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Squamish’s Act Alive TROUPE brings 'The Wedding Singer: The Musical' to Eagle Eye Theatre

Experience the high energy, humour and heartwarming moments of this beloved classic brought to life by 18 Squamish performers.

"I wanna make you smile whenever you're sad/Carry you around when your arthritis is bad." 

If you know those lyrics, you are likely a fan of The Wedding Singer, the romantic comedy from 1998.

If you don't recognize the line, the movie was set in 1985 New Jersey, in all its retro glory. 

The plot is simple: a young man and woman are set to marry the wrong people but ultimately find each other. 

There is much hilarity and mushy-gushy love along the way. 

The Wedding Singer is Act Alive performing arts studio owner Jessica Kelly's favourite movie, and so she was excited to put on the musical version.

The cast of 18 Squamish performers in TROUPE, Act Alive's adult theatre group, will take to the Eagle Eye Theatre stage in The Wedding Singer: The Musical on May 2, 3 and 4.

Kelly loves the high energy of the story, the humour and the happy ending, she said. 

"It's one of my top favourite films of all time," she said. 

"There's actually quite a few people in the cast that had a similar feeling."

TROUPE started last January, and has been working on The Wedding Singer since September.

With more women in the group than men, Kelly said they threw out the idea of gender for the performers so individuals could play a more diverse array of roles.

She said that in musical theatre, there are typically more roles for men than women, but more female performers than male performers.

The lead star-crossed lovers are played by Anna Davies, who is Robbie Hart, and Hannah Shepheard plays Julia Sullivan.

Kelly, who is producing, directing and choreographing the musical said she "dies laughing" watching rehearsals. 

"Breathtaking is a word I would use to describe some of these beautiful songs and heartfelt performances, hilarious ... monologues, songs [and] dances. There's really something for everybody here," she said, noting the performance would be suitable for 10-year-olds and up, though there are some swear words and innuendo in parts.

More than anything, Kelly says she has been touched by how TROUPE members have come together and formed a supportive community. She said members watch each other's kids and have rehearsed even when Kelly took a few days off to care for her infant. (Kelly had a baby in October.)

"They truly give so much, and they care so much," she said of the cast. "It's really become bigger than anything that I've created."

Tickets for The Wedding Singer: The Musical are $35 online or $38 cash at the door. 

Purchase tickets or find out more on Act Alive's website.

 

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