Lacombe Performing Arts Centre and Cow Patti Theatre Company are gearing up to present Camilla the Triple Threat Cow with opening night set for Feb. 3.
Curtain is at 7 p.m. Additional performances run Feb. 4 at 2 and 7 p.m.; Feb. 5 at 2 p.m., Feb. 10 at 7 p.m., Feb. 11 at 2 and 7 p.m. and Feb. 12 at 2 p.m.
“We started rehearsals last September, and the first month we were focused on acting skills and getting to know the kids,” said AnnaMarie Lea, artistic director of Cow Patti Theatre.
The cast ranges in age from seven to 16.
She also co-wrote the script with Valerie Barrett several years ago.
“We’ve gotten together four hours each week, and then after Christmas, we started back up and it’s getting a little bit more intense now because the show opens on Feb. 3,” she added with a laugh.
“I’ve never had a group of kids that I’ve seen really be there for each other like this. The older actors take care of the younger actors, but at the same time, the younger actors have really stepped up to the plate, too.
“We’ve become a really tight-knit group. The bottom line is that we want to put on a show, we want to entertain audiences, we want to tell a great story - and my goal with this whole project is that the kids walk away from it feeling valued, feeling important, and feeling needed,” she explained.
“We all remember those shows that we did when we were kids whether it was a Christmas concert or some other type of play. I want them to look back on it with fond memories about how they felt about themselves, and how valued they all were.”
Lea said the play offers a wonderful tale - structured as a ‘play within a play’.
It follows the adventures of a group of young actors - Camp Cow Pattie - who have come together to put on a show called Camilla the Triple Threat Cow.
“It’s the first preview of the show, and they realize that the set, costumes, and props have been sent to Lacombe, Louisiana instead of Lacombe, Alberta.”
On top of that, the lead, Kate – playing the role of Camilla – receives an exciting call about her professional theatre career, and ironically so does her character, ‘Camilla the Triple Threat Cow’.
“So what is going to happen to Camilla? And what is going to happen to Kate? How do they all work together to keep the show going?
“How does Kate feel about leaving something that she’s been invested in? So there are themes about choices, what is re-negotiable and how we have to work together.
“And then there is all the fun stuff - there are a bunch of simple little songs that they sing like, ‘Thank God I’m a Country Cow’,” she added with a chuckle. The cast even took a few square dancing lessons, too.
“There are a lot of interesting aspects that we have thrown into the show - it’s a simple show, and for a lot of them, it’s their first time in performance.”
The Centre initially partnered with Lea back in 2020 for a rendition of Much More Munsch, which prove a hit with the community.
Much More Munsch also hit the stage right before the pandemic, so these days it’s very exciting to see plans for this new show taking shape.
Originally, rehearsals for Camilla started in the fall of 2020, but ultimately had to be put on hold.
“It’s been in my back pocket for several years - I think this is about the sixth time that I have directed it,” she said, adding that this time around, the cast is quite a bit smaller than usual. But no matter - the play promises to pack a fun and entertaining punch.
“They are all excited - they’ve got stars in their eyes and they are ready to go!”
Lea has long been at the forefront of producing professional theatre and has also had a heart for working with youth, too.
“I don’t treat them any differently than I would a Cow Patti production. My expectations, my passion, and my work ethic are the same. And I think kids appreciate that.
“They also give me a great boost. It’s wonderful - they do as much for me as I do for them.”
For tickets, head to lacombeperformingartscentre.com/events. Click on ‘Camilla - the Triple Threat Cow’.