CANMORE – The show must go on, and it will go on rain or shine.
Pine Tree Players (PTP) will be staging its fourth season of the annual Canmore Summer Theatre Festival (CSTF) kicking off on Aug. 11.
After adjusting to the pandemic last year, CSTF will be returning to live in-person shows that will be performed outdoors for an authentic theatre in the park experience, at the Canmore Recreation Centre field.
“We’ve been doing our best during the pandemic to still offer opportunities for people to create and opportunities for audiences to enjoy content,” said Jen Tweddell, CSTF producer.
“But the magic of theatre is a personal connection you have – it’s a moment in time, each show is slightly different – it’s magical. In an online environment you lose that so I am looking forward to returning to the live in-person shows.”
This year will feature two plays, Minotaur by Kevin Dyer, directed by Tyler McClaron and Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare, directed by Shelby Reinitz.
When production started on both plays, it was not known whether the performances would be online or live. McClaron said they started rehearsals in an online format because of the provincial health restrictions at the time.
“The start of production over Zoom was great because it really allowed us to delve into some tablework and really understand the characters,” said McClaron. “When we were finally able to get together for rehearsals we understood each others characters and we were able to bring them to life quite quickly.”
McClaron said after returning to in-person rehearsals and the confirmation of live shows, there was a buzz around the production. Jeremy White, a PTP regular who plays Aegeus and Dad in Minotaur, said he is thrilled to be returning to live performances in front of an audience.
“The energy of being in front of a live audience is different from anything else. It’s a dialogue – you’re one side of it, but the audience is the other side. They are responding, they’re getting mad or happy or laughing or crying, and without that interaction it’s almost like that energy can’t be there,” said White.
For both the cast and crew, another benefit of the live plays has been the ability to work together, in-person as a team. Sherry Thompson worked on a PTP play during the pandemic and was oftentimes the only person in the room at any given time while recording over Zoom.
“It was unsatisfying because you didn’t get that family feel, that sense of camaraderie that builds during rehearsals,” said Thompson, who plays Pasiphae in Minotaur and Sir Toby in Twelfth Night.
McClaron echoed Thompson’s sentiment and agreed the sense of teamwork is the most important part of the theatre.
“It’s about seeing different people from different parts of our community getting together to make something ephemeral and beautiful, like live theatre,” said McClaron.
Both plays feature a diverse cast that ranges from young children to seniors and amateurs to professionals.
That sense of inclusivity has also extended to the Bow Valley Connections Centre (BVCC), an organization that creates social opportunities for people with developmental disabilities to access diverse social opportunities.
This year there are four cast members from BVCC who will make their PTP debut: Meg Ohsada, Cameron Craig, Ethan Stahl and Cullen McFadden.
“The summer theatre is about expanding opportunities to people to participate in theatre no matter their age or ability,” said Tweddell.
Minotaur is an afternoon matinee starting at 1 p.m. and Twelfth Night is a an evening show starting at 6:30 p.m. Both shows will run from Aug. 11-15 and Aug. 18-21.
Visit pinetreeplayers.com to purchase tickets.
