Welcome to The Club Spring 2023

Maybe we should stop it with the elderly jokes. They’re getting old.
Welcome to ...
THE Club
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So Much to Celebrate at the Victoria Playhouse in 2023!
Following a triumphant 2022, the
Victoria Playhouse Petrolia (VPP) is
gearing up for an even more celebratory
2023 season. With six extraordinary
productions hitting the stage from May
until October, there is something for
every theatre goer to enjoy. 2023 marks
the Golden Jubilee for the VPP, bringing
professional productions to Lambton
County for 50 years. It also marks the
10th season (and 12th year, thanks to
the pandemic) for beloved Co-Artistic
Directors, David Hogan and David
Rogers, along with Resident Musical
Director, Mark Payne.
“We always value the feedback our
patrons provide, and our 2023 season
has been curated with the things they
most love here at the VPP,” Hogan said.
“We are known across the country for
our world-class concerts, and we are
thrilled to bring some VPP favourites
back to the stage this season. In addition,
we have a Canadian musical premiere,
a celebrated Norm Foster comedy and
a breathtaking musical
to close out this
momentous season.”
Kicking off the
season is JESSE’S
COUNTRY JUBILEE,
running from May
2-21. Patron favourite
Jesse Grandmont leads
a cast of musicians
in this big ol’ country
music jubilee! Country standards and
fiddling gems are sure to have audience
members tapping their toes. Grandmont
looks forward to the 2023 Season getting
underway, saying, “I’m so honoured to
David Rogers and David Hogan
get to host the first show of this historic
season at the VPP. I’m even more excited
to get to do so while playing some of my
favourite country music! It’s going to be
such a blast to welcome our audiences
back to the VPP’s 50th Season with a
show that we know will get everyone
dancing in the aisles!”
Next up is the Canadian premiere
of WHERE THE HEART IS, an original
musical written by Mark Weatherley,
with music by Kale Penny. Starring Alex
Baerg and Leah Grandmont, the story
follows a former musician (Grandmont)
who happens upon a street busker
(Baerg). The characters connect over
their love of music in this inspiring and
heartfelt story about never giving up on
your dreams, on stage June 6-25.
Celebrating noteworthy years in
music history is nothing new for the
VPP’s creative team, and they bring their
unique humour, musical arrangements
and storytelling to YESTERDAY ONCE
MORE; 1973, running July 4-23. This
concert gathers
some of our
country’s top
singers to journey
back to 1973,
through the
year’s memorable
music, including
hits from Elton
John, The Rolling
Stones, Gladys
Knight and more!
Known for his warm-hearted
comedies, Norm Foster’s JONAS &
BARRY IN THE HOME takes the stage
August 8-27. Following the unlikely
friendship between two men living in
a retirement home, this lighthearted
comedy about living life
to its fullest is sure to
delight.
By popular demand,
VPP Musical Director
Mark Payne brings the
sequel to his 2018 recordbreaking
sell out (East
Coast Kitchen Party), with
MARK PAYNE’S KITCHEN
PARTY LEFTOVERS, on
stage September 5-24.
With even more singin’,
steppin’, and kissin’ the
cod than the original, this
musical extravaganza of
East Coast music is sure
to delight audiences.
Mark Payne
For Payne, it is a true joy to share his
heritage again with VPP crowds, saying,
“I couldn’t be more excited about the
sequel to the East Coast Kitchen Party.
It’s going to be an even bigger party
than the first one. There was so much
amazing music I wanted to showcase in
the first one, but we ran out of time, so
if you thought you had fun the first time
out, make sure you come check out ‘the
leftovers’! You don’t want to miss it. I
can’t imagine a better way to celebrate
10 incredible years at the VPP.”
Closing out the 2023 season is
the award winning musical, Lerner
and Loewe’s CAMELOT. This fresh
and exciting take on the legendary
production, starring local favourite
Michael Vanhevel as King Arthur,
features a beloved and glorious score,
including songs such as If Ever I Would
Leave You, What Do the Simple Folk
Do? and, of course, Camelot. Vanhevel
looks forward to bringing
his unique take to the
character, saying, “It’s
no exaggeration to say
the legends of Camelot
are some of the most
celebrated and enduring
stories ever told. The
influence that the
characters and of course,
their triumphs and trials
have had on classic and
modern fantasy literature,
tv, movies and pop culture
really can’t be overstated
and so of course, there’s
an unbelievable amount
of personal excitement
in having the privilege to be the VPP’s
King Arthur. I have to say, that on a
personal note, Camelot was one of the
first musicals I ever saw and no doubt
helped to lead me down my own path
to the stage so getting to revisit the
show as a part of its cast is a beautiful
way for me to come full circle!” Don’t
miss it, running October 10-29.
As the 2023 Summer Season
concludes, there is always much
anticipation for the VPP’s Christmas
productions. Don’t miss STARBRIGHT
CHRISTMAS, on stage November
24-December 10 and THE VPP HOLIDAY
JAMBOREE, playing for three days only,
December 15-17. Tickets are on sale
now by calling the box office at 1-800-
717-7694 or by visiting www.thevpp.ca
Join the VPP for an unforgettable season
with SO MUCH TO CELEBRATE!
SPRING 2023 Don’t hold grudges, they are too heavy a burden.
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