Stamford and Westlane break free for Queen show
JOHN LAW
It’s a kind of magic that will bring Stamford Collegiate and Westlane Secondary School together for a Queen musical.
The two Niagara Falls high schools will hook up for the longrunning British musical We Will Rock You for a four-day run at the Seneca Queen Theatre. Comprised entirely of Queen music, the show follows a group of Bohemians attempting to bring back music, fashion and free expression to a world where everyone acts, thinks and dresses the same.
Rock music doesn’t exist. Yes, even Bohemian Rhapsody.
A huge fan of the show, Stamford drama teacher Angela Menotti had been trying to acquire the rights for five years. When she finally got them this year, she proposed a co-production with her former music teacher, Westlane’s music Steve Goode.
It turns out, both schools excelled in programs the other needed: Drama at Stamford, and music at Westlane.
“We approached our principals and they were a hundred per cent supportive,” says Menotti.
After auditions at both schools, about 20 students were cast. The two longtime sports rivals (Hornets vs. Spartans) were now under pressure for a different reason.
“The (rivalry) has been put aside for the arts,” says Menotti. “But we do have a couple of actors that play football or basketball. When we were trying to come up with a mascot for our t-shirt ... we ended up with a hornet wearing a green helmet, playing a guitar.”
Students provided a sneak preview of the show Friday morning, performing Radio Ga Ga and Under Pressure during an Earth Day assembly at Stamford. In total, the show has more than 25 Queen songs, most released decades before the students were born.
“It’s funny, because they recognize the songs, but not from Queen,” says Menotti. “They’re like, Oh I know this song! It’s from Spongebob!’
“I find it timeless. It still manages
We Will Rock You
WHERE: Seneca Queen Theatre; 4624 Queen Street; Niagara Falls WHEN: May 10, 11 & 12 – 7 p.m.; May 13 – 11 a.m. TICKETS: www.senecaqueen.ca to touch the topics we’re dealing with (today).”
While never a critical hit, the show was an instant audience favourite when it opened in London’s West End in 2002. It would go on to become the Dominion Theatre’s longest-running musical, closing in May 2014, with Queen’s Brian May and Roger Taylor performing.
Finding a theatre in Niagara Falls big enough – and affordable enough – was the next challenge. Each school’s gymnasium wasn’t ideal because of the expected crowds, and the Scotiabank Convention Centre’s 1,000-seat theatre was not in the budget.
Despite its busy schedule, the 300-seat Seneca Queen Theatre in downtown Niagara Falls was the answer.
“In my head, we’re making a community connection with the theatre,” says Menotti.
She also hopes to see Westlane and Stamford continue to complement each other’s arts programs with future productions.
“I love to see schools do that.” jlaw@postmedia.com