Tag: news

Meet Silver Spotlight Theatre’s Sue McKone

by Richard Young

Meet Susan McKone. Sue plays Little Red Riding Hood in Silver Spotlight Theatre’s production of Stephen Sondheim’s Into The Woods.

“I have been a member of the London theatre community for over thirty years now. My passion for musical theatre started from my earliest memories of watching old musicals on TV on Sunday afternoons. Watching such great golden nuggets inspired me to sing and dance in my living room to my parent’s records. I remember my first ‘stage’ experience was at my best friend’s church Easter play. From that first applause, I was hooked and began my lifelong love affair with Musical Theatre.

I have been fortunate to be part of so many wonderful shows over my lifetime and to work with a plethora of amazingly talented people, making lifelong friends. My ‘showmance’ in 1994’s Musical Theatre Productions production of Pajama Game turned into a twenty-seven-year marriage to my drummer husband Wade, and together we have two amazing children, Zach and Aly, who also participate in the arts.

When Into The Woods was announced, I knew this might be my last opportunity to play one of my bucket list parts, Little Red Riding Hood. I had wanted to play her since seeing the original production on PBS decades earlier. I am very excited to be given the opportunity to play her and access my precocious side.

I am also excited to work again with our Director, Rick Smith. Friends since our first meeting in MTP’s 1991 production of South Pacific, I have been his performer, his producer, and fellow board member along the way. This is the fourth time I have had the privilege of being directed by Rick. I have always loved his collaborative nature and how he always makes me feel safe as a performer and lets my creative and crazy nature fly. This was no more evident than in how he mentored and supported me as co-director through my first directorial foray, Kinky Boots, this past Spring at the Palace Theatre.

Helping kick-start Silver Spotlight Theatre as a Board Member of MTP back in 2022-23, I knew that there were many friends I made along the way out there who no longer felt included in this big and wonderful theatre community in London. Silver Spotlight Theatre has provided a space where passion and opportunity do not have to end when the senior discounts kick in.

I am inspired to see seasoned on and off-stage people find their way back to the ‘boards’, and happy to see people who may have dreamed of performing, but never had an opportunity or the courage, or given a chance, to explore and learn about this amazing animal called Community Theatre.

Silver Spotlight Theatre is proof that you are never too old and that the arts truly are a lifelong possibility.

I say prop me up on stage when I am 90 – I will still perform with my usual flair!”

Sue

Silver Spotlight Theatre’s production of Stephen Sondheim’s Into The Woods, opens on November 21 and runs until December 1 at the Auburn Theatre. For tickets and more information, visit https://www.mtplondon.ca/into-the-woods

Meet Lesley Andrew of Into The Woods

by Richard Young

Meet Lesley Andrew. Lesley plays Rapunzel in Silver Spotlight Theatre’s production of Stephen Sondheim’s Into The Woods.

“Into the Woods marks only my second foray into the world of community theatre, both of which have been within the past year. My theatrical experience began with the Stratford Festival as part of the principal company, at the ripe old age of twenty-two (just a few years ago now). Since then, I have acquired a few more degrees and have been fortunate to tour the world as a freelance artist.

Currently, I keep busy running two studios, Dream In Progress Productions Voice & Drama Studios, in London and Windsor, teaching at various educational institutions, performing and directing. I love cooking, quilting, doing construction, and cuddling with my fur and feather babies in my spare time. Yes, I have a parrot. It’s no wonder I’m single!

I am blown away by the talent in Silver Spotlight Theatre’s production of Into the Woods! Having been on a personal hiatus over the past decade as I cared for my ailing mom, I am thrilled to have been welcomed into such a fabulous community and made so many new friends. I highly recommend getting involved in community theatre, especially as we cross the threshold into … gulp … middle age. It’s fun, a great way to meet people, and an awesome way to keep active physically and mentally.

Silver Spotlight Theatre is fantastic! I am honoured to be part of the team.”

Lesley

Silver Spotlight Theatre’s production of Stephen Sondheim’s Into The Woods, opens on November 21 and runs until December 1 at the Auburn Theatre. For tickets and more information, visit https://www.mtplondon.ca/into-the-woods

Silver Spotlight Theatre announces Cast for Into The Woods.

by Richard Young

Hot on the heels of its sold-out production of Grease, London’s Silver Spotlight Theatre’s third show, Stephen Sondheim’s Into The Woods, now has its Cast in place.

“I am very excited to be part of Into the Woods. We auditioned many talented people from London and the surrounding area,” says director Rick Smith. “As a result, we have some original Silver Spotlight performers, some folks who haven’t been a part of a Musical Theatre Productions show in several years, and some first-timers with this group. Seeing Silver Spotlight Theatre grow and bring new members to the local theatre community is wonderful. I can hardly wait to begin rehearsing.”

A complete Cast List can be viewed on the Musical Theatre Productions website www.mtplondon.ca

Into The Woods is a playful and enchanting yet perilous woodland adventure that follows some of the Grimm Brothers’ most beloved fairytale characters like Cinderella, Jack, Rapunzel, Little Red Riding Hood, a wolf, a giant, and even a handsome prince or two, as they search for their wishes. Their stories collide in the woods where things don’t always appear as they seem.

Rehearsals begin on Sunday, July 14, and continue throughout the summer and fall. The play opens at the Auburn Theatre on November 21 and continues until December 1, 2024. Tickets go on sale soon.

Co-founded by Art Fidler and Rick Smith in 2022, Silver Spotlight Theatre is a branch of London’s Musical Theatre Productions. It features and is produced by performers and staff 55+ with a mission of presenting full-scale Broadway musicals.

Into The Woods Is presented through a special Music Theatre International (MTI) arrangement. All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.www.mtishows.com.

Media Inquiries: Richard Young, Into The Woods Publicity & Program Head, 519-432-6986, richardyoung51@rogers.com

Silver Spotlight Theatre presents Into The Woods: Stage Manager Cameron Johnston

by Richard Young

Stage Manager Cameron Johnston on Silver Spotlight Theatre’s next production, Stephen Sondheim’s Into The Woods:

“I am excited to have been tapped as Stage Manager for Silver Spotlight’s production of Into the Woods. Having started with Silver Spotlight as assistant stage manager for Babes in Arms, it’s a great honour for me to move into the Stage Manager’s role. With Rick Smith’s direction, and the team he has gathered around him, this is going to be a dynamite show. I’m encouraging everybody who loves musical theatre to make plans to attend.”

Be part of this magical show. Auditions will be held on Wednesday, June 12, and Thursday, June 13 at 150 Dufferin St., London from 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm, with callbacks on Saturday, June 15. Time slots can be reserved by email at intothewoods@mtplondon.ca

More information about the play can be found on the Musical Theatre Productions website: www.mtplondon.ca

Silver Spotlight Theatre announces its third production, Into The Woods.

by Richard Young

LONDON, ON – Hot on the heels of its sold-out production of Grease, London’s Silver Spotlight Theatre is planning its third show, Stephen Sondheim’s Into The Woods, for November 2024 at the Auburn Theatre.

Co-founded by Art Fidler and Rick Smith in 2022, Silver Spotlight Theatre is a branch of London’s Musical Theatre Productions (www.mtplondon.ca). It features and is produced by performers and staff 55+ with a mission of presenting full-scale Broadway musicals.

The group’s inaugural production, Babes In Arms, sold out during its two-week run in March 2023, and Grease sold out in six days.

Into The Woods is a playful and enchanting yet perilous woodland adventure that follows some of the Grimm Brothers’ most beloved fairytale characters like Cinderella, Jack, Rapunzel, a wolf, a giant, and even a handsome prince or two, as they search for their wishes. Their stories collide in the woods where things don’t always appear as they seem.

“Into The Woods has intrigued me since getting a sample on the 1988 Tony Award broadcast. Thirty-six years later, my excitement for it hasn’t diminished. It is certainly a departure from the Silver Spotlight Theatre model of seniors portraying teens on stage,” says the play’s director, Rick Smith. “Still, it builds on the successes of the previous two productions. It has the naivety of Babes in Arms, the exuberance of Grease, and adds slightly more mature moral messages for everyone to interpret for themselves.”

Auditions will be held on Wednesday, June 12, and Thursday, June 13 at 150 Dufferin St., London from 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm, with callbacks on Saturday, June 15. Time slots can be reserved by email at intothewoods@mtplondon.ca

Into The Woods Is presented through a special Music Theatre International (MTI) arrangement. All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.www.mtishows.com.

Media Inquiries: Richard Young, Into The Woods Program Head, 519-432-6986, richardyoung51@rogers.com