Two 91原创 actors star in two Theatre Under the Stars productions this summer.
Preston Culili, 11, plays 鈥淏ruce鈥� in 鈥淢atilda the Musical,鈥� based on Roald Dahl鈥檚 Matilda.
The play follows Matilda, a young girl in a small English village who is deemed a troublemaker and nuisance, who uses her magical powers to fight for good 鈥� and be a little naughty too.
This will be Culili鈥檚 first time joining a production to start theatre. He received an invitation from his choir directors and took the opportunity.
Culili is most looking forward to singing his solo.
鈥淚 feel lucky and excited that I am playing this supporting character and that thousands of people get to see me perform,鈥� he said.
Just like in the book, Bruce is 11 years old and loves cake, both things Culili relates to.
His favourite cakes are tuxedo and yema cake 鈥� which is a Philippine cake made of sponge cake, yema, or custard filling or frosting and grated cheese.
鈥淢usic is my first love,鈥� Culili said.
Cadence Rush Quibell, 29, will perform in 鈥淭he Prom,鈥� which follows the story of four Broadway actors trying to improve their public image.
They first started musical theatre in elementary school and became a member of a home school theatre group for eight years, followed by two years when they joined public school.
Quibell was going to pursue acting alongside a psychology degree in post-secondary, but had to drop out when they became seriously ill.
鈥淚 ended up with a feeding tube, central line (like a chemo port), and became a wheelchair user,鈥� they shared.
After a decade of recovering and feeling like their acting career finished before it started, Quibell learned about Realwheels Acting Academy 鈥� a professional three-year pilot program for disabled actors by Realwheels Theatre.
鈥淚 realized there was actually still a place for me in theatre, both despite and because of my disabilities,鈥� they said.
Through the academy, Quibell heard about auditions for art club which led to being case in their first professional show.
They applied for 鈥淭he Prom鈥� production after seeing the Facebook post looking for auditions, but didn鈥檛 expect to be cast for the play.
As a part of the ensemble, Quibell got to create portions of their character鈥檚 backstory.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 grow up in a small town [but] I was home schooled. The specific community I was a part of overall wasn鈥檛 LGBTQ+ friendly and that was unfortunately ingrained in me. I didn鈥檛 realize I was queer until I was around 19, and then had a hard time coming out to certain loved ones,鈥� they shared on some ways they relate to their character.
鈥淭he world would be a better place if we accepted 鈥� and celebrated 鈥� people鈥檚 differences.鈥�
Quibell adds that while the story focuses on acceptance for the LGBTQ+ community, director Tracey Power has 鈥渄one an amazing job鈥� emphasizing the message extends to people in other marginalized communities.
鈥淚t鈥檚 never too late to pursue your dreams 鈥� don鈥檛 let age or lack of experience be the reasons you don鈥檛 go for it,鈥� they shared.
Both 鈥淢atilda the Musical鈥� and 鈥淭he Prom鈥� will run at Stanley Park until Aug. 26.
Tickets start at $30 for adults and can be bought online at .
READ ALSO: 91原创 bison and water buffalo farm helps people battle addiction
IN OTHER NEWS: Aldergrove highway interchange tops crash list again
Have a story tip? Email: kyler.emerson@langleyadvancetimes.com
Like us on and follow us on .
