Ali Howat, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter | [email protected]
A 13-year-old actor from Jasper recently had the lead role in two Hinton productions last month.
The 51暗网 caught up with Emerson Gibbons to talk about his experience.
Q: What plays are you in, and what is your role in them?
This year, I performed in two plays with Break-A-Leg Theatre in Hinton: “The Toys Take Over Christmas,” in which my role was the toymaker and “The Christmas Corral,” a western-comedy take of “A Christmas Carol.” I played Mr. Scrooge.
Q: Why did you choose to audition for these plays?
I didn’t audition, because this was my third year performing with Break-A-Leg Theatre, so my director, Don Engerdahl, assigned the roles. Because we practiced “The Toys Take Over Christmas” last year but did not get to perform it live due to COVID, the students who returned got the same roles in that play.
I’ve always loved acting, so when I was informed that there was a group in Hinton, I leapt at the opportunity to join and met some very interesting people when I was there.
Q: Why did you start acting?
During my second year at Jasper Elementary School, we put on a play for FLA (French language arts), and we all auditioned for the roles. The play we performed was “Chicken Little,” and since that particular play has a small cast, I got the lead role with one other person in my class, in which we said our lines in unison.
My love of acting only grew from there. After that, I joined the acting groups in Jasper when the opportunity came up. Since Hinton is a bigger town, I can be assured that I can join the Break-A-Leg program every fall.
Q: Do you want to continue acting?
A hundred per cent. Now that these plays are done, I am resuming working with an acting coach based out of Chicago, Ill. I have been working with her and the same group of actors since COVID began.
This acting coach has helped two of my classmates to land roles in television series and one movie, so I have high hopes that I can make acting a career.
Q: Why did you choose Break-A-Leg Theatre?
There was a time in 2019 when there were no acting opportunities or classes with Jasper Habitat for the Arts, so my mother came across Break-A-Leg Theatre. She called the director of Habitat for the Arts, Marianne Garrah. When she asked if this was a good program Marianne said, “Yes, absolutely,” and phoned the director to tell him that I wanted to join.
Q: Do you feel the parts you play reflect your personality?
Well, both these characters are grumpy, old, cheap, stingy men. So… nah, I am nothing like either of those characters. I’m more like these characters after they change their ways at the end of the plays.
