To say that Aaronsaul Negre is a triple threat is an understatement. While being involved in theatre for the past four years, he has also been balancing being a full-time high school student, currently in his senior year. Whether it be playing a lead role on stage or being on numerous school sports teams, he will always find a way to excel in any given environment. The past few summers, Aaronsaul has actively participated in Storybook Theatre’s Student Summer Intensive Program (SSIP). Earlier in the year, he appeared on stage as Emmett Forrest in Legally Blonde: the Musical with SSIP, but even with the stress of university applications and graduation he has been able to perform in his last show of the year. Come see Aaronsaul in Storybook Theatre’s Peter and the Starcatcher to see the amazing talent showcased in the production!
-Written by Peniel Negre, sister
It has been an ongoing journey trying to balance school, theatre, and all my other extracurricular activities. I have learned that being gentle with yourself and surrounding yourselves with those that you love and make you feel loved makes it all a little easier.I am so grateful for my family and all that they have done for me. They have always kept me grounded and have held my hand through a world that sometimes does not really make any sense.This role is so special to me because of how it reinforced the importance of representation on me. To be a person of colour and lead a show where my character is seen as desirable and is able to be loved, it served as a pertinent reminder to me that BIPOC artists and voices can be and should be seen through a lens other than the tropes they have been stuck into. Photo by: Tim Nguyen, Legally Blonde: the Musical (2022)Playing Atreyu in Neverending Story will always leave an indelible mark on me as an artist and as a human. With this role being my second theatre experience ever, it really shaped the way I saw myself and taught me what passion truly means and how it should always be present in my work. Photo by: Benjamin Laird, The Neverending Story (2020)Though there are many lessons I have learnt and will continue to learn as an artist, one lesson I am continuing to learn is the importance of my voice. Theatre has given me so many opportunities to use my voice to inspire conservations of change and to be the voice of hope and belonging that I never had as a young person. I hope that my voice will inspire another young, queer, Filipinx person out there to start using theirs too. Photo by: Tim Nguyen, Miscast 2022My favourite part of this show is the people. From the team behind the scenes to the artists onstage, I have found that everyone is so excited to be part of this project and has so much pride for what they create. From day one, we created a safe space for each other to play and fail spectacularly, all with the common goal of creating something that all of us are genuinely proud to be a part of. Photo by: Hannah Kerbes, Peter and the Starcatcher (2023)“My favourite part of this show is the people. From the team behind the scenes to the artists onstage, I have found that everyone is so excited to be part of this project and has so much pride for what they create. From day one, we created a safe space for each other to play and fail spectacularly, all with the common goal of creating something that all of us are genuinely proud to be a part of.” Photo by: Tim Nguyen, Peter and the Starcatcher (2023)
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Which ’hood are you in?
I live in the SW quadrant of Calgary.
What do you do?
I am currently a Grade 12 student at All Saints High School. I am also an artist and an aspiring advocate for change in my community.
What are you currently working on?
Currently, I am in the final week of rehearsals for Peter and the Starcatcher. This process has been nothing short of wonderful and gratifying to my continual desire to create meaningful art. Every single rehearsal, I feel I have become a sponge that has absorbed every drop of knowledge from each cast and crew member that not only makes me a better artist but a better human as well.
Where can we find your work?
Peter and the Starcatcher is playing at Storybook Theatre from February 10 – March 11. I am beyond proud of the work the cast and crew have put into this play, and I hope audiences will love the show as much as we have loved staging it these past few weeks. Tickets can be found here.
Demian is an Argentinian retired musician, avid gamer and editor for the Montréal Guardian, Toronto Guardian, Calgary Guardian and Vancouver Guardian websites.
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