The founder of a charitable theater company who has ties to Sarnia has been recognized by Canada’s Governor General.
The founder of a charitable theater company who has ties to Sarnia has been recognized by Canada’s Governor General.
“It was amazing,” said Drayton Entertainment artistic director Alex Mustakas, who was at Rideau Hall in Ottawa May 26 to receive the Meritorious Service Medal from Gov. Gen. Mary Simon.
Mustakas was one of three to receive the medal that honors Canadians for exceptional deeds bringing honor to the country.
His recognizes his lifelong commitment to making the performing arts affordable and accessible, Drayton Entertainment officials said in a press release.
“First of all, I’d like to think I accepted it on behalf of everyone at Drayton Entertainment, and all of our supporters and all the artists and technicians and so on over the years,” said Mustakas, 62, who started the company in Drayton, Ont., in 1991.
Mustakas, who has degrees in economics and arts administration, called Drayton Entertainment’s now seven theaters a “model of sustainability.”
“Whether you have 10 performances or 100, all your pre-production costs are the same,” he said. “So it’s an ability to move shows around the province and split costs that way as well, and that helps us keep prices reasonable and accessible to everyone.”
That includes the Huron Country Playhouse in Grand Bend, celebrating it’s 50th anniversary this year. Mustakas said he and his wife bought a house in Sarnia about a year ago – they split time between here and Elmira, Ont. – to be closer to the Lambton Shores stage.
The economic impact of visitors to Drayton Entertainment theaters and their host towns was more than $80 million annually when the company was putting on 800 shows per year at the height of its operations, company officials said.
Meanwhile, Mustakas, who emigrated from Cyprus at age six, said he’s been waiting to receive the award for about three years after receiving a letter in 2019.
“Then ,they were setting up the in-person ceremonies and everything shut down because of COVID of course” in 2020, he said.
Last month, he said, he got the call the ceremony was back on.
“It was pretty impressive,” said Mustakas, noting he had the chance to meet with retired senator and Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada chair Murray Sinclair, who received the Meritorious Service Cross and was invested as a companion of the Order of Canada.
“To be in the company of someone like Judge Murray Sinclair … was obviously a little overwhelming,” Mustakas said. “But again, I can’t say enough about the experience.”
The award’s timing is good as Drayton Entertainment is resuming seasons at its theaters after a two-year hiatus amid COVID-19, he said. Huron Country Playhouse’s season opens June 23.
“It is kind of timely for sure and everyone’s excited, he said.