Penny & Pound Theatre Productions celebrates seven years with 'Play it again!'

Penny & Pound Theatre Productions in Cambridge is celebrating seven successful seasons as Ontario's premiere youth and young adult theatre company with an upcoming musical extravaganza, Play It Again on May 6th, 7:00 pm at The Cambridge Arts Theatre.

Songs from Into the Woods, Curioser: a new musical, Sweeney Todd, Les Miserables, and everything in-between, Penny & Pound is thrilled to bring to the stage a retrospective, fundraising concert that celebrates its seventh anniversary featuring a talented cast, both past and present. 

Play It Again highlight young talent with cast members, as young as 15 years of age returning from the original productions to reprise their roles.

“This is to celebrate all of the years since Penny and Pound theatre productions began which is really exciting, and I can’t believe it’s been seven years. It’s neat to see these kids who were with us and have grown and blossomed. It’s going to be a lot of fun. And the calibre of talent is just astounding,” said Lori Robinson Distel, co-founder of Penny & Pound Theatre Productions.

“We have a meet and greet planned after the event so people can come out, meet and talk to our youth and hear how Penny & Pound has helped them on and off the stage in their real lives.”

Founded in 2015, Penny & Pound Theatre Productions is a not-for-profit young adult theatre company with a mission is to offer the youth and young adults of Cambridge and area the opportunity to perform in full-scale, professional-quality, youth-only productions that enhance their abilities and enrich their love of theatre.

“It’s so satisfying to put this new production, Play It Again, on stage. With theatre, you take it into your own life The skills you learn in theatre arts can be applied into your real life. From memorization skills, learning empathy, teamwork, reading skills and the list goes on. Theatre inspires,” Robinson Distel said.

Penny & Pound is a safe haven for youth from all walks of life.

“Anyone can come out and audition. In our July show, we will be teaming up with the Cambridge Symphony Orchestra. This is our Community Show. In December, a feminist version of A Christmas Carol called Miss Scrooge will feature 20’s and 30’s Jazz music,” Robinson Distel said.

“We offer three main stage shows a year, with one being a musical. Age target range is 14-24 years, but we do bend the rules. Auditions are always posted on our website, so there is always something going on.”

During the pandemic, Penny & Pound Theatre Productions continued to offer productions virtually.

“We have really tried hard to stay out there and stay relevant during the pandemic over the last two years. We’ve done a lot of on-line offerings and posted productions on a platform called ‘Showcase for Youth’. We’ve actually been quite prolific in the last couple of years. It’s been a challenge, but it’s also been good because it has made us think outside the box,” Robinson Distel said.  

“People have really needed this. Hopefully we’ve done our part to make this difficult time better for people.”

Penny & Pound Theatre Productions hope the community will join them in celebrating the achievements of all of the performers with Play it Again.

“The amount of talent on that stage is just jaw dropping with all kinds of music from our favourite shows, pus a few surprises with original music as well,” Robinson Distel said.

“If you are looking to be entertained, you should come out and see Play it Again. There is something for everyone."

For more information and for tickets, visit here.