Latest News

Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Local actress on Yellow Brick Road, hopes to meet the Wizard of Oz

By: Brad Oswald

Posted: 09/15/2012 1:00 AM | Comments: 0

Enlarge Image

Colleen Furlan (HANDOUT)

TV PREVIEW

Over the Rainbow

Hosted by Daryn Jones; featuring judges Thom Allison, Arlene Phillips and Louise Pitre
Sunday at 8 p.m.
CBC

She's off to see the Wizard ... and Winnipegger Colleen Furlan has her sights set on collecting the prize that waits at the end of the Yellow Brick Road.

"It would make my whole life," said the 19-year-old musical-theatre performer, who today will be named as one of the Top 10 finalists in the CBC reality/competition series Over the Rainbow. "An opportunity like this doesn't come along very often, especially for a young performer who's just trying to break into the business. Basically, being on a show like this, and winning it, would make your whole career. I would be so grateful, because I really can't see myself doing anything else other than performing."

Over the Rainbow, which premieres Sunday at 8 p.m. on CBC, is an eight-part talent competition series in which weekly performances and viewer voting will narrow the field until the final remaining contestant wins the starring role in Andrew Lloyd Webber's upcoming Toronto production of The Wizard of Oz.

After taking part in the Winnipeg tryouts during the show's cross-country audition tour last spring, Furlan was one of six locals chosen to take part in the Top-100 tryouts in Toronto; when the field was reduced to the Top 20, she was the lone remaining Winnipegger.

Furlan, a Charleswood product who last spring completed her first year of studies in the University of Manitoba's faculty of music, has spent the past three weeks taking part in an intensive "Dorothy Farm" that included vocal and dance training, wardrobe and makeup sessions, and performance-based competitions that included an audition in front of Andrew Lloyd Webber himself.

"This has been the best experience of my life," she said. "To be able, at 19 years old, to have something this big happen is absolutely incredible. It's always been a dream of mine to make it onstage, and now that I have this opportunity, the adrenalin is pumping through my veins nonstop. I feel like it's finally happening."

Furlan's TV-series trip down the Yellow Brick Road is just another leg in what has been a lifelong journey toward a showbiz career. A dancer since age four and a singer since age six, she has been a fixture in local Highland Dance competitions and the Winnipeg Music Festival for most of the past decade.

Over the Rainbow represents a shift in her competitive career, however, in that it will be viewer votes that decide how far she goes toward being fitted with Dorothy's coveted ruby slippers. And to that end, Furlan and her family are doing everything she can to drum up local support -- sending out cards and flyers, setting up a Facebook fan page (www.Facebook.com/ColleenMcGregorFurlan) and encouraging local supporters to follow her on Twitter (@colleenosaurus3).

"Winnipeg is such a supportive community, and I really do hope they get behind me," she said. "I really want to make a good impression for our city, and to do that, I need their support. It's not a huge place like Toronto or Vancouver, where many of the competitors are from, so I hope people at home will watch the show and vote for me."

brad.oswald@freepress.mb.ca
Twitter: @BradOswald

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition September 15, 2012 G7

Fact Check

Have you found an error, or know of something we’ve missed in one of our stories? Please use the form below and let us know.

* Required

In which story did you find the error? *
Please post the headline of the story or the title of the video with the error.
What was the error? *
Please post exactly what was wrong with the story.
What should we have written?
Please indicate your source for the correct information.
Who else should we interview to improve this story?
Please include any contact information you may have.
Can we contact you in the future for advice on stories about this topic?
Yes

No
First Name: *
Last Name: *
E–mail Address: *
This will only be used to contact you if we have a question about your submission, it will not be used to identify you or be published.
Phone: *
This will only be used to contact you if we have a question about your submission, it will not be used to identify you or be published.
Colour:
Are you blue? If you can see this, leave it blank and get some CSS support.
Enter the words that you see: * This is to prevent our forms from being filled out automatically.
You have failed to correctly identify the words in the box above. Please try again.

More Latest News

Undock

You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is be a Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscriber to join the conversation and give your feedback.

Have Your Say

New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.

Have Your Say

Comments are open to Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscribers only. why?

Have Your Say

Comments are open to Winnipeg Free Press Subscribers only. why?

The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.