Valancy
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Registered: 12-2006
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2007 Cast Info
Here's news from one of the "Anne and Gilbert" writers, Nancy White. She included some news on the 2007 casts.
"I'm pleased to announce that there will be two productions of our musical, ANNE AND GILBERT, this summer -- one in Summerside, PEI, and one in Gananoque, Ontario, running pretty much simultaneously from mid-July to early September.
What is it? I've heard it said that it is a large-cast musical with laughs, tears, and widely-praised songs that do NOT go on and on and on, It is based on Anne of Avonlea and Anne of the Island, by Lucy Maud Montgomery. The story follows Anne (of Green Gables) into young adulthood, through a year of teaching and a year at university, as Gilbert Blythe, everyone else's dream man, but not hers, pursues her. Does he get her? You'll have to see the show to find out!
SUMMERSIDE: This will be our second year at the Jubilee Theatre in Summerside, and it's the third year for a PEI production. (The first was in Victoria-by-the-Sea in 2005.)
We have a fantastic new director, Tim French, who's had wide experience directing and choreographing musicals all over the country. (As soon as he finishes putting up our show, he returns to Toronto to work on Dirty Dancing.) Heidi Ford, last year's Josie Pye, is our choreographer, and she's also directing a dance show at the Jubilee on weekends.
The cast is amazing. We have a 19-year-old Maritimer named Rebecca Parent as Anne, and Aaron Kyte, a glamorous performer who grew up in a small town in New Brunswick, is our charismatic Gilbert. Robin Craig, who played Mrs.Lynde in the Charlottetown production of Anne of Green Gables for several years, is playing Mrs.L, older and with solos, in our show. Marilla will be played by the fine New Brunswick singer Theresa Patterson. Sara Sheps once again plays Diana, and Kyle Golemba is Roy (Gilbert's rival).
Others in the cast are Anders Balderston, Brittany Banks, Maria Campbell, Daniel Cannis, April Cook, Trevor Covelli, Colin Maier, Jeff Moulton, Heather Schiller, Natalie Sullivan and Cleopatra Williams.
The music director is Jacqueline Sorrenson and she'll be joined in the pit by Mark Haines and Claire Gallant.
Anne and Gilbert is written by Jeff Hochhauser, Bob Johnston, and Nancy White, and is produced by Campbell Webster.
Details: The show runs from July 15 to September 19; opening night is July 23. There are performances Sunday, Monday,Tuesday and Wednesday, with matinees on Sunday and Wednesday.
Tickets: $56.50, $46.50, $28.50 (adults), $14.50, children 12 and under.
Information: 1-800-708-6505. http://www.jubileetheatre.com
Some say PEI is lovely in the summer ...
GANANOQUE: Gananoque, which is about an hour east of Kingston, right on the St.Lawrence River, is the home of the 1000 Islands Playhouse, one of the most charming theatres you'll ever see.
The artistic director Greg Wanless is directing Anne and Gilbert himself, as part of a repertory well worth checking out. (There are two theatres at the Playhouse.)
Bob Johnston and I got to sit in on his Toronto auditions and we can assure you that he has assembled a dream cast, augmented by young performers from St.Lawrence College. (Anne's one-room schoolhouse will be filled to the brim. Yay!)
Two excellent singers, Adrian Marchuk and Ashleigh Ireland, have been cast as Gilbert and Anne. Val Hawkins is Marilla and Marcia Tratt is Mrs.Lynde. I don't have the entire cast list at the moment, but I may write to you again closer to show time.
The music director is Sandy Thorburn, himself a writer of musicals.
Details: The show runs July 18-Sept.1, with shows on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. There are matinees Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday.
Pricing is creative and designed with families in mind. Basically it's $32 (adults), $30 (seniors),
$25 (under 30's), $15 (student/child), and they have group rates too. Best to check with the box office.
Information: 1-866-382-7020. http://www.1000islandsplayhouse.com.
Gananoque is a beautiful place to spend a couple of days. You can even get there by taking an excursion boat from Kingston. (There's a show/voyage package available.)
.................................................
It would be great if you could work Anne and Gilbert into your summer plans. It's not a kids' show by any means, but kids seem to love it -- especially those little girls with the braid hats.
You can get a taste of the show, and hear a couple of tunes from the cast album at
http://www.anneandgilbert.com
And, may I conclude by saying that:
Anne and Gilbert, a musical by Nancy White, Bob Johnston and Jeff Hochhauser,is based upon the novels Anne of Avonlea and Anne of the Island by L.M.Montgomery."
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