Theatre Kent is kicking off its 40th anniversary season with a musical revue filled with hits from Broadway musicals the group has performed in the past.
The show, 40 Years: The Sounds Of TK, runs at the Capitol Theatre on Nov. 16 and 17 at 7:30 p.m. There is also a 1:30 p.m. matinee on the Saturday.
Throughout its first four decades, Theatre Kent has presented a number of musicals, including Annie, Cabaret, Chicago, Spamalot, Fiddler On The Roof and Beauty And The Beast.
The community theatre group has also presented The Sound Of Music twice.
“Funnily enough, the role of Maria was performed by a mother and daughter, 23 years apart,” director Christine Baribeau said in a media release.
Cathy Tetreault was in Theatre Kent’s 1988 production of the show, while her daughter Stacie Dengel took on the role in the group’s 2011 version of the show.
Both women are among the 50 singers and dancers who are bringing The Sounds Of TK to the stage.
Another Theatre Kent veteran returning to the group for this event is Doug Jackson, who originally starred in A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum in 1986. He’ll be back in a performance of the show’s signature tune, Comedy Tonight.
Audrey Hummelen, who is serving as assistant director of the show, is a long-time member of the group and said, “It’s been such a joy to work on this show and to reconnect with these people in our favourite way!”
As part of the celebration of 40 years in Chatham-Kent, the theatre group is hosting a TK Alumni Afterglow following the Saturday evening performance of the show and is hoping that many former and current members of the group will attend.
The show will include songs from over two dozen of the popular musicals Theatre Kent has presented over the years.
The cast is being joined by members of the Chatham Concert Band, with whom the group has a long association. In this show, the band will be working with musical director Devon Hansen.
“Certainly this show is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for our audiences,” said Baribeau, “and it’s so exciting to be working with these people of all ages who are so enthusiastic about theatre and music.”
Choreographers for the show are Jamie Johnston and Jenny Doyle.
In addition to the musical revue, Theatre Kent is presenting two more shows during its anniversary season, both of which were selected from the group’s past by the general public.
Neil Simon’s comedic classic Barefoot In The Park will run at the Kiwanis Theatre Feb. 7 to 9 and Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap runs May 9 to 11, also at the Kiwanis.
Tickets for 40 Years: The Sounds Of TK are $25 for adults, $23 for students and seniors and $10 for children aged 12 and under.
They are available by calling the box office at 519-354-8338 or online at cktickets.com.
More information is available at www.theatrekent.com. Theatre Kent is also on Facebook.
