IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Ann-Marie Zak
WHO IS SHE?
Ann-Marie Zak is a Burnaby resident and Capilano University musical theatre grad who’s starring as Roxy in the musical revue People Like Us.
WHAT’S THE SHOW ALL ABOUT?
The musical revue is presented by Opera Mariposa as a benefit for the National ME/FM Action Network, a registered charity that works to raise awareness and support for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia.
It’s an original revue created by Dominique Wakeland, who recently wrote and directed an original musical for the Burnaby Arts Council summer theatre troupe, featuring songs from a wide range of musical theatre productions.
It’s set at a bar in New York and takes place over the course of a night as the sassy young Roxy – that’s Zak - searches for love.
HOW DID ZAK GET INVOLVED?
“I stumbled upon it,” Zak says, noting she saw an audition notice posted on the Vancouver Actor’s Guide website and decided to try it out.
When she arrived at the audition, things almost went badly – at first.
“All the other girls were singing Italian arias, and I was horrified because I was singing a song about a penguin, in English,” she says, laughing.
Turns out the other girls were auditioning for a different opera, and Zak was just fine – she had a chance to chat with the producers, and their excitement over the project was contagious. They liked what she brought to the stage, and she liked what they were doing for a good cause, so it all clicked.
“Ann-Marie is a great singer and actor who’s also a brilliant improviser and drop-dead funny onstage, so we’re thrilled that she’s able to join our cast,” says Opera Mariposa’s artistic director Jacqueline Ko.
WHAT DOES ZAK LIKE ABOUT THE SHOW?
“It’s definitely got more of an in-your-face storyline and script than I’m used to in musical revues,” Zak says, noting that Wakeland took song suggestions from all the performers and wove them into the story.
Zak loves her character, whom she describes as a “quirky romantic.”
“She’s had enough of one-night stands. She wants to have a Monday morning.”
Over the night, the story unfolds with songs from a wide range of musical theatre – “everything from Sondheim to Rent to some new contemporary musical theatre that people might not necessarily know and recognize.”
Zak’s looking forward to her own big number, Old-Fashioned Love Story (from The Wild Party).
But what she loves most of all is the chance to see each performer’s interpretation of their songs.
“It’s so interesting watching these performers bring new things to the table,” she says.
She’s got nothing but admiration for her castmates, who include such performers as 16-year-old Shaw TV host Zenia Marshall; Ovation nominee Andrew Wade; and PNE Star Discovery and Pinoy Pop Superstar Canada champion Imelda Gaborno.
“We’ve managed to develop a lot of different relationships and a lot of different characters,” she says. “The show will absolutely speak for itself.”
WHEN AND WHERE IS IT ON STAGE?
You can see it on Saturday, May 14 at 7:30 p.m. at Marpole United Church, 1296 West 67th Ave. in Vancouver.
OK, SO WHERE DO I GET TICKETS?
Tickets are $25 general, $20 for students, seniors and those on disability benefit, or $15 each for groups of four or more. You can buy at the door, through www.operamariposa.com or through Brown Paper Tickets at 1-800-838-3006.
WANT TO KNOW MORE?
Find out more about the show or the company at www.operamariposa.com. Find out more about the National ME/FM Action Network at www.mefmaction.com.
