Kingsbridge community troupe returns with 'The Great Storm'

BY SCOTT STEPHENSON

Over the years, Kingsbridge’s eponymous theatre troupe has earned a reputation for thinking big with its annual spring show. Productions featuring casts of 40 performers are not uncommon and each season seems to raise the bar a little higher.

 

In 2026, that tradition continues with yet another ambitious undertaking - a remounting of The Great Storm by Warren Robinson, who is once again directing Kingsbridge’s big show. The play recounts the tale of the most destructive disaster to ever strike the Great Lakes, as told through the lens of a Lake Huron community on the Canadian side of the shoreline. 

 

The play, set in 1913, demands a great deal from its cast and crew and the effort is already well underway! Under the guidance of longtime stage manager Shelley Morley, the production has entered its early rehearsal phase with what may be Kingsbridge’s most ambitious schedule to date.

 

At this stage, the focus is on building foundations. The large cast has been divided into two groups: a Scottish cast and an Irish cast. According to Robinson, this allows rehearsals to move more efficiently as performers begin the work of learning lines and developing accents, each at their own pace and level of precision.

 

On Sunday, April 12, the Irish cast met for an afternoon rehearsal that offered a glimpse into the scope of the production. Dance instructor Lisa Petrie patiently guided performers through the steps of a party scene, while, across the room, musical director Eleanor Robinson led singers through the harmonies of the first act, patiently untangling challenging passages while simultaneously turning her attention to the practical side of the show, taking stock of available costumes and identifying what still needs to be sewn.

 

Much remains to be done before opening night on June 5. Lines must be memorized, movements refined and countless details brought together into a cohesive whole. Will the cast be ready in time? That remains to be seen. But, if the energy in the rehearsal hall is any indication, one thing is for certain: everyone involved is thoroughly enjoying the effort!