The Boys: Chase & Hamill
Winnipeg actors John Chase and Kevin Hamill met when cast in a 1996 production of 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory'. Since then, their mutual affiliations with local theatre companies have seen them perform together repeatedly.
In 2003, they formed an Abbott & Costello impressionist act as Chase & Hamill: initially to host a sellout dinner theatre show with a classic burlesque comedy theme for G.D. Productions. Now after a several-year hiatus, the partnership has been revived — as has the boys' intention of appearing as Bud and Lou whenever opportunity allows.
John Chase ("Bud Abbott")
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John Chase is the Artistic Director of Merlyn Productions and the Website Director of WinnipegOnstage.com. Merlyn Productions is the successor to C.G. Productions, which was co-managed with former Winnipeg performer Chris Gray from 1997 through 1999 and dedicated to staging quality theatre at a reasonable ticket price.
As a Winnipeg actor and director with over fifteen years of involvement in the local arts scene, John has had the opportunity to work in virtually every department of live theatre. He has produced, directed, stage managed or performed in over seventy-five productions on stage and radio, and served as an acting instructor for middle-years students.
Having performed for both children and adults in styles ranging from contemporary to Shakespearian, John's longest tenure remains on the children's theatre scene through local company Fantasy Theatre for Children. In addition to working both on and behind the FTC mainstage for the past fifteen seasons, he has directed multiple shows for G.D. Productions (FTC's adult arm), and is also an alumnus of The Theatre School, where he obtained five years of formal theatrical training under Tony Frost in the early to mid 1990s.
[ See Also: WinnipegOnstage.com Profile: John Chase ]
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Kevin Hamill ("Lou Costello")
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Kevin Hamill has been performing on Winnipeg stages for over a decade, and has dozens of shows to his credit.
He has worked both onstage and off with a variety of local companies, including C.G. Productions, Merlyn Productions, and primarily Fantasy Theatre for Children. With FTC, Kevin has appeared in numerous children's theatre productions, starred in several plays with G.D. Productions (FTC's adult arm), become an alumnus of The Theatre School, and assisted John Chase with building sets at all ungodly hours of the night.
Even above his history with the theatre, however, the art form that Kevin remains most passionate about is music. When not taking the stage as an actor, he has been involved with several local bands: writing lyrics and playing the bass guitar.
[ See Also: WinnipegOnstage.com Profile: Kevin Hamill ]
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