MARCH / APRIL 2022

Calendar Girls – Directed by Barbara Ryan

Synopsis

When Annie’s husband John dies of leukaemia, she and best friend Chris resolve to raise money for a new settee in the local hospital waiting room.  They manager to persuade four fellow Women’s Institute members, Cora, Celia, Ruth and Jessie to pose nude with them for an “alternative” calendar, with a little help from hospital porter and amateur photographer Lawrence.  The news of the women’s charitable venture spreads like wildfire and hordes of press soon descend on the small village of Knapeley in the Yorkshire Dales.  The calendar is a success but Chris and Annie’s friendship is put to the test under the stain of their new-found fame.

Show dates

Friday 25th, Saturday 26th of March & Friday 1st, Saturday 2nd April at 7.30
Sunday 27th March & Sunday 3rd April at 2.oopm

JULY 2022

Avenue Q
Directed by Jesse Hana Ellison
Musical Director – Kate Peardon

Synopsis

A puppet-filled comedy follows a group of twenty-somethings seeking their purpose in big-city life.

Winner of the Tony “Triple Crown” for Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book, Avenue Q is part flesh, part felt and packed with heart.

The laugh-out-loud musical tells the timeless story of a recent college grad named Princeton, who moves into a shabby New York apartment all the way out on Avenue Q. He soon discovers that, although the residents seem nice, it’s clear that this is not your ordinary neighbourhood. Together, Princeton and his new-found friends struggle to find jobs, dates and their ever-elusive purpose in life.

Filled with gut-busting humour and a delightfully catchy score, not to mention puppets, Avenue Q is a truly unique show that has quickly become a favourite for audiences everywhere. Although the show addresses humorous adult issues, it is similar to a beloved children’s show; a place where puppets are friends, Monsters are good and life lessons are learned.

By arrangement with MUSICAL THEATRE INTERNATIONAL (MTI) AUSTRALASIA

Show dates:

Friday 22nd, Saturday 23rd & Friday 29th, Saturday 30th July at 7.30pm
Sunday 24th & 31st July at 2.00pm

November / December 2022

Director/ MD Linda Gefken
Choreographer Deb Ellison

Once again the Coolum Theatre Players brought another wonderful production to the stage in Coolum Beach.
Following on from the crowd-pleasing performances of Calendar Girls in April and Avenue Q in July, Chicago the Musical will be presented as the final show of a year of excellence on stage at the Coolum Civic Centre from November 24.

“It’s been a treat working with Deb to create this wonderful show that has such a focus on the choreography. We have brought together some of the best triple threats the coast has to offer and are really looking forward to bringing our audience a fabulous night out.” Linda explained.

“We have also engaged the services of Jax Audio Systems to both provide and run a full sound design to make sure every word and note can be heard by our audience.”

The musical is set in the 1920s in Chicago – at a time of excess and debauchery, murder and mayhem, gangsters and girls. The free press just loves a sensation and nothing beats a crime of passion.
Roxy Hart will do anything to become a star. Anything! With a scumbag boyfriend and a dull as dishwater husband, any chance of a career on the stage seems to be out of reach.
That is, until she accidentally shoots her boyfriend and she teams up with a show stealing lawyer who will do anything for the right amount of cash.

But Vaudeville star Velma Kelly will stop at nothing to retain her place on the front page, after all she is accused of killing her husband and her sister and she really needs the publicity to keep her career alive after she gets her day in court.
With burlesque, acrobats and fan dancers the story moves in and out of reality and dreams, Cell-Block-Tango-ing its way from the stage into your heart.

Book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse
Music by John Kander Lyrics by Fred Ebb

Based on the play Chicago by Maurine Dallas Watkins
Script adaptation by David Thompson

BY ARRANGEMENT WITH ORiGiN™ THEATRICAL
ON BEHALF OF SAMUEL FRENCH LTD.,
A CONCORD THEATRICALS COMPANY

Show dates: There are currently 6 scheduled performances:
Friday 25 & Saturday 26 November @ 7.30pm Sunday 27 November @ 2pm
Wednesday 30 November @ 7.30pm