Lakeshore Advance, 2013-02-27, Page 1414 Lakeshore Advance • Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Thomas Alderson back to the Imperial
Lakeshore Advance
Being back on the stage at Sarnia's Imperial'Ihe-
atre in Lambton County is a homecoming for'lho-
nlas Alderson. Since first appearing 011 the Impe-
rial's stage as a child, the professional entertainer
has toured North America as an actor -singer -
dancer and performed in musicals from Winnipeg
to I lalifax. Broadway Bound, it concert featuring
'Thomas, will be at the Imperial 00 Friday, March
8.
After graduating from Sheridan College's musi-
cal theatre program with the triple threat and top
academic awards, Thomas toured 35 U.S. states
and two provinces as Mor(lre(t in Camelot. I le has
appeared its high School Musical, I Ialrspray, and
more recently as laud Frump in I low to Succeed in
Business without Really Trying at 1 luron Country
Playhouse. At the Port I tope Festival Theatre, he
was Moody in Anne of Green Gables and Tommy
in 'Ihe Music Man. Ile was in White Christmas at
the Royal Manitoba 'Theatre Centre in Winnipeg
and La Cage aux Folles at the Neptune 'theatre, in
I lalifax. Recently, he ventured into fil►n, appearing
in the comedy / horror / musical movie Stage
Fright with Meat Loaf and Minnie Driver, which
will be in theatres this fall. "Shooting the movie
was fun, but 1 think musical theatre is still my first
love," he says.
But, it all started In grade one for Thomas.
French Immersion 'leachers at Bosanquet (ventral
School near Medford launched his interest in per-
formance. "Mine. Johnson and Mlle. Cole would
translate the popular Disney cartoons into French
for our school musical. I remember being I,unliere
in Beauty and the Beast, it was so much fun," he
says. I laving grown up near Grand Bend, 'Thomas
was on stage as a child at Huron Country Play-
house. Ile was little Louis in 'Ihe King and 1, and
also appeared in 'Ihe Music Man and Buddy: The
Buddy I lolly Story.
Last year 'Thomas, along with Grand Bend singer
Michael Vanhevel, performed in a charity concert
at Forest united Church to raise funds for his sis-
ter's work in an orphanage in Peru. "'Ihe people of
Forest were so supportive, and were such a good
audience," he says. "1 hope they will come to this
concert."
Starting at age 12, 'Thomas appeared its musicals
at the Imperial. So when the invitation came for
him to return to Sarnia, he didn't hesitate.
GEORGIAN
COLLEGE
Practical Nursing
Information Session
For program start
September 2013
Thursday February 28th • 5:30
Huron East Health Center
32B Centennial Drive
Seaforth
RSVP
1-519-376-0840 ext. 2004
Thomas Alderson
"i am so happy to be back on the Imperial stage,
it brings back many good memories," he says. As a
youngster, he performed in Christmas panto-
tnimes and with Mummer Musicals, he played the
role of little John in West Side Story. "One of my
favourites wits Gypsy with 'Theatre Sarnia. It was a
great show: 1 was a newsboy, 'Thomas remembers.
After that, he was so taken with the show that he
travelled to New York to see Gypsy, starring Berna-
dette Peters as Mama inose. "'Chen when I was a
sue
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ANNUAL MEETING
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
at 7:30pm
at the
Blue Water Rest Home
Chairman: Richard Erb
Secretary: Ron Westlake
student at Sheridan College, 1 was in
Gypsy again," he adds.
"We like to bring our home-grown
talent back t0 Sarnia when we can," says
Icon Lawton of the Imperial 'Theatre,
"we're pleased 'Thomas has been able
to fit this concert into his schedule, and
he's bringing some first class talent with
him"
lhonlas has invited three fellow per-
formers to share the stage with hits.
Joining hint will be 'Tess Benger, 1.ili
Connor and Cameron Carver. "I can't
wait for my friends in Lambton Shores
to hear these three; the audience tvill he
amazed."
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Tess lienger has been playing the
starring role of Anne in Anne of Green
Gables for the last two seasons. 'that's a
role that every young Canadian woman
in musical theatre covets, 'lhonlas says.
"'fess will amaze you with her singing,
and she will perform something from
Anne," he adds. While in character as
Anne, 'fess got to meet William and
Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cam-
bridge. She presented Kate with a copy
of Anne of Green Gables as it one of
Kate's favourite hooks.
Lill Connor has performed in thea-
tres across Ontario. She has a power-
house voice and is also known for her
comedic skills. Both Lili and Tess will be
singing some Barbra Streisand
favourites.
Cameron Carver is known to Lamb -
ton residents for his role in the original
Lambton MainStreet Players in 2007.
"Cameron spent the summer in Lamb -
ton singing and dancing with the origi-
nal troupe. They were really popular
and you'll remember Cameron when
you hear hint sing," 'Thomas says.
'Ihe four young people will be singing
favourites from the Great White Way.
'Phomas explains that they have many
familiar show tunes lined up, but they
are also going to introduce a few songs
that alight not be as well-known. i le
has promised some comedy numbers,
too.
t lis family moved to Bright's Grove
and he attended Sarnia's Northern high
school, taking part in the drama club.
Ile won a Best Actor award at the Sears
Drama festival with Northern's produc-
tion of a spoof about Shakespeare
where he was Romeo. During that time,
he also played the Artful Dodger in
Oliver! with Port Huron Civic Theatre
on the McMorran stage.
Later 4VIlt'n the family IilOVed to Stra-
throy, he attended the performing arts
program at I I. B. Beal Secondary School
in London. 1 le was in several musicals
at the Grand 'theatre in London, as part
of their high school projects:11w Music
Man, Fiddler on the Roof, Oklahoma,
and The Sound of Music. Ile also
appeared at the (;rand in 'the Wizard of
Oz.
What's up next for Thomas? "1 just
finished working as assistant director
on the musical Chicago at Sheridan
College. It evils great to be hack there
and working with the students. Next, I
go to Calgary to perform in Anne of
Green Gables. And this summer I will
he in Spamalot at I luron Country Play-
house and St. Jacobs Playhouse. It's
ironic that i was in Camelot there, and
now I'm doing Spamalot, the Monty
Python spoof."
For tickets to see hint in Broadway
Hound, contact the Imperial 'Theatre
box office at 5 19 -344 -SI IOW (7469) or
toll free 1-877-344-7469, or purchase
them online at hop://www.imperi-
altheatre.net/ : Adults $24, Seniors $20,
Students $15.