When Michael Duclos and his family moved back to Sault Ste. Marie two years ago, the veteran stage performer wanted to make sure local kids had affordable access to the performing arts. Having a longstanding passion for working with children, as evidenced by his many years as a school principal, the decision for Duclos to form Soolebrity Youth Theatre last February was an easy one.
“When we moved back, we noticed there was an amazing number of sports for kids in the Sault, but there wasn’t seemingly anything that was affordable for families to get their kids into theatre,” he admitted. “I set this up as a not-for-profit because I want this to be affordable theatre for students.” Fast-forward four months, the newly established theatre troupe has maxed out its current spaces, and members are now getting ready to put on the group's first-ever show entitled “Hilarity Ensues” at the Sault Community Theatre Centre from June 12-14.
The director has been blown away by the young talent on stage. “It’s a really unique group of kids, and they’re all rock stars,” Duclos said. “It’s probably a little crazily ambitious we’re doing three one-act plays and skits for our first show, but they’re just so talented and they work really hard.
I couldn’t be prouder of them.” Bringing in plenty of experience from his days with the Sault Theatre Workshop and the Stage 1 Primers group, Duclos is directing a full group of kids between the ages of six to 16 as they prep.
