Emerging Talent, Montreal: Sam Boucher of JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, Running through 6/17

Sam Boucher was born and raised in Montreal. He developed his passion for musical theatre at a young age, really beginning to focus on it in high school. He studied classical voice for two years at Vanier College, has just finished his first year at Concordia University and next year, he heads off to Sheridan College in Toronto, renowned for its Musical Theatre Program. I had the chance to chat with Sam about his life leading into starring as Joseph is JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT with the Cote St-Luc Dramatic Society.

HANNIBAL: Tell me a little bit about what prompted you to jump into the theatre world.

BOUCHER: When I was much younger, I did a show with Purple Dragon Theatre. My family had some friends in their shows, so we would go see all of them. When I was in grade school, my parents encouraged me to join. When I was in Sec 3 (third year of high school), I was convinced by a friend of mine to audition for a little musical called ANYTHING GOES, and I got cast as Billy. I fell into this pit of musical theatre and I have yet to climb out of it, not that I would want to!

HANNIBAL: What are some of your favourite roles, that you have had the opportunity to play?

BOUCHER: In CEGEP, I did a production of INTO THE WOODS. It was mind-blowing because we had all these classical singers coming together to put on a Sondheim show, which sounds like a dream. It is for me, anyway. I got to play Wolf, which was pretty insane. Wolf is dear to my heart. I remember him well. Just super, super creepy and disgusting, but still being able to find parts of you that don't come out every, single day and put them on stage is really electrifying. So he's one of my favourites. I also want to say, because of the quality of the production, was LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, which I did last year with the Cote St-Luc Dramatic Society. I was a chorus member. The level of dance and the level of voice that that show required was so high, it made it such an interesting experience.

HANNIBAL: What was your first production with the Cote St-Luc Dramatic Society?

BOUCHER: Alexia Gourd, the choreographer for Cote St-Luc, did the choreography for my last Royal West show. She took me aside after one of the rehearsals and told me I should audition for a show she was choreographing with Cote St-Luc, which was HAIRSPRAY. I auditioned and I was cast, so it was great. That was my first one. I have performed with them in HAIRSPRAY, the remount of HAIRSPRAY at The Segal Centre, a little show called BROADWAY IS BACK, THE PRODUCERS, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS and now JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT.

HANNIBAL: What are you enjoying the most about working on JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT?

BOUCHER: Working with Nick Burgess, the Musical Director has been amazing. We work really well together. Whenever I'm learning music from him or discussing music with him, it's always a treat. The team Anisa (Cameron, Artistic Director) and Cote St-Luc managed to get for this show is incredible. With people like Nick and Alexia, the possibilities are endless. There is so much talent and so much skill when you put those two people together.

HANNIBAL: What are some of your dream roles?

BOUCHER: I really would like to play any role in a Sondheim show, which I guess isn't super specific. Down the road, Bobby in COMPANY, but before then, probably something from A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, Gabe in NEXT TO NORMAL. I'd love to have another crack at Billy from ANYTHING GOES. We'll say the King from HAMILTON, and leave it at that! Oh! Tony from WEST SIDE STORY and Marius from LES MISERABLES!

HANNIBAL: That's a good little list!

BOUCHER: (laughs) Everybody's musical theatre aspirations!

HANNIBAL: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

BOUCHER: The plan is eventually to end up working in the States in some capacity. That's definitely a dream. Maybe with a show that's coming from Canada and moving to the States. I'm also totally open to working in Toronto, working in Stratford. I may even come back here for a few years if I have opportunities with The Segal Centre and The Centaur. I'm even looking into musical directing.

HANNIBAL: Is there anything else you would like the BroadwayWorld readers to know about you?

BOUCHER: You're putting me on the spot! Just how thankful I am for the opportunities that I'm getting. I'm super grateful for the people I have gotten to work with, especially in Cote St-Luc. That team is just incredible and they really deserve all the recognition they can get.

JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT runs at The Harold Greenspon Auditorium, 5801 Cavendish Blvd, Cote St-Luc through June 17. For tickets, click HERE. For more information on the Cote St-Luc Dramatic Society, visit http://www.csldramaticsociety.com

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