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June 11, 2010
Showstoppers honor Ehrlich
Evening in tribute of impresario’s contributions draws 150 youth.
EVA COHEN
For years, Perry Ehrlich has been an asset to musical theatre in Vancouver. His musical legacy began 16 years ago with building the Gotta Sing! Gotta Dance! (GSGD) summer program at the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver. He credits his interest in starting GSGD to his daughter Lisa’s keen interest in musical theatre.
Each year, the program accepts about 150 youth who come from across the Lower Mainland and across Canada, from the United States and even as far as Israel. Ehrlich has gained a reputation that allows him to attract industry professionals from around the world, including choreographers who have worked with major theatres in Toronto and on Broadway.
With the success of GSGD, in September 2000, Ehrlich brought together Showstoppers, another musical theatre group for young people. This new troupe was originally comprised of 12 youth (it now has 21) who all particularly stood out at GSGD. At the time, Ehrlich was also running a group called Sound Sensation for youth aged 12-20, but many of them were graduating, so he saw the creation of Showstoppers as a sort of “farm team” to take over where Sound Sensation left off.
A decade later, Showstoppers has made an indelible mark on the world of musical theatre. The group has performed at dinners for former prime minister Jean Chrétien, numerous times for Premier Gordon Campbell, annually for thousands on Canada Day at Canada Place and, most recently, at the Olympic Games. Showstoppers had 12 shows during the 17-day Olympic period, five of them at Robson Square.
Following the Olympics and, as the 10-year anniversary of Showstoppers approached, parents of current Showstoppers performers began a flurry of e-mails back and forth, making plans to honor Ehrlich for his care and commitment. In addition to running Showstoppers, he has also acted many times as an agent, sending members of the troupe to important auditions.
One of the original Showstoppers, Andrew Cohen, is currently doing a bachelor of fine arts at the University of British Columbia, and his very first professional show, thanks to Ehrlich, was at age 12 for a show called Falsettos.
It was Cohen’s idea to put on a show to thank Ehrlich for his work with Showstoppers. For a venue, Cohen decided on the Waterfront Theatre on Granville Island, the stage on which he first performed in Falsettos.
“There were just so many reasons to do it. Perry really has done so much for all of us,” said Cohen. “From directing the group – putting in his own money to do so, to finding gigs, writing new music, making sure we’re all having fun, writing reference letters for jobs and scholarships and mentoring us, it really was time that he was recognized by us (the kids!) for what he’s done – not just by something the parents could buy.”
In the meantime, once Cohen’s plan for a show got the go-ahead from the parents, and the rest of the group agreed to participate, Showstoppers began secretly practising for the show in April. Before regular Showstoppers rehearsals, secret “Brostoppers” rehearsals would take place. Cohen produced and directed the evening’s performance and wrote the final number as a tribute to all of the songs that Ehrlich has written for the group over the years.
The event was particularly special because it was a surprise to Ehrlich. After being taken out for a meal by his family, they had him “stop by” the Waterfront Theatre, saying they should stop in to look at some art.
The event was sold out, with the seats filled with family, friends, theatre and music professionals and members of the community.
When Ehrlich came out on stage after the performance, he was visibly proud of the kids, and said he was very happy to have been given the chance to see each one of them perform individually.
“One of the greatest joys for a teacher is when they get to see one of their students excel and be able to eventually take over after them, and Andy [Cohen] your work on this tonight was amazing,” said Ehrlich.
Ehrlich’s heartfelt speech moved even those who were seeing the Showstoppers for the first time that night. “Uncle Perry,” as the kids call him, was seated right in the middle, where he – and the audience – could see that the youth were singing directly to him.
“What I really loved about the show was that something amazing happened that I hadn’t anticipated or planned for: it made for great theatre,” said Cohen. “This is because it was a genuine outpouring of honest, human emotion. It was not a prettily packaged show; it was messy, and fun, and real, and sincere. It seemed like the audience members were aching to laugh and cry and clap right alongside us. Whether or not they understood any of the inside jokes, the universality of the human condition made everything relatable.”
Since several of the current Showstoppers will be graduating, this was the last show they will present as a group. While some will graduate, new kids will audition to join the troupe and the young local talent will continue to blossom.
Eva Cohen is a Vancouver freelance writer.
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