OUR STORY
“On January 29th, 2016, my father passed away suddenly and unexpectedly from a heart attack. I had just seen him the night before he passed, not knowing when he walked out my door I would never see him again. Paul Barao was the greatest father, husband, brother, and son, and his loss left a gigantic hole in all of our lives. Since this personal tragedy, I have been determined to find some light in darkness, and that is where I had the idea of putting together this concert for Heart & Stroke. I chose BEAUTY AND THE BEAST because it’s the show that most reminds me of my dad. At heart, it’s a story about an eccentric girl and her eccentric Papa who would go to any lengths to protect each other. Plus, Maurice’s moustache definitely rivals my dad’s. Paul was the most generous soul in the world. He would’ve given the shirt off his back if we would’ve let him, and so being able to help people in his name is a very fitting way to honour his memory.”
Tess Barao
Artistic Director, Cosparty |
“Everyone’s family has been affected by heart disease in some way. Two weeks before I was born, my grandfather suffered a stroke that left him paralyzed on his left side and prone to extremes in emotions, often reduced to tears when expressing joy and anger when frustrated. While I cherished the time that I had with him, I wished that I had the opportunity to know the man that my family described him as being prior to the stroke. Over the past two years, my uncle experienced a stroke and my father suffered a mild heart attack. As a result of advances in medicine and exceptional care, both my uncle and my father survived and avoided more serious consequences. I know that this is in large part to the incredible work that Heart & Stroke has been doing to fight heart disease. When I heard that Tess was looking to do a benefit in this way, I knew that I had to be involved. Charitable work has always been a part of who I am, and this was a perfect way for the work I do in theatre to have a deeper purpose and a lasting impact.”
Brian Goldenberg
Artistic & Executive Director, Angelwalk Theatre |