LES MIS IN CONCERT CAST

Caitlin Wood (Fantine/Cosette) Alberta- born soprano Caitlin Wood was “absolutely vibrant” and showed “great comic flair” in her debut as Susanna in Vancouver Opera Festival’s The Marriage of Figaro. Caitlin portrayed Ava in City Opera Vancouver’s world premiere of Marie Clements/Brian Current’s powerful opera Missing, showing “exquisite vulnerability." As Susanna in Edmonton Opera’s production of Marriage of Figaro, Caitlin was hailed as “an exceptional soprano with excellent comedy " In 2022, Caitlin portrayed the Housewife in the multi Dora Award nominated world premiere of Gould’s Wall (Current/Balkan) with Tapestry Opera and was a sparkling Despina in Edmonton Opera’s Cosi fan Tutte. As Josephine in HMS Pinafore with Vancouver Opera, Janet Smith observed: “Capturing the full range of emotions of her character, Caitlin Wood has a vibrant soprano voice that easily scales the heights of Josephine’s arias.” Recent concert performances for Caitlin include Vancouver Bach Choir/Vancouver Opera’s premiere of Brian Current’s The River of Light, Carmina Burana with Ottawa Choral Society, and Mozart’s Requiem with Windsor Symphony Orchestra. A favourite at Westben Festival, Caitlin returns this summer as Fantine in “Les Mis in Concert” and is Despina in Cosi fan tutte with Opera Kelowna in August. Caitlin is featured in several OperaBreaks, cinematic videos produced by Domoney Artists Management, and voices Iona the Cockatiel in Opera 5’s animated video, Threepenny Submarine, in collaboration with Kingston Symphony.

Kim Dafoe (Thenardier) Mezzo-Soprano Kim Dafoe is no stranger to concert halls and theatres of the area. Recently, you may have seen her on the Westben Stage as The Narrator in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Other stage and solo credits include work with The Kingston Symphony (Kingston, ON), The Kingston Grand Theatre, The Quinte Symphony (Belleville, ON), The Stirling Festival Theatre, (Stirling, ON), For the Love of a Song (Belleville, ON), Tweed National Theatre, The Belleville Theatre Guild, and Opera Buffa (Toronto, ON). Directing and conducting experience includes work with The Westben Arts Festival Theatre, The Bay of Quinte Sweet Adelines, The Toronto Children’s Chorus, The Cantabile Choirs of Kingston, The Stirling Festival Theatre, and the Mississauga Youth Theatre. Kim is currently teaching at Centennial Secondary School in Belleville, Ontario. Thanks to Brian and Donna for another fabulous opportunity with Westben, and lots of love to Dan, Olivia and Harrison.

Ian Simpson (Thenardier) Ian is very excited to be making his Westben debut! He has performed across Canada, the U.S., Mexico, and as far as Japan and Taiwan. Most recently Ian was seen at The Capitol Theatre as Bot Bot in Sleeping Beauty and Arvide in Guys and Dolls, and as Father Delisle in the new Canadian Musical The Hockey Sweater at the NAC/Segal Centre. He has spent five seasons at the Stratford Festival and three seasons at The Shaw Festival. Selected credits: John Hancock (1776, ACT, San Francisco); Harry Bright (Mamma Mia!, U.S. National Tour); Walter Hobbs (Elf, The Grand); Georges (La Cage aux Folles, Neptune); George Banks (Mary Poppins, Capitol); Hucklebee (The Fantasticks, VPP); Anne of Green Gables, Emily (Charlottetown Festival) Enjolras (Les Misérables, Royal Alexandra), New Musical Workshops: Reverend Miller in Pollyanna (Toronto) and Mr. Tetley in Something Wicked This Way Comes (Theatreworks, California). TV: CBC’s Murdoch Mysteries and Diggstown. Ian is an Adjunct Professor at St. Lawrence College and has studied vocal pedagogy at Queen’s, Penn State, Somatic Voicework™, and Boston Conservatory