By Kari Janzen, Staff Reporter
Tofield local Kate Down will once again grace the stage with the Churchmice Players at the Jeanne & Peter Lougheed Performing Arts Centre in Camrose in February, performing as a sorority sister, Serena, in the Churchmice’s production of Legally Blonde.
Down said she auditioned for the role of Paulette, but is having a blast stepping into the character of Serena.
“I did audition originally for Paulette, but I am so beyond excited for the two incredible women who ended up getting the role; they’re both absolutely crushing it and I can’t wait for everyone to see them in action! It has also been such a great time filling the role of Serena,” Down said.
The show is double-cast and Down will be performing in the role of Serena in five of the ten shows including the evenings of Thursday, Feb. 5, Friday, Feb. 13, Saturday, Feb. 14, and the matinees on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 7-8.
“We have a whopping 51 cast members this year! Auditions started on Sept. 8 and our first rehearsal was around the 12th, so we jumped right into it. We have a lot of new faces this year and getting to see them find their place on stage is always so riveting,” Down said.
Unique to Down’s role among others in the cast is that she quite suddenly agreed to also take on the role of Chutney as well.
“Myself and my counterpart as Serena are also alternating filling the role of Chutney on our ‘off’ nights, so I get to also play the tiniest little role as a villain, which I always love. It was a very last-minute change as the incredibly talented, and very much missed, woman who was playing Chutney unfortunately couldn’t continue on with the schedule as densely packed as it was, but I have had such a fun time with that little piece as well,” Down said.
Down said performing Legally Blonde live takes the original story to such an interesting place and makes it come truly alive.
“What I love about Legally Blonde is watching Elle work through her own limitations and come out the other side as a woman with true power, grit, and confidence in herself.
“Her intelligence is so refreshing and inspiring. Overall, Legally Blonde is such a fun show and it gives so much life to the characters that didn’t get to shine as brightly in the movie. Serena and the other sorority sisters especially are a gang of gals that get a spotlight as Elle’s support system throughout the show and some of their numbers have quickly become some of my new favourite scenes, though of course I am a little biased,” Down said.
This is Down’s fifth performance with Churchmice, having had a role in the production of Rock of Ages, The Little Mermaid as Ursula, Motherhood: The Musical, and in Grease as Sandy.
“This show has been an incredible experience. It’s so different from the last few years that I’ve been privileged to be a part of Churchmice, and it only makes me even more excited to see what comes next. And, of course, I can’t wait to share it with everyone that comes to see us in action,” Down said.
Tickets can be purchased at camroselive.ca/events/legally-blonde-the-musical/. Adult tickets are $43, $39 for students and seniors, and $12 for children 13 years old and under.
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