Every year, it seems, I look back on my files and realize just how full of arts and cultural happenings this city of ours is.
Never has it seemed more true than this past year, as existing Royal City institutions continue to flourish and the new kids on the block bring even more excitement to the city’s entertainment calendar.
As has become my tradition at this time of year, I have taken a look back over 2015 in order to bestow my annual “awards” on the local folks who made an impact on the cultural scene this year.
Without further ado, I present ….
BEST BREAKOUT MOMENT AWARD
Every now and then, a performer is fortunate enough to have that moment – the moment when the stars align, the fates smile and magic happens. It happened at least twice on the Massey Theatre stage this year for two young performers from New Westminster – and I’d be remiss not to note both of them as two of the year’s remarkable moments.
The first: Jolene Bernardino ,for her star turn as Vi Moore, wife of the preacher, in the New Westminster Secondary School production of Footloose. Bernardino was but one star in an incredible cast, but her breakout moment came in her powerful rendition of Can You Find It In Your Heart – which left more than one audience member scrounging for Kleenex.
The second: Thomas Lamont, for his work as Freddy Eynsford-Hill in the Royal City Musical Theatre production of My Fair Lady.Quiet and unassuming in person, Lamont can command a stage and fill a room with his unexpectedly powerful voice – as he did in Freddy’s signature tune, On The Street Where You Live.
Missed them this year? Don’t worry. You’ll hear more from these young powerhouses in the future.
The ‘Kids These Days’ Award
Those darn kids. They just won’t give up being all passionate and talented and committed and dedicated and all-around amazing.
One of my favourite parts about covering the arts beat is getting to meet the next generation of performers, and this year was no exception.
For my 2015 award, I must take my hat off to the entire cast and crew of the New Westminster Secondary School production of Footloose.
The production featured a multi-talented ensemble that included Noah Wright, Sarah Labrosse, the previously mentioned Jolene Bernardino, Sophie Labrosse, Howard Dai, Keira Jang, Alyea Timleck, Caitlyn Beauregard, Jordan Whittaker, Isaac McAndless-Davisand a host more.
To them and to their leaders – teachers Frances Monteleone, Lindsay Waldner, Peter Ha, Kelly Proznick, Traci Cave, Steve Clements, Juliet Brownand NWSS alumnus-turned-acting coach Gower Roberts– I offer a huge thanks for reminding us, once again, that “kids these days” are indeed pretty damn awesome.
MOST PROMISING FUTURE AWARD
Sure, I could give this one to any one of a number of promising young performers from New West – but instead, I’m going to give it to one of the city’s old-timers.
That “old-timer” in question is the Arts Council of New Westminster, which has been working to promote arts and culture in the city since 1967 (making it older even than me, I must note). The group has long been working hard for the good of arts and culture in the city, sometimes flying under the radar and not always getting the recognition it should.
This year, however, the arts council seems to be determined to change that. New executive director Stephen O’Sheatook over the reins this year – and he was the first to note the huge efforts of his predecessor, Andrée St. Martin ,in laying the foundation for the group’s work.
Joined by a new board led by president Leanne Ewen and containing a host of new faces from many walks of life, O’Shea has his sights set on making the arts council an even more vital force in the cultural life of the city. And judging by the amount of visibility and presence the group has been showing in all aspects of city life, I have a suspicion it’s only going to grow from here.
ONE TO WATCH AWARD
I’d call him our favourite “rising star” except that may be actually a slightly misleading title, since his star has arguably already risen quite some distance.
I speak, of course, of Sayer Roberts,the young musical theatre performer from New Westminster who’s following in the theatrical footsteps of his well-known parents, Russell Roberts andColleen Winton. Local audiences will probably remember him best as Curly in Royal City Musical Theatre’s Oklahomain 2013, but his career has only been on the ascent since.
Among his star turns this past year were appearances in Patrick Street Productions’ Out of a Dream, a role as Marius in the Arts Club Theatre production of Les Misérables and an appearance in the Arts Club’s touring production ofRed Rock Diner.
Wherever his future takes him, there’s no doubt Roberts has the talent, the charm, the dedication and the positive outlook to take him places. We’ll be watching with interest to see where life takes him.
THE TRUTH IN ART AWARD
So much that I write about is news of the happy kind that those rare stories where art mixes with sadness tend to remain in my mind.
This year, it was New Westminster artist Catherine Owenwho made an impression on me with her powerful and stunning exploration of grief, which was shown at the Heritage Grill in March. Owen turned to art as a method of facing her grief in the aftermath of the loss of her spouse; her willingness to expose the raw truth of grief and to bare her own soul – both in art and in interview – were a revelation and an inspiration.
For Owen’s willingness to face the painful truths that the society we live in tries so hard to ignore, I offer my thanks and this recognition as one of the memoralbe people of 2015.
THE COMMUNITY BUILDER AWARD
There are so many groups and spaces in New Westminster that are building community in so many ways that it’s virtually impossible to pick just one. But this year, I’m going to single out the Anvil Centre’s Community Art Space.
The gallery on the third floor of the Anvil Centre, outside the theatre, has already become an amazingly popular spot – it’s already booking into 2017. And, throughout the year, it provides a space for artists from around the community to get together and show their works. Artists in the Boro, Century House and the New West Artists group are among those who have used the space.
To have this bright, beautiful gallery space in a publicly visible space and, moreover, to have it dedicated to celebrating the art of the community can only be a benefit to the city’s arts and cultural scene.
We look forward to seeing what’s up at the gallery in 2016.
THE DOUBLE HAPPINESS AWARD
Sisters, sisters, never were there such devoted sisters …
In this case, I’m not talking about people. I’m talking about theatres – in the form of the venerable Massey Theatre (which, by the way, marked its 65th anniversary this year) and the new Anvil Centre Theatre.
Big Sister, the grande dame of the local cultural community, continues to provide a hub for all kinds of events, from theatre and dance performances to concerts and graduations.
Meanwhile, Little Sister has brought a new verve and vibrancy to the downtown. This fall, the Anvil Centre Theatre launched its first fully programmed season – most recently, local audiences had a chance to enjoy Chelsea Hotel.
The new year promises a host of new and exciting shows on both stages. The best part of it all is that the two aren’t in competition; rather, they’re working cooperatively to bring performers and productions of all sizes to the local stages so that New West audiences can enjoy all kinds of entertainment without ever leaving town.
All siblings should work so well together.
There you have it: proof that New Westminster is indeed the place to be for everyone interested in the arts.
Thanks and best wishes to all mentioned above, and to everyone I had the pleasure to deal with in 2015.
Here’s to many more adventures together in 2016.
What moments do you remember most from the city’s arts scene in 2015? Who made an impression on you this year? Send your thoughts and comments to Julie, [email protected].
