Principal Cast (alphabetical order)
Photo: Mark Lyndersay
CANDICE ALCANTARA (FANTINE)
Candice is equally at home singing both vocal classical and jazz music, and would be hard pressed to choose one over the other. She also performs modern rhythm and blues. She has had the opportunity to perform in countries across the region at different jazz and music festivals. Candice is a past winner of the Sunshine Award and the ffrench Trophy for Most Promising Performer in the Trinidad & Tobago Music Festival. She has also performed leading roles in productions of Jesus Christ Superstar, Porgy and Bess, The Wiz, and the Marionettes’ 2011 production of Carmen, and has performed at numerous recitals and concerts.
Photo: Mark Lyndersay
NIGEL FLOYD (JEAN VALJEAN)
Nigel started his singing career under the guidance and tutelage of the late Mrs Holitzia Seecharan-Lawrence and has been a long standing member of the Marionettes Chorale. Under the direction of Mrs. Gretta Taylor, he has toured extensively with the choir during their visits to the United States in 1997 and to Costa Rica in 2004 and has featured as a soloist in genres ranging from Broadway, Classics to Gospel, Spirituals and Calypso. He entered the Music Festival series of 2002 where he won the Tenor Solo Class for the North Zone. Later in the series he was awarded the Norman Phillip Cup as the Most Outstanding Tenor of the Series. He has featured in the tenor roles of Mingo in the Living Arts Foundation Caribbean premiere of Porgy and Bess (2005); the role of Ferrando in Cosi fan Tutti produced by the Key Academy of Music (2007); as well as the role of Don José in the Marionettes Chorale Production of Carmen (2011). Nigel holds a Grade V Certification in Voice (With Merit) from the Royal School of Music, in London. He is presently a voice student of Ms. June Nathaniel, Director of the Key Academy of Music. He is a practising Attorney-at-Law and a former prosecutor with the Department of the Director of Public Prosecution.
Photo: Mark Lyndersay
RAGUEL GABRIEL (MARIUS)
Equally passionate about music and drama, Raguel describes himself as a singing actor. Stage credits include: Tony in West Side Story (Caribbean Theatre Productions), Prince Eric in The Little Mermaid (Carvalho Productions) and Remendado in Bizet’s Carmen (Marionettes Chorale). As part of the Young Artist Collective of the Classical Music Development Foundation of Trinidad and Tobago, he has sang the roles of Black Teapot in Ravel’s L’enfant et les sortileges, Tamino in Mozart’s Die Zauberflote, Aeneas in Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas, Frank in Mozart’s The Impresario (also performed in Barbados at the 100 Voice project), and Alfred in Johann Strauss’ Die Fledermaus. Raguel has studied acting with Penelope Spencer at the Necessary Arts School and with acclaimed UK actors Scott Handy and Vincent Manna at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. Recently, Raguel was awarded a certificate of recognition by the Ministry of Arts & Multiculturalism, as an Artist with the National Registry of Artists & Cultural Workers, in the fields of Acting and Vocal Performance. He is delighted to portray the role of Marius and dedicates his performance to the memory of his late father.
Photo: Mark Lyndersay
ERROL JAMES (BISHOP / ENJOLRAS)
A Couva native, Errol discovered a love for singing early in his life, joining his church choir. As a teenager, he experimented with dance and drama, participating in the finals of the Prime Minister’s Best Village Trophy Competition. In 1989, he saw an open audition notice for the Marionettes, a group which he thought was the best in the land. As a member, he has been a regular soloist — including playing Remendado in their 2011 production of Carmen – and is grateful for the opportunity to perform on the “big stage” for this production. He has special appreciation for his mother’s faithful support, though she passed on before seeing him perform; for the one person in his life who has always believed in his talent and encouraged him to push harder (you know who you are); and for Gretta, who always has shown confidence in his ability.
Photo: Mark Lyndersay
MARVIN SMITH (JAVERT)
Marvin started singing in his church choir at age eight, and has trained with Anne Fridal for several years. Since then, he has taken his career from the familiar walls of his parish church, singing at weddings, funerals and church services, to renowned stages across Trinidad & Tobago and internationally. Marvin has won several singing competitions since 1996 and was judged Best Vocalist on the popular television series Scouting for Talent in 2003. He has performed the role of the Undertaker in Porgy and Bess at Queen’s Hall in 2005; in Geraldine Connor’s Carnival Messiah in Leeds, England (2007), for which he received rave reviews from the British media; as Escamillo in the Marionettes’ Carmen; and to packed audiences at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC to commemorate T&T’s 47 anniversary of independence. In 2008, Marvin won each of the five solo categories he entered at the T&T Music Festival, receiving the adjudicator’s award for Overall Performance Excellence. Later that year, he launched his first CD entitled Some Enchanted Evening with Marvin Smith. He currently performs as part of the Quattro Musica group.
Photo: Mark Lyndersay
DAVID STEPHENS (THENARDIER)
David Stephens joined The Marionettes Chorale in 1994 for their production of Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana. He has toured with the chorale first to the United States in 1997 then to Costa Rica in 2004. That very year, he wowed crowds with his performance of “If I were a rich man” from the musical Fiddler on the Roof during the Marionettes’ Mosaic concert series, a performance which later won him the Dr. Dorell Phillips Trophy for the Broadway Class at the 2004 Music Festival. It was the first time such a class was introduced to the Music Festival. He is not only known as an accomplished member of the Marionettes Chorale but also for his excellence in the Insurance Industry. He is Tatil’s Mega Producer of the Year 2013 and Top Producer and Top Agency General for 2012 & 2013. David is an avid football and cricket fan and a member of the Queen’s Park Cricket Club. He hopes that his accomplishments thus far would be incentive for his two children.
Photo: Mark Lyndersay
AURORA TARDIEU (EPONINE)
A former member of the Marionettes Youth Chorale, Aurora is a motivated singer/actor, with a passion for writing and directing. She has portrayed lead roles in local productions of Jesus Christ Superstar (Mary Magdalene, 2006), Rent (Maureen), Little Shop of Horrors (Audrey I), The Wiz (Glinda the Good Witch), and intends to pursue her love of musical theatre for years to come, wherever it may take her. She also hopes to add screenplay writer and director to her repertoire and refuses to consider it all out of reach. She thinks the secret to success is to love and accept everything about herself and her life, even the parts she’s working towards changing. She believes: pick a direction in life and go for it, not fighting the obstacles in your way, but rather dancing your way over, around, or even through them! Her bliss comes from performing and any involvement in making productions come to life. As such, her career as a full-time makeup artist (for now) is one that makes her happy to go to work; there’s always an opportunity to be around performance art! For her, being happy to go to work is a key ingredient to a beautiful life.
Photo: Mark Lyndersay
CAROLINE TAYLOR (STAGE DIRECTOR & MME THENARDIER)
Caroline has grown up in the Marionettes, having sung with them for the first time in 1992 as part of a concert with the St. Monica’s Preparatory School choir, before becoming a founder member of the Marionettes Youth Chorale in 1995, and joining the adult choir in 1998. She has worked as an actor, writer, editor, director, and producer in publishing, theatre, film and television for over a decade. She now works on various aspects of the Marionettes’ artistic and production work, including directing Les Misérables and co-directing Carmen (2011). Winner of both a National Scholarship and a Commonwealth Scholarship, she has a BA in Performance Studies from Williams College and an MA in Theatre & Performance from the University of London (Goldsmiths), and also studied at the Lee Strasberg Film & Theatre Institute and Trinity/La MaMa Experimental Theatre Company in New York. Stage credits with Williamstheatre (MA, USA) include the title role in Euripides’ Medea, as well as Euripides’ The Bacchae, Chekhov’s The Seagull, and Stacy Cochran’s Prostitutes. Stage credits in Trinidad and the UK include Tony Hall/David Rudder’s Brand New Lucky Diamond Horseshoe Club; 3canal’s SHINE; Geraldine Connor’s Carnival Messiah; as well as Richard Ragoobarsingh’s Scandal and Lotto Madness, The Prime Minister’s Speech, Girls on the Side, Why Did I Get Married?, Party Done, and Theresa Awai’s Coming Home. Her solo show Pack Light also played at the New York International Fringe Festival. She recently made her screen debut in A Story About Wendy 2 and features in the upcoming TV series The Apartment. Outside of the performing arts, Caroline works at MEP Publishers on book and magazine projects, including Caribbean Beat and Discover Trinidad & Tobago. Time permitting, she also enjoys volunteering and freelancing with other publications, nonprofits, startups and SMBs, including Carnival and fashion brand K2K. Website: www.carolinentaylor.com
Photo: Mark Lyndersay
DANIELLE WILLIAMS (COSETTE)
A multiple T&T Biennial Music Festival Champion, Danielle has performed locally and internationally a repertoire extending from classical to contemporary styles. She has sung in countless recitals, concerts, staged performances, and special events; being featured as a soloist with the Bishop Anstey High School Choir, the Marionettes Chorale and recently the T&T Sopranos. Danielle has also explored the world of dance, studying ballet, modern and folk dance at La Danse Caraibe School and later at the Lilliput Dance Theatre. Danielle is currently working towards an Artist Diploma in Music Performance at the Academy for the Performing Arts (UTT), under the tutelage of Dr. Vertrelle Mickens. She is also a member of Kashu-do Studios working with renowned Haitian vocal pedagogue, Dr. Jean-Ronald LaFond in New York. Danielle has been privileged to participate in master classes with Lorraine Nubar of the Juilliard School, New York and Elisabeth Vidal & André Cognet of the Conservatoire National de Région de Rueil-Malmaison, France. Her most recent role was that of Prince Orlofsky in the Classical Music Developmental Foundation of Trinidad & Tobago’s production of Die Fledermaus. A graduate of The University of The West Indies, Danielle, completed her B.Sc. Biochemistry and Nutritional Sciences.
Supporting Cast (alphabetical order)
Photo: Mark Lyndersay
ELISE BLANC (GAVROCHE)
Élise has had a passion for singing for almost as long as she could talk. Not missing an opportunity to participate in school productions and talent shows, she happily joined the Marionette’s Children’s Choir with her two older sisters from its inception in 2012. In a little over two years her performances have developed from the fidgeting and twitching of nervous excitement to presentations filled with expression and emotion. She has blossomed during her participation in the production of Les Misérables, and despite her ten young years has approached her role with a maturity and understanding that is commendable. Always with a smile on her face, she is a delightful performer and holds the promise for many more enjoyable moments on the stage.
Photo: Mark Lyndersay
KASHIF DENNIS (BAMATABOIS / GRANTAIRE / UNDERSTUDY: THENARDIER)
Kashif has primarily been involved in the creative and visual arts. He worked with Brian MacFarlane on his 2006 production, India; was a muralist for Carifesta; is an internationally-trained make-up artist with Estée Lauder and Clinique; and was the artistic director of several community projects including the dramatic productions Belle Fanto (2006) and The Bamboo Clump (2007). Kashif joined the Marionettes in 2007 as music has always been one of his greatest passions, and singing with the choir has been one of his most fulfilling pastimes. In 2011, he made his operatic debut as Dancaïro in the Marionettes’ production of Carmen. Although fairly new to performing, he compensates for lack of experience with enthusiasm and a willingness to learn. He is currently a Visual Arts student at the University of the West Indies and hopes to fulfil both dreams of being a singer and an artist.
Photo: Mark Lyndersay
ANNALISE EMMANUEL (LITTLE COSETTE)
Annalise is a student of St. Joseph’s Convent, St. Joseph. In 2013, she was a finalist in TUCO’s Junior Calypso Monarch Competition and placed 3rd in the National Youth Action Committee’s Pioneers Calypso Competition in that same year. She is also a Music Festival champion, winning the National/Nation- Building Song Vocal Duet Boys or Girls 12 years & under, and having sung solos for the championship-winning Sacred Heart Girls’ choir, conducted by Patricia Joseph, that same year. In October 2011 and in 2012, Annalise was awarded the Certificate of Excellence at the San Fernando Junior Arts Festival in the category of Modern Dance Solo. She is a well- rounded individual who puts her whole heart into everything she does, which has included her academics, 5K’s, Karate and Gymnastics. Annalise also placed first two years in succession (2011 and 2012) at the Nalis Monologue Competition. Annalise demonstrates passion and commitment to the development of her peers, both in and out of the classroom, by incorporating various genres of music to the learning of rules and formulae in various subject areas which aids in their memory and assists her teachers in making their learning fun. Annalise, though wants to become a Veterinarian, professes a deep interest in Music Theatre and is a member of the Marionettes Youth Chorale and founder member of the Children’s Choir. Under Gretta Taylor’s guidance and tutelage, Annalise continues to blossom and has performed solos as well. Annalise is currently on a one year vocal training scholarship with the Key Academy of Music.
TRENT HAYNES (FOREMAN / PROUVAIRE / UNDERSTUDY: MARIUS)
Trent is extremely proud to be joining the Marionettes Chorale for this exciting and spirit filled presentation of the world famous stage musical Les Misérables. Trent lives in Barataria with his family, attends the School of Business and Computer Science where he is pursuing a BA in Management Studies, and works at the Hyatt Regency Trinidad. He began singing at age 11 years old with his secondary school choir and in numerous calypso competitions around the country. He was awarded the Songbird Award in 2009 by the Belmont community for outstanding commitment to musical development in the area from the Belmont Alumni Community Council. He has been making his musical contribution to the Marionettes Chorale since 2006 where he sings in the tenor section and has appeared in every production since then. Trent also enjoys hiking and spending time with those nearest to him. He has recently begun piano classes and is working on developing his voice further as he hopes to someday make the performing arts his career.
JEAN MARC HENRY (CONSTABLE / LESGLES)
Jean Marc became a member of the Marionettes Youth Chorale in 2003, moving on to the Senior Choir in 2005. He was awarded a scholarship by the Chorale for vocal training at the Key Academy, under the tutelage of June Nathaniel. Jean Marc’s performance history includes choral work in Les Enfants et les Sortileges, Romanza and Rhapsody 1 and 2. He is also a member of the Diamond Chorale.
TYLER JOSEPH (FARMER / PIMP / FEUILLY / UNDERSTUDY: ENJOLRAS)
Tyler Joseph is no stranger to the stage, having been involved in singing from a very young age. As the director of the Faith Revival Ministries’ Voices of Judah choir, he has successfully planned and executed six major concerts in the past three years, with each one better than the one before. He has been asked on numerous occasions to assist in directing performances, including the Hugh Wooding Law School’s resident choir’s presentation at their Graduation Ceremony, and is an avid member of the Marionettes Chorale, in which he learned the meaning of musical excellence. In terms of Musical Theatre, he played a leading role in the Proscenium Theatre Company’s local production of RENT, as Mark Cohen. In this production, he quickly absorbed the intricacies of acting and developed his newfound skill. He is currently studying music privately and his dream is a future filled with music.
