For some, it was the place they called home during their high school years at Centennial secondary.
For others, the school stage was where they cut their teeth to get ready for their future careers in the arts.
This month, 11 current students and about two dozen alumni will gather for the last time on Centennial’s beloved platform to say goodbye.
The farewell to the stage — and to the school, which is now being rebuilt at the back of the Poirier Street property — will come in the form of a musical revue: A look back at 12 years worth of shows for the musical theatre department.
Under the direction and choreography of Milena Canta (class of 2008), the school will put on One Singular Sensation featuring a number from each of the musicals from 2004, starting with Hair and finishing with this year’s outstanding production of Shrek.
Canta, a teacher at Pulse Dance Centre in Port Coquitlam as well as at the Northwest Academy of Performing Arts in New Westminster and a Squamish studio, said she wanted to give back to the school.
“This theatre has had a really big impact on my life,” she said during rehearsal on Monday. “It’s a place you called home. There are so many great memories here for all of us.
“It represents our friends and family,” Canta said.
Darlene Jordan (class of 2015) concurred. She joined Centennial’s musical theatre program in grades 11 and 12 and won the roles of Linda in The Wedding Singer and Serena in Legally Blonde.
“This was where I felt free and wasn’t judged,” she said, looking around the venue. “I had so much fun here that my only regret is I didn’t join it sooner.”
Jordan, who recently graduated in acting from the Vancouver Film School, learned about One Singular Sensation after a call-out on Facebook. She and her brother, L.J. Jordan (class of 2009), signed up right away. “It gives us a chance to perform on our old stage again,” she said with a smile.
Drama teacher Lisa Boddez said proceeds from One Singular Sensation will go into the musical theatre program at the new school, which is due to open in September.
Fortunately, the stage size will be the same and there will be 35 more seats, including in a mezzanine section.
Still, the department needs to fundraise to buy the seats, at a cost of $200 each, and only a handful have been sold. Donors will be gifted a plaque with their name, which will be attached to the back of their chosen seat. “There is a lot of work to do before we move over,” Boddez said, “but we are excited about the journey. We want to continue the legacy for the future students at Centennial.”
• One Singular Sensation runs June 10 and 11 plus June 16 and 17. Seating is general admission and doors open at 7 p.m. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. Visit onesingularsensation.eventbrite.ca for tickets at $15. If you can’t make the show but want to donate to the Centennial musical theatre department, visit gofundme.com/singular-sensation.
