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I § I 2007 F A N S Recipient Jay Brazeau: The Art of Acting Whether he's playing the troubled Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman or a befuddled Bottom in A Midsummer Nights Dream, Jay Brazeau's performance is a work of art. Throughout his successful career in stage, film and television, he has always brought his best to each role. His artistry has been recognized over the years by virtue of the large number of roles he has played and the several awards he has received. Most recently, Jay Brazeau has been honoured in his home community with the North Shore FANS Award. As a child, Brazeau enjoyed going to movies with his father. He especially liked to watch the comics. Jerry Lewis was one of his favourites. Brazeau knew that he wanted to be an actor, but wasn't sure how to get there. As it turned out, he slipped in through the back door. The North Vancouver Office of Cultural Affairs presents 2007 FANS NIGHT ARTS A W A R D S in benefit of the Fund for the Arts on the North Shore Brazeau got involved with the Manitoba Theatre Workshop. He walked in and said, "I'm interested in doing theatre." They gave him a hammer and some nails and told him to start by building sets. He kept coming back, helping backstage and watching what was going on. One day they needed another actor and Brazeau jumped right in. "Nine times out of ten I didn't know what I was doing. I just learned on the job." Some actors shunned him because he had no formal theatre schooling. But that didn't stop Brazeau. "I never had a process. I would just go and do it." In time he discovered that his process to was to look at the play as a whole and then see how he fit in. At one time, he considered going to theatre school in London or New York but feared it might destroy his intuitive style. And so, with the skills he learned on the tough streets of Winnipeg and what he gleaned from fellow actors and the acting experience itself, Brazeau began to make a name for himself, not only in theatre but in film, television and voice over work as well. Although he has a hefty list of credits on his CV, Brazeau doesn't consider himself a star. "There are stars and there are actors. Some stars are actors but not all of them. I think being an actor is more fulfilling than being a star." For Brazeau, it's all about the art. He admits that he has taken roles simply to pay the mortgage but usually he's seeking the artistic challenge or the richness of the creative experience. " N o one does theatre at Presentation House to make money. You do it because you're an artist and you want to share something with the community. To have art in your life is an amazing thing." For about twenty years now, Brazeau and his wife Suzanne Ristic have been working with a group called the Angry Actors Co-op. They look for new material that is challenging not only for the actors and director, but also for the audience. One of their first productions was Danny and the Deep Blue Sea. Brazeau and Ristic both received the 1988 Jessie Richardson Awards for best male and female actor as did Kathryn Shaw for best director. These three are working together again, along with other cast members, in Edward Albee's provocative The Goat or, who is Sylvia? This play runs through November 10 at the Presentation House Theatre. The stage is definitely Brazeau's first choice for work as an actor. He loves the immediate feedback from the audience, the shared experience that doesn't come with other media. He believes that there are opportunities for more theatre here on the North Shore. The venues are great and the audiences are ready for the local theatre experience. He is honoured to be recognized by the FANS society in the community where he lives with his family. "It says something to me as an artist. It makes me feel that I'm doing the right thing." 22 NovemberjDecember S u n d a y , N o v e m b e r 7 : 3 0 p m Hamersley House - 350 E. 2nd St., North Van. FANS Award Honouree: Actor, Writer, Director JAY BRAZEAU Don S. Williams Award recipients: Painter LIL CHRZAN & Singers, Songwriters AUGUST Delicacies by TOUR DE FEAST CATERING, Silent Auction, Prizes and Performances in a magnificent heritage setting. Hosted by the COMEDY COMPANY 4, 2 0 0 7 Tickets are limited: $40 pp before Nov 1,2007 Tickets & Information: 604-980-3559 nsarts@telus.net www.arts-alive.ca THANKS TO OUR EVENT SPONSORS: A n . h e m O «i>%^ >\Vcdc»TMl g