Summer stock lends itself to fast friendships. Canterbury Summer Theatre’s latest show takes a look at longer term relationships.
After starring in “The Queen Bees” from June 19-29, Canterbury Resident Company members Annie Barker, Kaitlin Feely and Ariya Hawkins team together again for “Vanities: The Musical” July 3-13 in Michigan City’s Uptown Arts District.
“Being summer stock you have to make those connections with each other quickly. Being the second show they’ve been in, they’ve created bonds already,” said Lari Renee Leber, director of “Vanities: The Musical.”
“The show covers three best friends — Mary, Joanne and Kathy — from high school through college through early adulthood. It ends with them being grown with their children grown. It follows their friendship, how it changes and how they change as individuals as well. It’s such a beautiful story.
“It covers love. It even hits political points, substance abuse, career choices, fashion and escaping small-town lives. It starts in 1963 and it follows 30 years so the music is fun and it fits with those decades. There are so many reasons why I love the show.”
“Vanities: The Musical” at Canterbury Theatre marks a first for Leber, who has directed a drama camp for children for Bossier Parish Community College in Louisiana and also directed for Louisiana Tech University where she is pursuing a master’s degree in theater.
“This is my directorial debut and I’m very excited,” said Leber, who returns to Canterbury Summer Theatre as a guest director after previously serving as an actress, costumer and company manager for what is billed as one of the Midwest’s oldest professional summer companies.
Based on the comedy-drama “Vanities,” the musical version features book by original playwright Jack Heifner and music and lyrics by David Kirshenbaum.
The 2009 off-Broadway production of “Vanities, A New Musical” in New York actually was directed by Judith Ivey, a Canterbury Summer Theatre alumnus from the early 1970s. She went on to receive the Tony Award for best featured actress in a play for “Steaming” and “Hurlyburly.”
“That’s amazing,” Leber said when she learned about the Canterbury connection to “Vanities.”
“What makes Canterbury so special is you never forget Canterbury. I actually met Annie Potts, who is a Broadway actress and a film actress, and she said, ‘Oh, it’s a wonderful theater.’ ”
Potts, who portrays Meemaw as a main cast member on CBS TV show “Young Sheldon,” was a member of the 1973 Canterbury Resident Company.
Leber, who is from Shreveport, Louisiana, was introduced to Canterbury Summer Theatre by Ray Scott Crawford, dean of communication and performing arts and theater program director for Bossier Parish Community College.
“The artistic director, Ray Scott Crawford, was my mentor growing up,” she said.
“What makes Canterbury so unique is it’s people who really love theater and want to give back to Michigan City. Being company manager the past two years I’ve been able to get to know the patrons and I’ve learned to have strong connections with these people. I just love being able to share art with them.
“My life goal is to entertain people whether that’s being an actress or being a director or being a costumer or whatever it may be. I have a passion for entertainment. I hope I can do this show justice and make audiences truly enjoy themselves and escape their lives for a few minutes.”
‘Vanities:
The Musical’
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