Rehearsals have started for On the Spot Productions Fergus/Elora’s seventh annual production, Peter Pan: The Family Musical Panto.
The team is at it again, with five performances, 15 songs, a cast of 32, and the support of 24 local sponsors.
“The first rehearsal has gone off really well,” said David Tanner, co-director of On the Spot Productions, “Everyone is having fun.”
These productions take an entire year to put together and the tireless hours of many local volunteers.
“Our productions start before our last production ends, with discussing and deciding on the next year’s show,” Tanner said. “After that we start putting together a storyline, then posters, artwork and general concepts, then the script is written by my partner in crime, Leigha Bailey.”
But she doesn’t do it alone.
A core group of volunteers meets monthly to contribute even more ideas they can incorporate into the next show.
“The great thing about our shows in particular is that they are not a strict sit-in-your-seat theatrical production. Those who have attended before know we ask for audience participation. We want you to be yelling up at the stage to answer questions, to boo the bad guy, to cheer on the good guy, and have a marvelous time in the process. It is not a quiet show,” Tanner said.
“We have seen audiences from age 2 to 92 in attendance and, surprising to some, 60 to 70 per cent of the audience are adults, so it’s not just a production for children.”
On the Spot Productions Fergus/Elora donates profits from its autumn show each year at the Fergus Grand Theatre to local charities.
Last year the company was able to donate $7,500 to Hopewell Children’s Home and St. John Ambulance from their sold out show The Little Mermaid: A Family Musical Panto.
This year’s audience can expect, once again, to see their favourite character Ray Kavanagh, who has been in every panto On the Spot has done.
“Once you see Ray, you will never forget him. He is outgoing and willing to do almost anything to get a reaction from the audience–and reactions he gets,” Tanner said. Peter Pan: The Family Musical Panto will be on stage Nov. 22 to 25, with evening shows at 7pm and weekend matinees at 2pm.
“We have had a wonderful partnership with TD Canada Trust in that they have provided funds to sponsor 100 children to come to the show for free. All we ask is that an adult accompanies the child,” Tanner said. “There are a limited number, so we ask that you get them early.”
Tickets are available at the Fergus Grand Theatre box office, at www.fergusgrandtheatre.ca or by calling 519-846-9691 ext. 201.
