For those interested in the local theatrical scene, Moose Jaw Community Players is promoting two upcoming productions for this year, Spirit Control and Paradigm Shift, the second of which has just seen its first auditions take place Feb. 4.
The upcoming production, Spirit Control, will take place April 12 – 13 at the Mae Wilson Theatre, starting at 7 p.m. on each respective night. Tickets are available now at SaskTix.ca, or at the Moose Jaw Cultural Centre’s Box Office. The Box Office can be reached at 306-693-4700.
Written by Beau Willimon and directed by Larry Rutherford, Spirit Control is about the story of Adam Wyatt, an air traffic controller with a perfect track record. When the pilot of a small plane suddenly suffers a heart attack, Wyatt must talk a terrified passenger through an emergency landing.
“Spirit Control is a chilling and mesmerizing look at how we navigate a crisis, and the demons that haunt us long after,” according to the theatre.
The second upcoming production, Paradigm Shift, will be performed at the Moose Jaw Public Library’s theatre. No time and date have been announced yet, as the group is still waiting to confirm a venue booking.
Paradigm Shift is a one-act performance written by local educator Joan Stumborg.
“It’s a re-write from a play we had worked on together when we worked at Vanier – she and I were both teachers there,” explained Debbie Burgher, the theatre’s director.
“It’s a story of strength and hope and making choices, and just the realization that this can happen to anybody.”
The group hopes to partner with the Moose Jaw Transition House, as the story is about a woman dealing with spousal abuse.
“Joan and I were looking to do something that was more of a social justice kind of topic, and maybe a bit more educational rather than just a random play. We decided it was time to venture into something that was a little bit more serious.”
In the past, Community Players has performed a wide number of productions that range from serious, emotionally engaged pieces such as Spirit Control, to something of a lighter and more playful air like Notoriously Moose Jaw.
“It just depends on where the wind is blowing…,” she said. Ultimately, the choice is up to the program’s director.
The first auditions for Paradigm Shift began on Feb. 5 and 6 at the Mae Wilson Theatre. The production requires only four female roles and one male role, meaning any further auditions are unlikely for this specific production. If all roles haven’t been filled, of course, any extra auditions will be announced.
Notoriously Moose Jaw, by comparison, was an ensemble piece featuring 12 or 13 scenes. Because each scene covered a different subject, the play could be done with the 30 plus performers who participated.
Community theatre differs from mainstream theatrical productions by using a format that includes the participation and involvement of community members. In turn, this helps promote a stronger sense of community engagement.
“The really great thing about community theatre is that it involves all ages, and it involves all skills,” Burgher explained.
If you don’t wish to act, she said the production is always looking for backstage help as well. Available roles range from set building to costume design, organizing to financial planning, and from sound control to poster design.
“When you all come together to make one thing successful, it really builds a team,” said Burgher.
Moose Jaw Community Players runs a community theatre program comprised of anyone with an interest in local theatre.
“We like to put on shows that we think the public would be interested in, and we enjoy getting together to re-create these little bits and pieces of reality for the community to enjoy watching,” she said.
“Everybody loves to feel like they belong, and theatre really does that. That’s what the Moose Jaw Community Players tries to do.”
For more information or to inquire about auditions, visit the theatre’s Facebook page, ‘Moose Jaw Community Players.’
