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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, November 13, 2015 | 20 Oakville natives take on Sunnyside of TV Oakville natives Gary Pearson and Alice Moran are looking on the bright side of things with the airing of a new TV sketch comedy series. Pearson, is the executive producer and co-creator (along with Kids in the Hall producer Dan Redican) of Sunnyside, while Moran stars in the critically-acclaimed, original show that combines sketch-comedy and sitcom. "Sunnyside is a quirky neighbourhood in transition, where residents aren't always what they seem and surprises lurk around every slightly dingy corner," stated a media release. "Featuring people from all walks of life -- from hipsters and young professionals to yoga moms and romantic crooks -- Sunnyside is brought to life by a talented ensemble cast." Along with Moran, the series stars Kathleen Phillips, Pat Thornton, Kevin Vidal, Rob Norman, Patrice Goodman, and Norm Macdonald, who joins the cast as the voice of "The Hole." Moran can also be seen on TV in the series Space Janitors, The Next Step, The Ron Artscene "Connected to your Community" James Show, and the game show Too Much Information as a regular panelist. She has toured the U.S. and Canada as a writer and star of Spank! (the official selection of Just For Laughs 2013). Alice Moran As an improviser, she is a regular performer at Toronto's Bad Dog Theatre, with shows including Provocateur, The Video Game Show, Whedonesque, and Throne of Games. Moran also performs live as a part of the Toronto sketch troupe Hawkins. Pearson is an established writer, actor and showrunner for the award-winning youth sketch comedy show That's So Weird. His writing credits include: Corner Gas; The Ron James Show; This Hour Has 22 Minutes; and Just For Laughs All Access. see Sketch on p.21 LOCAL ARTISANS · UNIQUE VENDORS · ONE OF A KIND GIFTS Theatre company's Footloose features 12 unique casts by John Bkila Oakville Beaver Staff Jake Donaldson, who plays lead Ren McCormack in Innovative Musical Theatre's production of Footloose the Musical, with cast members during a rehearsal. The production features 12 unique casts and 12 leads in the show's 12-week run, from Nov. 16-Dec. 9. | photo courtesy Innovative Musical Theatre R EMBE NOV H T H 28T & 29 -6pm Saturday 10am pm Sunday 10am-5 es access to Admission includ at the RBG ns itio ad Tr ay lid Ho Adults: $12:50 0.50 Student/Senior: $1 Ages: 4-12: $7.50 Under 4: Free ee RBG Members: Fr rdens Royal Botanical Ga . W . Rd 680 Plains n to ng rli Bu MAKER'S MARKET PLACE Donate a new hat & mitten set and enter to WIN great prizes! Proud to Support New feature Oakville-based company Innovative Musical Theatre is putting a new spin on musical productions with its staging of Footloose. The musical, based on the 1984 film with the same name, is hitting the stage with more than 144 Halton students, all with leading roles, divided into 12 separate casts. Each cast will perform over four weeks in 400- to 500-seat theatres starting Monday (Nov. 16) with shows continuing through to Dec. 9. "I am very proud of these students and of my incredible staff," said Nathan McLeod, Oakville resident and founder and producer of Innovative Arts/Innovative Musical Theatre. "Feels like such a big moment for me because Footloose is the realization of the dream to successfully and efficiently rehearse 12 unique casts of 12 leads in each, in only 12 weeks." All rehearsals of the production took place in Offering CANADA haltoncas.ca feed your addiction Foil Highlights · Japanese Hair Straightening Hair Extensions · Men's Colour BROUGHT GHT TO YOU BY 289-293-0710 thechristmasshow.ca 518 POSTRIDGE DRIVE 905.257.7427 colouraddiction.com colour Oakville at The Meeting House, Appleby College and St. Mildred's-Lightbourn School. McLeod, who is also the artistic director of the show, and Joanne Chow (associate artistic director, and a Juilliard School of Dance grad with a masters from New York City in modern dance) aimed to give local youths the chance to learn in a "positive and fast-paced environment" and, for many of them, to take the spotlight as lead in the musical. McLeod said he wanted to create a musical theatre program he wished he had while he was growing up in Oakville -- a program where every actor received equal training in singing, acting and dancing by learning how to be a leading role in a musical, he said. "The innovative rehearsal process makes training efficient, resulting in students learning faster and more effectively," continued McLeod. "The Innovative Musical Theatre program is unlike any other youth theatre program in Canada and is raising the next generation of great musical theatre performers." Directed by Scott Beaudin, the show's performances take place at the Milton Centre for the Arts' Mattamy Theatre, 1010 Main St. E., Milton (Nov. 16-27), and Meadowvale Theatre, 6315 Montevideo Rd., Mississauga (Dec. 2-9), at 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets cost $30 for adults and $25 for students, and can be purchased online at www.innovativeboxoffice. com.