The Sound Of Music | Mecca Productions

We returned once more the hills in April 2023, introducing it to a new generation of audience members to this music and story, and welcoming back the many people who love this show!

Our cast was a wonderful balance of faces you will recognize and folks new to the WMCA stage. While most of our teaching team was behind the scenes on this production, two staff members: Erik Fjeldsted and Avalon Sawatzky, stepped into into lead roles in the show! The Von Trapp children were selected from our Auditioned Performance Troupe program - our Leisl's are 2023 graduates; we were delighted to watch them shine! The Von Trapp kids are all members of our APTk putting their skills and training good use! Many senior members of our performance troupe appeared as postulants, and learned so much from the experience, working with experienced and talented adult performers from across Manitoba.

The Von Trapp Kids

Nadine McLachlan

Nadine McLachlan is delighted to be back on stage playing in the dream role of Maria. Most recently she was seen on stage in the role of Amy in Little Women. Past Mecca performances include Sophie in Mamma Mia!, Spamalot, We Will Rock You, Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Heather Duke in Heathers: The Musical. Off stage, Nadine sings with Konektis Choir and is teacher who spends her days with the wonderful learning community at École Harrison. She is so thankful to be joining this wonderful cast which includes her husband, Clint.

Jaimie Rose

Originally from Hamiota, Manitoba, Jaimie Rose holds a Bachelors in Voice Performance from Brandon University’s School of Music. Their passion for musical theatre has taken them through many stage roles in the Brandon area, their most recent role being Amy in the Mecca Productions show ‘Little Women!’. This is their fifth Mecca show, other roles including a gargoyle in ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame’ and Hannah in ‘Newsies’. Jaimie will apply their musical talents as she begins training to become a Music Therapist in the fall of 2023.

Grant Wiesner

Grant grew up in a musical family and has been on stage since an early age, either singing or playing one of numerous instruments. He caught the acting bug in his very first musical, playing the King of Hearts in "Alice in Wonderland" in Grade 3. He has dabbled in acting ever since. Since moving to Killarney 22 years ago, he has been a vocalist and rhythm guitar player for a local cover band, Awake Before Dawn, as well as a worship leader at Calvary Baptist Church.
Grant has had the opportunity to be a part of many community musicals and dramas, including being the title character in Mecca’s production of "Shrek: The Musical" and Sir Bedevere in "Spamalot." He is honoured to bring such an iconic character as Captain Von Trapp to life and to be a part of the Mecca family in "The Sound of Music."

Erik Fjeldsted

Erik is super excited to be part of this show! Captain Von Trapp is on the short-list of roles he has always wanted to play. He's appeared in a few Mecca shows, including Little Women in Nov 2022 and Mecca' first musical at the WMCA: Footloose in 2001. He hopes you enjoy the show!

Wanda Nicol

Wanda is a sometimes retired educator who has had a long time love affair with singing.She has performed in Brandon and Winnipeg choral ensembles and has been very fortunate to have stepped into the shoes of Mrs. Banks in Mary Poppins, Grace Farrell in Annie and her dream come true role as Fontine in Les Miserable. It is a joy and a blessing to bring these stories to life and to share them with you!

Sharon Brown

There is nothing like being given the opportunity to participate in shows with Mecca doing something that I love, from the first “Sound of Music” to this one and many in between. My thanks to Lisa, Tiana and all of the Mecca family for your support and encouragement. I’d also like to thank my family and friends for encouraging me to do what I love - sing.

James Warnez

Avalon Sawatzky

Emma Gale - Thurs & Sat Shayna Wakefield - Fri & Sun

Emma is a grade 12 student at Neepawa Collegiate. This is her 4th show with Mecca. You would have most recently seen her as Anna, in Frozen Jr! She is very excited to be playing the role of Leisel in the white cast! The Sound of Music is one of the very first musicals she remembers her Mom showing her, and it has been a dream role ever since!Music is a big part of Emma's life! At school she plays the trumpet in the concert and jazz bands, and she sings soprano in the concert choir. Next year she will be going to Brandon University to study voice, with hopes to eventually become a highschool choir teacher! When she isn't driving back and forth to Brandon for rehearsals or classes, you can find Emma working at one of her two jobs, or spending time with her friends and family. Emma would like to thank her friends and family for their endless support, and she hopes you enjoy the show!

Shayna is a seventeen year old grade 12 student who attends Neelin High School. This will be Shayna’s 12th musical production, some of her favourite roles include playing Wendy in Mecca’s Production of Peter Pan Jr, and playing Anastasia in Neelin’s 2022 production of Anastasia. She has been in Mecca for close to ten years and enjoys ever second she is performing. Shayna is currently an employee at Velvet Dip. Thank you for coming to see our show!

Lucas Vasconcelos - Thurs & Sat Joey Simms - Fri & Sun

Laurel Loewen (Thurs & Sat) Rena Mills (Fri & Sun)

Katherine MacFarlane - Thurs & Sat Angela Myshkowsky - Fri & Sun

Katherine MacFarlane - Katherine is excited to be on the stage for her 31st Mecca show. Her very first show was The Sound of Music in 2005 and she is looking forward to joining the Nun’s chorus this time, double-cast as Sister Sophia. Katherine is a long-time member of the Mecca teaching team and conducts the Mecca Community Choir on Wednesday evenings. She takes great joy in sharing ‘all things musical’ with Avalon and Carter. By day, Katherine is a principal in the Brandon School Division.

Angela Myshkowsky - Happy to be back on stage! Haven't done many shows since before my undergrad at BU, but some highlights would have to be performing opera vignettes in Leading Ladies of Opera, numerous high school vocal shows, and Kim McAfee's understudy in Bye Bye Birdie. It's been so great to work with the community and make some new friends along the way! Thanks to everyone at Mecca for all your hard work, and making this production so much fun.

Jaymee Freeman - Fri & Sun Gisele Perreaux - Thurs & Sat

Jaymee Freeman - I’m excited to be a part of The Sound of Music this year! This is my first involvement with Mecca Productions, and it has been a wonderful opportunity to add a theatre twist to my musical background! I have been singing for the last 15 years and completed a Bachelor Degree with an Undergrad in Music in 2015. I’m grateful to be on board and continue learning and growing in many ways.

Gisele Perreaux - Gisèle has been a part of Mecca for 10 years and is so excited to be a member of this amazing cast! She loves all parts of musical productions (singing, doing choreo, painting sets) but her greatest love is watching her family perform on stage.

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