Corinne Charbonneau is a 13-year-old eighth-grader at Blaine Middle School. She's the same age that Anne Frank was when her family went into hiding from the Nazis in Amsterdam during World War II.
Corinne plays the title role in Lynden Performing Arts Guild's production of "The Diary of Anne Frank," on stage Wednesday, Feb. 15, through March 4 at Claire vg Thomas Theatre, at Dutch Village Mall, 655 Front St.
Admission is $12 adults, $10 seniors and students, $8 children. For tickets and more details, call 360-354-4425 or go to this Lynden Performing Arts Guild webpage.
Question: What's your theatrical background?
Answer: I am an active member in community and school theater and have been since fourth grade. Some favorite plays and roles would have to be Jasper in "101 Dalmatians," when I was in grade school, and in Lynden Performing Arts Guild I played the roles of Responsibility and a Knight in "Wonderland!" and Esmeralda in "The Christmas Toyshop." I also enjoyed the part of the Diva Vanessa in Bellingham Arts Academy for Youth's production of "The Glee! Experience."
Q: Why do you enjoy performing?
A: The thing I love most about being in theater is you can be a completely different person and there's no limit of what you can portray on the stage. I love the adrenaline rush I get when I'm performing. When I'm having a bad day, I get to rehearsal and I become instantly happy because I know that I get to do what I love and I get to keep doing it for the rest of my life.
Q: Why did you audition for "Anne Frank," which deals with some pretty big issues?
A: In the past I've mostly done very comedic roles, and I wanted to challenge myself to be in a more serious play that actually sends a message and means something.
Q: Do you do other kinds of performance besides plays?
A: As well as plays I do musicals, too, so I sing and dance, and I also play the flute in my middle-school band.
Q: How did you prepare for the role of Anne?
A: I read the book that was based on her diary, so I really got to know actually whom Anne Frank was. She was this enthusiastic, larger-than-life 13-year-old girl who really wasn't afraid to say what she thought about nearly everything. The thing about her that I just find remarkable is that even when she was in this horrible situation, she stayed positive; she had hope even when it looked like the hope for her was long lost.
I think people should see this play for the great actors, the life lesson it comes with, and the meaning behind this young girl's experiences.
Q: Who are some of your role models?
A: My celebrity role models are Barbra Streisand, Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Debbie Reynolds and Lea Michele. In addition, there's my Aunt Bea and my Aunt Kate, who also played Anne Frank before me.
Q: What else is fun for you?
A: When I'm not in school or rehearsals, I am: singing, dancing, skiing, playing sports, watching show tunes, being a "Harry Potter" dork, laughing, exploring, hanging out with my friends, or having adventures with my best friend K.C. Lastly, in school I enjoy P.E. class, and writing fiction stories.
