Mr. Speaker, I rise to acknowledge the efforts of Dartmouth North's Tara Taylor, who has written, directed, and produced a new musical, Viola: The Musical. Featuring a cast and crew of 36, most from the African Nova Scotian community, the show follows two present-day sisters, Rayna and Amiah, as they learn about the legacy of Viola Desmond for a school project.
Through a series of flashbacks that take the audience from her early years through to the historic day when she sat in the whites-only section of the Roseland Cinema, Desmond's incredible story of courage unfolds. The show features beautiful music composed by Ross Unger and spirited choreography by Liliona Quarmyne. Tara Taylor was inspired by Viola Desmond to start her own skincare business and writing this musical gave her an opportunity to bring her back to life to share her inspiration with others.
The show premiered at the Spatz Theatre as part of a week of celebrations honouring the release of the $10 bill, which now features Viola Desmond's picture. Congratulations to Tara and to all involved with this awesome production.