Theatre Under the Stars celebrates 75 years of song-and-dance-filled summer nights with Oliver! and Hairspray – two musicals starring outsiders and underdogs with big hearts – running July 10-Aug. 22 at Stanley Park’s picturesque Malkin Bowl.
Based on Charles Dickens’ iconic novel, Oliver! The Musical follows everyone’s favourite orphan on a tumultuous adventure through the underbelly of Victorian London. Set to Lionel Bart’s memorable score, highlights include “Food Glorious Food”, “Consider Yourself”, “I’d Do Anything”, and “As Long As He Needs Me”.
Carly Ronning, daughter of legendary Vancouver Canucks forward Cliff Ronning, makes her TUTS debut as Oliver alongside local theatre veteran Stephen Aberle (Fagin/Mr. Brownlow), and returning TUTS performers Damon Calderwood (Bill Sykes/Mr. Bumble), Nolan Fahey (Charley Bates), Nathan Piasecki (The Artful Dodger) and E. Marie West (Nancy).
“I didn’t know what to expect,” says Ronning of the audition. “So I went there and I had boots on and jeans, and I didn’t know we had to dance or anything,” she giggles. “But it went well. I did what I had to do.”
For her opening audition, Ronning sang “Good Morning Baltimore from Hairspray and, three auditions later, the naturally gifted singer had landed the starring role in her first musical production.
The 11-year-old made the decision to cut off her long, blonde hair specifically for the role, which sees her playing a boy struggling to find safe haven in the world.
“I didn’t know what [Oliver!] was when I first auditioned, but I looked it up when they recommended that I cut my hair for the part. It’s really depressing!” she says. “He’s always sad and scared.”
The production is directed by Shel Piercy, and choreographed by Keri Minty and ShelleyStewart Hunt, with musical direction by Kerry O’Donovan.
To bring 19th century London to Stanley Park, audiences arriving at Oliver! will immediately enter into an 1840s Village Country Fair, featuring boisterous sing-a-longs, food stalls, foot-races, a market, and more. Using a system of specialized ‘shillings’ for payment, the Fair promises a fun, immersive experience that is just like stepping into a Dickens novel.
Meanwhile Hairspray – The Broadway Musical takes audiences back to 1962 Baltimore, where loveable, larger-than-life heroine Tracy Turnblad has one plucky dream: to dance on the local TV program, The Corny Collins Show.
Comox Valley native Erin E. Walker plays the lead role of Tracy, and is joined by Cecilly Day (Motormouth), Dustin Freeland (Link), Chris D. King (Corny Collins), David Lindo-Reid (Seaweed), Elyse Maloway (Amber), Ryan Purdy (Wilbur Turnblad), Andy Toth (reprising his 2012 Arts Club role as Edna Turnblad), Hannah Williams (Penny Pingleton), and Lori Zondag (Velma Von Tussle).
The production is directed by Sarah Rodgers and features choreography by Julie Tomaino, newly nominated for a 2015 Jessie Award (outstanding choreography for Gateway Theatre’s Crazy For You), and musical direction by Christopher King.
• Theatre Under the Stars runs July 10-Aug. 22 at Malkin Bowl in Stanley Park. Tickets range from $30-$45 at TUTS.ca or by phone at 1-877-840-0457.
