Thank you to our Presenting Sponsor


Operetta 2025
It’s time to turn the lights back on for the UMEI Community Players and continue this cherished tradition! We are thrilled to announce the return of the UMEI Community Players with a production that honours our legacy while inspiring a new generation: The Sound of Music. Premiering in February of 2025, this beloved classic is more than just a musical. It’s a symbol of our commitment to fostering creativity, building community, and preserving the arts for future generations.
Our History
In 1975, the UMEI stage lit up with its first musical production, Around the World in Eighty Days. What began as a modest initiative quickly blossomed into a cherished community tradition. Year after year, productions like The Mikado, Fiddler on the Roof, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Hello Dolly brought Essex County together, weaving unforgettable memories into the fabric of our lives.
For over three decades, the UMEI Community Players enriched our region, thanks to the tireless dedication of performers, volunteers, and supporters. When the final curtain fell in 2008 upon the retirement of long-term director, Helen Brown, it seemed like the end of an era. Yet the dream persisted.
In 2024, UMEI teachers Erin Armstrong, Jill Suta, and Alyssa Epp decided it was time to revive the cherished tradition of the Operettas on the UMEI stage. As former participants in the original UMEI Community Players, they understand firsthand the profound impact the arts have on individuals and communities alike.
This revival is not just a return to tradition but a renewed commitment to the transformative power of the arts for both the school and the wider community.
Meet the Directors
Jill Suta
Artistic Director
Jill Suta is the visual arts and drama teacher at UMEI Christian High School and a dedicated director with a passion for the arts. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Brock University and a Master’s degree in Cultural Studies from Wilfrid Laurier University. Jill is excited to make her musical theatre directorial debut with the UMEI Community Players.
Erin Armstrong
Music Director
Erin Armstrong is well-known for her ability to captivate an audience with her commanding stage presence and warm vocal colour, as well as her many creative endeavours. She is the founder and director of Music Moves Kids, Abridged Opera, conductor of the UMEI Choir, music director at Leamington United Church and a regular performer/collaborator with the Windsor Symphony Orchestra.
Alyssa Epp
Assistant Director
Alyssa Epp is thrilled to help revive the UMEI Community Players. She grew up watching and participating in the Alumni Players and performed in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Beauty and the Beast and Lil Abner. In addition to the Community Players, Alyssa also serves as the Director of Operations for Abridged Opera. In addition to performing on stage with the company, she has served as stage manager for a number of their productions.
Thank You to Our 2025 Sponsors!
Presenting Sponsor
Benefactors of the Operetta
Randy & Jane Wiens
Walter & Suzanne Balzer
Vic & Marilyn Winter
Patrons of the Operetta
Ed & Helen Brown
Tiessen Financial
In Memory of Paul Krueger – The Music Man
Hearts All ‘Round Quilt Shoppe &
Dave Epp Member of Parliament
Chatham-Kent Leamington
Sterling Ridge Group Inc.
Steve & Shelley Enns
Supporters of the Operetta
Sawatzkys LLP
Alex & Chani Wiens
Rob & Lois Konrad
Katherine Brown
Jill & Mat Suta
Gloria White
Friends of the Operetta
CF Industrial Products Inc.
Dave & Joanne Brown
Walter Enns
Baker Tilly Trillium LLP
CIBC Leamington Banking Centre
Sun County Realty Inc.
Albano*Bommarito*Digrandi Investment Group