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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, June 3, 2016 | 18 John Bkila Editor jbkila@oakvillebeaver.com Oakville native part of European tour of Hair Musical production ends its run Sunday by John Bkila Oakville Beaver Staff Artscene "Connected to your Community" O akville native and actor Emma Bartolomucci says she's been able to live a dream being part of the European national tour of Hair, which closes its run Sunday (June 5). The production has toured Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, France and Italy. "It's interesting being in an English production in a place where English is not the rst language. Sometimes when we are onstage, we ask ourselves if the audience understands what we are doing or why we are doing it," admitted Bartolomucci, who is the only Canadian among an otherwise American cast. "In a show like Hair, when so much of it requires energy and interaction from the audience, it can be tricky to read the crowds. We wonder if this is too provocative or too abstract. But everything usually makes sense by the encore and people are clapping and dancing enthusiastically to Let the Sun Shine In -- it makes it all worth it." The provocative rock tribal musical is set in the controversial "summer of love" 1968, and explores themes such as rebellion, freedom of expression, hippie culture, the Vietnam War, American pride and what it means to be a youth in the vi- brant `60s scene. Bartolomucci got her chance to shine when she stepped in her understudy role, the show's female lead, Sheila. "I had to step in for three nights," she said. "It was a blast." The former Holy Trinity Catholic Secondary School student studied drama, dance and music at Oakville's Canadian Dance Company and West End Studio Theatre. W.E.S.T. brings the laughs this weekend West End Studio Theatre (W.E.S.T.) is bringing two award-winning comedy shows to Oakville this weekend. XOXO: The Relationship Show, features Oakville natives Meghan Chalmers and Franny McCabe-Bennett, and Laugh With Leila, features Iranian immigrant by way of Victoria, B.C., Izad Etemadi. Chalmers and McCabe-Bennett, the writers, directors and stars of XOXO: The Relationship Show, are considered the Tina Fey and Amy Poehler of the Hamilton Fringe, stated a media release. The show is a People's Choice Award Winner in Stratford, Ont., and had a sold out run at Hamilton Fringe. Setting out to get another role Bartolomucci was a part of the U.S. national tour of Hair in 2014 and said when she saw there was an open audition in New York City for the European tour, she hopped on a bus and set out to get a role. There were two days of open call auditions for the 16-person cast and Bartolomucci arrived on the second day at It was also nominated for break- 9:30 a.m. to a holding out female performance at Toronto room of more than Fringe. 300 people. · · · Leila is a vibrant and stylish Iranian woman who can't help but live her life authentically and truly out loud, in the hit one woman show Laugh With Leila. The show has toured across Canada and the U.S. and has had sold out performances, most recently off-Broadway in New York City. The shows run Saturday (June 4) at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday (June 5) at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $25 and are available at xoxoleila.eventbrite.ca or the-west.ca. "Being naive about the New York City theatre scene, I didn't realize that people started lining up for the call at 5 a.m.," she said. "The line was enormous and the audition was to be over at 1 p.m. There was no way I was ever going to be seen." Sure enough, the cut-off time arrived and Bartolomucci was still outside when she and the rest of the hopefuls were told auditions were closed. But the now 25-year-old wasn't going to let that stop her. "I collected myself and thought that I could either leave or ght. So, I stood by the door and the next time (it) opened, I rushed at the boss, Frank Serr, telling him my name, credentials from the previous tour and asking if I could please sing," said Bartolomucci. Luck was on her side that day, as Serr agreed and she was hired as dance captain and understudy to two female leads for what Bartolomucci describes is "one of her favourite shows." Oakville born and raised actor Emma Bartolomucci is part of the European national tour of Hair. | photo courtesy Emma Bartolomucci Follow Oakville Beaver staff on Twitter: @OakvilleBeaver @NewsHooked @DavidLea6 @JuliaLeReporter @HerbGarbutt @PostBeaverSport @Halton_ Photog Grace Academy performers pictured, from left, are: Lucy Grif n, Emily Dougan, Leah Bernat-Riddle, Graham Evans, Regan Lilly, Lily Christou, Clara Christou, Brooklynn Bennitt and Karen Hopkins. | submitted photo by Carla Evans Grace Academy features Disney to in year end show Students of Oakville's Grace Academy of Dance and Performing Arts invite the community to their yearend performance. The production features dancers aged three to 80 and showcases a tribute to Disney. Held at the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts, 130 Navy St., A Wish Your Heart Makes continues its run tonight (Friday) and tomorrow (Saturday) with performances at 7 p.m., and a Saturday matinee at 1 p.m. -- the show opened Wednesday (June 1). Tickets cost $23 and can be purchased online at www.oakvillecentre.ca/whats-on/grace_academy.html. Grace Academy has been a part of the Oakville community for 13 years and teaches classes in classical ballet, modern, jazz, hip-hop, tap, musical theatre and acting.