Diane Nyland facts for kids

Diane Nyland Proctor (born January 20, 1944 – died October 6, 2014) was a talented Canadian actress, director, and choreographer. She was very well-known for playing the main character in the TV show The Trouble with Tracy from 1970 to 1971.

Meet Diane Nyland: Actress, Director, and Choreographer

Diane Nyland was a Canadian artist who loved the stage. She started her career dancing and then became a famous actress. Later, she also worked behind the scenes as a director and choreographer. This meant she helped actors perform their best and designed the dances for shows.

From Ballet to the Stage

Diane began her journey in dance. She joined the National Ballet of Canada for two seasons. But by the mid-1960s, she decided to try acting.

In 1965, she joined the Charlottetown Festival, a famous arts festival in Canada. She stayed there for several years. One of her most memorable roles was playing Josie Pye in the very first production of Anne of Green Gables - The Musical. She also played Belinda in a play called Johnny Belinda.

Starring in The Trouble with Tracy

In 1970, Diane got a big role! She was chosen to play the main character in a TV show called The Trouble with Tracy. This show was on the CTV channel. It ran until 1971, and many people remember her from this role.

Directing and Creating Musicals

After The Trouble with Tracy finished, Diane focused more on working behind the scenes. She became a director and choreographer for musical theatre. This meant she helped guide actors and planned all the dance moves for big stage shows. She only had one more TV role after this, which was in an episode of Street Legal in 1992.

Diane directed many popular musicals. Some of these included Dancing in the Dark, Rose Is a Rose, Mame, Oklahoma!, My Fair Lady, Guys and Dolls, and I Do! I Do!. She was also the artistic director for the Kawartha Summer Theatre in Kawartha Lakes during the 1990s. In 1997, she went back to the Charlottetown Festival to direct new versions of Johnny Belinda and Anne of Green Gables - The Musical.

A Special Award for Her Work

Diane Nyland was recognized for her amazing talent.

• In 1986, she won a Dora Award. This award was for Outstanding Choreography for her work on the musical Nunsense. The Dora Awards celebrate the best in theatre, dance, and opera in Toronto.

Her Legacy

Diane Nyland passed away in Toronto on October 6, 2014. She was 70 years old. She is remembered for her many contributions to Canadian theatre and television, both as an actress and as a creative force behind the scenes.