A couple of Cochrane youth are mounting their own theatre production of a classic teenage tale to open up more opportunity in town for creative expression.
A couple of Cochrane youth are mounting their own theatre production of a classic teenage tale to open up more opportunity in town for creative expression.
Producer Madi Vermeulen, a Grade 11 student at Bow Valley High School, along with director Allie Tkachuk, will hold auditions for Heathers: The Musical at Frank Wills Memorial Hall March 20.
The play - which ran off-Broadway in 2014 - is based on the popular 1988 cult classic film starring Winona Ryder and Christian Slater that, though filled with humour, is framed around the challenges of growing up and tackles difficult subject matter like bullying, homophobia and teen suicide.
Vermeulen spearheaded the project, saying she was inspired by the tone and the topic of the play, especially at this time in her life.
“We're all graduating high school - we thought it would be a … way to deal with high school struggles. It related to us, ” said the 16-year-old.
“I think that it's a really great look into high school life and how relationships can really influence each other - especially as teenagers, ” added Tkachuk, 19, who directed Bow Valley's Shrek: The Musical and A Christmas Carol as part of the school's performing arts group before graduating a couple of years ago. She now attends Mount Royal College and volunteers teaching music at Banded Peak School in Bragg Creek.
For Heathers, Vermeulen and Tkachuk are looking to sign up a host of actors and on-stage talent from all levels of experience, as well as a bunch of backstage crew - including a stage manager - to get the production off the ground.
They're also planning to pound the pavement for sponsors to assist with the cost of costuming and other related expenses.
The musical will debut in July at the Cochrane RancheHouse Theatre.
Vermeulen said she hopes their premiere production will help kick-start others to pursue more artistic endeavors for the community.
“There hasn't been a whole lot of production in Cochrane, ” she said. “There are people that are interested - it's just there isn't a lot of opportunity … so we thought we'd take it on ourselves. ”
Anyone looking to audition can contact Vermeulen or Tkachuk at [email protected] or [email protected] for an information package and sides.
