Since being at Bishop’s, I’ve learned a lot, and in the Performing Arts, you’re always learning. But at the end of my second year, I hit a wall. I felt stuck in my studies, and my performances felt lacklustre. Something was missing.
I opened up about it to my Bishop’s vocal professor, and she suggested a summer intensive that takes place in Edmonton. She believed auditioning for this program could help reignite that spark — and I’m so glad I listened.
The Research
Melinda Enns, one of our amazing vocal professors at Bishop’s, recommended I look into a summer training program in Edmonton, Alberta, which caught my attention, especially since it’s close to my hometown.
She encouraged me to research the program to see if it was something I’d want to audition for. So, in the summer of 2024, I did just that. I found out they were producing A Little Night Music by Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler. Rather than just read about it, I decided to experience it. So I bought a ticket and drove to Edmonton to see the show live.
The first half alone was incredible. During intermission, I went looking to see if the program’s founder was around, and she was! I introduced myself, asked if she had a minute, and she kindly suggested we schedule a meeting to talk more in-depth. That meeting happened later that summer, and it gave me a clear sense of how intensive the program was and who I’d be learning from.
From that moment on, I knew: I had to audition.
The Audition and Getting the Call
Heading into my third year, I was excited and a little nervous when preparing for the audition. As a musical theatre actor, auditions typically involve singing, acting (usually a monologue), and dancing. Luckily, this time it was just singing and acting for the online submission.
With the help of Melinda Enns and Francine Leng (our brilliant accompanist at Bishop’s), I got my audition pieces ready. I submitted everything at the end of October and waited.
On December 23rd, 2024, I got the email: I was accepted and was offered the lead role in one of the shows. Honestly, it was the best Christmas present I could’ve asked for.
NUOVA’s 5-Week Intensive Training Program
The NUOVA program runs for five weeks, from late May to the end of June. It’s designed to fill in the gaps that traditional university programs might miss — and it absolutely does.
Throughout the five weeks, we trained with professionals currently working in the industry, in film, TV , and musical theatre. We explored areas like clowning, speech work, movement, voice-overs, and much more. Our one-on-one voice lessons were taught by coaches actively working on Broadway and in the wider theatre scene.
On top of all that, we rehearsed full musicals to be performed at the end of the program. It’s called an intensive for a reason — you’re pulled in a dozen directions every day — but the amount you learn outweighs the challenges by far.
The Process
As summer 2025 approached, I was both nervous and thrilled. I had done intensives before, but NUOVA was a different world.
About two weeks before the program began, I received my script, and that’s when it hit me. My character was on stage almost the entire time. I had never had a lead role before, and the thought of carrying a full-length musical was daunting.
The first week eased us in — morning classes, evening rehearsals — but by the second week, things kicked into high gear.
A typical day looked like this:
- Morning classes (acting, dance, clowning, speech, or voice-over)
- Group rehearsals for concerts
- A quick lunch break
- Afternoon masterclasses or workshops with guest artists
- Evening musical rehearsals
The summer’s two musicals were Once Upon a Mattress and Between the Lines. I played Delilah in Between the Lines — a lead role that had me on stage nearly non-stop — so I was only cast in one show, while others did both.
As the final weeks arrived, so did tech week (aka Hell Week for theatre folk). These were long, exhausting days full of technical rehearsals, staging adjustments, and pushing through the stress. We hadn’t even done a full run of the show with the entire cast until those last few days before opening night.
But in the end? The show came together, and it was the most fun I’d had in a long time.
What I Learned
This summer gave me more than just performance experience. It gave me clarity, confidence, and a deeper understanding of myself as an artist.
Working with professionals who are actively shaping the industry pushed me to grow in every direction. But maybe the biggest lesson was personal: If I believe in myself and work hard, there’s nothing I can’t do.
That mindset is now with me as I move forward — not just in my final year at Bishop’s university, but in life and my pursuit of a career in musical theatre.
