Famous People Players

Inspired by her vision of social inclusion, Diane Dupuy of Hamilton, Ontario received an Opportunity For Youth (OFY) grant to start FPP. This program was created by Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau to provide meaningful work experiences for Canadian youth in the early 1970s. On June 1, 1974, Famous PEOPLE Players (FPP) was founded.

At inception, the company consisted of Dupuy, an assistant, eleven performers, and Dupuy's mother Mary Gioberti Thornton; Thornton designed and built the costumes and props.

The company's original piece was Aruba Liberace, in which a life-size character of Liberace plays the piano. It is still the company's signature performance. Liberace attended a showing of Aruba Liberace, and was so impressed he invited FPP to perform with him in Las Vegas. The company debuted in Las Vegas at Las Vegas Hilton Hotel in October 1975; over the subsequent ten years, the company performed with Liberace both in Las Vegas and internationally.

As a result of the increasing popularity of Famous PEOPLE Players, the company was featured as regulars on CBC Television's 1976–1977 variety series, The Wolfman Jack Show; the network also later produced and aired Carnival of the Animals hosted by Canadian Actor Gordon Pinsent. In 1980, FPP was featured with the Rockettes at the re-opening of Radio City Music Hall in New York, where the Sorcerer Apprentice premiered.

In 1982, Famous PEOPLE Players was invited to perform in the People's Republic of China. The company's first Broadway Show, A Little Like Magic, opened at the Lyceum Theatre in New York City and ran for 49 performances in 1986.^[2] They returned to New York in 1994 for a 4-week run, under the sponsorship of Phil Collins and actor Paul Newman, where they performed the show A Little More Magic!^[2] In 2001, Famous PEOPLE Players were invited to Kobe, Japan to raise money for children who were orphaned in result of a Great Hanshin earthquake. They are expected to return in 2026, with an invitation by a delegation from Kobe for the 25th commemoration of the Great Hanshin earthquake.

In 1994, the company opened the Dine & Dream Theatre; Paul Newman funded the restaurant's development by donating a portion of the sale of Newman's Own salad dressing products and Phil Collins funded the theatre's sound system.^[3] In 2009, facing the demolition of its 25-year location for condo development, the company relocated to Etobicoke. It reopened its first show on October 23, 2009.

The Dine & Dream Theatre is located at the company's Toronto west-end headquarters. Guests first arrive to the restaurant for lunch/dinner, where they are served by the Players — who also perform in the show productions. After the meal, guests are led to the Phil Collins Theatre, where the show production is performed. The theatre is named after Phil Collins, who became a source of inspiration for thePlayers when he viewed a performance interpretation of his music. It is currently the only theatre in Canada exclusively devoted to live animation under blacklight, showcasing life-size characters that glow and float in the dark.

The troupe has been subject of numerous talk shows, specials and documentaries. A 1984 CBS movie-of-the-week entitled Special People was based on the company's early history.^[4] FPP then went on to perform at the Royal Alexandra Theatre (1990) to rave reviews, which earned them Ed Mirvish's praise and friendship. A Little Like Magic, which detailed the company's operation and success, was an Emmy Award-winning documentary that hosted Ann-Margret. The company was also featured in the plot of an episode of the popular U.S. television drama 7th Heaven in 2002. TV Special called "Blacklight Dreams" was aired on Bravo! CBC in 2004. In co-production with Treehouse's "Roll Play", Famous PEOPLE Players' children series ^{[clarification needed]} became hugely popular. They also appeared in the Rick Mercer's documentary on CBC in 2013. Currently, Famous PEOPLE Players is #1 of 125 Theatre & Concerts in Toronto.

President and Founder of Famous PEOPLE Players, Diane Dupuy, C.M., O.Ont is also a motivational speaker. She was invited by Deepak Chopra to be a guest speaker at the Alliance of New Humanity in Puerto Rico in 2008, where she spoke alongside former Vice President Al Gore.^{[citation needed]} She is also an author of 7 books, all available at FPP.

Dupuy's accolades include:

• B'nai B'rith Women, Woman of the Year (1981)^{[citation needed]}
• Order of Canada (1982)^[5]
• Ernest C. Manning Award for Merit (1984)^[6]
• Library of Congress Award (1988)^{[citation needed]}
• Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal (2002)^[7]
• Ernest & Young Social Entrepreneur Award (2009)^[8]
• Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012)^[9]
• Global Television Local Hero (2013)^{[citation needed]}
• Lifetime Achievement Award, Brilliant Minded Women (2024)^[10]
• Order of Ontario (2024)^[11]
• First Canada Frontrunner, Urban Economy Forum (2025)^[12]
• King Charles III Coronation Medal (2025)^[13]

She holds honorary degrees from the University of Windsor (1986),^[14] University of Trent (1988),^[15] University of Calgary (1991),^[16] University of Toronto (2001),^[17] and University of Brock (2001).^[18]

In tribute to her efforts in fostering social inclusion in Canada, the Maple Leaf Theatre Company produced a new, original musical based on the story of Diane's life and founding of Famous PEOPLE Players — called Changing The Label. It was written by Canadian historian and playwright, Gord Carruth, with music written in conjunction with Amy King, and directed by Willard Boudreau. It premiered on June 19, 2025 at the Dine & Dream Theatre.

Her mother, Mary Gioberti Thornton (1916-2019) also won accolades, including the Frederick Gardiner Award and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.

Famous PEOPLE Players has created many productions over its 50-year history.

Leave the Porch Light On was the company's first original, full-length musical production and was created for the company's 25th-anniversary. The initial performance of Leave the Porchlight On was attended by the Governor General of Canada.^[19] The production is still occasionally performed at the company's theatre in Toronto and on tour. A sequel of sorts followed two years later, entitled Hide and Seek: A Game of Human Spirit and A.D.H.D.(Awesome Dreams with High Drama) The Musical.