Drive in magic (Image: KV Players)
The KV Players are returning to in-person performances this week with a drive-in style show, Almost Home: A Summer Celebration.
Audience members will be able to enjoy the performance from the comfort of their own cars or chairs and enjoy snacks from nearby food trucks.
Artistic Director, Suzanne Doyle Yerxa says they began brainstorming during their offseason, knowing they would restricted to an extent by the pandemic.
“One of the things that we chatted about was the fact that people are tired of virtual,” she said. “So we thought, what if we went outside? How are we going to go outside?”
Musical Director, Christopher Lane suggested they mount the show in the KV Players theatre parking, inspiring them to build the show around songs from the last 50 years that celebrate summer.
“We would never, ever have thought of doing something like this,” said Yerxa. “We wanted to make sure that we were creative in every step of the way.”
When planning was considered, there was still a limit on how many people could attend a live performance. Planning an outdoor show exposed the company to the details taken for granted when performing indoors, like bathroom facilities and how to store equipment, while also working to make sure the audience is safe and secure.
Close up of KV Players parking lot (Image: KV Players)
“We’ve had many, many meetings about trying to make sure that we are going to deliver what we promised to deliver,” she said. “We’re very excited about trying something brand new; it’s an exciting challenge and I think it will be very entertaining.”
The KV Players will perform their second live show All Together Now! in November, which will feature hit Broadway songs and dances offered by Music Theatre International, one of the biggest musical licensing houses in North America.
They also have big plans for summer 2022 performances. The KV Players are the first company in New Brunswick to acquire the rights to Frozen Jr. and are already at work planning the musical Shakespeare farce, Something Rotten!
“I think people are going to be thrilled with the idea that we get a live audience, she said. “The idea that people can be seen and be heard and interact with an audience, and talk to them and get that feeling of excitement that only happens in live theater – it has that certain magic to it.”
Almost Home: A Summer Celebration will be performed August 10-12. Anyone interested in purchasing tickets can check out the KV Players’ website, Facebook page and Instagram page.
