Moncton native Kim (Sneath) Jamieson has turned a high school passion for acting into a career

Jamieson was selected by acclaimed director Susan Schulman to act as what is known in musical theater parlance as a “swing” for Fiddler.  Interviewed in her dressing room after a performance of another festival production, Gilbert and Sullivan’s Patience, in which she plays a “lovesick maiden” , the part, friendly brunette explained that a swing understudies the understudies.

“When a lead performer cannot go on, his or her place is taken by the understudy who is usually someone in a supporting role? The Swing.  It's like a domino effect.”
 Acknowledging, with a broad smile, that it took her almost two months to master all her roles, Jamieson said “I have to remember where everyone is on stage at all times and where the characters I might have to play at very short notice fit into the dance numbers.” 

Designed by choreographer Michael Lichtefeld, the dancing in Fiddler is absolutely superb.  According to Jamieson, it is also very challenging for everyone in the cast.  So is finding your way through the intricate network of tunnels the run under the apron stage in the Festival Theater.  Performers often have to race along these tunnels in order to make their entrances but Jamieson notes, “ you can never arrive on stage out of breath.”

Fiddler on the Roof stars the legendary Canadian actor Brent Carver in the role of Tevye and brings a special quality to this wonderful show which is one of the best musicals Stratford has presented in the past few years, Everything ­ from the performances to the set (designed by Debra Hanson, another New Brunswick native) - is superb and Jamieson says she is very proud to be involved in the production even though she admits that being a swing is “one of the most different roles in the theater..”. 

The Stratford Festival operates as a repertory company which means that the actors are hired for more than one show.  Jamieson is also appearing in the aforementioned Patience as well as in Shakespeare's As You Like It.  That's quite a work load but for Jamieson it is a dream come true. 

The daughter of Doris and Tom Sneath, she was bitten by the theater bug while a student at Moncton High when she was selected to play Maria in the school's production of west side story.  After studying with Patricia Lee at Mount Allison University, Jamieson was accepted into the three year musical theater programme at Sheridan College in Toronto.  “The voice programme at Mount A was wonderful but it focussed heavily on the classical repertoire.  It was not until after graduation when I moved to Halifax and performed in dinner theater that I decided I wanted to be in musicals,”   Jamieson explains, adding the training in acting and dance she received at Sheridan was first class.

While at Mount Allison, Jamieson earned a degree in education but she readily admits that she does not belong in the classroom.  “My parents felt that I might need something to fall back on and, although teaching is not my first love, I did do some supply work when I needed the money to pay the rent after a moving to Toronto.”  She also worked as a waitress which, as she puts it, “gave me time to attend auditions.”

Making it in the world of show biz takes determination as well as talent.  Recalling that a couple of years ago she “did 15 to 10 auditions without hearing back from anyone,” Jamieson says “boy, I really needed my friends during the time because it have been easy to become discouraged.”

Finally, she feels, the tide has turned in her favour.  Being accepted for the Stratford Company on the strength of her first auditions was a big boost and Jamieson is taking advantage of the opportunity she has been given to work with some of Canada's finest theater professionals.  Networking, she says, is just as important in the theater as it is in the world of business.  “If you work with a director who likes you, he or she will think of you when another show is being cast.” 

Jamieson doesn't know where she will be performing once her eight month stint at Stratford is over in October.  She is currently waiting for word from her agent about perspective roles.  Although her dream is to perform with the Theater New Brunswick so that “I can have the thrill of walking out on stage at Moncton's Capital Theater,” she will go wherever the work takes her.

Asked if she has any advice for musical theater wannabes, Jamieson replies, With a broad smile, “you have to be totally committed to take rejection and you have to be prepared to work long hours.”

Is it worth it? “You bet.  There isn't anything I would rather do.  My only regret is that I don't get home to Moncton as often as I would like.  Apart from that, life is wonderful.”