Mudds’ Raise Your Voice! - theHumm February 2023

After a long hiatus of over two years, the Mississippi Mudds Youth Theatre Group is thrilled to be back on stage directing and producing a musical revue show called Raise Your Voice! The cast and team have been hard at work since September, and invite everyone to help celebrate the Mississippi Mudds’ 50th year by supporting another amazing youth performance.

In this original musical, the storyline centres around a group of students who attend a strict and regimented boarding school. Under the watchful eye of their stern principal Mrs. Prickleworth and her meek sidekick, Mr. Worminthorpe, the students are bored and restless. One day they happen to stumble upon a locked and abandoned theatre, and to their surprise they discover that the stage is far more than it appears. Behind the locked door, they find and befriend many stage characters who have been trapped in the theatre for years. Using courage, wit and friendship, the students learn what it takes to not just free their new friends, but also to follow their hearts to explore their own individuality and dreams.

Featuring a wonderful cast of 33 young performers between the ages of 9 and 17 years, the 2022/23 youth production is filled with popular Broadway songs along with a fun script that was written by the Mudds’ own Nancy Keech (who is directing the show). The production team of volunteers also include Sherrie Seward (co-director), the talented Laurel Tye (musical director), three savvy producers Abigail Brown, Linda Beiglee and Laura Bennett-Ferland, and the very organized Rhonda Bell (stage director).

As most are aware, the impact of the pandemic was significant to the performing arts community, and the Mississippi Mudds was no exception. Given this situation, the Raise Your Voice! production team really needed to be creative and resourceful to help their young cast return to the stage. This has been a pure labour of love — for the kids and for the Mudds’ commitment to making theatre available to youth in the community. With the help of some amazing sponsors, added support has allowed them to do just that, and it also provided an opportunity (and a lot of joy) in allowing them to re-purpose some amazing costumes, props and sets from many beloved past Mudds shows.

A Mudds youth show just wouldn’t be the same without many remarkable behind-the-scenes volunteers who transform the cast and help the stage come alive. Namely, Mark Tye (sound mastermind), Ann Price and Judith Scott (very talented costume designers), and Cathy Boyton (props and set guru). These folks, along with many other volunteers for hair, make-up, lights, front of house and so much more, are all integral parts of the team and it has been so refreshing and fun to be back together again.

Featuring songs from Roald Dahl’s James and the Giant Peach Jr., Children of Eden Jr., Fiddler on the Roof Jr., Legally Blonde Jr., Disney’s The Little Mermaid Jr., and many, many more, the Mississippi Mudds Youth Theatre Group invites you all to come and see the brilliant young cast perform this fun and lively musical. There are only three shows (February 24, 25 and 26), so get your tickets to see Raise Your Voice! today at Tickets Please (TicketPlease.ca or 485–6434).

Catherine Blake —An Artist’s Inspiration - theHumm February 2023

By Sally Hansen

Art… and Soul

Creating art inspires her and she inspires artists — it’s a win-win for this irrepressible Almonte artist and art instructor. Nothing stops her — not polio or being a single woman working for CUSO in Zanzibar or concussion or cancer. Life hasn’t worn her down; it has both distilled and emboldened her and her lifetime passion for art. Cathy Blake’s response to my incredulity at the challenges she has faced and the opportunities she has embraced is an understatement: “I ......

Mudds’ Raise Your Voice! - theHumm February 2023