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  • 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.

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    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.

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

  • Students build community, deepen cultural connections in Indigenous Plus

    Friday, November 07, 2025 | By

    Brock second-year Dramatic Arts student Abbey Keays (left), fourth-year Psychology student Rhaya Clyne and first-year Concurrent Education student Bailey Clyne are among the first cohort of students to participate in the University’s new Indigenous Plus program.

    originally published in The Brock News  | Friday, November 07, 2025 | by 

    When Brock students Abbey Keays, Bailey Clyne and Rhaya Clyne reflect on what they’ve gained from the University’s Indigenous Plus program, two words immediately come to mind: culture and community.

    “There’s so much value in building community and connecting with a group of people over academics, career and culture,” says Rhaya, a fourth-year Psychology student. “A big part of my journey over the past few years has been connecting to my culture, and the Indigenous Plus program has been a good way to integrate that within my educational journey.”

    Rhaya, her sister and first-year Concurrent Education student, Bailey, and Keays, a second-year Dramatic Arts student, are among the first cohort to participate in Indigenous Plus.

    Open to Indigenous students, the free, four-year co-curricular program focuses on cultural insights, connection and career readiness. Students participate in two to four hours of programming per week that incorporates Indigenous perspectives, cultural teachings and knowledge.

    Woman sits at a classroom desk and gives a workshop.

    Cindilee Ecker-Flagg (Nokomis Migizinz), who is of Indigenous ancestry of Anishinaabe, Maliseet and settler French/English and resides in the Niagara community, recently gave a workshop on the four sacred medicines to Indigenous Plus students.

    “Indigenous Plus offers students a supportive space to explore their culture, build and connect with community, and prepare for their future careers,” said Indigenous Plus Consultant Michelle Root.

    For the Clyne sisters, the program has allowed them to deepen their relationship through a shared interest in learning more about their background.

    While they always knew they were Indigenous, the intergenerational impacts of colonialization made it challenging to get a clear picture of their lineage. They believe their family likely originated from the Six Nations of the Grand River or another nearby reserve, and most of their teachings have been from Anishinaabe Elders and Knowledge Keepers.

    “I was never supposed to know about my culture — that was the way it was intended — and because of that I’m really trying to work towards reconnecting with it in whatever ways I can,” said Rhaya.

    Bailey added that experiencing diverse ways of knowing and learning directly from Indigenous people will allow her to provide a more holistic learning experience as a future teacher.

    “I’ve really enjoyed learning from different Knowledge Keepers and Elders; it’s beneficial to have that knowledge to go along with the Western way of learning,” she said. “I want to give future students those same learning opportunities.”

    Keays, of the Upper Mohawk Turtle Clan, was also drawn to the program to build connections with Indigenous students and deepen her ancestral knowledge.

    “Indigenous culture isn’t always taught in classrooms, so it’s like getting to know about different pieces of ourselves,” she said. “I’m also helping my mom and grandmother to learn more, so we get to go on this learning journey together.”

    The program also “opened my eyes about how to add my culture to my art,” she said, pointing to her role as a performer in the upcoming Métis Nutcracker as an example.

    Presented by Brock’s Department of Dramatic Arts, the production is written by Assistant Professor Matthew MacKenzie and directed and choreographed by theatre artist Monica Dottor.

    “I get the opportunity to speak my native Mohawk language and tell the creation story in the show, so connecting my culture to my artistic practice has already fuelled my passion for performing even more,” Keays said.

    Root is encouraged by the success of the Indigenous Plus program so far and is “thrilled to soon welcome the Fall 2026 cohort to continue the journey together.”

    Registration for the next cohort runs from Monday, Jan. 19 to Friday, May 1.

    All First Nations, Métis and Inuit students interested in learning about the program are invited to attend an information session on Monday, Nov. 10 from noon to 1 p.m. in ST 108.

    For additional information, contact [email protected], visit @indigenousplus.brocku on Instagram or join the email list for updates.

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    Categories: Current Students, Events, In the Media, News, Performance Season, Plays, Uncategorised

  • 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.”

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    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!

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  • 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

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    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!”

     

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

  • Brock’s arts impact takes centre stage

    Friday, November 22, 2024 | By

    Photo of Associate Dean Linda Carreiro, Minister Stan Cho and Mayor Mat Siscoe in the MWS green room.

    Friday, November 22, 2024 | by April Jeffs

    Ontario Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming Stan Cho (second from left) toured the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts (MIWSFPA) along with St. Catharines Mayor Mat Siscoe (third from left) on Thursday, Nov. 21. Visual Arts Professor and Associate Dean of Fine and Performing Arts Linda Carreiro (left), Provost and Vice-President Academic Arja Vainio-Mattila (second from right) and Dean of Humanities Carol Merriam (right) highlighted how Brock’s state-of-the-art facilities and world-class resources and instruction provide a strong foundation for students to pursue their career goals and make meaningful contributions to the arts by helping to grow a vibrant centre of culture in both Niagara.

     

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  • Groundbreaking artists bring inspiration to Niagara

    Friday, August 30, 2024 | By

    Headshots of Jani Lauzon and Camille Turner side by side

    Image caption: Award-winning multidisciplinary artist Jani Lauzon (left) and artist and scholar Camille Turner will bring their creative expertise to Brock this fall as part of the 2024-25 Walker Cultural Leader Series.

    Friday, August 30, 2024 | by 

    From nurturing Indigenous-settler reconciliation through theatre creation and exposing silenced Black histories through an immersive art exhibition, Brock is bringing unique, hands-on learning experiences to the campus and wider community this fall.

    As the University kicks off its 60th anniversary celebrations, a new season of compelling cultural events, workshops and lectures launches in September as part of Brock’s 2024-25 Walker Cultural Leader (WCL) Series presented by the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts (MIWSFPA).

    Supported by the generosity of the late Marilyn I. Walker, the series enriches local creative and intellectual life by inviting recognized cultural leaders, top researchers, scholars, professionals and visiting artists from all disciplines to Brock’s downtown arts school.

    MIWSFPA Director and Associate Dean of Fine and Performing Arts Linda Carreiro said the significant impact of arts and culture at Brock, and society at large, is highlighted by the work of renowned visiting artists and scholars in this year’s lineup.

    “It’s always such a pleasure to host cultural leaders with deep knowledge and expertise who are so willing to share their talents with the local community,” Carreiro said. “Our Walker Cultural Leaders provide not only examples of artistic excellence, but this year’s series also facilitates important conversations about respectful and meaningful collaboration, inclusion, reconciliation and redress.”

    The series begins Saturday, Sept. 7 with creative workshops, led by celebrated Montréal-based visual artist Marc-Alexandre Dumoulin, exploring art making and how art is defined.

    In October, award-winning artist and scholar Camille Turner, whose work combines Afrofuturism and history, will bring her Afronautic Research Lab project to the MIWSFPA Visual Arts Gallery in an immersive exhibition. She will also provide a workshop, Afronautic Research Methodology, to students and members of the public on Saturday, Oct. 5, with advance registration required.

    Gemini award recipient Jani Lauzon, a multidisciplinary artist of Métis, French and Finnish ancestry, will take the stage at FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre’s Film House on Wednesday, Oct. 2 for a public talk alongside Kaitlyn Riordin. The two co-authored the play 1939, which takes place in a fictional residential school in northern Ontario.

    Lauzon will continue to work with Dramatic Arts (DART) students, faculty and theatre production staff throughout the year in workshops on Indigenous productions in preparation for an upcoming DART mainstage production led by Métis DART faculty member Matthew MacKenzie.

     

    In the winter, Chicago-based composer, performer and music educator John Robert Matz will be in residency at Brock for a “sound jam” in partnership with Digital Humanities where participants will create video game prototypes using sound in innovative ways.

    Matz will also give a public lecture at FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre about his experience of being invited to compose the score for the game Tchia (Awaceb2023) by members of New Caledonia, offering perspective on ethical, cross-cultural collaborations with Indigenous communities.

    Many of the WCL Series events are open to the public. Visit the MIWSFPA WCL website for more information on the visiting speakers and registration information.

    “Marilyn I. Walker’s generous gift continues to support impactful programming for our students and for the public who take part in the events,” Carreiro said.

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    Categories: Events, News, Uncategorised

  • Early success sets stage for DART grad’s bright future

    Thursday, July 18, 2024 | By

    Jasmine Case embraces cast member Chiamaka Glory on the set of Truth. The stage is set in muted colours of blue and purple.

    Image caption: Chiamaka Glory (left) and Jasmine Case (BA ’20) in Young People’s Theatre production of Truth by Kanika Ambrose.

    THURSDAY, JULY 18, 2024 | by 

    Brock graduate Jasmine Case (BA ’20) is making waves in the Canadian theatre scene by bringing stories of diversity to life for audiences, garnering the attention of national arts and culture media and earning a highly esteemed acting award in the process.

    Case was recently honoured at the 2024 annual Dora Mavor Moore Awards winning the award for Outstanding Performance by an Individual in the Theatre for Young Audiences Division for her compelling performance in Truth by Kanika Ambrose, a world premiere at Young People’s Theatre in Toronto.

    Based on the novel The Gospel Truth by Caroline Pignat and directed by Sabryn Rock, Truth follows the journey of a courageous young Black girl named Phoebe, played by Case, struggling to find freedom while living on a tobacco plantation in Virginia in 1858.

    Headshot of Jasmine Case

    Jasmine Case (BA ’20) recently received the 2024 Dora Mavor Moore Awards in the Theatre for Young Audiences Division for her performance in Truth by Kanika Ambrose.

    “The history of the United States and Canada is forever marred by the many Black and Indigenous stories erased and forgotten. Often, our stories don’t get rewritten by us; with Kanika Ambrose writing the play and Sabryn Rock directing, I knew I was in good hands,” Case said.

    .

    Diverse representation has only recently started to improve and, as a Black woman, Case rarely saw people like her on stage when she was growing up.

    Thinking of the kids who would be sitting in the audience learning and being fascinated by the world while feeling the emotions of her character sold Case on the role.

    “By going through this journey as Phoebe, I hoped people would walk away with a slightly deeper understanding or empathy for those who dealt with similar hardships,” she said.

    Case first discovered her love for the stage during Brock’s Dramatic Arts (DART) program  when she auditioned for her first mainstage production King Ubu at the University’s Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts .

    “It was that production, and how I felt on stage, which made me truly fall in love with acting as a career. I had always wanted to act — I was always the kid up on any stage I could get on — but I just never thought that I would have a successful career in it, or a Dora award for that matter” Case said.

    From that point on, Case motivated herself to be the best actor she could be, harnessing the support of DART faculty, students and classmates.

    “It was Brock that showed me theatre wasn’t just a pastime or a hobby, it was actually something I could do as a career,” Case said.

    After graduation, Case was accepted into the prestigious National Theatre School (NTS) where she studied for three years before deepening her creative practice by participating in workshops with heavy-hitting theatre companies including Tarragon Theatre and Persephone Theatre.

    Since then, Case has been in several theatre productions including The Fiancée at Chemainus Festival Theatre, Truth at Young People’s Theatre and most recently the Canadian premiere of seven methods of killing kylie jenner, a Globe and Mail Critic’s Pick, by Jasmine Lee-Jones at Obsidian and Crow’s Theatre.

    As Case celebrates the significant accomplishment of receiving a Dora nomination and award — from Canada’s oldest and largest professional theatre awards celebrating excellence on the stage — she has new productions and creative works on the horizon.

    Professor David Fancy said the Department of Dramatic Arts is delighted with her success so far.

    “Jasmine’s contributions during her time in DART at Brock were marked by generosity, talent, and insight,” he said. “We can’t wait to see what comes next on Jasmine’s impressive career trajectory.”

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    Categories: Alumni, News, Uncategorised

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