Canadian stage debut of Raccoon with IT Productions in Brantford, Ontario, 2026. Rehearsals begin.
Directed by Bobby Robert. Assistant director Rose Risi. Staring Carlos Diaz as Roger and Lisa Stanford as Ellen.
Canadian stage premieres of two plays by Rick Butts with IT Productions in Brantford, Ontario. Raccoon. Happy Birthday Dear Maggie. Friday, August 14, 2026.
(A second performance of Raccoon on Saturday, August 15, 2026.)
Assistant director Rose Risi is also the famous superhero of animal rescue. News leaks that the cast and crew of Raccoon are going to meet at Rose’s place to work on the script. An hour before, a local fan shows up and asks if this is where they’re doing the show about raccoons finally getting what they deserve.
The cast has to wait while assistant director Rose Risi reprises her role as Animal Rescue Girl to deal with a hungry fan.
The baby raccoon at the rehearsal of Raccoon in Brantford having a snack. (No noisy candy wrappers during the show please.)
And finally, the other stars at the rehearsal of the Canadian premiere of Raccoon, Lisa Stanford as Ellen and Carlos Diaz as Roger (with the show’s first raccoon groupie taking a nap in the back).
Cast and crew taking a break from rehearsal of Raccoon in Brantford. Lisa Stanford as Ellen.
Carlos Diaz as Roger.
Todd James Lucek, sound designer and voice of Cop.
Bobby Robert, director, with Carlos Diaz looking on.
Rose Rici, assistant director.
In Brantford at the Left of Centre Festival, raccoons want the same deal that dogs and cats have. And Ellen discovers that raccoons in the bedroom are better than a lying husband who’s stealing from her.
In Brantford at the Left of Centre Festival, the cast and crew of Raccoon hang with the playwright. From left, Carlos Diaz (actor), Bobby Robert (director), Todd James Lucek (sound designer), Rick Butts (playwright), Cathy Nesbitt (actor who snuck in from another production of Raccoon at Theatre Aurora just to say hello!) and Lisa Stanford (actor).
The cast and crew answer the question ‘who did this’?
At The Knights in Brantford, a benefit performance of two plays Raccoon and Happy Birthday Dear Maggie. And great burgers.
Theatre veterans Lisa Stanford and Carlos Diaz sip coffee while they wait to be arrested in Raccoon. Fan favourites James Diamond and Jasmine Romany punch the clock for another performance of Happy Birthday Dear Maggie.
Ellen (Lisa Stanford) and Roger (Carlos Diaz) learn that the raccoons want to meet in the bedroom.
Ellen (Lisa Stanford) and Roger (Carlos Diaz) are confronted by the police.
Playwright Rick Butts (center) joins actors Carlos Diaz and Lisa Stanford on stage with director Bobby Robert (right).
Raccoon at Theatre Aurora in Aurora, Ontario 2026.
Even the raccoons are getting out of bed for this show in Aurora.
Directed by Christopher Gale for Foundations Fest, Theatre Aurora, 2026.
Production scripts for the cast at Foundations Fest, Theatre Aurora, 2026.
Raccoon by Rick Butts. Actors and crew at a reading at Theatre Aurora in Aurora, Ontario 2026.
Cathy Nesbitt as Ellen and Bella Karpati as Cop in rehearsal for Raccoon at Theatre Aurora in Aurora, Ontario 2026.
Playwright Rick Butts looking at a scene with actors Cathy Nesbitt and Bella Karpati at Theatre Aurora in Aurora, Ontario 2026.
