Sault students thrilled to be able to return to the stage
After a two-year hiatus because of the pandemic, White Pines Collegiate in the Sault is again taking to the stage.
The high school is in preparations for a production of ‘The Wedding Singer,’ based on the 1998 Adam Sandler movie.
Director Hollie Filice said with 50 students involved, both on stage and behind the scenes, it’s clear students are excited about the return of theatre.
“It’s a really great opportunity for students to get involved and make connections with each other, which was really lacking during the pandemic,” Filice said.
The two-year gap means this is the first opportunity for many of the kids to take part in a play.
Grade 11 student Gabriel Fournier is one of those students.
His stage debut comes in the lead role of Robbie Hart, played by Sandler in the film.
“I just like being on the stage in front of people,” Fournier said.
“It’s just a great feeling stepping into another character. (It’s) just amazing.”
Students went through unique preparation for the show. To match the play's timeline, they learned 1980s-era hairstyles at Sault College.
They also took part in vocal practice at the Hiawatha Highlands said Filice.
“When we take students out of the building and we give them those authentic learning experiences,” he said.
“Whether it’s, ‘we’re going to do fun games at Hiawatha and you’re going to actually talk to each other without masks on and do silly little games and learn about each other,’ it just makes the learning experience that much more special.”
The first performances in front of a live audience came recently for the crew, as students from Grade 8 got a sneak peek of the production.
Dominic Albury, who plays Glenn Guglia, said he felt good about his first time performing in front of a crowd.
“It’s really cool to actually see a bunch of people actually sitting in the audience,” Albury said.
“It’s all coming together.”
White Pines Collegiate's production of ‘The Wedding Singer’ runs Dec. 8-10.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
LIVE B.C. seeks ban on using drugs in 'all public spaces,' shifting approach to decriminalization
The B.C. government is moving to have drug use banned in 'all public spaces,' marking a major shift in the province's approach to decriminalization.
Air traveller complaints to Canadian Transportation Agency hit new high
The Canadian Transportation Agency has hit a record high of more than 71,000 complaints in a backlog. The quasi-judicial regulator and tribunal tasked with settling disputes between customers and the airlines says the backlog is growing because the number of incoming complaints keeps increasing.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
U.S. flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.
76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid says he has Bell's palsy
Philadelphia 76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, a form of facial paralysis he says has affected him since before the play-in tournament.
AFN chief says Air Canada offered a 15% discount after her headdress was mishandled
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief complained to Air Canada about how staffers treated her and her ceremonial headdress on a flight this week, she says the airline responded by offering a 15 per cent discount on her next flight.
Trump's lawyers try to discredit testimony of prosecution's first witness in hush money trial
Donald Trump's defence team attacked the credibility Friday of the prosecution's first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign.