ROTARY TEAMS UP WITH HUB PRODUCTIONS FOR ‘BILLY ELLIOTT THE MUSICAL’ PRODUCTION — AUDITIONS THIS WEEK

BRACEBRIDGE — It’s showtime again.

At least auditions for the annual Rotary musical extravaganza.

Following this past winter’s Sound of Music sell-outs, the Bracebridge Rotary Club has teamed up with HUB productions to bring to the stage a fitting performance of “Billy Elliott — The Musical.”

The delightful and inspiring tale of a fictional British lad who leaps onto stage as a ballet dancer who doffs the boxing gloves his dad prefers — as a striking coal miner.

The shows are in late Februrary and early March at the Rene Caisse Theatre in Bracebridge.

Co-producer Jean Polak says past cast members and fans of the decades-old community theatre productions have been clamouring to learn about what on tap for this winter.

“Some of you had reached out to me wondering what the next show was and until a couple of weeks ago I was sadly saying I was not sure if we would have a show because we did not have a director.

“But to steal a line from “A Fiddler On the Roof” … “Wonder of wonder, miracle of miracles! We have a show!”

Rotary has entered a new partnership with HUB Productions and will co-produce Billy Elliott with them. Many know Amy Bridle and Emma Grimstead, who will be the directors.

Bridle will co-produce with Polak, who adds in an email to last year’s cast: “We are all very excited about this new approach to our old tradition.

“So glad we have found a way to continue a tradition.”

So after nothing much happening for a long time, things are now happening very quickly.

Auditions are the end of this week: Thursday and Friday 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and Saturday afternoon noon to 3 p.m. at the Rene Caisse Theatre.

There are lots of adult and youth parts. So if anyone wants, please plan to come and audition — and please share this happy news with all your theatre friends.

If you have any questions, Bridle and Grimstead can be reached at [email protected]