 |
|
 |
Hailing proudly from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, I began singing as early as I can remember. My Mum even wrote in my baby book “she loves to sing!!” I sang at school, I sang at church, I sang anywhere I could, and by the time I was twelve, I was appearing in my first professional productions. By fifteen, I was a veteran of summer stock Broadway Shows and a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association, of which I’ve belonged to for over forty years.
My training includes: Bachelor of Arts, University of Manitoba, Banff School of Fine Arts, The Toronto Royal Conservatory of Music, American Musical and Dramatic Academy, New York City, and to this day, continuing study of voice, dance and acting.
Highlights of my theatrical career include, appearing in over seven hundred productions across the USA, Canada and around the world in regional, repertory and stock companies. Some of my favorite stage roles are Rosie in Bye Bye Birdie, Babe in The Pajama Game, Daisy in On a Clear Day, Nellie in South Pacific, and Ado Annie in Oklahoma, choreographed by Tommy Tune and guest directed by Jonathon Lucas.
At that time, and as luck would have it, Jonathon was a director on The Dean Martin Variety Show. Talk about being in the right place at the right time,eh? Needless to say, the rest is history, as Jonathon took me to Los Angeles to become one of the newly formed group of the Dean Martin Golddiggers. I never did audition!!! That was 1968.
Being a Golddigger was to change the direction of my career and my life. It was an amazing experience to be on Dean’s show, and then spun off on our own TV series, performing with Hollywood legends, touring the country from State Fairs to Las Vegas, having dinner at the White House, traveling around the world and to Viet Nam with the Bob Hope Christmas Show. Yes, we really were Hollywood Starlets!! At this time I also forged, what would be, life long friendships with my Golddigger Sisters.
In 1970, I joined the popular singing group The Establishment, performing on numerous variety television shows and in major night clubs. Following that, I became a regular performer on The Jim Nabors Hour.
After twenty years in the business, I took time out to raise my children, Tyler and Regan in Los Angeles and Portland Oregon. During this time, I married David Paradine, a Chief Executive Officer of nonprofit organizations, and became a step-mum to Sue, Katrina, and Carla.
Today, I am back to my first love, singing and performing in such shows as Hannah in The Spit Fire Grill, Sister Mary Wilhelm in Nunsense, a zany character in What In The World (with fellow Golddigger Joy Hawkins), musical reviews and local benefits. So now I’ve come “full circle.”
When not singing, my hobbies are tennis, golf, swimming, hiking and walking my beloved Golden Retriever and Yellow Lab. We make our home in the California desert.
|
|
