‘A community and a family’: SD42 Interdisciplinary Arts Academy goes beyond musical theatre

Inside Garibaldi Secondary’s theatre, three students stand at the front of the stage.

The curtains open behind them and the audience is transported to a small Greek island, as the first notes of a musical number ring out.

“We are rehearsing for this year’s show, Mamma Mia!” said Sharmila Miller, director of the SD42 Interdisciplinary Arts (IA) Academy. “The production started last February with auditions.”

For the last three months, students in the IA Academy have been rehearsing nonstop.

“We do musical theatre productions that are full-scale Broadway musicals,” Miller said. “We are a professional training academy; we try to give students as close to a professional experience as possible so that they are prepared when they go out into the real world.”

The cast and crew learn how to manage their time, work together as a team, and improve their organization and communication skills, she explained.

This year’s production has about 45 cast and 18 crew that take on choreography, costuming, props, acting, sound, lighting, stage management and marketing.

There are two casts, meaning two students will play the same role on different show days. Grade 12 students Angelika Alincastre and Mackenzie Powell both play the role of Sophie Sheridan, the main character.

“I lean on Mackenzie a lot with helping me memorize my lines and figuring out my blocking and spacing,” Alincastre said. “She’s got it all.”

The pair have been part of the IA Academy since Grade 9, just like Grade 12 crew members Gillian Booth and Mya Patterson.

“First I was in cast and then I made the spectacular decision to switch to crew, which I think better fit me,” said Patterson, and that’s what she has stuck with since.

Patterson is the sound operator, while Booth takes care of the lighting. Although they both enjoy the work involved, that’s not the reason they join academy every year.

“I kept coming back because it was more like a community and a family,” Booth explained. “Especially in high school, I feel like it’s hard for a lot of people to sort of find their own family.”

“So, this was a place where I met most of my best friends and most of the people who I hope that I can stay in touch with for the rest of my life, especially this one right here,” Booth said, taking Patterson’s hand.

Other cast and crew members feel the same way, including Alincastre and Powell.

“I’ve known Angelika for four years now since we joined,” explained Powell, “but even people that have joined just this year, they become like family to you in the span of a month.”

Alincastre agreed, adding that theatre is a safe space to be yourself in.

“You just have a family here and it’s just another community where it’s kind of like a little getaway,” she said.

Assistant director and cast member Jaelyn Frend is an IA Academy alumna. She graduated in 2021 but has returned to the academy twice since then to help with assistant directing, choreography, costuming and acting.

“My time in the academy was such an amazing experience because of the bonds and relationships you make with other cast members as well as crew,” Frend said. “You’ve honestly made friends for life.”

The academy takes place at Garibaldi Secondary off the regular timetable and outside of school hours. The program is open to all Maple Ridge – Pitt Meadows School District students. A successful audition/interview is required to register.

“If you’re a big fan of theatre, I think this is a wonderful place to start,” said Patterson.

“Even if you’re not,” added Booth. “We’ve had people come in here who are like, ‘I don’t like musical theatre, I don’t like musicals, yada, yada, yada,’ and then by the end, they’re all singing along to every single song and they keep coming back.”

Mamma Mia! runs at the Garibaldi Secondary theatre from November 20 to November 30, 2024, at 7 p.m. Saturday matinee shows are at 2 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online here.

Learn more about the Interdisciplinary Arts Academy here.