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» Director Gord Davis readies participants in The Singer’s Theatre workshop for their big performance
By: Steve Kannon | Posted: on August 16, 2008
HAMMING IT UP The gruelling two-week timeline is not without its fun moments as some 40 young performers, from 14 to 22 years of age, rehearse with The Singer’s Theatre for this weekend’s production of Rags.
Call it boot camp, with a theatrical twist.
For two weeks, 40 young performers train hard, undertaking daily vocal and physical exercises, and attending mini-workshops about various aspects of the theatre. At the end, they get to stage a full-blown musical in front of an audience.
This weekend, participants in The Singer’s Theatre program take to the stage to present Rags, the Tony-nominated musical, Aug. 15-17 in Kitchener.
The efforts behind the production are enough to warm the heart of director Gord Davis, the retired Elmira District Secondary School drama department head. This is very much his element.
“I work with lots of community theatre groups, but the kids are something special. I’m a teacher at heart,” he said as rehearsals moved into the final stages in advance of Friday night’s opening.
“This has been a fabulous group – they’re so focused, and willing to work hard.”
The young performers, ages 14 to 22, are tackling a big project in Rags.
“We want musicals that challenge the kids. We’re not afraid to tackle stories like this,” Davis explained.
Since its Broadway debut in 1986, Rags has been continually re-written by its award-winning authors, Charles Strouse (music) and Stephen Schwartz (lyrics). Set against the backdrop of 1910 New York, Rags concerns Russian immigrants and the struggles they face adapting to American society, socially, politically and financially. At the root, it’s a patriotic story about people who are willing to sacrifice virtually everything, even their lives, in order to prosper in their new home.
“Beautiful music and lyrics” make this musical a great choice for the emphasis on vocals you’d expect from a group called The Singer’s Theatre, he said of the choice of Rags for this year’s workshop production.
Past productions have included You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown, Les Misérables, Titanic, Parade, Jekyll and Hyde and Cats.
“Singing is a big part of this production. And it’s not easy singing.
“We really want to challenge the kids, and they really want that challenge.”
As in past years, Davis is working with a mix of young performers, some with a fair bit of experience and their eyes fixed on a career in the performing arts, and a few climbing on to a stage for the very first time. No matter their backgrounds, all of the kids are put through the same demanding routine, designed to recreate the experience of a full-scale production.
This is not just a few kids looking to put a show on in the barn.
The goal is to foster young talent, giving the kids a chance to perform music and theatre in a semi-professional learning environment.
At the end of the process, a well-polished, crowd-pleasing show hits the stage. Sold-out presentations in past years attest to the results.
This summer’s workshop culminates in four performances of Rags at The King Street Theatre Centre in Kitchener Friday (7 p.m.), Saturday (2 and 7 p.m.) and Sunday (2 p.m.). Tickets are $22-$25, available at the box office by calling 519-571-0928.
