This season, five talented youngsters will be taking centre stage in Drayton Entertainment’s 2014 playbill.

Alex Mustakas, Artistic Director of Drayton Entertainment, confirmed the casting of key roles in the upcoming productions of “Les Misérables” and “South Pacific”.

“It is extremely gratifying to nurture this talent and create opportunities for young performers to appear on stage and work side by side with our seasoned company of professional artists,” says Mustakas.

“Les Misérables” is on stage this summer at the Dunfield Theatre Cambridge and Huron Country Playhouse in Grand Bend. It includes three pivotal roles played by children.

Credits include Orphan Black

Gavroche, the fierce and brave young revolutionary, is played by 10-year-old Drew Davis of Markham. Davis has been in the spotlight since he was five. His many TV and feature film appearances include the recurring role of Oscar Hendrix on the critically-acclaimed “Orphan Black”. He also voiced “Max on Max and Ruby” and currently voices Marshall on Nickelodeon’s “Paw Patrol”.

Brooke Bauer, age 10, of Hawkesville will tackle the role of the innocent and docile young Cosette. Bauer has appeared in multiple Drayton Entertainment productions as part of the children’s ensemble including “The Wizard of Oz”, “Annie”, and “Peter Pan”.

Twelve-year-old Caitlyn Costa is making her Drayton Entertainment debut in the role of the lively, young Eponine.

The Thornhill native has graced the stage in multiple theatre productions including “Pigmania”, “Chanukah Live 2012”,and the City Youth Players’ “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”.

South Pacific

The production of South Pacific, stars Chilina Kennedy. It includes two pivotal roles played by children.

As the mixed-race children of the mysterious French plantation owner Emile de Becque, Tate Yap and Belle Lemieux-Chan represent the heart of Rodgers’ and Hammerstein’s musical masterpiece about love and prejudice on a tiny island paradise.

A native of Cambridge, Tate Yap, age 11, made his first stage appearance as Smee in The Brown Childress Theatre’s production of “Peter Pan”. Since then, Yap has accumulated many theatre and film credits. In 2012, the young actor was honoured with The 48 Hour Film Project’s Best Actor award.

Lemieux-Chan, age 12, who hails from Guelph, has performed in past Drayton Entertainment productions as part of the children’s ensemble including “Annie”, “Oliver!” and “Peter Pan”. She also has a number of credits with the Elora Community Theatre and Orangeville Music Theatre.

June 11 in Cambridge

“Les Misérables” runs June 11th to August 2nd in Cambridge, followed by a four-week run in Grand Bend, August 7th to August 30th.

“South Pacific” is on stage at the Drayton Festival Theatre May 14th to May 31st and June 5th to June 21st at the Huron Country Playhouse.

Regular performance tickets for both productions are $42.00 for adults; $25.00 for youth under 20 years of age.

Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased from any computer or mobile device by visiting www.draytonentertainment.com, or by calling toll free 1-855- DRAYTON (372-9866).