Welcome to my site!
It's a pleasure to meet you. Come back for pictures, stories, what I'm up to,
pictures and links to music and videos.
Visit my Blog for ruminations about life, travel, art and love.
I'm a Twit!
Representation: Cathy Knights, 3SG Talent Management 416.925.9009
or cknights@3sg.ca
You can get the Oil out of the Cowgirl but you can't get her off the Farm! Or something like that...
Left to right: Half of the Cowgirls -Heather Brown, Ann O'Kane and Cathy Elliott
Victoria Playhouse Link (click on picture for tickets and info)
July 20 - August 7, 2010 - Victoria Playhouse, Petrolia
Drayton Link (click on picture for tickets and info)
August 11 - August 28, 2010 - Drayton Festival Theatre
Okay, this is going to be FUN!!! I've met two of the cast members of this summer's Cowgirls, to be a co-production between Victoria Playhouse in Petrolia and Drayton Festival Theatre. Come back for more news about the cast and our adventures this summer!
Have a Heart for Haiti
The devastating earthquakes that shook Haiti and Chile have moved people all over the world. Robert More contacted me and asked me to be involved in his fundraiser in Petrolia and of course I jumped for joy at the opportunity to actually DO something to help. There are other ways of course that we can help. Everybody has been flooded with news about these quakes, and some of us may have a little disaster fatigue, but please, remember that the need is great. We're all connected in so many ways. Give whatever you can, even if it's five bucks through your cell phone company.
Fun in the North- Sioux Lookout Literacy Week ***UPDATE***
Thanks to Magnus Theatre and the Sioux Lookout area schools, I flew to Thunder Bay and drove in the light of the full moon to Sioux Lookout with Marsha Knight, a fellow actress and teacher. We arrived at our home for a week, a beautiful lodge nestled in the woods outside of town on a lake. I thought I was entering a back lot for a 40's movie set. Kate Hepburn was waving a cocktail and her cross country ski poles at us as we pulled up the driveway.
In five days, the students of four schools created 8 songs. They are excited to know that their songs will be up on YouTube for all to see. I'm excited, too. They're good!
One particular school that moved me was a Pelican Falls First Nations School, high school boarding school that sits on a former residential school site. These are all kids that don't have high schools in their own communities, so they all have to travel great distances to get a diploma. My heart goes out to them. It's hard enough to finish high school on the reserve, let alone hundreds of miles away from home and family. They wrote a song called, "Home is Where the Heart Is". Another great song and one of my favorites, is "Camp on Big V". It's going to be a great campfire song. Also, (I have so many of them) is "Thunder in Your Life" a beautiful song written by the students of Sacred Heart Catholic School. Be sure to check out "Ice is Melting From the Bottom", an environmental anthem, and "Mother Ship", a science fiction song by grade 3 students. Be sure to check out "The Mystery Tree" by the younger students at Hudson Public. I love them all!
I want to acknowledge the wonderful teachers and staff of Sioux Lookout for their enthusiasm, thoughtfulness and sense of creativity and joy.
I hope to go back there soon, to record a proper album (hint hint).
Click on the links below. If you have an account, please! Comment and rate. They'll appreciate it.
There will be a CBC Thunder Bay 88.3 feature on this project on Wednesday, March 10, 7:40 "Great North West".
Where the Cedars Stand Tall
The Mystery Tree
Mexico
Home is Where the Heart Is
UFO Mother Ship
Ice is Melting From the Bottom
I Don't Think of the Future
Thunder in my Life
New DAREarts Anthem Complete!
This years's Graduating youths and I have written a new anthem for the DAREarts Foundation. It will be presented February 26 at the annual Promenade by students and me. I can't wait!
You can learn the song yourself by going to the karaoke version I posted on YouTube. It's called "Fill In The Bl-nk"
"Road to Webequie" documentary receives corporate funding!
It is with a full heart that I announce that our documentary, "Road to Webequie" has received funding for completion. Peter Elliott (yes, my ex!) and I are in the final stages of script work and editing. I will be starting soon on the score for this film and I can't contain myself. It's been quite a long time coming, (three years) Webbiewood, but soon you're going to be WORLD FAMOUS!!!
Weesageechak Begins to Dance Festival of New Works,
Native Earth Performing Arts. Good on ya, eh?
January 28th, 8pm – Sunset Road by Miria George
What a time! I was immersed in Maori culture and language for a week and absolutely had a blast. What a way to follow my adventure with LKTYP! I sang a Maori song and had one of the most delightful monologues ever. Miria, you are frighteningly talented and kind. Hone, you are a most gentle, brilliant director. Friends for always, I hope.
Some day I'd like to go to New Zealand and the Cook Islands. I'd like to visit my Auntie and Uncle there, and just take in this beautiful place...some day...
Sunset Road by Miria George. directed by Hone Kouka. It examines the bonds of blood, land and belonging. I am so honoured to have been asked to do this. Thank you, Yvette Nolan! Kia ora!
The Princess and the Handmaiden by Leslie Arden
Wow. Yes, Virginia, there really is a Santa Clause.
I closed Christmas Story, had a day off, (sort of- it was after all minutes to Christmas Eve) and went home to the farm and Leslie started to pour me a very healthy glass of Coke and Screech. Time for the holidays to start in earnest! She said something about "Before we get this holiday started, I have to tell you something." She told me about one of the cast members in The Princess and the Handmaiden, who had to go home because of a serious family emergency. It didn't look like she was going to come back to finish out the last week of the run. I took a big gulp. She was asked by Allen MacInnis to take her place and Leslie didn't think it was a good idea. He asked her who could possibly learn the show in four days and do the last 8 shows? I took another big, BIG gulp.
Well, when I came to, I found myself driving to Toronto for a costume fitting, to pick up a script and score, and sort of had a Christmas. Leslie went through my harmony lines, Julain Molnar showed me some of the steps and I had a 3 1/2 hour rehearsal with the cast crew and orchestra for a run through of my bits in the show. I really honestly don't know how I crammed all that stuff in there. All I know is I'm familiar with the story line (I had toured a three woman version with Leslie and Glynis Ranney for many years, but it was an entirely different show) and Leslie's harmonic voicings. I had seen a preview of this show, thank goodness. And I was in the arms of the most generous, gung ho cast ever. Allen was gracious, supportive and oh, forgiving. That afternoon, we put on a show in front of an audience. Regan Thiel hugged me as we went out for the opening number and someone literally had his or her hand on the small of my back, in my hand and in the air, waving at what direction I was to go. I felt a little like Danny Kaye in "The Court Jester" Knight scene where everything speeds up and it all somehow works out...well, I didn't get knighted, but I sure felt like it!
I'll always remember with joy this opportunity to perform with the Lorraine Kimsa Theatre and the stupidly talented cast of "The Princess and the Handmaiden". Leslie Arden's musical dreamscape is a world I love to enter. This world was peopled by new and old friends for which I will always be grateful:
My dressing room buddies, Julain Molnar and Karen Wood.
The rest of the Dream Company: Jonathan Tan, Regan Thiel, Susan Henley, Sharron Mathews, Larry Mannell, Tracy Michailidis, George Masswhol, Andrew Stelmack with Allen MacInnis directing. The Creative Team: Diane Leah, Gregory Diakun, Jane Johanson, David Boeghler, Dana Osborne, Bonnie Beecher, Michal Laird, Stephen Colella, Tanish Taitt, Kate Porter, Kristin McCollum The show was produced by special arrangements with Ginger Cat Productions.
And, of course, the genius that is Leslie Arden.
Happy New Year, everybody!
You'll Shoot Yer Eye Out!
Now, what a sweet time that was. A bunch of nicer people ya couldn't find. The kids were great. No really, great! Seven kids and four adults. We all thoroughly enjoyed the idea of getting into that cult movie. We did, though, have to watch our health and p's & q's. (There was a swearing jar. David Nairn put in a wad of bills in advance.) We had a virus going around the rehearsal hall, and you got knocked over by the smell of peanut butter and hand sanitizer when you walked in the door. I had so much fun doing the teacher. I was also really impressed by the way the professionalism of the actors. ( the kids, not the grown-ups...I mean, the kids were...and I love Susie, Terry and Jamie but...oh, just stop before you hurt yourself) and the way they seemed to be miles ahead of me. I didn't REALLY mind it when they gave me my line readings or reminded me that I was on next. It just LOOKED that way. David Nairn, you are my hero. You handled us with humour, patience and love. I enjoyed myself so much. I was really sorry it was over.
Susie Burnett, Cathy Elliott, Terry V. Hart, and Jamie Williams. Also Starring: Adam Bartley, Christopher DuBois, Samuel Grant,
Jayde Lavoie, Alexander Newall, Daniel Reale, Tyler Simpson, Jacqueline
Vandervaart and the Theatre Orangeville Youth Singers (T.O.Y.S.)
"Eva Returns" on YouTube
You will have to hear it to find out what it's about. Please check it out- it has some images I produced. Artsy Fartsy but lots of fun to do.
Breaking Up is Hard to do!
Alas, the fantastic summer run is over. Now it's time to look forward to the coming year. Thank you to the cast and crew at Stage West. What a delightful band of crazies! Honestly, I think the primary initiative was to gather together a host of really talented, funny, kind and generous people. Tracey Flye, you rock! Thank you for this opportunity.
Webequie / DAREarts
I probably should start a DAREarts page. Looks like I'll be writing a new DAREarts theme song over the winter with the winter program DAREarts students. I'm in good company; many many fantastic artists, musicians and actors have worked with students in Canada and abroad for years. It's an honour to be asked to do this.
Please visit YouTube to view a video made up of the images that the students of Simon Jacobs Memorial School produced on our trip this past October. I'm so proud of them.
This project has received support from:
Here are some Webequie links you might find interesting and informative:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Webequie_First_Nation
Webequie.ca
Agidamo and Jenna a movie that the kids in Webequie made last year.
DAREarts Foundation the organization that I work for as a teacher and artist in the schools
----------------------------
Wonderful on You Tube
Please check out my song- Feel free to leave a comment! And RATE! And I invite you leave a video comment that's relevant- something hopeful, positive, original...you get the idea.
Click on the poster for a video of some of my puppetry and the song "He Says"
picture courtesy of Margaret Enever
Cathy Elliott appeared with permission of Canadian Actors Equity Association.
Article in the Alliston Herald: http://www.allistonherald.com/allistonherald/article/141096
Well, the day came and went. It was a tiny stage, with a different audience configuration than the traditional ones I'd dealt with before- there is a pillar in the middle of the audience and I had to focus either left or right. My sound guy was behind the pillar and I am amazed that he did such a wonderful job. I'm encouraged that this show really IS a play-in-a-box, that it is adaptable to what ever situation I find myself in. Thanks to the Gibson Centre for hosting Sharon and her Monster. What a
lovely audience! Thank you for making this a wonderful celebration of the ongoing struggle of women and the unbelievable human accomplishment of putting a man on the moon.
Science North Movie Score
Peter
Elliott produced a pre-show film for the Science North's new
digital dome Planetarium, Passport to the Universe, which opened July
11, 2009. I did the music for this pre-film. I had a blast (no pun
intended) and am very pleased with the result. If you get up there and
visit the Dome, you won't see a credit with my name on it, but you'll
know it's ME!
Super Nova a Success!
Wow, what a fantastic time that was! Please check out the reviews we got!
Field of Stars Volume 2
I
can't tell you how many times I was told (when I auditioned) that
"Jack's House" was sung by countless other actresses. Nice. Thank you ladies, for supporting me. Now any gusy out there willing to sing it in a cabaret???Two of my
songs were recorded: Janet McEwen sang "Love At First Sight" from
Fireweeds. I sang "Stuck in Orbit" from Moving Day, and "I Eat
Children" from Leslie Arden and Joey Miller's Hansel and Gretel. Thank
you Janet, for your beautiful voice. Thanks for letting me sing your
wonderful music, Leslie and Joey, Great exposure, Jim, thank you so
much!
And Fireweeds, always Fireweeds...
Well,
thanks to the first Canadian Musical Theatre Festival, I've been
encouraged to continue with the larger cast (9 women). I've been working with
Jeannette Lambermont on a new draft. She's a great dramaturge- she
(along with a score of great friends and directors and musical theatre
professionals of all kinds) has been a great help by asking the right
questions. Any of you Artistic Directors interested, please contact me
and I'll send you a package. If you prefer to contact my agent, here's
the link: Cathy Knights, 3SG Talent Management