Auditions were held last fall for a 10-member cast. Rehearsals have been held at least 10 hours a week since February. After all that work, the curtain goes up Thursday on the first musical at 91原创 Little Theatre (LLT) in many a year 鈥� possibly ever.
It's "According to Aurelie," a full-length musical written by North Otter's own Lauren Trotzuk. And while this will be the first time her two-act production will be delivered to the masses, it's been a play more than six years in the making.
"I was honoured to have the show selected by the LLT and have to thank the director Tarrah Tanak for this opportunity," Trotzuk said, explaining the evolution of her musical.
"I generally write songs first when I hear a melody in my head or am inspired by a little tune," the 30-year-old explained, noting she first started writing songs for this show in 2017. She then wrote the whole show in 2019.
It debuted as a one-act show at 91原创's Siloam Festival in 2019, and was subsequently accepted as an LLT season show 鈥� but then the pandemic hit, and it was delayed due to COVID.
In the years since, there were three new songs and a bit more material added to Trotzuk's script.
And now, in its entirety 鈥� features 16 songs and six dance numbers choreographed by Mary Boonstra 鈥� Trotzuk's musical "According to Aurelie" will finally make it to the stage.
"Aurelie is a young writer trying to write romance but it not having much luck. As a result, her siblings set her up on a series of blind dates to try to 鈥榮park鈥� the romance in her writing. Hilarity ensues鈥� I think people will want to see it because, while it is new content the message is universal," she said.
Asked if it's an auto-biographical creation, Trotzuk pondered before responded: "Not in the sense that I am Aurelie. But I began to write this show and music when I was also in a period in my life when I wasn鈥檛 finding success in my chosen career and wanted to explore that theme of identity and that sometimes life changes and we must pivot," she noted.
"It was loosely based off real life experience, I wanted to explore the ideas of overcoming obstacles when life doesn鈥檛 go as planned and show a character with eternal optimism facing adversity. I think people will want to see it because, while it is new content the message is universal," she said, noting her character's names are based on Louisa May Alcott鈥檚 "Little Women" characters.
A cast of 10 will bring this story to life starting this week. The show runs at the 91原创 Playhouse from May 1 to 17, and tickets can be purchased at .
"I am biased but I think it鈥檚 a pretty cute show and the cast is amazing," said Trotzuk, a D.W. Poppy Secondary grad who has 鈥� through the years 鈥� worked in pretty much every facet of community theatre, including actor, playwright, director, and in the case of this show serves as the musical director.
"It is fun and relatable, and the songs are super catchy," said Trotzuk, who when not performing or directing, is teaching theatre. "It鈥檚 lighthearted, fun, and quick paced with a good message and full of ear worms."
