Highlands Little Theatre - Denise Blondin

P.O. Box 691 Sebring Florida USA 33871 Tel: 863-382-2525

Denise Blondin - Vocal Excellence
By: Roy Riedy

Denise was first heard and seen in Frank Oberhausen's revival of Fiddler on the Roof at Highlands Little Theatre in March, 1987, when she debuted at the Lakeside Playhouse in the role of Granma Tzeitel. Her next appearance was the following November in Marian Dunham's Cabaret, as a member of the chorus. In December she was a HLT Singer in Paul Roberts' Sound of Christmas, which she followed in March, 1988, as Aunt Nettie in Frank Oberhausen's musical Carousel. Denise was nominated for a Best Supporting Actress for her role of Nettie Fowler in Carousel at the Third Annual Zenon Awards Ceremony in September, 1988.

In the Fifteenth Season Ms. Blondin played the role of Lady Thiang in The King and I and thrilled audiences with her rendition of the show's beautiful song "Something Wonderful" in Frank Oberhausen's April presentation of that memorable musical. In late September of that season, Denise was nominated for and was presented her first Zenon for a Best Performance by an Actress in a supporting Role.

Denise sang the role of Ernestina in Janelou Buck's musical Hello Dolly in June, 1990, and was nominated again for a Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role at the Fifth Zenon Awards Ceremony at which she joined Jim Lanier in a medley from Phantom of the Opera and sang "Wishing You Were Here Again."

During the Seventeenth Season, Denise was involved with three shows. During Frank Oberhausen's Music Man in March, Denise worked with the Anthony's Lounge staff. She played Crystal, in Tena Conyer's hilarious Little Shop of Horrors in June; and returned to join the staff of Anthony's Lounge during Walter Zelenenki's August comedy, The Seven Year Itch. Denise was nominated again for a Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role for her part as Crystal in Little Shop of Horrors.

The Eighteenth Season saw Ms. Blondin working in Anthony's Lounge during all five performances at the Lakeside Playhouse and was the Assistant Director of Carol Thurow's Christmas Program, A Christmas Salute to the 40's, the second weekend in December.

Denise worked in Anthony's Lounge during the first two shows of the Nineteenth Season and was last seen on the Playhouse stage as Inez Alvarez "Mamita" in Marian Dunham's August, 1995, performance of Gigi, a role that nominated her for yet another Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role.

During her seven season association with Highlands Little Theatre, Denice was involved in 16 plays, received a Zenon for her part of Lady Thiang in The King and I, and received nominations for four other roles. She participated in 2 Christmas programs, and was mentioned in 13 Highlands Little Theatre Newsletters and 15 local news articles for a total of 51 Citations.

She will be long remembered for her beautiful voice and the joy it brought to her audiences.