Vancouver Theatre Under the Stars details announced

Love, acceptance, and inclusion are the themes of this year’s Theatre Under the Stars (TUTS) festival taking place this summer in Vancouver.

The beloved event announced the lineup for the festival, which will feature performances of The Prom, as well as a rendition of Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical.

“They both have very good messages about love, messages about tolerance and acceptance, and those are the things that we wanted to share with our audience knowing that it’s something we could all use a little more of,” explained Kevin Woo, the general manager of the festival.

A Theatre Under the Stars performance at the Malkin Bowl in Vancouver’s Stanley Park. (Credit: Shawn Bukhari)

The Prom is about four Broadway actors who help a teenage girl whose prom was cancelled because she was planning to attend with her girlfriend.

“Both shows, specifically The Prom, is centred around LGBTQ and being an individual and being yourself and loving who you want and I think that is a very, very strong message to be sent out at this time,” Woo said, adding the current political climate highlights the importance of such themes.

Performances of both shows will take place at the Malkin Bowl in Stanley Park from July 6 to Aug. 26. Woo says everyone is welcome to attend.

A Theatre Under the Stars performance at the Malkin Bowl in Vancouver’s Stanley Park. (Credit: Shawn Bukhari)

“We love that our venue and our shows are all-ages and that they can connect with the youth of today that will shape tomorrow,” he said.

Throughout the season, there will also be special theme nights, including a “relaxed performance” for those on the autism spectrum or who have neurological disorders. There will also be a Pride Night that will coincide with the city’s festival.

TUTS has been running in Vancouver since 1940.