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The Canadian Champion, Friday, August 27, 2004-91 i A rtsc fertainrnen t Taking love ofpeiforming to post-secondary school level _____________ By STEPHANIE THIESSEN The Champion Since she was a toddler, Katherine Ervasti 's par- ents have watched ber performn collstantly following the rays of the Iiirnelight. "They said 1 ran around the house ssith My mom's heets and my diapers singing and dancing,' Katherine, 17, said. adding, "i've atways been a litIle drarna queen." Atysa King, 18, has siînjtar tales lu tetl of a childhood titted with drama and singing. "Ever since t was ltinte, t was an avid movie-watcher. I've atways toved dtrama. 1 love attention," sie said. Seventeen-year-old Shannon Adams, who began dance tessons ai the age of three, was no different witb ber acule pas- sion earty on in ife to pertonn. Sbe said she frequenty wrole comments in ber friends' yearbooks in etemeniary wednesdiay Saturday & Sunday 2XOLpm 0 THE PRINCESS DIARIEs 2 P O WHiTE CHICKS "They said 1 ran around the house with my mom'ns heels and my diapers singing and dancing. I've always been a littie drama queen." sctoot referring Io berseti as a future actress. So il contes as no surprise that these îbrec high scboot graduates, whut have att been studetîs at Miltion Youîh Theatre Productions (MYTP> since il opened last ycar, are prepaning lu sludy theatre furiher. A ctmbination of nerves and excilement semns 11) be the order ot the day, as they gel ready Io) move o)0e step dloser 10 their ctm- mon goals lt perfotms on Broadway. Shannton Adams and Kaîherîne Ervasti, both graduates of1 Milton District Hligh Scbool, ssitl attend Toronto's Randolph Acadcmy for tbe Performing Arts b siudy drama. vocal and dance. Atysa King of Bîsbop Rcding bas been accepîcd into Sberida.n Coltege's one-yea.r Pcrforming Arts Preparation prograno, and Elliot Sbermet of Milton District Higb Sehool, is enrolted in York University's theatre program. "I'm nervous," Shannon said. Iî's going 10 be intense, but I'm prepared." Shannon and Katherine have both been taing dance classes with Kim Belvedere, director of MYT'P, %ince they were tbree years old, so honing Ibeir talent together aI Randotpb witt be notbing new. Shannon said. The tbree-year program aI Randolph is cornpacted inos two, since studenîs work îhrough the surmmers. tî enrotts -tripte- ibreat" studenis who, Katherine exptained, are studenîs with vocat, dance and drama experience. "It'ilt elp me gel ready f'or the business and teacb me att t necd to know," she said. Katherine added she wasn't originatty ptanning on aîlending Randotph. She decided to audition aller she wasn'î accept- ed into ber tirsi choice sehoot aller much prodding trom ber parents. 1i didn't tbink t was good enougb 10 be accepîed," she admitîed. Kaîberine's confident ber dream of bccoming a Broadway performer in New York ssîtt one day corne irue. -I ibink you cao do anything you want Io. There's no sucb thing as dreams tbat are 100 bigb or goals 1oc, ig. If you try A you can 10 make your drearn corne truc, tbey sitt. Shannon said she doesn't know just wbat il is about Broadway. but thaî's wbere she, t00, wants to end up. "Il jusi excites me - tbe tbougbt of dancing, singing and acting f'or a living." Atysa said attbough ber utttmate goal is Io perform on Broadway, she'd also enjoy icacbing or direccing. "My drearo bas atways been 10 be on Broadway. Thaî's the ideat job. I'd get to sing every day. But 1 like bo teacb kids. Ino. Eilbcr way, l'Il be happy." MYTP is a Milton theatre company for cbitdren and young adults betwcen tbe ages of six and 18. Eacb of tbe tbree young womcn said il bas been a greal cAperience. and raved about Ms Belvedere's direction. "She's tike a second mom 10 me," Shannon said. "She's aiways tbere for me, making sure t do my besi." Ms Belvedere said it's exciîing 10 sec ber studenîs moving forward witb their passion for performing. "It's very cxciting, because you become tike farnity wben you know eacb otber for so long," she said, adding, "My job is 10, point tbem in the rigbt direction," .SrcpItanic' Thîc'.îsî',t uut hî'nai/ted ai sthu'.ssi'n(dni ioni anadiani hanîpion.con. Photo by GRAHAM PAINE Recent high school graduates Alysa King (top) and Miltorïc',We ChorileSt ers believe... Love to Sing? JYoen uM hino ONTARIO 41 0 ITfESTIVAL 407 There's fun for the couire famiîy as the mirds, magic and merriment of the Renaissance takes on a Christmsas dseme. Enjoy.. , 43 *Ontario's 0105 unique Craft Show Taso. Re comi unbat jousting FREE PARING Od.y 15 unso o n *7 stages of non-stop entertamnment HWY 401. 401 e Trafalgar on Eiihî LUne. E.to f *6t t6 Century Craft Village TrfalcegR,othofD" Rd. North ofBr1 800734377 *Specia thdensed events every weekend : 5. *Food & Libations fit for a King N.u Pm soce..P1e- www.rennfest.com The Milton Choristers is a non-auditioned community choir founded in 1968, made up of men and women from Milton and the surrounding area, presenting a varied repertoire of classicat and contemporary music. We are Iooking for dedicated enthusiastie singers to join us for our Upcoming season, Milton Choristers 2004 - 2005 Season: Catch the sound of.. Remembrance, November l3th Christmas, December 12th Gospel, April 9th Swing, june 25th Rehearsats are Tuesdays, 7:30 - 10:00 p.n. at Knox Preshyýterian Church, 170 Main E., Mitton, starting Septembert7î. For additional information, please cati (905) 876-3203 Visit us at wwwmitonchoristers.com Anyone. Anywhere. PLaS