Nepean This Week

Check out Alison's Hairspray

Nepeanite lands a spot in T.O. production

by Natalie Hanson [Friday, February 6, 2004]

Alison Smyth

From centre ice at the Corel Centre to the bright lights of the Princess of Wales theatre in Toronto, Arlington Woods native Alison Smyth has a lot to sing about.

The St. Paul's High School graduate will have a role in the upcoming Mirvish production of the Tony Award-winning musical Hairspray.

Smyth will sing and dance the role of Shelly.

She will understudy for the lead role of Tracy.

Smyth was called by the show's production team and asked to audition for the lead but they felt she was "physically improbable" for the lead role.

"Tracy is supposed to be busting out of her costume," Smyth said. The soprano - at five feet - is the right height but lacked the girth for the role.

It's the latest in a long list of accolades for the 21-year-old. A winner of Homegrown Café, she sang the first national anthem at the Corel Centre.

A trained classical singer, Smyth is in her third year at the Glenn Gould School of Music, where she is majoring in voice. The school only takes 25 students per year. She is taking a year off to take part in the musical.

She even tried her hand at Canadian Idol, receiving a gold ticket, and moving into the Top 70 before being cut.

"I did it because my sister and my nephew love the show," she said, but found the entire process gruelling and frustrating, although she did make Sass Jordan roll back in her chair.

Pop music really isn't her thing, though. She hopes to be the female version of Pavarotti , and a movie star.

"Madonna's or Bab's (Barbara Streisand) career are inspiring to me," Smyth said.

Their versatility and control make them good role models.

Rehearsals for the musical start in mid-February with a gruelling six-day a week schedule to learn the song and dance routines needed to pull off the show.

"I'm going to have to cut down on the partying a little bit," Smyth said with a laugh.

She plans to take regular voice lessons while rehearsing, to maintain her operatic skills.

"If you let it go for a year, you won't be able to get it back," she explained.

Smyth got her start in musical theatre here in Ottawa, participating in the now-defunct Company of Musical Theatre's production of Annie, as well as her school's production of Once Upon a Mattress.

Her mother, Sheila said she isn't sure where she gets her talent.

Although, she notes that Alison's grand-father had a great voice although her never worked professionally as a singer.

Sheila is most impressed with her daughter's fearlessness in front of a crowd, something she could never do herself.

"I'd be too busy passing out."