Story by Angela Cowan Photographs by Lia Crowe

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Performing artist, executive producer, publicist, director, fundraiser, writer. Tony James has worn a lot of hats in his nearly lifelong career in the arts, having jumped into performing as a child, and he香蕉视频直播檚 never looked back.

香蕉视频直播淲hen I was very little, I was an attention seeker. I was the class clown,香蕉视频直播� he says with a wry smile. 香蕉视频直播淚 remember a teacher telling me, 香蕉视频直播榶ou need to tap into your talents.香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈��

And so he dabbled with choir, took part in the small shows available through his school, and quickly decided he much preferred the applause to the odd laugh in the classroom followed by the inevitable detention.

It香蕉视频直播檚 a little hard to imagine the serious, focussed man sitting before me as a rambunctious youngster, but the stage presence that simmers below the surface is impossible to deny.

Those first forays into performing led Tony to being involved in more than 50 projects before he moved into television and film as a teenager. And it was in his teens that he says he began taking the arts seriously in a way he hadn香蕉视频直播檛 previously.

In high school, he was encouraged by a friend to audition for the lead role of Danny Zuko in a production of Grease, and to his surprise, he got it.

香蕉视频直播淚 never took it seriously until then,香蕉视频直播� he says.

That experience started a chain reaction. At 15, he began working as a director and producer, and by 19 had received an award of distinction for services in contribution to the arts.

It was also at 19 that fate brought another life-altering event: the birth of his daughter.

Already quietly passionate about his love of the arts, Tony香蕉视频直播檚 demeanour takes on an intensity as he talks about her arrival in his life.

香蕉视频直播淚t grounded me. She became the centre of my universe,香蕉视频直播� he says. 香蕉视频直播淓verything I香蕉视频直播檝e done is for her.香蕉视频直播�

And suddenly, his intensity and drive make perfect sense.

Parenthood brought life and all its priorities into sharp perspective. Already passionate and hard-working, Tony became driven. That same year, he opened a privately held production company named in honour of his daughter, Ocean. (That production company is still running, merged into a partnership in 2017 and renamed Ren茅e James Productions.)

He then spent the next 20-some years travelling North America, producing shows, writing and generally working at a breakneck pace. Every so often he香蕉视频直播檇 come back home to Victoria 香蕉视频直播� he was born and raised in Esquimalt 香蕉视频直播� to centre himself and take advantage of the idyllic West Coast.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 important to me to present here and premiere work,香蕉视频直播� he says. 香蕉视频直播淚 like the audiences here. I香蕉视频直播檓 grateful for the people who support me.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 nothing like the West Coast,香蕉视频直播� he adds with a smile. 香蕉视频直播淎nd it香蕉视频直播檚 a good place to write.香蕉视频直播�

Victoria was where he premiered his critically acclaimed and award-nominated 香蕉视频直播淟egends Concert Series香蕉视频直播� in the 2000s, celebrating the music of some of the most iconic performers of the 20th century, including Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Etta James and many more. And in fact, it香蕉视频直播檚 the Legends Series that香蕉视频直播檚 brought him back home for awhile.

Tony is the creative director behind Christmas with Sinatra, that played at the Alix Goolden Hall in mid-December.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 great jazz. Holiday favourites in the style of Sinatra,香蕉视频直播� says Tony. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 not a tribute in the standard sense. [Singer] Dane Warren brings his own style to the music, and he香蕉视频直播檚 great. It香蕉视频直播檚 a celebration of Frank香蕉视频直播檚 music. I wanted something that stepped out of that traditional carol thing.香蕉视频直播�

It香蕉视频直播檚 sure to be a success, as all the other Legends shows have been, but being the organizing force behind a packed schedule of such shows took a toll on Tony.

About six years ago, he almost left the business. Exhausted, spread thin, bouncing from city to city, he香蕉视频直播檇 lost sight of what made it all worth it. A friend encouraged him to remember why he香蕉视频直播檇 been drawn to the world of the arts in the first place. And so he stepped completely back, took a year off, and experienced the arts purely as a spectator.

In those darkened theatres, watching story and characters unfold in front of him, he rediscovered his love of theatre, of the way a brilliantly put together show can both bring an audience together in a shared experience, and resonate with each individual at the same time.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 much like reading a book,香蕉视频直播� he says. 香蕉视频直播淵ou think, I香蕉视频直播檓 going to dive into a different story, a different world. When you香蕉视频直播檙e watching something powerful or funny, it triggers something inside, in your core. Art gives you an outlet.香蕉视频直播�

The respite allowed his passion for his work to once again flourish, and he香蕉视频直播檚 been writing, producing and directing with fervour since.

香蕉视频直播淚 can香蕉视频直播檛 imagine doing anything else,香蕉视频直播� he says seriously. 香蕉视频直播淚 have to keep going. It香蕉视频直播檚 what I香蕉视频直播檓 passionate about.香蕉视频直播�

The rejuvenation also brought into focus how he can help the next generation of actors and performers as well.

香蕉视频直播淲hen you give children or teenagers confidence in the arts, it translates into the rest of their lives,香蕉视频直播� he says. Working with kids in his studio, encouraging them, directing them, listening to their ideas, 香蕉视频直播渨as the first time I realized I香蕉视频直播檇 had an impact. That was very humbling.香蕉视频直播�

Above all, it made him all the more determined to do everything he could to support them in their own fledgling careers.

香蕉视频直播淚t can take a long time, but sometimes all it takes is that one person to say yes, to show that belief in you,香蕉视频直播� he says. 香蕉视频直播淣o matter what, I want to help people.香蕉视频直播�