X University is "Head Over Heels" for their theatre comeback

By Joëlle Arianna Staropoli

Originally published March 2022 (J- School)

XMTC is the only fully student-run musical theatre company at X University (previously known as Ryerson University) founded in 2014 by former student Robyn Hoja. The company has since produced six shows entirely funded and supported by student volunteers around Toronto.

The company’s last performance of Big Fish in March 2020 came to a sudden halt when COVID- 19 hit Canada requiring a nationwide shutdown of all public events.  

Now XMTC's cast and crew of over 60 student volunteers are returning to the live stage with hope for a successful and safe show. 

The company has faced many setbacks that created challenges in both the casting process and financing of their production. COVID restrictions have delayed Head Over Heels by an entire month that has made finding rehearsal spaces and performance locations increasingly more limited. 

Nathan Gregory, the company's president, said in a Zoom interview,  “Hiring the team was hard.  Most of them were approached during one of the many lockdowns so it was rough keeping people engaged when we weren’t meeting regularly or in person.” 

He continued, “I think we’re just really lucky to have found people so dedicated, a crowd that wants to see the show and a venue like the Al Green that can accommodate us.”  

The cast of Head Over Heels in masks, as per COVID-19 protocol, chatting on stage during a tech rehearsal at the Al Green Theatre/ Miles Nadal Jewish Community Center.

 (Joëlle Arianna Staropoli, J- SCHOOL)

COVID-19 has largely impacted all jobs in the entertainment industry and caused Broadway’s 18-month-long shutdown, the industry’s longest closure in history. 

Due to the continuing health risk COVID- 19 threatens, cast and crew members are required to take a COVID test before entering any rehearsal theatre space and wear masks throughout their rehearsals. 

COVID tests divided by name of cast and crew, set up before each rehearsal and performance at the Al Green Theatre/ Miles Nadal Jewish Community Center as per COVID-19 protocol.

 (Joëlle Arianna Staropoli, J- SCHOOL)

As the company prepares to take the stage for the first time in two years, the students excitement for their grand return is evident.

Kayleigh Pike, a fifth-year X University student and the XMTC’s director said in a socially distanced interview, “We wanted something different this year.  The company in the past has worked on some very family-friendly shows.  This year we wanted to come back strong with something silly and sexy but also wasn’t super well known.”

Pike also said, “I think it gave the cast and crew some creative leeway when it came to bringing the show to life, we weren’t constrained to what people were familiar with.”   

Head Over Heels runs from April 6th to 9th at the Al Green Theatre.