Lynn Hodge
Special to The Record
Two of the Comox Valley’s most accomplished young performers have returned this summer to assist with the Musical Theatre program of Comox Valley Youth Music Centre (CYMC).
Meghan Caine and Liam Galway, both graduates of local high schools, who were last seen in CYMC’s 2015 production of West Side Story, have been hired to assist on the upcoming production of Fiddler on the Roof in July. Both young thespians have participated in many theatrical and dance productions in the Valley over the years and have been honing their skills while pursuing degrees in Ontario.
Caine has completed two years of her bachelor of music theatre performance at Sheridan College and has been hired as the stage manager and assistant producer for Fiddler on the Roof.
Galway will be the assistant stage manager and assistant to the director, and has finished year one of a bachelor of fine arts in theatre and dance through the University of Toronto and Sheridan College. Fiddler on the Roof’s director, Lori Mazey, and producer, Shari Jakubiec, will mentor the two new assistants.
Teens and young adults who are registered for CYMC’s intensive musical theatre program are from all over the world. This year, they arrive on July 2 and open Fiddler on the Roof at the Sid Williams Theatre on July 19 for six performances, closing July 23.
With just 17 days to put a major musical onstage, the 12-hour rehearsal days are long and gruelling but the rewards are found in the high quality of each production and in lifelong friendships made. Caine and Galway’s wealth of experience will be put to good use mentoring the students, while, at the same time, the two talented thespians will gain valuable production experience. It is a win/win for all.
Caine dreamed of becoming a performer at a very young age and began dancing with Gemini Studio (now Triple Heat Dance) at the age of eight. Her personal highlights include playing Sandy in Rainbow Youth Theatre’s Grease (2010), Madam Thenardier in CYMC’s Les Miserables (2012) and the title role in CYMC’s Thoroughly Modern Millie (2014).
Caine credits her family, G.P. Vanier teacher Lori Mazey, her dance teachers at Triple Heat Dance, voice teacher Carrie Lemke, and Sheridan teacher Marc Richard for all the encouragement she has received over the years. She believes that her growing strength in creating believable characters on stage is due to their teaching and guidance.
“I am an artist,” says Caine gratefully.
Galway vividly remembers listening to hip-hop against his parents’ wishes and being profoundly changed.
“This is what true anger and passion sound like,” he says.
Seeing live performances of The Book of Mormon in London and The Taming of the Shrew in Stratford inspired him to emulate older actors who do not hold back.
With the guidance of Lisa Williams (Highland Secondary School), Lori Mazey, and with particular gratitude to Tamara Ryan-Telford (Triple Heat Dance), Galway has been able to discover his true self.
He started his stage career at age nine, playing the title role in RYT’s Stuart Little in 2005. Often cast in comedic roles that come naturally to him, Galway is most proud of his CYMC 2015 West Side Story role of Action, a troubled gang member.
Tickets for CYMC’s production of Fiddler on the Roof are already selling well at the Sid Williams Theatre Ticket Centre www.sidwilliamstheatre.com 250-338-2430. Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. evening performances on July 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23 are $27 per seat and $25 per seat for the Saturday, June 23 matinee at 2 p.m.
