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Mainstage
Located in a country setting, just minutes from Grand Bend's famous "strip" and the sparkling shores of Lake Huron, the Huron Country Playhouse is the perfect spot to experience summer theatre.
There are 650 seats in the mainstage auditorium and 300 seats in the South Huron Stage auditorium. Infrared hearing and wheelchair access are available to patrons who require special assistance.
Less than an hour's drive from London, Strathroy, and Sarnia, the main auditorium is housed in a spacious century-old barn. The beautifully landscaped grounds and gazebo are ideal for a picnic before or after the show.
Our popular live in-person 50/50 raffle is back for each performance! Tickets are available for purchase upon arrival at the theatre. Tickets are available for purchase upon arrival at the theatre. Winning ticket numbers from each performance can be found at here.
Additionally, we invite you to play along with our monthly online 50/50 raffle, where there’s a chance to win a huge jackpot. These tickets may be purchased at drayton5050.com.
South Huron Stage (formerly Playhouse II)
Located on the same property as the Huron Country Playhouse Mainstage, theatregoers cherish their visits to our charming second stage in Grand Bend. While maintaining its intimate feel, South Huron Stage boasts a state-of-the-art theatre experience including terrific sightlines and 300 comfortable seats.
Come for the day and plan your theatre outing to include a stop at Lake Huron's renowned beaches, a visit to our quaint Gift Shoppe, a meal at a great local restaurant, or bring a picnic and lunch in our beautiful courtyard.
When visiting the Huron Country Playhouse, skip the line at intermission and pre-order your refreshments upon arrival. They will be waiting for you at a pre-determined spot, ready for your enjoyment.
Download the Huron Country Playhouse and South Huron Stage Venue Information Package including Seating Chart, Venue Amenities, and Map.
Huron Country Playhouse Capital Campaign: Artists’ Short Term Residence
Join us in ensuring that adequate, affordable, and accessible housing is available for the artists who bring life to our stages each year. Your gift will support the development of a 24-unit artists’ residence that will support the attraction and retention of top-tier talent by helping us to welcome more than 100 performers and creative professionals to Grand Bend; it will create new opportunities for public engagement, including overnight arts camps for youth during off-peak periods; and, it will reimagine and reinvent the arts and culture sector with a trailblazing model of self-sufficiency and sustainability.
With your help, we will reach our $3 million goal!
View our project brochure:
Gifting Options
Donor $1,000 - $2,500
- Your gift will be recognized on the Major Donation Gift Recognition feature in the theatre lobby
Theatre Seat $500 - $999
- Engrave a plaque on your choice of theatre seat in either auditoriums and see your name or that of a loved one recorded on your special seat in perpetuity
Friends of the Huron Country Playhouse $50-$250
- These important entry gifts will be recognized on the theatre’s website and in the 2026 Season House Program
Please contact us for more information about the following Major and Legacy giving opportunities.
Gifting Options
Legacy Gifts
- Mainstage Auditorium Naming $500,000
- Artists' Residence Naming $250,000
- Theatre Lobby $150,000
- Theatre Courtyard $100,000
- Box Office $75,000
- Green Room $25,000
For more information, please contact: Steven Karcher, Executive Director - 519-621-5511 ext. 234
Steven@draytonentertainment.com
Major Gifts
- Kitchen & Living Room Naming $10,000 - $25,000
- Bedroom Naming: $5,000
For more information, please contact: Elizabeth Dwyer, Director of Development - 519-621-5511 ext. 231
Elizabeth@draytonentertainment.com
For more information and to follow along with the campaign visit: HCP Campaign Information
54 years ago Huron Country Playhouse Guild was formed to assist and support the theatre, both financially and operationally. Huron Country Playhouse Guild Members are extremely dedicated volunteers who raise money exclusively for the use of Huron Country Playhouse.
To learn more about the organization please email Dorothy at hcpguild@draytonentertainment.com
Meet The Guild
Kristie and Kate bring different and complementary components to their shared presidency. Good cop (Kristie) and less flexible cop (Kate). They are bringing Teresa (first Vice President) along for the ride - with the hope she can mediate. They call themselves 'The Presidents'. All 3 equal except Kate seems to be bossier.
Kate volunteered for the position of co-president because her friend Kristie asked. Their mothers were original members of the Guild. Both admire the work of the Playhouse volunteers and Kristie felt that Kate's past experience at the theatre and in fundraising would help her with the presidency.
Kate's parents were Jean and Angus McKenzie, who built a cottage in Oakwood over 60 years ago. Her parents did not golf or ski. Their hobby was fundraising. Angus's mantra was 'you have to make the world a better place because you passed through'. He came from a large family with not much money and became a successful lawyer. He received the Gold Medal from the Law Society of Upper Canada and an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Western Ontario for his work in fundraising in the community. Huron Country Playhouse was one of many charities they supported regularly. It was only natural that Kate would be blessed(?) with the fundraising gene.
Kate worked at the Playhouse for 4 years - as Business Manager from 1991-2 and Director of Development from 1993-4 for a major capital rebuilding campaign that raised over $2,000,000.
When the SPCA animal shelter in Goderich was going to be closed due to lack of funding, Kate's husband reminded her that she had run 3 successful Dinner Auctions for Huron Country Playhouse, and he wondered why she could not do it again for the shelter. Her first call was to Kristie - animal lover extraordinaire - and her sister's best friend since childhood. They rounded up a group of people, and first annual Animal House Dinner Auction was held at the Exeter recreation centre in 2005 and ran for 6 years. With no paid staff they ran it with a very small group of volunteers. Over $500,000 was raised during those 6 years and the shelter stayed in Goderich for many years after that.
Kate lives in Grand Bend, with her husband, Bob McIntosh.
Kristie McIndoe was born and raised here in Grand Bend. Her mother was an early female entrepreneur who owned and ran Bonnie Doone Manor-on-the-Beach for over 60 years. Kristie did other things but came back to the family business and took over from her mother, running it exceptionally until the business was sold and she retired.
Her mother, Elia Douglas (or Helen Douglas as she was called when the Guild started) was not only on the Guild, but was a long-term Board Member of Huron Country Playhouse. Her father, Melvin Douglas worked at the liquor store when it was on Main Street.
Not quite ready to abandon her love of Grand Bend and sharing it with others, Kristie still owns a beautiful rental suite on the river, overlooking the lake.
Kristie learned to love theatre from her mother and proudly passed that tradition on to her son and her 4 grandchildren. Believing it is never too young to introduce theatre to children, she started taking them at age 2 and they are as hooked as she is. She says that theatre fills her spirit and brings immeasurable joy.
Kristie is widowed and shares her home with her 2 rambunctious black dogs, Lucy and Phoebe.
Teresa is a first-generation Canadian who was raised in Toronto. At 19, she left home to attend Wilfrid Laurier University, where she met her now-husband, Gerry, who attended University of Waterloo. They eventually settled in Cambridge and raised their two children there.
Teresa taught students from JK through Grade 8 during her career, but her love of young children — and her awe at how they learn and grow — led her to spend the final 15 years of her teaching career in JK/SK.
Teresa has always loved the theatre and regularly brought her husband and children to productions at the Shaw Festival, the Stratford Festival, and Mirvish Productions in Toronto, and had a Mirvish subscription for many years.
After moving to St. Joseph nine years ago, she was thrilled to discover Huron Country Playhouse and to become more involved in the community. That first summer, she attended Million Dollar Quartet, and her love for the Playhouse was ignited. She even gave up her Mirvish subscription and began bringing friends and family to productions here. Everyone said the same thing: "This place is fantastic!"
When Teresa learned about the Guild and its call for volunteers, she jumped at the opportunity. And here she is now, hoping to serve and support the Playhouse and Guild she has come to love.
Cheryl grew up on a tobacco farm south of Aylmer, Ontario, close to the little village of Calton.
She started her 32-year journey with Canada Post Corporation in Aylmer, Ontario. Over the years, she moved around to London, Ottawa and Toronto, taking on different management roles. Her last four years were spent as an Area Manager in Southwestern Ontario, where she managed over 400 employees.
Cheryl and her husband, Jim, are both passionate sailors, spending many summers in the North Channel with their Northern 37. Their sailboat was moored in Bayfield and later Goderich. They had a family cottage at Vista Beach in the early 2000s before moving from Stratford to Grand Bend permanently in 2010.
Grand Bend is a wonderful place for them, especially since most of their family is from other parts of the country and they are always eager to try new things and make new friends.
Cheryl has had a life-long love for live theatre. She even played the lead in several Christmas concerts at public school, including the role of Little Red Riding Hood. She says that there is nothing quite like being part of theatre, whether on stage or in the audience.
Cheryl was Guild President from 2018 to 2025 and has been on the Board of Directors for Drayton Entertainment since 2019.
She has a Bachelor of Arts from Western and an MBA from Queen's University.
To keep things interesting after retirement, Cheryl attended Conestoga College receiving her Interior Decorator certification.
Jim and Cheryl have four children, six grandchildren and a wonderful dog named Jaxson.
Bianca is a recent import from Sunny Queensland, Australia. She moved to Grand Bend with her husband Harry and their daughter Stella in 2023, and the family soon settled into their home in Crediton.
Her career began answering phones at her father's construction company and steadily evolved into financial and operations analysis within the construction and hospitality sectors. Since relocating to the area, Bianca has supported several local businesses with their financial management and operational systems. She brings a practical, detail-oriented approach to her role as Treasurer, along with a genuine commitment to the Guild's continued growth and sustainability.
A lifelong theatre kid, Bianca grew up on stage. Highlights include performing a one-woman production of Shirley Valentine in college and playing a lead role in her high school productions of Godspell, along with many other memorable performances over the years. Theatre has always felt like home, and she is proud to support the Playhouse Guild both behind the scenes and in service of the arts community she loves.
Dorothy first attended the Huron Country Playhouse in 1994, when she enjoyed her first show. She learned that her future parent in-laws had been long time patrons who had started going to plays in the early 1970’s. Her mother-in-law went on to attend every season until 2017, when she was almost 90 years of age.
In addition to being Secretary, Dorothy is the Chair of our Membership Committee. She is passionate about talking to anyone who would like to join our Guild. She always makes herself available for a chat about the Guild and how people can join. She was born and raised in Peterborough, Ontario. She graduated from Western University in 1988 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree. She worked as a public health nurse for 32 years and retired in 2021.
In 1999, she switched gears in her career and completed a Bachelor of Education degree along with several professional certifications. She then specialized in community health promotion, social marketing, and project management.
The Shoppe
We, as Members of Huron Country Playhouse Guild, are ecstatic to announce that it has been 55 years since our beloved Guild was formed. Our Motto has always been to assist and support the Theatre both financially and operationally! Our Guild Shoppe is at the heart of our Fundraising efforts with all funds raised being EXCLUSIVELY for the use of Huron Country Playhouse. As we embark upon this milestone we are delighted to present another exciting year of articles for sale in our delightful Shoppe! While enjoying our Theatre, please drop in to browse through our exquisite items on display. With a plethora of irresistible merchandise for sale there is most certainly something for everyone! Theatre related items, delightful handmade baby sweaters and blankets, stunning hand crafted jewellery from numerous artisans, visual arts produced by our local artists. Every piece tells a story and the list is endless! Our Shoppe inventory changes quickly so remember to drop in each time you are here enjoying our Theatre making your day at the Theatre a total experience!
We are always searching for new Vendors with new, exciting and imaginative ideas! Whether you’re a seasoned crafter or an emerging talent, please reach out to our Shoppe Manager, Anne at hcpguildshoppe@draytonentertainment.com to discuss details. What an opportunity to display and have your creations sold in our delightful Shoppe!
To learn more about supporting the theatre by becoming an accommodation partner, click here.
