Trinity Western University’s School of the Arts, Media + Culture (SAMC) has been recognized among theatre companies and schools in the Lower Mainland, receiving three Ovation! Award nominations for its production of Bright Star in 2022.
TWU alumnus Lani-Marie Carbonel is applauded for her stellar performance in Bright Star and receives two nominations — one for Outstanding Newcomer and one for Outstanding Performance in a Lead Role. The production of Bright Star as a whole has also been nominated for Outstanding Production – Community.
Director Kate Muchmore Woo comments on the recognition of Bright Star, “I am so pleased and proud that our production has been nominated for this award. This show was a labour of love for many of us coming out of Covid, and a chance to show the strengths of the students and faculty who make up the Theatre and Music programs.”
“Seeing audiences be moved over and over again as they watched the production was beautiful, as the messages of resilience, restoration, and forgiveness
took center stage.”
“To be nominated as one of the best musicals in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland in 2022 is an honour and we are all excited!”
Woo recalls that her favourite part of working on this production was witnessing the joy and sacrifice everyone on the team displayed.
“Everyone believed in this show with a full heart and worked incredibly hard — from the technical director who took a crazy idea and built a train, to the actors who wore masks at every rehearsal even when it was uncomfortable to sing and dance in them, to the designers and student technicians who collaborated over and solved last-minute challenges,” she said of the team’s tenacity.
All the hard work paid off, as audiences were deeply inspired. Woo says, “Seeing audiences be moved over and over again as they watched the production was beautiful, as the messages of resilience, restoration, and forgiveness took center stage.”
Woo exudes pride for TWU students, “Our students delivered memorable and strong performances all around! Hearing the North Carolina bluegrass music over and over again was also a highlight!”
The 19th Annual Ovation! Awards recognizes excellence in a variety of categories among musical theatre performances in the Lower Mainland. A public awards ceremony to announce and celebrate the winners from each category will be held on Sunday, January 22, 2023 at the Vancouver Academy of Music in Vancouver, BC.
About TWU's School of the Arts, Media + Culture
At TWU, you are invited to immerse yourself in what you love best, whether it’s visual or performing arts, media, or communication. Grow with others who are just as passionate and exceptional as you. That’s the beauty of learning in community. You’ll find your people here. Learn more at School of the Arts, Media + Culture.
About Trinity Western University
Founded in 1962, Trinity Western University is a global Christian liberal arts university. We are dedicated to equipping students to discover meaningful connections between career, life, and the needs of the world. Drawing upon the riches of the Christian tradition, seeking to unite faith and reason through teaching and scholarship, Trinity Western University is a degree-granting research institution offering liberal arts and sciences as well as professional schools in business, nursing, education, human kinetics, graduate studies, and arts, media, and culture. It has four locations in Canada: Langley, Richmond-Lansdowne, Richmond-Minoru, and Ottawa. Learn more at www.twu.ca or follow us on Instagram @trinitywestern, Twitter @TrinityWestern, on Facebook and LinkedIn.