The Royal City Musical Theatre is singin’ and dancin’ its way to its 30th anniversary this year.
The company returns to the Massey Theatre stage with Singin’ in the Rain, running April 4 to 20.
Director and choreographer Valerie Easton chose the classic musical as the company’s 30th anniversary production because she wanted to present a play that had not been done by the company before and that was full of fun.
“It’s a show I really wanted to do for a while. It just seemed like the perfect fit for the 30th anniversary,” Easton said.
The theatre group was established in 1990 by a group of parents and a popular high school drama teacher, Ed Harrington, with the intent of bringing a musical theatre production to the Massey Theatre stage.
The company has put on a production every year since and has gathered several awards over the years, including the 2018 Ovation Award for outstanding community production of a musical.
Easton, who has been the company’s artistic director since 2010, said the company has worked with theatre enthusiasts from across the Lower Mainland, adding the group provides people with a great opportunity to work alongside professional directors, choreographers and actors.
Among the community performers in this year’s production are some from Burnaby – including tap dancing 11-year-old Quinlin Koebel-Pearce, playing the young Don Lockwood in his debut with the company.
Having danced most of his life and having joined the Vancouver Tap Dance Society by the time he was three years old, Koebel-Pearce said he’s thrilled to be working with the company for its 30th production.
“It’s a new opportunity to work with experienced dancers and actors,” he said.
Like Koebel-Pearce, Burnaby resident Astrid Eckerle is also performing for the first time with the theatre group as a member of the ensemble. Eckerle said she was told the company was the best to go to for anyone interested in participating in their first musical.
“Everyone’s really supportive, and you can learn so much from each person in the room,” Eckerle said.
Easton said this year’s show will be packed with comedy, music, dancing and some surprises, adding that a special feature for this year’s production is her fantastic cast of tap dancers.
“It’s something we don’t see as much anymore,” Easton said.
This year’s production will also feature a pre-show chat on Thursday, April 11 by a film historian and teacher, Michael van den Bos, who will discuss the songs and actors in the classic movie version of Singin’ in the Rain, as well as the reason why the film is still considered by some as one of the greatest movies ever made.
“I just want to give the audience a little background history on the production of Singin’ in the Rain and why it’s so important to cinema history,” he said.
Tickets for Singin’ in the Rain are available online at ticketsnw.ca
CHECK IT OUT
What: Royal City Musical Theatre presents Singin’ in the Rain
When: Thursday, April 4 to Saturday, April 20. Shows Thursdays through Sundays, with evening shows at 7:30 p.m. and matinees (April 7, 13, 14 and 20) at 2 p.m.
Where: Massey Theatre, 735 Eighth Ave., New Westminster
Tickets: $49 regular, $39 senior/student, $19 for children under 13. Special family deal on Sunday, April 7. Buy through www.ticketsnw.ca or 604-521-5050.
Info: www.royalcitymusicaltheatre.com
