What's Happening

Dance For The Health Of It

August 12, 2024 No Comments

Please note: This class is now full.

Young at Heart Theatre has once again partnered with Julia Sauvé to offer special movement classes for adults.

Dance for the Health of it is a restorative movement class designed to enhance strength, flexibility, balance, coordination, brain power, mobility and fun! Open to all abilities. No experience necessary.

Julia Sauvé, MA has been performing, teaching, and chore-ographing dance on P.E.I. and the U.S. for the past 43 years. She Co-founded Montage Dance Theatre and dance umbrella, has performed with The Charlottetown Festival, choreographed for numerous community, school, and the-atre organizations, and most recently taught within the Hol-land College School of Performing Arts. Most recently Julia has been teaching a movement class for people with Parkinson’s.

This partnership was made possible through funding from Innovation PEI.

There will be eight free Monday classes beginning September 9^th at the Beaconsfield Carriage House, from 12:30- 2pm. Class size is limited so please register early by emailing info@yatheatre.com or by calling (902) 393-9419.

The Rules and Regulations for Hanging Out The Wash

February 5, 2024 No Comments

Young at Heart Theatre is pleased to be bringing a brand-new musical comedy to seniors all across PEI.

The Rules and Regulations For Hanging Out The Wash, written by Diane Barnes and Wade Lynch, with original music composed by Tyler Casat and Don Fraser, will have its debut through the Month of April, as it tours to long-term care, community care, hospitals, community halls and senior’s clubs. The play’s content is based on Prince Edward Island history. Research includes newspaper stories, oral history, songs, personal accounts, and provincial archives.

“The play is essentially about the under-appreciated labour performed by women in the last two centuries. The intent is for senior women in care to realize that contemporary Canadians recognize and appreciate their contributions to their families and communities”, says co-writer Wade Lynch. “It’s also a lot of fun, as we enjoy the relationship of two neighbours (with very different opinions and traditions) develop and sweeten throughout the laundry day.”

The Rules and Regulations For Hanging Out the Wash is directed by Marlane O’Brien, and stars Jamie Cordes(who also serves as Musical Director), Brynn Cutcliffe and Marlene Handrahan.

Original music composition by Tyler Casat, Don Fraser and Jamie Cordes. Arrangements by Jamie Cordes. Set and props by Kathleen Ross, with scenic art by Tammy Peters.

Graphic art: Cove Consulting(Maureen Kerr), Haley Zavo

For more information contact: info@yahtheatre.com.

Young at Heart Theatre is a charity organization dedicated to enriching the lives of seniors on PEI through story and song. This tour is made possible with the support of Innovation PEI, Maritime Electric, Blair Corkum Financial Planning, Azrieli Foundation( on behalf of Nadine Haddad) , and many generous donors.

Upcoming public shows(please contact the venue for ticket information):

April 3 @ 1pm: Cornwall 50+ Club- Cornwall Civic Centre:Contact -Ernie Stavert 902-393-2531

April 7@ 7pm: Milton Community Hall(miltoncommunityhall@gmail.com)

April 12 @ 7pm: Kings Playhouse, Georgetown (www.kingsplayhouse.com, 902 652-2053)

April 13@ 2pm: Senior’s Active Living Centre, UPEI (902) 628-8388

April 14 @2pm: St. Peter’s Bay Circle Club camcgrath21@gmail.com

April 17@ 2pm: Three Rivers 50+ Club (902-583-2662 ) * limited # of tickets available

April 20 @7pm: Eastern Kings Community Hall(easternkingscommunitycenter@gmail.com)

April 21 @ 2pm: Lower Montague Women’s Institute (902-969-1391)

April 27 @ 2pm: Crapaud Community Hall (final show and fundraiser). Admission at the door $15 or PWYC. Includes snacks, coffee, tea, 50/50 draw

(photos: Cast members Marlene Handrahan, Jamie Cordes, Brynn Cutcliffe)

Fresh From the Island 2023

February 5, 2024 No Comments

New Play Development at The Kings Playhouse

The Kings Playhouse was the incubator for a series of new play

developments in October.

A workshop of a brand new musical written by local resident Jack King

took place from October 15-17 with dramaturg Pamela Halstead and

musical dramaturg Robert Greene, plus five actors. The Yankee Gale

musical was workshopped with funding assistance from Innovation

PEI and Playwrights Atlantic Resource Centre(PARC).

“ This was an opportunity to work with Jack and look at the bones of

the play and to see the potential of a production in the future at the

Kings Playhouse.” says Interim Executive Director, Catherine O’Brien.

“ There is potential there, as the story is strong. The next steps are

more rewrites and workshops. More funding will be needed for future

development.”

The Yankee Gale is set during the 1851 storm that was the worst

maritime disaster to hit Prince Edward Island Shores. At least 74 ships

were destroyed and over 150 crew were killed. Actors who

participated in the workshop were Rob MacDonald, Kristen

Thompson, Melissa Mullen, Cameron MacDuffee and Catherine

O’Brien.

The 3rd Annual Fresh From The Island Festival, in partnership with

Young at heart Theatre and PARC took place almost immediately

after, beginning on October 19th. Brynn Cutcliffe and Kris Williams

were two of the playwrights selected to workshop their plays over a

four day period.

Pamela Halstead was the dramaturg for Kris’ play, Elmsdale, and

Brynn worked with dramaturg Johanna Nutter on the play The

Weatherman. There was a public presentation of the first act of

Elmsdale on Sunday October 22nd at the Kings Playhouse.

The actors involved in the workshops were: Cameron MacDuffee,

Judy Marshak, Wade Lynch, Kristen Thompson, Marlane O’Brien,

Melissa Mullen, Ben Hartley, Melissa Kramer and the Stage Manager was Anne Putnam. The third playwright, Scott Parsons, worked with

dramaturg and playwright Beau Dixon remotely, and will be presenting

his work, And the Land Rested From War: Stories and Songs For My

Father on November 10th as part of the Legacy Projects with support

from Veterans Affairs Canada’s Commemorative Partnership

Program. (Top photo: Elmsdale play workshop participants from L top Cameron MacDuffee, Kristen Thompson, Anne Putnam, Pamela Halstead(dramaturg)Kris Williams(playwright), Melissa Mullen. Front: Ben Hartley, Ben(the dog), Wade Lynch).

Bottom photo: The Weatherman workshop participants: Melissa Kramer, Cameron MacDuffee, Anne Putnam, Marlane O’Brien,Judy Marshak, Brynne Cutlciffe( playwright), Johanna Nutter (dramaturg), Wade Lynch

Fresh From the Island: A New Works Festival

October 19, 2022 No Comments

Kings Playhouse, Young at Heart Theatre and Playwrights Atlantic Resource Centre are accepting play submissions from PEI creators for Fresh from the Island – a new works festival, 2023.
What We’re Looking For:

We are looking for finished scripts and scripts in development at any stage. We encourage all forms of stage work, including devised theatre, monologues, musical theatre, comedy sketches, and new forms of stage performance that require a script.
We encourage submissions from equity deserving writers and creators, and commit to working collaboratively to provide work environments and partnerships that are safe, inclusive and fun throughout the process.
We employ a blind submission process to avoid unintentional bias on the part of our team of qualified readers.
A $20 submission fee supports the producing of the 2023 Fresh from the Island festival.
Fresh From The Island will present the three finalist PEI playwrights in live readings in a festival weekend October 19-22 2023 at Kings Playhouse in Georgetown PE. Each of the three selected scripts will be paired with local actors and professional dramaturgs for an intensive workshop culminating in live, concert-style readings that are open to the public.
**Unfinished scripts will be considered**

An honorarium will be awarded to each finalist selected.
Final selections will be confirmed by:
Kings Playhouse Interim Executive Director, and Young at Heart Theatre Artistic Producer, Catherine O’Brien
Playwrights Atlantic Resource Centre Artistic Director, Pamela Halstead

For more information, visit www.kingsplayhouse.com

To apply go to: https://2053.na.ticketsearch.com/sales/salesproduct/15037

The second annual Fresh From the Island: New Works Festival was a great success in 2022,
with a busy four-day event at Kings Playhouse in Georgetown from October 20-23 rd . Events
included special workshops, panel discussions and staged readings.
Participants also took in the HallowQueen Murder Mystery event on October 22 nd .
Two plays were selected from a blind jury of peers, and the plays were workshopped with
professional dramaturgs and actors.
The selected plays were: The Conversation, by Marlene Campbell, and Say You’re Sorry, by
Louise Burley.
The Dramaturgs were Pamela Halstead and Lindsay Kyte, with apprentice Dramaturgs Rory
Starkman and Benton Hartley assisting.
An additional collaborative project with Kings Playhouse was included in the festival, offering
support for the Legacy Project ‘Sma’knis’, a new work by Julie Pellissier-Lush.
Our workshop panelists included Pamela Halsted, AD of Playwrights Atlantic Resource Centre,
Adam Brazier, Artistic Director of the Confederation Centre of the Arts, Robert Tsonos, Artistic
Director of Watermark Theatre and Pat Smith, former Executive Director of Victoria Playhouse.
Many thanks to actors Yvette Doucette, Marlene Handrahan, Cameron MacDuffee, Sharlene
MacLean, Melissa Mullen and Rob MacDonald.
Thanks also to our stage manager, Rory Starkman, and assistant stage manager Jessie Duarte.
Young at Heart Theatre, Kings Playhouse and Desert Island Theatre are grateful for the support
from New Horizons for Seniors, Government of Canada, Innovation PEI and Playwrights Atlantic
Resource Centre for making this event possible.
Thanks to all who attended the workshops and readings. We look forward to seeing more plays
developed in the coming year.

Fascinating Ladies Summer Tour

May 30, 2022 No Comments

Young at Heart Theatre will be touring the production Fascinating Ladies across PEI this July and August.

This show will highlight some of the great music from the 1920’s to the 1970’s, and celebrates artists like the Boswell Sisters, Andrews Sisters, Dolly Parton, Teresa Brewer, the Maguire sisters and more. The show is directed by Catherine O’Brien with music direction from Haley Zavo. Young at Heart Theatre, a charitable organization, is grateful for the support of The Government of Canada, Innovation PEI, donors Regis and Joan Duffy, and sponsors Andrews Senior Care, Arsenault Best Cameron Ellis Chartered Accountants, Blair Corkum Financial Planning, The City of Charlottetown, the Rotary Club of Charlottetown Royalty , The Town of Stratford and the Town of Three Rivers. They have helped to make this tour a reality.

“We have a spectacular cast for this show.” Says Artistic Producer and Director Catherine O’Brien.

Olivia Barnes returns to the Island and to Young at Heart Theatre for this special tour. Olivia performed in the 2019 production of Sadie Off The Rails. She was granted her Graduate Performance Diploma in Singing from McGill University on scholarship and is now in the studio of Ariane Girard. Recent performance credits include, Florence Pike in Albert Herring, Nettie Fowler in Carousel, the Fairy Queen in Iolanthe, Paquette in Candide, Ruth in Pirates of Penzance and Olga in Eugene Onegin. Olivia currently lives in Montreal but is delighted to come “home” for the summer.

Based in Toronto for over thirty years, Marlene Handrahan is thrilled to call PEI home again, following a residency with the Kings Playhouse in Georgetown.
As a performer, Marlene has appeared across North America. Favourites include five seasons with the Charlottetown Festival (Hairspray, Anne of Green Gables, Johnny Belinda, Emily); Harbourfront Theatre (Nunsense, The Ballad of Stompin Tom, Affections of May, The 39 Steps); Eastern Front Theatre (Songbird: The Music of Anne Murray), as well as 52 months in spandex and platform boots in the US Tour of Mamma Mia. Marlene is proud to share this beautiful music across the Island.

Kaitlyn Post is originally from the small town of Sussex, New Brunswick. She studied theatre at Holland College and worked at a nursing home while living on PEI. After her time on the Island, she attended Sheridan College and received her Bachelor Degree in Music Theatre Performance. “I’m thrilled to be back in PEI this summer and feel beyond blessed to be part of the Young at Heart team, bringing beautiful melodies to the amazing seniors of Prince Edward Island … IN PERSON!”

The Fascinating Ladies tour begins July 3^rd and runs to August 21^st with a possible extension.

Upcoming public shows include:

July 3rd @3pm – Bicentennial Park, Tignish ( PWYC)

July 15th @7pm – Star of the Sea Seniors Club, North Rustico (tickets at the door)

July 16th @ 2pm – Robert L. Cotton Park, Stratford (PWYC) (VIP seating for essential workers- just identify yourself at the tent entrance)

July 23rd @ 7:30pm – Milton Community Hall (miltoncommunityhall.ca,(902) 566-3154)

July 27th @ 2pm – Christian Reform Church, Charlottetown

July 28th @ 2pm – Souris Historical Lighthouse grounds(PWYC) (VIP seating for essential workers) Opening act: The Chaisson Trio

August 5th @ 7:30pm – Kings Playhouse, Georgetown (kingsplayhouse.com,902-652-2053/1-888-346-5666)

August 7 @ 2pm- Village Musical Acadien, Abram Village. Opening act TBA.Donations gratefully accepted. VIP seating for essential workers.

August 9 @ 7pm – Uigg Community Centre. Tickets available by calling Faye at (902) 628-7209

August 12th @7pm -Cambridge Community Hall. Tickets $10 at the door.

August 17th @ 6:30pm – Wyatt Heritage Properties Concert in the Park, Summerside. By donation.Bring your own lawn chair.

A special public performance and fundraiser will take place at St. Paul’s Church in Charlottetown on August 18th at 7pm with special guests. Tea and treats will be served. Special guest Bonnie LeClair.

Admission is $20 or PWYC at the door.

Young at Heart Theatre understands that some flexibility is needed with the current Covid situation. They are happy to reschedule dates and work with the organizations to ensure everyone has a safe and enjoyable experience. For information: info@yahtheatre.com or call (902) 569-4449.

Stage Management and Sound Technician position

March 30, 2022 No Comments

March 29, 2022

We’re hiring!

Young at Heart Theatre is offering a training and paid internship for a stage management and sound technician position.

We will be training the successful candidate to work on a local touring production, and other programming. The internship includes stage management, tour coordinating, running sound, and driving the tour van. The intern will also be trained on other aspects of theatre including lighting, sound design and administration.

The successful candidate may have a background or training in music or theatre or non-profit arts organizations, is self-motivated and is very comfortable with communications. We are also looking for good computer skills, excellent organization skills, strong decision-making skills, and adaptability.

The program runs for 26 weeks beginning June 6^th 2022, with a possible extension. Future work with Young at Heart is possible beyond this program.

This program is run through the Skills PEI Work Experience program.

Who is Eligible to Participate?

If you are unemployed and looking for a short-term work experience you are eligible to apply. If you are unemployed and looking for full-time employment you are eligible to apply.

You must be legally authorized to work in Canada (Canadian citizen or permanent resident);
You must have a current claim for Employment Insurance benefits; or
You must have a previous EI claim whose benefit period ended within the previous 60 months; or
an unemployed person who paid, in at least 5 of the last 10 years, employee’s premiums that did not entitle the person to a refund (i.e. If the person made less than $2,000 in earnings in a year, any EI premiums that they would have paid would be reimbursed);
Other criteria may apply. For more information on eligibility visit Skills PEI(https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/service/work-experience-pei-for-job-seekers)
Must have a valid driver’s license for PEI.
Some work takes place in long-term care and hospitals. Candidate must be fully vaccinated

Deadline for submissions: May 16, 2022

Please send resumes and a cover letter to:

Catherine O’Brien

Artistic Producer, Young at Heart Theatre

catherine@yahtheatre.com

Auditions

February 23, 2022 No Comments

Young at Heart Theatre is hiring artists for their 2022 and 2023 seasons. We are looking for artists with a broad range of backgrounds. Qualified performers should submit without regard to age, disability, ethno-cultural identity, gender, or sexuality. We welcome artists to self-identify. Please send a cover letter, photo and resume to: info@yahtheatre.com Only those selected will be asked to prepare an audition recording. We welcome Equity and Non-Equity performers to submit, and will give special consideration to performers in the Atlantic Region.Deadline for submissions: March 1, 2022. We are currently looking for performers who are versatile in a variety of music genres, including folk, country, pop and classic musical theatre. The ability to play an instrument is an asset, so please include that information in your submission.