Fernie & Elk Valley Culture Guide Issue 6 - Fall 2017 | Page 19

Photo: Phil McLachlan/The Free Press FEATURE PERFORMER Denise Baughan In her role as local community theatre champion, Denise Baughan writes, directs, and performs in a variety of productions from children’s comedy to nationally acclaimed drama. Denise developed her skills through intense theatre study with a focus on ‘the artist,’ and graduated from the University of Windsor with a Bachelor of Fine Arts for acting. She found a passion for Shakespeare and has fond memories of performing as Paulina in A Winter’s Tale. During her studies, she became involved in Drama Education and later achieved her Bachelor of Education through Vancouver Island University. She particularly enjoys the process of developing skills with children and believes that theatre has a transformative power, building confidence and creativity through the shared experience. In Fernie, Denise created and produced A Fernie Collective for The Arts Station, an immersive process which provided a deeper understanding of the local community, and resulted in many connections that she continues to foster today. She produced an adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island, and most recently she produced The Curse of the Lumberjack King, a play by Lindsay Vallance. She is a board member of the Fernie and District Arts Council and has hosted a variety of theatre workshops and volunteered at many events over the years. She embraces the differences between acting and directing, and has channeled the unique skills associated with each role to help her become a talented master of the stage. Starting September 21, Denise will host a monthly drop-in Improv session with an emphasis on fun and creativity. No experience is necessary, and everyone is welcome. She is also developing a Christmas show with Sadie Rosgen for performance in December. Denise lives in Fernie with her husband, Xavier, their dog, Ozzy, and cat, Oscar. She works full-time as a teacher. 19