For her 10th anniversary show, Have A Heart Musical Theatre director Gloria Herauf has decided to return to her roots.
My Heart is Over There is a remake of the original Have a Heart show, from a decade ago.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a World War II comedy revue,鈥� said Herauf. 鈥淲hen we did the very first show, 10 years ago, this is the one I did. It鈥檚 bigger this time around; bigger cast, more costumes, added music.
鈥淗ave a Heart is always about the music, but there鈥檚 more of a storyline this year.鈥�
The show starts at a fictional radio station (CJOV) at RCAF station Comox, where musicians are entertaining the troops overseas. via a radio broadcast. People organizing a live show for troops hear the broadcast and are so impressed, the local musicians are invited to perform at a military show overseas.
One thing leads to another and through a series of developments, the Comox crew goes from guest appearance to headliners.
鈥淲e have some beautiful set designs, particularly for the second scene, set in the South Seas. Palm trees and stuff鈥� it really looks good,鈥� said Herauf.
The cast of approximately two dozen includes numerous entertainers who were part of the original Have a Heart show, 10 years ago, including Jackie Lambeth, Erik Eriksson, Carol Jennermann, Ross Griffith-Cochrane, Valetta Nixon, Noreen Robertson, Ken Newman and Rhett Wade.
Herauf said that many of the performers have been with her for the entire 10-year run, which helps with the continuity.
鈥淚t certainly does,鈥� she said. 鈥淢ost of these are not professionals, but just people who love to sing鈥� so I鈥檝e seen quite an improvement over the course of 10 years.鈥�
Herauf said with the added storyline this year, the audience will see more dialogue, and much more costuming.
But the real star of the show is the music. Herauf promises a glorious trip down memory lane.
鈥淭he nostalgic songs are all here 鈥� the music of Vera Lynn, the Andrews Sisters, Glenn Miller 鈥� and songs of the war era, like Rosie The Riveter, then Six Jerks in a Jeep is another good one. So it goes from nostalgia to comedy, and even 鈥楤ob Hope鈥� shows up.鈥�
The Have A Heart Musical Theatre runs Feb. 6, 7, 8 and 14 at Comox United Church. The Feb. 15 matinee is sold out.
鈥淭he Have a Heart idea is really twofold,鈥� said Heruaf. 鈥淥f course, we are celebrating Valentine鈥檚 by going to a show, but also all the money raised goes back to the community. We鈥檝e raised over $200,000 in our 10 years鈥� and it鈥檚 all given away.鈥�
Tickets ($25) are available at Blue Heron Books in Comox, and Benjamin Moore House of Color in Courtenay.
