A 1980s comedy based on an Adam Sandler hit movie.
A Tony-award winning production where tensions run high in a New York City neighbourhood.
These are the shows presented this month by more than 100 high school students in the Tri-Cities - two completely different Broadway musicals that offer plenty of pop, rock, hip hop and Latin flavours for local audiences.
Opening on Thursday is Centennial secondary's The Wedding Singer, a stage presentation based on the 1998 film of the same name that starred Sandler and Drew Barrymore.
Taking on the lead roles of Robbie Hart and Julia Sullivan are Aaron Pardi, Grade 10, and Kirsten Kwong, Grade 12.
Drama teacher Lisa Boddez said she learned of Kwong's theatrical talents while scrolling through the internet last year.
For the past two years, Kwong has been a "princess for hire" with Bippity Boppity Birthdays, a Coquitlam-based company that caters to girls' parties.
Kwong, 17, a dance student at Place des Arts, hopes to translate her acting skills into a musical arts career after she graduates this year. "Kirsten is very talented and her personality really shines through when she's on stage," Boddez said.
About 50 students and Centennial alumni are part of The Wedding Singer, in the cast, crew and orchestra pit (lead by musical director Carole Baker).
Boddez said she managed to wrangle the 1980s costumes from Value Village and online from a U.S. company - "before the dollar crashed," she joked - and has been grateful for the help from professional choreographer Milena Canta (class of 2008) and student dancer Mikki Roberts.
Meanwhile, at Riverside secondary, drama teacher Nicole Roberge is getting teary-eyed about In The Heights.
Not only did she see the musical on Broadway the year that it opened but Roberge also used to live in Washington Heights, the NYC neighbourhood in which the show is set (Roberge has her master's degree from NYU).
Roberge said she was so motivated to have her 53 students perform the musical in this academic year that she wrote a lengthy letter to secure the licensing rights - during the teachers' strike.
"I really wanted it and I knew I had the cast for it," she said, adding the Latin rhythms and salsa dancing make the show "vibrant and modern" (Roberge is a world salsa dance champion).
And she was especially pleased to get the rights as the Arts Club Theatre in Vancouver is also due to run In The Heights this spring.
In The Heights was first performed at a B.C. high school last year, at Brookswood secondary in Langley.
Roberge contacted the drama teacher there, who lent Riverside some set pieces.
As a result, Riverside will be the first high school in Tri-Cities to perform In The Heights.
"We are very honoured to be introducing it to the district," Roberge said.
Tickets for The Wedding Singer are $15/$12 by calling Centennial secondary (570 Poirier St., Coquitlam) at 604-936-7205. It runs Feb. 12 to 14 and Feb. 19 to 21. In The Heights at Riverside secondary (2215 Reeve St., Port Coquitlam) runs Feb. 19 to 21 and Feb. 25 to 27. Call 604-941-6053.
@jwarrenTC
