In her time at pilipiliÂţ», Ms. Denny has played an eccentric countess (The Madwoman of Chaillot), a prim young bride (Lady Windermere’s Fan) and a Victorian madwoman (Sweeney Todd) – just the latest in a rogue’s gallery of memorable parts ranging from King Lear’s Cordelia to Alice (of the Wonderland variety).
Now, she's graduating with her combined honours in Music and Theatre.
“Growing up, I did a lot of community theatre,” says Ms. Denny. “I was constantly in a show outside of school.” When the time came to choose a university, the London, Ont. native selected Dalhousie for its unique music and theatre combined honours program.
“The opportunity to keep up the voice side of things while in acting school was a really big attraction to me,” explains Ms. Denny, who has been training as a singer since seventh grade.
Dalhousie has “totally exceeded my expectations… I take my goals as an artist and my identity as an artist much more seriously now.” Professors and classmates have been equally welcoming. “We support each other and we want each other to do the best we can.”
On the side, Ms. Denny has worked both as a Dal News writer and an usher at the Dalhousie Arts Centre. Beyond that, she jokes, “Acting and music have taken up all my time… I live at rehearsal, so I don’t have hobbies!”
Ms. Denny’s final role in DalTheatre’s 2011/12 season, “Marriage of True Minds,” was the titular heroine of Lady Windermere’s Fan by Oscar Wilde. Ms. Denny’s challenge was “keeping her really real and not playing her as the pretty young ingénue, but as a real woman.” The role has since become one of her favourites.
Of her plans for the future, Ms. Denny says, “This summer I’m going to do my first professional acting job at Festival Antigonish… after this summer, I’m going to be coming back to Halifax. I’d like to stay out east.” Now that she has a degree under her belt, “I have to go out on my own now and hit the pavement.”
A rogue's gallery of roles
Convocation grad profile: Ellen Denny, theatre and music
Rebecca Schneidereit - May 22, 2012
Ellen Denny, theatre and music grad. (Nick Pearce photo)