20 - Wednesday, July 22, 1992 —- North Shore News

Whistler troupe goes under the stars

HAT DOES a
member of an
ensemble cast do

when a musical is over?

Since most actors don‘t quality
for UIC, it can mean heading back
to a boring desk job, more audi-
tions, returning to school or Jeav-
ing the profession altogether.

Whatever the outcome, charting
a course until 65 is clearly not an
option for actors.

North Vancouver actor Robert
Rozen has faced an uncertain
future before. For the founding ar-
tistic director of the two-year-old
Whistler Summer Theatre, the
absence of steady work has meant
industrial shows, footwear exposi-
tions, puppet festivals — anything
to eke out a living.

And like many Canadian actors,
he has no intention of giving up on
his career.

""My real passion is to per-
form," says Rozen, who caught
the musical theatre bug at age
seven. ‘1 strive for the moment
I'll be on stage.”

A Toronto native, Rozen moved
to Vancouver four years ago fol-
lowing an erratic stage and film

career. Prior to that, his steadiest
theatre job was three years in the
long-running Toronto, Toronto.

Two sunimers ago he and wife
Susan Anderson (also an actor and
sister of Reid Anderson, the artistic
director of the National Ballet of
Canada) were sitting in an outdoor
cafe in Whistler Village watching
families mili about in the town
square.

ft occurred to him then that,
when they weren’t windsurfing or
hitting the links, there wasn’t
much for families to do, especially
when the sun goes down.

“Right then we thought there’s
no entertainment in Whistler. In
the evening there isn‘t anything to
do besides sit in a restaurant and
drink beer. And then what do you
do with the kids?”

Start a summer theatre, they
thought. There was one problem:
where? With no indoor theatre or
even an empty building, their pro-
spects weren't looking good.

But Rozen and Anderson
weren't about to let technicalities
stop them: they pitched a large
tent at the foot of the Wizard ski
lift and the rest is history.

{t was a gutsy move — maybe

OKANAGAN SEASONS RESORT
FABULOUS GOLF PACKAGES

PACKAGE INCLUDES:

® 2 Nights Accemmodation

® 2 Rounds of Goll Per Person

© Full Course Breakfasts Each on Es)
® Poolside Rooms & Suites

@ Licensed Restaurant

« tndoor & Outdoor Poois

* Jacuzzi and Fitness Centre

© 24 Hr. Movies/Sports/Display

ey,

DOUBLE TRIPLE QUAD

A 4108" (@) (93
Se) tad *&

“You'll Score Well”

SIX SUPER COURSES TO CHOOSE FROM

Located Half Mile From Golf, Waterslides,
Flintstones and Super Shopping

. 1580 HWS. 33 &:67... RES. PH: (604) 860-5707
“TOLL FREE 1-800-665-1264 Fax (604) 860-3033

WONTONLAND RESTAURANT
MINUTES FROM THE NORTH SHORE

| LIVE CRAB OR LOBSTER

6 Steamed
@ Butter Sauce
@ Black Bean Sauce

= Ib.

@ Vermicelli
with satay
sauce

DINNER FOR TWO

@2 Ege Rolls

@Wonton Soup
@ Beef Chop Suey
®Chicken Fried Rice

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK

11AM-3AM

Wontonland
@ Restaurant

FREE DELIVERY ON

255-7778

MINIMUM $20.00 ORDER
10% OFF PICK-UP ORDERS

Evelyn Jacob
SPOTLIGHT FEATURE

even reckless. After all, we are
knee-deep in a recession, and the
arts aren’t at the top of anyone’s
agenda.

Even a major fundraiser for the
theatre in April, whose star attrac-
tion was Karen Kain (apparently

x “HER

Reid Anderson gave her the time
off), failed to raise much.

But Rozen, who smiles often, is
optimistic.

“In business, they say give it
three years and see which way it
goes. We have to give it at least
three.”

What's it been like so far?

Rozen folds his hands and
places them behind his head: ’‘In
a way, it’s very much like having a
baby — it’s exciting when it comes
out, but while you're going
through it. it’s painful,” he laughs.

And exhausting. As if starring in
and directing the first shows
weren't enough, Rozen also sold
tickets, did the publicity and
various odd jobs without collect-
ing a dime.

Keo, SUS

“Oh you don’t want to write
that,’’ he responds when asked
how the season went financially,
refusing to divulge numbers. But
he insists it succeeded on a
number of counts.

For one, people in the com-
munity liked the idea of a summer
theatre and were anxious for it to
continue and grow.

Whistler is B.C.’s fastest growing
town (its population has grown
120% over five years), and Rozen
wants to make sure he is there to
cash i in on the action.

“Culturally | think it’s going to
become a real hotbed, and our
theatre will be part of that. We
don’t have to be bigger than any-

See Rozen page 26

“ee LIONS IRE HOLDING

OWN! Slane

‘WHEY DOUG FLUTIE BRINGS CALGARY
OTe 7;

SoLD IN PAIRS Witt
FAMKY FOOD PULCIASE