Duan Mackenzie Simi Valley resident Duan Mackenzie will take the stage tomorrow for a onenightonly performance at the Ford Amphitheatre in Hollywood as a lead in the Thai cultural arts show "Legend of the Chao Phraya—Siamese River of Life."

Presented by the Los Angelesbased Mantra Theatre troupe, a Thai contemporary music and dance ensemble, "Legend" gives the traditional arts of Thailand a modern twist by fusing Thai music, dance and mixed marital arts with drama and elaborate costumes.

Set in 18th-century Siam, the play is an original story of a queen and her people who have settled along the banks of the Chao Phraya River, an area that would grow to become Thailand's capital city of Bangkok.

The 20-year-old Mackenzie plays a princess who falls in love with the prince of a kingdom that eventually goes to war with her own. The 2½-hour drama, a tale of love and war, good and evil, includes battle scenes featuring sword-fighting and Thai boxing.

Mackenzie, who is half Thai, half Scottish and Irish, said she is thrilled to be part of the more than 100-member cast, which includes Thai martial artists from New York City and five dancers and musicians from Thailand.

"All the actors are somewhat Thai, but it's all in English," she said. "It should be fun. I'm really excited."

But for the Cal State Channel Islands junior, who is majoring in business, her involvement with the production is more than a nod to her roots.

"I love being on stage," Mackenzie said. "I can't explain it, I just love it so much. It's really cool because I get to be put into someone else's shoes and just forget about everyone else around me."

Born and bred in Simi, Mackenzie attended Simi Valley High School for three years but graduated from Royal High. She said she first got into acting when she was about 9 years old but stopped going to acting classes a few years ago to focus on college.

She said she's now ready to get back into the entertainment business.

"It's awesome that I am doing this play because it will hopefully launch me back into (acting)."

Mackenzie said she found out about the play during an interview for a Thai television show—one of the perks of winning a Thai beauty pageant at 17.

Though rehearsals during the past four months have been long, she said, she benefited from rubbing shoulders with more seasoned actors and is now ready to show the world what she can do.

"I want to prove to everyone, my friends and family coming to see me, that I can take this on," she said. "To show them my craft and that I can do this. That I'm not just another pretty face, that I have talent."

"Legend" will show for one night only tomorrow, Aug. 30, at the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre, 2580 Cahuenga Blvd. East in Hollywood. The show starts at 8 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased online or by calling the Ford box office at (323) 461-3673. Tickets cost $30 for adults and $5 for fulltime students and children.

For more information or to purchase tickets, go online to fordtheatres.org.