Belleville Theatre Guild

View Programme

Press Release
May 24, 2011

The Belleville Theatre Guild - 256 Pinnacle Street, Belleville
(613) 967-1442

Cast members, The Pajama Game, Al Zaback and Meaghan Lattanzio study their lines.

Cast Members
Front Row (L –R): Corrie Allan, Billy Sue Johnston, Katy Nicholas
2nd Row (L – R): Nancy Garrod, Al Zaback, Hannah Bernstein, Donna Douglas, Marvin Tucker
Back Row (L – R): Meaghan Lattanzio, John O’Connor, Teresa Allen, Brandon Bridgewater, Dave Kidd

Pajama Party at the Pinnacle Playhouse

Belleville: If you love musicals, you won’t want to miss The Pajama Game at the Belleville Theatre Guild. This frisky show is set in a factory that manufactures Sleep Tite Pajamas where the over-worked employees are on the verge of a strike.

At the show's center is the confident and tough Babe Williams, played by Corrie Allan, head of the workers' Grievance Committee, who catches the eye of the aggressive-but-harried new superintendent, Sid Sorokin, played by Al Zaback.

The course of true love never does run smoothly when half the couple is union, and the other half is management, especially when their place of employment is divided by the workers' demand for a 7½ cent raise.

Great songs include “Steam Heat”, “Hernando’s Hideway” and of course “7 ½ Cents”. This show won a Tony in 1954 when it first appeared on Broadway and another in 2006 for its revival. The play was inspired by Richard Bissel’s novel 7 and ½ Cents. The play was written by George Abbott and Richard Bissel, with music by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross.

The crew is led by Producer Pat Gray and Director Steve Forrester with Musical Direction by John MacFarlane. Choreographer is Moira Nikander-Forrester, the Stage Manager is Carol Peoples and Set Design is by Heather Muir.

The cast is rounded out by John O'Connor, Meaghan Latanzio, Dave Kidd, Tom Higginbottom, Nancy Garrod, Marvin Tucker, Teresa Allen, Hannah Bernstein, Brandon Bridgewater, Donna Douglas, Katie Gordon, Wihse Green, Billie Sue Johnson, Katie Nicholas and Logan Steer.

Director Forrester said “Pajama Game is one of the most popular Broadway musicals ever produced. Its songs have been in my head
since I first saw it in the original production in 1954 when it won the Tony as Best Musical. When it won another just a few years ago as Best Revival it seemed a good time for the Guild to give it a whirl. The show is a hoot with some of the catchiest and wittiest songs telling the story of two lovers (or maybe four or perhaps more) falling for each other against the background of a strike at a pajama factory”.

This production is the fifth and final one of our 59th season. In 2011/2012 the BTG celebrates 60 incredible years of community theatre. Season tickets are just $75.00 for all five plays. There are some exciting events planned as part of our celebration.

Audience members have been enjoying our 50/50 draws held each performance. And our Sunday matinees have proved to be a huge success. The Pinnacle Playhouse offers elevator service right in to the theatre, a barrier-free washroom and room in the front row for wheel chairs and other mobility devices.

Don’t miss The Pajama Game running from June 2 to 18. We offer two Sunday matinées. Tickets, just $22.00 can be ordered online at www.bellevilletheatreguild.ca/Tickets.htm or by calling the box office at 613-967-1442.

Submitted by
Debra Tosh