Magic! Betrayal! Revenge!
Gather the family, pack a picnic and come to The TD Community Plaza at Town Centre Park for our 2019 Summer Teen Theatre Troupe’s lively outdoor performances of The Windsinger, Robert Garfat’s family-friendly adaptation of Shakespeare’s The Tempest. Admission is free!
Synopsis
The story takes place on an enchanted island to which the sorceress Prospero, once a Duchess in Italy, and her daughter Miranda have been exiled by Prospero’s wicked sister Antonia and the Queen of Naples, Alonsa. Prospero takes revenge on the two and, with the help of her airy sprite Ariel and some powerful magic, creates a violent storm that shipwrecks Antonia, Alonsa and several others on the island. A series of mystical events arouse feelings of guilt and remorse in Antonia and Alonsa, who then agree to restore Prospero’s Dukedom. After this happy reconciliation, Ariel transports everyone home to Italy, and all ends well.
With The Windsinger, Garfat creates a capsized and storm-blown adaptation of The Tempest. In this production, professional director Jessica Anne Nelson sets the cast of actors on their own shipwreck, using the landscape and the physical attributes of the TD Community Plaza amphitheatre to help create the world of a destroyed ship on the banks of a watery expanse where the action takes place. In this gorgeous, outdoor setting, audiences will be able to take in the action, with the surrounding natural elements at Lafarge Lake helping to create the world of the play.
This year, Place des Arts is thrilled to team up with the Coquitlam Youth Orchestra. Three orchestra musicians, Lynette Chiang on violin, Irene Lee on cello and Joseph Chiao on viola, will perform live music written by well-known professional composer Cameron Wilson. The music will be an integral part of the production, providing musical accompaniment and sound effects that will help set the adventurous, magical mood of the show.
Showtimes
- July 23, 24, 27 at 7:00 pm
- July 25, 26 at 1:00 pm and 7:00 pm
- July 28 at 1:00 pm
About the Summer Teen Theatre Troupe
Each summer, Place des Arts presents performances by our Summer Teen Theatre Troupe at the TD Community Plaza in Coquitlam’s Town Centre Park. The Troupe is a by-audition performance company comprised of local emerging performers who work with theatre professionals to mount a show.
Families love the performances, which are adapted for all ages providing children with an easy-to-understand introduction to the magic of live theatre.
Meet this year’s troupe!
Jessica Anne Nelson – Director
Jessica is an award-winning theatre director, creator and producer in Vancouver. With a strong background in devised theatre and narrative based drama, her directing focuses on exploring the range of human experiences, even within the most negatively viewed characters, and exploring how we enact gender in performance and in our daily lives.
Jessica has an M.F.A. in Directing and a B.A. Honours in Theatre from the University of British Columbia. She has been honoured with the Sydney J. Risk Award in Directing, the Yvonne Firkins Prize and the John Brockington Scholarship in Theatre.
Future projects include being the Assistant Director for Cipher, a co-production between The Arts Club Theatre Company and Calgary’s Vertigo Theatre, and Port Coquitlam’s artist-in-residence, where she will spend her time focusing on creating an immersive experience of her Grandmother’s life growing up on Commercial Drive during the 1940’s and 50’s.
Cameron Wilson – Composer
Cameron Wilson is an artist whose works showcase the many genres of music he has become associated with both as a composer and performer. He is primarily known as an arranger and composer of both musical parody and criss-crossing musical genres.
In recent times, Cameron Wilson’s original works have been highlighted and a more serious side of the composer is emerging.
His works have been performed by the CBC Radio Orchestra, the Vancouver Bach Choir, the Vancouver Cantata Singers, Art of Time Ensemble, Symphony Nova Scotia, the Louisiana Philharmonic, Victoria Symphony, Vancouver Symphony, and the Charlotte Symphony Orchestras, the Firebird Ensemble and various ensembles and soloists across North America including violinists James Ehnes and Jonathan Crow. His compositions have been heard on CBC Radio, NPR, BBC and RTE Lyric FM in Ireland.
Samantha Li – Prospero
This is Samantha’s first year in the Summer Teen Theatre Troupe at Place des Arts and she is more than excited to take on the role of Prospero in The Windsinger. Hope you enjoy!
Aisha Azizi – Ferdinand
Aisha is a 15-year-old performer from the Tri-Cities. She is trained in acting by Nicole Roberge, a director and president of Shift Theatre. Aisha has recently preformed as Belle from Beauty and the Beast and Molly Moppet in Staffroom. Aisha has been preforming since she was seven.
Monica Leca – Stephano
Monica is going into grade 12 this year, and she is very excited to participate in The Windsinger! She is happy to have been in her school’s first musical in over a decade this year, but she also loves playing basketball and dancing in her spare time.
Elijah Sam – Trinculo
Elijah is very happy to be performing in Place des Arts’ rendition of The Windsinger. Past experiences include playing Bill in Mamma Mia and Chip Tolentino in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee with Broadway Dance. Elijah has a great passion for the performing arts and hopes you enjoy the show!
Natalie Quiring – Miranda
Natalie is a grade 11 student at Port Moody Secondary School. She has participated in many school productions including The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and Little Black Box. Natalie is also a passionate ballet student at Place des Arts. She is excited to be a part of her first production outside of school and hopes everyone enjoys the show!
Zeina Rashmawi – Alonsa
Zeina loves theatre, acting, singing and playing the guitar. She also loves to make people laugh. She played Carrie in Dear Edwina Jr. The musical and Emily in The Chrysalids, both with Coquitlam Youth Theatre, as well as lead roles in other plays. When Zeina grows up, she wants to be a stand-up comedian and actress. Follow her Instagram @__zeinaaa__
Antalya Kabani – Caliban
Antalya has been a thriving actor and musician since age five. She plays the flute and piano and has taken part in many musicals and plays such as The Little Mermaid, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Chrysalids. She is ecstatic to be part of The Windsinger cast and hopes you enjoy the show!
Indah Del Bianco – Ariel
Indah has been doing musical theatre for four years and has performed in productions such as James and the Giant Peach Jr., The Little Mermaid Jr., and The Chrysalids. She is very excited to be playing the role of Ariel in her first year with the Teen Theatre Troupe.
Olwyn Stowe – Antonia
From a young age Olwyn has always had an interest in acting. As she grew older and opportunities multiplied, it only solidified her love for theatre. She has acted in plays such as Macbeth, Cinderella, The Chrysalids and Dr Edwina Jr with various troupes. She also enjoys music, playing the violin and occasionally other instruments. In the future, Olwyn hopes to use the skills she learns through theatre to assist in her career.