Bio
As a writer of musical theatre, Vincent de Tourdonnet has always sought to put social justice at the forefront- connecting passionate words to music with many respected collaborators since 1985. Currently, Vincent is adapting an electronic musical from the Andrew Moodie play The Real McCoy, about the black Canadian inventor who helped revolutionize the steam engine. He is collaborating with with Nicholas Murray of Lal and Rosalind Mills.
De Tourdonnet's epic historical musical Pélagie, adapted from Antonine Maillet's Goncourt prize-winning novel, is about a mother leading her family back homeward during the terrible 18th century refugee crisis which was the deportation of the Acadians from Nova Scotia. Co-created with Allen Cole, Pélagie went from CanStage’s main stage to the National Arts Centre, was broadcast twice on CBC radio, and de Tourdonnet directed the eastern Canada tour, with performances alternating between English and French. His Joan of Arc musical Jeanne, with music by Peter Sipos, which asked difficult questions about the religious legacy of that heroine in an age of renewed inter-faith conflict, was also performed in both languages, and was one of the largest-scale musicals ever produced in Quebec; seen by nearly 100,000 people in Montreal and Quebec City. Snappy Tales, de Tourdonnet’s collection of short musicals united by their themes of anti-authoritarian satire (one story adapted with approval from Kurt Vonnegut), received 7 Dora nominations for the Toronto premiere, and his satire on the medical profession, Strange Medicine, was both a critical and public hit in his native British Columbia, attracting appreciation and alarm from doctors for highlighting challenges within their profession. While in New York studying musical theatre writing at the BMI workshop under Maury Yeston and others, de Tourdonnet taught musical theatre writing at Long Island University.
Vincent coaches, facilitates and does simulation-based training in English and French across Canada, and the U.S., with the training companies Plays That Work and Practica Learning. He has faciilated for theatre conferences including The Director's Lab North and given masterclasses in musical theatre including for Eclipse Theatre.
An advocate for cycling and other forms of clean active transportation, de Tourdonnet's writings include a chapter in On Bicycles, 50 ways the New Bike Culture Can Change Your Life and articles for Momentum Magazine. He sits as vice-chair of the board of directors of the Prince Edward Trails Committee, having moved with his partner Beth Easton to Prince Edward County from Toronto in 2016.
De Tourdonnet's epic historical musical Pélagie, adapted from Antonine Maillet's Goncourt prize-winning novel, is about a mother leading her family back homeward during the terrible 18th century refugee crisis which was the deportation of the Acadians from Nova Scotia. Co-created with Allen Cole, Pélagie went from CanStage’s main stage to the National Arts Centre, was broadcast twice on CBC radio, and de Tourdonnet directed the eastern Canada tour, with performances alternating between English and French. His Joan of Arc musical Jeanne, with music by Peter Sipos, which asked difficult questions about the religious legacy of that heroine in an age of renewed inter-faith conflict, was also performed in both languages, and was one of the largest-scale musicals ever produced in Quebec; seen by nearly 100,000 people in Montreal and Quebec City. Snappy Tales, de Tourdonnet’s collection of short musicals united by their themes of anti-authoritarian satire (one story adapted with approval from Kurt Vonnegut), received 7 Dora nominations for the Toronto premiere, and his satire on the medical profession, Strange Medicine, was both a critical and public hit in his native British Columbia, attracting appreciation and alarm from doctors for highlighting challenges within their profession. While in New York studying musical theatre writing at the BMI workshop under Maury Yeston and others, de Tourdonnet taught musical theatre writing at Long Island University.
Vincent coaches, facilitates and does simulation-based training in English and French across Canada, and the U.S., with the training companies Plays That Work and Practica Learning. He has faciilated for theatre conferences including The Director's Lab North and given masterclasses in musical theatre including for Eclipse Theatre.
An advocate for cycling and other forms of clean active transportation, de Tourdonnet's writings include a chapter in On Bicycles, 50 ways the New Bike Culture Can Change Your Life and articles for Momentum Magazine. He sits as vice-chair of the board of directors of the Prince Edward Trails Committee, having moved with his partner Beth Easton to Prince Edward County from Toronto in 2016.
