A retired Burnaby drama teacher is taking to the stage in the White Rock Players' Club's next outing.
Alison Schamberger, well-known in the city from her years at Burnaby North, appears in the club's production of Quartet.
Ronald Harwood's play tells the story of lifelong friends Wilf and Reggie and former colleague Cissy, all residents of Beecham House - a home for retired opera singers.
Every year on Giuseppe Verdi's birthday, the residents unite to give a concert to raise funds for the home - but everything changes when a new resident arrives in the person of Jean, Reggie's ex-wife and a former grande dame of the opera world.
Schamberger appears as Cissy, with Nina Shoroplova as Jean, Adrian Duncan as Wilf and George Stone as Reggie.
It's onstage April 8 to 25 at the Coast Capital Playhouse in White Rock, with shows Wednesday through Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday matinees on April 12 and 19 at 2:30 p.m.
Tickets are $18 for adults, $16 for students and seniors, and $10 for the April 8 and 9 previews.
See www.whiterockplayers.ca for all the details.
(And a random side note for film buffs: The play has also been adapted into a movie, directed by Dustin Hoffman and starring the indomitable Maggie Smith. I totally recommend seeing it - after you see the stage play!)
GOTTA SING? GOTTA DANCE? GOTTA APPLY!
Is there a young talent in your house who loves to perform?
Kids aged nine to 19 are invited to apply for the Gotta Sing! Gotta Dance! summer program, which has been running for 20 years at the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver.
Director-creator Perry Ehrlich has assembled a professional faculty that includes musical directors Wendy Bross Stuart and Lonnie Delisle, director Chris McGregor, choreographers Isabelle Maheux, Anna Kuman, Keri Minty and Andy Cohen, acting coach Advah Soudack, and Shizuka Kai and Stephen Beaver on set construction and costume coordination.
The program has become well-known for turning out successful young performers, with many alumni going on to careers in the performing arts. It's been popular among talented young Burnaby kids, too - over the years, such familiar faces as Nicole Heidema, Karis Ducharme, Lucas Testini and Angela King, who've been featured in these pages, have been part of the program.
There are two summer sessions available - July 7 to 30, and Aug. 4 to 27 - and applications must be received by April 1.
Sessions run Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with an end-of-day "finishing school" also offered for serious students that delves into aspects such as audition technique and intensive dance workshops.
Check out www.theimpresario.ca for all the details or to apply.
Do you have an item for Lively City? Send ideas to Julie, [email protected], or find her on Twitter, @juliemaclellan.
