It’s a great Canadian story: Calgary’s Annerin Theatricals recruited a superb all-Canadian cast to star in the current North American tour of the blockbuster We Will Rock You musical based on iconic rock band Queen’s greatest hits.
Though it initially got mixed reviews when it debuted in 2002, the original West End production ran for a whopping 15 years. The jukebox musical has since become a global phenomenon, entertaining some 16 million theatregoers in 19 countries. The current revival kicked off its huge North American tour last September with a six-night residency in Winnipeg.
We Will Rock You tells the futuristic tale of rock rebels called the Bohemians who challenge the all-powerful Killer Queen: In a world where rock music is banned and everybody dresses and thinks the same, the Bohemians fight for Rock n Roll, fashion and free thought.
With a book by Ben Elton, the original West End production featured the music supervision of Brian May and Roger Taylor of Queen. For this revival, music director Stuart Morley was asked by May to update the score.
“I’ve re-Queened the score,” Morley recently told the Calgary Herald. “I’ve made it more like the original Queen. I went to Queen’s studio and I listened to old vocals. This new score is far more accurate and authentic. When they were creating the original score for the musical, they made it more theatrical than authentic. I’m a purist, so I want to bring the score back to its roots. I’ve been given access to tapes no one else has been given to work with. I feel this new version of the musical can be something not even Brian and Roger thought it could become.”
The North American Tour cast is headed by Canadian musical-theatre veterans Krystle Chance as Killer Queen and Trevor Coll as Galileo. Curtains up sat down with both performers for a candid interview ahead of We Will Rock You’s run at Salle-Wilfred-Pelletier at Place des arts, February 10 to 12.
Curtains Up: How did you get involved with this show?
Trevor: Actually, Krystle and I were playing the same roles in a production in Niagara Falls last March. The production team of the North American production came to the show and encouraged us to apply.
What is it like to tour North America – especially the USA – with a Canadian cast?
Trevor: We are proud to be Canadian. I have done a few international theatre gigs and the last two contracts I have done have been full Canadian casts. There is a different energy in the cast for sure. I think half of it is six degrees of separation. The other part is a humility and kindness. I am really enjoying my time with this group.
Krystle: There is a sense of pride.This might be the first time a traveling show of this magnitude has been done with an all-Canadian cast. So we are proud to be the first to do it and pave the way for others to do the same thing.
What kind of bonding happens between cast mates?
Krystle: Naturally when you are in close proximity with other people every day, you become a family. Everybody you tour with becomes part of your extended family, and that translates into how we perform with each other onstage.
As Canadians, how cool is it to tour this show across Canada?
Krystle: It’s great because, as Canadians, we don’t all get to see how big and beautiful our country is.
Trevor: I’ve been getting support from friends and colleagues right across the country. Folks have even flown out to New York or Los Angeles to see us perform.
You guys headlined the Hulu Theatre at Madison Square Garden in NYC for several dates last November. How thrilling was that, to headline in the Big Apple?
Trevor: Just hearing you say that, it hasn’t hit me yet! It really was the coolest thing.
Krystle: That was an iconic moment for me! Personally, I had a goal to perform in NYC, especially in that theatre. To be able to say I did that is a milestone in my career.
Trevor, you have done a lot of theatre and television work. Which medium do you prefer?
Trevor: Musical theatre is my dream, I don’t think I could get sick of playing Galileo. This soundtrack really taught me how sing, as well as performing in Rent. If I could divide my time playing We Will Rock You and Rent, I would be very content.
Krystle, Freddie Mercury is both a pop and gay icon. The gay boys love their Black divas with big voices, and you fit the bill!
Krystle: (Smiles) I am always happy to represent and share the love! When theatre goers come up afterwards and tell me how much they enjoyed my performance and the show, I live for that.
We Will Rock You headlines Salle Wilfrid Pelletier at Place des Arts for three performances, on February 10-11-12 at 7:30 pm nightly. Tickets available at the PdA box office, (514) 842-2112 and placedesarts.com
