Three young New Westminster residents are part of a youth-led play opening at Studio 16 in March – and New West residents will get a sneak preview in February.
Eternal Theatre Collective is presenting the Canadian premiere of Seven Minutes in Heaven at the Vancouver theatre from March 7 to 10.
On Wednesday, Feb. 7, halfway through the show’s rehearsal process, the group will come to New Westminster to present a staged reading as part of the Way Off-Broadway Wednesday series at the Heritage Grill.
In key roles behind the scenes are a trio of New West residents: Andie Lloyd, the production manager and lighting designer; Siafon Spencer, the props manager; and Daisy Hulme, a member of the stage crew.
Spencer got interested in stagecraft while working as the costume coordinator for Legally Blonde at New Westminster Secondary School last year; she’s now planning to pursue a career in technical theatre. Hulme is an 18-year-old first-year UBC student best known as a performer – including appearing as Paulette in NWSS’s Legally Blonde last year and taking roles with Carousel Theatre’s Teen Shakespeare Program. Lloyd, meanwhile, is also an NWSS grad who has previously worked on productions with Carousel Theatre, Studio 58 and Eternal Theatre.
Seven Minutes in Heaven features an all-youth cast, with actors ranging in age from 15 to 18. It’s set on a Friday night in 1995, when six over-stimulated, under-supervised high school students are gathered in Margot’s basement to meet her mysterious boyfriend from summer camp – though none of them have even seen a picture of him, and he has yet to show up.
“As the teens keep themselves busy with rounds of party games, the night gives way to stolen kisses, malicious gossip and broken hearts,” a press release notes. “This heartbreaking, hilariously real play showcases the absurd and terrible ecstasy of being young in America.”
It features Julien Hicks, Shelby Satterthwaite, Hira Lalani, Alain Tahir, Sean Cuevas and Brielle Chan.
Eternal Theatre Collective is a registered non-profit organization dedicated to providing young people with hands-on, paid experience in theatre. It has produced 10 shows since 2015, including plays, musicals and cabarets. Every production is produced and performed by young people aged 13 to 25.
See www.eternaltheatre.com for more information.
The staged reading on Feb. 7 is by donation. Showtime is 7 p.m., and the Heritage Grill is at 447 Columbia St. You can drop in (the back room opens a half-hour before showtime) or reserve a table at 604-759-0819. See www.facebook.com/wayoffwed for details.
CHECK IT OUT:
What: Seven Minutes in Heaven, presented by Eternal Theatre Collective
Where: Studio 16, 1555 West Seventh Ave. (at Granville), Vancouver
When: Wednesday, March 7 to Saturday, March 10 at 7:30 p.m. nightly. Opening night March 7.
Tickets: $13 for youth (aged 25 and under) or $20 regular. Buy through www.eternaltheatre.com.
Sneak preview: Wednesday, Feb. 7, 7 p.m., staged reading at The Heritage Grill, 447 Columbia St., by donation.
