Hello G7 friends,

A bunch of stuff has happened over the last month or so, and I thought it was time to provide an update. Check out details on Pride & Prejudice casting, video blog for Around the World in 80 Days, a smash hit Panic Squad and more.

Pride & Prejudice Cast Announced

Rehearsals for Pride & Prejudice are now well underway, the sets are being built and prepped for painting, sound designs are being developed...wow, it's like we have a production opening soon! :) I'm pleased to announce an outstanding roster of cast & crew:

Cast 

Elizabeth Bennet ... Jenni Fischer
Jane Bennet ... Aleishia Marston
Lydia Bennet ... Danielle Warmenhoven
Mary Bennet ... Teagan Plett
Kitty Bennet ... Veronica Hargrave
Charlotte Lucas / Mrs. Hill ... Beth Gasser
Caroline Bingley / Emma Gardner ... Kimberly Larson
Fitzwilliam Darcy ... Mike Klemak
Charles Bingly ... Mark Hammer
George Wickham ... Derek Ward-Hall
Rev. William Collins ... Garret Davis
Col. Thomas Fitzwilliam / James / Mr. Jeffries ... Kenzie Hall
Mr. Denny / Mr. Connor ... Anthony Teer
Mrs. Bennet ... Shelley Picard
Mr. Bennet ... John Dawson
Sir William Lucas / Mr. Gardiner ... Dave Peters
Lady Catherine de Bourgh ... Kathleen Varady

Artistic Team

Directed by Annette Reilly
Set Design by Neil Klassen
Costume Design by Dani Rebain
Lighting Design by Ken Hildebrandt
Sound Design by Bruce Havery
Make-Up Design by Sarah Wiget

Tickets for Pride & Prejudice are now on sale and you can get them at the House of James by calling 604-852-3701 or by going in person to the store located at 2743 Emerson Street.  This show is going to be a great theatre experience, and I'm particularly pleased to note that this is a special Canadian adaptation of Jane Austen's classic tale. This particular treatment was first produced in 2008 at the Citedal Theatre in Edmonton, AB and is written by Tom Wood.  Make sure you get your friends together and come on out to this special production.

Panic Squad Show A HUGE hit!

On October 2, we welcomed back our good friends, Panic Squad (PS), for a one-night only extravaganza of super-clean, super-funny comedy improv. The house was jam-packed - I think there was only one or two seats scattered through the far-reaches of the theatre left open for this incredible season-opening event. From the lobby, it sounded like everyone had a great time and someone even told me that their face hurt from laughing so hard. 

The Panic Squad & Friends show at G7 is unique: it's the only ...and Friends show they do anywhere in North America. This gives them the chance to bring in new performers while trying new games that have been workshopped over the last while. Audiences are a part of history in the making - new games that work at the G7 show get integrated in to the regular PS show wherever they perform. Pretty cool, eh?  Plus, with the added performers, there's added fun.

Praise the Lord for a great season opener - it's always a blessing and a relief to see a full house. And thanks, Panic Squad, for a great performance!

BTW - Panic Squad and Leland Klassen will be performing together at the Matsqui Centennial Auditorium on Sunday, October 18 at 6:30 PM. They're filming a new DVD to be released sometime in the future. They need audiences! Tickets are available for this awesome double-bill only in advance at House of James. Cost is $15.00. If you missed the Panic Squad and Friends show here at Gallery 7, here's your chance to catch up with them. 

Video Blog for Around the World in 80 Days

The director for our January/February show of Around the World in 80 Days, Eldon Letkeman, is also a hobby film-maker (Glass Planet Studios - heard of it? Check out our list of sponsors...) and he's planning to do something a little special, just for this show.

If you've ever wondered how a production comes together, then you'll want to check our Eldon's video blogs. The blog will give follow the entire process, from early design meetings to rehearsals to performances, giving us all a unique, behind the scenes look on how a play goes from words on a page to a living, breathing, full-fledged production.

It's a really cool thing, and I think you should check it out. Here's the first one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTPsss9npEc

That's it for now. I'm running out the door so I can catch the Arts Club production of Black Comedy. It features a dude I went to theatre school with. Catch you soon.