Six middle-aged women preparing to bear almost everything on stage are ready to go public.
Dewdney Players Group Theatre will unveil its much-anticipated play Calendar Girls, based on a true story that prompted the release of the hit movie of the same name in 2003, featuring nine performances at the Rotary Performing Arts Centre from Oct. 9-10, 15-17 and 22-24.
The cast and crew have been busy promoting the upcoming performance at various community events this past summer with an overwhelming response.
“I’ve heard a lot of people talking about how they want to get tickets and about how they enjoyed the movie so much that they can’t wait to see the show,” said actress Anne-Marie Cotton. “It’s going to be such a fantastic show. I think the audience is going to enjoy it and not just for ‘the scene.’”
Cotton is among a cast of 14 who will portray the heartwarming story of a women’s group that raises money for a local hospital by posing almost nude for a calendar.
While the play is filled with heart and humour, Cotton said it also has a serious side.
“There’s parts where it’s touching,” she said. “How may people have dealt with family members or friends or acquaintances who have been touched by cancer in some way shape or form.”
In September, Dewdney Players released a 2016 calendar featuring the six ladies with nothing on, but hidden by props, representing a photo shoot scene in the play.
Cotton is the calendar’s January girl.
“People think it’s so fun,” she said. “When we were selling them during the launch they opened them up and looked at them. They just thought it was so wonderful.”
The cast and crew has been busy with rehearsals three days a week and Cotton said they’re working on the finishing touches.
“The final few rehearsals are always finalizing costumes and just cleaning up those little finer points,” she said. “All of it has come together and it’s looking great.”
Although it’s her third show with Dewdney, Cotton said she is a little anxious.
“I always feel a little nervous before a show just in general anyway like, ‘Oh God, do I remember my lines?’” she said. “I’m totally feeling confident with how the show looks and is coming together and how it’s going to present. I think the audience is going to really enjoy it.”
The biggest challenge for Cotton was perfecting her character Jessie.
“You just want your character to look good and sound good,” she said. “You get to know them just through doing scenes and how the other characters are responding to them. All of a sudden you see this person is becoming more and more real and they’re not just words on paper anymore.”
Cotton said it’s important that her character is believable.
“A lot of times people will react to a character by saying, ‘I know somebody exactly like that,’” she said. “Even if they don’t they can say, ‘I’ve heard of somebody like that.’ It just helps with keeping the show going and the energy that goes into the show.”
Cotton’s favourite part of the experience is the bond she’s formed with the cast and crew.
“We got to know each other really fast and we go to rehearsals and there is so much laughing and joking around,” she said. “It’s just so much fun.”
Producer Matt Seder said rehearsals for Calendar Girls have been running smoothly.
“We are integrating costumes and scene changes in rehearsals now,” he said. “Usually we don’t start having full costumes and scene changes until we are actually in the theatre, but we’re starting to work on that already. We’re polishing even more every day.”
As the performance dates approach, the energy level is growing amongst the cast and crew, said Seder.
“We keep getting updates from the town of Okotoks with our ticket sales,” he said. “They are going fast. There are more than 200 pre sold. The number of tickets sold is the equivalent of two sold out shows. Don’t wait at the door to get your tickets online.”
Calendar Girls is the second play Seder has produced through Dewdney, and said he really likes the story behind it and the fact that it’s based on a true story.
“It’s relatable,” he said. “Everybody anywhere around the world can relate to a story of a really good friend losing a spouse to cancer.”
He said it’s one of those plays that will bring tears to the audience’s eyes.
“Bring tissues because there’s parts when you’re going to be crying because it’s so sad and parts where you’re going to be crying because you’re laughing so hard,” he said. “It’s the evolution of these women growing and changing as a result of a terrible situation and we all experience that in one form or another through our lifetime.”
For details about the performances or to purchase a calendar go to dewdneyplayers.com. The calendars, which cost $20 each, will be sold during the performances.
Tickets to see Calendar Girls cost $20 for adults and $15 for students and seniors.