Education
Lindsay Thurber Comprehensive High School presents Legally Blonde The Musical
Elle Woods is making her debut in Red Deer as Lindsay Thurber Comprehensive High School presents Legally Blonde The Musical.
Shows run March 12-13 and March 16-17 at Red Deer Polytechnic.
“The aim is to offer students a new style, genre or era of musical theatre each year, so that by the time they graduate they have experienced a variety of styles. Last year, we worked on Annie, so this year, Legally Blonde came from wanting to do something a little more contemporary. It’s got a pop-rock score and some more challenging content, which the high school students were excited for,” said Tara Koett, Teacher at Lindsay Thurber Comprehensive High School. “The show is based on the film, which is based on a book.”
According to Lindsay Thurber’s website Legally Blonde The Musical is, “A fabulously fun award-winning musical based on the adored movie, Legally Blonde The Musical, follows the transformation of Elle Woods as she tackles stereotypes and scandal in pursuit of her dreams. Action-packed and exploding with memorable songs and dynamic dances – this musical is so much fun, it should be illegal!”
“It’s really campy and self aware, ridiculous and clever. For those familiar with the movie, it’s quite similar and maybe a little cheekier,” said Koett. “It’s been a lot of fun, it’s very high energy, and it has a really beautiful and empowering message.”
About 70 students (and two canine actors) are involved in the production, which includes the cast, pit band, and technical theatre students. Koett added the students are giving their all.
“It’s been a really steep learning curve given the fact that in the past two years, their learning has been interrupted because of the pandemic,” she said. “It’s daunting and so exciting to see them start to revisit the skills they haven’t had the chance to use. It’s also the first time in two years that we’ve been able to have our cast and the pit band performing together. It’s really exciting and the energy is palpable.”
Koett said she encourages people to purchase tickets, even if they don’t have a connection to the school community.
“If you love live theatre and you love to laugh – the breadth and depth of work that these students have accomplished is incredible,” she said. “Our pit band is playing the same score that a Broadway Pit Orchestra would play; they are working so hard. The cast and technicians are also working so hard – I am amazed every day. The quality of their work is exceptional.”
Tickets are on sale now. To purchase tickets, visit the Red Deer Polytechnic ticket website, or https://www.rdpsd.ab.ca/
Just when we thought our smiles couldn’t get any bigger – they did! And we have the Red Deer community to thank for their overwhelming support.
We are so excited to share the total from the Tim Hortons Smile Cookie Campaign this past spring…and it’s very impressive. In fact, it’s an all-time record, and we couldn’t be more grateful.
Over the long-week campaign held April 28-May 4, Red Deerians indulged in a lot of cookies – $80,773 worth! These funds will go directly to helping struggling readers become readers of potential through Reading College, a project of The Foundation for Red Deer Public Schools.
Reading College, held each July, provides students with identified reading gaps an incredible summer experience that builds their skills, confidence, and love for reading. Students leave the program with stronger reading and writing abilities, and a solid foundation for success in school and life. Now in its 14th year, 1,000 students have graduated from Reading College.
“We continue to be amazed by the generosity of our community and the partnership with Tim Hortons,” said Kristine Plastow, Board Chair for The Foundation for Red Deer Public Schools. “These dollars directly impact kids who need extra support to become confident readers. The difference this program makes is life-changing.”
Tanya Doucette, Tim Hortons Restaurant Owner in Red Deer, said it’s incredible to see what can happen when a community comes together. The simple act of purchasing a cookie by so many amazing guests, makes a huge difference for young students right here in Red Deer.
“This record-breaking year shows how much our guests care. We are so pleased to support Reading College and help give students the tools they need to thrive,” she said.
When you meet Brayden Chenier, a Grade 8 student at GH Dawe School, it’s clear why he’s been chosen to represent youth across Alberta. Brayden is the proud recipient of the Integrated School Support Program Provincial (ISSP) Chief Youth Courage Award, presented by the Calgary Police Youth Foundation, in recognition of his resilience, leadership and commitment to his community.
The award celebrates students who demonstrate courage and dedication to becoming a responsible and caring citizen, especially within a diverse school and community, and was presented earlier this spring at the Calgary Police Awards Gala. As part of the honour, Brayden will now serve as a youth ambassador, helping to raise awareness about child and youth crime prevention, education, and intervention programs across the province.
“It’s pretty surreal that I will be all over the province for a year,” said Brayden. “I am looking forward to helping out in the community.”
Brayden has been part of the ISSP program through GH Dawe School since 2023 and has benefited greatly from the support offered.
With the support of the mental health professional, Brayden has been able to successfully navigate a variety of challenges in his life including coming to terms with his disability and navigating a tragic loss in his life.
Born with clubfoot, Brayden has never let his physical disability stand in his way. He is an avid athlete in a number of sports including hockey, basketball, golf, track, volleyball and soccer. His goal is working towards becoming an athlete in the Paralympics.
Brayden was nominated by GH Dawe School Counsellor Amy Johansson, who described him as a compassionate, kind, hardworking, and honest person who is driven and motivated to be his very best at all that he attempts.
She added that within the GH Dawe School community, Brayden is a highly respected citizen by all students and staff. “He is highly committed to sports connected to our school, as well as sports outside of our school community. Brayden works diligently at his academics. And is so very helpful and caring, always. Brayden works to overcome a list of things that he will not allow to hold him back.”
GH Dawe School is part of Alberta’s Integrated School Support Program – a child wellness initiative aimed at improving academic performance and the overall well-being of students. The program supports schools like GH Dawe with services to meet the diverse needs of students and families.
As he takes on his role as a provincial ambassador, Brayden continues to be a role model for his peers and a reminder of the power of perseverance and community support.
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