‘It’s like a full circle’: Coquitlam actor stars in Anne of Green Gables musical
Coquitlam’s Kyra Leroux, 20, portrays Anne Shirley in Gateway Theatre’s musical adaptation of the novel.
When Kyra Leroux graduated from Dr. Charles Finest Secondary in Coquitlam, there wasn’t a lot of a send-off for her Class of 2020.
The COVID-19 pandemic was in full swing, and bodily distancing measures and different restrictions had been a lot across the province.
However Leroux knew it was solely a matter of time earlier than she might return to performing, a ardour she’s had because the age of seven.
By September, as quickly because the movie and tv trade was OK’d to proceed cautiously, Leroux had her resume prepared for bookings.
They usually in got here quick and livid.
The triple risk was forged within the TV collection The Quaranteens and in Julie and the Phantoms, in addition to in three episodes of Schmigadoon!, enjoying Carrie McDonough reverse the celebs Keegan-Michael Key and Cecily Strong.
Leroux took on a couple of extra elements — together with within the made-for-TV film Christmas Takes Flight — earlier than profitable the character of Britta Berach on Riverdale and Lisa-Karen on Firefly Lane, each made for T.V.
Now, the 20-year-old Coquitlam resident is in technical rehearsals on the Gateway Theatre in Richmond to star in a task of a lifetime: Anne Shirley.
Leroux stated she was thrilled to get the lead within the iconic Canadian story of Anne of Inexperienced Gables after being requested by the musical’s director to audition.
Barbara Tomasic had remembered the red-haired lady from 2016 when she directed Leroux in Gateway’s Music Man.
And Leroux remembered being in awe of that manufacturing and its forged because it was her first skilled neighborhood present.
“It is actually cool to be the lead for Gateway now,” she instructed the Tri-Metropolis Information on Tuesday (Dec. 6) from the Richmond theatre. “It’s like a full circle.”
Leroux stated she pored over the 1908 novel by Lucy Maud Montgomery as quickly as she was named Anne Shirley in late July.
“I beloved the e book a lot that I ordered the second e book on Amazon the day that I completed the primary,” she stated.
Anne Shirley, she stated, is an orphan from Nova Scotia who, by luck, is mistakenly despatched to the improper house in Prince Edward Island.
The aged householders had wished a boy to maintain up their farm; nevertheless, a lady is distributed as an alternative and modifications their lives along with her sturdy will and creativeness.
With their blessing‚ and ultimately the neighborhood’s, Anne blossoms.
“She has this large curiosity for a way the world works,” Leroux stated. “She has an enormous coronary heart and really a lot cares for others though she’s by no means actually skilled love herself.
“She sees a lot magnificence round her.”
Requested what she desires the viewers to get out of the musical present, Leroux stated she hopes the manufacturing will encourage connection, and acceptance of different folks — particularly throughout the holidays.
Additionally showing within the youth ensemble is Owen CB Scott of Port Moody whereas Tri-Cities resident Nicol Spinola is the choreographer.
Written by Donald Harron with music by Norman Campbell (and tailored from the novel by L.M. Montgomery), Anne of Inexperienced Gables — The Musical runs from Dec. 15 to 31 on the Gateway Theatre (6500 Gilbert Rd.).
Tickets begin at $35 with performances at 1 p.m. and seven:30 p.m.
For extra info, you’ll be able to visit Gateway Theatre’s website.
