There’s likely to be some nervous young people in the wings of the Lower Ossington Theatre tonight as they prepare to dance and sing their hearts out in the opening of Toronto Youth Theatre’s production of A Chorus Line. With a large cast and minimal set requirements, the musical is a perfect vehicle for a low-budget, big-ambition company like TYT.
Founded by Maurice Galpern in 2005, Toronto Youth Theatre is one of only a handful of Toronto organizations focused on theatre for and by young people. The company divides into two groups, a junior level for ages 7 – 13 and a senior level for ages 14 – 20 (A Chorus Line includes a few actors slightly older than that). TYT is based at the Lower Ossington Theatre, a 125-seat venue tucked into a large rehearsal facility on Ossington Avenue north of Queen Street. The for-profit business rents space to everyone from TYT and Classical Theatre Project to Mirvish and Dancap.
Annemieke Wade, left, LOT’s production manager and a co-producer of A Chorus Line, sat down with me yesterday to give me the 411 on TYT. The company is a registered charity that survives on donations, student registration fees and ticket sales for their four annual productions (two each for the junior and senior groups). After A Chorus Line wraps at the end of the month, the juniors bring Charlotte’s Web to life March 4 – 12.
“There’s not a lot of youth theatre available in Toronto, especially for the younger group,” says Wade, who adds that taking on a TYT role is a big commitment for someone in primary school.
“A Chorus Line has been rehearsing four-times per week in the run-up to the show and Charlotte’s Web is rehearsing three days a week — two evenings and a full day on the weekend. That’s a lot for kids who might also have swimming or karate or whatever. The kids are being asked at quite a young age to make choices about what they’ll be doing for the next four months and in some cases, even longer.”
Wade is an arts administrator with a lengthy theatre background. She says she especially enjoys working with the juniors.
“Most of them have never done this before so they don’t have the vocabulary: if I say, ‘You’re going to counter Wilbur in this scene,’ they don’t know what that means. But it’s amazing how quickly they pick it up. If you speak to them like adults and don’t dumb it down, they can handle it.”
TYT’s A Chorus Line is directed and choreographed by Robert Allan, who has performed the show himself in various roles. Wade says the show boasts some of the best singing ever delivered in a TYT production.
“Theatre is such a valuable learning experience for young people,” she adds, “it teaches so many skills. Theatre gives them confidence that will help with public speaking, with their abilities to adapt and think on their feet, you name it.”
“I know what it’s like to go onstage for the first time, to get your first applause, to get your first laugh – it changed my life as a child and it continues to be a thrill.”
WHERE/WHEN: A Chorus Line, February 10 – 27 at the Lower Ossington Theatre (100a Ossington Avenue, 416.915.6747); tickets $19.50 – $35.
Cast photos by Trason Fernandes, photo of Annemieke Wade by Christopher Jones
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As a cast member in this production of “A Chorus Line”, I must say that I have had a literally unbelievable experience in its rehearsal. I have done a lot of theatre in the city, but this show has moved me in ways I have never been moved before.
This show, and specifically, this production, has the ability to entertain like few others can – to induce both hysteric laughter and floods of sympathetic tears in just under two hours.
I know I speak with a subjective voice, but this show is a thrill from beginning to end. The production is filled with a passion that far exceeds that of a normal evening’s performance, and it will leave the audience wanting to come back and see it again. You won’t want to miss this!
For more information, check out the facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=192723637408245
For tickets, call (416) 915-6747, or visit: http://chorusline.eventbrite.com/
- David Klein (Paul)
If you haven’t had a chance to see the stellar review we received from Mooney on Theatre, you can check it out here:
As a way of celebrating the final performances of our 25th production, we are offering 2 for 1 tickets for our performances on Thursday, February 24 and Friday, February 25. If you hold a ticket for these performances, please bring along a friend to introduce them to the amazing work of our young artists!
Additional 2 for 1 tickets are offered as available at the door, on a first-come first-serve basis.