Ever Want as Best Dance Album.

Born and raised in Winnipeg, MB, director Thom Allison says he was an avid theatre nerd from the age of 10. After studying at Ryerson Theatre School in the acting program, he launched his professional career in the Young Company of the Stratford Festival before going on to appear in the original Canadian companies of Miss Saigon, The Who’s Tommy and Rent. Thom was seen on Broadway in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. During the run, he also appeared on the Tony Awards; performed in the televised Macy’s Day Parade; and made his New York cabaret debut at Birdland.

At the Stratford Festival, Thom has been seen in Romeo and Juliet; The Threepenny Opera; The King and I; Pericles; King Henry VIII; Macbeth; Hello, Dolly; and Into The Woods. At the Shaw Festival, he has appeared in A Little Night Music; Follies: In Concert; Wonderful Town; His Girl Friday; Guys and Dolls; and the critically acclaimed Ragtime. Other theatre credits include Cabaret; My Fair Lady; Take Me Out; Elegies; A New Brain; The Drowsy Chaperone; Evita; Sophisticated Ladies; Songs For A New World, The Wizard of Oz, Dreamgirls.

Thom is a Canadian Screen Award (Canada’s “Emmy”) winner for his role, Pree, in the SciFi series, KILLJOYS. He has been nominated for most major Canadian Theatre awards- 3 Dora awards, 2 Bettys, 2 Jessies, an Ovation, a Sterling for Drowsy Chaperone, Outrageous, respectively; and he is the recipient of 2 Tyrone Guthrie awards. As a singer, Thom has had the great privilege to have been chosen to sing, as featured artist, for 2 musical theatre giants, in evenings honouring their work -William Finn and Stephen Sondheim. In 2021 he joined the cast of Coroner in the recurring role as the highly competitive and commanding Dr. Elijah Thompson. Thom just completed directing the very successful Million Dollar Quartet at Theatre Calgary.

DON’T MISS THIS INCREDIBLE TALENT-PACKED SHOW!

Join Billy while he performs a tribute to the great Sammy Davis Jr in song and let Micah carry you away with critically acclaimed tunes from his current album “Vegas Breeze”. A night of thrilling entertainment filled with familiar tunes that will leave you feeling like you’ve just hit the jackpot at The Sands!

For tickets visit theatrecollingwood.ca.