BY MICHAEL JAMES
Something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue ? that about sums up Theatre Cambrian?s next season.
Theatre Cambrian (TC) artistic director Jamie Bourget has once again chosen a main stage season that reflects his personal love of the Broadway musical.
First, to the new. Theatre Cambrian has scored something of a coup in copping the world premiere performance rights to Yesterday, Once More ? a nostalgic, musical retrospective of 1970s pop rock icons Karen and Richard Carpenter. With music and lyrics by The Carpenters and book by former TC members Pauline Braithwaite and Greg Poulin.
Audiences will get the chance to relive those years through the eyes of Karen and Richard Carpenter. Yesterday, Once More runs from Nov. 25 to Dec. 13.
The next musical on TCs playbill is that old ?family favourite? Annie Get Your Gun by Irving Berlin.
With a musical score containing such hits as Anything You Can Do (I Can Do Better) and There?s No Business Like Show Business, the musical chronicles Annie Oakley?s true-life adventures with Buffalo Bill?s Wild West Show. Annie Get Your Gun runs from Feb. 24 to Mar. 13, 2004.
Theatre Cambrian caps off their 19th season with another old favourite, My Fair Lady by Lerner and Loewe. This musical adaptation of George Bernard Shaw?s social satire, Pygmalian, My Fair Lady recounts the familiar story of Professor Henry Higgins and his attempts to transform Cockney flower girl Eliza Doolittle into a high society belle.
One of the most popular musicals of all time, My Fair Lady contains such classic songs as Wouldn?t It Be Lovely, I Could Have Danced All Night and I?ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face. It runs from May 18 to June 5, 2004.
Now for the new (and the borrowed, if you like). According to a news release issued by Theatre Cambrian president Mark Mannisto, the company has plans to bring professional dinner theatre to Sudbury audiences this fall.
The new endeavour, a joint venture between TC and the Cambrian Foundation, was announced recently.
The entertainment will reportedly range from farces to light comedies and dramas to the occasional musical revue. Programming has yet to be finalized.
Finally, beginning this fall, Theatre Cambrian will be offering a series of weekend workshops. The workshops will include staged readings of works-in-progress, guest speakers and workshop facilitators. The first of the workshops is scheduled to take place the weekend of Sept. 20, Geared toward children, this introductory workshop will instruct youngsters on proper audition etiquette, as well as other ?do?s and don?ts? of the theatre.
Theatre Cambrian?s final production of this season, Tommy, runs from June 10 to 14.
For more information, phone Theatre Cambrian at 524-7317.
