About

Who We Are

Theatre by the Bay is a professional, not-for-profit theatre company based in Barrie, Ontario. We are entering a bold new era marked by artistic ambition, financial responsibility, and community-rooted programming. Our revitalized brand—Play On—reflects creativity, resilience, and a strong commitment to excellence and access.

We produce world-class theatre right here in Barrie, blending nationally recognized talent from Stratford, Shaw, Broadway, and Mirvish with exceptional rising artists from Central Ontario. Our shows are entertaining, inclusive, and professionally staged—crafted to resonate with a wide range of audiences.

Our Vision

Beyond our artistic mission, Theatre by the Bay offers something beautifully simpleAn unforgettable night out.

Have dinner at one of Barrie’s fine downtown restaurants. Enjoy a glass of wine. Then sit back and take in a show you’ll be talking about long after the final bow. Whether you’re a long-time theatregoer or new to the experience, we promise a performance that connects, delights, and inspires.

Our impact goes deeper, too:

• We mentor the next generation of Canadian theatre-makers
• We offer hands-on training in producing, marketing, development, and outreach
• We contribute to Barrie’s cultural and economic vitality with artist-first, community-centred programming

To forge partnerships with local cultural organizations so that, together, we can build on combined strengths and common goals to create initiatives that will solidify Barrie’s reputation as a cultural hub and demonstrate the social importance and richness of professional theatre.

Support Beyond The Ticket

If you’re giving, you should be getting too, through memberships, tax-refundable donations, and sponsorships!

Our Values

Our Values:

  • Financial Sustainability:We only produce what is fully funded—ensuring long-term impact
    • Audience Focus: We stage shows that are engaging, thoughtful, and universally accessible
    • Innovation: We stay agile and relevant in a changing world
    • Leadership & Inclusion: We work collaboratively, transparently, and ethically
    • Reputation & Brand: Play On signals creativity, professionalism, and trust
    • Community Partnership: We work closely with Tourism Barrie, the City of Barrie, the Downtown BIA, and major provincial/federal funders

At Theatre by the Bay, we make theatre that means something—both to the artists who create it and to the audiences who experience it.

The Play’s the Thing.
Play On.

Meet The Team

Staff Members

Leah Holder

(she/her)

Anna Small Theatre Lab Facilitator

Glenn Coulson

(he/him)

Managing Producer

Sarah O'Donnell

(she/her)

Administrator

Tomas Ketchum

(he/him)

Associate Producer

Larissa Mair

(she/her)

Co- Founder / Creative Producer

Board of Directors

Ken Montgomerie

(he/him)

Treasurer

Noreen Ledbetter

(she/her)

Vice Chair

Douglas Jure

(he/him)

Board Chair

Connor McBride

(He/Him)

Secretary

Dan Almeida

(he/him)

Director

Kelly Letourneau

(she/her)

Director

Paul Boken

(he/him)

Director

Galina Johnston

(she/her)

Director

Interested In Joining Theatre by the Bay's Board Of Directors?

The Board of Directors plays an integral role in Theatre by the Bay’s management and oversight. If you have a passion for TBTB’s mission, and are interested in being involved, please contact us through the form below. If you are a BIPOC member of our community, we HIGHLY encourage you to submit.

Presenting Sponsors

Barrie Theatre Festival

Presenting Sponsor

Tourism Barrie COLOUR (002)

Stars Come Out

Presenting Sponsor

Galina Johnston, CFP, RRC

Festival Series Presenting Sponsors

Canada Wide Series

Barriston_RGB

Central Ontario Series

2021_BBIA_Final_logo_Final-02

Theatre for Young Audiences

Kirkwood
PIE

Show Presenting Sponsors

Canada Wide Series

Crime After Crime (After Crime)

A. Jones

Down Broadway Lane

LOGO CHARTWELL_Vert

Central Ontario Series

Daughter of the Country

Coulson and Associates Logo

Barrie Bards Blunder

Aerarium

Theatre for Young Audiences

Curious K Explores the Paleozoic

Plumbtech_Eco_logo_R (1)

The Camp Campy Campfire Show

DV BELL FOUNDATION LOGO

Barrie Theatre Festival Funding is generously provided by

Canada
Ontario

Website & Technology Sponsors

Media Sponsors

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rock-tagline
kool-linear-light-tagline

Hospitality Sponsor

Best Western

Print | Photo | Graphic Design Sponsors

Jennifer Klementti
Nat Caron
Oklahoma Media
Quality Print Logo

Our History

Land Acknowledgement

Theatre by the Bay operates on the traditional lands of the Anishnaabeg, including the Odawa, Ojibwe (also known as the Chippewas) and Potawatomi Nations, collectively known as the Three Fires Confederacy. Today, this meeting place is still the home to many Indigenous people from across Turtle Island, and we are grateful to have the opportunity to work on this land.

A Commitment To Truth and Reconciliation

Theatre by the Bay stands with the practice of Territory or Land Acknowledgement as a step towards continued reconciliation and recognition of our colonial past. It acknowledges that this is Indigenous land and that Indigenous peoples still have rights to it. It allows us a moment to reflect on our own relationship to the land and the structures of colonialism around us. We encourage giving a Land Acknowledgement at the beginning of an event, meeting, or performance.

Resources

More Information About The Territories Surrounding Barrie

Hot Off The Press!

Review from Lynn Slotkin: "Icemen"

“You grip the arm rest waiting to hear what’s going to happen.”

News Article: Theatre by the Bay's Icemen is a thriller set in Barrie

“Let’s go back to 1930s Barrie when ice harvesters were on Kempenfelt Bay.”

Review from Girl Likes Theatre: "Icemen"

“There are many suspenseful moments culminating in a gripping final scene.”

News Article: "Icemen," inked by award-winning playwright, marks world premiere at downtown Barrie's Five Points Theatre

“Theatre by the Bay is taking a chilling look back at Barrie’s history, with a tale of vengeance, betrayal, class warfare and defence of livelihood.”

Blog By The Bay

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