Bio
As a writer of musical drama, Vincent de Tourdonnet has always sought to put ideas at the forefront- connecting passionate words to music since 1985. His epic historical musical Pélagie, about the Acadian deportation, co-written with Allen Cole, went from CanStage’s Bluma Appel theatre to the main stage of the National Arts Centre, and then de Tourdonnet directed the eastern Canada tour in English and French. His Joan of Arc musical Jeanne, also performed in both languages, was one of the largest-scale musicals ever produced in Quebec; it was seen by nearly 100,000 people in Montreal and Quebec City. Snappy Tales, de Tourdonnet’s collection of short satirical musicals, 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. Vincent taught musical theatre writing at Long Island University in New York City.
Current projects include a new revised rock version of Jeanne, the Joan of Arc Musical, and an electronic musical based on the Andrew Moodie play The Real McCoy, about the African-Canadian inventor who helped revolutionize the steam engine.
He is also collaborating on a new rock musical -Spark City- with Marko Pandza and David Yenovkian.
Vincent advocates for cycling and clean transportation. His chapter on recumbent bicycles was published in On Bicycles, 50 ways the New Bike Culture Can Change Your Life. (New World Library, September 2011). A contributor to Momentum Magazine, he serves on the board of directors of Transportation Options, as well as on the editorial board of Toronto Body Mind.
Current projects include a new revised rock version of Jeanne, the Joan of Arc Musical, and an electronic musical based on the Andrew Moodie play The Real McCoy, about the African-Canadian inventor who helped revolutionize the steam engine.
He is also collaborating on a new rock musical -Spark City- with Marko Pandza and David Yenovkian.
Vincent advocates for cycling and clean transportation. His chapter on recumbent bicycles was published in On Bicycles, 50 ways the New Bike Culture Can Change Your Life. (New World Library, September 2011). A contributor to Momentum Magazine, he serves on the board of directors of Transportation Options, as well as on the editorial board of Toronto Body Mind.
