We’d like to nominate two very special people for your Holiday Heroes. Some people probably think they get recognized a lot, but if you’ve ever worked or know them, you’d know they are two of the hardest working young professional artists/parents/managers/leaders we know that let others take a bow before themselves. This is surprising for theatrical people! This couple does more work behind the curtain than in the spotlight. Candi and Lawrence Badanai are two people that continuously go above and beyond anyone we’ve ever met. They are young professionals and parents that moonlight in the evening to run a children’s theatre company called Paramount Live. Candi is the Artistic Director and Lawrence the Producing Director. Those are merely lofty titles, as what they really do is provide a safe, open, positive, creative, and rewarding environment for children and young adults to explore theatre. While they learn about putting on a show, they also learn so much more. Under Candi & Lawrence’s leadership (and with the help of production volunteers, and dedicated program directors) they inspire a whole new generation of kids to love the arts and find themselves. If anyone has seen a Paramount Live show, you know the quality of shows that are being produced is above expectations for what you may think is a “kids show”, but what you may not know is how many memories and stories are being created behind the scenes as these young people build confidence in themselves to be better people. Sounds easy to do, right? Maybe if this was your only job! During the day Candi is managing the children’s indoor adventure play centre Maple Tops and Lawrence works in health care communications. They do theatre for the love and fun of it… not just for themselves, but to see others find that love and fun. Even this year they have branched out to do an adult community theatre production of The Producers as an all ages show as even the older kids in us all need time to find their joy on stage. And they give not just to Paramount Live, they have given their talents to numerous theatre groups such as Cambrian Players (this year’s musical The Full Monty!!), to Rob MacLeod’s Capitol Players, Magnus Theatre, Summer Theatre with the musical comedy Greased, and to so many more! While the final curtain call on each show may applaud all their unseen efforts, some of us know that they are giving endlessly to support our theatre community and the development of young people in our city. They are two very happily giving people that give endlessly to the theatre community and we know the young people that have worked with them are forever in their gratitude for all their work.
