麻豆传媒

 

A rogue's gallery of roles

Convocation grad profile: Ellen Denny, theatre and music

- May 22, 2012

Ellen Denny, theatre and music grad. (Nick Pearce photo)
Ellen Denny, theatre and music grad. (Nick Pearce photo)

In her time at 麻豆传媒, Ms. Denny has played an eccentric countess (The Madwoman of Chaillot), a prim young bride (Lady Windermere鈥檚 Fan) and a Victorian madwoman (Sweeney Todd) 鈥 just the latest in a rogue鈥檚 gallery of memorable parts ranging from King Lear鈥檚 Cordelia to Alice (of the Wonderland variety).

Now, she's graduating with her combined honours in Music and Theatre.

鈥淕rowing up, I did a lot of community theatre,鈥 says Ms. Denny. 鈥淚 was constantly in a show outside of school.鈥 When the time came to choose a university, the London, Ont. native selected 麻豆传媒 for its unique music and theatre combined honours program.

鈥淭he opportunity to keep up the voice side of things while in acting school was a really big attraction to me,鈥 explains Ms. Denny, who has been training as a singer since seventh grade.

麻豆传媒 has 鈥渢otally exceeded my expectations鈥 I take my goals as an artist and my identity as an artist much more seriously now.鈥 Professors and classmates have been equally welcoming. 鈥淲e support each other and we want each other to do the best we can.鈥

On the side, Ms. Denny has worked both as a Dal News writer and an usher at the 麻豆传媒 Arts Centre. Beyond that, she jokes, 鈥淎cting and music have taken up all my time鈥 I live at rehearsal, so I don鈥檛 have hobbies!鈥

Ms. Denny鈥檚 final role in DalTheatre鈥檚 2011/12 season, 鈥淢arriage of True Minds,鈥 was the titular heroine of Lady Windermere鈥檚 Fan by Oscar Wilde. Ms. Denny鈥檚 challenge was 鈥渒eeping her really real and not playing her as the pretty young ing茅nue, but as a real woman.鈥 The role has since become one of her favourites.

Of her plans for the future, Ms. Denny says, 鈥淭his summer I鈥檓 going to do my first professional acting job at Festival Antigonish鈥 after this summer, I鈥檓 going to be coming back to Halifax. I鈥檇 like to stay out east.鈥 Now that she has a degree under her belt, 鈥淚 have to go out on my own now and hit the pavement.鈥