Growing up in Vernon, the theatre became a passion for Marisa Vest very early, but little did she realize it would one day land her under the very big top.
While her initial interests were being on stage, it turned out what was happening behind the scenes that would become her vocation of choice.
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Vest, who graduated from W.L. Seaton in 2000, is currently one of three stage managers for the ice-breaking production of Crystal coming to Penticton and Abbotsford next month.
The Western News caught up with Vest last week during the company害羞草研究所檚 stop in San Diego, Calif. where they spent four days at the downtown Valley View Casino Centre.
害羞草研究所淪o from my humble beginnings in B.C. to being on one of the newest shows in Cirque du Soleil, it害羞草研究所檚 just been a wonderful journey,害羞草研究所� said Vest during a break in her rehearsal schedule. 害羞草研究所淭his journey has taken me all over the world.
害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝e been with the company for almost eight years and, quite honestly, I can害羞草研究所檛 imagine being anywhere else or doing anything else.害羞草研究所�
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| Part of the stage managers job involves the rehearsals that take place on the day of the show where performers work on their various routines.Mark Brett/Western News |
害羞草研究所淭hey (teachers) were sort of my big champions at the time and they showed me there are not only opportunities in acting, but there was other opportunities backstage,害羞草研究所� said Vest who decided to go to the University of Victoria to study fine arts upon graduation.
After getting her degree, she decided to spend a couple of summers at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity.
From there, Vest made her way to Ontario where she began apprenticing in the Toronto (where she now lives) theatre community, putting in a couple of seasons at the nearby Shaw Festival at Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Some friends of hers were working with Cirque, which intrigued her and so she decided to go to Hamilton where there was a Cirque production playing to see what it was all about.
害羞草研究所淚 probably asked them a million questions and they were great and answered every single one of them,害羞草研究所� recalled Vest. 害羞草研究所淚 sent my resume into Cirque and a couple days later I got a phone call and they interviewed me to see if I would be a good fit for them and they put me on their pipeline.害羞草研究所�
That was a list of potential employees the company was interested in when a suitable position came up.
A year later she got the call that would change her life.
害羞草研究所淚 interviewed again and got the job,害羞草研究所� said Vest. 害羞草研究所淭he show that was going out was Dralion (in Penticton in 2011) and I toured with them for four and a half years.害羞草研究所�
After that, she went to Europe for the production of Quidam before coming back to North America.
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It was then, in Montreal, she expanded her role, working on the creation of TORUK the First Flight, James Cameron害羞草研究所檚 collaboration with Cirque to build a prequel to the Avatar films.
害羞草研究所淚t was a massive production, it害羞草研究所檚 the biggest show I害羞草研究所檝e ever worked on and I spent two years there,害羞草研究所� said Vest. 害羞草研究所淎nd then, once again, I was asked if I would do another creation this time in a totally new format in the world of ice and acrobatics. I said absolutely and I ended up here on Crystal.害羞草研究所�
| Marisa Vest relays instructions to crew on the set of Crystal in San Diego, Calif. Mark Brett/Western News |
Crystal is the title character and the name of Cirque du Soleil害羞草研究所檚 first-ever experience on ice and is unlike anything else the company has ever done. The show is a fusion of the troupe害羞草研究所檚 patented circus arts and the graceful gliding disciplines of figure skating and just about everything in between. Blurring the boundaries and melding the two into a timeless storyline is the goal of this 42nd production by Cirque directors. Work on the production began last June with the first previews in October and the world premiere in Montreal in December.
As stage manager, Vest害羞草研究所檚 duties are all-encompassing, co-ordinating all aspects from rehearsal to show time.
A solid understanding of both the artistic and technical aspects of the show are a must, as well as being able to solve problems.
害羞草研究所淭hat害羞草研究所檚 really what I enjoy the most, I guess a lot of people might not like that but I think that害羞草研究所檚 where my strengths are,害羞草研究所� said Vest.
She added whether you are a performer or crew member living in close quarters on the road for as much as 40 weeks a year requires a very special personality type. That is particularly evident off the set, where the greetings usually include a hug.
害羞草研究所淎bsolutely it害羞草研究所檚 like family, it害羞草研究所檚 sort of like travelling with a 100 of your closest friends and family,害羞草研究所� said Vest. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 quite wonderful that way because there害羞草研究所檚 always someone to go out and have an adventure with. There害羞草研究所檚 someone to have a quiet day in with and there害羞草研究所檚 always a lot of people you can find that share your interests at work every day.害羞草研究所�
| Rehearsal of the first number of the second act under full lights.Mark Brett/Western News |
Tickets for the Penticton show are available in person at the Valley First Box Office (at the SOEC) over the phone at 1-877-763-2849 . Tickets for the Abbotsford show are available at the Abbotsford Centre box office, by phone at 1-855-985-5000 or online.
