Breaking Toronto Theatre News - A new Caribbean Musical is workshopped online beginning this Friday

 DARIO ET LA DIABLESSE: No Strings Theatre


Dario et la Diablesse is still a work in progress but beginning this Friday music and dance fans can watch online as this new Caribbean Musical is work-shopped by young actors and dancers from Canada and the Caribbean.  It is the latest project of the 16-year old non-profit No Strings Theatre and will have a week long PWYC run.

 
 Richardo Keens-Douglas

This new musical is being made under the guidance of Dora Mavor Award winner Richardo Keens-Douglas and Broadway performer and choreographer Mark Cassius.

“In this story, La Diablesse, the beautiful female devil, falls in love with her prey, and now has to convince her father, the Devil, to not steal his soul,” explained Denise Williams, the Artistic Director of the No Strings Theatre. “ It is a Caribbean based virtual showing that (is perfect) during the time of Emancipation Day and the Toronto Caribbean Carnival.”

No Strings is based in the Artscape Wychwood Barns arts hub, near Casa Loma in Toronto. The theatrical company works with creative people of all ages to develop their acting and singing skills. “ This musical is an inaugural thing, we are working with writers, singers and actor in their 20s and 30s. This is their first rodeo, and it is really about the process and mentoring, music to development of the show.”
 
 Denise Williams (left)

Dario et la Diablesse the musical is based 
on a Caribbean folktale of La Diablesse. In this
 story, La Diablesse, the beautiful female devil
falls in love with Dario, her prey, and now has to convince her father, the Devil, to not steal his soul. Scenes from the developmental project allows for the cast and crew to receive professional guidance and mentorship by Keens-Douglas and Cassius in this little known Caribbean folklore tale. 

For the past two weeks the cast and crew have been working on the filming of scenes from the new musical for the launch of Friday’s virtual show. The virtual read through of the script, songs, and dance was done by the cast of emerging artists here in Toronto and in the Caribbean. It was synced in a Sheridan College editing studio. Scenes were filmed with cast and creative contributors in Antigua, St. Lucia, Barbados, Grenada and here in Canada.

“The musical is filled with the sounds of the Caribbean namely drums, steelpan, soca, calypso, reggae, extempo, zouk, jazz and R&B with choreography led by Shakeil Rollock. It is poetic, filled with dub poetry and a good laugh for all,” said Williams.

Denise Williams, the founder of the theatre is a classically trained singer, voice teacher, and community music facilitator.  She is in the music theatre faculty of Sheridan College and the sacred music faculty of The Canada Christian College. Raised in Canada she has strong Antiguan roots.

To access the presentation go to WWW.NOSTRINGSTHEATRE.COM. The suggested donation is from $5-20. The musical will be up and running from July 30th to August 6th.


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