Morgan Ballantyne's Recent Activities
This page is arranged like a blog with the most recent news at the top.2007
August
What? Another year of college is suddenly over! We were all working long hours on multiple projects as actors, producers, writers and directors (well I wasn't writing and directing) right up until the presentation of our films on August 17 and 18. For those of you who hire actors, I now have some great films to share with you! I've learned how all of us working on a film really depend on the other members of the team. My Dad took a few snaps of me with some of the wonderful members of the Langara Film Arts faculty at the screening.
 Carol Kelsay teaches acting |
 Alyson Drysdale is the driving force behind this whole wonderful Film Arts program |
 Garwin Sanford teaches voice and acting |
January to August
Last fall I was accepted into Film Arts Program at Langara College. That link will take you to a page that describes the program. And I think you will see why I am thrilled to be working with this amazingly talented group. It runs from January to September. This is a fairly new course that grew out of Langara's highly successful Theatre Arts - Studio 58 program.
In addition I am taking some online courses. So my schedule is jammed until the fall. After that, I may be seeing some of you about a job or an audition.
2006
Autumn
Now I am working at two restaurants on Bowen Island! And I've been promoted to servers at both - so if you eat out on the Island I may be performing for your table. Wow, I now realize how important those tips are to the people who serve. I've become much more generous when I someone is waiting on me. This is part of my education too.
On Labour Day Weekend, The Tir na nOg Alumni Players of Bowen Island Presented The Importance of Being Earnest, by Oscar Wilde.
Directed by Jack & Julie HeadleyThe Cast (in no particular order):
Algernon Moncrieff..... Dan Cowper
John Worthing.......... Christian Duntz
Miss Prism............. Nicole Perry
Lady Bracknell......... Cimarron Ballantyne
Cecily Cardew.......... Masae Day
Dr. Chasuble........... Calder Stewart
Gwendolen Fairfax...... Morgan Ballantyne
Lane................... Jack Headley
Merriman............... Julie Headley
July to September
It's been an expensive year, and I am trying to put a little money in the bank. So, almost every day I'm waiting tables at a local restaurant.
Please check out the new head shot on my home page.
I am writing in the last week in July, and the senior players of the Tir na nOg Repertory Group (I just made up that name) have finally agreed on a late summer play, and it is a good one! Over the Labour Day Weekend we will present Oscar Wilde's great farce, The Importance of Being Earnest.
Spring - Graduation!
Hooray! I graduated from the Canadian College of Performing Arts! That's my sister and my Mom. Dad's taking the picture.
Oh my, but I miss all of my colleagues and teachers at the school. For months we were so close... shared everything.
Back on Bowen Island I was immediately pressed into service running the lighting board for several student productions. So I'm too busy to give much attention to this web site. I know, the amateurish résumé needs be redone. And I have a great new head shot. Someday soon.
And... I'd love some job offers! Acting, sure - but any work that pays. After years of dancing you know I'm not afraid of long hours and hard work.
2005
Auditions
The year 2005 has been amazing. I think I will look back on it as turning point in my life. My decision was to use my years of training as a dancer, plus the joy I experienced from participating in many amateur plays, with my singing to see if I can make a career in the theatre. So the year began with the round of auditions for the various advanced acting schools in Canada. They all have limited enrollment.Tir na nOg Intern
The first good news happened when I offered to volunteer with the theatre school where I have performed since I was 8 years old, Tir na nOg. Jack and Julie, the principals of TNN agreed to assist me with my audition pieces, and even better, they offered to take me on as their first intern in the school. They warned me of long hours, and cautioned that they and the students would be counting on my reliable attendance and participation. I am not sure that I can say that I enjoyed the hours sorting dusty old costumes, but I loved working with the young actors and serving as stage manager on several of the productions for the spring festival. Since kids get sick, it also meant that I'd sometimes have almost no time to learn a part to fill in for a performance. Bowen Island is lucky to have Tir na nOg, and Jack and Julie are two caring and dedicated people. There is now a generation of young islanders who are fearless about performing and love to work with playwrights like Fry, Stoppard and Shakespeare. I have had so many wonderful experiences with them!Voices in the Sound
One day in May I returned home from an audition in Vancouver and received a phone message that there was a director who was auditioning for a musical right here on Bowen Island! I called, and the director, Gil Yaron, asked if I could come over immediately. They had been holding auditions for some time, but it seems that I fit the various parts they needed. I was cast and rehearsals started a few days later.
Here is the story. Pauline Le Bel envisioned a 3-day festival to celebrate the history and natural beauty of Bowen Island. She assembled an amazing group of talented people. For this, Pauline had written and composed a musical production, Voices in the Sound. Her choice of the site was important to the play. She decided to perform it on an open stage in forested alcove on the verge of a meadow about 1/2 kilometer from any road. It all happened, just the way Pauline knew it would. The music was rich and wonderful and the story is truly moving. Hundreds of people walked into Crippen Park for this event. My friends took some pictures. I remember the rehearsals as hard work, but the performances were like a wonderful dream.
Harvey
There is a group of us on Bowen who have been acting together for years with Tir na nOg. Most of us will be off to other activities during the winter school season, so this summer we decided to have one last production together. As I update the web site, we are only a few days away from presenting the wonderful comedy, Harvey, by Mary Chase, as a benefit for the TNN building fund. Please attend!
Canadian College of Performing Arts
Since I hope to have the opportunity to act, sing and dance, I was very fortunate to be accepted into the Canadian College of Performing Arts. Their program seems tailored for everything I would like to pursue. I am anticipating a grueling schedule, so I do not expect to spend much time adding to this web site until maybe next summer.Last updated: February 4, 2007