It has been 13 years since Ladner’s Jyla Robinson has performed in a musical, and she can hardly wait to make her return in Theater Under the Stars’ upcoming production of Something Rotten!
Playing the wild-haired, future-seeing character of Nostradamus, the owner and director of Studio West Dance has been having a lot of fun returning to the performing side of the stage.
“Getting back in front of a live audience, singing, dancing, memorizing lines and playing a character – which is seriously one of my most favourite things to do in the world – it’s so nice. I’ve been teaching for so many years, so it’s not like I’ve been away from it because I do it every day, but now I get to be directed and choreographed,” says Robinson.
From the beginning of July through to the end of August, Something Rotten! promises hilarity and absurdity with the Renaissance era tale of playwright siblings Nick and Nigel Bottom struggling to get out of William Shakespeare’s shadow.
Robinson’s character, the mysterious soothsayer Nostradamus, foresees how the brothers can overtake Shakespeare with a new kind of theatre – the musical – but makes some hilarious future-seeing errors along the way.
“I predict everybody’s favourite musicals. However, I don’t necessarily get it exactly right,” she says.
With cheeky references to hard-hitting Broadway productions sprinkled throughout, a top-notch cast, an incredible directing team, and incredible writing and music, Robinson is encouraging folks to come out to Stanley Park’s Malkin Bowl for some musical theatre genius this summer.
“I hope [the audience] leaves with their hearts full and big smiles on their faces because they’ve enjoyed it so much. They’ve laughed, they’ve cried, they’ve just seen some really incredible talent, and I just hope they leave entertained,” she says.
Notably, one of Robinson’s former students at Studio West Dance, Thomas Schultes, is also in the cast. She says it has been lovely to now have their professional careers overlap.
If you’re interested in purchasing tickets for Something Rotten! visit Theatre Under the Stars’ website at https://tuts.ca/show/something-rotten/.
