Artistic DIRECTORY - bio and a warm thank you!
Anika Lirette is a theatre and cinema artist, director, project creator and crowd facilitator in Acadie. She has performed throughout Acadie and Louisiana, in Maine, in Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, in Québec and more recently, in Germany.
Young ambassador for the francophonie des Amériques, she has travelled a few times to New York, Louisiana, Maine and Costa Rica. She has been co-directing the Théâtre Alacenne since 2003. She has lived abroad most precisely in Eastern Europe. She sends a warm thank you to Phare-Est Média for the signature of her third documentary Grand-Pré Écho de l’UNESCO. Anika takes on the artistic direction, the writing and staging of the new stories this summer.
Anika wishes to thank all collaborators and creators who have participated close or far to the creative process : Mermaid Theatre and most importantly Jim Morrow for his mentorship, Jean-François Mallet for musical arrangements, Soeur Claudette Melanson for her generous acceptance of sharing her song, Angèle Arsenault for kindly permitting the Société Promotion Grand-Pré to use her song, Struan Robertson, Victoria Marston for costumes, Daniel LeBlanc for coaching the violin, Mélanie LeBlanc for the musical research, Michael J for the technical assistance, the Parks Canada team and, of course, the dear historians - and advisors Ronnie-Gilles LeBlanc, Stephen White, Barbara Le Blanc, Gerald Gloade and Jonathan Fowler.
¨We are in constant evolution. The visitors are an active part of the creative process. We are excited to share the new experiences with everyone. ¨
Anika
INTERPRETERS
Donovan Cassidy-Nolan
A fiddler since the age of four, from 2012-2015, Donovan played with the Nova Scotia Youth Orchestra under the baton of Dinuk Wijeratne. Ever since, he has been passionate about collaborative creative arts. A native of Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Donovan feels honoured to be able to engage with his home’s history through theatre and music. |
Élise Choquette
Passionate about theatre and studies at l'Université de Moncton in dramatic arts. Born in Greenwood, Nova Scotia, her journey has just begun. She is excited to play Anne Terriot as well as manipulating Rita, the muskrat! |
Elyse Delaney
Grew up in the beautiful land where her character, Jeanne Dugas, settled with her family: Chéticamp, Nova Scotia. Elyse started her singing career at a young age with the Conseil des arts de Chéticamp. She graduated from Université de Moncton with a music education degree in 2016 and is excited to be singing in the World Youth Choir this July. She will also be starting her second year as a music teacher in schools in the HRM in September. She is very honoured to have the chance to bring Jeanne back to life in Grand-Pré this August! |
Samuel Landry
Bilingual actor from Dieppe in New-Brunswick. He is currently studying Dramatic arts at the University of Moncton. He will be interpreting the role of Pierre Landry and is very happy to spend the summer in the beautiful Annapolis Valley. |
Annie LaPlante
Actor and puppeteer from Petit-Rocher, New Brunswick. Her passion for puppetry started in 2013 when she started working at TFO in Toronto, puppeteering Charlie and many other characters. She is excited to bring her passion for puppetry on Acadian land this summer. |
Jesse LaPointe
A theatre artist from Fredericton, New Brunswick. He is currently studying acting in Montreal. He is excited to have the opportunity to share a part of an important Canadian story. He is grateful to be spending time on the land that so long ago Henry Wadsworth Longfellow described with his poetry. |
Mélanie LeBlanc
A woman of the theatre and of music, Mélanie LeBlanc is enthusiastic about playing the role of one of her ancestors; it is with joy that she brings her story to life. Having tread the boards of Canada, France and Asia, this proud LeBlanc from Dieppe (NB) is used to living out of a suitcase. Next stop? Acadie! in an all-new Christmas show at Le Pays de la Sagouine in Bouctouche, New Brunswick. |
Alan Slipp
A resident of Wolfville, and a graduate of Acadia University's Theatre Studies program. He can frequently be seen on stages across the Valley. He is excited to perform the role of John Frederic Herbin at Grand-Pré National Historic Site this summer, the place Herbin dreamed of making a reality for so long. |
