Submitted by Maggie Mackenzie
When Maggie Mackenzie graduated from William E. Hay Composite high school she knew that normal life was not for her. So, she made plans to go to Rosebud School of the Arts to specialize in acting. This December, MacKenzie may not be joining the circus, but she will be playing a clown in Oh Manny! Holy Mo! A Christmas Show! a musical by Lucia Frangione. The show features MacKenzie, as well as two of her classmates, Bethany Wickens and Caitlyn O’Connor, as clowns on a mission to tell the Christmas story.
This is not MacKenzie’s first time clowning around. While living in Stettler she took every opportunity to perform, with involvement in the Heartlands Art Troupe, Wildcat Theatre, the Wildcat Improv team, and the Gracenotes Choir.
Two of her mentors during that time were Darren Fleischhaker and Rhonda Sylvester. “Mr. Fly was my homeroom teacher and taught all my drama classes. He was always so supportive, and his love of theatre and improv was contagious.” Mackenzie got to go back to her improv roots last year, when she performed in Calgary’s Dirty Laundry: The Next Generation as a reoccurring guest. “Being taught by Rhonda showed me how exciting it could be to perform with a group of people and create some thing excellent. She always pushed us to do more than we thought we were capable.” In Rosebud MacKenzie has continued to sing in multiple choirs and perform in trios during dinners before Rosebud Theatre shows.
Oh Manny! will be MacKenzie’s final project, a culmination of her time as a student in Rosebud. “I have spent the last three years reading plays, growing as a performer, seeing theatre, and discovering my other passions within the art form. I had no idea what it took to put on a show when I started here. There is still so much to learn and I can’t wait to make more theatre.” And make theatre she will. Not only is MacKenzie acting in the show she is also producing it. “I get to make all the choices about the show. I picked the script, cast the show, built a team, and make sure everything is on track,” says MacKenzie. “I am enjoying the process and I can not wait to share Oh Manny!”
Oh Manny! will be performed Dec. 15 at 7 p.m., 16 at 5 p.m., and 17 at 2 p.m. at the Akokiniskway Gallery in Rosebud, AB. Tickets are $15 and can be booked by calling 587-736-0002 or by emailing playingpossumprodutionsplease@gmail.com.