Local theatre fans will have the chance to see a rare example of a custom tailored musical written by a local playwright this weekend in Okotoks.
Heather Seear, the artistic director of North of Broadway Show Choir, said she wrote the musical comedy “They’re Gonna Do What?!!” to fit the selection of performers she had at her disposal.
“The creating of something new had to take place because I knew it would be hard to get a production that would fit a cast of 10 women and four men,” Seear explained.
The 14 entertainers she refers to are members of the Guys & Dolls troupe of adult performers who are part of North of Broadway. The North of Broadway show choir, which has been in exisitence since 2006, originally only featured companies for child and teen performers, which still comprise the majority of its membership.
However, with the success of North of Broadway’s youth program adults also became interested and to accommodate the interest the Guys & Dolls troupe was formed.
For their inaugural performance Seear sat down to create “They’re Gonna Do What?!!” specifically for her Guys & Dolls cast and engineered parts to suit the attributes of each member.
“I wanted something that would challenge all of them and allow the cast to bring little bits of each one of them to the show,” she said. “But I didn’t just write characters as the people that play them.”
“They’re Gonna Do What?!!” deals with a gathering of alumni at the fictional McGraygon High. It follows a diverse group of its former students as they reflect and contend with the reality the school, which has been a big part of their lives, will soon be demolished. The songs in the show are not original compositions. They are an eclectic assortment of tunes covering several decades of popular music.
People who come to the show at the Okotoks United Church, will hear a variety of music including the big band era Andrew Sisters to rock standards from Bob Seger and Queen.
Seear said she did not want her cast to simply play themselves. Wherever possible she crafted their parts to take the actors in new directions in terms of emotion and attitude.
As an example, local actress Colette Conway filled the part of Rosetta May Mowzer. Conway is not a quiet shy person, but she does an excellent job of portraying the timid librarian in “They’re Gonna Do What?!!”.
Conway described her character as the sheltered type.
“She’s a never-left-her-hometown spinster librarian,” she said.
A busy mother in real life, Conway said she is highly grateful for being able to perform as a member of North of Broadway.
“I’m a mom who has children in the choir’s youth program,” she explained. “I was very happy when Heather started the adult group last year. It’s my escape from my very large family. We have nine in our house. I have five children and two foster children. Getting out and performing is so much fun and I would encourage anyone who has even a smidgen of interest in theatre and singing to give it a try.”
The cast of “They’re Gonna Do What?!!” also includes Colton Blum playing the part of Rakesh Armstrong, a would-be dentist stuck working as an auto mechanic.
Blum is a young adult who has been associated with Seear for almost seven years. The artistic director explained she has seen great growth in the actor.
“It’s been really fun to see him change from someone that was quite timid on stage to a person that absolutely shines,” she said. “I think the younger female audience will swoon for him in this show.”
Blum said he has seen a positive improvement in himself through performing.
“Theatre’s been huge in the shaping of my personality,” he said. “I think I’m a lot more of a gentle and compassionate person because of all the different experiences show choir has provided me.”
With grateful performers like Conway and Blum in the mix it seems logical the upcoming North of Broadway performances of “They’re Gonna Do What?!!” will be charged with enthusiasm. Tickets for the show which will be held March 11 and 12, can be obtained at the door or in advance. Call (403) 470-6595 or e-mail [email protected]
