Future students

  • Innovative research reimagines contemporary circus studies

    Wednesday, January 21, 2026 | By

    A Brock-supported initiative, Circus and its Others (CaiO), recently held a conference in Bogotá, Colombia. The conference featured a multimodal program of events that convened more than 70 scholars and showcased a circus festival featuring more than 100 artists. The Volodores de Papantla, pictured here, performed the Ceremonia ritual de los Guagas in the plaza of the Centro Cultural Gabriel García Márquez as part of the Achura Karpa festival programming. Photo credit: Nicolás Mahecha.

    published in the Brock News | Wednesday, January 21, 2026 | by 

    A multi-year initiative is uniting artists, academics and audiences from across the globe to celebrate the diversity of contemporary circus.

    Circus and its Others (CaiO), co-founded by Brock University Dramatic Arts Adjunct Professor Karen Fricker and Professor Charles Batson of Union College in New York, began in 2016 as a conference exploring representations of difference in circus.

    Since its debut in Montreal, CaiO has gained momentum and a significant following of international circus artists and academics who are expanding the boundaries of circus studies.

    “What started as a conversation between North America-based colleagues has blossomed into a truly global inquiry,” said Fricker. “And the more we’ve broadened our perspectives to include traditions and cultures from the Global South, the richer the work has become.”

    Participants in the project come from a wide array of disciplinary backgrounds, including theatre and performance studies, anthropology, sociology, history, queer and gender studies, kinesiology, cultural studies. Their explorations of otherness and difference include studies of circus performances, labour and mobility practices, education and training, and colonial and post-colonial histories, among other topics.

    The final presentation of an Indigenous circus workshop as part of the Achura Karpa festival brought together a number of Indigenous circus companies and artists, including the Artcirq Inuit Performance Collective and the Volodores de Papantla, during the CaiO Bogotá conference. Photo credit: Nicolás Mahecha.

    “At its roots, CaiO has become a diverse global community made up of people coming together to share their identities, culture, art and scholarship with each other; the deep sense of shared purpose is profound,” Fricker said.

    The most recent CaiO conference was held in March 2024 in Bogotá, Colombia. A multimodal program of events convened more than 70 scholars and showcased a circus festival featuring more than 100 artists.

    An editorial committee including Fricker, Batson and colleagues Julieta Infantino (Argentina), Marco Antonio Coelho Bortoleto (Brazil), Olga Lucía Sorzano (Colombia), and Aastha Gandhi (India) have since published the first of two special issues of the peer-reviewed journal Circus: Arts, Life and Sciences.

    Focused on the theme “Transgressions and Challenges,” the articles include an exploration of the work of female porters — strong acrobats who lift, hold and support other acrobats — in circus, an account of the Brazilian circus company A Penca, whose work engages with climate emergency and a critical look on the emphasis on aesthetic innovation in circus training.

    The next CaiO conference is set for 2027 and will be held in Kerala, India. Based in Delhi, Aastha Gandhi is the co-organizer of the conference alongside Fricker and Batson.

    Circus, Gandhi said, is deeply woven into her country’s cultural tapestry.

    “Hosting CaiO in Kerala is a momentous occasion. There is a rich and complex history of circus in India, impacted for decades by shifting sociopolitical landscapes. To have visitors come from many places to celebrate the art and complexity of circus today presents an exciting opportunity to share our perspectives with the world,” Gandhi said.

    Given the widespread interest in CaiO from circus artists and academics alike over the past decade, Fricker and Batson are turning their sights on continuing to build the project in a sustainable way, including archiving conference materials and performances and identifying new leadership models that reflect the inclusive values of the project.

    “Experiencing the transformation of Circus and its Others into a robust, global inquiry is an immense privilege, and the work doesn’t stop here. We want to continue to help make space for the many diverse and beautiful voices of contemporary circus for years to come,” Batson said.

    CaiO has been supported by the Department of Dramatic Arts, the Dean of Humanities Discretionary Fund, the Humanities Research Institute, Office of the Vice-President Research, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) of Canada, and the Canada Council for the Arts.

    Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
    Categories: Announcements, Current Students, Faculty & Instructors, Future students, In the Media, Media Releases, News, Uncategorised

  • How the arts shaped Walker Cultural Leader’s path to Indigenous roots

    Wednesday, December 03, 2025 | By

    As part of the 2025-26 Walker Cultural Leader Series presented by the Marilyn. I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts, celebrated multidisciplinary artist Nicole Joy-Fraser (second from left) is in residence in the Department of Dramatic Arts (DART). Joy-Fraser plays the role of the Métis Nutcracker in DART’s mainstage production, performing alongside DART students second-year student Tejay Morley (left), fourth-year student Emma Marcy (second from right) and second-year student Sarah Lazo de la Vega Sanchez (right).

    Originally posted in the Brock News | Tuesday, December 02, 2025 | by 

    Reclaiming their First Nation identity has led multidisciplinary artist Nicole Joy-Fraser down many paths, from international theatre stages to local drum circles and, recently, to Brock.

    As one of Dramatic Arts’ (DART) Walker Cultural Leaders for 2025-26, Joy-Fraser plays the role of the Métis Nutcracker in DART’s upcoming mainstage production.

    They will join Assistant Professor and Métis Nutcracker playwright Matthew MacKenzie, a citizen of the Métis Nation of Alberta, for a public artist talk, “Making Métis Nutcracker,” on the Marilyn I. Walker Theatre stage on Friday, Dec. 5 at 3 p.m.

    Joy-Fraser is a proud bear clan matriarch who grew up in Mississauga with Euro-Settler, Tsa’tinée, Nehiyaw and Métis bloodlines from Horse Lake First Nation in Alberta.

    Identity is the heartbeat of Joy-Fraser’s artistic practice, which spans more than 25 years of storytelling on stage and screen with celebrated companies such as the Stratford Festival, the Shaw Festival, Mirvish, Theatre Aquarius, CBC, CBS, BBC and Telefilm.

    “The more I learn about my background, the more I am driven to keep sharing Indigenous theatre and more deeply understand my job as an artist to propel stories forward not just about identity but also reconciliation,” Joy-Fraser says.

    Nicole Joy Fraser

    Dramatic Arts Walker Cultural Leader Nicole Joy-Fraser is a proud bear clan matriarch who grew up in Mississauga with Euro-Settler, Tsa’tinée, Nehiyaw and Métis bloodlines from Horse Lake First Nation in Alberta. As a multidisciplinary artist, community theatre practitioner and cultural facilitator, Joy-Fraser continues to advocate for Indigenous ways of knowing and doing, which have greatly impacted their journey as a Sixties Scoop witness and 2Spirit Helper.

    Inspired by — as it happens — a performance of The Nutcracker they saw with their parents, Joy-Fraser spent much of their youth performing with local theatre companies. They instantly fell in love with ballet and began singing thanks to the “golden oldie” musicals on repeat in their home.

    It was in high school drama class, when handed a copy of Dry Lips Oughta Move to Kapuskasing (1989) by Cree writer and performer Tomson Highway, that Joy-Fraser began asking more questions about their roots.

    After three years at performing arts college Randolph Academy, Joy-Fraser landed a dream-come-true gig as a member of the first North American cast of Mirvish Theatre’s Mamma Mia! auditioned by ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus himself.

    Years of performing in many non-Indigenous roles followed for Joy-Fraser on prestigious stages across Canada and with West End Theatre in London, U.K.

    At the same time, Joy-Fraser’s drive to learn about their First Nation identity burned brighter, spurring them on in their journey to find their maternal birth family.

    After years of searching and almost giving up, Joy-Fraser finally connected to their Northern Alberta roots. An Elder at their first sweat ceremony recognized their surname as belonging to their birth mother and realized her cousin was married to Joy-Fraser’s Auntie.

    “At that time, we weren’t equipped with the language and learnings to help us carry our trauma as intergenerational survivors and Sixties Scoop witnesses,” Joy-Fraser said.

    Joy-Fraser began attending traditional healing ceremonies and connecting with Elders and Knowledge Keepers. Suddenly, they were learning their history.

    “My acting roles began resonating with my personal growth, and I knew I was bound to give back to our community by sharing my story and helping others heal through the arts,” they said.

    Performing the role of the Métis Nutcracker as DART’s Walker Culture Leader has been a meaningful experience for Joy-Fraser, moved by sharing both their extensive experience as theatre practitioner as well as First Nation customs that have been part of the production process, including smudging ceremonies and feasts.

    “The best way to learn something is to experience it, and DART students are learning about Indigenous cultures by embodying this story — by living it and reflecting on it — you couldn’t ask for a more active action of reconciliation than what Brock is doing right now with this piece.”

    As an Indigenous student and actor, second-year DART student Abbey Keays of the Upper Mohawk Turtle Clan who performs in Métis Nutcracker said she has learned so much from Joy-Fraser, who she looks to as a mentor.

    “We have had important talks about what we can do to keep our cultural stories accurate, appropriate and informative. It’s not very often you get the chance to experience Indigenous work or work with Indigenous artists as an actor who is starting out,” Keays said. “I am very grateful to have Nicole Joy-Fraser to look up to in my career.”

    For more information about the Métis Nutcracker see the Department’s Events + Programming webpage.

    Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
    Categories: Alumni, Announcements, Current Students, Events, Faculty & Instructors, Future students, In the Media, Media Releases, News, Performance Season, Plays, Uncategorised, Visiting Artists

  • Métis Nutcracker: Classic winter tale reimagined in celebration of Indigenous identity

    Saturday, November 29, 2025 | By

    Brock Dramatic Arts students are preparing for the University’s upcoming mainstage production of Métis Nutcracker written by award-winning Canadian playwright and Assistant Professor Matthew MacKenzie. Third-year student Ella Martin, Assistant Head of Wardrobe (left), adjusts third-year student Molly Solomon’s (centre) handmade Maple Sugar Fairy regalia, assisted by fourth-year student Nav Brar, Wardrobe Co-ordinator.

    Originally posted in the Brock News | Friday, November 28, 2025 | by 

    When Molly Solomon brings her contemporary Fancy Shawl Dance to life in Brock University Dramatic Arts’ (DART) mainstage production, she will draw strength from her Ojibwe name, Ishkode Kwe.

    The name, translated to “Fire Woman” and “First Spark in my Heart,” was gifted to the third-year DART student by her grandmother — and she wears it proudly, just like the handcrafted regalia she dons on stage.

    Solomon plays the Maple Sugar Fairy in Brock’s upcoming production of Métis Nutcracker, which opens Friday, Dec. 5 at the Marilyn I. Walker Theatre. The new play was written by award-winning Canadian playwright and DART Assistant Professor Matthew MacKenzie, citizen of the Métis Nation of Alberta, and is directed and choreographed by celebrated theatre artist Monica Dottor.

    Solomon says sharing her Indigenous heritage with the Brock community is a profound experience.

    “I feel so welcome when my peers and mentors are genuinely curious to learn about my Indigenous identity,” she says.

    Brimming with magic, song and dance — and sprinkled with a dash of playful audience interaction that may involve throwing snowballs at the stage — the story is inspired by MacKenzie’s family heritage.

    In Métis Nutcracker, two Ukrainian refugees named Tatiana and Vanya are forced to flee from their home in the Red Pine Forest to escape the evil Rat King. They seek safety on Turtle Island where they are taken under the protection of the Métis Nutcracker, played by DART Walker Cultural Leader and multidisciplinary artist Nicole Joy-Fraser.

    “They travel in the four directions learning about different nations and sacred medicines in the Land of Flowers, Land of Berries, Land of Snowflakes and Land of Pine Cones,” MacKenzie says of the characters’ journey in his adaptation of the classic Nutcracker tale.

    Created for young audiences, the play celebrates identity and diversity.

    “My son is Ukrainian and Métis, and I wanted to be able to speak to him about his Indigeneity while exploring concepts of colonialism in a way that he could understand,” MacKenzie says.

    For Joy-Fraser, performing the role of the Métis Nutcracker also resonates with reclaiming their own Indigenous background. Joy-Fraser is a proud bear clan matriarch who grew up in Mississauga with Euro-Settler, Tsa’tinée, Nehiyaw and Métis bloodlines from Horse Lake First Nation in Alberta.

    Paramount to the production was ensuring that youth — particularly those with an Indigenous background — had the opportunity to experience Métis Nutcracker. Support from St. Catharines theatre company Carousel Players helped to achieve this goal, with two school-day matinee performances now sold out.

    “I hope every Indigenous child sitting in the audience sees themselves and their beliefs reflected in the beauty of the show,” Joy-Fraser says. “It’s magical storytelling embedded in nature, which is so much a part of who we are.”

    Indigenous practices of cultural significance are woven throughout the play,  including set pieces, costumes and regalia featuring intricate beadwork as well as custom painted canoe paddles, created in collaboration with Indigenous theatre cohort Pemmican Collective.

    MacKenzie, who teaches Contemporary Canadian Indigenous Theatre, says learning about different Indigenous nations alongside the cast and crew has been transformative.

    “Métis Nutcracker celebrates differences,” he says. “Everyone involved at Brock has come together to honour those differences, putting the ‘action’ in truth and reconciliation.”

    As the first Indigenous DART faculty member to write an original mainstage production for the University, MacKenzie says the in-house work of Indigenizing theatre is gaining momentum.

    MacKenzie is also excited to see more Indigenous representation at the University in the future.

    “We have such a supportive environment at the MIWSFPA, a true willingness and curiosity to learn,” he says. “Our conversations are centred on this performance, but they will carry forward.”

    Additional performances of Métis Nutcracker will take place Saturday, Dec. 6 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 7 at 2 p.m. General admission tickets are $25 and tickets for students and seniors are $20. Visit Brock University Tickets to reserve seats.

    MacKenzie and Joy-Fraser will also host a public artist talk related to the production at the Marilyn I. Walker Theatre on Friday, Dec. 5.

    For more information about the Métis Nutcracker see the Department’s Events + Programming webpage.

    Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
    Categories: Announcements, Current Students, Events, Faculty & Instructors, Future students, In the Media, News, Performance Season, Plays, Uncategorised, Visiting Artists

  • Enbridge bursary empowers students through work-integrated learning, advocacy

    Friday, August 15, 2025 | By

    three women smiling, the middle one holding a poster for the One Act Plays festival

    From left: Dramatic Arts students Sandra Nampiima, Makayla Finn and Karai Flowers celebrate The Masks We Wear, the One Acts Play Festival that featured a performance co-created by Finn and her fellow upper-year Brock Dramatic Arts students, which is part of the theatre-based projects she pursued through the Enbridge Inc. Career Experience Bursary.

    This story was originally published in the Brock News on Wednesday, August 13, 2025.  Additional information has been included.

    The stage is more than a performance space for Brock University student Makayla Finn; it’s a platform for belonging and empowerment.

    This summer, it became a launchpad for deeper impact, made possible by support from Enbridge Inc.

    Finn, a fourth-year student in the Bachelor of Physical Education program with a minor in Dramatic Arts, received the 2025 Enbridge Inc. Career Experience Bursary alongside Justin Mafie, a Bachelor of Science student in Mathematics.

    The award supports undergraduate students involved in Brock’s Work Experience Program offered by Co-op, Career and Experiential Education (CCEE), with preference given to non-co-op students who demonstrate financial need. Funded by a $10,000 gift from Enbridge Inc., the bursary provides $5,000 to each recipient to pursue meaningful, career-aligned opportunities.

    Recognized on their academic transcript, the program allows students to set intentional learning goals, develop Brock’s core competencies and reflect on their growth with guidance from a member of the Co-op Education and Workplace Partnership team.

    A speaker stands at a podium with a laptop, gesturing with one hand while addressing an audience at Brock University.

    Brock University student and entrepreneur Justin Mafie presents during Black History Month and African Heritage Month events. Mafie’s digital creative agency, CREOVA, grew through the Enbridge Inc. Career Experience Bursary and Brock LINC’s Navigate program.

    Through feedback from employers and the chance to build industry connections, students gain insight and confidence to navigate their future careers.

    “We are deeply grateful for Enbridge’s generous bursary support, which makes it possible for students with financial need to pursue meaningful, career-relevant work experiences,” said Julia Zhu, Director, Co-op, Career and Experiential Education. “This support not only reduces financial barriers but also empowers students to gain the skills and confidence needed to thrive in their chosen fields.”

    The bursary allowed Finn to pursue a suite of theatre-based initiatives this summer, including directing an adaptation of Miss Julie for Brock’s One Act Festival, acting and collaborating in four Summer Institute workshops, and contributing to the DART Performance Research Institute (DART PRI).

    For Finn, who grew up in Toronto, these experiences represent more than professional growth.

    “This summer’s projects reflected a transformation,” she said. “I was once a young girl who would’ve never imagined what she could accomplish, but through faith and perseverance, I’ve learned never to take the gift of life for granted.”

    Through the One Act Festival, Finn explored themes of race, gender and class in Miss Julie, co-directing a reimagined production with third-year DART student Gianna Lupparelli that pushed boundaries and challenged norms. The production featured the performers Landon Drexler as John, Megan Mastantuono as Julie, and Sandra Nampiima as Christine. Toronto-based DART instructor Michael Reinhart was the Artistic Director of the festival.

    At DART PRI, Finn worked in an incubator focused on anti-supremacy in theatre and education, combining creativity with critical advocacy. Her projects included Wife of Bath by Independent Auntie Productions, led by renown Canadian artists Anna Chatterton and Evalyn Parry, Minosis Gathers Hope by Carousel Players, led by Monica Dufault and Christine Sokaymoh Frederick, The Square, led by the Dora Nominated Nigerian Actor, Writer, Performer and Mother, Dienye Waboso Amajor, and The Source The Work The Story by In my own head theatre, led by Dienye Waboso Amajor, Marcel Stewart (DART alumnus), and Shabnam Sukhdev.

    “Silence doesn’t create opportunity,” Finn said. “To make a positive impact, you must advocate not just for others but for yourself.”

    Her work in the arts is part of a much broader mission. This past fall, Finn launched the Black Flourishing Advocacy Initiative, a community-wide effort promoting Black mental health, leadership and critical inclusivity at Brock.

    “The goal is to create braver and safer spaces where people feel seen, heard and valued,” she said. “This bursary gave me the time and resources to grow as an artist and advocate; to show up for others.”

    As Vice-President of the Black Student Association, she is spearheading the initiative alongside Brock University Students’ Union (BUSU) clubs and community members.

    “I may not carry every lived experience,” said Finn. “But I show up. Helping someone find their voice and purpose — that’s power. I choose to speak loudly, fiercely, even when it’s uncomfortable, because my story, my truth and my voice deserve to take up space.”

    Meanwhile, Mafie used the funding to pursue his passion for entrepreneurship.

    Through Brock LINC’s Navigate program, he is developing his startup, CREOVA, which is short for “creative innovation.” The digital agency offers videography, photography, social media management and branding services.

    “With a background in computer science, math and business, I’ve always been fascinated by the intersection of data and creativity,” said Mafie. “CREOVA helps individuals and organizations tell their stories in a way that feels authentic and meaningful.”

    Through Navigate, Mafie has engaged with dozens of potential clients and gathered feedback to refine his services. The hands-on, 11-week program supports early-stage ventures by teaching lean startup methodology, connecting participants with mentors and encouraging customer discovery.

    “Receiving the bursary made a huge difference,” he said. “It allowed me to dedicate real time to developing the business and building a foundation for long-term growth.”

    Mafie said the support not only made the logistics of entrepreneurship easier but also affirmed that his work matters.

    “That kind of encouragement goes a long way,” he said. “The Enbridge bursary helped me turn an idea into something with real impact.”

    Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
    Categories: Alumni, Announcements, Current Students, Faculty & Instructors, Future students, In the Media, Media Releases, News, Uncategorised, Visiting Artists

  • A successful DART Performance Research Institute for 2025

    Monday, July 28, 2025 | By

    Jewels Krauss in full mask and costume during the Summer 2024 DART PRI

    above: Jewels Krauss in full mask and costume during the Summer 2024 DART PRI.

    Guest artists, faculty, instructors, staff and participating students are now halfway through the four-week program of the DART Performance Research Institute (DART PRI) for 2025.

    DART PRI is a performance research and development incubator housed in the Department of Dramatic Arts (DART) at Brock University.

    The Institute supports performance research and research creation projects that align with DART’s commitments:
    1) praxis: the generative integration of theory and practice, and
    2) anti-supremacy: active interventions into identity-based and intersectional oppressions arising from the concept of superiority and related practices.

    Projects at the PRI are organized into three main channels of development: Research Explorations, Summer Institute Workshops and Summer Institute Residencies.

    PRI Summer Institute Workshops for 2025
    For the four weeks of July 14 through August 9, 2025 the PRI welcomed seven projects at the proof-of-concept stage. The workshops provided 1-2 weeks of in-studio and online development to test or develop early drafts and ideas.
    Read about these projects and Research Explorations on the DART Performance Research Institute webpage.

    Congratulations to all of the artists and theatre makers involved with PRI!

    Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
    Categories: Announcements, Current Students, Faculty & Instructors, Future students, In the Media, Media Releases, News, Uncategorised, Visiting Artists

  • Dramatic Arts alumni and instructors shine at the 2025 Dora Awards

    Monday, July 21, 2025 | By

    On June 30, 2025 the Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts recognized the Nominees and Recipients of the 45th Anniversary Dora Awards and DART was there!

    The annual Dora Mavor Moore awards (or Doras) celebrate excellence on Toronto stages and are the oldest and largest professional theatre, dance and opera awards program in Canada. The Dora Awards evolve constantly, adjusting and adapting to changes in the broader performing arts industry and the needs of the TAPA membership. There are currently 43 award categories across 7 distinct “divisions.”

    DART alumni took home awards for Outstanding New Play and Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble, and DART guest artists and instructors were well represented among the many nominated and winning artists. DART students saw some of these outstanding performances when attending course related-fieldtrips during the 2024-25 academic year.

    Kaitlin Race, centre with colleague  Anne van Leeuwen, directed by Cass Van Wyck.

    DART alumni honoured with Dora Awards

    In the Theatre for Young Audiences Division, DART alumnus and playwright Evan Bawtinheimer was awarded Outstanding New Play for Patty Picker (One Four One Collective in association with The Assembly Theatre), directed by alumna Cass Van Wyck ( Artistic Director of One Four One Collective, Co-Artistic Director and Managing Director of Assembly Theatre) and performed by alumna Kaitlin Race with colleague Anne van Leeuwen. This new play was also nominated for Outstanding Production, Outstanding Direction, and Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble.

    The play tells the story of Patty, a 16 year old girl who eats pizza for breakfast, loves to play chess, and has a secret. Patty’s life is turned upside-down when her secret shame becomes juicy gossip: Patty picks her nose! Patty struggles to return her life to normal, while dealing with her picky girlfriend Phoebe, problematic father Paul, and plotting revenge on that piece of crap Preston who caused the whole mess. The Canadian Play Outlet describes this as a charming coming-of-age story about bullying, tolerance, and acceptance. Subjects and themes of the play include High School, Divorce, LGBTQ Relationship, Bullying, Disability, and Mental Health. Toronto critic Paula Citron has written an enthusiastic review on ludwigvanTORONTO.com.

    Evan graduated from Brock’s DART Performance Concentration in 2014. Over the last decade he has continued to advance his craft in playwriting, attended many workshops and classes and he reads and writes almost every day. Even though he’s no longer at Brock, the learning continues!

    Evan with his DORA Award.

    Evan recently shared his insight that “Brock taught me not to take things at face value. DART 4F90 [a fourth year capstone course] taught me that a sign or symbol could express more than one idea. In my Dora Award-Winning play Patty Picker, our protagonist Patty picks her nose. But the nose-picking is more than that. It’s an expression of anxiety, identity, depression, joy. When it came to nose-picking, Brock taught me to dig deeper (pun intended).”

    He added that receiving this Dora Award has confirmed and validated the path he has taken over the years: “I developed Patty Picker with fellow DART alumni Cass Van Wyck and Kaitlin Race. DART professor Danielle Wilson also provided me with some much-appreciated feedback on an early draft of the play. I never would have imagined staying in touch with DART alumni over ten years later. I learned so much from them. I’m privileged that I’m on the same side as my DART friends.”

     

    Jasmine Case in FLEX at Crows Theatre/Obsidian Theatre. image: Elana Emer.

    In the General Theatre Division, DART alumna Jasmine Case was awarded Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble including Jewell Bowry,  Asha James, Trinity Lloyd, Shauna Thompson, and Sophia Walker for their work in FLEX  (Crow’s Theatre and Obsidian Theatre Company). This production was also awarded for Outstanding Lighting Design and nominated for Outstanding Production, Outstanding Direction, Outstanding Scenic / Projection Design, Outstanding Sound Design / Composition.

    Headshot of Jasmine Case

    Jasmine Case

    In July 2024 we featured Jasmine in an article about her success at the 2024 Dora Mavor Moore Awards, winning the award for Outstanding Performance by an Individual in the Theatre for Young Audience Division. Read more about this rising star on our news page. Jasmine was also recently featured on our Instagram channel

    Instructors and guest artists recognized for their theatre-making success

    DART instructors and visiting artists were well represented in the Dora nominations. From among the company of the new creation Last Landscape (Bad New Days in partnership with Common Boots Theatre) are Kari Pedersen, a performer/creator who has taught with DART for two years, and Director and performer Adam Paolozza who has taught with DART on multiple occasions. Their show Last Landscape was awarded for Outstanding Scenic/Projection Design and Outstanding Sound Design/Composition. The new creation was also nominated for Outstanding New Play, Outstanding Direction, Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble, Outstanding Costume Design and Outstanding Lighting Design.

    Erased (Open Heart Surgery Theatre in partnership with Theatre Passe Muraille) was nominated for Outstanding Scenic/Projection Design, Outstanding Costume Design and Outstanding Lighting Design. The choreographer of the production, Alix Sideris taught for us in 2024-25 and playwright Coleen MacPherson has done workshops with DART.

    Last Landscape and Erased were just two of the nominated and awarded productions that DART students saw for course-related fieldtrips. Other productions we saw included:

    Mahabharata: Karma (Part 1), The Life We Inherit for Outstanding Production, Outstanding New Play (Why Not Theatre presented by Canadian Stage), Miriam Fernandes awarded Outstanding Performance by an Individual and Ravi Jain awarded for Outstanding Direction, also awarded for Outstanding Sound Design/Composition; and nominated for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble, Outstanding Scenic / Projection Design, Outstanding Costume Design and Outstanding Lighting Design. Miriam Fernandes and Ravi Jain have both visited and presented at DART.

    Rosmersholm was nominated for Outstanding Production, Outstanding Performance by an Individual and Outstanding lighting Design, There is Violence and There is Righteous Violence and There is Death or, The Born-Again Crow was nominated for Outstanding New Play, and Fat Ham was nominated for Outstanding Performance by an Individual.

    Not a DART fieldtrip for the year, special acknowledgement must be given for Aportia Chryptych: A Black Opera for Portia White received the award for Outstanding New Musical / New Opera. The librettist for this new production, HAUI, was a guest artist for our 2021 online industry panel with remarkable BIPOC Canadian Theatre Artists.

    Congratulations to all of the alumni, instructors and guest artists honoured by the Dora Awards. DART extends its congratulations to everybody who was recognized for their excellence in theatre! They are the light that shines upon our path to becoming remarkable theatre makers and audiences.

    See the article in the Brock News, published Aug 12, 2025:
    Brock grads’ play a top ‘pick’ at prestigious theatre awards

    Tags: , , , , , , , ,
    Categories: Alumni, Announcements, Current Students, Faculty & Instructors, Future students, In the Media, Media Releases, News, Uncategorised, Visiting Artists

  • Another remarkable year for our DART Intern at the Shaw Festival

    Monday, July 14, 2025 | By

    Vikki (centre) with some of the cast members at the end of a rehearsal for which she was asked to step in and read for the leading lady of the show, Angel, played by Virgilia Griffith.

    Dramatic Arts senior student Victoria Marshall was the DART Intern at the Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake for 2025. The Department has partnered with the Shaw Festival to provide internships to graduating students since 2011. Internships focus on diverse aspects of production at the Festival including performance, design, technical production, directing, arts management and education. Throughout the program, individuals will receive integrated exposure to the scope of the Shaw experience. This year the five-week paid internship began a full-time intensive schedule in early May, 2025

    Victoria Marshall, 2025 Shaw Festival Intern.

    Vikki shadowed Associate Artistic Director Kimberley Rampersad as she directed Blues for an Alabama Sky for the Shaw Festival’s 2025 season. During the rehearsals Vikki was called upon to read for the leading lady as well as the leading lady’s love interest on separate occasions when the actors were not available. This allowed her to stretch her acting muscles with professionals. The director invited Vikki to share her thoughts and observations with her and the cast during rehearsals. Some of the notes were shared and those suggestions were transformed and integrated into the final blocking for certain scenes and characters.

    “I became more confident in my ideas and I learned how to value my voice even more because of the director seeking input from me.”

    Vikki also sat in on a production meeting for this show where she met many new faces and also had the pleasure of being reunited with some familiar ones, like Emma Dirks who created the wigs for Blues for an Alabama Sky and taught the makeup course in the winter semester for DART this year (“which was an awesome class”) and Chris Malkowski who was the lighting designer for this show and has been the lighting designer for all of the mainstages she has done at Brock.

    She also participated in the Thursday morning ensemble classes taught by Tim Carroll (Artistic Director for the Shaw Festival) and attended by all members of the Shaw Festival. She toured the scene and set shops and worked one-on-one with actors to help them with line memorization and discussing the world of the play or their character arcs.

    “Through this internship I learned a lot about myself, the kind of artist I am, and the kind of working artist I can become in the future. I went in as an actor, but over those 6 weeks, I studied as a director and actor.”

    Vikki (in white) with company members in the Shaw Festival scene shop.

    From the first table read of Blues for an Alabama Sky to meticulously blocking out the whole play, Vikki witnessed the brilliant work by the incredible cast and crew of this production. “Kimberley took me under her wing and made me feel right at home both at the main Festival Theatre and in the rehearsal hall as I became a member of the Blues family. I learned so much about the individual creative process and just how different every actor is when they work in the space and take on their character arc. The company of Blues for an Alabama Sky was a beautiful synergy of diverse representation and creativity with an all-Black cast and a majority female production team which Kimberley affectionately called “team lady leadership.”

    “Working in a room full of folks like me, doing what I hope I will be doing after my time in the DART program at Brock was truly enriching. They did not shy away from including me from the jump and making me a part of the company.”

    Vikki highly recommends that future students of DART seek out the opportunity to participate in the DART Shaw Festival Internship. Graduating students and students entering 4th year are all eligible to apply. Part participants have completed their terms at Shaw in the diverse fields of Stage Management, Lighting Design, Props Building, Directing, Dramaturgy, Production and Design and Audience and Community Engagement. “This internship opened my eyes to so much and gave me unforgettable moments and lasting relationships. This has been such an enriching experience and I am looking forward to what the future holds for me. It is sad to see it come to an end, but I know that this is not the last the Shaw Festival will see of me!”

     

    Tags: , , , , , , ,
    Categories: Current Students, Future students, In the Media, News, Shaw Intern Blog, Uncategorised

  • Youth theatre festival shines spotlight on Canada’s brightest emerging talent

    Wednesday, May 21, 2025 | By

    Photo of high school students participating in Wardrobe workshop.

    Image caption: High school students from Ontario and New Brunswick made puppets in a workshop led by Dramatic Arts instructor and local designer for theatre Alexa Fraser as part of the 2025 National STAR Festival hosted at the MIWSFPA.

    Wednesday, May 21, 2025 | by 

    Teens learn tricks of theatre trade from industry pros

    Secondary school theatre students and creative professionals from across the country recently gathered for a dynamic celebration of creativity and excellence in youth theatre.

    Hosted by Brock’s Department of Dramatic Arts (DART), the 2025 National STAR (School Theatrical Arts Recognition) Festival welcomed 200 students to the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts (MIWSFPA) from May 8 to 10 for a packed schedule of workshops and opportunities to showcase their talents through friendly competition.

    David Vivian, DART Associate Professor and Scenographer, said engaging workshops led by acclaimed industry professionals and post-secondary educators provided a powerful platform for students to shine.

    “From musical theatre to playwriting and technical production participants gained valuable insight from influential theatre artists,” he said. The festival is unique for its focus on story telling and performance without design elements such as sets and costumes.

    Vivian co-organized the festival with lead Tracy Garratt, Program Leader for the Arts with the District School Board of Niagara and a teacher at A.N. Myer Secondary School in Niagara Falls.

    Photo of carpentry expert Ed Harris giving demonstration to students at STAR Fest

    Dramatic Arts graduate James McCoy (BA ’14), left, Head Technician at the Roselawn Theatre and DART Head of Scenic Construction and Instructor Ed Harris demonstrated stagecraft skills to students of Laura Secord Secondary School, A.N. Myer Secondary School and Waterloo Oxford District Secondary School during the Technical Theatre Olympics Challenge.

    Garratt, a champion of STAR Festival programming in Niagara, said opportunities to engage with diverse narratives and characters help students develop empathy and critical thinking skills, fostering a deeper understanding of the world around them and inspiring change in their communities.

    “As a passionate teacher in the arts, I believe in the transformative power of theatre and the joy of participating in festivals that celebrate creativity,” she said. “Theatre not only nurtures artistic voices but also serves as a vital educational tool that helps students explore complex social issues and inequities.”

    DART Chair Jennifer Roberts-Smith’s delivered a keynote welcome and remarked that now — more than ever — the world needs theatre made by diverse new voices.

    “Dramatic Arts at Brock is fortunate to have our University’s support in making an equitable and inclusive space for all voices to grow,” she said. “We were delighted to welcome the new perspectives of this year’s STAR Festival participants to our beautiful facilities at the Marilyn I. Walker School.”

    Adjudicators of the event represented a diverse cast of theatre professionals in the region, including current and past Shaw Festival ensemble members.

    Vivian said DART’s close relationship with the Shaw Festival’s performing, production and administrative teams is an important component of learning for the Brock community.

    “The DART Shaw Festival Internship has been a life-changing experience for our senior and graduating students,” he said.

    DART graduates also returned to lend their expertise to the next generation, including theatre artist James McCoy (BA ’14), Head Technician at the Roselawn Theatre with Lighthouse Festival Theatre in Port Colborne.

    McCoy shared his skills and career experience in the STARfest Technical Theatre Olympics, a program of learning and fun competitive collaboration in stagecraft. Students learned news skills and put them to the test in a program adapted for the festival by McCoy, Vivian, and Head of Stage Construction for Dramatic Arts, Ed Harris.

    The opportunity to meet colleague theatre artists from across the country was at the foundation of the community-building event.  Emmett Carter, a student from A.N. Myer Secondary School emphasized that the opportunity to learn and create with new friends, and then witness their performances and presentations was the highpoint of their experience.

    “Meeting people from across Canada was cool. …. Being all here, together at the festival, allows me to see what people are doing across the country and gives me the opportunity to learn what is important to kids from other provinces,” he said.

    Photo of students performing onstage at STAR Fest.

    Students from DSBN Academy in St. Catharines performed an original new play “Dogs Smell Blood” written by student Alaster Nikolic (front). The students polished the play in two sessions with renowned Canadian playwright John Lazarus and Canadian actor, screenwriter and sound designer Sean Meldrum. The play was selected in the national competition for the STAR Short Play program and will be published by TRW Plays (New York).

    Matt Niddrie, a student from A.N. Myer Secondary School, highlighted the joy of experiencing the final moments of the festival.

    “We were all cheering each other on and celebrating each other and our respective accomplishments. This festival builds community. The workshops bring us all together; we all share the same ideals. The festival is a great time for us to be together supporting each other’s passion for theatre arts,” he said.

    During the festival, a DART Creative Citizenship Scholarship award was launched by the department, with the inaugural award presented to a Saint Paul Catholic High School student.

    “Whether these emerging young artists pursue studies in music theatre, dramatic arts, teacher education or other subjects such as the pre-med sciences, nursing, maths and business, I am very enthusiastic about their developing capacity to drive original and meaningful change,” Vivian said.

    The third Niagara Regional STAR Festival is planned for December 2025 at the MIWSFPA.

    Watch the video report below by YourTV Niagara featuring an interview with the lead organizer, Tracy Garratt. (4:13)

    Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
    Categories: Alumni, Future students, News, Visiting Artists

  • DART Invitationals provide a unique audition process at Brock

    Friday, March 28, 2025 | By

    Image caption: Participants of Brock University’s Dramatic Arts March Invitational create and explore a piece of theatre together.

    Thursday, March 20, 2025 | by  |
    This article was originally published in the Brock Press.

    High school students across Canada are preparing for Brock University’s upcoming DART Invitationals.

    DART, an acronym that refers to the Dramatic Arts program at Brock University, recently held their first annual invitational of the year on March 1. Students who received a conditional offer of admission to the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Dramatic Arts or Bachelor of Arts (Honours)/Dramatic Arts Concurrent Education programs were invited to attend the invitational, held at the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine & Performing Arts (MIWSFPA), as a part of their admissions process.

    Unlike other, more traditional auditions, students who attended the invitational participated in a series of workshops that allowed them to develop introductory skills in performance, creation, design and production. The day gave students an opportunity to use what they learned to work together and create a piece of theatre with their peers.

    In preparation for the second invitational on May 3, The Brock Press spoke to DART student Adia Buckle — who participated in the process in May 2024 — about her experience being a part of the event.

    Buckle said while she got nervous driving herself from her hometown of Hamilton, she was “so excited to create.”

    The day started with a series of activities that allowed Buckle and her fellow classmates to get comfortable in the space they would be working in. The attendees, having been asked to read Sophocles’ play Antigone, all came with an essay they had prepared about the work. Their reading and writing helped guide them, inspiring many of the pieces they worked on throughout the day.

    This work was facilitated by upper-year student volunteers, professors and other Brock staff, allowing students like Buckle the opportunity to meet some of their future DART peers. David Vivian, a professor in the Dramatic Arts department at Brock, said he thinks professors and the current students are the heart of the DART invitational experience.

    “The Chair of the Department, Jennifer Roberts Smith, and the Invitational team of faculty and students, begin the day with presentations to the applicants and their parents and guardians about the program […] and then about the ideas that circulate in and inform our understanding of the play that we have asked our applicants to come prepared to investigate and explore during the day [of the invitational],” said Vivian.

    By allowing students to work with their prospective instructors, Vivian believes DART places all their applicants on a path to success for when they arrive in September. The process also allows students to get acquainted with the campus.

    “I had an opportunity to meet some of my future classmates,” said Buckle, an experience that gave her and her peers something to talk about when classes started in the fall. “Even figuring out where the bathrooms were prior to the first week of school was a comfort to me in those first days of university where everything was a little scary.”

    But most meaningful to Buckle was the experience she had working with her group to create a piece of theatre. “The moment where all of us were excitedly brainstorming, our passion at an all-time high,” said Buckle, “that is my favourite part of theatre creation.”

    While Buckle has spent much of her life working in the theatre world, she said the adrenaline of that moment is what draws her back to the work time after time. Getting to work alongside fellow artists and creatives helped cement her choice to pursue studies in dramatic arts at Brock University.

    Creating this feeling is the goal for Vivian and the other event organizers, as Vivian said participants often report that the experience helped them make sure they were making the right choice.

    “[Students] often remark that our methods and the context of learning at the MIWSFPA are different than what they’ve experienced when applying for other programs,” said Vivian, “and that by participating in the Invitational, they’ve discovered something that is unique and attractive to them.”

    Vivian, much like the students who attend the invitational, has found that his favourite part of the process is getting to learn about applicants’ dreams and hopes for the future, as well as what matters most in their lives.

    “Our applicants never fail to impress us with the depth and breadth of their passion for making theatre,” said Vivian, “whether by teaching theatre to youth in their future careers as teachers, as theatre artists, content generators, scholars and researchers, [or] as entrepreneurs and community leaders who want to make change in our world.”

    The work that Vivian and his colleagues are doing is important and timely, shaping young artistic minds to ensure the future of dramatic arts is in exceptionally good hands.

    Read the article in The Brock Press: https://brockpress.com/dart-invitationals-provide-a-unique-audition-process-at-brock/

    Tags: , , , , , ,
    Categories: Current Students, Events, Faculty & Instructors, Future students, News

  • Inaugural theatre festival showcases talents of Niagara student artists

    Tuesday, December 19, 2023 | By

    Students performing on a stage.

    Image caption: As part of the inaugural Niagara Regional STAR Festival held at Brock’s Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts, students from Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School staged a short performance in Studio C following a morning of workshops honing their creative skills.

    Elementary and high school students from across Niagara recently gathered at Brock to take the stage and put their theatre skills to the test.

    Hosted by Brock’s Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts (MIWSFPA) in partnership with the Theatrical Arts Education Association, the inaugural Niagara Regional STAR Festival(School Theatrical Arts Recognition) saw more than 150 students, teachers and theatre professionals gather for a day of workshops, performances and community building on Thursday, Dec. 14.

    The festival allows young people to compete against a rubric created by theatre educators while receiving valuable feedback from professionals in the industry.

    Throughout the day, students participated in workshops led by local theatre professionals and educators exploring topics such as vocal techniques, improvisation and community building.

    A.N. Myer Secondary School student Leah Miller said that it was a fun day learning about different art forms.

    “Having the opportunity to try out new things like improv and vocal skills has been a wonderful experience,” said Miller.

    Students presented skills developed in their school drama classes and performed theatrical pieces in categories including contrasting monologues, musical theatre ensembles, solos and short plays. The categories were adjudicated by theatre experts, including Brock faculty and Dramatic Arts students.

    “The only requirement was that students bring their best efforts. No costumes, sets, lighting or makeup was required, just their best work and theatre blacks,” said Tracy Garratt, Program Leader for the Arts, School Culture and Student Engagement with the District School Board of Niagara (DSBN) and Teacher at A.N. Myer Secondary School in Niagara Falls.

    Associate Professor and Scenographer David Vivian, the Brock faculty lead, said the community partnership with the STAR Festival not only offered emerging student artists the opportunity to showcase their talents and creativity, but also to receive feedback fostering creative growth in a supportive environment.

    “The faculty and senior students of the Dramatic Arts program at the MIWSFPA were thrilled with the opportunity to discover the emerging talent of the region and to share our excellent facilities with the high school community,” Vivian said.

    The event was supported by local organizations sharing a common mandate of supporting youth and their families with wellness resources, especially focusing on mental health.

    In addition to the participation of local arts organizations, representatives of the Vancouver Film School (VFS) travelled to Niagara to lead workshops on acting for the camera, strengthening ties between DART’s undergraduate programming and a professional program such as VFS.

    For more information about the event, please visit the Theatrical Arts Education Association website.

    Tags: , , , , , ,
    Categories: Events, Faculty & Instructors, Future students, News, Performance Season, Plays, Uncategorised

1 2 3 4 … 8