An award-winning director of Shakespearean plays will work with Tri-City theatre students this summer on a musical adaptation of a Bard classic.
Kevin Bennett, whose credits include the Globe Theatre in England, will lead the Place des Arts’ Summer Teen Theatre Troupe in A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
And teens aged 15 to 18 wanting to audition for the company are invited to try out on Sunday, May 28 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Maillardville hub (1120 Brunette Ave.).
A total of 10 young actors will be cast in the show, which runs in Coquitlam parks as well as at the Coquitlam Town Centre Park Plaza for five days. Studio 58 graduates Hannah Case and Alex Kirkpatrick will produce.
Successful candidates will start rehearsing July 3, with the last event taking place on July 30.
To book an audition, call Michael Fera at Place des Arts at 604-664-1636 (ext. 34) or email [email protected].
Currently, Bennett is directing The Madness of King George III for the Shaw Festival at the Royal George Theatre, in Niagara-on-the-Lake in Ontario.
YOUNG COMPOSER
A 16-year-old Coquitlam musician scored two prizes in the 13th Biennial Young Composers’ Competition.
Benjamin Sigerson took second prize in his category (secondary, ages 13 to 17) for his piece Said the West Wind, which was performed by the Vancouver Chamber Choir at last Friday’s Youth and Music 2017 concert.
Sigerson also clinched a special award for being the best B.C. music writer in his age group.
A total of 64 international compositions were submitted for the Canada 150 contest. The finalists were chosen by conductor/composer Kathleen Allan, conductor George Roberts and Vancouver Chamber Choir conductor and artistic director Jon Washburn.
ROCK THE FOX
Rock school students at Port Coquitlam’s Terry Fox secondary will show their musical chops at a semester-end bash next week.
Rock the Fox will run at the Terry Fox Theatre (1260 Riverwood Gate) on May 17 and 18, starting at 7 p.m.
Among the cover songs to be performed on Wednesday are from Sunset Rollerblade Kids, Of Monsters and Men, Panic at the Disco, Frank Ocean, Ed Sheeran, Fleetwood Mac, Sex Pistols, Billy Talent and Nirvana.
As well, Kyle Scott will play an original metal set, teacher Steve Sainas said.
And, on Thursday, you can hear tunes from The Tragically Hip, Twenty One Pilots, Hannah Montana, Coheed and Cambria, Rihanna, Hole, Adele, James Arthur, Snow Patrol, Elvis, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Job for a Cowboy and Blood Bath.
Tickets at $5 support the Terry Fox Rock School and recording arts programs. To RSVP, visit the school music office or buy a seat at the door on show night. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
SCHOOL DRAMA
Gathering Blue is the title of the year-end show by students at Port Coquitlam’s Minnekhada middle school.
Teachers Phil Hughes and Frank Lore are directing 57 students in the drama, based on the novel by Lois Lowry, that centres on the character Kira — a teen orphan with a disability who is living in a post-apocalyptic society.
The public is invited to the June 8 performance at 7 p.m. Call the school (1390 Laurier Ave.) at 604-942-0261 for tickets.
