Lead role in Jack’s Giant Adventure only 12

Times Contributor

 

Donovan Snider, 12, plays Jack in Rosebud Presents’ musical Jack’s Giant Adventure, March 4 to 8, 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on Rosebud’s Opera House Stage. The Tuesday to Friday shows are designed for school audiences, and the Saturday performances are open to the public.

“It’s my first major lead role like this. It’s really fun,” Snider says. “It’s a very, very exciting learning experience.”

Snider’s parents, David Snider and Jeany Van Meltebeke often perform on the Rosebud Opera House stage, but their son had to earn this role himself.

“I went and auditioned and sang a little part of a song,” young Snider says. “They had me read (an excerpt) of the script … and they coached me a little bit … then I got the email a couple days later that they were interested in exploring the possibility of me playing Jack.”

He’s missing two weeks of Grade 7 classes for rehearsals and performances (and keeping up on homework in between), but this is no vacation. 

“The work hours, they’re pretty long,” he says, “but I feel kind of like I’m toughening myself up to be able to withstand all that they throw at me.”

He’s learning obvious things like acting, singing, and voice projection, as well as less obvious lessons in character and work ethic. 

“I’m learning that I always need to be diligent, like to be at rehearsals a little bit early,” Snider says. “I’m learning how to receive direction in a way that I haven’t really known before.”

Mind you, not all the learning is hard work. “There’s some stunt stuff that we have to do, and that’s pretty exciting,” he says.

Snider’s favourite parts of the play, based on Jack and the Beanstalk, are those involving the giant and his wife. 

“After I get up the beanstalk, it’s kind of like cloudland,” he says. “We’re in this giant house where the giant and his wife live. The giant and his wife are arguing all the time. I come in and try to take back everything that was stolen from me and my mom. Then there’s this big fight scene.”

Byron Linsey plays the giant. 

“He’s got this really deep rich voice that he molds into this thing,” Snider says. “It’s like you’re terrified of him. But he’s got these hilarious lines and it’s ridiculous.” 

Leah Hearne is the giant’s wife. Lauren de Graaf plays Jack’s mom, Andrew Legg plays the Balladeer, and Jillian Schock is Muriel the cow.

Snider has performed with the Rosebud Younger Company and in the Canadian Badlands Passion Play. He’s also worked in his family’s voice-over studio for four years, recording his voice for video games, audio-books and an online children’s magazine called Click. He also played Wally Webb in Rosebud’s Our Town in 2013. But this is his first lead role on Rosebud’s main stage.

“I’m just really glad,” he says, “that I’m able to learn all these things and work with these great people.”

To purchase tickets for Jack’s Giant Adventure, call 1-800-267-7553 or see www.rosebudtheatre.com.