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Archive for the ‘Sheridan Music Theatre-Performance’ Category

Spotlight On Allie Hughes

Friday, May 15th, 2009

Allie Hughes

Allie Hughes is a young singer/songwriter and a proud graduate of the Sheridan College Music Theatre – Performance program. She works mainly in Toronto in the indi music world and the theatre world alike. ”I am proud to say that I am a working (and struggling!) artist.”

Allie’s MySpace Page

Who is your hero in the music world?
Rufus Wainwright would be my hero in the music world. His music and his personality are both very unique and he isn’t scared to share either. Besides that his songs hit home for me, and have been extremely influential in the way I write music.

Allie is known for her interesting taste in music and independent artists.
Who are your favourite unknown bands?
My favorite unknown bands and singers tend to be my friends. These include Sister Suvi, Bruce Peninsula, Bryce Kulak and a young girl named Arianna Gillis, look out for her! Of course these artists aren’t completely unknown, just not famous (yet). I have been listening to an artist called New Buffalo. Her real name is Sally Seltmann. Her claim to fame is that she co-wrote “1-2-3-4″ with Feist. Her music is awesome.

How did The Boys In The Photograph experience touch you?
The Boys in The Photograph deals with subject matter that hits home for me and many others. My Grandma (on my Dad’s side) was born in Belfast and in fact my whole family is Irish descent. Obviously you don’t have to be Irish for the musical to affect you, I just thought that was an interesting fact.

What do you like the most about music theatre?
I enjoy singing musical theatre songs. They are so satisfying. I also enjoy the glamor of the spectacle- the costumes, the hair/makeup, the opening parties… I’m especially excited for that come the fall!

What are your plans for the summer?
The main focus of this summer is getting an album recorded. Right now I am working with producer David Newfeld (Broken Social Scene) and putting together a two song demo to see if we can get a grant. I will most likely be recording an album in August and doing a release about a year from now. So ya lot’s of writing and creating right now.

Check out Allie on How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria

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Spotlight on Joanna Keats

Tuesday, May 12th, 2009

Joanna Keats

The Boys In The Photograph is Joanna Keats’ first performance on the Manitoba Theatre Centre stage. At only twenty two years old, she is in the ensemble and is the Mary McGuire (Erica Peck) understudy. Hailing from Barrie, Ontario, this Winnipeg “spring” weather is something she is taking a while to adjust to, along with most of the Torontonian cast.

Joanna Keats

Known as a hard working, dedicated performer, Keats is a triple threat breaking out onto the Canadian stage. She graduated Sheridan College for Music Theatre-Performance in 2008, taking with her an award for most promising artist in commercial performance. Throughout college, Keats performed in Urinetown, Barbecue King, 110 In The Shade and Catch A Rising Star, locally known as CARS. She also did some performing during her summers off. Theatre By The Bay produced A Midsummer Night’s Dream this past summer where Joanna Keats played Helena.

Joanna Keats’ first audition since graduating Sheridan College was for The Boys In The Photograph, and she actually thought it had gone rather poorly. She was completely shocked to be called back for Mr. Elton himself. ”He was very calming.” After five auditions, Keats made the cut and began to prepare for the opportunity of a lifetime.

Joanna Keats has spent the last two months working with Ben Elton, shadowing Erica Peck’s every move on the set of The Boys In The Photograph. “I’ve learned so much working with such talented cast and crew.” The first musical that Keats ever experienced live was The Phantom of The Opera, at age six and so Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber’s creations hold a dear place in her heart. To be performing in one of his works as the original cast is “Surreal.”