Tag: Cast

Meet the Cast of CHESS – Tyra Watkin is in the Ensemble

headshot 2015What is your role in CHESS? I play a Hungarian, a Merchandizer, an American, an Attendant and Arbiter’s Assistant. These roles are very wide ranged and fun! I can really change who I am between every character, anywhere from a young scared Hungarian girl to a confident merchandizer. It is fantastic!

What is your background in theatre? At Walterdale? This my second theatre production and I am super excited to be a part of the Walterdale family for the musical Chess!

What brought you out for this production? What really drew me towards Chess was the plot line and how exciting it was. I was looking for auditions and I found Chess and I was instantly drawn towards it!

Why should audiences come see this show? I think audiences should really come see it for the phenomenal story! You will be happy you came, its so interesting and dramatically awesome. Between the great dramatics, singing and dancing you’ll find something you love in this musical. It has romance, and feuds, politics, and chess – what’s not to love!?

What’s your favourite Board Game?  My favourite board game would have to be snakes and ladders, its just so much fun to play with friends and family. My family and I play a lot of this game whenever we go camping, a perfect time to play a little snakes and ladders!

Meet the Team of CHESS – Glenna Schowalter is the Stage Manager

glennaWhat is your role on the production?  I am the stage manager. This means that I sit through rehearsals to take blocking notes, get tech notes out to the production team and call all the cues once we get into the run of the show. There’s lots of communication and organization involved, and (of course) patience.

What is your background in theatre? At Walterdale? I started theatre in high school, and have graduated from MacEwan University’s Theatre Production program with distinction. Since then I’ve done numerous community theatre shows and festivals such as Fringe and the Works. This is my fourth production at Walterdale, and my second time stage managing here.

What brought you out for this show? I was actually finishing up last season’s production of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? when Technical Director Richard Hatfield asked if I would be interested in stage managing Chess. I said yes, of course.

Why do you think audiences should come see this show? What do you think they will take away from it? I think audiences will be blown away by the score of the show. Each song is musically interesting and completely unique in its storytelling moments. The audience will walk out humming.

Chess is a Board Game… What’s your favorite Board Game? Why? Got any funny game-playing stories? I love board games! I am a frequent visitor to our city’s board game cafes. My favourite board game so far (I still have so many to try!) is Shadows Over Camelot. It’s a cooperative game where the players take on the roles of King Arthur’s knights and try to save the kingdom from invading evil forces. I like it because of the co-op gameplay, and I’m a sucker for medieval fantasy stuff.