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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Wednesday, August 28, 2013 | 20 Kylie McMahon takes the lead in Next To Normal by Scott Stewart Oakville Beaver Staff Artscene "Connected to your Community" Oakville-native Kylie McMahon has been cast as the lead in a Tony Award-winning musical that is opening in Toronto tomorrow (Thursday). McMahon will play the role of Diana Goodman in Next To Normal, which hits the stage at the Lower Ossington Theatre from Aug. 29-Sept. 29. The musical, which also won the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, deals with a mother struggling with drug abuse, suicide, grief and modern psychiatry. McMahon's character struggles with bipolar disorder, and her illness deeply affects her family. "It's such a complex and diverse role, acting-wise and vocally too," McMahon said. "This is one of my dream roles to play, so when I saw Lower Ossington Theatre was doing it, I knew right away that I had to audition." The 23-year-old is no stranger to the local stage, having appeared in three Theatre Sheridan performances and in renowned musicals, including Miss Saigon and Into The Woods. McMahon said those roles have helped her prepare for her role as Diana. "Diana is definitely the most challenging character I've played so far," she said. "I think that because of what she goes through during the show that she'll remain one of the most interesting and challenging roles that I will ever play. "With every character, when you look at what they've gone through and what they're going through, you can pull different emotional situations to relate to the parts that you play," McMahon added. "For Little Red Riding Hood in Into The Woods, her serious moment was with the wolf. In this show, it could relate to Diana being afraid of going through electroshock therapy." Diana is definitely the most challenging character I've played so far. I think that because of what she goes through during the show that she'll remain the most interesting and challenging character I will ever play. With every character, when you look at what they've gone through and what they're going through, you can pull different emotional situations to relate to the parts that you play. Kylie McMahon Actress McMahon discovered her love of performing at a young age when she auditioned for a school play in Grade 5. It wasn't until Grade 10, however, she realized she wanted to sing, act and dance for Oakville's Kylie McMahon is pictured in front during a rehearsal of Next To Normal, which is hitting the Lower Ossington Theatre stage in Toronto tomorrow (Thursday, Aug. 29). | submitted photo Flyer sale on August 28September 17 Let's Get Back to Sewing! See our flyer for full details! save up to or better a living. "When I went to Cawthra Park High School, I knew I loved it then," she said. "When I had to make a decision after high school about what I wanted to do, I decided that's what I wanted to pursue and devote my education and training to. I auditioned for Sheridan College and got in." Last year, McMahon earned her Masters in Musical Theatre from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. "At the end of my third year, Andrew Panton, who is the head of the program in Glasgow, came and did a workshop with all of us," she said. "He told us we'd have the opportunity to audition for the Masters program in Scotland. Even though the Sheridan program was just a diploma program, Andrew recognized all of our practical training and allowed us to cross right over into the Masters program. I decided to audition for it and I got in." During her time in Scotland, McMahon and her colleagues had the opportunity to perform at the famed Edinburgh Fringe Festival. McMahon earned rave reviews for her performance as Mags in Towards the Moon. Tickets and performance dates for Next To Normal are available at www.ticketwise.ca. Take the bus to see the opera The Oakville Opera Guild is giving people an opportunity to see a number of performances by Opera Hamilton with like-minded opera lovers. The local group will once again be running buses this season to see a number of shows. The performances are all Saturday matinee shows: · Oct. 26 -- Giuseppe Verdi's Falstaff, which is the Italian composer's final opera · Jan. 28, 2014 -- Popera Plus, which is Opera Hamilton's showcase for Canada's leading opera stars · April 26, 2014 -- George Bizet's Carmen, an opera that became popular after the composer's death Anyone interested in joining the Opera Guild on the bus should call Margaret for tickets, prices and more information at 905631-6273. off our reg. prices on a huge selection of Sewing, Decorating, Crafting & Quilting Needs! And Members save 25-50% off our reg. prices on almost everything else not already on sale! Join & save more! MISSISSAUGA: 3015 WINSTON CHURCHILL BLVD. (N.W. side @ Dundas) 905-828-9966 BURLINGTON: 3515 FAIRVIEW ST. 905-639-2516 Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! www.fabricland.ca