Marquee is thrilled to announce this year’s Scholarship and Award recipients, T’nia Parks, Ashley Morin, Aisling Ferris and Bethany Edwards!

T’nia Parks

Winner of the Rick Koury Scholarship Award – Established 2021 and Provided by Marquee to thank Rick Koury for all his support to Marquee while serving as the Manager at the Newmarket Theatre.

This scholarship is awarded to a community member in support of their development in the performing arts through enrolment in an educational Marquee youth program.

Tell us a bit about yourself

My name is Tnia. I’m 15 years old and just finishing grade 9. I’ve been doing productions at Marquee since 2018. My first production was Mary Poppins Jr. and my most recent production was Newsies.

What do you love most about musical theatre?

The thing I love most about theatre is being able to perform to people and an audience. I like the dancing aspect of it as well. I’m also a very dramatic person so it’s a perfect fit for me.

What have you loved most about being involved in Marquee?

Being at Marquee is very great. I’ve made so many friendships and memories I’ll never forget. I’m glad that I signed up to be a part of something so amazing.

Share any words of appreciation you might have for the donor of the award

I am very grateful to have been selected to be the first recipient of the Rick Koury Scholarship Award. And, I thank all the staff at Marquee and everyone who helped make this possible. I am gratefully appreciative.

Ashley Morin

Winner of the The Jonah McIntosh Memorial Scholarship – Donated and established 2019 by Dani Rito – In memory of her friend/performer Jonah

This scholarship is awarded to a Marquee member for their strong dedication to performance, positivity and openness to learning and growing.

Tell us a bit about yourself

I am just finishing gr7 and go to Northern Lights pS. I have always enjoyed dancing and singing. My friend was involved in Marquee and asked me to come and see her performance. I thought it was amazing and wanted to try. I started at a March break camp and was Grumpy in the Snow White Twisted. It was very fun so I went on to do Aladdin   and High School musical and this year did Beauty and the Beast and Descendants

What do you love most about musical theatre?

I can express myself in ways that I love.

What have you loved most about being involved in Marquee?

They treat you like a family at Marquee where everyone is so supportive and encouraging

Share any words of appreciation you might have for the donor of the award

I am so grateful to those who have selected me to win this award. Thank you very much.

Dani, thank you for selecting me for the Jonah McIntosh Memorial Scholarship . I have really enjoyed learning so much from you. You really do teach me so many things. Thank you so so much Dani!

Aisling Ferris

Winner of The John Abel Memorial Scholarship – Established 2019 and Provided by Marquee to honour John Abel, a valued community member who generously gave of himself to promote and support the arts.

This scholarship is awarded to a Marquee member for their commitment, passion and dedication to succeed in their craft/art as well as a commitment to give back to the community by volunteering.

Tell us a bit about yourself

Besides theatre I enjoy reading, going on bike rides, watching movies, swimming and walking my puppy.  I love dogs.  Last summer my brother and I even started a dog walking business. In September, we got a dog of our own and named him Boseman, after Chadwick Boseman who played Black Panther in the Marvel movie.

I have done over 20 Marquee shows including one adult production,  Matilda. Some of my favourite roles have been, Toto in The Wizard of Oz when I was 5 years old, Timon in The Lion King, Alice in Matilda, Anna in Frozen and Jasmine in Aladdin.

What do you love most about musical theatre?

What I love most about musical theatre is the thrill or rush that you feel when performing on stage for a crowd. I love the people I’ve met and the great friends I have made because of theatre, especially this last year in Newsies.

What have you loved most about being involved in Marquee?

I really love that I have got to perform in a number of places because of my involvement with Marquee.    It was great being a zombie at Shepherd Bush, being Anna and Elsa at the winter show with the Newmarket Citizens Bands and Olaf at the Town of Aurora campfire night.  I really liked helping out with the kinder kids productions too. I really love being on stage and getting to perform with my friends. I have met some of my best friends through Marquee and I’m grateful for that.

Share any words of appreciation you might have for the donor of the award

I would like to thank my parents for always supporting me in everything I do and supporting me through theatre. I would also like to thank my very good friend and cast mate for nominating me. I really appreciate you. And lastly I would like to thank Marquee so much for giving me this opportunity to grow and learn in this community.

Bethany Edwards

Winner of the Rick Koury Scholarship Award – Established 2021 and Provided by Marquee to thank Rick Koury for all his support to Marquee while serving as the Manager at the Newmarket Theatre.

This scholarship is awarded to a community member in support of their development in the performing arts through enrolment in an educational Marquee youth program.

Tell us a bit about yourself

My name is Bethany Edwards and I am finishing my grade nine year at Sir William Mulock Secondary School. I love being a part of leadership opportunities at my school for example choir and music council. I also love to be active outside and being with my friends and family. One thing that is a big part of my life is music, and Marquee has really enhanced my love for musical theatre. From a very young age, I have always loved the idea of performing. In grade 6 I decided to go to Marquee and when I performed the Lion King as Nala I knew that this was something I would want to do for many years.

What do you love most about musical theatre?

What I love most about musical theatre is the thrill of being on stage and performing with friends. I feel that this is so fun because you get to be so many different characters and when I’m on stage I am no longer Bethany Edwards but a different person in a different situation and I feel that that is so amazing.

What have you loved most about being involved in Marquee?

What I have loved most about being involved in Marquee is the community. When being a part of a play for 5 months or more you really get to connect with the people you are acting with and become close to all of them. I really love this because they are like my second family and I have so much fun when I am with them.

Share any words of appreciation you might have for the donor of the award

Thank you so much, Marquee, for presenting me with the Rick Koury scholarship. I’m so thankful for all Marquee has given me and I greatly appreciate this award; thank you so much!