HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2019-05-23, Page 8PAGE 8. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 23, 2019.
Auburn teen to use co-op, on-stage experience in Blyth
For years, the Blyth Festival’s
Young Company initiative has been
exposing Huron County’s youth to
professional artistic endeavours.
This year, several graduates of the
program are returning to the Festival
in a professional capacity.
The Blyth Festival has a long
history of inspiring people to get
involved with the arts, and it’s paid
off with people like the Festival’s
General Manager Rachael King,
whose first brushes with theatre
came in Blyth in her teens, being a
part of the organization. This year,
King was happy to announce that
other graduates would be working
for the Festival, including St. Anne’s
Catholic Secondary School student
Annika Balzer, a graduate of the
Young Company program, who will
be co-ordinating the Young
Company offering in the Phillips
Studio.
Balzer explained she was a co-op
student at the Blyth Festival.
“That kind of started it all, got the
ball rolling as it were,” she said in an
interview with The Citizen. “I
always had a passion for theatre,
that was one of the things I wanted
to do as a co-op opportunity.”
She said, through that
experience, she met a lot of people
with similar passions as her, which
led to her becoming a part of
Young Company.
“It wasn’t available the first year
I wanted to,” she said. “When it
was, though, I met even more
people who were like-minded. It
opened up a lot of doors for people
that were there. It gave me a whole
outlook on what it’s like to be in a
professional theatre group working
with professionals.”
She said it was a really good
opportunity for her, as it could be
an eye-opening adventure, and
expand upon other experiences she
has had like drama club.
Balzer said her time at the
theatre, primarily through her co-
op experience, played into her
being contacted to become a part
of the Festival.
“This is going to be a new
experience altogether,” she said. “I
was quick to say yes.”
As Young Company co-
ordinator, Balzer will be director
Pippa Johnston’s right-hand
assistant. Balzer said her
responsibilities will include
arranging rehearsals, making sure
everyone is working off the same
script versions and doing
everything necessary to ensure the
Young Company runs smoothly.
She said her
experience in Young
Company will help
her connect with the
work and
participants, which
will make for a great
production.
“Young Company
is quite different
from drama club,
and this is quite
different,” she said.
“It can be nerve-
wracking, but if
you’re around
people who want to
do the same thing
you’re doing, it can
be fantastic.”
Balzer, who is in
her fifth year of high
school right now,
plans to study
theatre by pursuing
a Bachelor of
Dramatic Arts.
By Denny Scott
The Citizen
Each year a committee chooses an outstanding citizen from each of the Blyth and area and Brussels and area
communities to receive an award for contribution to the community. If you know someone you think should be
honoured, please fill in the form and send it in. You may attach a longer explanation of why you think your nominee
should win, if you like. If you have nominated someone before and they didn't win, we encourage you to submit again.
Emailed submissions can be sent to Shawn Loughlin at editor@northhuron.on.ca
I nominate ________________________________________________________________________________________________________
as Citizen of the year for
I feel she/he deserves this award because______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Nomination Deadline July 31, 2019.
Name and phone number of nominator
info@northhuron.on.ca Fax: 519-523-9140 Box 429, Blyth, ON N0M 1H0 or Box 152 Brussels, ON N0G 1H0
❑Blyth
& area ❑Brussels
& area
There are so many people out there who
do so much to improve their community.
This is your opportunity to show your
appreciation for all they do.
34th Annual
Citizen of the Year Award
Nominations Open
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Eye on the future
Having been in a co-op position at the
Blyth Festival and in Young Company,
Annika Balzer wants to pursue a future
in theatre. (Photo submitted)
A ‘Huron County Kid’
Annika Balzer, left, was part of the Blyth Festival’s Young Company production HC (Huron
County) Kid last year. This year, she’s co-ordinating the program for the next group of theatre
hopefuls. (File photo)
See historic
photographs and
stories on the Stops
Along the Way website
stopsalongtheway.ca