When “Small Steps” opens in Portland on April 24, it will be Hockinson High School senior Ellora Vilkin’s fifth show with Oregon Children’s Theatre. Vilkin, 17, plays pop star Kaira DeLeon in the world premiere of the “Holes” sequel by Newbery Medal-winning author Louis Sachar.
This experience was different from other productions she’s done because Vilkin had the opportunity to work with Sachar. He’s attended rehearsals and done script revisions.
Vilkin, who will attend Brown University in Rhode Island in the fall, sings in “Small Steps.” Her character’s songs “kind of narrate the story,” Vilkin said.
She’s sung with the Portland Opera and the Oregon Symphony before, but pop music is a different style than what Vilkin is used to.
“It’s a different kind of sound, so it’s been a cool challenge,” she said.
Vancouver mother’s recipe could be worth $1 million
Monica King was surprised when she got the call that one of the 10 recipes she submitted was a finalist in the 44th Annual Pillsbury Bake-Off Contest. But while making the top 100 might have caught her off guard, she wasn’t surprised that the judges liked her Tropical Chicken Pizza recipe best.
“I really did think that was the best one I sent in,” said King, 36, of Vancouver, who works in the facilities and engineering department at Southwest Washington Medical Center.
King and husband Scott will travel to Orlando, Fla., April 10 for the bake-off. On April 12, King will have four hours to prepare her pizza three times. At stake is $1 million.
As a finalist, King received $125, a GE countertop microwave and a trip to Florida for the competition, but the possibility of winning $1 million is hard to believe, said the mother of four.
“It would just be absolutely life-changing,” she said.
Magenta founder steps in spotlight
Jaynie Roberts conceived of Magenta Theater in 2002, but in the years since she’s yet to appear on stage with her Vancouver theater company. Until now, that is.
Roberts, a 55-year-old Hazel Dell resident, will make her Magenta Theater debut when the troupe’s production of “Pride & Prejudice” opens April 16.
Roberts, a native of England, will play Mrs. Bennet in Magenta’s stage adaptation of the Jane Austen novel. She’s the artistic director of Magenta Theater and also of “Pride & Prejudice.” Dorinda Toner directs the show and shares an adaptation credit with Rosina Busse.
Roberts said this role is perfect for her because it fits her age range and makes good use of her English accent.
“My daughter, who’s a ‘Pride & Prejudice’ fanatic, always would laugh at the people who play Mrs. Bennet in the films and say, ‘Mom, you could play that role so much better,’” Roberts said.
She’ll get her chance to prove her daughter right, joining 27 other actors for Magenta’s largest cast since moving to its new building in March 2009. They’ll do 11 performances of “Pride & Prejudice,” the most Magenta has ever done of a single show.
Roberts said she’s very excited and also nervous about the curtain rising on opening night. Her biggest worry is remembering all her lines. There are more of them than she expected, but she decided not to count.
“I don’t want to know,” she said.
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