18 FOCUS - JULY 2019 YOUR NEIGHB O U R S O W N E D & OPERATED B Y Drop by our tent and say hello and enjoy a free Canada Day Cupcake. CANADA DAY CELEBRATION - PALMER PARK Christine & Terry Vos Theatre on the Ridge launches its 5th summer season this July at Town Hall 1873 in Port Perry with the premiere production of a new Canadian musical. Willow Quartet Musical has been adapted from the stage play by the same name, written by Richmond Hill playwright, Joan Burrows. The original Willow Quartet was published in 2013 and is the heart warming story of the power of fam- ily roots as a rural Ontario couple recovers from grief to find their way back into each other’s heart. Theatre on the Ridge acknowledges the generous support of The Courts of Canterbury for making this production possible. By 2015, positive audience response, production feedback and discussions between Ms. Burrows, Ron Cameron-Lewis and Jason Saunders, both faculty mem- bers of Sheridan College’s musical theatre program, led to extensive work shopping of the music at Sheridan College, and the development of the production now be- ing produced by Theatre on the Ridge this summer. In the fall of 2018, Willow Quartet Musical was also one of the three finalists for the Best New Musical category in the national Tom Hendry Awards, awarded annually to Canadian plays and playwrights. For Ms. Burrows, the process of learning how to turn “script” moments into “musical lyrics” was challenging but necessary to keep the flow of the story within the constraints of a two act musical. “The workshops with the Sheridan students were thrilling, to say the least” says Ms. Burrows, “I was sitting with all these young musical talents, some of whom had already performed on Broadway…and who were so eager and invested in making this new musical work for us.” Theatre on the Ridge Artistic Director Carey Nicholson, is the stage director of Willow Quartet Musical and is excited for the opportunity to work closely with playwrights, composer and cast to bring this new adap- tation to the stage. Long time artistic collaborator, Carol Salamone as music director, who in the words of Ms. Nicholson “is the perfect artist to bring this new musical score to life”, by joining this production. The cast of Willow Quartet Musical includes Lyle CorriganfromPortPerry,ChrisDanielandNathanSimpson from Whitby, and Roz McArthur-Keyes from Enniskillen, with guest artist Ashlie White from Toronto. Ms. White last performed in Scugog as Lily in the Port Perry Confidential Musical Theatre’s production of Kiss Me Kate. Willow Quartet Musical premieres on Thursday July 4 at 7:30 p.m. (opening reception at 6:30 p.m.), with a preview matinee Wednesday July 3 at 2 p.m., and performances July 5, 6, 9, 10, 12 at 7:30 p.m. and July 13 at 2 p.m. Tickets are now on sale at the Town Hall 1873 box office from $25 - $35 with senior/student pricing and group discount packages available. To purchase tickets, visit www.townhall1873.ca. For more information on Theatre on the Ridge, visit www.theatreontheridge.ca New Canadian Musical to Premiere at Theatre on the Ridge Festival 2019 9 L-R; Ashlie White, Nathan Simpson, Carey Nicholson, Carol Salamone, Roz McArthur-Keyes, Chris Daniel, Joan Burrows. (first read through of Willow Quartet Musical)