Cuddlemonster

Contact information

MSN

marvinx45@hotmail.com

Website

http://www.marula.ca

Personal information

Birthdate

Oct 14 1983

Interests

Performing arts, funky socks, getting fit, jamming and writing new music with Adam for our band Marula, hiding in my massive collection of stuffed animals, becoming a swashbuckling rum-runner for a deadly band of dreadlocked pirates.

Name

Marg

Country

Canada

Bio

... I'll update this when I have time. In the meantime, please read and re-read the following bio I wrote in 2007.

FOR DEEP RIVER MUSICAL SOCIETY'S "EVITA":

When asked why she chose to audition for the title role in this summer’s DRMS production of Evita, Margaret Bates throws back and her head and says with a laugh: “I guess I just like a challenge.”

The twenty-three year old engineer adds that she was attracted to the role by Eva Peron’s intense personality. “From her impoverished beginnings to her larger-than-life finale, Eva had a tumultuous life that created a voracious inner dichotomy. She was narcissistic and ultimately became a megalomaniac, but she had an unshakable passion for the Argentine people and was fiercely loyal to her ‘descamisados’, or ‘shirtless ones.’ They revered her as a saint.”

Like Eva, Margaret is also a passionate person – particularly when it comes to music. As such, she found herself drawn to the production, not only by the spirit of Eva Duarte/Peron, but also by the music of composer Andrew Lloyd Webber. “Evita has a wonderfully complex and exciting musical score,” she explains. “With its close harmonies, broad vocal range, and abrupt mood swings, the score is a monster; but the cast and production team are taming it with relative ease. I can see I’m not the only one around here who likes a challenge!”

With an extensive background in the performing arts, Margaret is not only rising to the challenge of this production, she’s revitalizing it with a fresh, compelling interpretation of the role. She has had a great deal of formal musical training, including RCM piano and theory which she began at age four in her hometown of Burlington. After twelve years of study, she achieved first class honours in grade nine piano and grade three harmony/history. Less formally, Margaret learned to play the trumpet and performed in various school, community and ad hoc ensembles.

She also cultivated two other passions starting at a very young age: singing and dancing. Margaret studied Cecchetti ballet and pointe for fourteen years, earning a grade of 'commended' at the intermediate professional level. As for her vocal skills, Margaret developed these independently, quickly distinguishing herself as a talented choral singer. Beginning at age thirteen she was frequently invited to perform as a soloist in her church, and from there began successfully auditioning for various Toronto religious theatre productions. Later, during her university career at the University of Toronto, she freelanced as a busker, jazz artist and rock band front woman.

To compliment her stage experience, Margaret has also worn a number of behind-the-scenes hats: from music director to makeup artist, assistant stage manager to set builder.
This wide variety of perspectives has helped her to mature as a performer.

Earlier this year, Margaret delighted audiences as the famously quirky ‘Annelle’ in the Deep River Player’s highly-successful production of Steel Magnolias. Like Annelle, Margaret is a newcomer in a small town – although the resemblance to the shy, anxious hairdresser ends there. She moved to Deep River last year, immediately following her graduation from the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering with a bachelor’s degree in Materials Science and Engineering. She is currently working as the facility engineer in the RFFL (Plut Lab).

Over the past few months, those of us who have had the pleasure to get to know this intelligent, energetic young woman find she bears some resemblance to Eva Peron – in her natural leadership abilities and passionate approach to life. You can see Margaret’s powerful portrayal of Argentina’s former first lady in the DRMS production of Evita: July 27th and 28th and August 2nd- 4th. For more information about show times, tickets and more see www.drms.ca/evita.

Currently...

Lusting

After my new boots, which are supposed to be shipped to me sometime in the next year. I think. They're really hot -- I hope I can try them on soon.

Eating

Less than I want to (making up for the trainwreck of a vacation I just allowed myself).

Watching

Time slip away... time that I could be sleeping!

Reading

Bills...

Listening

To my incredibly loud fan.

Doing

A maniacal amount of exercise... still.

History

Member for

3 years 42 weeks