Did you know that since 1992, Probus Parish Players have astounded audiences with a lineup of 26 pantomimes?
No matter the pantomime, our rehearsals and warm-ups are always infused with the enchanting melodies and captivating choreography of beloved musicals… It may come as a surprising revelation, but we are all avid musical theatre fans at heart, shocking right?
During one of these magical moments, Shannon Wignall, our Choreographer for Aladdin 2023, had a brilliant idea. It became abundantly clear that our collective passion for musical theatre deserved a grand showcase of its own—a dedicated extravaganza celebrating the enchantment of the stage. And thus, the concept of 'A Night of Musicals' was born.
In 2018, Shannon returned to Probus Parish Players, bringing her journey full circle, which originally began in her youth with active participation in multiple pantomimes. Her love for dance led her to pursue studies in the field at university, and she has since taken on the role of Choreographer for various productions, including Treasure Island 2015, Snow White 2019, Alice in Wonderland 2022, and our most recent pantomime, Aladdin in 2023. Not only does Shannon shine as a key member of the production team, but she also joined the committee in 2021, taking on the role of Secretary.
And yes, you might even recognise her dad, Guy Wignall, who is often seen dressed as Peter Andre or donning a stylish dress as the beloved dame character on stage.
As the Director and Choreographer of 'A Night of Musicals', Shannon is absolutely delighted to present the exceptional talents of the Probus Parish Players in this production: “I am so excited to be working with such an incredibly talented bunch of people on a show which is somewhat out of our panto comfort zone but will show off exactly what we do best! The pressure of putting on our first ever performance in a professional theatre environment is not lost on me but I am hopeful I can rise to the occasion. Dance has been the biggest love of mine for as long as I can remember so I am grateful for the opportunity to choreograph songs from some of our biggest and best loved musicals. The work we have done so far in rehearsals is really proving to me that this is not a show to be missed so I sincerely hope you can come along and support us and get the chance to see Probus Parish Players at our very best!”
A Night of Musicals will take place on Saturday, July 15th, at the Burrell Theatre at 7:30 pm.
Tickets are selling fast, so don't miss out - book your tickets here!
Shannon truly is the best choreographer I've ever worked with, over my 45 years of being in different productions.
She is incredibly talented, imaginative and very patient with everyone. Very kind and lovely lady.
Here's hoping the Musicals Night is a big smash hit!