Skip to content

Dancing, posing and laughing: Coquitlam theatre unveils 40th season bill

Stage 43 hopes to get patrons up on their feet in celebrating its milestone anniversary, including to the tune of one of the most iconic films of all time.
Dancing on theatre stage - Getty Images
Silhouette of a group dancing and posing on a theatre stage.

Is there anything better to do to celebrate a significant milestone than to dance until your feet go numb, laugh with friends and pose for memorable photos?

For Stage 43, its members and actors will do all of the above for the next year.

The Coquitlam theatre society has unveiled its three-show line-up for its 40th anniversary celebration.

And the 2022-23 season at the Evergreen Cultural Centre promises something for everyone, including fans of one of the most beloved films of the 1980s.

The three shows and their descriptions are as follows:

Footloose the Musical

  • Oct. 13-16 and 19-22, 2022

"When Ren and his mother move from Chicago to a small farming town, he is prepared for the inevitable adjustment period at his new high school. But he’s not prepared for the rigorous local edicts, including a ban on dancing instituted by the local preacher, who is determined to exercise control over the town’s youth. When the reverend’s rebellious daughter sets her sights on Ren, her roughneck boyfriend tries to sabotage Ren’s reputation, with many of the locals eager to believe the worst about the new kid. The heartfelt story that emerges pins a father longing for the son he lost against a young man aching for the father who walked out on him."

Calendar Girls

  • Jan. 12-15 and 18-21, 2023

"When Annie's husband John dies of leukemia, she and best friend Chris resolve to raise money for a new settee in the local hospital waiting room. They manage to persuade four fellow Women's Institute members to pose nude with them for an "alternative" calendar, with a little help from hospital porter and amateur photographer Lawrence. The news of the women's charitable venture spreads like wildfire, and hordes of press soon descend on the small village of Knapeley in the Yorkshire Dales. The calendar is a success, but Chris and Annie's friendship is put to the test under the strain of their newfound fame."

God of Carnage

  • April 27-30 and May 3-6, 2023

"A playground altercation between eleven-year-old boys brings together two sets of Brooklyn parents for a meeting to resolve the matter. At first, diplomatic niceties are observed, but as the meeting progresses, and the alcohol flows, tensions emerge and the gloves come off, leaving the couples with more than just their liberal principles in tatters."

Stage 43 says its offering a discount price for its 40th season.

Interested guests have until Monday (Aug. 15) to purchase individual tickets for all three shows at 25 per cent off — $60 for adults, and $54 for seniors and students.

For more information and subscription details, you can visit Stage 43's website.