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Judy garland story, a fundraiser for cancer in Alliston

August 21, 2013   ·   0 Comments

A cancer fundraiser event will be held at the Circle Theatre in Alliston this Sunday, where musical icon Judy Garland will take the stage as the entertainment of the evening.

The Judy Garland Story was written in 1999 by Debbie Collins, who also performs the role of Judy Garland. Collins has paired up with Wendy Topping, who will be walking this September for the Weekend to End Women’s Cancers in Toronto. Topping decided to host a theatrical show in order to raise the money, since participants must raise at least $2000 in pledges for the walk. But she isn’t worried about raising the money.

“I’m going to reach it,” she said confidently when asked about a plan b. So far she has already raised $500 selling homemade jewelry at the Artisan’s market and tickets have started selling for the fundraiser event she has planned, featuring The Judy Garland Story. Topping is excited about using the show as a base for the fundraising event and believes it will be entertaining for a wide audience.

“You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll sing,” she says. “You know all the songs. It’s really geared to seniors but young people would really love it too.”

Collins believes Judy Garland is a widely known icon whose story appeals to audience members from all walks of life. Originally performed at the Orillia Opera House, The Judy Garland Story has been performed off and on over  the last decade.

“It’s really a celebration of her life, which had a lot of tragedy,” says Collins about the show. “But she leaves us with this incredible legacy of music, movies and memories.”

Judy Garland began performing at age two and quickly became a star. She performed constantly even before she was signed at MGM, a company then known for its musicals. But the stress and exhaustion of that kind of life took its toll. Collins says Garland’s mother often gave them “pep” pills to keep her and her sisters from losing energy, as well as pills to suppress her appetite so she wouldn’t gain weight.

“They just get so famous and so important and so messed up,” says Collins. Judy Garland was married five times and had three children. Unfortunately, she suffered from depression in the later years of her life, and died of an accidental drug overdose at the age of 47. The Judy Garland Story touches on it all, from her work to her personal life.

“I’m really proud of my show because it’s interesting for people to find out what goes on behind the scenes,” says Collins. Despite the sometimes tragic content, the show is very upbeat and uses a lot of music and humour.

Topping and Collins met in the spring about pairing up for the fundraiser. Earlier in the year she had suffered the loss of a close friend of hers to a form of women’s cancer and Topping and several of her friends decided to take part in the walk in support of her widow, who participates annually.

Topping has participated in Relay for Life for a number of years and has experience raising money for causes like this one. She had met Collins through Guild Chiropractics where Topping works in Tottenham, and learned of the Judy Garland show when it was remounted a few years ago at the Orillia Opera House.

Collins agreed to do the performance for the fundraiser and Topping took care of promoting the event which, Collins says, is her strong suit. They hope to sell 200 tickets for the performance this Sunday, August 25 at 7 p.m. at the Circle Theatre, located at 19 Victoria St. East in Alliston.

“I think we all know somebody who has had cancer affect their lives,” says Collins.

Tickets for the show are available in advance from Circle Theatre, Rustic Roots in Beeton, Details in Alliston and Guild Chiropractic in Tottenham. Wendy Topping can also be contacted directly at 905 729-3098. The cost of each ticket is $25 in advance, or $30 at the door.

By Emily Wood

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