Mecca gala celebrates quarter-century milestone

Mecca Productions is celebrating a milestone tonight with a quarter-century of musical-theatre nostalgia.

The Brandon theatre company is inviting the community to its 25th anniversary concert and gala that will feature more than 50 performers who entertained audiences during Mecca’s live productions.

“We’re progressing through a highlight reel of all of the shows that we’ve done,” artistic director Lisa Vasconcelos said.

“There’s stuff in there from ‘Les Misérables,’ from ‘Rent,’ from ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ and ‘The Sound of Music.’ We’re starting the second half of the concert with an ‘In Memoriam’ selection for folks that have been involved in our productions over the years, who have passed away … so we’ll be honouring them in song at the start of Act 2.”

Tickets are still available for the 90-minute concert at the Western Centennial Auditorium, which begins at 7 p.m., Vasconcelos said Wednesday afternoon.

Attendees also have the option of purchasing a ticket for an after-party event in the auditorium’s Grand Salon. It will feature karaoke by PJ the DJ and have snacks provided by Chloe’s Catering of Virden.

The group returning to the stage will perform more than 20 selected pieces, opening with “Footloose,” the company’s first production, which sold out three shows in 2002.

The concert will continue in chronological order spanning the past 25 years of Mecca’s productions, Vasconcelos said.

The live band will consist of Donna Lowe and Shirley Martin on piano, Ryan Seldstead on bass, Nick Moffatt on drums and Arlo Connery-Dwyer on guitar.

Founded by Vasconcelos in 2001, Mecca Productions has grown into a core part of live theatre in southwestern Manitoba.

“Now, we have community choir, we offer a full season of classes, we offer a full season of theatre,” she said. “It started with one youth class — one 45-minute class on Fridays after school.”

A returning actor to the stage is Tyson Dornn, who worked in roles on the Disney+ production of “Goosebumps” after graduating high school in Brandon and attending Vancouver Acting School.

Dornn credits the local theatre company for guiding him on this path.

“I would have never discovered my love for acting … if it wasn’t for just growing up in it and getting to jump in in Brandon,” Dornn told the Sun. “Those opportunities don’t present themselves very often … in a small town like this, but Mecca really showed me how much I actually love this kind of stuff.”

Katherine MacFarlane, who first appeared in Mecca’s production of “The Sound of Music,” said she’s looking forward to sharing “the deep sense of connection and community that we have as a group” with tonight’s audience.

“What we have found as we’ve been rehearsing for this performance, is that we’ve brought together casts from many shows and lots of people from this community, and it’s brought us a lot of joy,” said MacFarlane, who is retiring this year from her position as principal at Valleyview School.

“So, we’re hoping that really translates for audiences when they come to the show.”

Vasconcelos also noted that Mecca alumna Danika Robb is returning from Broadway in New York City to join the anniversary cast tonight.

Mecca’s next production will be “Come From Away,” scheduled in September. Audition submissions close this Friday on the company’s website, Vasconcelos said.

» jmurray@brandonsun.com