Dynamic mother and daughter acting duo Michele Stephens (right) and Zion Stephens (left) are at it again this coming week, both starring in The Drowsy Chaperone at the Highland Arts Theatre in Sydney, May 14-21. Submitted Photo.

~Victoria Standard

Mother-daughter duo Michele and Zion Stephens will reunite on stage in just two weeks.

Both Michele and Zion have been very busy performing, together and separately, over the past couple of years at the Highland Arts Theatre in Sydney. Zion recently wrapped up back-to-back shows with roles in Seussical: The Musical and Bunny, a modern and risqué drama by Canadian playwright Hannah Moscovitz and directed by Cape Breton’s Richie Wilcox. Both performed in the hit show Disco Nights in spring/summer 2018. Their performance in last year’s The Tribute to the Rotary Show was particularly meaningful.

“It was an honour to be in that because it was a tribute to the great Rotary shows that took place in Sydney through the 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s,” says Michele. “These were always Broadway musicals put on by the Rotary Clubs in Sydney. And of course, many people through the years have been in them, but my great aunt, Zion’s great-great aunt, Diane Stephens, was actually a regular cast performer in a lot of those productions.”

The pair will once again perform together onstage in the upcoming musical comedy, The Drowsy Chaperone, a full scale multiple Tony Award-winning Broadway musical written by Canadians running May 14-21 at the Highland Arts Theatre. Michelle is cast in the lead role while Zion will play the character, Trix.

Michele, proud mom and co-star, is amazed with Zion’s development as performer and how she has brought this full Broadway vocal character to life.

“I’m just like, ‘wow’! She’s holding her own with a lot of really experienced people of great and diverse talent in the theatre scene and in Sydney and Cape Breton.”

Working on stage together now comes naturally for both Michele and Zion. The pair are very focussed on the work during a production. So focused, in fact, that fellow cast members have mistaken the pair for close friends that simply carpool to rehearsals.

Zion, a grade 10 student at Memorial High School in Sydney Mines, says she loves working with her mom on stage.

“It’s so amazing to share the experience,” says Michele.

Visit highlandartstheatre.com for showtimes and tickets.