Actors, stage crew, theatre administrators and a director are all contributing their efforts to those less fortunate in Prince George. They hope an audience will join them for this charitable Christmas event never done before.
The Miracle Project is a retirement side-effort by director/designer Ted Price and producer Anne Laughlin. They were the founders of Theatre North West, and after departing the professional company still felt the urge to occasionally create theatre. With two local causes close to their hearts, the Salvation Army and 27 Million Voices, they set to work building a show to raise funds for these two local charities.
Miracle On South Division Street is their gift to the city this Christmas season.
"It has a cast of four: the mother and three adult children," said Price. "This family is known for two big things. They run a soup kitchen for the homeless and they have a 20-foot statue of the virgin Mary to commemorate the appearance of Mary to their grandfather on Christmas Eve in 1942. Various people are in various states of denial about this, and it has become the family myth. And there are some real plot twists and revelations."
The actors being brought in for this show are Linda Goranson, Melissa Oei, Caitlin McCarthy and Corey Turner. Price has directed all four in previous stage projects and said it was Goranson who first joined the cast, which helped him assemble the rest, once he had that critical actor for the role of the family matriarch.
"Linda has done five or six shows in Prince George over the years, she knows Prince George well," Price said. "She jumped on board a year ago, so we knew that part would be in her hands. She likes working here and has good connections here."
The show will begin the rehearsal phase this coming week and opening night is Nov. 20. It will run nightly (except Mondays) until Dec. 6. There will also be Sunday matinee options.
All shows will be staged at Art Space, which has been donated for this entire run as owner Owen Lubbers's contribution to the Salvation Army and 27 Million Voices in partnership with The Miracle Project.
Other names stepping forward to help the effort include Zarrah Holvick as assistant to the director, Nancy Spensley as assistant to the producer, Chris Bialuski as sound technician, Moira Neal as photographer, Hans Saefkow for graphic design, Rob Dyson as carpenter, and a team of volunteers to help with the heavy lifting and tiny details.
Tickets are $30, available now at Books & Company. Call 250-563-6966 for additional information.
