Skip to content

ABBA fans, get your spandex ready: Theatre Under the Stars has special treats in store this summer

New Westminster's Keira Jang is starring as Sophie in this summer's production of Mamma Mia, playing along with Disney's Newsies at Malkin Bowl this summer
Keira Jang, Legally Blonde, Theatre Under the Stars, Mamma Mia
Keira Jang is seen at left in the NWSS production of Legally Blonde in 2017, and at right with Caitriona Murphy in Theatre Under the Stars' Mamma Mia!, onstage this summer at Malkin Bowl.

A former New Westminster Secondary School musical theatre star is stepping into the spotlight at Theatre Under the Stars this summer.

Keira Jang – whom audiences may remember best as Elle Woods in the school’s 2017 production of Legally Blonde - is starring as Sophie in the TUTS production of Mamma Mia!.

It’s one of the two musicals that will grace the stage at Malkin Bowl in Stanley Park from July 5 to Aug. 17.

Sophie, as fans of the musical may remember, is the young woman who starts more than a bit of mayhem when she goes on a quest to find her true father – and a musical full of ABBA songs breaks out around her journey. (Yes, you’ll get to enjoy all the Swedish supergroup’s greatest hits, from Dancing Queen and Take a Chance on Me to SOS, Super Trouper and, of course, the title song.) Caitriona Murphy stars as Sophie’s mother, Donna Sheridan.

Other featured performers include Sheryl Anne Wheaton as Rosie and Lori Zondag as Tanya, with Stefan Winfield (Harry), Matt Ramer (Bill) and Peter Monaghan (Sam) as the trio of possible father figures.

Mamma Mia! will play alternate nights with Disney’s Newsies, the story of a band of newspaper boys and who strike for fair pay and humane working conditions in New York City in 1899. It stars Adam Charles, Daniel Curalli and Jordyn Bennett as newsies, with Jovanni Sy as publishing magnate Joseph Pulitzer and Julia Ullrich as a young journalist who reports on the newsies’ strike.

Another familiar New Westminster face, Christina Sinosich, is the costume designer for both musicals. Sinosich is well known in the city for her work with Royal City Musical Theatre and Royal City Youth Ballet, among others.

Mamma Mia! is directed by Shel Piercy, while Julie Tomaino makes her TUTS directorial debut with Newsies.

Previews run July 5 to 8, with opening nights on July 9 for Mamma Mia! and July 10 for Newsies.

Theatre Under the Stars is offering a number of special event nights this summer – see list below for details.

Tickets are $25 to $50 earlybird (through June 15), and $30 to $55 starting June 16. See www.tuts.ca for tickets and details.

 

SPECIAL EVENTS

Pride Night: TUTS hosts its third annual Pride Night on Monday, July 29, with Mamma Mia! serving as the official kickoff event for Vancouver Pride Week. All seat cushion and program donations from the night will be matched by TUTS in support of the Vancouver Pride Society.

Date Nights: These special date nights include buy-one, get-one deals and extra perks and photo ops, with a special date-night discount at Prospect Point Bar & Grill. They’re on July 17 for Mamma Mia! and July 24 for Newsies.

Mamma Mia! Super Fan Sunday: On July 21, mega-fans are invited to dress in their best Mamma Mia!-inspired attire – whether that’s 1970s spandex or Greece-ready beachwear – and belt out a selection of their favourite tunes along with the cast. There will also be a costume contest, cast photo ops and more.

Super Monday: For the holiday Monday on Aug. 5, tickets for Newsies will be $10 off, and TUTS patrons also get 10 per cent off at Stanley’s Bar & Grill.