OLAMIDE AKIN-OLUGBADE 16

Olamide Akin-Olugbade took IB French as a native speaker in High School and really enjoyed it because her teacher chose the Theater option. Studying the likes of Edmond Rostand or Eugene Ionesco was a real privilege. She also had the wonderful opportunity in High School to have one of the leading roles in the stage production of “The Woman in Black”. Olamide took FRE/THR 211 in the fall of her freshman year, and fully enjoyed the experience. She’s been thrilled to join L’Avant-Scène in the spring of 2013 and she looks forward to new enriching roles with the troupe.

NOÉ CHAPOLARD 14

Noé Chapolard was born in Paris, France, where he studied at the Ecole Active Bilingue Jeannine Manuel. A concentrator in the Woodrow Wilson School, his interests range from air and space to music and politics. Also interested in languages (German, Russian) and literature, Noé discovered acting as a freshman with the Troupe of L'Avant-Scne. Past L’Avant-Scène credits include Incendies, Bérénice, Le Mariage de Figaro, Andromaque, Le Roi se Meurt, and Partage de midi. Noé also participated in the memorable ninth L’Avant-Scène in Paris in 2012. His director congratulates him for all the hard work and progress!

MARIUS CONSTANTIN 13

Marius is a Physics major who used to take a break from equations by reading Frederic Beigbeder's novels. Curious to read the original versions, he embarked on this great adventure by taking FRE103 and FRE 107 during his freshman year, and participating in the summer class FRE 207F in Aix-en-Provence. In the summer of 2012, he did an internship at École Polytechnique in Paris and returned to Princeton determined to perfect his language skills by enrolling in FRE 211 the following fall. The workshop revealed the fascinating world of the French theater classic and modern repertoire, surpassing any expectations through the Festival "Seuls en Scene" and the visit of the great actor Guillaume Gallienne. Marius has been delighted to join L’Avant-Scène in the spring of 2013 and looks forward to new exciting roles with the Troupe and to continuing his progress as an actor.  

DAVID DJAIZ

David was born in 1990 in Agen, a quiet town in the South of France. He lived several years abroad (in Morocco and Thailand especially). After prepping in Lycée Henri-IV (Paris), he entered the École Normale Supérieure (rue d'Ulm) where he got a Master's degree in Political Philosophy. He got another Master's degree from Sciences-Po Paris in Public Affairs.  He was a Visiting Graduate Student at Princeton University during academic year 2012-2013. When he is not studying philosophy or politics, David enjoys writing, acting and traveling the world.  His director has been delighted to welcome him in L’Avant-Scène and congratulates him for his wonderful participation.  

KATE DREYFUSS 14

Kate Dreyfuss is a rising senior from Short Hills, New Jersey who is majoring in the Department of French & Italian. Fre/Thr 211 was her first Princeton French class in the fall of her freshman year. Kate joined L’Avant-Scène her freshman spring, when she performed various roles in Le Mariage de Figaro. During the 2011-2012 Season Kate performed the roles of Céphise in Andromaque by Racine and Marguerite in Le roi se meurt by Ionesco. She also participated in the ninth L’Avant-Scène in Paris.  During her junior year, Kate starred in the memorable Partage de midi. An accomplished musician, Kate has played the violin since the age of 3 and attended the Pre-College Division of The Juilliard School in New York City before coming to Princeton.  She is currently Co-President of the Princeton University Orchestra, in which she has led the violin sections as concertmaster and principal second violin. Her director has been thrilled with her progress all these years.

COLE FREEMAN 14

Cole is a rising senior in the Department of French and Italian, from Branford, Connecticut. Cole started his French studies in FRE 101 freshman year, then studied in FRE 1027 and FRE 207F in Aix-en-Provence; the Department’s summer study program. In his sophomore year, Cole started his French theater studies in FRE/THR 211 and FRE 311/THR 312. The spring of his sophomore year he joined L’Avant-Scène and acted in “La Princesse Maleine.” In the fall of 2012, he starred in his first important role; the role of Horace in L’École des femmes. Other credits that season include Arias in Le Cid and Le Gendarme in Les Mamelles de Tiresias. His director has been delighted with his progress and looks forward to directing Cole in new exciting roles.

JIM GABARET

Jim was a Visiting Fellow from the Ecole Normale Supérieure, Paris (rue d'Ulm), and he was granted the Procter Fellowship by Princeton University. He has passed the agrégation of philosophyin 2012, after a master degree in phenomenology (Paris I - Panthéon Sorbonne University). He studied in the Philosophy Department at Princeton, where he was working on some personal research and on a subject for his PhD. He is interested in a lot of topics, but especially in ethics and metaethics, and in the moral and metaphysical question of egoism. Jim has directed short films but L’Avant-Scène was his first experience acting. He has been thrilled to join L’Avant-Scène the spring of 2013 and work on the roles of Le Comte in Le Cid and Le Mari in Les Mamelles de Tirésias.

TAMARA KAWAR 13

Tamara is a senior from Paris, France and a Complit major. She received her International Baccalaureate Diploma in the spring of 2009 from the École Active Bilingue Jeannine Manuel. Though born in New York City, she had never lived in the US prior to coming to Princeton. Past L’Avant-Scène credits include L’Avare, L’Illusion Comique, Incendies, Le Mariage de Figaro in which she starred in the role of Suzanne, On purge bébé by Feydeau, Les Femmes savantes, and Le Cid. Her director has been delighted to offer Tamara the great role of Chimène at the end of her Princeton career and congratulates her for all the talent and work of the past four years!

TYLER LAWRENCE 16

Tyler Lawrence, a rising sophomore from Nashville, Tennessee, participated in his first shows with L'Avant Scene the fall semester of his freshman year, L’École des femmes and Les Femmes savantes. He took French throughout high school and has experience in both plays and musical theater. His freshman year, Tyler also enrolled in FRE 207 and FRE 222. He was thrilled to have been able to be a part the Festival Molière and is already looking forward to future productions. With interests in politics and development, he is a prospective Woodrow Wilson School major and is considering a certificate in theater.

ROXANE LATRÈCHE 15
Roxane is a rising junior at Princeton University (Class of 2015). She is a French student who grew up in Paris and moved to London when she was 9 where she attended the Lycée Français Charles de Gaulle. There, she pursued the French Baccalaureate (Baccalauréat Scientifique) along with the English and Italian GCSEs. Roxane will major in the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs with a certificate in Environmental Studies. Roxane joined L’Avant-Scène the fall semester of her sophomore year and played the role of Martine in Molière’s Les Femmes savantes. She later performed the roles of L’Infante in Le Cid, and the lead part Thérèse in Les Mamelles de Tirésias. She has been thrilled to join L’Avant-Scène and looks forward to future exciting roles.

JACOB MEISTER 13

Jacob Meister, a Complit major and a member of the great class of 2013, comes from Boston, Massachusetts. Jacob joined L’Avant-Scène the fall semester of his freshman year, and performed in both L’Avare and L’Illusion comique that year. His sophomore year was an exceptional year of theater for Jacob.  Jacob took Fre/Thr 211, and performed in Incendies, Bérénice, and Le Mariage de Figaro, in which he starred in the title-role of Figaro. His memorable performance delighted the large audience that joined for L’Avant-Scène’s 10 years anniversary at the Berlind Theater. Last year, Jacob offered another memorable performance as King Marcellus in La Princessse Maleine. His director has been thrilled to direct him in the role of Don Diègue in Le Cid in the spring of 2013 and congratulates him for all the wonderful work these past four years!

LYNN NEHME 15

Lynn Nehme is a rising junior from Beirut, Lebanon. She is currently a mechanical and aerospace engineer and hopes to pursue a certificate in finance. She was part of the drama clubs of the Grand Lycée Franco-Libanais de Beyrouth and the College Stanislas de Montreal and is glad to still be a part of the theatrical realm here at Princeton. Past L’Avant-Scène credits include La Princesse Maleine, Les Femmes savantes & Les Mamelles de Tirésias. Lynn participated in the memorable tenth L’Avant-Scène in Paris Program of January 2013. She looks forward to new exciting roles at L’Avant Scène.

MADELEINE PLANEIX-CROCKER    

Madeleine is a rising junior at Princeton University (class of 2015).  She is French-American and grew up in Los Angeles, where she attended the Lycée International de Los Angeles, pursuing the French Baccalaureate (Bac S) along with an International Baccalaureate Higher Level A1 English certificate. Madeleine concentrates in the Department of French and Italian, with a focus on European cultural and scientific diplomacy as well as French-American relations.  She has been taking dance classes and performing in French theater plays since elementary school (her favorite role was Ines in Jean-Paul Sartre's No Exit).  In her freshman year, she was very happy to participate in the FRE/THR 211 – FRE 311/THR 312 sequence. She joined L’Avant-Scène in the spring semester of her freshman year and performed various roles in La Princesse Maleine. L’École des femmes was her second play with L’Avant-Scène. Madeleine also participated in the tenth L’Avant-Scène in Paris of January 2013.

MATTHIEU ROCHÉ

Matthieu Roche was a post-doc in the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department at Princeton.  He graduated as a PhD in France in 2008.  He had been living in Princeton since the end of 2009.  Past L’Avant-Scène credits include L’Illusion Comique, Incendies, Le Mariage de Figaro, On Purge bébé, L’École des femmes and Les Femmes savantes. His director had been delighted with Matthieu’s development as an actor over three years of hard work and congratulate him for the wonderful parcours!

SIMONE SASSE 14

Simone is a rising senior from Los Angeles who majors in Molecular Biology. Prior to joining L’Avant-Scène, in the spring semester of her freshman year, Simone had had theater experience in French in high school and she took FRE/THR 211 fall freshman year. Past L’Avant-Scène credits include Le Mariage de Figaro, Le Roi se meurt and Les Femmes savantes, in which Simone performed the memorable role of Bélise. Simone looks forward to new exciting roles her senior year.

TANYARADZWA TAWENGWA 14

Tanyaradzwa Ashleigh Tawengwa is a rising senior from Harare, Zimbabwe. She is a Music concentrator with certificates in French, Theater, Music Performance and African Studies. She took FRE/THR 211 in the fall of her sophomore year, and joined L’Avant-Scène the fall semester of her junior year, starring in Molière’s Les Femmes savantes. Tanya participated in the tenth L’Avant-Scène in Paris! She would like to thank Florent and the l'Avant Scene family for welcoming her!

MICHAEL TIKHONOV GS

Micha Tikhonov is a rising fifth year graduate student in the Physics Department. He joined L’Avant-Scène in the spring of 2011. In 2011-2012, Micha took both FRE/THR 211 and FRE 311/THR 312 and acted in three of L’Avant-Scène’s plays. He worked on a record number of eight roles that year! Past L’Avant-Scène credits include Le Mariage de Figaro, Andromaque, On purge bébé et Mais n’te promène donc pas toute nue, La Princesse Maleine, L’École des femmes, in which he starred in the lead role of Arnolphe, Le Cid and Partage de midi. It’s been an incredible journey for Misha and his director congratulates him for all the efforts and progress!

REMI YAMAZAKI 14

Remi Yamazaki is a Comparative Literature major from Yokohama, Japan. She learned her first words of French with her French piano teacher at age 4, and started formal language study in high school. The summer of 2012 was her first time in France, when she had an internship at the OECD in Paris. Remi joined L’Avant-Scène the fall semester of her junior year and performed in both plays of our Festival Molière: L’École des femmes and Les Femmes savantes. In the spring of 2013, Remi participated in the great tenth L’Avant-Scène in Paris program and Les Mamelles de Tirésias. Remi also took the Fre/Thr 211 - 311/312 sequence her sophomore year. She looks forward to her new roles at L’Avant Scène!

TOMER YAVETZ 14

Tomer is a rising senior from Tel Aviv, Israel, who majors in Astrophysics. Prior to joining L’Avant-Scène in the spring of 2012 and acting in Le Roi se meurt, Tomer had taken FRE 101, FRE 102/7, FRE 207F in the Aix-en-Provence summer program, and FRE/THR 211. He has been delighted to work on the role of Sanche in Le Cid his junior year, and looks forward to new exciting roles in the near future.

JOEL ZINN 13

Joel Zinn is a senior from Indianapolis Indiana, where he learned French at the International School of Indiana. Joel majors in Astrophysics with a certificate in the Program of Theater. He has been a member of L’Avant-Scène since his freshman year. Past credits include L’Illusion Comique, Incendies, Bérénice, Le Mariage de Figaro, Andromaque, Le Cid in which he starred as Rodrigue, as well as Fre/Thr 211 and Fre 311/Thr 312. His director congratulates him for all the great work. Joel exceeded all his director’s expectations of these years. Congratulations for all the work of the past four years!