COMMUNITY Western Canada Theatre reveals new season

THE 2023-2024 ROSTER INCLUDES TWO MUSICALS: SHREK AND JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR

Western Canada Theatre has released its series of productions for the 2023-2024 season, plays that include two blockbuster musicals.

“I believe in theatre that brings our whole community together,” Western Canada Theatre artistic director James MacDonald said.

“Next season features a dazzling array of iconic musicals, family fun for adults and kids of all ages, razor-sharp classic thrillers re-told for a modern age, hilarious theatrical hijinks and the return of a couple of Kamloops fan favourites.” Of the seven productions, five will be staged at Sagebrush Theatre (in Sagebrush at Munro Street and Ninth Avenue) and two will be performed a Pavilion Theatre (east of downtown at Lorne Street and 10th Avenue).

The Lineup

Gaslight: Oct. 19 to Oct. 28, Sagebrush Theatre. Written by Johnna Wright and Patty Jamieson and based on the play Angel Street by Patrick Hamilton. In association with Chemainus Theatre Festival.

Amidst the shadows of Victorian London, Bella Manningham’s picture-perfect life isn’t what it seems as she fights to maintain her sanity while untangling a web of manipulation and mystery. Is she losing her grip on reality or is it being loosened for her?

Shrek The Musical: Nov. 23 to Dec. 9, Sagebrush Theatre. Based on the DreamWorks Animation motion picture and the book by William Steig. Book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire and music by Jeanine Tesori. Originally produced on Broadway by DreamWorks Theatricals and Neal Street Productions.

Welcome to a magical land of classic fairy-tale characters. But in this fairy tale, things are a little different than what you’ve read in the storybooks. This Tony Awardwinning Broadway musical is laugh-out-loud fun for the whole family, with a heart of green that proves beauty is truly in the eye of the ogre.

Ken Ludwig’s Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery: Jan. 25 to Feb. 3, 2024, Sagebrush Theatre. In association with Thousand Islands Playhouse in Gananoque, Ont.

Tony Award-winning playwright Ken Ludwig transforms Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic The Hound of the Baskervilles into a fast-paced, hilarious whodunit filled with twists and turns. Join the fun and see how the truth can be far from elementary.

BOOM YZ: Feb. 22 to March 2, 2024, Sagebrush Theatre. Written, directed and performed by Rick Miller. A Kidoons and WYRD production, in association with Theatre Calgary and The 20K Collective.

In a captivating theatrical journey spanning three decades, Rick Miller’s final chapter of the BOOM trilogy explores the lives of millennials and Generation Z, intertwining cultural moments, iconic figures and personal stories from 1996 to 2020.

Black: Iconic Canadian Women in Music: March 5 to March 9, 2024, Pavilion Theatre. Created and performed by Krystle Dos Santos.

A captivating musical honouring remarkable black Canadian woman in music, as Western Canadian fan favourite Krystle Dos Santos weaves together inspiring stories, iconic songs and significant moments from black history in the intimate cabaret atmosphere of Pavilion Theatre.

Jesus Christ Superstar: April 4 to April 20, 2024, Sagebrush Theatre. A Western Canada Theatre production. Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice.

An explosive, dynamic telling of the last week of Jesus’ life, full of iconic music, exhilarating dance and stirring performances, in an all-new, original Western Canada Theatre production that will transform Sagebrush Theatre as never seen before. This quintessential 1970s rock opera has wowed audiences worldwide for more than 50 years.

Inner Elder: April 23 to April 27, 2024, Pavilion Theatre. Written and performed by Michelle Thrush.

A young Indigenous girl growing up in Alberta navigates a world of substance abuse, aliens and the spiritual presence of her guiding grandmothers. Award-winning Cree artist Michelle Thrush weaves reallife memories with laughter, grace and playfulness to explore her own inner elder.

Western Canada Theatre’s 20232024 season subscription packages are available through Kamloops Live Box Office (kamloopslive.ca or 250-374-5483) with early bird savings of up to 25 per cent available until Aug. 31.