Press Release: Islanders Lead Anne & Gilbert Cast
This year, the cast of the internationally celebrated musical Anne and Gilbert, will be "Island Through and Through." Of the twenty-six actors in the 2008 production, twenty-one of them are Islanders.
"We set ourselves a simple goal this year," said David Malahoff, senior producer of Anne and Gilbert, "We wanted to assemble a first rate cast that was also mostly Islanders. What we found was that Islanders were among the most talented performers, no matter where we conducted the auditions, whether it was in Toronto, Halifax or Charlottetown."
Leading the way as Anne Shirely is Rebecca Parent of Stratford, returning for her second year in the title role. Ms. Parent's soaring vocals, spirited performance, and natural comedic talents earned her critical raves and standing ovations in 2007. Joining her for the first time in Anne and Gilbert is Islander and celebrated Canadian actor, Martha Irving, in the role of Marilla Cuthbert. Ms. Irving has a long and distinguished film, television, and stage career in North America.
Natalie Sullivan is returning for her fourth year in Anne and Gilbert, reprising the role of Josie Pye, which she originated in the 2005 production. A crowd favorite, Ms. Sullivan is widely acknowledged as one of the most gifted singers and performers on Island.
Also returning to a role that he created in 2005 is Brandon Banks, who orginated the characted of Paul Irving. Mr. Banks career took off immediately after the 2005 Anne and Gilbert production, as he went on to perform two seasons at the world reknowned Stratford Festival, as well as a run at Toronto's Lord Elgin Theatre in Peter Pan. He will be joined by his older sister Brittany Banks, entering her fourth year in Anne and Gilbert. Ms. Banks will, for the first time, be performing in a feature role, as Anne Shirley's university friend, Phillipa Gordon. Ms. Banks is known locally as an extraordinary, singing, dancing and acting talent and teacher, and has been a leader in developing the musical theatre program at Bluefield High School.
Another Canadian theatre veteran, both as a performer and a writer, is Islander Hank Stinson, well known locally for his years at the Charlottetown Festival. Stinson's beautiful tenor and comedic talents always light up a stage, and he has been a crowd pleaser across the country for decades.
Anders Balderston, whose fiddling and acting talents had the audience in stitches in his unforgettable performance as Moody MacPherson in 2007, returns as Gilbert Blythe's friend and admirer of Anne Shirley. Aaron Hastelow, whose dancing and acting talents graced the Anne and Gilbert stage in 2006, returns in 2008 as Alec, one of the comedic pair of Phillipa Gordon's suitors.
New to Anne and Gilbert this year are Islanders Haley Doherty, Michele Bouey, Nathan Keoughan, Luke Thompson. Director/Choreographer Heidi Ford, who offered all of them the roles, was very excited about each of these newcomers to Anne and Gilbert, noting that they are all remarkable talents with major performing careers ahead of them.
Also new to Anne and Gilbert this year will be ten additional performers in the Young Company, bringing the total cast up to twenty six performers from sixteen performers in previous years. The Young Company will be announced in the coming weeks.
Fans of Anne and Gilbert are advised to purchase their tickets early, as the first few weeks of Anne and Gilbert are selling fast, and will likely sell out before the end of May. For more information, please visit www.AnneAndGilbert.com.
"We set ourselves a simple goal this year," said David Malahoff, senior producer of Anne and Gilbert, "We wanted to assemble a first rate cast that was also mostly Islanders. What we found was that Islanders were among the most talented performers, no matter where we conducted the auditions, whether it was in Toronto, Halifax or Charlottetown."
Leading the way as Anne Shirely is Rebecca Parent of Stratford, returning for her second year in the title role. Ms. Parent's soaring vocals, spirited performance, and natural comedic talents earned her critical raves and standing ovations in 2007. Joining her for the first time in Anne and Gilbert is Islander and celebrated Canadian actor, Martha Irving, in the role of Marilla Cuthbert. Ms. Irving has a long and distinguished film, television, and stage career in North America.
Natalie Sullivan is returning for her fourth year in Anne and Gilbert, reprising the role of Josie Pye, which she originated in the 2005 production. A crowd favorite, Ms. Sullivan is widely acknowledged as one of the most gifted singers and performers on Island.
Also returning to a role that he created in 2005 is Brandon Banks, who orginated the characted of Paul Irving. Mr. Banks career took off immediately after the 2005 Anne and Gilbert production, as he went on to perform two seasons at the world reknowned Stratford Festival, as well as a run at Toronto's Lord Elgin Theatre in Peter Pan. He will be joined by his older sister Brittany Banks, entering her fourth year in Anne and Gilbert. Ms. Banks will, for the first time, be performing in a feature role, as Anne Shirley's university friend, Phillipa Gordon. Ms. Banks is known locally as an extraordinary, singing, dancing and acting talent and teacher, and has been a leader in developing the musical theatre program at Bluefield High School.
Another Canadian theatre veteran, both as a performer and a writer, is Islander Hank Stinson, well known locally for his years at the Charlottetown Festival. Stinson's beautiful tenor and comedic talents always light up a stage, and he has been a crowd pleaser across the country for decades.
Anders Balderston, whose fiddling and acting talents had the audience in stitches in his unforgettable performance as Moody MacPherson in 2007, returns as Gilbert Blythe's friend and admirer of Anne Shirley. Aaron Hastelow, whose dancing and acting talents graced the Anne and Gilbert stage in 2006, returns in 2008 as Alec, one of the comedic pair of Phillipa Gordon's suitors.
New to Anne and Gilbert this year are Islanders Haley Doherty, Michele Bouey, Nathan Keoughan, Luke Thompson. Director/Choreographer Heidi Ford, who offered all of them the roles, was very excited about each of these newcomers to Anne and Gilbert, noting that they are all remarkable talents with major performing careers ahead of them.
Also new to Anne and Gilbert this year will be ten additional performers in the Young Company, bringing the total cast up to twenty six performers from sixteen performers in previous years. The Young Company will be announced in the coming weeks.
Fans of Anne and Gilbert are advised to purchase their tickets early, as the first few weeks of Anne and Gilbert are selling fast, and will likely sell out before the end of May. For more information, please visit www.AnneAndGilbert.com.
posted by Tickled Orange | 10:15 PM
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