Goderich Little Theatre’s production of Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks invited to compete in Western Ontario Drama League’s 2026 Festival
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The competitive spirit of community theatre was on full display in Hanover, but it was Goderich Little Theatre (GLT) that walked away the undisputed champions of the 2026 Western Ontario Drama League (WODL) Festival.
Hosted by the Hanover Community Players and staged at the beautiful Hanover Civic Centre from May 14–17, the prestigious four-day festival brought together three of the region's elite community theatre productions to go head-to-head under the expert eye of internationally renowned theatre adjudicator and author Annette Procunier.
This year's highly selective main stage lineup featured three powerhouse productions. The tightly contested festival lineup featured:
Kincardine Theatre Guild’s sharp comedy, Taking Care of the Browns
Theatre Woodstock’s timeless classic, Little Women
Goderich Little Theatre’s dazzling, heartfelt production, Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks
When the final adjudications were read at the closing gala, GLT had pulled off a breathtaking sweep, capturing six major awards including the festival's highest honour: Outstanding Production.
It was high praise from a legend in Adjudication, Annette Procunier, widely regarded as one of North America's foremost authorities on community theatre excellence, was lavish in her praise for GLT's production.
Known for her meticulous evaluation of character motivation and technical cohesion, Procunier lauded Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks for its balance of professional-grade design and profound emotional truth.
During her public adjudications, Procunier noted that the production was a stellar example of how every element of a creative team can lift a script to its highest potential.
GLT’s poignant and comedic production resonated deeply with the festival adjudicator and audiences alike, earning recognition for every facet of the production—from the individual performances to the intricate backstage and technical execution.
The full list of GLT’s festival wins includes:
• Outstanding Production at Festival
• Outstanding Coordinated Production at Festival
• Outstanding Visual Production
• Outstanding Technical Achievement
• Outstanding Ensemble
• Outstanding Director – Brian Makcrow
"It is an unbelievable honour," said a thrilled Brian Makcrow after receiving the directing award.
"A show like this looks simple on the surface, but it requires absolute precision from everyone involved. These accolades are a testament to the enormous dedication of our entire cast, crew, and creative team who poured their hearts into making this magic happen."
The heart of the production lies in the relationship between its two characters, brought to life by local favourites Susan Carradine and Art James. Their mesmerizing on stage chemistry, comedic timing, emotional vulnerability, and rigorous dance choreography earned them the Outstanding Ensemble award.
Beyond the stellar acting, the WODL adjudicator praised the seamless, professional execution of the show's complex backstage and technical demands.
Because the play relies on multiple rapid shifts in costume, music, lighting and projection to signify different dance styles over a period of weeks, the technical execution had to be flawless —proving that GLT’s behind-the-scenes talent is just as formidable as the actors in the spotlight.
The technical and visual awards highlighted the seamless collaboration between GLT’s backstage crew and technical team.
"Theatre is the ultimate team sport," an ecstatic Makcrow noted following the ceremony.
"Susan and Art are brilliant out there, but they are supported by a technical crew that executed cues with the precision of a Swiss watch"
With six major trophies returning home to Goderich, the historic win cements GLT's reputation as a powerhouse of Western Ontario community theatre.
Congratulations to GLT on bringing these prestigious awards home to Goderich.
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