Yellowknife theatre group sponsors first show since pandemic shutdown

In March of 2020, Yellowknife musical theatre group, Ptarmigan Ptheatrics, was six weeks into rehearsals for We Will Rock You, the selected play for its spring show.

The group had spent several months preparing for their annual production, which Ptarmigan's president Ray Bethke said typically costs between $40,000 to $50,000. 

Then the pandemic suddenly hit. 

"I started to get word on the 16th of March that there were going to be shutdowns and restrictions, and we had to let the cast know we were cancelling the show," said Bethke. 

Over two years since the forced shutdown, Ptarmigan is still trying to recuperate. 

It's sponsoring a small-scale musical theatre production, called Love & Laughter on the 14th Floor, an original show created by Shannon Lyman, the vice-president of Ptarmigan. 

The show will run Friday and Saturday at the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre in Yellowknife. 

Lyman is acting alongside Kara Cherland, Susan Shantora and Ari Snyder, and is also independently producing and directing — it is not an official Ptarmigan production. 

The play is about a young window who moves into a New York City apartment building and has to deal with her loud, vivacious older neighbours.

"She hears them singing through the walls all day and night, drives her a little crazy," Lyman said. But she's also considering a new love interest, something she's hesitant about. 

"We provided [Lyman] with some in-kind and some financial supports going in, with the understanding that any losses incurred would be hers, and we would then be paid out from the net proceeds, if she had any profit," said Bethke.

At the dress rehearsal Thursday, Lyman said the show was a great opportunity to get her feet wet in directing. 

"I've learned a lot, and I'm hoping I can use my experience with Ptarmigan Productions in the future with a big cast," she said. 

Bethke and Lyman are both expecting to return with their annual production next spring.