Dean Hollin

Dean Hollin- Biography

Born and raised in Hamilton, Ontario, Dean began his theatrical career during his high school years and continued his performance studies working in various community theatres wherby he honed his skills both on and off the stage. One of his primary training grounds was Hamilton Theatre Inc., which prior to and during his tenure (1985-1993) were in the practice of retaining various New York/Broadway talents to direct and choreograph their musical productions. He considers himself extremely fortunate to have worked with the likes of John Sharpe (Bob Fosse's assistant choreographer for films such as Cabaret), Jack Timmers (MGM contract dancer and Stage Manager for original Broadway production of Annie), Edie Cowan (choreographer for original Broadway production of Little Shop of Horrors), Michael Mann (original Broadway production of Barnum), and Rudy Tronto (Director of sketches for Broadway's Sugar Babies starring Mickey Rooney and Ann Miller, for which Rudy received a Tony Award nomination).

During this same time period, Dean ventured to other local companies, offering him the opportunity to develop his skill as a dramatic and comedic actor:

Waterdown Village Theatre (Gary Painter in No Earthly Business, Gene Bolton in Automatic Pilot);

Burlington Little Theatre (Wilfred Owen in Not About Heroes - Western Ontario Drama League, 1990 Guelph Festival, Verne Shaw Memorial Award for Best Actor);

Players' Guild of Hamilton (Eddie McCuen in Musical Comedy Murders of 1940, Swiss Cheese in Mother Courage, Ronnie Shaunnesy in House of Blue Leaves - Best Cameo Performance 1990-91, Eugene Jerome in Brighton Beach Memoirs - Best Actor award 1990-91).

Additionally, Dean worked intermittently with David Dayler's 'New Faces' company performing in a variety of productions including Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris and An Evening with Robbie Burns.

One of his final productions with Hamilton Theatre Inc - Cole Porter's Anything Goes - was pivotal in that it connected him with Musical Director, Steve Thomas (Steve attended a performance of Anything Goes - this brief meeting led to a successful audition with the Muskoka Festival for their touring company, of which Steve was the Musical Director) as well as marking the beginning of his passion for the music of Porter and his contemporaries. Dean returned to Hamilton Theatre Inc for only one more musical - playing lead character Benjy Stone in the first Canadian production of My Favorite Year - director, Rudy Tronto.

With his professional career as an entertainer beginning in 1993, Dean steadily worked with companies throughout the province of Ontario in either a musical or non-musical capacity. Among his selected credits are:

Judas Iscariot in The Black Bonspiel of Wullie MacCrimmon,

Boy in Into,

Artie Octopus in Jacob Two-Two Meets the Hooded Fang,

Whit in Of Mice and Men (Theatre Aquarius);

Lucky in Dames at Sea (Bluewater Summer Playhouse);

Miles Gloriosus in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Sunshine Festival Theatre);

Robert in A Language of Their Own (Tarragon Theatre Extra Space);

Bill Page in The Voice of the Turtle (Helen Gardiner Phelan Playhouse);

Sharky in The War Show - You'll Get Used To It,

Asphyxia in Cinderella (Panto), Jack's Mother in Jack and the Beanstalk (Panto),

Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood (Panto),

Wicked Queen in Snow White (Panto) (Stirling Festival Theatre);

Mark Dolson in Mass Appeal (St. Lawrence Stage Company);

Actor #3 in The Dining Room,

Frank Sinatra in Memories of The Rat Pack (Theatre On The Grand);

Second Banana in Little Me,

Norman Petty in Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story,

Tony in Weekend Comedy (Drayton Entertainment).

In 2003 Dean relocated his young family and took up residence as Artistic & Managing Director within The Gayety Theatre, located in the heart of historic Downtown Collingwood, Ontario. As the artistic head of Gayety Entertainment Ltd. and its' successor, Theatrex Ltd. Dean directed, created and occasionally starred in productions including:

(as director) The Wild Guys, Mary's Wedding, and The Gin Game starring Araby Lockhart and Ted Follows;

(as creator, director) Those Gersh & This Gal

(as creator, director & player) Cinderella (Panto), Jack and the Beanstalk (Panto), Dick Whittington (Puss 'n' Boots) (Panto), and Whole Lot o' Hoagy;

(as actor) Billy Bishop Goes to War - Ken MacDougall, director.

In his first year operating the Gayety, he accomplished the almost unheard of goal of ensuring 52 weeks of entertainment (live and cinema) without a dark week! His tenure at The Gayety Theatre ended in 2006 when due to its' 'commercial' rather than typical 'not-for-profit' or 'charitable' status (eliminating the usual funding opportunities) and due to a slower than anticipated patron growth, the company ceased operations.

Throughout his professional career, Dean has created productions, largely based around the music he loves so much:

Yesterdays: The Music of Jerome Kern, Cole~Hearted: A Musical Portrait of Cole Porter,

Those Gersh & This Gal,

Whole Lot o' Hoagy, and with on-stage partner in crime, Deb Collins,

Mixed Doubles - A Non-Stop, Vaudevillian Salute to the World's Greatest Duos!

Through his production company - my eye productions - these productions continue or are beginning to tour.

Since coming to Collingwood in 2003, Dean has racked up a bevy of entertainment-related credits to his name.

For two and a half seasons Dean acted as co-host of 'Daytime', a live, morning magazine show on Rogers Television (2004 thru 2006)

currently he hosts Friday evenings on local radio band, 95.1 The Peak F.M.

He emcees extensively throughout the area,

operates Historic and Haunted Guided Tours in Historic Downtown Collingwood, and is invited to guest speak on various subjects.

Annually, Dean is an official judge for the Elvis Festival in Collingwood, and

is a part-time faculty member, teaching drama, at Pretty River Academy.

He still dabbles in the art of stained glass, participating in some local art shows, sings throughout the area, is a pretty darned good waiter when he needs to be, and adores his beautiful wife and three children!