Tag: theatre

Meet Carol Taylor-Wilks of Silver Spotlight Theatre’s Into The Woods

by Richard Young

Meet CAROL TAYLOR-WILKS. Carol plays Cinderella’s Stepmother in Silver Spotlight Theatre’s production of Stephen Sondheim’s Into The Woods.

“Carol cannot recall her first theatrical appearance, but be it tossing a baton at four years of age, performing with friends on their backyard picnic tables, learning and performing on multiple instruments, and acting in high school and local productions in her youth, she really can’t recall not performing in her early days.

Carol was active in Strathroy’s Lyceum Theatre, performed in New Liskeard’s Community Theatre, and pursued a double major at the University of Guelph in Theatre and English.

After becoming a mom, what she considers to be the best role in her life, performing went on the back burner, and her on-stage performances were limited to facilitating training programs in a business setting while supporting those young people she raised in their chosen activities. She started focusing on her hobbies during the last five years and started powerlifting competitively. Aging into strength is her mantra, and she firmly believes in stretching yourself mentally and physically.

Carol’s daughter Rachelle sent her Silver Spotlight Theater’s information and told her it was time to find her way through the woods and back to her dreams. Finding her way back as Cinderella’s Stepmother has been an amazing experience for Carol who loves teamwork and camaraderie with other castmates.

Known as ‘the evil stepmother’ in a loving way by some of the children she has raised, Carol recommends joining whatever activity makes you happy and healthy, especially Silver Spotlight Theatre.”

Carol

Silver Spotlight Theatre’s production of Stephen Sondheim’s Into The Woods, opens on November 21 and runs until December 1 at the Auburn Theatre. For tickets and more information, visit https://www.mtplondon.ca/into-the-woods

Meet Silver Spotlight Theatre’s Sue McKone

by Richard Young

Meet Susan McKone. Sue plays Little Red Riding Hood in Silver Spotlight Theatre’s production of Stephen Sondheim’s Into The Woods.

“I have been a member of the London theatre community for over thirty years now. My passion for musical theatre started from my earliest memories of watching old musicals on TV on Sunday afternoons. Watching such great golden nuggets inspired me to sing and dance in my living room to my parent’s records. I remember my first ‘stage’ experience was at my best friend’s church Easter play. From that first applause, I was hooked and began my lifelong love affair with Musical Theatre.

I have been fortunate to be part of so many wonderful shows over my lifetime and to work with a plethora of amazingly talented people, making lifelong friends. My ‘showmance’ in 1994’s Musical Theatre Productions production of Pajama Game turned into a twenty-seven-year marriage to my drummer husband Wade, and together we have two amazing children, Zach and Aly, who also participate in the arts.

When Into The Woods was announced, I knew this might be my last opportunity to play one of my bucket list parts, Little Red Riding Hood. I had wanted to play her since seeing the original production on PBS decades earlier. I am very excited to be given the opportunity to play her and access my precocious side.

I am also excited to work again with our Director, Rick Smith. Friends since our first meeting in MTP’s 1991 production of South Pacific, I have been his performer, his producer, and fellow board member along the way. This is the fourth time I have had the privilege of being directed by Rick. I have always loved his collaborative nature and how he always makes me feel safe as a performer and lets my creative and crazy nature fly. This was no more evident than in how he mentored and supported me as co-director through my first directorial foray, Kinky Boots, this past Spring at the Palace Theatre.

Helping kick-start Silver Spotlight Theatre as a Board Member of MTP back in 2022-23, I knew that there were many friends I made along the way out there who no longer felt included in this big and wonderful theatre community in London. Silver Spotlight Theatre has provided a space where passion and opportunity do not have to end when the senior discounts kick in.

I am inspired to see seasoned on and off-stage people find their way back to the ‘boards’, and happy to see people who may have dreamed of performing, but never had an opportunity or the courage, or given a chance, to explore and learn about this amazing animal called Community Theatre.

Silver Spotlight Theatre is proof that you are never too old and that the arts truly are a lifelong possibility.

I say prop me up on stage when I am 90 – I will still perform with my usual flair!”

Sue

Silver Spotlight Theatre’s production of Stephen Sondheim’s Into The Woods, opens on November 21 and runs until December 1 at the Auburn Theatre. For tickets and more information, visit https://www.mtplondon.ca/into-the-woods

Meet Lesley Andrew of Into The Woods

by Richard Young

Meet Lesley Andrew. Lesley plays Rapunzel in Silver Spotlight Theatre’s production of Stephen Sondheim’s Into The Woods.

“Into the Woods marks only my second foray into the world of community theatre, both of which have been within the past year. My theatrical experience began with the Stratford Festival as part of the principal company, at the ripe old age of twenty-two (just a few years ago now). Since then, I have acquired a few more degrees and have been fortunate to tour the world as a freelance artist.

Currently, I keep busy running two studios, Dream In Progress Productions Voice & Drama Studios, in London and Windsor, teaching at various educational institutions, performing and directing. I love cooking, quilting, doing construction, and cuddling with my fur and feather babies in my spare time. Yes, I have a parrot. It’s no wonder I’m single!

I am blown away by the talent in Silver Spotlight Theatre’s production of Into the Woods! Having been on a personal hiatus over the past decade as I cared for my ailing mom, I am thrilled to have been welcomed into such a fabulous community and made so many new friends. I highly recommend getting involved in community theatre, especially as we cross the threshold into … gulp … middle age. It’s fun, a great way to meet people, and an awesome way to keep active physically and mentally.

Silver Spotlight Theatre is fantastic! I am honoured to be part of the team.”

Lesley

Silver Spotlight Theatre’s production of Stephen Sondheim’s Into The Woods, opens on November 21 and runs until December 1 at the Auburn Theatre. For tickets and more information, visit https://www.mtplondon.ca/into-the-woods

Meet Silver Spotlight Theatre’s Richard Crum

by Richard Young

Meet RICHARD CRUM who plays the role of Jack in Silver Spotlight Theatre’s production of Stephen Sondheim’s Into The Woods.

“This is my first foray into theatre in London and I am very excited about the opportunity. My theatre background started in earnest in Bracebridge, Ontario. I was newly married, and my wife was the Musical Director for the yearly musical, so I was drafted into the shows. We did Oklahoma, Guys and Dolls, Kiss Me Kate, The Music Man, Brigadoon and You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown. I also did a show in Gravenhurst called On the Sixth Day and Fiddler on the Roof in Huntsville.

After moving to Newbury, Ontario, I participated in Something’s Afoot in Dutton, Joseph, and Jesus Christ Superstar in Chatham. I was also in Superstar, Joseph, Fiddler, and Guys and Dolls in Ridgetown with the Ridge Players. I got involved with a local Newbury group and did Oliver and Fiddler again. I also directed Godspell and The Music Man with this group.

I heard about Silver Spotlight Theatre through a friend, and I am so glad she told me about it. Although I wasn’t familiar with Into The Woods before auditions, it has become one of my favourites. I’m pretty sure I would not have had the opportunity to play Jack in any other theatre group. The cast and crew are amazing and very supportive.

If you’ve ever thought you might like to get involved with community theatre, join us. You will have a blast!”

Silver Spotlight Theatre’s production of Stephen Sondheim’s Into The Woods, opens on November 21 and runs until December 1 at the Auburn Theatre. For tickets and more information, visit https://www.mtplondon.ca/into-the-woods

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Meet Cameron Johnston, Stage Manager for Silver Spotlight Theatre’s Into The Woods

by Richard Young

“Once upon a time, when I was waiting to go on stage for the first performance of my first acting role (I was the lead in a play called “To Die For” by London playwright Tim Bourgard), I was so intrigued by what was going on backstage that I forgot to be nervous about the prospect of spending the next thirty-seven minutes lying in a hospital bed, centre-stage, in front of a theatre full of people.

Fast forward to the present, and I find myself calling the show for Silver Spotlight Theatre’s most ambitious work to date – Stephen Sondheim’s fractured fairy tale, Into The Woods. I am chuffed to be working with such an enthusiastic cast and crew as we prepare for this, Sondheim’s most-performed, and perhaps most demanding stage production.

If there is one character I truly admire, not just in this production, but in the world of fairy tales, in general, it would have to be Jack, of Jack-and-the-Beanstalk fame. I am touched by his innocence and his bravado as he encounters and then slays the Giant. Jack also tries to be a dutiful son to his widowed (or abandoned) mother, but he is a lonely kid; his best friend in the whole wide world is a baffed-out cow named Milky White.

Being part of Silver Spotlight Theatre has changed my life as much as my first foray onto the stage did way back when. More importantly, the group has been a game-changer for community theatre everywhere. We have shown London and the world that there is still a lot of life, talent, enthusiasm, and energy left in these over-55 thespians.

SST has been such a hoot that I wish I had done it 30 years ago, but then, I would have been too young to meet the age-55 cutoff point. Some things really do get better with age!”

Cam

Silver Spotlight Theatre’s production of Stephen Sondheim’s Into The Woods, opens on November 21 and runs until December 1 at the Auburn Theatre. For tickets and more information, visit https://www.mtplondon.ca/into-the-woods