Gallery 7’s Spice of Life Theatre Season

Submitted. Gallery 7 Theatre of Abbotsford, is pleased to announce their 23rd annual, “Spice of Life!” season of theatre commencing this October.

“Since variety is the spice of life, we’ve included something this year to please every taste,” explains Ken Hildebrandt, Gallery 7 Theatre’s Executive/Artistic Director.

“We feature a little adventure as we follow that lovable scallywag, Tom Sawyer, through his hilarious exploits; some comedy as a young mom-to-be attempts to appease her parents by hosting her first family dinner; some drama as we follow Corrie ten Boom’s plight to find forgiveness and faith in the midst of horrific tragedy; and some passion as that beloved Canadian icon, Anne Shirley, seeks to make Green Gables a place to call home. Each story has something to say about identity and finding a sense of purpose and belonging.”

The 2013/2014 playbill, which features two distinctly Canadian works, is as follows:

1. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, by Laura Eason from the Mark Twain novel. Rediscover this classic American tale about the loveable scallywag, Tom Sawyer, as he sets out for adventure and manages to break the rules along the way! All the classic moments from the Mark Twain story are here: the discovery of how to get rid of warts using a dead cat, the murder of Doc Robinson, Tom & Huck’s pirating adventure to Jackson Island, and the infamous white-washing incident. Through his exploits, Tom discovers the value of purpose, and the importance of family, love, and telling the truth. Runs November 8 – 23, 2013.
2. Having Hope at Home, a distinctly Canadian comedy by David S. Craig. It’s the mother of all peace treaties: a formal family dinner. Carolyn has invited her estranged parents over to make peace. The table is laid, the turkey is in the oven and Carolyn has just gone into labor. In a valiant attempt to hide her labour pains from her parents, Carolyn struggles to maintain the façade of civility as she wrestles to find her place in the family. This hilarious comedy explores love, letting go and reconciling each other’s differences, all the while hoping against hope for a brighter tomorrow. Runs January 24 – Feb. 8, 2014.
3. The Hiding Place, by Timothy Gregory from the book, The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom with John & Elizabeth Sherrill. Corrie ten Boom’s post-war mission to bring healing and forgiveness to victims of the holocaust reaches a crisis when she comes face to face with the man who turned her and her family in to the Nazi police during the war. What follows is an incredible recounting of the ten Boone’s work with the Dutch underground to hide Jews in a hidden room above the family’s watch repair shop and their subsequent internment in a concentration camp. Wrestling with her own emotional scars, Corrie must come to terms with her need to forgive in this grim, yet beautiful story of faith and survival. Runs March 14 – 29, 2014.
4. Anne (of Green Gables), by Paul Ledoux from the novel by L.M. Montgomery. The girl with the fiery red hair and an imagination that knows no bounds comes to vibrant life onstage as we celebrate a classic Canadian tale. Matthew and Marilla want to adopt a boy to help with the farm chores. Instead, they get the precocious Anne…with an “e”. Uninhibited by her surroundings, Anne adapts to her new life, often locking heads with the austere Marilla, making new friends, and competing with her rival, Gilbert Blythe. Through the course of time, Anne transforms in to a refined young woman in this charming story about finding your way. Runs June 13 – 28, 2014.

Panic Squad & Friends, those masters of super-funny, super-clean comedy improv the whole family will enjoy, return to kick off the season on October 4 and the theatre will once again partner with Pacific Theatre of Vancouver to present Christmas Presence, an eclectic mix of seasonal music and story-telling, on December 22 at the Matsqui Centennial Auditorium.

Season passes for the 2013/2014 “Spice of Life!” season are now available at savings of up to 30% off regular ticket prices, making theatre-going at Gallery 7 an affordable, fun and unique entertainment option that is guaranteed to stir the heart, stimulate the mind and elevate the soul.

“Bringing an exciting season of theatre to the stage takes a tremendous amount of help from volunteers and sponsors,” continues Hildebrandt. “Those wishing to act on-stage, help behind the scenes or volunteer in other areas of the organization are invited to contact us for more information on audition schedules and volunteer opportunities. We’re also delighted to announce that Blackwood Home Hardware, Joy TV, Odlum Brown and Son Built Custom Homes, LTD have signed on to be presenting sponsors for 2013/2014, and we thank them for their generous support!”

For more information about this year’s playbill, to order season passes or to see how you might be able to support or volunteer at the theatre, please visit the Gallery 7 Theatre website at www.gallery7theatre.com or call 604-504-5940. All performances, with the exception of Christmas Presence, will occur at the MEI Auditorium, 4081 Clearbrook Road, Abbotsford.