Tessier Lionel

Article by Greg Peerenboom
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October 13, 2016

Tessier's career goes back to the mid-1940s in the Minstrel Show called Showboat Days, by the Kinsmen Club.
In the early 1950s, he joined St. Columban's Social and Dramatic Club for the St. Patrick's Day events.
Tessier directed sold out Broadway-style musicals of The Sound of Music and The King and I during the mid-60s.
Tessier then headed the Save the Capitol Theatre committee, which organized fundraising events.
He went on to direct 10 musicals, appearing in six for Glen Productions, followed by Grease for Dream Maker Productions.
In later years he managed to become an extra in a CBC TV movie The Salem Witch Trials, and was in the presence of Sir Peter Ustinov, Shirley MacLaine, Kirstie Alley and other stars.
He was cast as the Rabbi in Fiddler on the Roof for Seaway Valley Theatre Co. and advised the production of Les Misérables.
His theatre work earned him co-producer and acting awards in EODL festivals.