Canterbury Summer Theatre premieres the first musical of its 2021 season with 8-Track: The Sounds of the 70s, performing June 23rd-July 3rd. The theatre is located at 807 Franklin Street in Michigan City.
Conceived by Rick Seeber, 8-Track is a fast-paced musical romp through one of the most impassioned decades of the 20th century. This Baby Boomers’ dream come true features the music of The Emotions, The Carpenters, Labelle, Barry Manilow, Marvin Gaye, The Doobie Brothers, The Bee Gees, Helen Reddy, KC and the Sunshine Band, and more.
The production is staged by Canterbury Artistic Director, Ray Scott Crawford, and music direction is by Ellen Perkins.
The four cast members are all making their Canterbury debut.
Grace Cummings is currently earning a degree in performance from Northwestern State University in Louisiana. After a decade of performing, notable roles include Gertrude in Seussical, Nikki Crandall in The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940, Elizabeth Proctor in The Crucible, and Margaret in Carrie.
Anna Holmes, who is also production choreographer, recently graduated from West Texas A&M University with a BFA in Musical Theatre. Previously, Anna has acted with Moonlight Musicals in Lubbock, TX, and danced for Texas Outdoor Musical in the Palo Duro Canyon.
Hailing from San Antonio, Jacob Ryan Martinez studies theatre at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, and has appeared as William in Punk Rock and Princeton in the musical Avenue Q, among others.
Bailey Roberts' past stage appearances include Jinx in Forever Plaid (Aurora Arts Theater), Peter Pan, and Lucas in The Addams Family (The Harbor Playhouse). He will be appearing as Miller in the upcoming motion picture 12 Mighty Orphans.
Scenic design is by Crawford, with lighting by Austin Ferrari. Jakob Innes and Sarah Schwarz provide costume design and Grason Unzelman will be production stage manager.
The Canterbury Resident Company is comprised of theatre artists hired from throughout the country, who produce a eight-week season of musicals, plays and thrillers in downtown Michigan City, as has been the case since 1969.
Canterbury performances are at 2:00 PM on Wednesdays and Thursdays, 7:30 pm on Fridays, and Saturdays at 6:30 pm. Ticket prices are $16.00-$17.00, with discounts for seniors and students.
Tickets can be purchased by phone at (219) 874-4269 or e-mail info@canterburytheatre.org
Canterbury will follow health and safety protocols as set forth by the Indiana State Health Department, implementing socially-distanced seating and other precautions. Patrons are not requited to wear masks, but are recommended to do so if they feel it necessary.
Canterbury Summer Theatre, one of the Midwest's oldest professional summer companies, is produced under the auspices of the Canterbury Guild, a nonprofit arts organization, which also manages the Canterbury Winter Arts Series.