by Norm Foster
directed by Kelly Barnum

Two brothers arrive at a lakeside cabin for a weekend of fishing. Little do they know their plans are soon to be thrown for a loop when two fun-loving sisters arrive on the scene. Inadvertently the sisters change more than just the boys’ downtime. In this modern Canadian classic, Norm Foster offers a tender comedy full of vigour about brotherhood and the unexpected.
 
Director Kelly Barnum makes her much anticipated return to the Land of Norm Foster after her stellar job on Hilda’s Yard in 2017.
 

Many thanks to our sponsor

PLEASE NOTE: This year’s production will be held at Knox United, 345 Pym Street in Parksville, as the Village Theatre is closed for renovations. 

When Ren moves from Chicago to a small town, he is surprised by the ban on dancing instituted by the local preacher, who wants to control the town's youth. When the reverend's rebellious daughter sets her sights on Ten, others try to sabotage his reputation, with many locals ready to believe the worst about the new kid....with its Oscar and Tony nominated score, Footloose celebrates the wisdom of listening to young people while guiding them with a warm hear and open mind.

Many thanks to our returning sponsor!

Written by: Cyndi Lauper and Harvey Fierstein

Director: Gary Brown

Kinky Boots is the big-hearted musical extravaganza that won six Tonys including Best Musical in 2013. Charlie Price has reluctantly inherited his father’s shoe factory, which is on the verge of bankruptcy. Trying to live up to his father’s legacy and save his family business, Charlie finds inspiration in the form of Lola, a fabulous entertainer in need of some sturdy stilettos. As they work to turn the factory around, this unlikely pair find that they have more in common than they realized… and discover that when you change your mind, you can change your whole world.

Adults: $32
Seniors: $30
Students: $20
Group Rate: $29

Sponsored by:

DUE TO RENOVATIONS AT THE THEATRE, YOU NOW HAVE TIL AUGUST 22nd!

Call to get your 25/26 season ticket package at 250-752-3522. Four amazing plays: “The Melville Boys” Oct 9-26, “Holy Pantomime, Bratman” Dec 11-26, ”The Dating Game” Feb 19-Mar 8, and “Shadows From a Low Stone Wall” Apr 16-May 3.

Brothers' Grimm Spectaculathon

The fairytales of the Brothers' Grimm are turned on their heads in this fast paced and rollicking ride. Two narrators and several actors attempt to combine all 209 stories, ranging from classics like Snow White and Cinderella to more bizarre and obscure stories like Faithful Johannes. A wild, free form comedy with lots of madcap fun.

Mean Girls JR

A fearless musical about chasing popularity and being true to yourself. This "fetch" musical from book writer Tina Fey (30 Rock), lyricist Nell Benjamin (Legally Blonde) and composer Jeff Richmond (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt) is packed with keen wit, an undeniably catchy score, and a sincere message for everyone.

ECHO Players are delighted to be hosting the North Island Zone Drama Festival at the Village Theatre in this our 50th Season. Each evening highlights a different performance from the clubs in the North Island Zone, from Campbell River to Nanaimo, with each being critiqued by a professional adjudicator.

This year, ECHO Players will not only be hosting the Festival but also celebrating 50 years of being in the Village Theatre and 50 years since they first hosted the Festival!

Written by: Lauren Gunderson

Director: Brian Mather

Four badass women lose their heads in this irreverent, girl-powered comedy set during the French Revolution’s Reign of Terror. Playwright Olympe de Gouges, assassin Charlotte Corday, former Queen Marie Antoinette and Haitian rebel Marianne Angelle hang out, murder Marat and try to beat back the extremist insanity in 1793 Paris. This grand and dream-tweaked comedy is about violence and legacy, art and activism, feminism and terrorism, compatriots and chosen sisters, and how we actually go about changing the world.

Adults: $28
Seniors: $25
Students: $17
Group Rate: $24

Sponsored by

Written by: Ira Levin

Director: Rob Atkinson

An experienced playwright going through a dry spell, a talented amateur with a winning script, a supportive but reluctant spouse, a clairvoyant neighbour and a friendly attorney. Mix all of them with a remote home and ambitious characters and you have Deathtrap by Ira Levin. How far would you be willing to go to restore your former glory and bank account? What lines would you cross to make it big? Deathtrap weaves an intricate tale of greed and ambition that will leave you wondering what will happen next. Two-thirds thriller and one-third comedy, this play will leave you guessing and laughing.

Adults: $28
Seniors: $25
Students: $17
Group Rate: $24

Sponsored by

Written by: Ben Crocker

Director: Julian Packer

“A fun-filled family frolic for those who enjoy booing, cheering, singing and laughing at a lighthearted, traditional panto. With a nod to the original RL Stevenson’s classic tale of adventure on the high seas, this audacious tale asks some pertinent questions about our own treasures.” This madcap laugh-a-minute pirate adventure story, from start to finish, will have you rolling in the aisles with laughter!

Adults: $28
Seniors: $25
Students: $17
Group Rate: $24

Sponsored by

Written by: Gail Young

Director: Michael King

Grown women, aching feet and heaving bosoms! Follow the Cheshire Cats team as they speed-walk their way to fundraising success in the London Moonwalk. Hilary, Siobhan, Yvonne, Vicky and Maggie are attempting to walk 13 miles across the English capital in record time in their decorated bras and posh new trainers, but the 6th member of the team doesn’t seem to meet the physical criteria! Cheshire Cats is a cross between a girl’s night out and a real mission to support a cause close to many hearts, with plenty of laughs and a few tears along the way.

Adults: $28
Seniors: $25
Students: $17
Group Rate: $24

Sponsored by

Reserve your season tickets and guarantee your seat to enjoy 4 spectacular productions!

BUY YOUR SEASON TICKET SUBSCRIPTION HERE

or email the box office info@echoplayers.ca

ECHO’s Teen Musical Theatre presents Oklahoma! Rodgers & Hammerstein’s first collaboration remains, in many ways, their most innovative, setting the standards and rules of modern musical theatre. In a Western territory just after the turn of the 20th century, a high-spirited rivalry between local farmers and cowboys provides a colorful background for Curly, a charming cowboy, and Laurey, a feisty farm girl, to play out their love story. Their romantic journey, as bumpy as a surrey ride down a country road, contrasts with the comic exploits of brazen Ado Annie and hapless Will Parker in a musical adventure embracing hope, determination and the promise of a new land. 

Adults: $15
Seniors: $12
Students: $12

Sponsored by

By Stewart Lemoine

Directed by Ian Morton

This hare-brained tale is set in Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1959.  A newly arrived English widow has a very delicate disclosure to make to her brand new beau - and she arranges for an etiquette expert to help her down this tricky path.  At first it starts out well but soon things get out of hand - four solid doors are slammed, drinks are tossed, identities are mistaken - and the action moves at a very tidy clip.  These are eccentric people in eccentric situations and the dialogue peels off like a 1940’s cocktail party - frightfully polite but with Oscar Wildly twists.

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ECHO Youth presents two comedic one acts plays:

Bad Auditions by Bad Actors by Ian McWethy
(Directed by Ashera Richards)

Princess Paperbag written and directed by Lina Janeski (based on The Paperbag Princess by Robert Munsch)

Adults: $15
Students and Seniors: $12

By Michael Armstrong

Directed by Michael Armstrong

LONGING is one woman’s story of a life through the 20th century, inspired by the life of the author’s own mother and by his relationship with her. Barbara spent her early life trying to find the lasting relationship that eluded her as a child and her later years struggling to hold that marriage together. It is a true and inspiring story of one woman’s courage to live her life for love and to rediscover what was lost.

A World Premiere of a new, and deeply moving play.

This is a true story and as such deals with adult themes and contains scenes of implied violence and may not be suitable for small children.

Sponsored by

By Gary Kirkham

Directed by Michael King

A romantic comedy with a handy supply of humour, this play is a witty exploration of unexpected love. In 1972, the Duke of Windsor (Edward VIII) dies in exile at the age of 78. Two weeks later, in Canada, an 80-year-old woman in a small town named Galt has her tombstone engraved, claiming to be his wife. Flashback to 1919 as Edward, then holding the official title of the Prince of Wales, visits Canada as an emissary of the King, Bored with the pomp and circumstance, he slips away from his official duties and begins a romance with a charming young woman.

Sponsored by:

"Off Road” in which two high schoolers’ car breaks down and the conversations that follow (directed by Elena Sales)

Many helping hands are making the showcase happen, including community members of all ages, students from Kwalikum Secondary, Ballenas Secondary, Nanaimo District Secondary, the homeschool community, and beyond.

ECHO Youth are excited to be back in the theatre together and look forward to hosting the showcase.