The best part was performing in front of so many people, says Liz Gruber.
On Monday (July 9), the Between Shifts Theatre actress was still buzzing about the Main Stage Festival in Kamloops - a three-day competition that involved 小蓝视频's best theatre productions.
Having won 10 out of 11 awards at the Theatre 小蓝视频 North Shore Zone Festival in May, the Squamish company had moved on to the provincials with their production of The Cemetery Club. Gruber was onstage with Carla Fuhre, Skai Stevenson, Kathy Daniels, and Janice Hayde, while Judi Price wore the director's hat.
"Coming from Squamish, it was like we had hit the big time," Gruber said.
The 750-seat Sagebrush Theatre included professional change rooms, amazing lighting and a greenroom complete with treats.
On stage, the company pulled off a "pretty much flawless performance," said Daniels, who is also one of the play's producers. The play focuses on three widows in the '80s. The comedy, written by Ivan Mechell, delves into friendship and loss.
The backstage crew were so smooth that Between Shifts Theatre was awarded Best Backstage Coordination.
"It's pretty much like Miss Congeniality," Daniels joked.
After the curtains fell, the theatre company had a meeting with a private adjudicator. The judge gave them small tips on a few tweaks, she said. It was amazing to see the other productions, some with sets so big they had to come in on flat trucks, Daniels said.
Vernon Powerhouse took home gold with its production of Women in Black. The whole event was an incredible learning experience, Daniels said.
"Some of us have really caught the bug," she said. "A number of us would like to try and go again."
Gruber said she was proud of the backstage crew for earning a trophy. It's not a "glory" job and they were a great team, she said.
"I just wanted to stay and learn more," she said.
