Even after 13 years in the musical wilderness, Theatre Under the Stars’ Christopher D. King has lost none of his passion for the stage.
King, who adores his work, will play the role of Corny Collins in the Broadway musical Hairspray.
“I enjoy the fact that I had an opportunity as an artist to work in Vancouver and even in Richmond, that they are not separate from each other and each support arts in their own way, especially Richmond,” said King, who has been music director at Richmond’s Gateway Theatre for the past two years and is where he became a professional actor in 2003.
In his last Theatre Under the Stars (TUTS) role, King played Reuben in Joseph in 2002.
“As much as things are different (at TUTS), a lot of the things are the same, one of which is the location,” said King, who refers to the theatre as a “theatre summer camp.”
King will also star in a new musical Sh’evil Mistress of Evil later this month in Toronto’s Fringe festival and will be directing the music of The Wizard of Oz at the Gateway Theatre this December.
Hairspray is set in 1962 Baltimore and revolves around Tracy Turnblad’s dream to dance on the local television program, The Corny Collins Show.
TUTS will also feature Oliver! The Musical this summer. The play is based on Charles Dickens’ novel and vividly displays Oliver on an adventure in 1840s Victorian London.
Hairspray and Oliver are playing on alternating days: July 14 – Aug. 22 respectively at the Malkin Bowl, Stanley Park.
Tickets, priced $30 to $45 are available at www.tuts.ca.
