Hudson Village Theatre Celebrates 20 Years This Summer

Though it’s been said that ‘life imitates art’, the reverse has been known to happen. Life’s cyclical nature is mirrored in Heather Markgraf’s reinstatement at the helm of the company she founded 20 years ago. Markgraf is on her game with a full summer season spanning mid-June to Labour Day offering four productions plus a one-man comedy show and a jazz quartet. It all happens under the roof of the repurposed Hudson train station (28 Wharf Road, Hudson, QC J0P 1H0).

In her online Artistic Director’s message, Heather wrote, “If ‘all the world’s a stage’ then we are starting a new Act at Hudson Village Theatre, and I have been asked to reprise my role of the first few scenes.” What better way to mark the company’s 20th anniversary? And if that wasn’t enough good news, to ensure the company’s continued success, an anonymous benefactor has offered to match up to $50,000 in donations made before June 30th … the race is on to support the little theatre that could.

Before the official season gets underway, Montreal comic, Joey Elias, warms up the summer crowds on June 2nd with 2 performances of his one-man show, In My Head … and Out of My Mind. The season opener, Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks, is a two-hander directed by Markgraf, choreographed by Lorna Wayne and starring Sandy Ferguson and Andrew Cuk (June 13th to July 8th). HVT then segues smoothly into Showboat Festival Theatre’s Back in ’59, a musical tip-of-the-hat to the glory days of rock n’ roll’s infancy. Thom Currie directs his company’s smash hit, with more than 70 top ten hits from 1959 to 1963 and running from July 11th to 22nd.

From July 25th to 29th, HVT hands the stage over to the Hudson Music Club, celebrating their 60th Anniversary this year, for only six shows of In the Mood, the Club’s 1940’s musical revue with period costumes and choreography. HVT then opens its doors to the annual Hudson Music Festival for the Diana Panton Quartet August 3rd and 4th, featuring three jazz legends: Guido Basso, Reg Schwager and Don Thompson. The cherry on top of the season’s sundae is the Norm Foster fave, Ned Durango Comes to Big Oak, directed by Glen Bowser and playing August 8th to September 2nd.