New West Theatre holding open auditions for eclectic new season

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As cliche as it sounds, New West Theatre really does have something for everyone this season. After a successful fundraising campaign last year, the long standing local theatre group is on more stable financial footing so they can focus on what they do best — making people happy.

 There are open auditions for the upcoming season.

New West theatre is excited about their new season. Photo by Richard Amery

 

 Artistic director Kelly Reay is looking forward to the  slightly tweaked season.

 

“There really is something for everyone. There is definitely a range of emotions for audiences,” Reay said.

In the past, New West has put on music comedy revues in July as well as August.

“ Not since I’ve been here,” Reay said.

 

“ We decided to focus on quality rather than quantity this season” he said.

 

 The summer music comedy revue will be “ Wonderstruck,” running Aug. 9-26 in the Yates Theatre.

 This summer, popular children’s program “Hootenanny,” will be under the New West mantle.

 

“ We thought it needed a more official producing  body,” he said.

 

“It is a non ticketed event running in the Galt Gardens,” he said.

 

This year’s Hootenanny is an original play “There’s a Turtle In my Tub”  about curious and creative kid Mabel, who discovers the turtle Seymour in her bathtub and he needs some help crossing the vast ocean to go home.

The show, directed by Nicola Elson,  runs  July 5-29 at 10:30 a.m. every Wednesday through Saturdays.

New West presents  Tara Beagan’s play “ Honour Beat”  Oct  5-14 in  the Sterndale Bennett Theatre.

It is a heart wrenching  tale of family, resilience and cultural  identity.

 

 It was supposed to be staged in February , but had to  be postponed.

 

“ Most of that cast  in this production. One actor couldn’t do the new dates,” Reay said.

 

The other big change this season is there will be no  holiday music comedy review.

 

 Instead, New West present Elf; The Musical” based on the popular  Christmas movie featuring Will Ferrell and Zooey Deschanel.

 

“ It’s a co-production with the Enmax Centre,. When the Enmax Centre came to us with this idea and the rights came available a year ago we were excited be involved,” Reay said.

 

“It will be a fun time for the whole family. We know families make New West Part of their holiday plans,” he said, adding the traditional music comedy revue will be back next year.

“ it’s a big cast of 19 including a chorus of children. Most of the cast will come from Lethbridge, with a couple from out of town he said.

 There are open  auditions for this season’s performances, but especially for Elf : The Musical.”

 

 Auditions will begin June 15. E-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with a headshot to set up a time. If you auditioned in 200222 you don’t need to audition again. The deadline to apply is June 13.

 Auditioners are asked to prepare a monologue and a song.

 

 If you missed the annual winter music  revue comedy show, you only need to wait a few weeks after New Years as New West Theatre winds up this season with “ Legends of Rock and Country,” running Feb. 15-25  in the Yates Theatre.

“ It’s  all in the title. this show is a tribute  the legends of rock and roll and country,” Reay said.

 

“ We’re excited about this season,” Reay said.

—by Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor

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