Broadway or Bust hits the stage at the Eagle Eye Theatre this summer, with a performance of the musical Dear Edwina Jr. on Friday and Saturday night (July 24 and 25).
Created a decade ago by Marcy Heisler and Zina Goldrich, the show follows advice-giver extraordinaire Edwina Spoonapple.
"It's a big fun show," said Melissa Braun, musical director.
The performances mark the end of the fifth season of the Broadway or Bust youth theatre camp, which has been running this year since July 6.
Thirty youth aged six to 16 took part in the camp with all of them performing in this weekend's musical wrap up of contemporary pop style music and dance numbers.
The musical tells the story of 13-year-old Edwina Spoonapple and the advice talk show she runs out of her home garage. Edwina has very talented siblings, which makes her feel untalented. Yet she has many talents including leadership, singing and advising, and she combines all of them by directing musicals out of her garage.
The topic of the numbers is derived from letters written to her by neighbourhood kids who need advice. She provides her views through songs and dances that she orchestrates with her friends. One of the main themes is Edwina's desire to be in the "Advice-a-palooza" festival because she feels it will prove she is as talented as her siblings
Last year's Broadway or Bust performances of Into the Woods and Honk were well attended and enjoyed, according to Braun.
"We were very happy with the final product," she said, adding that she enjoys watching kids mature through the show.
"It's been exciting to watch some of the kids grow up and graduate with the program."
Many of last year's performers were older and have since aged out of the program. Now, said Braun, the younger performers have stepped up to the plate and taken on the bigger roles in this year's production.
Actress Erin Veaubien, who plays Susie in the production, has been attending the camp every year since it began in 2004.
The show is being directed by Andrew Dixon with choreography by Andrea Lake and Jen Carney and musical direction by Braun and Ali Bachert. The original writing duo, Heisler and Goldrich, also wrote the hit cabaret musical number Taylor the Latte Boy.
Tickets for the show are available at the Adventure Centre and Billie's Bouquet. Adult tickets are $15 and students pay $7. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday (July 24 and 25).
