A Conversation with Diane Dupuy, Founder and President of Famous PEOPLE Players (TEATRO) ~ di Michael Lettieri - TeclaXXI

TEATRO

 

Michael Lettieri

(University of Toronto Mississauga)

 

A Conversation with Diane Dupuy, Founder and President of Famous PEOPLE Players

 

 

 

Founded in 1974, Famous PEOPLE Players (FPP) is a Toronto-based non-profit theatre company internationally recognized for its inclusive approach, inspired by founder Diane Dupuy’s early exposure to the segregation of people with intellectual disabilities at an institution in Orillia, Ontario. Its “Dine & Dream Theatre” supports students who do not thrive in traditional school settings, including those with learning differences and mental health challenges. Through theatre performance, culinary training, and arts administration, participants develop essential life and professional skills while fully engaging as performers, servers, and cultural workers across all aspects of the company’s work.

The conversation examines FPP’s origins, its black light theatre aesthetic, and the social values that have shaped the company over five decades, positioning inclusion as a sustained creative practice that is artistically generative and socially transformative.

Inclusive theatre is often seen as outreach or a niche program. Where does Famous PEOPLE Players fit?

We’ve never really fit neatly into one category, and that’s by design. From the start, FPP has combined professional theatre with social innovation and entrepreneurship. Inclusion isn’t something we add on to what we do; it’s the foundation of everything. Rather than making disability the “subject” of our work, we build it directly into how culture is created. Our Players aren’t represented on stage; they are the artists, the hosts, and the creators. That changes the entire dynamic.

How did Canada’s social policy climate influence FPP’s beginnings?

We began in 1974 through an “Opportunity for Youth” grant introduced under Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau. The goal of the program was to provide young people with meaningful work, not charity, not busywork, but real, valuable jobs that allowed them to become fully integrated into the community. At that time, people with mental challenges were often hidden in institutions and excluded from society, and those with disabilities were almost entirely shut out of employment and the arts. The idea behind Famous PEOPLE Players was practical and transformative: to teach participants skills that would help them become fully independent once they moved on from FPP. We serve as a stepping stone to the future, creating paid, professional roles within a visible cultural institution. This approach set us apart from recreational or therapeutic programs; we were building careers, not just activities. Our participants are proudly known as the “Stars of Tomorrow.”

How did your mother, Mary Gioberti, and your Italian heritage shape the organization?

My mother designed and hand-crafted the first costumes and props, but above all she had profound respect for the Players, treating them as artists. My Italian roots reinforced the importance of community, family, and storytelling: inclusion was not an abstract idea, it was lived experience. You don’t exclude people; you make space for them. That belief became part of the company’s DNA from the very beginning. We chose the black light technique for our stage creations to make the performers appear invisible, reflecting how society once marginalized them because of their differences.

What role has your daughter Joanne played in FPP’s evolution?

Joanne grew up within the company and understands its values as lived practice, bringing her leadership style, artistic sensibility, and organizational vision while respecting the original mission and actively shaping it. This ensures continuity, growth, and engagement with new generations. Her presence embodies trust and shared responsibility: key elements that sustain the organization’s longevity.

How does black light theatre help bring FPP’s inclusive vision to life?

In black light theatre, glowing puppets and movement in the dark shift the spotlight from bodies to story, rhythm, and emotion. It shatters assumptions about who can perform, while showcasing the focus, teamwork, and precision our Players bring to every performance.

Why was Aruba Liberace such a pivotal moment?

Liberace’s support opened doors that would have otherwise been closed. Performing with him at the Las Vegas Hilton and touring internationally gave us instant credibility in the mainstream arts world. It also revealed how much the arts depend on gatekeepers. His endorsement helped people take us seriously, but what really mattered was that we proved ourselves over time. Fifty years later, we’re still thriving because our work is strong and our foundation is solid. Audiences loved our performances for their artistry, not for the disabilities of the performers, who remained unseen behind the magic of the stage. When they later learned about the players, many said, “I had no idea they were capable of such extraordinary talent.” Our approach helped spark a movement toward inclusion around the world. Even the renowned psychiatrist Viktor Frankl was inspired by our work and became a passionate advocate for our company and its mission.

How have influential supporters impacted FPP’s growth?

We’ve been blessed with incredible champions. Academy Award-winning actor Paul Newman helped fund our kitchen through Newman’s Own, and legendary rock star Phil Collins of Genesis supported our sound system and lent his name to our theatre after being deeply moved by a performance inspired by his music. What mattered most to them, and to us, was not celebrity, but purpose. They believed in the Players and in what inclusion can look like when it is done with excellence.

What inspired the “Dine & Dream Theatre” experience?

We wanted people to connect, be entertained, and, in the process, awaken something within themselves that reflects our philosophy: “We inspire people to achieve more.” When guests are served by the Players and then watch them perform, the usual boundaries disappear. It’s immersive, personal, and deeply human. People don’t just observe inclusion, they experience it. And that experience lingers far longer than any lecture or message ever could. After all, we all love Stevie Wonder for his music, not because he is blind. Similarly, when guests book a reservation to “Dine and Dream,” what they’re truly seeking is a great meal and a great show.

How does education fit into FPP’s mission?

Education is a natural extension of what we do. Through our “Stars of Tomorrow” program, approved by the Ontario Ministry of Education, students earn credits while working inside a real theatre organization. They learn by doing, whether that’s performing, working in the kitchen, handling administration, or learning production skills. Our partnerships with high schools, colleges, and even international universities reflect our belief that learning should be practical, inclusive, and meaningful.

You’ve received many honors over the years. What do these recognitions mean for FPP?

Awards like the Order of Canada or the Order of Ontario don’t just recognize individuals, they legitimize ideas. They say that inclusion belongs at the center of our cultural life, not at the margins. They also help shift the conversation from advocacy to policy, from inspiration to long-term impact. That matters.

What does FPP’s 50th anniversary signify?

Longevity tells a story. Fifty years shows that inclusion isn’t a trend or a temporary experiment, it’s sustainable. For researchers, FPP offers a long-term example of how inclusive models work. For artists and decision-makers, it proves that equity and excellence can grow together.

You mentioned to me FPP dreams of performing for Pope Leo, what would it mean?

It would mean the world to us. Performing at the Vatican for Pope Leo, in service of the poor, would honor the Players’ dedication, showcase their talents on a global stage, and affirm inclusion as a force for creative and social transformation. As Canadian artists, we would share a message of light, imagination, and hope, showing how creativity transcends barriers, enchants when the stage goes dark, and inspires belief in what is possible.

Finally, what do you hope people take away from Famous PEOPLE Players?

I hope they see inclusion not as a fix, but as a source of creativity. When you build it into the structure of an organization, it expands what’s possible, artistically and socially. The future of culture depends on rethinking who gets to create, who gets to lead, and who gets to be seen. That’s the work we’ve been doing for 50 years.

 

A video illustrating one of the FPP’s performances can be found here:

 

AVE MARIA FULL VIDEO

The images below capture FPP at work:

 

MICHAEL LETTIERI

 

BIONOTA DI DIANE DUPUY 

MICHAEL LETTIERI

 

BIONOTA Michael Lettieri is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Language Studies at the University of Toronto Mississauga, where he held several key academic roles. Founder of the department, he also directed the Italian School at Middlebury College and the journal Italica. His work spans textual criticism, early modern drama, and second-language acquisition. He has received notable academic honors and contributes to international scholarly committees.