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Local theatre company returns to stage with ‘All Together Now!’

The last time Sudbury Performance Group was on the stage was January 2020
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Sudbury Performance Group returns to the stage this weekend for its production of “All Together Now!” Back row, from left, are Kristin Hall and Macey Veldman. Middle row, from left, are KC Rautiainen and Tanya Saari. Front row, from left, are Angel Mannisto and Suzanne Thibault.

The last time Sudbury Performance Group was on the stage was pre-pandemic, in January 2020, when the group was rehearsing for a production of “Avenue Q.”

Nearly two years later, 16 performers with the group have finally returned to their natural habitat, putting on a production called “All Together Now!” Five shows take place at Thorneloe University’s theatre Nov. 12-14.

The Broadway revue features songs from Music Theatre International’s beloved catalogue of musicals, including such shows as Annie, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Come From Away, Disney’s Mary Poppins, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Fiddler on the Roof, Godspell, Guys and Dolls, Hairspray, Into the Woods, Les Misérables, Little Shop of Horrors, Mamma Mia!, Matilda, My Fair Lady, Once on This Island, RENT, Waitress, and many more.

“All the licensing companies in New York have come together to say we want to see local theatre survive,” said Mark Mannisto, founder and president of Sudbury Performance Group.

“They have gifted over 5,000 theatre companies across the globe in 50 countries the opportunity to produce ‘All Together Now!’ free of charge just for this one weekend.

“It really is a global phenomenon, and when audiences are coming to see the show, they’re participating in the global phenomenon because there’s going to be over a million people that are reached this coming weekend by sitting in and watching ‘All Together Now!’”

Putting on a production in the middle of an ongoing global pandemic has been challenging, Mannisto said. 

“Especially when we’re doing our choreography, we have to learn the choreography first, separated from everyone, and then try to slowly bring them back together for what the audiences will see on stage,” he said.

This week, Public Health Sudbury and Districts introduced stricter public health measures to try to get a handle on a local surge of COVID-19. 

This has impacted Sudbury Performance Group’s production, which now must run with half of the normal capacity for the space (or 78 people per show).

Mannisto said there are still tickets available, but he advises people to purchase tickets as soon as possible due to the capacity limits.

Shows run at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with 2 p.m. matinee shows both Saturday and Sunday. Get tickets at www.sudburyperformance.ca.

Sudbury Performance Group also has a dinner theatre production of On a First-Name Basis running Nov. 19 and 20. You can also buy tickets for that production at www.sudburyperformance.ca.


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Heidi Ulrichsen

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