Used to drawing attention on the volleyball court, a Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School athlete is now putting his skills to the test on the theatre stage.
Sixteen-year-old Nico Belanger has taken on the lead male role in the private school’s upcoming musical Legally Blonde, playing law teaching assistant Emmett in a story about blonde sorority president Elle who follows the man she loves to Harvard Law School to prove she has a serious side.
Belanger, has been involved with sports most of his life, but he was drawn to the stage after seeing the school’s production Big Fish last year.
“It was so amazing that high school students would put together something you could get immersed in,” he said. “I wanted to be a part of that.”
Belanger decided to give it a shot when auditions came up for Legally Blonde last spring. He selected a song sung by the character Warner, Elle’s love interest, and with no musical experience belted out the tune in front of teachers and fellow students.
“The first rehearsal I was terrified out of my mind,” he said, adding he felt very self-conscious.
Belanger was surprised when he was asked to return to audition for Emmett, the lead male role.
“When I first auditioned I was not thinking about the lead, maybe a small singing part at best,” he said. “The second audition I thought, this is something I can do and I think I have a chance at it.”
Belanger shines on the volleyball court, but he felt out of his element on stage.
“Acting was something I was scared of,” he said, adding he’s shy in social situations. “I’m not the type who is out there and being that really funny, clever guy. ”
Belanger was up for the challenge and put on his game face. And, just like when he’s on the volleyball court, Belanger had a lot of support along the way from the talented cast and crew.
“There’s some things they’ve told me to work on like having a bigger presence and being less neutral,” he said. “Everyone was super nice. Even when I was bad and messed up they were always supportive.”
Despite his initial trepidation, Belanger said he found singing to be the easiest part of the performance.
“There is something about music that’s more natural than trying to be that person and talk without having that music,” he said. “The beauty of musicals is you can really create the emotions and get people to cry.”
At his side every step of the way is Zasha Rabie, a musical veteran who dreams of performing on Broadway. Rabie, who plays Elle, has performed in the World Championships of Performing Arts in Los Angeles at age 11, played Jane Banks in Theatre Calgary’s Mary Poppins at the age of 12 and competed in the Calgary Stampede Talent Search at age 14.
For Rabie, playing Elle is a dream come true after listening to the music and watching the 2008 Broadway musical on YouTube.
“I love how fun the music is,” she said. “You can sing and dance to it.”
On top of that, Rabie shares some similar qualities with Elle.
“She accomplishes everything she sets her mind to,” she said. “She’s vibrant and full of life. I try to live my life to the fullest and take advantage of every opportunity that’s given to me. I see myself in her and find components of her I want to bring to my own life like trying hard and making other people happy, as well as yourself.”
Nabbing the lead role in her Grade 10 year is quite the accomplishment, considering most lead roles go to Grade 11 and 12 students, said Rabie.
“I had to put my best foot forward,” she said. “My mom said she never saw me prepare harder.”
Director Daniel Hall is impressed with both Rabie and Belanger.
“It’s the first year for Nico and I get a little choked up thinking about how far he’s come and what this is going to do for him,” he said. “Zasha has a great energy and great potential as a performer. Just watching the things she discovers is amazing. It’s exciting to see what young people can achieve.”
Hall has directed 13 musicals at Strathcona-Tweedmuir School. Although he retired in 2013 he returned this year to cover a maternity leave.
Hall has directed dozens of high school musicals, as well as worked with Calgary theatre groups like Theatre Calgary and Shadow Productions.
The lover of musical theatre was eager to bring Legally Blonde to the stage and it wasn’t long before the cast of 54 fell in love with the story.
“The students right from the word ‘go’ loved this musical,” he said. “It’s so catchy and so much fun. It’s about the empowerment of a young woman from being a ditzy blonde to somebody who really has a very strong intelligence and confidence that shines in discovering herself and her self worth, which is a great message for everybody.”
Hall said the performance consists of a lot of choir work, supported by an eight-piece band, with five big numbers and plenty of choreography and he’s confident the school will roll out another quality production.
Performances of Legally Blonde take place at 7 p.m. on Nov. 30, Dec. 1 and 2 and 2 p.m. on Dec. 3. Tickets cost $16 and can be purchased at sts.ab.ca/liveevents or at the door.
