BE ITALIAN! Dinner and a Show!

So you want to know about love?

We're very excited to announce our joint promotion with Zenari's! Head to Zenari's from June 29th to July 14th, and ask your server for a coupon for $4 off your ticket to Nine. Then present your Zenari's receipt to the Walterdale Theatre box office with the coupon, and live today as if it may become your last.

Tell us about your night! Tweet us with the hashtag #beitalian.

Please note: coupon only redeemable when presented to Walterdale box office attendant with receipt dated July 29th to July 14th at time of purchase. Receipt can be dated a different day as ticket purchase. One coupon per customer, while supplies last. Coupons not redeemable for phone or online purchases. Tickets subject to availability.

Media Call - Nine

Tonight was media call for Nine.  We had a great time doing interviews and taking pictures.  Check out the great photos taken by our photographer, Douglas Stewart.

Photo above features Kristin Johnston as Luisa Contini and Cory Christensen as Guido Contini.

Spotlight on Helene Hewitt - Our Lady of the Spa in Nine, the musical

So Helene, tell us what you are doing in the show... In our production of Nine, I play Our Lady of the Spa. She is a bit of an enigma. Not only is she the owner of the spa in which the musical takes place but she is also a narrator and then sometimes acts as a guide to Guido. One of the things I admire most about Our Lady is the fact that she is a business woman in the 1960s which was undoubtedly a time in which men were more likely to dominate private enterprise. In order to play Our Lady of the Spa I try to channel feelings of being an ultra-hip entrepreneur mixed with the kindness of a beneficent goddess. It's simple, really!

What do you do when you are not at Walterdale? When I am not singing and dancing at the Walterdale Playhouse am I either working as an Assistant Principal at a Fine Arts, French Immersion elementary school or spending time with my husband and my two Jack Russell Terriers (read that terrors!), Pippin and Dent. I enjoying reading, singing (of course!) and basket weaving while juggling on a unicycle. (I'm just kidding on that last one...just checking to see if you were still reading!)

What's your favorite song from the show? My favourite song and dance number in the show is Germans at the Spa. I know you're thinking that as Our Lady of the Spa I am somewhat biased about this seeing as I own the spa. However, I would like to make it known that I love this number because it has a combination of fun, silliness, ridiculous German accents, and trench walks. The only thing that could make it better would be jazz hands but that just didn't fit in! (I bet you're surprised I am not the choreographer! Sorry, Adam! I'll keep my jazz hands to myself!)

What's one cool fact about you that people might not know? One cool fact about me that people might not know is that I am part Colombian. That is from South America (not that other province to the west of us!). My mother is from Bogota and my fierce love of latin music and coffee no doubt hail from my Colombian roots. You must be wondering what my other half is? My paternal side of the family is German! Yet another reason to love Germans at the Spa!

Spotlight on Marliss Weber - Dialect Coach for Nine

What is your role on this production?

I am the dialect coach for Nine. This show is such a great challenge for all of us because there are so many different language requirements: Italian, French, German and American. Not only that, but the actors need to sing and dance and act, all in a different accent than their usual speech. This is quite a feat, and it's been great fun helping the actors find this important element of their characters.

I love the challenge of working on accents with actors because it makes such a fundamental difference as to how they present their character onstage. A good accent adds a layer of realism that truly allows the audience to suspend their disbelief and to escape into the world of the show - which to me is the whole point of theatre. It can be highly technical work, just like dance or singing, but when it all comes together it really does create magic, and I love being a part of that.

What do you do when you're not at Walterdale?

By day, I'm a writer and communications consultant. I run my own company called Parodos Communications, and I focus on corporate storytelling, which is a creative way for companies to express their corporate vision and to spread the word on what they do. So my days are spent writing, interviewing, producing videos, tweeting, facebooking, and project managing for a broad spectrum of organizations, from the University of Alberta, to the Legal Education Society of Alberta, to small businesses and all levels of government. It's challenging and engaging work, and I love it.

By night, and sometimes by day, I teach speech and accent reduction to professionals, and dialects to actors. I'm passionate about musical theatre and teach, direct and adjudicate whenever I get the chance. I also sing, shop, read, eat and drink a lot of wine, although only on a semi-professional basis :)

Favorite number in the show?

I adore the Bells of St. Sebastian. It gives me chills. Gorgeous harmonies, sung by a beautiful cast. It alone is worth the ticket price.

One cool fact about me...

I can balance silverware on my nose. It's my one party trick.

photo: © Nicole Piotrkowski 2008

Spotlight on Erika Noot - Carla in Nine

What is your role in Nine? I am playing the role of Carla Albanese. Carla is Guido’s passionate mistress and one of his many distractions; which she enjoys being, of course. In various productions of Nine the song “A Call From the Vatican” was sung while using Aerial silks or while doing contortions but in this production Kristen Finlay had a genius plan to incorporate pole dancing. For the past couple months Jessica Lauderdale, Pole Dancing instructor, has been training me in various spins and tricks on the pole. Jessica is an amazing instructor, she has encouraged me and helped me feel confident in all the tricks, even the upside down ones ;) 

Why did you audition for this production? In my final year in the Theatre Arts program at Grant MacEwan I played the role of Sarraghina in Nine. I fell in love with Maury Yeston’s beautiful music so when I heard that the Walterdale was doing it, I jumped at the chance.

What is your background in theatre? I am a 2006 graduate of the MacEwan Theatre Arts program and since then have performed in many different shows around Edmonton. In 2007 I worked for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines as one of the lead vocalists singing songs like “RESPECT,” “River Deep Mountain High,” and “Vogue.” From then on I began singing many pop songs at various venues and creating my own concerts and cabarets. In 2011 I co-founded a voice and performance studio with Bernard and Joy Quilala called Spotlight Studios. We train aspiring singers to become versatile professional artists in many different genres. I have never performed with the Walterdale but I’m excited to make this the first. 

What are your goals for the future? I would love to be doing theatre full time whether it’s performing, teaching, choreographing, directing, and be able to pay the bills too ;)

What is your favourite thing about the production? This has been such an amazing group of people to work with. Everyone works hard, performs hard, plays hard, and loves hard. After almost every rehearsal I tell my husband, “I just love these people, they are so awesome.”

* top photo supplied, lower photo by Janine Hodder

Spotlight on Heather Brooke - Ilsa von Hesse in Nine

What is your role in Nine? In this production of Nine I play Ilsa von Hesse, a German, who loves to spend her time being pampered. This involves maintaining a low stress, high energy, and giggly atmosphere at all times. That is very trying, of course. Actually, it has not been hard to fit myself into this type of character at all since being happy is what I’m known for. However it HAS been difficult trying to hit all those high notes that German girls apparently sing when they go to spas, so to prepare, I have for the most part, been working on my range. Other than that, I’ve been concentrating on surviving my summer courses in Spanish, dance shows and classes, working and volunteering, and making it to rehearsal without forgetting a meal, an hour’s sleep, or passing out from exhaustion. I’d say, I’ve done alright and this production has definitely been worth all the effort.

Why did you audition for this production? A friend of mine was auditioning for Nine and about a week before the audition dates she asked me if I was interested in community theatre at all, and said that I should audition as well. She had mentioned liking the idea of working with Kristen. Though we were both working on our final projects for school and they were taking up almost all of our time we wanted to give it a shot because in the summer having something to concentrate on would be nice. I was excessively busy (as I usually am) but decided to put that aside a little bit in order to audition for this production. I figured it was a great idea since I had not done any theatre outside of school and I would like to pursue acting as a career, so it seemed smartest to start as early as the opportunity presented itself. So despite my time constraints, I signed up. The day rolled around and I dragged myself from my rehearsal into my car, flipped my army print T-shirt (costume) inside out (because who shows up to an audition in camouflage?) and gave it my best shot. I felt like a mess, still worn out from rehearsing with my 331 group but was excited to have auditioned and with that; I returned to my rehearsal for the night. I wasn’t sure what kind of “competition” I would be up against but all the same it was a great experience to have auditioned for something outside of school and I was determined, either way, to continue auditioning for other types of theatre. Soon after being cast, I realized how lucky I really was to have been picked to be in this very talented group of people, and I can’t wait to see what we can do.

What is your background in theatre? My background in theatre is very basic, this is my first appearance at Walterdale, and my first experience outside of school (other than Citadel classes at a young age) for that matter. I had taken drama in grade 7 but had dropped it because it was not a very good experience in general. Luckily I required another class in grade ten and there was still something about drama that I thought could be fun. Ms. Brodin changed the way I looked at theatre. I fell in love with it and I decided after being in Brodin’s production of A Christmas Carol that theatre was what I really wanted to pursue. Following that year I was in many productions at Harry Ainlay including: Grease, Once upon this Island, and Guys and Dolls. Once I started going to the University of Alberta I really dove into drama, taking on a challenging mask role as a Pulchinella in Clive Barker’s Crazyface. This was by far the best experience I have undertaken because it taught me the most about acting and fear. Putting on a mask to me is accepting every possibility, always being in the right, and only judging yourself when it feels good. Ever since that role in Crazyface I have been striving to find acceptance in myself, in everything I do, and oddly enough, I’ve been succeeding. I feel very comfortable in many situations and have come so far since grade 7. I am proud to take yet another step in the right direction with my first production that is not affiliated with school because, so far, it has been a miraculous experience!

What is your favorite thing about the production so far? My favorite thing about this production so far is that it has provided me with a wonderful break from life which, for the last six weeks, has been ever so needed. I can come to rehearsal and forget everything (including some very important dance classes, oops!) and just be in the moment, just singing and having fun. I like that it is still challenging to remember lines and songs etc. but that my brain interprets it not as work, but as fun and as progress. It’s supplied me with the feeling of achievement that I needed to successfully get through the other commitments I had been a part of.

What are your goals for the future in regards to theatre? Theatre for me has become an outlet. It is also a career path I am very interested and determined to pursue and whether I’m on stage or in film (Film? Film!) I will spend the rest of my life in theatre. It is on my bucket list to be in a production at the Citadel, so at least that much I MUST accomplish. I do hope to get to a point with acting where I can live with that sense of accomplishment it gives me and also generate enough income to survive. Maybe not “Brangelina” famous but “can put food on the table” famous would be nice! I just enjoy the idea of theatre because sharing the happiness acting brings me, with an audience who can really appreciate it, is one of the most rewarding experiences.

Other comments? I just wanted to say how truly grateful I am to have this experience and to have been given a chance to really learn about Walterdale, about community theatre, and about the career path I have chosen. So far the process has been nothing but fun, relaxing, and rewarding and I can’t wait to see what comes up next!

* Upper photo supplied; Lower photo by Janine Hodder

Spotlight on Nadine Veroba - Claudia in Nine

Hello Nadine.  Who are you playing in this production of Nine? I have the opportunity to play Claudia in NINE. She is an actress and is Guido’s muse. Claudia has been a wonderful character to get into. One of the things I have been doing in preparation has been studying famous women of the 1960’s to get a feel of how they would walk and carry themselves. Claudia is full of grace and elegance, and that is what I am trying to portray.

Why did you audition for the show? I was very excited when I saw that Walterdale was doing NINE. This theatre is very respected and I wanted the opportunity to work within it.

How long have you been involved in theatre? My passion for theatre started when my parents took me to my first production Les Miserables at the Jubilee Auditorium when I was 5. I knew at that moment that all I wanted to do was be on stage. I took part in the Foot Theatre Schools at the Citadel Theatre while I was young, and from there took the opportunity whenever it was given to me to be on stage. I studied music at both Grant MacEwan and the U of A. I am also a performer in Musicalmania! based out of St. Albert for the last ten years.

My goal for theatre is to simply be doing it as much as possible. It is a big part of who I am and I hope to continue performing in different shows and venues for as long as I can.

What is your favorite thing about this production? My favorite thing about the production so far is the amazing people I have met. The talent of the cast and the production team constantly blows me away. It really is an honor to be a part of it.

Do you have any theatre secrets to share? I will tell a secret about my shoes. I have a lucky penny that I have taped inside my shoe that I wear for whatever show I am in. I had found the penny before my first big high school performance of Fame and I have worn it ever since!

* Photo above supplied, photo to the right by Janine Hodder

Auditions for The Weir - First up in the 2012-2013 Season

AUDITION NOTICE

The Weir by Conor McPherson

PERFORMANCE DATES: October 17-27, 2012

AUDITION DATES: July 8 & 9, 2012; Times: 7:00 – 10:00 p.m.

Walterdale Playhouse (10322 83 Avenue)

Call-backs: Sat., July 14th, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. at Walterdale Playhouse

DIRECTOR: Anne Marie Szucs;

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR: David Johnston;

PRODUCTION MANAGER: Catherine Wenschlag;

STAGE MANAGER: Kayla Wiley;

ASMS: Ian Fitzgerald, Anglia Redding Turkiewicz;

SET DESIGN: Jim Herchak;

COSTUME DESIGN: Patti Zeglen;

LIGHTING DESIGN: Brad Melrose;

SOUND DESIGN: Darrell Portz;

DIALECT COACH: Marliss Wweber;

PROPERTIES: Elinor Tofin;

In a small rural bar in western Ireland, four men gather every night to drink and tell stories. Tonight, they are joined by a young woman from Dublin. What starts as a visit to the local pub turns into a night of ghostly tales and an unexpected twist that changes everything.

Characters:

(Please note that ages should reflect what you read as onstage – not your actual age.)

Jack, male, fifties

Brendan, male, thirties

Jim, male, forties

Finbar, male, late forties

Valerie, female, thirties

•Rehearsals will begin in August. Rehearsals will be scheduled around actor availability whenever possible.

Audition Expectations:
◦You will be auditioning with a group of 4 to 5 other actors in a half-hour slot. Please prepare a monologue that tells a story (clear beginning, middle, and end). You may be asked to cold read from the play, so please familiarize yourself with it before auditioning. We are looking for actors who can speak with an Irish accent – you may be asked to do so during the audition.

•Please bring any conflict dates you have to the audition. Headshots and résumés are recommended, but not required.

•Copies of the script are available for reading at Walterdale. Contact the Theatre Administrator at walterph@telus.net or 780.439.3058 to sign one out.

•Walterdale is a volunteer/member organization. We cannot engage Equity performers.

TO BOOK AN AUDITION or for further information, please email Anne Marie Szucs at amszucs@xplornet.com or phone 780-903-5136.

(Drop-ins will be accommodated as time allows)

Spotlight on Jessica Lauderdale - Pole Dancing Coach for Nine, The Musical

What is your role on this production? For this production, I am working with the ladies that are pole dancing in the production. Primarily, this is for the number Call from the Vatican but there will are little bits of pole dance throughout the show! As for preparing for this – I taught pole dancing for fitness for 3 years, as well as performing pole dancing at trade shows during those 3 years. I also have a strong dance background, which is what led me to pole in the first place!

Why did you join the team of this production? When Kristen approached me about working with the pole for this show, I couldn’t resist – It involves some of my favourite things! Pole dance and theatre! Needless to say, I also looked forward to working with Kristen again, as the past 3 productions I have been involved with have also included her.

What is your background in theatre? I have been involved in theatre for the better part of my life. I started backstage as a dresser and wardrobe assistant to my mom, who was costume mistress and production manager for ELOPE theatre for many years. I have also always danced and had an interest in singing, which led me to take classes at the Foote theatre school, and that led to shows – Baby (ELOPE), The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (Walterdale) and A Little Night Music (Festival Players). I’ve been bitten by the theatre bug, and am enjoying working on a show again!

What are you goals for the future in regards to theatre? I would very much like to continue working with the Walterdale theatre, both on stage and off – but I am looking forwarding to auditioning for more productions and getting some more acting under my belt. Theatre is a love of mine, and I hope to continue pursuing it throughout my life – it’s a great hobby!

What is your favourite thing about the production so far? So far, my favorite part of the production has been watching Erika progress with pole dance (Erika Noot plays Carla, the mistress), and the fearlessness that she has brought to the table when learning. I’ve been calling it “quick and dirty” pole dancing – she has learned as much in a couple of months that takes most people 2 years!

Any further comments? I am so pleased to be part of such a great show and a great team! Hope to see everyone out during the run!

We at Nine and Walterdale would like to wish Jessica Congratulations and Best Wishes as she walks down the aisle today with Cory! Take care of her!

Have You Bought Your Tickets to Nine?

I only ask because sales have been quite brisk and I want to make sure that you get to see the show.  Last time we produced a musical in July (The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas) the entire run Sold Out.  I would recommend buying sooner rather than later to avoid disappointment. The show runs from July 4th to 14th with shows at 8 p.m. and a 2 p.m. matinee on the Sunday.

You can buy your tickets at tix on the square...

I have mine!

Spotlight on Christina O'Dell - Renata in Nine, The Musical

Hi Christina, who are you playing in this show? In this production I play the role of Renata, one of the many, many women who populate Guido Contini's world, both onscreen and off.

Have you always been involved in theatre? I grew up surrounded by theatre, having spent 6 happy years at Victoria School here in Edmonton. After graduation, I took a 6 year hiatus from theatre to focus on University (where I dabbled in everything from Archaeology to Psychology), and just recently received my Masters in Speech Language Pathology, my main interest in the field being vocal rehabilitation techniques. Nine marks my second production since graduating, and my first production for Walterdale Theatre.

Will we be seeing more of you onstage in the future? Though at the moment I am simply basking in the euphoric joy that comes along with returning to a long lost passion, I eventually hope to integrate my love of theatre and my study of vocal pathology and rehabilitation...I plan to be living proof that the arts and sciences are not as mutually exclusive as they sometimes seem...

What is your favorite thing about this production so far? I think that one of my favorite things about the process to far is simply the music; Maury Yeston has provided us with a supremely rich, multi-faceted, and challenging score to work with! For me, the hallmark of a truly amazing score is if it causes me to run the full gamut of emotional responses over the course of each rehearsal, from frustration to wonderment. It is a real treat as a singer to have such interesting music to explore!

Spotlight on Sally Hunt - Music Director for Nine, The Musical

What is your role in this production? I am the Musical Director, so I am responsible for preparing all the music you hear. I’ve been preparing for a number of months, listening to and comparing different recordings, playing through the score many, many times, and singing every note that everyone sings. By now, it’s in my blood (as Sarraghina would say)!

Why did you join the team of this production? The score for Nine is beautiful, and a departure in some ways from typical musicals. Many of the songs actually take place in Guido’s imagination, and they are full of subtle nuance and complex detail, so I was excited to bring them to life. I was also excited to work on a show that offers so many strong female roles, which is very unusual in musical theatre. And finally, the opportunity to work with Kristen Finlay again was one I couldn’t pass up.

What is your background in theatre? I’m a classically-trained musician, and I’ve been involved in musical theatre for about 25 years, as a performer, music director, conductor and teacher. I currently teach musical theatre at the Citadel Theatre’s Foote Theatre School. Some previous Walterdale productions include The Threepenny Opera, The Fantasticks, and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, but other recent projects include Hansel und Gretl, Seussical Jr., The Wizard of Oz and Little Shop of Horrors.

What's up with you next in theatre? Immediately following Nine, I am heading off to perform at the Winnipeg Fringe Festival, with the Edmonton group Il Duo. In a general sense, though, I love to work on projects that are creatively interesting and challenging, whatever the genre. We’ll see what the future brings!

What is your favorite thing about the production so far? The sheer talent and hard work from this cast has been remarkable. They have embraced a very complex show and have dived into it without fear. The results will be fantastic!

Favorite theatre superstition? I don’t really have any superstitions, but I did have an encounter with Walter, the theatre’s resident ghost, while working on The Fantasticks a few years ago. I definitely heard a person when no person was there….

Spotlight on Bradley Bergeron - La Fleur in Nine, The Musical

What is your role in this production? I’m playing La Fleur in the production of Nine. He is the producer of the film Guido is attempting to create. Coming from a French background really made everything a lot easier, La Fleur is very French so it felt natural to slide into the heavy French dialect.

Why did you audition for this production? As an emerging young artist my mentality is no one is going to give you anything for free. You have to go out there and show directors why they need you in their show. Simply put, I audition for anything and everything I can. Also, I’ve always heard great things about Walterdale Theatre and I’ve worked with Kristen before and it was a hoot so I knew I was going to have a great time.

What is your background in theatre? This is my first show at Walterdale but I did Citadel Theatre’s Young Companies when I was growing up which was a great experience. After Young Companies I attended Grant MacEwan’s Theatre Arts Program where I spent two incredible years. I graduated and now I’m here.

What are your goals for the future in regards to theatre? In terms of future goals I’ve always been very interested in the Citadel/Banff Theatre Program. I also have many auditions coming up that I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed for.

What is your favorite thing about the production so far? Everyone in Nine has something to offer, it’s great to work with such a talented and well rounded cast. One of the things I love the most is learning from the more experienced actors who have been doing shows for much longer than I have.

Any further comments? La musique et la danse sont ici, dans notre production de Nine.

Spotlight on Kate Wylie - Sarraghina in Nine, The Musical

What is your role in this production? I play Sarraghina, a whore that Guido visits at a young age to learn about love. It involves two of my very favourite things...singing a great song and dancing! In preparation for the role, I've been working a lot of my physicality. She is a very earthy character and finding where that exists within myself has been a fun and interesting challenge.

Why did you audition for this production? It has been a very long time since I had the opportunity to be in a musical, so when I saw a friend post the audition notice on Facebook, I thought this was the chance I'd been waiting for!

What is your background in theatre? Theatre became a part of my life at an early age - studying voice and dance for about 20 years. I graduated from the Theatre Arts program at Grant MacEwan in 2001 where I appeared in Company, A Little Night Music, On Your Toes, and Orlando Unhinged. I was also a founding member of the Plain Janes theatre company here in Edmonton where I appeared in Everything I Know I Learned From Musicals, As You Like It, Saturday Night, and Das Barbecu. I am delighted to say that this is my first appearance at the Walterdale!

What is your favourite thing about the production so far? Being able to work with such an incredibly talented group of people! It is truly inspiring and humbling to have the great opportunity to do this fabulous show with a group such as this.

Spotlight on Kat Evans - Maria in Nine, The Musical

What is your role in this production? My main role in Nine is Maria, an Italian chambermaid working at the Fontana Di Luna Spa in Venice. A modern Italian woman in the 60’s, Maria’s interests include napping on the job, romantic entanglements with important men, and tormenting the other chambermaids with her sassy attitude. (Especially Diana.) I am also part of the chorus so I get to do a lot of singing and dancing, which I love.

Why did you audition for this production? I have wanted to be a part of this show ever since I first heard of it. I love the intricacies of the music and the fantastical self-indulgent world that Guido creates in his mind. When I heard that Walterdale was doing it and that Kristen and Sally were involved it sealed the deal for me. I was auditioning, no question. I was already familiar with the script and score, so I hunkered down into my voice lessons and took on extra dance classes to bring myself to a place of confidence for the auditions. (I was in a major accident a few years ago and I hadn’t done a lot of intense physical performance since then, so I wanted to be ready!)

What is your background in theatre? I have been involved in theatre and/or dance in one way or another since I was probably 6. I really started to fill my world with theatre in junior high, and then in high school (I went to Vic) I doubled the number of credits I graduated with because I was so involved! High school gave me the opportunity to not only perform, but also to direct, design, and become involved in the technical side of theatre. From there I went on to get my BFA in Theatre Design from the U of A, and have been designing, performing, teching and producing theatre and film ever since! (Come to think of it, I don’t think there has been a year that has passed that I wasn’t involved in at least 2 or 3 productions since I was probably 15… wow. )

My first Walterdale experience was in The Rocky Horror Show 10 years ago, as one of the Trixies and a Transylvanian. (My husband John was Frankenfurter!) Since then I have mostly been behind the scenes here as a designer. Shows include Hamlet, Much Ado About Nothing, Wyrd Sisters and The Threepenny Opera. It is so great to be back on stage for this fantastic show! I love working at Walterdale. The people that are drawn to create in this space are so genuine in their love of theatre and so talented that it is hard not to fall head over heels!

What are your goals for the future in regards to theatre? I will continue to be involved in theatre for the rest of my life, guaranteed. My husband John and I met performing together, got engaged on stage during a show, and got married on stage. We have a production company together, The October People Productions, and we are constantly finding new ways of involving both theatre and film in our lives. Goals?To live a long, rich, happy and fulfilling life with him and with theatre at the center of it. (And possibly win the lotto so that we can commit to it full time. But that isn’t dreaming too big, right? Hahaha!)

What is your favorite thing about the production so far? The incredible talent of the cast and production crew. This is a BIG show and could be really difficult to do but everyone is so committed and excited and talented that it has been an easy and happy journey so far!

Favorite theatre superstition? I am a true believer in the curse of “The Scottish Play” You know what I am talking about. Someone uttered it while we were doing the Grapes of Wrath and in the same night we had an actor slide in to the fly gallery legs first, another had to leave mid-show for stitches, and I almost fell off the front of the apron during an exit! Some chalk this up to the power of suggestion, but none of us that were involved in the craziness even heard that the word was said until after the show! So be warned that if you want to tempt that fate around me you had better be prepared to knock on some serious wood!

Spotlight on Kara Chamberlain - Francesca in Nine, The Musical

Introducing Kara Chamberlain

Role: Ensemble, including Francesca, Guido's Aunt, and First Woman

Preparation for the show: To prepare for the show I have been working hard on my singing to get my voice used to singing at the top of my range. I have also been practicing my Italian accent around the office and at home; my coworkers tell me I sound like a vampire, so it may need a little more work before the show opens!

Why did I audition: I did not know the show before I auditioned, but I had heard some of the music and enjoyed it. I love musical theatre and I love working with our wonderful director Kristen Finlay, so I wanted to audition and be a part of a musical again.

Theatre background/future goals: I have always loved the theatre, but did not seriously consider pursuing it until high school. After graduating from Scona, where I was involved in drama, dance, and improv, I went into the BA Drama program at the U of A. I found my way into the Drama Honors program, which I absolutely love. Next year will be the last year of my degree, after which I hope to pursue a professional career in the theatre. I am also looking to audition to get my masters in acting in the UK. This is my second show at Walterdale Playhouse, the first being The Threepenny Opera last season.

Favourite thing about the production: Besides the Germans arriving at the spa (which involves a very catchy song that gets stuck in my head constantly), I absolutely love the people. I am constantly blown away by how many talented people are in the production, and how awesome they all are to work with!

Funny story about 9: I have always liked the number 9, maybe because when I was in grade 6 we were all given numbers. I was number 4, but the guy I had a crush on was number 9. Needless to say, I began to like the number 9 when I was young, but 49 was always better.

Spotlight on Kelly Webber - Annabella in Nine, The Musical

What is your role in this production? In Nine, I play an Italian woman named Annabella, who is a fan of Guido. I am also part of the chorus which involves lots of singing and dancing.

Why did you audition for Nine? I have heard some great things about Walterdale, and I thought I would get involved. I had read the script and listened to the music before the audition and quickly fell in love with it. The story is different and interesting, that covers all emotions of jealousy, remorse, sadness, love, etc, and is still able to make you laugh. A couple of friends from school auditioned with me, and I'm happy to say we all got into the show!

What is your background in theatre? This is my first production at Walterdale, and so far I have had a great experience. I hope to be back again sometime! As for other theatre experiences, I recently graduated from MacEwan University, where I was involved in Xanadu, Vernon God Little, Merrily We Roll Along (Jim Guedo) and Thebans (Jennifer Spencer). My first musical experience was in Bye Bye Birdie in high school, but I have been training in dance for 16 years.

What is your favorite thing about the production so far? I have met some amazing, talented people that I hope to keep in my life for a long time. I also get the opportunity to sing new, different music. It has been a treat working with Kristen, Sally and Adam!

Any further comments? I hope everyone comes out to see the show! Thanks! :)