Norfolk, Va

Contributed by Kimberley Cuachon-Haugh

The Hurrah Players invites you to be their guest with their first production of the 2010/2011 season, Beauty and the Beast. "The show has been around for a long time," says creative director and Hurrah Players founder, Hugh Copeland, who pleas that the audience not compare the production to the movie. "Take it with a fresh view point."

Now into their 27th season, Copeland says that the upcoming repertoire will certainly "engage the youth" as he predicts an audition that will reel in at least 200 teens for High School Musical 2. "This age group is just so much more aware, it was a demographic that was difficult to capture before." He shares the same prediction for Hairspray, "Everyone just wants to be a part of this performance, I know that we're going to get a huge turnout."

The relationship between Hurrah Players and Disney Live not only promises a reel of sure-hit performances, but this year it will gain the ability to pre-release The Little Mermaid, meaning that Norfolk will be the first to acquire this production with the likes of Disney's head honchos critiquing before public release. "After they [Disney] gave us the rights they realized that Norfolk was the city of the mermaid and they thought that it would just be a great tie-in. This opportunity is amazing for us and we are just really excited."

Hurrah for the Holidays, a staple performance for the company will also go underway this year with, for the 19th year, The Greatest Christmas Pageant Ever, a classic book turned movie. "It's a performance that everyone always loves...everyone from grandma to junior."

The Salute to Broadway this year is a collection of current Broadway musicals which include: Legally Blonde, Shrek, and Billy Elliot, just to name a few. "It's about keeping it fresh and current," says Copeland who is not only cognizant about selecting performances for a "family audience" but also productions that will captivate. "You don't want anything too heavy, but ones [productions] that are light-hearted and that people will recognize."

With the newly acquired historical headquarters of Hurrah Players located behind Chrysler Hall-once a union hospital, academy chamber, and grounds for Edgar Allan Poe's last lecture-it also serves as the off-Broadway 100-seat theater for the company. "Having this theater gives us the opportunity to try things out," says Copeland. "In addition to Hurrah for the Holidays, we are doing A Tribute to Michael Jackson in this theatre."

After 27 years of doing this Copeland says he continues to learn and "every year is the opportunity to push the limits." The costumes, set design and performers for Beauty and the Beast will "raise the bar for Hurrah". But Copeland is confident, "Don't be afraid to challenge talent, they want it. You can't just be okay to grow, you have to be good."

Hurrah Players
THE PERRY FAMILY THEATRE
420 Bank Street
Norfolk, VA 23517
(757) 627-5437

The Hurrah Players, Inc., Virginia's Leading Family Theatre Company, is committed to providing for children and their families residing in Hampton Roads the opportunity to experience full-stage, full-length productions of musical theatre classics while also providing training and on-stage performance opportunities in dance, vocal, music, acting and theatre for aspiring performers.

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