Jump on board and get ready to stream Delta Youth Theatre’s (DYT) live theatre production of Disney’s Moana, Jr. into your own home June 17 to 27th.
This 80-minute musical adventure, designed for young performers, is based on the 2016 Disney film Moana, and includes songs by Tony, GRAMMY, Emmy, and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton, In The Heights).
You will love this thrilling and heartwarming stage adaptation of the coming-of-age tale of Moana as she sets sail across the Pacific to save her village and to discover the truth about her heritage. She and the demigod Maui embark on an epic journey of self-discovery and camaraderie as she learns to harness the power that lies within.
Tony Barton who wears many hats for DYT, leads four talented casts, which includes students from Delta, Surrey, Richmond, Langley and Vancouver.
Lora Keady paints the stage with her colourful and quirky costumes and joining the production team this year is Julia Kelleway (DYT alumni) as head choreographer.
“We are currently trying to save the village of live theatre,” says Barton talking about the global impact that COVID-19 is having on live theatre, and one that's having its effect on the arts community in Delta too. “We know we speak for the larger arts community when we admit that we are just hoping our company gets through this time.”
DYT has spared no ingenuity in its fight to survive. After COVID-19 shut down DYT’s spring production of Music Man Jr., DYT was able to stage an outdoor production last summer with limited audience, an approved COVID-19 safety plan and the incredible support of volunteers, parents and crew.
Tracy Neff, DYT's co-director looks at the upside of steering the company through the rough waters of the past year.
“Our goals at DYT are very clear this year. COVID-19 has been so hard on youth. We hope that being a part of Moana, Jr. helps our young performers to continue to grow in their craft and engages them in creating something meaningful in person with others,” she said. “We hope it gives them positive memories they can look back on from this period in their lives.”
Moana’s rehearsal and production processes have been in full compliance with B.C.’s public health guidelines and with an approved safety plan in tow, the best chance for the show to be viewed by an audience was to capture it on film.
“With the closure of the Genesis Theatre, many local groups were left scrambling to find a venue,” added Neff, who is filled with gratitude to be returning to the Metro Theatre, where Delta Youth Theatre got its start in 2016.
“It will be exciting for the kids to have to adapt to a new space,” says Barton. “We are huge fans of the Genesis, but I’ve performed all over the U.S. and the Metro has a similar soul to some of those older spaces---the walls tell stories for sure.”
With uplifting songs such as, How Far I’ll Go, Shiny, and You’re Welcome, Moana is the perfect antidote to COVID-19 blues and a way to celebrate the energy and shift that the warm weather brings.
For information on purchasing tickets visit www.deltayouththeatre.com or call 604-417-7748. A link can be purchased for $52 and must be viewed in real-time. The performance can be viewed with family and friends anywhere you have a device and an Internet connection. Warning: the show link you receive is not “shareable.”
Show dates can be found at: https://www.deltayouththeatre.com.
