A passion for musical theatre has inspired Taylor Cameron to audition for "Do It With Class", a youth production group in Regina.
A passion for musical theatre has inspired Taylor Cameron to audition for "Do It With Class", a youth production group in Regina. Taylor's dedication and energetic spirit resulted in being cast as the Queen of Hearts for stage adaptation of "Alice In Wonderland".
This is the first year performing with the theatre company for the nine-year-old daughter of James and Tanya Cameron. Earlier this spring, Taylor had learned of the company from her mother Tanya, and said, "She showed me their website and told me that it was the musical theatre group that Chelsea Woodard was in."
It was right then that Taylor decided, "I am going to audition!" The musical theatre productions fit perfectly with Taylor's aspirations of performing in the Comp musical productions when she gets to that school.
"Performing with 'Do It With Class' will be a great opportunity for me," added Taylor.
Auditions for "Do It With Class" took place in June, with Taylor performing singing, dancing and poetry for the directors. Later in the summer, while the family was on vacation at Crooked Lake, Taylor's dad James received the cast list for "Alice In Wonderland".
Taylor was very excited to learn that she received the role of the Queen of Hearts. "I almost screamed. I was pretty excited to tell my mom."
Practices for the performance started on Aug. 23, and Taylor has traveled to Regina every weekend for the practices. "It is pretty much a full day of work," noted Tanya Cameron.
"Yah, but it's lots of fun," smiled Taylor. "On the first day of practice I was scared that I wouldn't know anyone and that I wouldn't make any friends. Once I started getting to know people better, I was so glad that I auditioned because I have made so many new friends."
For Taylor one of the hardest things about the play is portraying a "bad" character, especially one who has the tendency to physically hit other characters. The Queen of Hearts is the one who leads the other cards, and she makes them do all sorts of strange things.
The Queen is also very demanding when she talks to the King of Hearts and Alice. "The funny thing is that I am younger and smaller than the character of Alice, but in the play I call her 'child' all the time. It is a little weird," said Taylor.
Music and magic come to a schoolyard during "Alice In Wonderland", as young Alice deals with teasing from the rest of her schoolmates for reading a child's book. From the magic of Mr. White Rabbit, Esquire, bullies change into Mad Hatters and Hares, spoiled girls transform into royalty, technogeeks transform into mice and birds, and jocks transform into Tweedle Dum and Dee.
The themes used in the musical will provide a valuable lesson, which is "people are people, no matter to what groups they might belong," said Taylor. "That friendships can be made if you are willing to try."
"Alice In Wonderland" will be staged at the Conexus Arts Centre in Regina on Oct. 29 and 30 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the Conexus Box Office, with advance tickets at $26.50 for adults, $22.50 for seniors, $18.50 for youth and $14.50 for children.
