Hobson's Selection: Drama and music fill the summer time months at native theatres

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A robust and galvanizing apartheid-era drama at Rosebud and the summer time live performance sequence at StoryBook will hold the highlight on theatre all through the summer time.

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The Syringa Tree, written and first carried out by South African actor Pamela Gien in New York in 2001, is an typically shattering, however finally uplifting have a look at apartheid in South Africa via the eyes of a white South African girl in Johannesburg. It follows Elizabeth from childhood to maturity.

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It’s a story of two households separated by racism however related by love. Elizabeth’s surrogate mom is her nanny Salamina, a Black girl. When Salamina has her personal little one, Elizabeth should assist conceal the woman from the authorities.

Rosebud creative director Morris Ertman calls The Syringa Tree “a charming story highlighting the enduring bonds of household love. It’s a play that’s proper at dwelling on a Rosebud stage as a result of it explores themes of deep-abiding love and friendship, resisting a world divided and a long-lasting connection to put, all of which hearkens to the heartwarming message of discovering dwelling.”

Alberta Theatre Tasks produced The Syringa Tree in 2005 starring Meg Roe. It was so well-liked, it returned for an additional run three years later.

Rosebud’s The Syringa Tree stars Vancouver actor Katharine Venour, who grew up in Priddis and graduated from the College of Calgary. Within the early Nineteen Nineties, Venour starred in such Theatre Calgary exhibits as Summer season and Smoke, A Christmas Carol, and Amadeus, and was additionally an everyday with Theatre Junction in such exhibits as Past Remedy and Look Again in Anger when it had its dwelling within the basement of the Jubilee Auditorium. Venour has spent greater than 20 years in Vancouver with acclaimed performances in such exhibits as Shadowlands, Wit, Agnes of God, St. Joan and My Title Is Asher Lev.

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Over the course of two hours in The Syringa Tree, Venour performs 23 characters of various ages and sexes.

It runs within the intimate Rosebud Studio Stage. Showtimes are Wednesdays via Saturdays from July 7 till Sept. 2 Tickets are $35. A dinner theatre bundle is accessible on Fridays and Saturdays, topic to availability. The present shouldn’t be really helpful for preteens. The Syringa Tree runs in tandem with Rosebud’s mainstage summer time present The Sound of Music, and there are particular mixture packages obtainable.

For extra data and to e book tickets, go to rosebudtheatre.com or name 1-800-267-7553.

STORYBOOK OFFERS SONGS FOR SUMMER NIGHTS

StoryBook Theatre’s third annual summer time live performance sequence Singers @ Sundown will run within the Beddington Arts Centre on Fridays, July 14 via Aug. 11, at 7:30 p.m.

These 90-minute live shows will function rising artists from StoryBook’s previous season in addition to alumni artists comparable to Cassie Doane, Sofia Aya Cristancho, Layne Labbe, Joel Schaefer and Dallas Hayes-Sparks. Every live performance has a selected theme.

July 14’s A Depraved Summer season Night time, is a tribute to composer Stephen Schwartz who wrote the runaway hit Broadway musical Depraved. The night can even function songs from his different exhibits together with Godspell, The Prince of Egypt, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Pocahontas and Geppetto.

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On July 21, the highlight might be turned on Stephen Sondheim for A Little Summer season Night time Music. Broadway’s most prolific musical theatre composer, Sondheim’s exhibits embody Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Road, A Little Night time Music, Into the Woods, Firm, West Aspect Story, Gypsy and A Humorous Factor Occurred on the Strategy to the Discussion board.

With Music & the Mouse on July 28, The Disney musicals will take centre stage with songs from Magnificence and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, The Lion King, Frozen, Mary Poppins, Newsies and Descendants.

Canadian musicals are the topic of Maple Syrup & Music. Search for songs from such Canadian hit musicals as Anne of Inexperienced Gables, Come From Away, The Drowsy Chaperone, Evil Lifeless, Billy Bishop Goes to Battle and Ragtime.

August eleventh’s closing live performance, On Broadway Tonight, will function songs from high musicals at present working on Broadway comparable to Some Like It Sizzling, Hadestown, Chicago, Humorous Lady, Hamilton, Moulin Rouge The Musical and The E book of Mormon.

There’s assigned seating for every live performance and tickets are $25 every. There’s a five-concert bundle for $100. Tickets and packages could be bought at storybooktheatre.org/singers2023.

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