By Tansy Cai
“I was born in 1961, in Germany, in a Canadian Air Force base. My parents were spies. More specifically, my dad was an intelligence agent.” I appeared to be a little skeptical at first and Mr. Schaldemose added, “by the way, that was all true.”
Our beloved drama teacher, Michael Schaldemose, grew up and attended university in Victoria, B.C. Reflecting upon his childhood, Mr. Schaldemose pinpoints that he first discovered his love for theatre during his Grade 5 Christmas play. Then he began taking drama seriously in Grade 9 and hasn’t stopped ever since. After gradating from University of Victoria alongside Mr. Wener, the two theatre protégés founded a production company named “Way Off Broadway”. Together, they produced shows for a dozen years until they decided to teach at Collingwood School.
Videos by Charly Pimentel and Harry Fuller
“I was born in 1961, in Germany, in a Canadian Air Force base. My parents were spies. More specifically, my dad was an intelligence agent.” I appeared to be a little skeptical at first and Mr. Schaldemose added, “by the way, that was all true.”
Our beloved drama teacher, Michael Schaldemose, grew up and attended university in Victoria, B.C. Reflecting upon his childhood, Mr. Schaldemose pinpoints that he first discovered his love for theatre during his Grade 5 Christmas play. Then he began taking drama seriously in Grade 9 and hasn’t stopped ever since. After gradating from University of Victoria alongside Mr. Wener, the two theatre protégés founded a production company named “Way Off Broadway”. Together, they produced shows for a dozen years until they decided to teach at Collingwood School.
Videos by Charly Pimentel and Harry Fuller
Mr. Schaldemose vividly recounts his visit to a museum and the launch of the “Star Trek” series which he attributes as his most prominent influence. “I still remember seeing those tiny model buildings for the first time when I was little. The artistry was so intricate and fascinating! I think that was when I developed my love for the arts.”
Furthermore, he shares the importance of the “Star Trek” series to him. Since he could barely spend time with his dad, Mr. Schaldemose regarded Captain Kirk as a father figure. Until this day, he admits that a lot of his morals and ethnical guidelines strictly parallels with those of Captain Kirk.
“Luckily, Captain Kirk was a good guy!” Mr. Schaldemose commented jokingly.
Apart from theatre, Mr. Schaldemose also loves to read, as well as conduct scientific and historical research. He is especially interested in discovering the true history, not just history written by the “winners”. He also has a predilection for philosophical and spiritualistic topics that reveal how the mind works and thinks.
In the end, Mr. Schaldemose shares that in order to be a remarkable actor, it is key that you sympathize with your character. “I had to play Hitler once, so I had to adopt his ideologies, believe in what he believed in. Put myself into his shoes,” Mr.Schaldemose added. We all appreciate the great amount of effort he contributes to putting every play together. Theatre, as he puts it, gives him “great satisfaction” and is “what [he loves] to do the most!”
“Luckily, Captain Kirk was a good guy!” Mr. Schaldemose commented jokingly.
Apart from theatre, Mr. Schaldemose also loves to read, as well as conduct scientific and historical research. He is especially interested in discovering the true history, not just history written by the “winners”. He also has a predilection for philosophical and spiritualistic topics that reveal how the mind works and thinks.
In the end, Mr. Schaldemose shares that in order to be a remarkable actor, it is key that you sympathize with your character. “I had to play Hitler once, so I had to adopt his ideologies, believe in what he believed in. Put myself into his shoes,” Mr.Schaldemose added. We all appreciate the great amount of effort he contributes to putting every play together. Theatre, as he puts it, gives him “great satisfaction” and is “what [he loves] to do the most!”
