Home »
Have you met Jade?
Familiar Faces
By Brenda Babinski
May 7 – 10 Mount Baker Wild Theatre’s production of the Drowsy Chaperone will be performed at the Key City Theatre.
The Spring Musical has become a great tradition in our fair city and anyone who has had the pleasure of attending one in the last dozen years or so might recognize Jade Duchscherer, a familiar face. This year marks a milestone for this Grade 12 student. In the past 13 years, Jade has been in 17 of the Mount Baker Wild Productions, setting a record that will likely never be broken.
It all began at the age of five, when Jade was asked by her father, Grant, a teacher at Mount Baker, if she would like to try out for the part of Tinker Bell in Peter Pan. Legend has it that the young thespian answered “tell Rodo I won’t try to be Tinker Bell. I AM Tinker Bell.” The rest is history. This star was born along with a lifelong passion for the theatre.
Since that time Jade has been involved in a myriad of productions. Her roles have ranged from being the star of the show to one of the chorus, and everything in between. She has played a piece of cheese, a saltshaker and Jojo the Mayor’s daughter. She has been Emily in Our Town, Gretel in the Sound of Music and her favourite, Young Cosette in Les Miserables.
Her roles have been varied and the people she has worked with have come and gone as they have reached graduation and set out into the world. And now it is her turn to fly that nest.
Drowsy Chaperone will be Jade’s final performance with the Mount Baker Wild Theatre. She graduates this June and will be heading to the University of Victoria in the fall to study engineering.
Jade is an excellent student and first class soccer player but in her busy life she has always made time to be in the plays.
Growing up, Jade looked up to people like Tyrel Hawke and Delaney Kunitz and now finds herself in the position of role model herself to the young people just coming into high school.
“Theatre has been the best of all. We become this tight knit family and work together so hard that when the show goes on there is nothing like that feeling of accomplishment,” she said.
And along the way Jade has worked with a variety of dedicated teachers who have given their time and talents to help students such as herself discover their passion for the performing arts and music.
Working with Rod Osiowy was a highlight for Jade and he holds a very special place in her heart.
“Rodo had a way of making everyone feel special and important, no matter what role they were playing,” she said.
His legacy is carried on by the dedicated and talented people in Mount Baker’s music and theatre departments, such as Jade’s musical mentor, the uber-talented Evan Bueckert.
Being involved with the theatre department has clearly given Jade a well-rounded education. Though she has chosen to pursue a degree in engineering, Jade hopes to find a way to continue acting and being part of the theatrical experience.
Jade will be playing the role of Kitty in the upcoming Drowsy Chaperone. A “ditzy Jersey girl,” Kitty is a chorus actress trying desperately to get the lead role. This part is the perfect showcase for Jade’s comedic acting, dancing and singing skills.
During the many years Jade has been a part of the Mount Baker Wild Theatre ensemble she has become a seasoned performer. When something goes wrong they often turned to Jade for the solution.
During the run of Seussical the Musical the young man who was playing the part of Vlad Vladicoff, an eagle with ill intent, became too ill to play his part. Just 90 minutes before the curtain was to go up Rodo approached Jade and asked: “Hey, you wanna fly?” Without a moment’s hesitation Jade replied: “Yeah I do!”
After 17 productions and 13 years Jade Duchscherer has certainly learned to fly. From tiny Tinker Bell to quirky Kitty and every role in between, audiences have watched Jade grow up. Her dynamic talents and engaging smile will surely be missed by East Kootenay audiences.
Be sure to catch her farewell performance in Drowsy Chaperone and to thank her for 13 wonderful years of entertainment. May 7 – 10, 2015 at the Key City Theatre.
Lead image:Â Jade as Young Cosette in Les Miserables. Â Photos submittedÂ
– Brenda Ann Babinski is a writer, speaker, seeker and award-winning blogger. Her curiosity for all things unseen has led Brenda on a crazy, amazing and sometime downright bizarre journey that she shares at http://pastlifetourist.com
Contact Brenda at [email protected] or call 778-214-2341 for private consultation. Don’t forget to Like her on Facebook, for your daily Halo: https://www.facebook.com/pastlifetourist/