Waterloo’s Louise Grisdale finally gets the message – and a big 50/50 surprise
May 10, 2024
Drayton Entertainment's Artistic Director Alex Mustakas took a break from directing Rock of Ages at St. Jacobs Country Playhouse to present Waterloo resident Louise Grisdale with her 50/50 winnings.
Louise Grisdale, April’s 50/50 winner, is crystal clear about what hitting the jackpot means to her.
“I’m thrilled to be richer!” laughs the Waterloo resident.
After lucky ticket #99011912055 was drawn, Grisdale met with Drayton Entertainment’s Artistic Director Alex Mustakas, who took a break from directing Rock of Ages at St. Jacobs Country Playhouse to present her with the jackpot of $6,910.
“My husband and I were in Peterborough meeting our brand new baby granddaughter,” says Grisdale, remembering when Jonathan Randall, Drayton Entertainment's Director of Marketing & Development, called with the good news, although the call didn’t connect.
“I was in an area that didn’t have good cell phone coverage, and I didn’t realize the call had come in. It wasn’t until we returned to our daughter’s house that I saw on my call display that a call from Cambridge had come in. That didn’t necessarily mean anything to me and apparently the voicemail that had been left got dropped due to the cellular connectivity issue, so I kind of just let it go.”
It wasn’t until later when Grisdale decided to check her 50/50 ticket that it began to sink in. “That’s when I realized what that phone call had likely been about earlier in the day. And, of course, my first reaction was, ‘This is great!’”
She and her husband, Frank, have always been big supporters of the arts, so that’s where some of her windfall will be spent.
“We attend a lot of live theatre and live concerts,” she says. “I’m sure this will all go to more live performances. I mean, you just can’t beat the live experience.”
Grisdale also buys a 50/50 ticket when she attends Drayton Entertainment shows. “This may sound silly, but I never really buy a ticket with the idea that I’m going to win,” she says. “I buy a ticket to support live theatre because I think it’s really important to support the arts. I’ve already bought my next Drayton Entertainment 50/50 ticket for this month. Not that I think lightning is going to strike twice!”
Grisdale loves visiting St. Jacobs Country Playhouse, which is her local venue.
“Sometimes I go with my husband, sometimes it’s with friends. The last show was Footloose, and I’m already booked for Rock of Ages. You know, I’ve never attended a bad theatre performance. It’s all great theatre and always a worthwhile experience.”
Tickets for the May raffle are available for purchase at https://drayton5050.com until 9:59 p.m. on May 31, with three tickets for $10, 40 tickets for $20, or 100 tickets for $40. A Grand Prize draw will take place at noon on June 1.
The jackpot is updated online in real-time and grows as more people participate – the published amount is the winner’s take-home prize.
Tickets may be purchased by individuals 18 years or older and located in the Province of Ontario at the time of purchase. All ticket sales are final and ticket buyers will receive a receipt via email after purchasing that will list all numbers associated with the purchased tickets.
Tickets are sold using an electronic raffle system approved by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) and supplied by Bump Worldwide Inc. Raffle License AGCO #RAF1232607. Please play responsibly. Ontario Problem Gambling Helpline 1-888-230-3505 or visit www.connexontario.ca. For complete details, including rules of participation and frequently asked questions, please visit: https://drayton5050.com.
About Drayton Entertainment
Drayton Entertainment is an award-winning, not-for-profit charitable arts organization (12591 1313 RR0001) operating six professional live theatre venues in five Ontario communities – the original Drayton Festival Theatre in Drayton, Huron Country Playhouse (Mainstage and South Huron Stage) in Grand Bend, King’s Wharf Theatre in Penetanguishene, St. Jacobs Country Playhouse and Schoolhouse Theatre in St. Jacobs, and the Hamilton Family Theatre in Cambridge.
Drayton Entertainment is one of the largest employers of professional artists in the country across all artistic disciplines with over 400 artist contracts issued annually. The organization’s sustainable theatre model has emerged as a powerful force for culture and tourism in the province and has been recognized by the office of the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario as well as the Ontario Innovation Excellence Awards.
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