VICTORIA PLAYHOUSE PETROLIA RECIPIENT OF GENEROUS DONATION FROM PETROLIA RESIDENT JOYCE HAMILTON
Petrolia, ON – Today, the Victoria Playhouse Petrolia was a humbled and grateful recipient of $10,875.00 from Joyce Hamilton, a long-time Petrolia resident and patrons of the arts.
During a cheque presentation at Victoria Hall this morning, Mrs. Hamilton was joined by Mike Barron, Executive Director of the Sarnia Community Foundation and Petrolia Community Fund Administrator, Ginny Newman, a Board Member for the Sarnia Community Foundation, Town of Petrolia Chief Administrative Officer/Treasurer Rick Charlebois, and Co-Artistic Director for the Victoria Playhouse, David Hogan.
Mrs. Hamilton talked about the wonderful life she has enjoyed in Petrolia and added “…this theatre is a very important place to me. I remember the Lion’s Frolics in the parking area, and dancing in the ballroom upstairs as a teen.” She added that she is “…so glad we have the theatre in town, and that she already has her tickets for next year.”
Barron said, “it is an honor to take part in Mrs. Hamilton’s fund direction to the Victoria Playhouse; hearing about her passion for the Victoria Playhouse and the Town of Petrolia is inspiring!”
Director of Marketing Arts and Communications, Laurissa Ellsworth thanked Mrs. Hamilton for her kindness, and for her “…vision for the future of the theatre and for the town that she loves so very much.”
Co-Artistic Director David Hogan, touched by Mrs. Hamilton’s generosity said, “knowing part of Mrs. Hamilton’s life has been so impacted by the arts and the VPP is extraordinary. It is with gratitude and love that we accept this generous gift.”
The Sarnia Community Foundation hosts a Fund, called the Petrolia Community Fund where financial gifts can be shared with Petrolia in either a specific way, or in a non-specific way to better the community. These financial gifts are provided to various organizations throughout the year, and through a micro-grant program each winter. For those interested in learning more about the Fund, or how you can support Petrolia please visit https://sarniacommunityfoundation.ca/kinds-of-funds/ .
The Victoria Playhouse Petrolia’s 2023 Season – So Much to Celebrate! was announced last week. Jesse’s Country Jubilee, featuring VPP favourite Jesse Grandmont, will run May 2-21, followed by an original Canadian musical, Where the Heart is, on stage June 6-25. We pay tribute to the VPP’s golden jubilee with Yesterday Once More: 1973, running from July 4-23 and renowned Canadian playwright Norm Foster’s Jonas and Barry in the Home will run from August 8-27. Following 2018’s sold out run, Mark Payne brings his east coast flair back to the VPP stage for Mark Payne’s Kitchen Party Leftovers, on stage from September 5-24, and the season concludes with a spectacular production of Lerner and Loewe’s Camelot, running from October 10-29. Further casting announcements will be made at a later time.
Starbright Christmas 2023 will run November 24-December 10 and The VPP Holiday Jamboree will run December 15-17. These performances go on sale January 10, 2023.
VIP to the VPP members, Group Tickets and Subscriptions are now on sale. Single seats go on sale Monday, December 12. To purchase tickets, visit www.thevpp.ca or call the Box Office at 1-800-717-7694. Performances run Tuesday through Sunday with both matinee and evening options available.

Left to Right: Ginny Newman, Mike Barron, Joyce Hamilton, David Hogan & Rick Charlebois