The Royal City Musical Theatre is singin’ and dancin’ its way to its 30th anniversary this year.
The company returns to the Massey Theatre stage with Singin’ in the Rain, running April 4 to 20.
Director and choreographer Valerie Easton chose the classic musical as the company’s 30th anniversary production because she wanted to present a play that had not been done by the company before and was full of fun.
“It’s a show I really wanted to do for a while. It just seemed like the perfect fit for the 30th anniversary,” Easton said.
The theatre group was established in 1990 by a group of parents and a popular high school drama teacher, Ed Harrington, with the intent of bringing a musical theatre production to the Massey Theatre stage.
The company has put on a production every year since and has gathered several awards over the years, including the 2018 Ovation Award for outstanding community production of a musical.
Easton, who has been the company’s artistic director since 2010, said the company has worked with theatre enthusiasts from across the Lower Mainland, adding that the theatre provides people with a great opportunity to work alongside professional directors, choreographers and actors.
Among those performers this year is New Westminster resident Erin Jeffery, who works behind-the-scenes at the Massey Theatre. She’s making her debut with the company as she plays a radio reporter and elocution teacher in the show.
Jeffery said having a company like the Royal City Musical Theatre is a gift to the community.
“Supporting local art does nothing but help the community both economically and, I think, spiritually,” Jeffrey said.
Easton said this year’s production is packed with comedy, music, dancing and some surprises and promised it will provide audiences with smiles and laughter all night long.
A special feature for this year’s production is her fantastic cast of tap dancers.
“It’s something we don’t see as much anymore,” Easton said.
This year’s production will also feature a pre-show chat on Thursday, April 11 by a New Westminster film historian and teacher, Michael van den Bos, who will discuss the songs and actors in the classic movie version of Singin’ in the Rain, as well as the reason why the film is still considered by some as one of the greatest movies ever made.
“I just want to give the audience a little background history on the production of Singin’ in the Rain and why it’s so important to cinema history,” he said.
Tickets for Singin’ in the Rain are available online at ticketsnw.ca
CHECK IT OUT
What: Royal City Musical Theatre presents Singin’ in the Rain
When: Thursday, April 4 to Saturday, April 20. Shows Thursdays through Sundays, with evening shows at 7:30 p.m. and matinees (April 7, 13, 14 and 20) at 2 p.m.
Where: Massey Theatre, 735 Eighth Ave.
Tickets: $49 regular, $39 senior/student, $19 for children under 13. Special family deal on Sunday, April 7. Buy through www.ticketsnw.ca or 604-521-5050.
