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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSetting The Stage, 1998-06-24, Page 41By Allison Lawlor atherine Ashby takes risks on stage. Once a month she nd a group of improvisers perform in clubs around Toronto. "It's terrifying the whole time," she said. "Live theatre is amazing." Katherine started taking improvi- sation classes in high school. Learning to read and write wasn't easy for Katherine, but improvisa- tion was the one thing she felt good at. "It really changed my life," she said. "I was able to be on a level playing ground with people." Katherine has been teaching kids improvisation for 10 years at Sec- ond City in Toronto. "Improv allows people to act out situations the way they want to." Katherine won't be improvising that much this season at the Blyth Festival. She will be performing in Wilbur County Blues by Andrew Moodie and Jobs! Jobs! Jobs! by Keith Roulston. Katherine is excited to be back on stage for three months this sum- mer. Most of her work has been in First break comes quickly for MacKenzie Katherine Ashby: Improvising is a continuing theme in the life of this actor/teacher. • International Home Cooked Meals • Daily Specials • Friday Noon Buffet • Saturday & Sunday Buffet at 4:30 • Sunday Brunch 11-2 • Special pricing for seniors or groups • Reservations recommended • L.L.B.O. Lounge To Air is Human... York Air is Divine 1111YORK Leaders In Home Comfort Innovation Heating and Air ConditIoninA Since 1074. .Prr; —4k-51$7.1r Wise Energy Centre & York. Providing heavenly comfort to The Blyth Festival Theatre. Best wishes for another successful season. 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Katherine Ashby helps kids act out MacKenzie Muldoon: First break comes by mistake. By Allison Lawlor S hawna Walker has been around the Blyth Festival since the time she could walk. Born in London, Ont. she grew up just outside of Blyth. Shawna rose through the ranks in the festival office to become this season's house manager. Last year she shared the position with anoth- er woman. "Being the house manager is great," she said enthusiastically. "I get to see each play 15-20 times. You start to see the plays different- ly, you pick up on missed cues and lighting mistakes that no one else would notice." As house manager, Shawna is responsible for organizing the vol- unteer ushers and making sure everything runs smoothly in the theatre during the productions. Shawna started ushering for the Blyth Festival when she was 11. Since then she has done different things around the theatre. She spent two summers with the Young Com- pany, worked at the festival cafe and painted a studio at the theatre. Shawna's parents, Bev and Ron Walker, are former Blyth Festival board members. As artists, they are active with the Blyth Festival Art Gallery. Shawna's sister, Tammy, has been an usher at the festival for By Allison Lawlor Acase of mistaken identity gave MacKenzie Muldoon her first break at the Blyth Festival. When MacKenzie called Anne Chislett trying to get an audition, Anne confused her with someone else. The confusion over her name helped land her two roles this sea- son. MacKenzie will be playing 15- year-old Tabitha in Wilbur County Blues by Andrew Moodie and a young girl in Jobs! Jobs! Jobs! by Keith Roulston. "At this point it's a benefit to me to play a young character because that's where I'm at." MacKenzie graduated last spring from the theatre program at Con- cordia University. In Montreal, she performed with Repercussion The- atre and RR1 Players. "Coming to Blyth is my first real break. It's a big step for me," she said with excitement. two years. At one point in her life Shawna considered acting but changed her mind. Two years ago, she directed a play in high school. Directing is ' something she said she would like to learn more about. With her high school graduation under her belt and the festival sea- son over, Shawna hopes to head out to British Columbia in the fall, where some of her family lives. "I want to find out exactly what I want to do before I go to school and pay a lot of money." When she goes back to school, she is thinking of studying graphic design or something where she can work with people. MacKenzie grew up on a beef farm in the Ottawa Valley so Blyth feels comfortable to her, she said. "It's kind of like coming home in Blyth." In high school MacKenzie was a co-op student at the Great Canadian Theatre in Ottawa. She met George Seremba one night when he was performing. She said it is exciting to now be working with George and other experienced actors she admires. When MacKenzie was growing up she wanted to be a clown. Her childhood dream evolved into being an actor. Her parents have always supported her acting, she said. She is already excited about seeing her mother at opening night. After the Blyth Festival MacKen- zie is not sure where she will be. She hopes to get a job in another part of the country so she can trav- el. "I get so excited thinking about the endless,.possibilities in theatre." Shawna Walker: Part of the festival since she could walk. television and film, she isn't usual- ly on stage unless she is improvis- ing. Born in Cornwall, Ont., Kather- ine studied theatre at Ryerson in Toronto. After graduating in 1985, she went on to do television and commercial work. She spent three seasons on CBC's Liberty Street, worked on a travel show on the Life Network and currently appears in Go Girl on the Women's Net- work. Katherine said she is excited to be in Blyth, where "the corn is cheaper," and away from the big city. She and her boyfriend just bought a house in Toronto. Show never boring even after 20 viewings Elf1A/C1 0 CIS SOURCE FOR SPORTS Nowfiktner, A BICYCLE FOR EVERYONE IN THE FAMILY ‘166 VICTORIA ST, (HWY. 4S) CLINTON 482-3030