Jean jackets on, hair glammed up and ready to dazzle -- the superstars of Milton Youth Theatre Productions (MYTP) are getting ready to bring the house down at the FirstOntario Arts Centre.
They're in the final stretch of bringing their production of Rock of Ages to life on the big stage.
This is the first time MYTP is doing a rock musical, which presents technical challenges unique to the genre. But director Jasmin Goode is confident her young metal-heads and behind-the-scenes crew will rock the show.
“Got to give [the kids] credit. If you were to go into their homes and see how they communicate, a lot of it is in these forms of creativity,” Goode said, explaining the type of person it takes to be in musical theatre. “These really young kids are probably running around the house being super eccentric or just singing songs out of nowhere.”
The 45 performers – ranging in age from five and 18 – will be divided into five casts, each one getting a chance to perform over as many show times.
“A rock and roll show has to have the rock and roll element to it. When you think about going to a concert of any type, it's always going to be like big sound and big lights,” the director said in explaining what the behind-the-scenes crew will be tasked with.
Wednesday night (Jan. 29), a local daycare – MYTP’s practice venue – was buzzing with hard rock music, singing and the pitter-patter of little feet as they rehearsed for the big day.
They practised classics like Journey’s Don’t Stop Believin’, Bon Jovi’s Dead or Alive and Pat Benatar’s Shadows of the Night -- just a taste of what play-goers can expect.
The performers don’t just learn the performing arts in their rehearsals for a show. Over its 20-year history, MYTP has been providing aspiring young actors with training in several disciplines. Jasmin Goode is an alumna of MYTP.
They learn the big three of acting -- singing, dancing and improvisation. But some of the more intangible, and perhaps more important, skills they learn are confidence and creativity.
Grace Aeillo, 18, and Martina Pandullo, 17, are about to graduate from MYTP and remember how the company helped them come out of their shell.
“Public speaking is definitely a huge skill that I've gained from doing theatre. It's definitely turned into something that I enjoy doing, especially in schoo,l for this in speeches,” said Pandullo.
Aeillo values the confidence she gained above all else. She “vividly remembers” freezing from stage fright during a performance of Aladdin.
“I realized that I was going to have to have everyone look at me for a split second and that thought alone freaked me out at the start. I realized after we kept going nothing bad happened even though I didn't say anything and it just kept going. I said [to myself], ‘oh well this isn't the end of the world.’”
Playing Princess Jasmine in that same production, she blanked on one of her lines during the act’s biggest musical numbers, A Whole New World. Her co-star, who played Aladdin, held her hand and sang along with her. “That part of it eliminated that fear of messing up,” Pandullo, who has been with MYTP since the age of two, said.
Ultimately, both value the community and camaraderie that theatre builds. In perhaps an act of paying it forward, Pandullo helped her friend Aeillo through a mistake.
“We had a bit of a stumble on lines,” Pandullo said, with Aeillo adding “it was completely my fault,” prompting Pandullo to reassure her.
In this production, Pandullo is taking on the identity of Dennis, the owner of the Bourbon Room. Aeillo is channelling the evil real estate developer looking to destroy the Sunset Strip.
This week was also bittersweet for everyone involved as MYTP will soon be moving to a new location near Thompson and Nipissing roads.
The troupe will be performing Rock of Ages between Feb. 6 and 9, with five show times, including one matinee. Tickets and show times can be found on the FirstOntario Centre’s website.
Anyone interested in learning more about Milton Youth Theatre Productions can check out MiltonYouthTheatre.ca.