HORSHAM Arts Council’s 50th anniversary will see the group celebrate with a mash-up of its past on-stage performances.
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With around 100 potential cast members already put through their paces at auditions, a versatile cast of 80 has been hand picked for the show.
Including back stage and support crews, there will be around 130 involved in the production.
It will be the first concert to be staged at the new Horsham Performing Arts Centre and has been coined the Horsham Arts Council 50th Anniversary Spectacular.
The group will welcome past members and life members to the performance in February, followed by a reunion.
President Simon Dandy said the group was excited about the lead-up to the massive production.
“We’ve been lucky enough to tie it in with the first production in the new PAC in February,” he said.
“We’re showcasing all of the musicals we’ve done in the past.
“We might do one or two or three songs and dance routines from each of the songs we’ve done.”
Mr Dandy said the performance would cater for everyone, with older classics and more contemporary musicals being showcased.
The cast is made up of youngsters as young as eight years old, and seasoned veterans north of 70 years old.
“It’s a full-on production type thing but we’ve picked the best songs from each of the shows we’ve done,” Mr Dandy said.
“It’s going to be really entertaining.”
The cast is rehearsing three nights a week ahead of the opening night on Friday February 5.
Another performance is scheduled on Saturday February 6, before a 2pm matinee performance on Sunday February 7.
The following week will see the final night performance on Thursday February 11 before a curtain-closing matinee on Saturday February 13 at 2pm.
Reunion celebrations will follow the final performance.
Production director Debbie Boutcher said the 80-strong cast was doing well in the early stages.
“It’s the biggest cast we’ve had since Cats,” she said.
“It’s challenging to put together excerpts of 34 shows because we have to do them justice in five minutes or less, but it’s good fun.
“There’s something in it for everyone,”
The direction is being assisted by Jessica Wilson and Stacey Brennan.
