About ME
Carolyn Hay here. Never met an idea I can’t embrace, a plot I can’t twist and a deadline I can’t make.
Here’s a bit more about me…
THEATRE
I studied performance at York U. and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Honours Degree.
A highlight of my acting career is playing Juliet at The Stratford Festival (ok, not that Juliet, the other Juliet in Measure for Measure with 7 lines…but still!).
I enjoyed playing the comic wench Jacquenetta better. It was opposite Douglas Rain (seen with me here), who voiced HAL in 2001: A Space Odyssey!!! (PS: 13 lines, upgrade!)
COMEDY
Comedy writing was next, working on various projects including CBC sitcom pilots, contributing writing for Air Farce New Year’s Specials and writing/performing on CBC’s Sketchcom.
I wrote comedy for live sketches with a troupe we called “Serious Comedy For Oxymorons”, even performing comedy at a strip club on Sunday nights (fully dressed, just for the record). I also wrote and performed a one-person show and toured with The Second City.
ANIMATION & CHILDREN’S TELEVISION
Once I steered into the field of animation and children’s television, I never looked back.
I have spent the last couple decades writing for animated children’s series. From preschool (Paw Patrol, Super Wings, True and the Rainbow Kingdom) to 6-11 year olds (Rev & Roll, Rated A for Awesome, Atomic Betty) to tweens/teens (6Teen, Zeke’s Pad, Foolish Girl). I co-created two series for Teletoon: “Roboroach” and “Carl Squared”.
I’ve developed and been Head Writer/Executive Story Editor on multiple series, including Riley Rocket, Agent Binky: Pets of the Universe, Ranger Rob, Trucktown and Ruby Gloom, spanning hundreds of hours of animated children’s programming broadcast around the world.
FUN FACT!
I voiced the recurring role of villainess Pontifadora in Atomic Betty. (So if you ever need to cast an evil space mackerel with anger issues, I’m your fish).
(Illustration by Robin Budd)
PLAYWRIGHTING
With my roots in theatre, I also write plays and musicals. I was commissioned by The Stratford Festival to write a musical comedy “Worlds Apart” (fka “Wish”) which was subsequently workshopped under the direction of Donna Feore.
My play “Against the Grain” (directed by Eric Coates) and musical comedy “Yorkville” (directed by Donna Feore) were both commissioned and produced at the Blyth Festival.
You can listen to audio samples here.
Yorkville has both heart and a sense of humour. Hay’s book and lyrics are smart and Szczesniak’s score is an ear-pleasing delight. The musical exudes charm…. Yorkville offers a delightful evening of entertainment.
Please feel free to contact me for any samples, here.