Quarter To Nine Theatrical Productions
Quarter To Nine Productions is an enthusiastic independent theatre group based in the Niagara region created out of the desire to produce challenging and entertaining drama, comedy and musical theatre productions offering something other than the current fare. Our initial goal is to produce two mainstage productions per year with the possibility of launching original works in to the mix. Our inaugural production was in July of 2009, with Peter Gruner’s Laund-O-mat at the End of the World at the Hamilton Fringe Festival. We continued the journey in the Hamilton Fringe Festival 2010 with another original work I'll Be Seeing You... Our first major production was in the winter of 2011 with a successful run of David Mamet's Oleanna at the Staircase Theatre followed by another success in the 2011 Hamilton Fringe with the world premier of Peter Gruner's Minced which earned the honour of "Best of the Fringe". Working in collaboration with other theatre companies and other established artists in the area, our mission is to cultivate growth and expression and to bring exceptional professional quality productions to the community at an affordable price.
Shari Vandermolen - Creator, Artistic Director
SHARI VANDERMOLEN is the founder and driving force behind Quarter To Nine Productions, a Grimsby based company which takes its name from her own musical act of jazz and Broadway standards. She originated the role of Carmella in the Pearl Company’s production of LAUNDOMAT AT THE END OF THE WORLD in 2007. In the summer of 2009 she reprised this role at the Hamilton Fringe Festival, as well as taking on the duties of producer – this became the inaugural show for Quarter to Nine Productions. The show was chosen as “Pick of the Fringe” and earned a spot in the StageWrite series at Hamilton’s Theatre Aquarius in October of 2009. Shari has been heavily involved with many of the area’s theatre groups, featured onstage in productions of BITTERGIRL (Theatre Aquarius StageWrite series), MAGGIE’S GETTING MARRIED (Players’ Guild), LEND ME A TENOR (TAP), ROUGH CROSSING and TWENTIETH CENTURY (Dundas Little Theatre), THE LONG WEEKEND (Theatre Burlington), and SNOW WHITE (Binbrook Theatre). Shari’s time with Binbrook Little Theatre also netted her a WODL award for her portrayal of Ethel Banks in Neil Simon’s BAREFOOT IN THE PARK; as well as the opportunity to make her directorial debut with Norm Foster’s HERE ON THE FLIGHT PATH. In 2011, she earned another WODL award for Best Actress in the production of THE AFFECTIONS OF MAY (Peninsula Players)
Fans of local musical theatre have been treated to her unique vocal stylings in productions of SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN (Etobicoke Musical Productions), COMPANY, HEART OF BROADWAY and THE DROWSY CHAPERONE (Hammer Entertainment), STAGE TO SCREEN (Hamilton Theatre, Inc.), and BABY – The Musical, CURTAINS - The Musical and HELLO DOLLY! (Shooting Star Theatre Productions). Shari also lends her time and talent to a number of community projects including fundraising presentations of THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES in Halton/Peel and DISCOVERING ELVIS at Theatre Aquarius and her musical tribute in St. George during Remembrance Day weekend 2009 commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Canadian Navy and 2010 commemorating the Korean War with songs from the Hit Parade of the time. She co-wrote and starred in I'LL BE SEEING YOU... for the 2010 Hamilton Fringe Festival, produced and directed David Mamet's OLEANNA (Quarter to Nine's first major production), and produced and starred in the world premiere of Peter Gruner's new play MINCED during the 2011 Hamilton Fringe Festival. The production earned the honour of “Best of the Fringe” and became a part of the Theatre Aquarius StageWrite series once again. In February of 2012, Shari launched Quarter to Nine’s new 5-piece band with her production of MY FUNNY VALENTINE in the studio theatre at Theatre Aquarius. Stay tuned for much more to come as Shari continues to work with her band growing their repertoire as well as singing with other local musical groups such as the new little big band SwingLine.
Peter Gruner is the Playwright-In-Residence for Quarter to Nine Productions. His first play, LAUND-O-MAT AT THE END OF THE WORLD, has been performed at The Pearl Company, Hamilton Fringe 2009, Theatre Aquarius’ Stagewrite Series and most recently at the 2011 Sears Festival. CAST PARTY, his second play, was part of the BBF Emerging Artist Series in 2009. His fourth play, I’LL BE SEEING YOU (which he co-wrote with Shari Vandermolen), was performed at the Hamilton Fringe Festival in 2010.
His play MINCED came in third place in the 2011 Hamilton Fringe Playwriting Contest and was chosen as Patron’s Pick and Best of Fringe for the 2011 Hamilton Fringe. It received an encore performance at Theatre Aquarius in October of 2011. His play CAST AWAY was performed at the Pearl Canadian Theatre Festival in August 2011.
Peter is a member of the Playwright’s Guild of Canada and part of the Theatre Aquarius Playwright’s Unit. He received the Oakville Arts Council’s Literary Arts Award in 2010 and is currently working on his seventh play, TORN COUPONS.