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
Elyse 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, had the chance to sing in the World Youth Choir in 2017 and will be singing in the National Youth Choir for the third time this summer. She will also be starting her third 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. |
Michaela Rafuse
Her passion for music has flourished since she began fiddling at age five under the direction of various teachers and conductors in both the Acadia University Orchestra and the Horton Community Youth Orchestra. From the beautiful Village of Port Williams, she has welcomed the opportunity to play for various charity events throughout the Annapolis Valley, and is thrilled with the privilege of representing Nova Scotian music when she attends Memorial University’s Bachelor of Music program in the fall. Michaela is delighted to be able to share her love of music with everyone at Grand-Pré 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. |
Jacques Blinn
Jacques grew up in the Baie Sainte Marie in Nova Scotia, where, at a very young age, he began playing musical instruments. A graduate of the Department of Music of the Université de Moncton, Jacques developed exceptional skills in musical composition. Founding member of the musical group Cy, he participated in more than 250 performances in Canada, the United States and in France. As a multi-instrumentalist performer, Jacques is involved in multiple projects related to the arts and continues to share his passion on the international scene, either in schools or on the world stage. |
Kayla Mansfield-Brown
Mi'kmaq mother, Kayla is completing a Master’s of Education in Leadership, at Acadia University. Kayla also has Degrees in Community Development (Environmental Sustainability Studies) and Recreation Leadership. Kayla is an advocate for social justice most notably in Indigenous rights, environmental justice and gender equity. For the past five years, Kayla has served as the local Valley Parent Group Leader - offering off-reserve children and their families with culturally supportive services. She was recently elected as a Youth Indigenous Representative for Kings South. Photo credit: Nadya K. Red Works Photography |
Tammy Mudge
Mi’kmaq mother, Tammy is completing a Bachelor of Community Development, at Acadia University. She is a member of Glooscap First Nation where she resides with her three children. Tammy has worked in Community Health for four years and is heavily involved with community events and programming and serves on several committees.
Mi’kmaq mother, Tammy is completing a Bachelor of Community Development, at Acadia University. She is a member of Glooscap First Nation where she resides with her three children. Tammy has worked in Community Health for four years and is heavily involved with community events and programming and serves on several committees.