No Strings Theatre
Welcome you to our new mobile friendly newsletter! Go ahead and take some time off from whatever you are doing a check out the links...especially those of our young 12 year old boy soprano who can match any coloratura soprano in range, strength, and timbre.  Listen below to Will Trigo-Ebere in Puccini's 'O Mio Babbino Caro' and Denise and Will's duet from Amahl and the Night Visitors last 2014 season.

More features of our delightful Holiday Festival including music from opera to gospel are listed below as well as continuing opportunities for our young learners and emerging artists.

See you around!
Denise
Breaking News...
Our youngest opera singer at No Strings Theatre's Holiday Festival! 
 
This month our spotlight is on Will Trigo Ebere, who will be coming back to No Strings Theatre to sing the role of Amahl in our Holiday Festival production of Amahl and the Night Visitors.  

Will is a passionate 12-year-old opera singer who has had a very exciting start to his career.  Will has performed in La Bohème and in the Canadian premiere of Jakobin with Opera By Request.  He has twice performed with The Tenors, most recently on their PBS special.  Will has had many firsts this year, including his international debut with the award-winning Langsford Men's Chorus spring tour.  He was featured on CBC1 and Radio-Canada, sharing his love and success with his opera career.  Will is very excited to be travelling to the 2016 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, playing the lead role of Pepicek in Hans Krasa's Brundibar.  He would like to offer a special thank you to Denise Williams and Bill Shookoff for inviting him to return to the role of Amahl
.
You can enjoy listening to Will singing "O Mio Babbino Caro" by clicking here!   
 
A beloved holiday classic, one-act opera by Gian Carlo Menotti, tells the story of a desperate widow and her spirited son who one night receive a magical visit from three Kings -- and the miracle that follows! 45 minutes of delightful music for the whole family.
 
Will and Denise in Amahl duet, 2014 
Will (Amahl) will perform with his voice teacher, soprano, Erin Armstrong (The Mother) in our matinee cast.
For the rest of the cast of the opera and more information Click Here

Along with these international opera professionals, our festival will also showcase emerging musical theatre artists from the cast of our upcoming production of The Last Five Years, including singer, songwriter and actor Kate Suhr, and jazz gospel veteran Nicole Brooks - creator and composer of Obeah Opera.  Join us for this, and much more, at the Artscape Wychwood Barns on Sunday, 601 Christie St, Barn 2, on December 20.  
       
Two shows 3:00 pm and 7:00 pm, Tickets $25, $20, $15
       *New - Family or any group of 5 for $100*       
AS A VALUED SUBSCRIBER, PLEASE USE THE PROMO CODE "NSTHOLIDAY" TO PURCHASE TICKETS 10% OFF ANY TIME IN ADVANCE OF THE EVENT!  

    BUY TICKETS NOW!  
Program Updates!
Upcoming Arts High School Audition 
 
Year after year, ESA (Etobicoke School of the Arts) holds auditions for students wishing to join their prestigious high school arts program.  This year, the deadline to submit a complete application package is November 27, 2015, and auditions will be held mid-January, 2016.  More information can be found on ESA's webpage.
 
No Strings Theatre is still accepting students for audition preparation classes to help provide the experience, feedback, and the confidence to "break a leg" on the stage, whether you're performing for a panel of judges, the camera, or a live audience.  NST has an over 90% success rate for art school secondary school entrances. 
 
Please email us to ask questions or to sign up.
March Break Program 2016

We're excited about our upcoming March Break Program, March 14-18, 2016.  For Tweens (11-12) and Teens (13-19), this is an opportunity to explore Commedia Dell'Arte.  In addition to prepare songs and scenes from musicals, participants with instructor Kate Stewart, will be introduced to multiple techniques that focus on play writing, improvisation, storytelling and mask work.

Registration is now open 
EAP - Submission deadline for the Staged Reading Program is December 1st! 
 
You've been working on your original script, libretto, musical score, but what are your next steps? 
 
No Strings Theatre's Emerging Artists Program is launching a new Staged Reading Program.  Works chosen for the program will be read in a professional setting on January 23rd, so that you can take away important feedback and get closer to bringing those pages to the stage.  We have 2 submissions so far! 
More information.  
 Submissions and queries should be sent to: nstemergingartists@gmail.com.
The Summer Intensive
We are so very pleased to introduce, international triple threat performer, instructor and director, Patrick Maubert as the stage director this summer. Stay tuned for thrilling updates on the 4 week programming soon to be released!
NST Alumni Where are they Now?
Shaina Silver-Baird

(left) Shaina Silver-Baird now; (right) in the cast of Cinderella in 2005
This month, our alumni spotlight takes us all the way back to the beginning.  Shaina Silver-Baird appeared in the No Strings Theatre production of Cinderella - our very first show - in 2005.  Shaina graduated from York University's performance program with a BFA, and since then, she has built an impressive theatre resume, playing lead roles on stages across the country, both as a vocalist and as an actor.  Favourite roles include Ruth in the premiere of The Ghost Ship (Sundown Theatre), Juliet in Romeo and Juliet (Citadel Theatre), as well as a role in the new musical Fitz Happens
(Musical Works Festival, Theatre 20).

In addition to her theatre work, Shaina recently played a lead role in the feature film Go Fish (director Brett Heard).  She's also excited by her work as a singer/songwriter/violinist for the folk/pop band Crooked House Road, whose new album was produced by Juno-winner Ken Whiteley. Check out  Crooked House Road.  Shaina can be seen next at The Storefront Theatre in The Chasse-Galerie (Red One Theatre), "a tale of adventure, the devil and old Quebec!" No Strings Theatre wishes Shaina great success in her exciting career!
Industry Buzz
Ramin Karimloo ... Hockey or Broadway?

One of Broadway's biggest stars today grew up in Richmond Hill, Ontario ... and originally wanted to be a hockey player!  What turned Ramin Karimloo's ambitions around was a school trip to see Colm Wilkinson in
The Phantom of the Opera.  He loved it so much he went back to see the show ten  times -- which probably helped when, years later, he was cast in
Phantom in London's West End.

When Broadway producer Cameron Mackintosh was casting the revival of Les Miserables, he tried to convince Karimloo to play Jean Valjean.  At 35, Karimloo was worried he was still too young, but Mackintosh won him over.  Fast-forward to 2013 when Toronto audiences got the chance to see Karimloo in that iconic part - which earned him a Tony nomination - when the revival opened in Toronto before moving to Broadway.

Karimloo can currently be seen as a lead in the musical Prince of Broadway, about legendary producer Harold Prince ... but only if you are in Japan!  The show was originally slated to open in Toronto with Mirvish Productions, but is now taking a somewhat longer route to Broadway.
A Gift That Makes a Difference
Our No Strings Theatre Family is kindly asking for your help in our year-end fundraising campaign.  Only with your support will we be able to continue to build a solid foundation for our talented students and their skills for life.
Support us on Yelp!
 
 
As No Strings Theatre continues to weave itself into the social media map, we now have an official  Yelp page! 
 
No Strings Theatre continues to exist thanks to patrons like you, and we'd love to spread the word on your experience with us.  Please leave a review on our No Strings Theatre Yelp page, and let Toronto know how you enjoyed our programs or our shows, and share your or your child's experience with our classes, and any other impressions we left with you. 
Theatre Quiz! 
 
No Strings Theatre's Summer Intensive program presented Les Miserables in 2010, with Kurtis Whittle and Jonathan LeRose sharing the part of Jean Valjean.  Now, here's your quiz!:
 
Canadian artist Ramin Karimloo is now best known for playing Jean Valjean in the 2013 Broadway revival of Les Miserables, but a few years before, he played another character in the show.  Who was it? 
 
Do you know the answer? Be the first to email it to directors@nostringstheatre.com to win tickets to our Holiday Festival.
No Strings Theatre
directors@nostringstheatre.com
http://www.nostringstheatre.com