Hudson Village Theatre Presents IN THE MOOD Revue, Now thru July 29

Hudson Music Club is celebrating its 60th Anniversary with the specially created 1940's musical revue IN THE MOOD: A Time to Remember for 6 shows ONLY from tonight, July 25th to the 29th.

The story begins with Charlie, a WWII veteran spending what should be another routine Saturday evening at his favorite Legion. However as Cathy the barmaid keeps the beer flowing, that soon changes. While Charlie reminisces about the war, playing some of the favourite songs on the jukebox, the music magically sweeps him and the audience back to 1940's, featuring songs like "Jukebox Saturday Night", "I've Got a Gal in Kalamazoo", "Chattanooga Choo Choo", "Boogy Woogy Bugle Boy" and many more.

The idea for IN THE MOOD - A Time to Remember came to Gail Marchand, President of the Hudson Music Club, while her family was listening to Big Band music one evening and her father began reminiscing about WWII and how met her mother. Marchand took the concept to James Milvain who agreed to write the script. With Jean-Claude Olivier’s vintage set, the musical support of Sheila Engel Katz (Musical Director) and Philippe Gobeille (Staging & Direction), and a talented group of on-stage and backstage volunteers, a touching original story, brimming with 1940’s melodies, comes to life at Hudson Village Theatre.

Over the past ten years Gail Marchand, who originally joined the Hudson Music Club to provide some diversion from the chaos of running a large family, has taken on more and more responsibility. As long as she can sustain her passion for whatever she commits to, which includes acting, singing, designing costumes, as well as the presidency, she’s on board. Marchand confides, “As long as I enjoy whatever I’m doing, I find the time and the energy- it keeps me young!” Her husband André (Executive Producer) and their kids are also in the Club, as well as her 91-year-old father, who still performs in the large productions.

Montrealers may not realize that the Hudson Music Club is a non-profit organisation whose raison d’être is to raise money for local charities. This year, while the audience enjoys an HMC show, they will be helping the Club to provide much needed funds for their two choices this season: LE PONT/BRIDGING, a local food bank, and the HUDSON YOUTH CENTER.

The company began its long career in 1952 after the creation of The Follies by Joyce and Bos Mowatt and Joe Orchin. Arthur Thompson soon took the helm and kept The Follies alive that decade and then in the 60’s, Joyce and Arthur turned to Gilbert and Sullivan with the help of Clint Ward. In 1980 the Hudson Music Club changed direction to devote their productions to Broadway musicals and revues.

Over the years, HMC has launched many a professional career including that of jazz singer Karen Young and the director/actor duo , Glen Bowser (director of HVT’s upcoming Foster favourite, Ned Durango Comes to Big Oak) & Karen Cromar (who stars in the same production), to name a few. Sophie Protopoulos, one of the revue’s outstanding singers, has been in the news recently for making the cut as one of the contenders in CBC Television’s search for Dorothy in the Mirvish production of The Wizard of Oz. Notably former HVT President, Clint Ward (one of only ten HMC honorary members), has been actively involved almost since the club’s inception. Partnering with Hudson Village Theatre is clearly a no-brainer, as the relationship between the two organizations has always been strong.

Despite the distance, Montreal audiences have no problem traveling to Vaudreuil to see HMC productions. The Club habitually entertains full houses for such popular Broadway productions as The Wizard of Oz, 42nd Street, The Drowsy Chaperone, and Beauty and the Beast. This revue is sure to strike the right chord with HVT audiences, a ‘lucky strike’ they hope, as the show was specifically created to raise monies for the Music Club’s next production: Rogers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!

For more information about Hudson Music Club, visit their web site at hudsonmusicclub.com.

CREATIVE TEAM:

Story Concept: Gail Marchand
Script: James Milvain
Musical Director: Sheila Engel Katz
Musical Staging & Direction: Philippe Gobeille
Assistant Musical Director: Mike Melino
Set Designer: Jean-Claude Olivier
Costume Designer: Gail Marchand
Producer: Andre Marchand

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