Above: Jim Morton presents Geroge Henry (Chair of CentreStage's Board of Directors) with a Motion of Congratulations from the House of Assembly
CentreStage Theatre – Voted Best in Kings!
Thank you to everyone who supported CentreStage in the Eastern Kings Chamber of Commerce Best in Kings Awards. For the second year in a row, CentreStage was voted Best Entertainment Venue! Thanks to you for making this happen.
Opening this Thursday, July 29: Steel Magnolias
The action is set in Truvy's beauty salon in Chinquapin, Louisiana, where all the ladies who are "anybody" come to have their hair done. Helped by her eager new assistant, Annelle (Tracy Churchill) (who is not sure whether or not she is still married), the outspoken, wise-cracking Truvy (Candy O'Brien) dispenses shampoos and free advice to the town's rich curmudgeon, Ouiser (Nancy Henry), ("I'm not crazy, I've just been in a bad mood for forty years"); an eccentric millionaire, Miss Clairee (Brenda Ellis), who has a raging sweet tooth; and the local social leader, M'Lynn (Junie Hutchinson), whose daughter, Shelby (Linda Levy Fisk) (the prettiest girl in town), is about to marry a "good ole boy."
Steel Magnolias has a generous supply of humour and a gripping storyline that will move you, make you laugh out loud, and leave you feeling good about the healing power of friendship. Steel Magnolias moves between comedy and tragedy, and as the title suggests, it is about women of different ages and status and how they get through life's trials and tribulations together. It's about being young, getting older and being friends through it all. It’s about being as delicate as magnolias but as tough as steel. It is most suitable for older teens and adults.
Steel Magnolias is directed by Peter Booth and George Henry. It stars Candy O’Brien, Tracy Churchill, Nancy Henry, Junie Hutchinson, Linda Levy Fisk and Brenda Ellis. Elva Kelley is the stage manager and Kelly Westhaver is on lights.
Steel Magnolias opens on Thursday, July 29 (pay what you can) and plays Friday and Saturday nights at 8pm until August 28. There will be a 2pm matinee on Sunday, August 15. To make reservations, phone 678-8040.
Princess and the Pea Auditions on July 28
Auditions for The Princess and the Pea will be held on Wednesday, July 28 from 7-8pm at the Theatre. The show is a family musical that will run during October, and requires 9 singing actors and actresses of various ages. As all parts require singing, please have a song prepared to sing at auditions. If you are unable to attend the audition time please contact the director Colleen Hagen at kallistina@yahoo.com to make alternate arrangements.
CentreStage Theatre and the Glooscap Curling Club’s Annual Dinner Theatre: September 10 and 11
Are you dreading the return of fall and the return of your regular routine? Fear not - CentreStage Theatre and Glooscap Curling Club have just the thing to spice up your fall. Join us on September 10th or 11th at the local speakeasy (Glooscap Curling Club) for our 'Welcome to the 1920s' Dinner Theatre. Starting at 5:45pm with delicious hors d'oeuvres, you can mingle, browse and bid on our silent auction items, then come upstairs for a delicious four course pork loin dinner and live auction at 6:45pm. During that time, 10 years will silently pass by, bringing us back downstairs at 8:30pm to the 1930's and a PEI Temperance hall for the musical comedy "Temperance in a Teacup". Unbeknownst to those poor, sincere temperance workers, their hall is being used as a rum smuggling waypoint, and some of the rum makes it into the teapot for their weekly meeting.....need we say more? Dress code for the evening is to wear whatever you would like, however, if you like dressing up as much as we do, and have a double breasted suit, cloche hat, or flapper dress just sitting in your closet waiting for the fashion to come back.....you are MOST welcome to dress up in 1920's-1930's garb for the evening with us!
Tickets are now available at $50/person, and can be purchased from CentreStage board members or by calling the CentreStage reservation line at 678-8040. Oh and there's a cash bar (shhhhhh - don't tell the temperance workers).
Drama Camp Productions – Open to the Public
This summer, CentreStage is offering three weeks of drama camps for youth. During the week, participants will be working on a production and performing it for the public at the end of the week. These productions are open to the public. A free-will offering will be collected to go towards the camps.
Production dates
Big Top: Saturday, July 31, 10am and 11:30am (ages 5-10)*
Dogs: Saturday, August 14, 10am and 11:30am (ages 8-12)*
*For these shows, the participants will be divided into two casts and performing the show twice. For more information phone 678-3502 or email centrestage@centrestagetheatre.ca.
Are you a Member?
Members of CentreStage Theatre are reminded to pick up their membership cards from the front of house the next time you are at the Theatre. Also, be sure to remind the front of house staff of your membership status to receive your dollar off admission. To non-members, it’s not too late to join. As a member, you receive a dollar off admission and are eligible to vote at our meetings. For more information, contact Mindy at mindyvt@gmail.com.
Recycling at Fritz’
CentreStage Theatre has an account at Fritz’ enviro depot in New Minas. The next time you are returning your bottles, please consider donating your change to the Theatre! Thank you for your support. Every nickel counts!
A Peek at What’s Coming
Temperance in a Teacup: The story takes place in the Temperance Society Hall during Prohibition in the 1930s. The caretaker of the hall offers storage space to a rum runner, in the only building the police haven't got under surveillance - The Temperance Hall. The rumrunners are moving in the contraband rum when they are interrupted by the townspeople who are arriving for their Temperance meeting. (Sept 18, 19 - 2pm matinees)
The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen's Guild Dramatic Society Murder Mystery: The Farndale Townswomen’s Society desperately tries to mount a ‘whodunit,’ with unexpected results! (Sept 23 – Oct 23)
The Princess and the Pea: A family show with a unique and hilarious adaptation with a new twist (Oct 16-23 - 2pm matinees)
Little Women: Four sisters meet the challenges of adulthood with pluck and charm amid the strife of the American civil war. (Nov 4-Dec 11)
Keep Up to Date
Are you interested in electronically receiving a copy of the monthly minutes from CentreStage’s Board meetings? If so, please email Elva.kelley@ns.sympatico.ca and sign up!