theBUZZ Features
Producers of musical based on the Marc Hall story release new music video to raise funds for PFLAG
On the heels of receiving Calgary Theatre Critics Award nominations for Best Leading Performance(Evan Kinnane) and Best Production of a Musical, the producers and creative team behind the hit musical THE LOUDER WE GET are thrilled to release a new video of the song THIS DANCE IS FOR YOU. The video, shot and produced remotely, is being released in honour of the graduating class of 2020 who won’t have the opportunity to attend their proms and graduation, and in celebration of PRIDE MONTH 2020.
THE LOUDER WE GET is an original Canadian musical from writers, Kent Staines, Colleen Dauncey and Akiva Romer-Segal, which follows the real-life events of Oshawa’s Marc Hall, who fought for his right to take his boyfriend to his high school prom, taking his local Catholic school board to court. 18 years later, the meaning and message of Marc’s story is just as important today, as it motivates and inspires people to embrace equality and stand up for who they are. It is a story about speaking up for what you believe, standing up for someone you care about, and making change. THE LOUDER WE GET’s most recent JOY FILLED production was a hands-down hit at Theatre Calgary.
“COVID-19 hit just a few weeks after we wrapped up our Theatre Calgary production,” comments producer Mary Young Leckie, Solo Productions. “We started hear from fans of the show asking when we would release a song from the musical. And I was inspired by the various ways the arts community are finding to connect with and uplift audiences. With prom season underway and Pride Month here, our THE LOUDER WE GET team synchronized our laptops to share a piece of our show with the world.”
Theatre Calgary Artistic Director Stafford Arima adds, “Marc Hall’s story is a story of bravery and persistence, and the capacity of young people to speak to truth to power and effect change. And the show is hugely inspiring and fun. The graduating class of 2020 is entering into a great deal of uncertainty – we want to celebrate and acknowledge them. So this dance is for them and for every individual who has ever felt like they were an outsider or the ‘other.’ We must be able to celebrate our differences -and who we are as individuals- with pride!”
In the spirit of Pride Month and Marc’s story, the team has elected to take this opportunity to direct fans of the show and viewers of the video to donate to PFLAG Canada, an organization dear to Marc’s heart.
“PFLAG Canada is thrilled to be part of a story that has touched the hearts of people around the world. As an organization that advocates for celebrating your authentic self and loving whoever you chose to, we are grateful to have our mission linked with this celebration of talent, advocacy, and pride,” says Omid Razavi, Director of Communications, PFLAG Canada
The end of the video features a prompt to consider a donation to PFLAG with information about the organization. In the US, in honour of Pride Month, Evan Kinanne has chosen the Marsha P. Johnson Institute supporting Black LGBTQ+ youth and adults.
Produced by Mary Young Leckie, the creative team behind the video includes editor Diane Brunjes (The Clark Sisters: The First Ladies of Gospel/Sony Pictures and Lifetime) Rebecca Howell (choreographer), Justin Goldner (orchestrations) Joshua Zecher-Ross (Music Director), and Oskar Haggdahl (percussion).
Marc Hall and Evan Kinnane
THIS DANCE IS FOR YOU begins with an introduction from Marc Hall himself and lead actor Evan Kinnane (Moulin Rouge! Broadway cast), who played Hall in the Calgary production. The video features the cast of the Theatre Calgary production including Lee MacDougall (Come From Away, Broadway) Thom Allison (Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Broadway), Rielle Braid (Much Ado About Nothing), Kevin Corey (Billy Elliot the Musical), Naomi Costain (The Drowsy Chaperone), Deann DeGruijter (The Drowsy Chaperone), Alexa Elser (As You Like It), Fionn Laird (Billy Elliot the Musical), Ryan Maschke (Billy Elliot the Musical), Katie McMillan (Mary & Max – A New Musical), Glen Mills (Billy Elliot the Musical), Joel Schaefer (Billy Elliot the Musical), and Scott Olynek (Billy Elliot the Musical). Making their Theatre Calgary debuts were Devin Cecchetto, Nick Dolan, Alexandra Gratton, Kira Guloien, Sara Hinding, Isidora Kecman, Jamie Mayers, Kolton Stewart, and Roel Suasin.
THE LOUDER WE GET had its World Premiere under the title PROM QUEEN at the Segal Centre in Montreal in 2016, with further development at the National Association of Musical Theatre (NAMT) Fall Festival 2017 and at The Other Palace (London, UK) in July of 2018. Theatre Calgary Artistic Director Stafford Arima and producer Mary Young Leckie joined forces for the 2020 Theatre Calgary production bringing together an International creative team including Emmy-winning, Tony-nominated Broadway director Lonny Price (Sunset Boulevard starring Glenn Close; Lady Day at Emerson Bar and Grill starring Audra McDonald). The creative team was rounded out by musical director Joshua Zecher-Ross (Be More Chill, Broadway; Mary & Max – A New Musical, Theatre Calgary), orchestrator Justin Goldner (funkybutter.com), choreographer Rebecca Howell (Moulin Rouge! The Musical – Assoc. Choreographer/Broadway; The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole aged 13 3/4: The Musical/West End), set designer James Noone (Sunset Boulevard – revival; Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill).
THE LOUDER WE GET debuted at Theatre Calgary in late January of this year and was the top-selling show of Theatre Calgary’s 2019/20 season.
About the Author
Bryen Dunn is a freelance journalist with a focus on travel, lifestyle, entertainment and hospitality. He has an extensive portfolio of celebrity interviews with musicians, actors and other public personalities. He enjoys discovering delicious eats, tasting spirited treats, and being mesmerized by musical beats.