ACE Productions was formed in 2003 by Damon Calderwood and Gordon Roberts to present the best in small cast shows (plays and musicals) with the intention of creating an ongoing touring company of the best professional talent available. We hope that by becoming a not-for-profit society (ACE Theatrical Touring Society) we will be able to reach communities and audiences that do not receive regular touring live theatre.
Founded in 2004 as a Canadian Actors’ Equity Association Co-op, ACE Productions was formed to produce small scale, affordable, touring musicals. “Tomfoolery: The Music of Tom Lehrer” was our first offering directed by Valerie Easton and starred Susan Anderson, Jayme Armstrong, Damon Calderwood, Steve Maddock with Gordon Roberts at the piano. Tomfoolery had a small tour of the Vancouver lower mainland at: the Firehall Arts Centre (Vancouver – Oct. 19 – 24), Presentation House (North Vancouver – Oct. 26 – Nov. 7), the Burr Theatre Lounge (New Westminster – Nov. 9 – Nov. 20) and the Jericho Arts Centre (Vancouver – Dec. 13 &14).
The iconic Canadian play with music “Billy Bishop Goes To War” was our second show and has had numerous performances across Western Canada with Damon Calderwood as Billy Bishop, Gordon Roberts once again on piano and directed by Gerry Mackay. Listed below are the Billy Bishop performances:
Re-organized in 2013 as an Equity Collective ACEproductions continues to bring professional caliber musicals to Western Canadian audiences with our third production “Holmes & Watson Save the Empire!” which had its Canadian debut in Deep Cove, BC Feb. 27 – March 16, 2013. With Damon Calderwood and Gordon Roberts in the title roles and Chris Robson (Prof. Moriarty) and Renee Bulat at the piano and violin respectively the show was directed by its originators Jahnna Beecham & Malcolm Hillgartner.
Our 2014 tour of “Holmes & Watson Save the Empire!” included these venues:
2015 saw “Holmes & Watson …” at the Metro Theatre in Vancouver for a successful two week run.
2016 H&W toured to the Keyano Theatre in Fort McMurray, Alberta for two weeks in October.
2017 We will be touring the hit one-act, 90 minute play “Freud’s Last Session” starring our own Damon Calderwood to Chilliwack (April 20 & 21), Coquitlam (May 9 – 13) and Vernon (May 18).
At the same time Gordon Roberts will be music directing and acting in “End of the Rainbow” starring Janet Gigliotti as Judy Garland at the Jericho Arts Centre April 26 – May 20. Fall dates for “End of the Rainbow” include Deep Cove ( Aug. 30 – Sept. 16), Coquitlam (Sept. 19 – 23), Fort McMurray, AB (Sept. 27 – Oct. 7), Spruce Grove, AB (Oct. 11), Cranbrook, BC ( Oct. 14), and possibly Chilliwack Oct. 17.