Lögberg-Heimskringla - 15.02.2015, Page 10

10 • Lögberg-Heimskringla • February 15 2015
VISIT OUR WEBSITE WWW.LH-INC.CA
A bright new talent, Ellen Denny, is returning to her roots in Winnipeg
to perform on the John Hirsch
Main Stage from February
11th to March 5th. She will
be playing the part of Nina in
Christopher Durang’s Vanya
& Sonia & Masha & Spike,
alongside a distinguished cast,
which includes Jennifer Dale
and Fiona Reed.
Unlike many struggling
artists, Ellen has worked
steadily ever since graduating
from Dalhousie, University
in 2012 with a BA Combined
Honours in music and theatre.
She immediately landed the
role of Anne Shirley in Anne
& Gilbert at Charlottetown’s
Guild Theatre, where she
worked for two seasons.
She has filled her calendar
with performances in several
major Canadian theatres and
festivals, done some film work
and even managed to work in
an opera.
Ellen grew up in London
Ontario. Her mother Marion
Johnson, while working on
her PhD at Western University,
met, fell in love with and
married Professor Peter Denny.
Peter is not only a highly
respected academic, but also
a musician of note with deep
connections to the London
arts scene. His image was
immortalized by his late friend
Greg Curnoe in the painting
“Camouflage Piano” – Peter is
the saxophone player.
Quite naturally, Marion’s
creative side now began to
emerge. She penned a novel,
then developed a keen interest in
theatre and play writing. Marion
was twice honoured with the
“Best of Festival” award by the
London Fringe Festival.
Into this intellectually and
artistically rich environment
two children were born: Ann
and Ellen. Ann is a singer and
comedienne in Halifax.
Although Ellen was
born and raised in London,
her grandparents Magnus
and Pauline both hail from
Winnipeg’s West End – and
the story of their wedding hit
newspapers around the world!
They met in the First
Icelandic Lutheran Church at
a Young People’s meeting – it
was love at first sight. Their
wedding made it to Ripley’s
Believe It or Not:
The name is Johnson
The bride was Pauline
Johnson
The bridegroom was Magnus
Frederick Johnson
They were married on
October 9th, 1937
In First Lutheran Church by
Rev. B.B. Jonsson
The bride was attended by the
little Misses Joyce and
Eleanor Johnson, flower girls.
The best man was Jon
Johnson, the ushers Harold
and Elmer Johnson.
During the signing of the
registry, Mrs. Lincoln Johnson
sang
O Perfect Love
Pauline was a beautiful
and vivacious young woman.
Magnus, having a keen
intellect, overcame enormous
challenges to attend university
during the depths of the
depression, earning a degree
in geology. After serving
in World War II Magnus
earned a second degree in
mining engineering, which
took the fledgling family to
Ontario. There they raised
five children and Magnus
had a distinguished career,
retiring from Ontario Hydro
in London. Were they here
today, their chests would be
bursting with pride as their
talented granddaughter takes
the stage.
Award-winning actress has deep roots in the Icelandic community
Ellen Denny during the first read-through of Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike at the
Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre
Actress Audrey Dwyer reads with Ellen Denny
Carl Johnson
Winnipeg, MB
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