Our lives have meaning and we can do anything.
Famous PEOPLE Players was founded in 1974 in the spirit of personal development and team achievement. It began with a theatrical black light show in Toronto that was stunning in its visual effect.
The great showman and pianist Liberace discovered Famous PEOPLE Players in 1975 and hired the troupe to open for him in Las Vegas. From 1975 to 1985 Famous PEOPLE Players toured with this magnificent entertainer, winning rave reviews that inspired the world. These achievements resulted in a CBS Emmy Award winning movie called "Special People".
Meanwhile, in Toronto, the show and the restaurant flourished, attracting groups from far and wide, international visitors, celebrity benefactors and continuing acclaim.
Since the days with Liberace, Famous PEOPLE Players have won accolades on Broadway, at Radio City Music Hall and have toured the globe, changing attitudes and bringing integration to the forefront.
In 2007 the company acquired a new property in Ancaster, Ontario (near Hamilton). It will house a beautiful new theatre and restaurant on 84 acres of land. Famous PEOPLE Players will add a harvesting and camp program to theatre arts, culinary arts, customer arts and language skills.
HISTORICAL MILESTONES:
1980 - Famous PEOPLE Players were chosen by New York’s Radio City Music Hall to choreograph, the first stage production of the “Sorcerers Apprentice”. This was a very important event, as the Famous PEOPLE Players would be officially reopening this famous Hall.
1982 - Famous PEOPLE Players was the first western group to be invited to perform in the People’s Republic of China.
1984 - Joe Cates, a highly regarded producer for television, saw Famous PEOPLE Players at Radio City Music Hall and signed them on the spot for a CBS two-hour movie of the week, “Special People”.
1985 - FPP appeared for a one-hour special on the Phil Donahue Show which was the highest rated Donahue show.
1986 - Famous PEOPLE Players opened on Broadway at the historical Lyceum Theatre. "A Little Like Magic" earned rave reviews.
1994 - New York beckoned the company once again and Famous PEOPLE Players returned with “A Little More Magic” at the Belasco Theatre. After lengthy tours, the Famous PEOPLE Players needed to settle to a place called home.
February 18th, 1994 - Famous PEOPLE Players opened the first dinner theatre dedicated to people with special needs where the veteran performers who no longer perform could further enhance their life skills. Actor Paul Newman who had become a big supporter and fan of Famous PEOPLE Players, generously underwrote the restaurant through the sales of Newman’s Own products. Phil Collins, saw the company perform in Toronto and was ‘wowed’ by their artistic ability and interpretation of his music on stage. Meeting Phil Collins became such a major force of inspiration to the Famous PEOPLE Players that they now call him “Uncle Phil” and their theatre is called the Phil Collins performance workshop. |
