Last time we checked in with the North Park Drama Ensemble in March, they had just performed at the National Theatre School (NTS) Dramafest and were awarded Outstanding Production. In addition to the entire cast being awarded the Outstanding Production Award, Piper Jones was recognized for her amazing performance, winning the Outstanding Supporting Lead Actor. North Park was one of nine schools that would go on from the first round to perform at the Central Region Regionals.
After having been given less than two weeks until regionals, the cast of the Audition got to work preparing for the Regionals performance, scheduled for April 16th. And when the day finally arrived, they departed for Port Credit Secondary School. Despite being given only two hours to get accustomed to the new stage they gave an amazing performance. Jones then received a certificate for outstanding supporting actor to thunderous applause and North Park was awarded a banner celebrating making it to regionals. Finally, the cast received notes from the adjudicator, Ashley Felix and the show was over.
The cast waited with baited breath for three days until they found out if they had made it to provincials! Unfortunately, the North Park Drama Ensemble would not be moving on, however cast members Piper Jones and Navjot Dhamee won the merit award for acting in a supporting role and excellency award for acting in a supporting role, respectively. We’ve conducted exclusive interviews with cast members about their experience.
“It was difficult I will say,” began Jones who performed the role of Soleil, “because of the fact that I played a very emotionally driven character with a very upsetting backstory and a very upsetting arc throughout the show. I don’t want to speak too lightly on it…” “…Because of the fact it was a sensitive topic, like bullying and all of that stuff, and how aggressive it was, I didn’t want to perform it incorrectly…” “…A girl after our regional performance talked to me and said the performance really touched her and that hit! So difficult but worthwhile.” Jones continued on to her cast members, “The cast was wonderful. Love the people I had to work with. For the like monologue of the bullying I had, I had to get very comfortable with the people that did the bullying. Which was good because I was already close with a lot of them, but it was kind of a group building experience. And before everytime we did the monologue we would always be like ‘ok guys we got this’ kind of ‘lock in’ and stuff.” We asked Jones what it was like to have won both the district Award for Outstanding Supporting Lead and the regional Merit Award for Acting in a Supporting Role, “winning not only the award for merit, but the award for excellence as well, has truly shown me that passion is worth everything. I’ve never had more confirmation before now that this is something I can do. I am incredibly honoured that I have the chance to take these accomplishments with me into my future. These are beautiful reminders of friends, laughter, and like I said before, passion.”
We then talked with Dhamee, who played the roles of Carrie’s Mom and Actor 2 and she told us, “It was exciting! And I didn’t think I was able to meet everyone and make good friends. And like everyone was so inclusive and I was able to feel like home. Like what Mrs. Cooper said at the start ‘it’s like a little family!’ Honestly it was amazing being in the Audition.” She then went on to talk about the rehearsal process, “oh my god bro the rehearsal process! It was a bit challenging at the start because there were cast members who left. So I guess it was pretty hard to find replacements for them, and that’s why I became Actor 2. But the rehearsal process was pretty fine when it comes to lines, we tend to have it when it comes to the positioning and direction, which I believe we did a phenomenal job at the end of the day.” Finally we asked her what it was like to receive the award of excellence, “It was ecstatic cause I believe everyone did amazing…” “…but being like a recipient for the award made me feel like all my hard work was rewarded.”
Finally we sat down with Trisha Tyagi who performed the role of Elizabeth Walker who told us “Being in the Audition was really fun, especially when you’re in a group of people that make it fun. Like especially since I was in the musical last year, it was really hype and everyone wanted to be in it, and I felt that same kind of energy this year…” “Ms. Umachandran was really fun. I really like that she knew what we were feeling, if we were feeling anxious or excited. She really just read the room properly.” Tyagi continued “About my character Elizabeth she kinda goes through like this whole thing with her mom about wanting to be perfect and having to go through all these, like expectations and standards to please her mom. And I think it really was something that I could project part of like something that I personally feel as a brown girl growing up. Because when you’re a person of colour, most of the time… your parents obviously have high expectations for you. And I feel like being able to have such a role where I can have such a big responsibility to amplify that was kind of exciting.”
The cast of the Audition performed three excellent shows and did a wonderful job representing North Park with their unbridled enthusiasm, kindness and passion. It took a lot of work during lunches and after school from the cast and teachers Mme. Shomrony and Ms. Umachandran. All involved should be incredibly proud of their involvement in the production!
THE NORTH STAR 