Simon Capet - Artistic Director
Founder of the Victoria Philharmonic Choir, Simon's career highlights include the recent VPC production of Handel's Samson, music director for the Pegasus Ensemble and Battersea Opera (UK), assistant conductor for the Vancouver Opera and founder and musical director of Vancouver’s Modern Baroque Opera. Wrote, directed and produced the short film Evirati, winning numerous awards including “Best Emerging Director of a Short Film (Vancouver); “Best Short-Screenplay” (New York) and “Best Short Film,” (Los Angeles); Other honours include Vancouver Opera’s Brian McMaster Award for Excellence in Opera Performance and Victoria’s 2006 “Top 40 Under 40” for Arts and Culture. See Simon's full bio here.

Mollie Kaye - Lyricist
Mollie Kaye is involved in several ways in The Spectre's Bride. She created new English lyrics for the piece from the perspective of a singer, since she is also a member of the VPC. She has always been passionate about putting words to music as a singer-songwriter, satirist, and lyricist. One of the collaborators on the shadow dramatization portion of the production, she has been performing with puppets since childhood, and has entertained thousands of adults and children since forming The Beechwood Puppet Co. ten years ago. Mollie is also a contributing writer for Focus Magazine, the mother of two large small children, and a whole list of other things that, while relevant, would take up more space than is allotted here. She is thrilled to have the opportunity to sing her own words with the amazing voices of the VPC, wonderful soloists and, of course, the brilliant and "unstoppable" Simon Capet.

Michel Gagné -Production Designer

A native of Quebec, Michel studied classical animation at Sheridan College and worked for Don Bluth Studios for six years, working on such films as An American Tail, The Land Before Time, All Dogs Go to Heaven, Rock-A-Doodle, and A Troll in Central Park. While at Bluth's company, Michel worked on his own short film, Prelude to Eden, which was nominated for an Annie Award in 1996. After leaving Bluth, Michel eventually settled at Warner Bros.' animation studio, where he worked on such films as Quest for Camelot, The Iron Giant, and Osmosis Jones. More recently, Michel designed the special effects for the Cartoon Network series Star Wars: Clone Wars. He has also worked for Disney and Pixar, most recently on Ratatouille. Michel is also known for his illustrated fiction and comics. He lives in Bellingham, Wash.

Tim Gosley - Shadow Performer

Victoria-born actor, writer and puppeteer, Gosley began his puppetry career on The Muppet’s Fraggle Rock. Starting in 1987, for 9 years he was Basil the polar bear on Sesame Park , the Canadian Sesame Street. In 2003, he won a Gemini for best preschool puppet performance. In his 30 years of puppetry, he has written and performed a wide variety of puppet shows in both Canada and abroad, particularly Germany. Works included a one-man show The Ugly Duckling, a shadow-puppet performance of The Musicians of Bremen, and a shadow puppet performance of Faust. His acting and television works include performing o n Blizzard Island, Iris the Happy Professor, and Caillou. In more recent years, he has also written for several animated series, including Fix & Foxi. Tim makes his home in the Eastern Townships of Quebec.

Bruce Kelly - Baritone
The “narrator” in Spectre’s Bride, the Toronto-based baritone with an international career. Has performed with most symphonies and opera companies in Canada, including numerous appearances with Pacific Opera Victoria, including recent productions of Manon Lescaut Tosca and Le Nozze Di Figaro . Has appeared in Nice, Strasbourg, Lieges, Avignon and Moscow in a variety of leading roles. Kelly appeared as Manoah in the VPC's 2007 Samson. Bruce Kelly’s VPC appearance is sponsored by Anne Mullens & Keith Baldrey, Dr. Stan Lee and Discount Car and Truck Rentals.

Anne Grimm - Soprano
The "bride," Anne is held in high regard for her work in opera, concert and recital throughout Europe, North America and New Zealand. Her career highlights include appearances at the Netherlands Opera in Monteverdi’s Orfeo, in Handel’s Rinaldo in France, and staged works of Handel at the Halle Handel Festspiele, Messiah with Tafelmusik, the Pottsdam Festival Sans Souci and Bethlehem Bach Festival. She has also toured with the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra and Choir, appearing at festivals throughout Europe, including Salzburg and Ambronay. She has recorded for Erato, Harmonia Mundi, NM Classics, Vanguard Classics, Troubadisc and Sony. 

 Ken Lavigne - Tenor

"The Spectre", Ken is a leading Vancouver Island tenor now performing to acclaim in the US and UK. Career highlights include frequent appearances with the Victoria Symphony, Palm Court Orchestra and Pacific Opera Victoria, two seasons at Oklahoma Light Opera, the 2001 song of Peace Prize in Ireland for a performance of Sempre Vicino, and a performance for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 2003 on her visit to Victoria. Ken has recently released two solo CDs, 'On the Street Where You Live.” and “Believe.” Ken was Samson in the VPC’s 2007 production. Ken lives in Chemainus, BC.

Anne Mullens - Executive Producer

An award winning Canadian writer, journalist and author, Anne co-founded the Victoria Philharmonic Choir and is its executive director. Anne has won more than a dozen provincial and national awards for her writing and is the author of two critically acclaimed books. She writes frequently for North American magazines and newspapers, particularly Reader's Digest and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

 

Puppetry Guild of Victoria

Tim Gosley will be assisted in the shadow puppetry creation and performance of the Spectre's Bride by members of the Puppetry Guild of Victoria, including president Dawn Schell. The guilds aim is to improve, promote and stimulate the art of puppetry; to encourage growth and development of puppeteers, and to provide ways of encouraging interest and participation of the general public.