Trial by Jury & H.M.S. Pinafore

Laura Schatz

Artistic Director

Little Buttercup (H.M.S. Pinafore)
 

Despite Laura's successes as a director, she is first and foremost a performer. She is the soprano who can (and does) sing any role Gilbert and Sullivan wrote. Outside of G&S (which Laura readily admits takes up far too much of her time), she has performed roles that run the gamut from grand opera (Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni) to musicals (Mother Abbess in The Sound of Music). MADS has always been a part of Laura’s life. Her parents were founders of the group, and she started performing at the age of 5 with her father, Roy. Laura is extremely grateful to her amazing husband, Cameron, without whose constant support she would not be able to carry on this important tradition.

Jennie Garde

Assistant Director

Hebe (H.M.S. Pinafore)

Jennie has been performing with this beloved group since she was a teen and choreographing our large talented group for about 20 years. While in the past she has been fortunate enough to play all of the cute saucy young mezzo soprano roles, she has now graduated to the saucy older lady roles. Jennie also frequently performs in plays with Stage Centre Productions and recently has enjoyed acting in A Christmas Carol, The Elephant Man, and Cole. She has also had lots of experience doing Broadway-style musicals, and she has especially enjoyed Brigadoon, A Little Night Music, The Secret Garden, and A Chorus Line.

Brian Dearden

Captain Corcoran (H.M.S. Pinafore)

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Brian is excited to revisit the role of Captain Corcoran in H.M.S. Pinafore, his 9th production with MADS, having first performed it with the Victoria College Chorus. Some of Brian’s other favourite roles include Sir Richard Cholmondeley in The Yeomen of the Guard (MADS), The Sergeant of Police in The Pirates of Penzance (Toronto Operetta Theatre), and Marcello in La Boheme (Summer Opera Lyric Theatre). When he's not on stage, Brian works as a unit clerk for a hospital Operating Room department.  Brian enjoys metal concerts, pro wrestling shows (as a viewer, not a participant), lifting weights, gardening, and meeting new cats.

Angela Forbes

Buttercup Understudy (H.M.S. Pinafore)

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Angela has performed the full round of G&S shows in her time with St. Anne’s MADS. She has held roles in The Grand Duke, Iolanthe, Mikado, Princess Ida, The Yeomen of the Guard, H.M.S. Pinafore, and in MADS’ productions of The Gondoliers and The Pirates of Penzance at the International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival in Buxton, England. In the last couple of years, she has enjoyed playing the Lord High Substitute.

Sean Hutchins

The Learned Judge (Trial by Jury)

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Sean was introduced to the world of Gilbert & Sullivan through blind fortune upon accidentally auditioning for the McGill Savoy Society in his first year of grad school. After working both in the spotlight and behind the scenes, he left the stage to focus on his family. But now that his children are sufficiently mature, he’s pleased to share the stage with them. This is Sean’s fifth season with MADS, having performed most recently as the Duke of Plaza-Toro in The Gondoliers and Sergeant Meryll in The Yeomen of the Guard. In his day job, Sean works as the director of research at the Royal Conservatory of Music, and in his free time, he likes to chase plastic.

Emma Lavigne

Angelina (Trial by Jury)

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Emma Lavigne is a soprano from southern Alberta. In 2023 she completed her Associates Diploma in Voice Performance (ARCT) with the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. Also in 2023, she began her studies in voice performance at the University of Toronto, and she is now a member of the Opera Undergraduate program. Lavigne is in her third year of her Bachelor of Music in Performance where she studies with Elizabeth McDonald. In February of 2025, Lavigne debuted with the St. Anne’s Music & Drama Society as Phoebe in Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Yeomen of the Guard. She is delighted to be returning to MADS in another fun and flirty role!

Ramah Mohamed

Jury Foreman (Trial by Jury)

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Ramah is a Syrian-Canadian singer, songwriter, and actor ,whose music blends Arabic maqamat with contemporary arrangements. Drawing on traditional Arabic musical systems and Western influences, Ramah’s work explores themes of love, memory, and belonging.

Evan Morin

Edwin (Trial by Jury)

​Evan (somewhat) recently completed his Bachelor of Voice Performance at Wilfrid Laurier University, studying with Canadian soprano Leslie Fagan. A lover of both musical theatre and opera, G&S is the perfect blend of his passions. Despite being a lawyer in his daily life, Evan has never seen a trial in person. He is eternally grateful to be able to gain this professional competency as the Defendant in G&S’s Trial by Jury. Performance highlights include Gilbert and Sullivan’s Pirates of Penzance and Yeomen of the Guard, Massenet’s Cendrillon, Poulenc’s Dialogue des Carmelites and Copland’s The Tender Land.

Marc Potvin

Usher (Trial by Jury)

Sir Joseph Porter (H.M.S. Pinafore)

Marc enters his 4th decade with MADS with a return to H.M.S. Pinafore, this time as Sir Joseph Porter. He was the gallant Captain in the last production, but time has, alas, taken its toll on his once Russell Crowe (Master and Commander era) like physique. Although Marc is humble, quiet, and unassuming in his daily life, he is embracing the transition to the more refined, delicate, and noble characters of the exalted rank kind that come to those actors in their senior years. When not on stage, Marc is enjoying his 4th decade as a healthcare professional, educator, and administrator.

Kate Carver

Music Director
 

Kate is happy to join MADS this year for a sixth season. She is a Vocal Coach at University of Toronto’s Opera Division, Opera Music Director/Conductor at Wilfrid Laurier University, and has been a frequent conductor with Toronto Operetta Theatre. Other positions have included Music Staff with the Canadian Opera Company, the Voice Program at the Chautauqua Institute in Chautauqua, New York, and the University of Montreal, as well as Music Director for Essential Opera, Maritime Concert Opera, and Opera by Request. Kate received her Bachelor and Masters degrees in Music from McGill University, and studied in London, England at The Guildhall School of Music & Drama, the Britten-Pears School, and The National Opera Studio.

Beth Armstrong-Chauvin

Josephine (H.M.S. Pinafore)

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Performing G&S is one of Beth’s longest standing hobbies. Since 2011, Beth has performed in at least one G&S operetta every year. Beth is excited to return to the deck of H.M.S. Pinafore and honoured to put her spin on the role of Josephine. Although G&S sopranos are her speciality, Beth looks forward to one day nabbing her dream role of the Pirate King – baritones you’ve been warned! When not singing, you can find Beth chasing after her toddler, practicing law, and acting as an at-home coach to the Leafs and Jays by yelling at her TV. Special thanks to her husband and son for putting up with all her singing all the time ♥️!

Lindsay Faulkner

Bridesmaid (Trial by Jury)

Angelina Understudy (Trial by Jury)

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Lindsay Faulkner is a soprano from Port Perry, Ontario. She holds her Level 10 Voice and Level 8 Piano certifications from the Royal Conservatory of Music. Lindsay has performed with the Centre for Opera Studies and Appreciation Canada (COSA) and participated in COSA’s Summer Vocal Intensive at Mount Allison University. She also trained at the Stratford Festival Theatre Arts School, specializing in Musical Theatre and Shakespeare. Lindsay is currently studying under the tutelage of Dr. Darryl Edwards and the coaching of Dr. Helen Becqué at the University of Toronto, where she is in her third year of the Bachelor of Music in Classical Voice Performance programme.

Josh Gibson

Dick Deadeye (H.M.S. Pinafore)

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Josh is very excited to be returning to MADS this year as Dick Deadeye in this year's production of H.M.S. Pinafore. Josh is currently in his first year of his Opera Master’s degree at the University of Toronto and has had the pleasure of performing as Mamma Agata in Donizetti’s Viva la Mamma! He will be appearing as Tarquinius in Benjamin Britten’s The Rape of Lucretia this spring. Other appearances include Wilfred Shadbolt in The Yeomen of the Guard (MADS), Count Almaviva in The Marriage of Figaro (Summer Opera Lyric Theatre), and Captain Corcoran in H.M.S. Pinafore (The Centre for Opera Studies and Appreciation).

Jay Lambie

Counsel (Trial by Jury)

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Jay is back at MADS for his 13th year reprising his 9th G&S role. Jay has previously sung the roles of Ralph Rackstraw (Pinafore), Richard Dauntless (Ruddigore), Cyril (Princess Ida), Pish-Tush (Mikado), Tolloller (Iolanthe), Dr. Tannhauser (Grand Duke) and the Duke of Dunstable (Patience) as well as the Counsel (Trial by Jury). He has sung a variety of roles with Toronto Opera Repertoire and Opera by Request. Favourites include Almaviva and Figaro (Barber of Seville), Danilo (Merry Widow), Eisenstein (Fledermaus) and Ramiro (Cenerentola). One of the highlights of his musical life was singing in Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice with Marilyn Horne at Carnegie Hall.

Luca McCauley

Ralph Rackstraw (H.M.S. Pinafore)

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Luca McCauley is thrilled to make his MADS debut as Ralph Rackstraw in H.M.S. Pinafore. McCauley is in his fourth year of a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance at the University of Toronto, studying under Dr. Darryl Edwards. McCauley has had the pleasure of singing with the University of Toronto Opera and the MacMillan Singers. In August 2025, McCauley had the honour of being a presenter at the 11th International Congress of Voice Teachers. Other credits include: Saint-Saëns’s Oratorio de Noël (Tenor soloist - University of Toronto), Idomeno (Arbace/High Priest - Summer Opera Lyric Theatre), and Considering Matthew Shepard (Soloist and Chorus - MacMillan Singers and Concreamus Chamber Choir).

Glenn Mosher

Bob Becket (H.M.S. Pinafore)

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Glenn is thrilled to be singing the role of Carpenter's Mate in H.M.S. Pinafore, his 8th show with St. Anne's. When not found at rehearsal, Glenn might be seen going on a run through the Don Valley, learning a new language on Duolingo, or travelling to such places as Transnistria, Turkmenistan or Tuvalu.

Torbjörn Thomson

Bill Bobstay (H.M.S. Pinafore)

Torbjörn is thrilled to appear in MADS for the second time, having made his debut in last year's Yeomen of the Guard. He has been a Gilbert and Sullivan fan since the early age of three, when he would enlist house guests to march to “When the foeman bares his steel” in the front hall. He has been singing since he was 8, and has been lucky to have had the opportunity to sing in choirs on three continents and to perform in several works with the Manitoba Opera, including in the chorus of Carmen and Tosca, and as one of the knabe in Die Zauberflöte.

Cassiopeia To

Ann Other (Trial by Jury)

Cassi is delighted to join MADS once again as Ann Other in Trial by Jury. She hopes her friends, colleagues, and coworkers enjoy seeing her on the stage and will consider joining next year, like Tony did.