NEWS

A Special Blog Post

Today is the Opening Night of Western Canada Theatre's production of Les Mis. I decided to write blog entry about my love for this show and what it means to me to be involved. Enjoy!

 

My Dream,

I was maybe around 11 or 12, and I was with my Mom & Dad in Vancouver for my Dad’s work convention. I was all dressed up and being put in a cab with the older son of one of my Dad’s coworkers, and we were going to see Les Miserables at, what I now know was, the Queen E theatre. I didn’t know what to expect, as I was not familiar with the show, I just knew I loved musicals and “they” said this was one of THE BEST. From the moment the lights went down and the overture started, I was transfixed. I laughed, I wept, I felt emotions that I had never experienced. That was it for me….I became addicted to Les Mis.

While other girls fell in love with boy bands and movie stars, I was covering my bedroom walls with Les Mis posters. While my other friends were begging their parents for concert tickets to see the latest pop bands, I was begging mine to drive me to Winnipeg, Edmonton, Calgary and anywhere the tour of Les Mis was playing (have I ever said thank you for that Mom & Dad??!!). By the time I was in my late teens, I had probably seen the show close to 40 times.

I dreamed of being in it one day, first starting out with thinking it was Eponine I wanted to play, but as I grew and the more I took in of the show, I KNEW it was Fantine that was my dream role. Throughout my career I have waited, patiently, for the chance to come along. I have had moments of it being so close and it slipping away, which was heart wrenching for me, but I am a true believer that all things in my career happen for a reason. I have come to know that whenever I “lose out” on getting a role I really wanted at some point, it just means that the better production “for me” is coming down the road…and so I waited. When I got the offer from WCT, it was a surprise. I knew nothing of the coming production and I received the offer from Daryl and Marek over email while I was standing at a bus stop. I screamed….out loud…in front of strangers. I managed to pull it together for the ride home, but once I got home and tried to tell my husband, I was a mess of tears and laughter.  I don’t think he totally understood why I was reacting the way I was (I may have even scared him a little), but perhaps once he sees the show, he’ll get it.

This is my dream come true. Tonight I open the most beautiful show with the most perfectly realized cast and creative team, with a company that has brought it to life with such integrity that I am in awe. I am truly proud and honoured to be here…playing Fantine….in Les Mis (as I said before, LES freakin’ MIS!!) I feel blessed beyond words. 

LES MISERABLES - Western Canada Theatre

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Cailin is now in rehearsals for Les Miserables at Western Canada Theatre in Kamloops. To say she is excited about this would be an understatement! She will be playing the role of Fantine, a dream role of hers since she was about 12. The show starts previews on November 28th and runs until December 11th at the Sagebrush theatre. Get your tickets fast as it is already selling out!

www.wctlive.ca