HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2012-06-14, Page 23THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JUNE 14, 2012. PAGE 23.
Being a creative force in a theatre
often requires knowledge of how a
little bit of everything is handled.
Few jobs emphasize this position
more than that of technical director.
The job requires not only creative
know-how and instincts but also
relies on leadership and financial
experience to keep everything under
budget.
Laura Lindeblom, a new addition
to the Blyth Festival theatre for 2012
is stepping into the role of
production director and is very
excited for the opportunity to work
with the Blyth cast, crew and staff.
“I’m very excited to be in Blyth,”
she said. “Being here is a great
opportunity to have a solid summer
of work and learn a lot about
summers stock shows. It’s a great
crash course in that style of
theatre.”
Lindeblom, a native of Ajax, went
to York University to study theatre
and then went to Banff Centre in
Alberta to work as a production
manager before she found her way
to Winnipeg to work with the
Manitoba Theatre Company.
Her start at York was focused on
acting as she aspired to be an actress
and perform in musicals, but she
found herself drawn to other aspects
of theatre as well.
“I was intrigued by production
and interested in it,” she said. “I did
some work on the technical side and
said to myself that this makes sense,
I want to do this.”
From there it was just waiting for
the right opportunity.
“I just said to myself if I stay in
the right place something will come
up and I’ll find what I need to,” she
said. “That opportunity came; one
show was happening and the head
assistant production manager
dropped out. I said I could take over,
stepped in and I’ve been doing it
ever since.”
Being a technical director or
production manager or any other
position on the behind-the-scenes
side of theatre turns into a mixed
bag according to Lindeblom who
said that, especially in Winnipeg,
she worked on all the shows in
different capacities.
Whether she was helping with
tech support on shorter-than-average
prep times or actually becoming a de
facto producer of a show, she said
that she has learned a lot from just
doing the jobs that pop up that need
to be done and she hopes to continue
that practice in Blyth.
“The more you participate in a
show the more of you that goes into
the final product,” she said. “I
worked on one show during a Fringe
Festival where I became the
producer of Little Red Riding
Hood.
“The show was put on by an
aboriginal youth theatre group and,
through working with them, I put a
lot of myself in the show,” she said.
“It was named the best of the
Festival and remounted at the end of
the event.”
While a lot of her training has
come from being in school for
theatre or on-the-job experience,
Lindeblom said that some of it
comes from places that people might
not expect, like the all-important
interpersonal skills one can develop
wherever they work.
“My time at Tim Hortons helped
me a lot with core people skills,” she
said. “You can pick up tips and
tricks all over if you’re open to
them.”
She said that her love for theatre
comes from how different each
experience can be for every person
involved in the play from the writer
to the actor to the technical crew to
the patrons.
“There are more flavours of
theatre out there then there are ice
cream,” she said. “I love that
because people can always find
something they like.”
Flavours of theatre bring Ajax native to Blyth
Hot and Cold Buffet with dessert bar
10 am - 2 pm
Sunday, June 17th
38527 Blyth Rd., Auburn
519-526-7373
• Gas Bar • Variety
Mon. to Sat. 6:30 am - 8 pm; Sunday 7 am - 8 pm
Family Restaurant
Brunch
Reservations
Appreciated
Father’s Day
Old Tyme
Country Breakfast
Sunday, June 17
9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
at Londesborough Hall
• Eggs • Bacon • Sausage
• Pancakes and Homefries
Adults . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $7.00
Children Under 12 . . . . . . . . . $3.00
Sponsored by Londesboro Lions Club
155 YEARS
ST. HELENS REUNION 2012
2 FUN FILLED DAYS
SATURDAY
• Parade at 11am • Beef BBQ (ltd tickets)
• Dance to Sheldon Baker (age of majority)
SUNDAY
Church Service (Interdenominational & Music by Lee Grant)
History, Log Sawing & Kids games
Come to the
Village with
the Big
July 7 & 8
Happy 80th
Birthday
to
Margaret Kai
From your friends
on June 14th
Celebrating 60 years
of marriage
The family of
Jim and Mary Hunter
would like to invite you to join them in celebrating the
60th Wedding Anniversary
of their parents.
A come and go tea will be held at their home
9 Parker Drive, Belgrave
on Sunday, June 24th
from 2 pm - 5 pm in the afternoon.
Consider this your invitation to join the family
in celebrating such a special day.
Your presence will be the only gift necessary.
Lordy Lordy
Look Who’s 40
on June 20
Love Robbie, Jeff,
and Clarissa
Entertainment Leisure&
By Denny Scott
The Citizen
Getting creative
Laura Lindeblom is in Blyth for the first time and she’s looking forward to working with the
casts and staff as production director. (Denny Scott photo)