APPLAUSE! Musicals Society

APPLAUSE! Musicals Society is a Canadian nonprofit charitable organization dedicated to promoting and preserving musical theatre, primarily through concerts and educational programming. Registered with the Canada Revenue Agency under the business number 851286633RR0001, the society operates as a volunteer-run community group based in Vancouver, British Columbia.

History and Mission

The society originated in 1997 with the presentation of the concert series "APPLAUSE! Musical Theatre Concert Series," featuring rare and seldom-performed musicals. Its first notable production was Stephen Sondheim's Merrily We Roll Along at the Roundhouse Community Centre in Vancouver. This initiative aimed to showcase shelved and forgotten works at least ten years old by popular Broadway composers and lyricists, focusing on material previously unpresented in the lower mainland region.

Following its initial success, APPLAUSE! expanded its offerings to include readings of unproduced works and concert presentations of musicals such as Good News, Mame, The Unsinkable Molly Brown, Flora The Red Menace, Fiorello!, Ernest in Love, and The Frogs. The society has performed at multiple venues in Vancouver, including CBC's Studio 700 and Pyatt Hall.[1][4]

Programs and Activities

Beyond concert presentations, APPLAUSE! Musicals Society conducts a range of musical theatre programming:

• Monthly Cabarets: These were presented for a three-year period, showcasing musical theatre talents.
• Musicals 101 Educational Program: An initiative designed to educate and deepen appreciation for musical theatre history and styles.
• Showtunes Year By Year: A series of historical revues exploring musical theatre through different eras.
• OVATION! Awards: Founded in 2004, this annual awards ceremony honors individuals involved in musical theatre productions in the lower mainland area.[1][5]

APPLAUSE! maintains a strong volunteer base, with all operations run entirely by volunteers committed to the society’s artistic and educational mission.[1][4]

Status and Recognition

APPLAUSE! Musicals Society is a registered charity with the Canada Revenue Agency, compliant with all regulatory requirements for charitable organizations in Canada. This status enables it to issue official tax receipts for donations and sustain its programming through community support.[3]

Impact

The society is recognized for its contribution to the cultural landscape of Vancouver by reviving rare musical theatre works and fostering local talent and audience appreciation. It continues to be an important platform for amateur performers and enthusiasts of musical theatre.

This article is based on publicly available information about APPLAUSE! Musicals Society as retrieved from their official website and charity registries.