For the Kempenfelt Community Players, you might say, life begins at 40. And the company is marking the occasion with a trip back through time, or A Step in Time, opening this Tuesday, May 2, at Ferndale Banquet Hall.
This retrospective musical revue includes 35 selections from musicals presented by Kempenfelt Community Players over the last four decades, presenting the best of Broadway, Hollywood and London’s West End.
You’ll hear selections from many musicals including: My Fair Lady, Spamalot, 9 to 5, Cinderella, The Full Monty, Mary Poppins, Beauty and the Beast, Honk Jr., and much, much more.
In all, 32 cast members are presenting the best of that time period, with a live four-piece band backing them up, numbers ranging upbeat tunes to some beautiful ballads.
Says Step in Time artistic director Julie Underhill, “there are so many different styles of music, and audience members who are fans of musicals will definitely recognize some well-known numbers.”
Underhill also admits getting emotional when thinking of this special anniversary, most notably, a “great sense of pride, to be part of an organization that has worked so hard to stay in existence! Non-profit arts organizations can find it very challenging to stay afloat.”
What’s more, “this group is about a strong community theatre tradition! There are families involved in every production, and this one is no exception. We have husbands and wives, parents and children; even three generations on stage together.”
Kempenfelt Community Players was established in 1977 as the Teachers Performance Workshop, with a goal of assisting educators in the art of producing a musical production. Since then, the company has expanded to perform a season of three shows, including a Youth Production.
Underhill reckons the audience will enjoy the format of the presentation, “as they sit at tables of eight, and the cast will move through the audience, creating an intimate performance experience.” Read: don’t be surprised if some of the cast members come up to your table and strut their stuff for just you.
“The large ensemble numbers are very exciting. They are full of rich vocal harmonies, and the cast brings a lot of energy to the stage with their choreography.”
What’s more, there will be a cash bar at the banquet hall. Group rates are available for reservations of eight or more. Senior prices apply to patrons 60 years and up.
The show runs Thursday through Saturday, May 4 through 6, at the Ferndale Banquet Hall, located at 24 Ferndale Industrial Drive. For more information, just click here.
