What a glorious feeling! Local audiences will soon be happy again as the Armidale Drama & Musical Society brings Singin' in the Rain, the classic comedy of love and egos in 1920s Hollywood, to town.
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"It's a real feel-good story, with lots of fun, singing, and some amazing dancing - particularly tap-dancing," director Warren Bartik said. "We haven't had tap-dancing on the ADMS stage for many years."
The show opens at the Armidale School Hoskins Centre on Thursday, July 4 - and Mr Bartik promises an evening laden with wit, physical sight gags, and great songs.
"The audience will walk away tapping their feet, humming some of the key tunes," he said.
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The musical is a 1980s stage adaptation of the iconic 1952 movie starring Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor, and Debbie Reynolds. It follows the film closely, but with more scenes and songs.
Mr Bartik, musical director Bruce Menzies, and their production team revelled in the challenge of staging such a well-loved work, with its spectacular dance scenes, silent movie footage, and special effects.
"We've put together an amazing show," Mr Bartik said.
\Will Smidt has stepped up to the plate to act, sing, and dance the Gene Kelly role of silent movie star Don Lockwood.
Also heading the show are Lana Howlett as the ingenue Kathy Selden; Kyle Donnan as Don's Friend Cosmo Brown; and Tahnee Denton as the self-obsessed Lina Lamont.
It's a big show, with 31 performers - many enthusiastic youngsters new to the society - and 150 costumes across three centuries.
And, of course, rain onstage. (Mr Bartik reassures readers that they use TAS' rainwater storage tanks, not the town supplies.)
Singin' in the Rain runs at TAS Hoskins Centre, July 4-13. Evening performances start at 7.30pm (not, as early materials said, 8pm).