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<\/a>\u201cPlaying Annie is challenging for me because it\u2019s not a character that I innately identify with,\u201d Korn said. \u201cHer hope and upbeat attitude, even in her awful situation, isn\u2019t my gut reaction. But playing her has inspired me to find the hope or silver lining in otherwise sad situations. The most fun part of being Annie is exploring the world through her eyes.\u201d<\/p>\n
At age 13, Korn has the training and experience to play such an iconic role and make it her own.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t remember a time when I wasn\u2019t performing; whether it be for my parents, friends, family and\/or my stuffed animals!!\u201d she said. \u201cI started training in musical theatre, dance and vocals at the age of 5. Funnily enough, my very first vocal performance, at the age of 5, were songs from Annie<\/i>: \u2018Maybe\u2019 and \u2018You\u2019re Never Fully Dressed.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
Korn played Tomika in School of Rock<\/i> at Theatre Under the Stars in 2024 and Brigitta in the Sound of Music<\/i> at Delta Youth Theatre in 2023. She competes vocally and, this past year, won first place in the musical theatre genre at Kiwanis Music Festival. For the last three years, she has been dancing competitively, with the Happening Dance Studio. A couple of years ago, she won a nationwide songwriting contest. She would like to study musical theatre in New York and perform on Broadway.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI prepare for my roles by learning the backstory of the show and my character. I really try to bring \u2018me\u2019 to the character I am playing, so, although I watch the musical or movie, I try not to copy or emulate exactly what I see. It is really important for me to bring my own authentic self to the character, so it feels and looks real,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n \u201cTo memorize my lines, I visualize the scene over and over. This technique helps me feel the beat of the scene and then the lines come more naturally.<\/p>\n \u201cTo calm my nerves,\u201d she said, \u201cI think, \u2018what would Beyonc\u00e9 do?\u2019 I channel my inner courage and remember that musical theatre is my biggest passion and love. Reminding myself of my love for being on stage helps ease the nerves.\u201d<\/p>\n Self-care is part of it, too. With Annie<\/i>, for example, there are shows six days a week, and a matin\u00e9e and evening performance on Saturdays.<\/p>\n \u201cTo have enough energy for the shows, I try to relax \u2013 when I\u2019m not at school or rehearsing!\u201d said Korn. \u201cI like to zone out by watching TV or reading a book and keeping my talking to a minimum (which can be hard for me at times!), so I don\u2019t wear my voice out. Luckily, my mum cooks me healthy meals so I have the energy to dance, sing and act my heart out on the stage. I warm up my body and voice. Cheryl Porter\u2019s vocal warm-ups are amongst my favourite and have helped me keep my vocal cords safe throughout my singing years and daily shows.\u201d<\/p>\n It was Korn\u2019s mom who saw that Gateway Theatre was casting for Annie<\/i>.<\/p>\n \u201cShe submitted me for the role of Annie and\/or the orphans,\u201d said Korn. \u201cI practised the vocals for the audition with my vocal coach, Frederik Robert. My mum was my reader for the scene I had to practise. I guess she did an OK job! Mentally, I told myself to just go in there with all my confidence and courage and play the role and sing the best I could. And, like my mum always reminds me, \u2018have fun!\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n This will be Korn\u2019s first time working with Gateway Theatre. She is grateful to Epstein, choreographer Nicol Spinola, music director Sean Bayntum and the whole Gateway team for the \u201cincredible opportunity.\u201d Her parents have provided \u201cendless support,\u201d she said, also highlighting her vocal coach, Robert, and dance teacher, Kim Stevenson, \u201cfor pushing me and believing in me!\u201d<\/p>\n Judaism is a fundamental aspect of Korn\u2019s life.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cMy grandfather, David Solomon Korn (he is named after two kings, he likes to remind us), is a Holocaust survivor. He and his brother Yaakov, aged 6 and 7, survived the Nazis as they came through Europe, including Brno, Czechoslovakia, where my grandfather was born. Tragically, his parents died at the hands of the Nazis, leaving my grandfather and his brother orphans. He recently wrote his memoir, in a book called At Great Risk<\/i>, with the assistance of the Azrieli Foundation. My grandmother, Yona, was born in Afula, Israel. My grandparents met in Montreal and, after marrying, lived in Haifa before immigrating to Canada. It is a story of survival, determination and hope.<\/p>\n \u201cPlaying the role of Annie causes me to pause often to reflect upon the injustices inflicted upon my grandfather, who himself was orphaned at a young age, and the resilience of the Jewish people,\u201d Korn continued. \u201cMy Jewish identity is strong and it is an important part of who I am today.\u201d<\/p>\n It is easy to see why Epstein told the Independent<\/i> that everyone who sees Annie will \u201cwalk away drawn in to our Annie, rising star Azaleah Korn \u2013 she\u2019s got a mix of undeniable star power and acting chops.\u201d<\/p>\n Epstein is a multifaceted talent himself, being an actor, producer, director and writer. The almost-46-year-old is a theatre veteran. For him, directing at Gateway Theatre is special.<\/p>\n \u201cI spent my Hanukkahs doing the seasonal show at the Gateway as a kid \u2013 five winters,\u201d he said. \u201cIt was a training ground for me, and this is all full circle.\u201d<\/p>\n He directed Gateway\u2019s 2024 production of Oliver! <\/i>(He was part of Gateway\u2019s 1992 production of the musical, playing young pickpocket Charley Bates.)<\/p>\n \u201cComing off Oliver!<\/em> last year was a real awakening for me,\u201d Epstein told the JI<\/i>. \u201cI didn\u2019t expect how joyful it would be to dust off a classic and rediscover how well these classics hold up when you approach them with imagination and depth. The Gateway encouraged us to dream big and take risks. Barb Tomasic (executive artistic director) is an extraordinary leader, and that attitude trickles through the entire company.<\/p>\n \u201cOn opening night, she asked me about returning, I was a quick yes. She had a list, I had a list, and Annie<\/i> was at the top of both.\u201d<\/p>\n When asked his favourite thing about Annie<\/em> so far, Epstein said, \u201cWe\u2019ve found fresh takes on every character.\u201d As noted, he highlighted Korn. He also said, \u201cI think audiences will see a Warbucks they\u2019ve never seen before. Charlie Gallant brings something impulsive, surprising and emotionally alive. It reinvigorates the role and opens up the whole story.\u201d<\/p>\n He added, \u201cBut, who am I kidding, the dog will undoubtedly get the most attention. Everyone loves Sandy.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Sandy is played by three dogs: Neko, Mylo and Poco. While there is the saying, \u201cnever work with kids or animals,\u201d Epstein said, \u201cIt\u2019s a myth. We had 70 kids audition. Seventy. Vancouver is full of incredible training programs \u2026 so the talent pool was unbelievable and our orphans are exceptional. The challenge is harnessing all that energy and potential inside a big, fast-moving machine.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s been six to 10 months of planning, said Epstein, between \u201csets, costumes, props, auditions and logistics. Then, three intense weeks of rehearsal into tech. In that window, we have to teach all the music, choreograph huge numbers, stage transitions, build quick changes, run fight direction, intimacy work, dialect coaching, work with three dogs and a dog trainer, squeeze in costume fittings and lift calls, and prep special promo events. When you break it down, the number of actual hours we get for scene work is shockingly small, so my job is to move quickly while still hitting all the moments we want to savour.\u201d<\/p>\n There is nothing like live theatre.<\/p>\n \u201cLook,\u201d said Epstein, \u201cmore and more, most of us are at home scrolling, streaming, consuming things alone. Theatre is one of the last places where you sit in a room with hundreds of strangers and feel something together. For this price, with this level of talent and this much energy poured into it, there\u2019s nothing else quite like it.<\/p>\n \u201cAt its core, Annie<\/i> is a story about chosen family, about finding the people who show you that love isn\u2019t just something you give, but something you have to allow yourself to receive \u2013 Warbucks learns that, Annie teaches it \u2013 and I hope you leave the theatre optimistic about finding that kind of connection with your own chosen family, whoever they may be.\u201d<\/p>\n