2 Friday, May 3, 2024brooklintowncrier.com Brooklin's Community Newspaper Proud to be a Brooklinite Since 2000. Published 24 times per year. Editor, Richard Bercuson 613-769-8629 • editorofbtc@gmail.com • Circulation 8000 • Delivery via Canada Post Locally owned and operated. A publication of Appletree Graphic Design Inc. We accept advertising in good faith but do not endorse advertisers nor advertisements. All editorial submissions are subject to editing. For advertising information, contact: Email: mulcahy42@rogers.com Next Issue: Friday, May 17, 2024 Deadline: Friday, May 10, 2024 Brooklin TOWN CRIER.com By Richard Bercuson Researchers have not yet decided if there's much of a correlation between musical theatre, singing and volleyball. However, to determine if such a link exists, a good starting point would be with Brooklin's Jessica Docherty. The 18-year old grade 12 student at O'Neill CVI has managed to couple her singing gift with being a competitive volleyball player in the Durham Rebels club, all the while starring in local musical theatre. Most recently, she starred in the school's production of "Footloose:The Musical." Prior to the show, she'd been studying signing since the age of 7 and performing with Brooklin's The Song Spot under the direction of Andrea Akers. Over the years, she had also entered numerous singing competitions. In fact, she even recalls the first song she ever performed, Let it go, from Disney's Frozen. "I feel like it's been a gift," she recalls. "I always wanted to sing. The difference from about five years ago to now is that I'm more experienced. I've had many more positive influences, such as Andrea (Akers) at The Song Spot." Varied interests With a love for pop and jazz music, Docherty even admits that, aside from liking the music of Billie Eilish and Renée Rapp, she also has a strong affinity for what she calls the oldies, music from the 1980s, like Van Halen and even AC/DC. Musical theatre, however, has presented her with altogether different challenges. "I enjoy acting to a certain extent. The dancing is difficult. There's a lot more to it than just standing there and singing. You need stage presence." Performing with peers The recent Footloose show was the first time she'd performed with peers rather than little kids. It scared her a bit at first and produced some anxiety, she admits. However, after a while, she says the high school show changed her whole perspective. For instance, in the 2023 Song Spot production of Matilda Jr, she starred as the teacher Miss Honey. The rest of the cast was at least three years younger, many of them more than that. And yet, with Footloose now Jessica Docherty: The Singer Aims High SALES (905) 721-6599 SERVICE (905) 721-6588 PARTS (905) 721-6577 445 Winchester Road East, Brooklin Check out our Pre-Owned Inventory on our website! 2024 ELANTRA • 2023 SONATA 2024 VENUE • 2024 KONA 2024 TUCSON • 2023 SANTA FE 2024 PALISADE • 2024 SANTA CRUZ VIEW CURRENT SPECIAL OFFERS AT HYUNDAICANADA.COM OR COME SEE US! Monday - Thursday 9:00am-7:00pm Friday 9:00am-5:30pm Saturday 9:00am-5:00pm Sunday Closed 1201 Dundas St. East, Whitby SALES 905-668-5846 SERVICE 905-668-8871 PARTS 905-668-8853 WITH $3699 DOWN PAYMENT ON AN ULTRA LOW KM SIERRA 1500 PRO GRAPHITE LEASE 2024 SIERRA 1500 LEASE FOR $248 BI-WEEKLY THAT'S LIKE WEEKLY FOR 24 MONTHS $124 AT 4.5% CONDITIONS APPLY. VIEW OFFER DETAILS. continued on page 3 Jessica (top) as Ariel from Footloose