About The Gentleman Clothier by Norman Foster

The Gentleman Clothier tells the story of Norman, a lonely bachelor who decides to fulfill a dream of opening his own clothing store and in turn creates a new family within the store. Experienced tailor Norman Davenport has barely opened the doors to his new clothing store in downtown Halifax when Sophie, an exuberant young woman, barges in looking for work, followed by Patrick, a single father who claims to be handy. Hesitantly Norman hires them both to tie up the last few threads before the grand opening. And whether Norman realizes it or not, he needs help getting into the twenty-first century to cater to the current tastes of his customers. When the shop's first customer, Alisha Sparrow, a friendly, attractive woman, drops in looking for a suit for her husband, Norman is smitten against his better judgment. His sensible, modest world has become profoundly complicated in less than a week, and Norman makes a wish to live in a simpler time. Unfortunately for him, his wish is fulfilled, and his life is about to get messier as he wakes to find things are not what they used to be. Be careful what you wish for! This old adage leads to hilarious results in this magical and cautionary tale. Filled with laughs and heart, The Gentleman Clothier is guaranteed to have you thinking about your place in time.

The Gentleman Clothier premiered in 2014 at the Lighthouse Festival Theatre in Port Dover, Ontario. Since then the play has been produced widely at community theatres across Canada.

About the Author

Norm Foster - Canada's prolific playwright and record-holder for the past two decades! With an impressive average of 150 productions per year, he has rightfully earned the title of the most-produced playwright in Canadian history.

Born in Newmarket, Ontario, and raised in Toronto, Norm's journey into theatre began in Fredericton in 1980. Falling head over heels for the stage, he penned his first play, "Sinners," which marked the beginning of an extraordinary career.

Over the years, Norm has written an incredible 55+ plays, including the iconic The Melville Boys – a hit both in Canada and the U.S., with a successful off-Broadway run in New York. His works, known for their comedic brilliance and touching moments, have left an indelible mark on Canadian theatre.

Norm's contributions extend beyond the stage, with several plays published by Playwright's Union Press and featured in various compilation volumes like 'Vintage Foster' and 'One Act-manship.' Notable works include The Affections of May, Mending Fences, and The Foursome.

  • RICHARD DORAN - Norman Davenport

    ASHLEY DEL CARMEN - Sophie Tomesko

    ZOE SMIBERT - Alisha Sparrow

    BROCK BEAL - Patrick Markham

  • NORM FOSTER - Playwright

    AARON VANDERWEG - Director

    RONEN EAGLES - Assistant Director

    REINA JUGUETA - Stage Manager

    LACEY OLESON-RINEHART - Set Designer

    GWEN MCCAGG - Costume Designer

    SUI-FAN WONG - Sound Designer and Operation

    DAVID CHAPMAN- Lighting Designer

    JEREMY ROBINSON - Production Manager

  • Set Decor & Props: The Cast & Creative Team

    Set Construction: Grant Woodcock, Lacey Oleson-Rinehart, Bruce Barss, Andy Nokes, Monica Bolin, Tom Lacquement, Brandon Oleson-Rinhart.

    Paint & Walllpaper: Lacey Oleson-Rinehart, Suzanne Hermary, Richard Doran, Debby Allen, Josephine de Beaudrap, Tom Lacquement, Kathryn Huedepohl, Bruce Barss, Heather and Peyton Reynolds.

    Sound: David Chapman

    Lights: Alana Chynoweth, Lou-Anne Winship, Jill Craig and Wanda Oler

    Floral Arrangement: La Petite Jaune Fleur

    Dressers: Karli Kendall, Lacey Oleson-Rinehart

    Production Photography: Karli Kendall

    CAT Technical Manager: Darrel Dixon

    CAT Stage Technician: Cassidy Crawford

    CAT Front of House Manager: Jason Steele

    CAT Bookkeeping / Administrator: Lou-Anne Winship