About
Us
PROFESSIONAL THEATRE. RIGHT. AT. HOME.
Mansfield Entertainment Canada is a family-owned and operated professional theatre company based in Oshawa, Ontario. Committed to delivering high-quality entertainment, we take pride in offering diverse productions that resonate with audiences across Ontario. Our mission is to provide employment opportunities to Canadian artists and celebrate the dedication of our working professionals.
Led by Joan Mansfield, our Artistic Director, James Mansfield, our Executive Producer, and Zachary Mansfield, our General Manager, Mansfield Entertainment is dedicated to enriching the cultural landscape through engaging theatrical experiences. With a focus on inclusivity and creative collaboration, we strive to bring captivating performances to the stage.
Join us in celebrating the art of theatre and the talents of Canadian artists as we continue to inspire and captivate audiences through the magic of live performance.
Learn more about our history here
OUR TEAM
JOAN MANSFIELD
Artistic Director CEO
Joan Mansfield was born in Cape Town, South Africa in the 1950s – a period of pain and suffering for many, due to the evils of Apartheid. In 1966, leaving for a new, and safer, life – Daniel and Cynthia Carelse, and their two children, Joan and Clement, emigrated to Canada, making a home for themselves in North York, Ontario. In the 1970s, Joan was a glamour model for fashion and cosmetics lines, and found an enriching lifelong career in children’s education, often infusing her love of theatre to nurture arts in education. Joan met James Mansfield in the mid 1970s, and they’ve been married since 1976. Over nearly 50 years together, Joan and James have owned and operated a number of businesses – a booming chip truck in the 80s and 90s, and an e-bike and motorsports store in the late 00’s, and into the very early 10’s. The business that has never left their hearts is Mansfield Entertainment – which started out as jjazmans productions in the late 1990s, evolving over nearly three decades to become one of the few commercial regional theatres in Ontario, now committed to providing employment to artists in their own “backyard”. Joan has been Artistic Director for the company’s entire journey thus far, and has directed most of the productions for the company, and is committed to many more years in these roles
Executive Producer CFO
JAMES MANSFIELD
James Mansfield was born in small-town Saskatchewan in the 1950s. Recently retired, he concluded a nearly-50 year career as a firefighter with the Oshawa Fire Services. As Executive Producer for Mansfield Entertainment, he has contributed much to the continued mandate in offering artistic opportunities and employment to emerging artists as they begin their careers, and to those who well into their careers already as he shares the same commitment to revitalizing the City that he loves. You can also find him doing driving for the productions, pick ups, deliveries, set building, and plenty more!
Senior Producer President
ZACHARY MANSFIELD
Zachary Mansfield was born and raised in Oshawa, and currently lives there, and is dedicated to contributing to the continued revitalization of the city and its downtown core through the live entertainment industry and encouraging folks that Oshawa can be a destination for arts and culture, dining, and more. Growing up in “showbiz”, Mansfield produced his first show at the age of 16 and hasn’t looked back since. Over the last decade, he has produced countless musicals, plays, cabarets, comedy shows, a drag show, and has famously co-produced a number of party-style art shows in downtown Oshawa (making a comeback in 2023!). A past student of the Second City Toronto, Mansfield is also a skilled comedic improvisor, and comic actor – you can typically catch him onstage in the annual Oshawa pantomime around Christmastime. Mansfield holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Performance: Production, from the Theatre School at Ryerson University (now Toronto Metropolitan University). A committed lifelong student of live theatre, you can catch Zachary at many performances across North America every year, somewhere high in the balcony (in the cheap seats) – always learning, always taking everything in. Outside of his life in the theatre, Mansfield is an avid traveller (not to any extravagant and exotic settings – but road trips to small town America are the norm – taking in the sights, sounds, and rich history that both the USA and Canada can provide), and colleagues dubbed him a “professional walker” after once clocking in 80,000 steps over a Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, during the height of the pandemic. Mansfield lives by two rules: “Keep movin’.” – Dick Van Dyke; “If you're quiet, you're not living. You've got to be noisy and colorful and lively.” – Mel Brooks. Mansfield also loves when formulas in Excel work
Development Officer, Major Gifts & Sponsorships
Rebecca Rodley (she/her) is the Development Officer, Major Gifts and Sponsorships for Mansfield Entertainment. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies from Ontario Tech University as well as a diploma in Musical Theatre Performance from Randolph College for the Performing Arts. Rebecca began as a performer with Mansfield Entertainment - Peter Pan (Starkey), Cinderella: Stepsisters’ Revenge (Cinderella), ‘Til I Hear You Sing (Principal Vocalist), before transitioning into a more formal position with the company. Rebecca brings her combined specializations in administration, law, and the arts into her role as Development Officer, overseeing sponsorships and partnerships with local companies.
REBECCA RODLEY
Communications Manager
JORDAN ROBERTSON-REID
Jordan Robertson-Reid (she/her) is a Digital and Social Media Manager with an extensive background in dance education and choreography. Her journey with Mansfield Entertainment began as a performer in Peter Pan before assuming the role of choreographer for productions such as Evil Dead (22) (Female Standby), Step Sister Revenge, and The Spongebob Musical (Karen). Jordan has also worked as a dance instructor and choreographer at various dance studios throughout the Greater Toronto Area. Jordan holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from The Boston Conservatory at Berklee with an emphasis in dance.
Resident Stage Manager
KIT BAULDRY
Mansfield Entertainment’s Resident Stage Manager, Kit Bauldry (she/her), has been with the company since 2013. Kit was introduced to the crazy, high energy backstage world while assisting Joan on a school production of Rats, and has been hooked ever since. Select productions include The Music of the Night and Music of Broadway tours, A Christmas Story, Next to Normal, Rent, Mamma Mia, We Will Rock You, The Last 5 Years, Daddy Long Legs, Evil Dead, (3 times),Disney’s The Little Mermaid and Aladdin musicals, dramatic productions of Oliver, The Giver, The Laramie Project, Tuesdays With Morrie, Any Night, and the Christmas Pantomimes of Peter Pan, Aladdin, Cinderella, Wizard of Oz, Peter Pan, and The Spongebob Musical. Kitt was involved in her church’s Christmas Eve Youth Productions, (featuring live animals), for 20 years, as backstage manager, assistant director, and as director for my final 5 years. Kit is a retired Education Assistant, who when not working on productions, enjoys sewing, hiking, reading, spending time with family and friends, and her two beautiful and energetic granddaughters.Her goal backstage is to run an efficient, and organized backstage, supporting the actors in a calm, kind, fun, and supportive manner, and to ensure that the director’s vision is carried out to the fullest.
OUR HISTORY
Early Beginnings
Founded in 1999 by Joan and James Mansfield, Mansfield Entertainment embarked on its journey to offer distinctive theatrical experiences to the audience. Recognizing the need for alternative commercial theatre, the company began producing in Toronto in 2002.
Growth and Evolution
In 2008, Joan Mansfield was appointed Artistic Director of the Regent Young Peoples' Theatre at the newly reopened Regent Theatre in downtown Oshawa. A pivotal moment arrived in 2013 when Joan and James' son, Zac, inspired the relaunch of the company with the 1st Annual Reading of A Christmas Carol. This tradition, which supports charitable causes, became an annual fixture.
The company's dedication led to the production of full season works in 2014, marked by the unwavering commitment of volunteers.
Professional Revival
2017 marked a significant milestone as Mansfield Entertainment re-launched professional commercial theatre in downtown Oshawa with the crowd-pleasing production of Mamma Mia!. This marked the beginning of an annual summerstock season, which continued to flourish despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The fall of 2017 saw the acclaimed production of Evil Dead: The Musical, followed by successful revivals in 2019 and 2022. The concert branch of the company was introduced in March 2018, showcasing a variety of curated shows rooted in the cabaret tradition.
Touring and Innovation
In 2018, Mansfield Entertainment expanded into touring productions, including the traditional panto and The Music of the Night tour. This expansion remained resilient even during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a reimagined 'Til I Hear You Sing! tour launched in 2022.
The commitment to excellence led to Mansfield Entertainment becoming a living-wage employer, further supporting the dedicated team of artists and professionals. As we look to the future, we remain dedicated to enriching the arts and delivering exceptional theatrical experiences.
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