Meet the Cast of FOLLIES – Jackie Lotery is Solange!

10599614_10152929537822289_7448768436697641639_nWhat is your role in this production? I am playing Solange Lafitte, a chic French woman, who has been running a successful business since leaving the Follies.  I play one of the mature characters – possibly the most mature!
What is your background in theatre? At Walterdale? I have been around Walterdale longer than I care to remember! In that time, I have stage managed, done lights, props, written the newsletter, production managed, done Front of House and acted. The last time I performed was in Black Hearts in the Green Room. (Jackie is the Jack Wilson Award Recipient for 2013-14)
Follies is all about nostalgia and the theatre… got any good theatre stories? My best theatre story was when I played the front end of Pedro the pony in the pantomime.  At the beginning of Act 2, when we were supposed to be going on, my “back end” was in the “loo” and I had to enter as half a horse!  My other end came running in just in time for us to do”Tea for Two” to the roars of the audience!
Growing up in England, my father took the family to see musicals at a very young age, which certainly led to my passion for musical theatre.  So to be in a show like this is like a dream come true!
What is the most challenging this about doing this show? The most challenging thing is  the dancing but I am certainly enjoying the ride!
What is the best thing about doing the show? The best thing about being in the show is working with such a large cast of very talented young and “old” people, the atmosphere, the buzz – you name it!!
Follies runs July 5- 15! Call 780.420.1757 or go to www.tixonthesquare.ca for tickets!

Meet the Cast of FOLLIES – Dustin Berube is Buddy Plummer!

Color DustinBWhat is your role in this production? I am playing the role of Buddy Plummer in the show. My character is a salesman and lives his life with that persona. He loves his wife dearly but the strain on their marriage is starting to show around the seams.

What is your background in theatre? At Walterdale? 
I have been doing musical theatre since I was 12 years old in a musical theatre youth troupe based out of Stony Plain. As an adult I re-entered this world back in 2013 through a Citadel class  at the Foote Theatre School which inevitably led to doing more shows.

What brought you out for this production?
I recently took a small hiatus from musical theatre in Edmonton to clear my head. I have worked with Barb and Michael almost exclusively so I was comfortable with how I would work with them and I’ve never done a Walterdale Theatre production. (Although I have performed in the venue during the fringe festival)

This show is about theatre and nostalgia… What do you love about doing theatre? 
I love the whole process of putting a show together. I like getting to meet and work with a lot of diverse people and the rush of adrenaline when you are on stage.

What has been the most challenging part of doing the show?
This is my first principle role, so managing my own expectations as well as the production teams expectations would be my biggest struggle so far.

What has been the best thing about doing the show? 
Working with a few familiar faces but then being surrounded an enormous amount of talent is the absolute best part about our show!

Follies runs July 5-15, 2017! For tickets call 780.420.1757 or go to www.tixonthesquare.ca!

Meet the Team of FOLLIES – Barb Mah is the Director/Co-choreographer

14292308_10153965500905829_7246918061394677836_nWhat is your role on this production? I am the director/co-choreographer. 

What is your background in theatre? At Walterdale? I have directed, acted and choreographed for a number of community theatres in Edmonton. For Walterdale, I have directed Sweet Charity and Anything Goes. I have choreographed numbers for Blood Brothers, A Day In Hollywood, Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, The Boyfriend (and I can’t think of anymore). I’ve had a play produced for the play development program (as it was then called) where I was mentored by Vern Thiessen. 

Why did you choose this play to direct? I love Sondheim’s work. I’m drawn to complex characters and situations. There’s nothing like middle aged angst to provide a backdrop for drama. The show is also funny in many place. Also: tap dance. I cannot resist tap dance.

This show is about theatre and nostalgia – got any good theatre stories? Talk about nostalgia – I was involved in a workshop production of this show almost 30 years ago. Talk about full circle. As for good theatre stories, catch me for a coffee sometime – I have many that are unprintable.

What has been the most challenging part of doing the show? Although the show is quite firmly grounded in “reality”, there is a large fantasy element. It is a challenge to tie the two together so that it makes sense to an audience.

What has been the best thing about doing the show? Meeting new people. The sense of camaraderie that is created when a cast works together

Follies runs from July 5-15th, 2017. Call 780.420.1757 or go to www.tixonthesquare.ca for tickets today!

Meet the Cast of FROM CRADLE TO STAGE 2017 – Miranda Broumas is Guenevere in GUENEVERE

1047556What is your role in this production? I’m playing Guenevere, who’s a spirited and yearning young lady. Despite her affairs with Lancelot, she remains a dutiful partner to King Arthur. Their marriage is founded in a very admirable friendship and professional respect. Arthur values her insight and opinions, which is a refreshing dynamic between a man and a woman given the attitude and treatment toward women during the time period in which the show is set. Overall, Guenevere is a bold and noble queen who, in her own way, is always striving to protect the kingdom, promote peace, and preserve Arthur’s reputation. In many ways, she’s beyond her years. She can come across as introspective and strong, but has momentary lapses of naivete. Regardless of which side she’s putting forward, she is inherently opinionated and punctilious. She listens when the time is right, and takes charge when she feels she should.

What is your background in theatre? At Walterdale? I took drama and oral communication classes from junior high through post-secondary, and was a professional and competitive dancer for fifteen years. In 2013, I retired from dance to focus my extracurricular efforts on theatre. Recent credits include Lucy in Raine (New Works Festival 2016), Cunningham in The Last Days of Judas Iscariot (University of Alberta), Dawn in Seven Lost Minutes (35th Annual Edmonton Fringe Festival) and Lady Windermere in Lady Windermere’s Fan (Walterdale Theatre). This is my first role of 2017 and my second production at Walterdale.

What brought you out for this production? I’ve long admired the work of our director, Eric Smith, and jumped at the opportunity to audition for one of his productions. Once I had a chance to review the script, I was immensely intrigued. I’ve never worked on a such a poetic show before, so I was excited to try something new. I also felt somewhat obligated to audition for a Greek tragedy since my father hails from Nafpaktos.
What do you hope audiences will take away from the show? Why do you think they should come see it? From playwrights and painters to actors and dancers, it’s always important to support local artists, and From Cradle to Stage is a great way to do that. John Richardson has written a delightful rendition of a well-known tale that I think audiences will enjoy. I’m especially impressed by the depth of emotion the show covers in just sixty minutes.

What has been the most challenging thing about doing this show? The most enjoyable thing?
The most enjoyable part has been getting to know the cast and crew on both professional and personal levels. The rehearsal process was a great balance of silly and serious, and resulted in a close-knit cast presenting a very unique and heartfelt show.