Our area is brimming with local talent. To celebrate this talent, we wanted to give you a glimpse into the lives of two local rising stars of the stage.
SINGING, ACTING, DANCING —
Olivia Lloyd Does It All With Precision And Perfection
After catching the “acting bug” in high school, Olivia attended the University of Toronto and Sheridan College Theatre and Drama Studies Program. She graduated in 2012 and has since moved to Barrie with her fiancée. The two perform together as PJ & Oli—an acoustic, funk, Motown duet. Olivia now works as a teacher and administrator at The Melody in Me in Barrie. You may have seen her in Mariposa Art Theatre’s recent production of Chicago, where she dazzled as Velma Kelly.
What’s your favourite part of being in a performance?
“There are three things I love about being in a performance. First, I love the last two weeks of rehearsal, building up to the performance, because everything meshes together. That performance magic happens on stage, but you don’t know if it’s going to happen until you get there. Secondly, connecting with the audience. I love making people laugh as a character. Making people laugh as a character is so different from connecting with someone as yourself. It’s really neat—like an out-of-body experience. Three: just the people. I love making friends in the theatre.”
What’s your dream role?
“I would love to play Fiona in Shrek the Musical. It’s such a good comedic role for a woman. She’s not some vulnerable princess that has to be rescued by a male character. She’s her own person.”
FROM THE DIRECTOR:
“Olivia Lloyd is a phenomenal singer, dancer, and actress. She was a joy to work with, took direction very well, and put forth 110% effort every time she walked on the stage. I look forward to working with her again.”
— Christina Bosco, Musical Director at Mariposa Arts Theatre
MARSHALL WOODCOCK, TRIPLE THREAT ON THE RAPID RISE
Marshall first attended the Music in Motion Performing Arts in Bradford at age seven. He has since joined the Triple Threat program at the Moving Art Centre for Performing Arts in Barrie. You might have seen him onstage in How I Became a Pirate, A Step in Time: KCP’s 40th Anniversary Show, and junior productions of Fiddler on the Roof, Shrek the Musical, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, and Peter Pan. Marshall has also appeared in an episode of Paranormal Witness and a promotion for the Toronto International Film Festival. Catch him in the upcoming Kempenfelt Community Players’ production of Oliver!
What is your dream job?
“My dream is to be a film director, but I also love the more behind-the-scenes aspects of theatre, like building sets and running sound. Anywhere in the entertainment biz is good for me!”
What’s your favourite part of being in a performance?
“I’ve always loved entertaining people and being on stage is the best way to do that! I always try for the “funny guy” roles, because my favourite thing in theatre is making the audience laugh.”
What’s your dream role?
“I’ve always loved the characters of Tevye from Fiddler on the Roof and Donkey from Shrek the Musical. If I could sing high enough, I’d absolutely love to play Frankie Valli (or any of the four seasons for that matter) in Jersey Boys.”
FROM THE DIRECTOR:
“Marshall is a talented young man who has a wide range of abilities; he is easy to work with and accepts direction and challenges willingly. I wish him well and feel he will be very successful!”
—Bob Buckley, Director at Kempenfelt Community Players
by Emily Bednarz
Local Links
Kempenfelt Community Players
kempenfeltplayers.com
Mariposa Arts Theatre
mariposaartstheatre.com
The Melody in Me Academy of Music and Performing Arts
themelodyinme.ca
Moving Art Centre for Performing Arts
movingart.ca
