The Grey Wellington Theatre Guild (GWTG) is inviting members and patrons, past and present, to join them for a musical celebration of 40 years of local theatre on Sept. 27.
Guild founder Patrick C. Smith performed the one-man show An Evening with Mark Twain, as the guild’s inaugural production in 1973. Since then, the guild has produced over 100 shows, including, such classics as Educating Rita, The Lion in Winter, and The Odd Couple. Initially operating from a high school auditorium in Mount Forest, the group later moved to the Harriston Town Hall Theatre, where it staged its first full-scale musical production, Oliver!, in the early 1980s.
Since then the group has produced a long list of popular musicals, including Annie, Grease, My Fair Lady, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Leader of the Pack and The Sound of Music. More recently, the guild has staged two original musicals, Job’s Blues and Ebenezer, both of which packed theatres and delighted audiences.
Songs from the guild’s musical history will form the basis of the GWTG 40th Anniversary Extravaganza, which will begin with dinner at the Harriston Legion Hall, followed by a musical celebration and memories show.
A talented cast of performers, including Smith, has been assembled to re-create the most magical musical moments from the group’s history, under the musical direction of professional performer Brenda Manderson, a Harriston native.
Other performers will include Angela Boersma and Esther Boersma of Ayton, Warren Wray and Jessica Meulensteen of Atwood, Tammy Oswick of Rockwood, Barb Illingworth of Mount Forest, Tyler Schaefer, Amber McRaney, Wayne Schalk and Christine Wick of Listowel, Heather Giles of Clifford, Mark McKechnie of Kitchener and Richard Jaunzemis, Sherri Wylie and Dan Bieman of Harriston.
“Musicals have always been our most popular and memorable productions,” said GWTG president Peggy Raftis, who is directing the show. “That’s why we decided to focus on music for this show, to create the most fun evening possible for the patrons and participants who have supported us through the years. It should bring back some great memories yet still be a fresh presentation.”
Tickets for the evening, which will include dancing and socializing, are $35 and available by calling 519-338-2778 or email ticketsgwtg@wightman.ca. Advance sales only.
Fall casting call
The guild is also preparing to cast it’s 2014 fall production, the comedy Where Were We, My Darlings. Written by local playwright and long-time GWTG member Megan Raftis, the show requires three men and three women.
Casting will be held Sept. 3 at 7:30pm. For information on the casting call 519-338-3681.
For more information on the guild go to www.greywellingtontheatre.com.
