‘Shippin’ Out’ takes you back in time

They weren’t born when World War II ended. Heck, they weren’t even born when the Falkland Islands war ended.

Yet the 28 youthful cast members of the Spokane Civic Theatre’s “Shippin’ Out – A Musical Revue” will bring the wartime years to life in this singing-and-dancing tribute to the 1940s.

“I write a script every year based on classic show-biz conventions, and this year it’s based on the wartime movies,” said director Jean Hardie. “The boys are shipping out, and we meet couples in the USO and in different stages of their relationships.”

Audiences can expect to hear wartime songs such as “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy,” “G.I. Jive” and “Slap That Bass.”

This production is the culmination of the Civic’s Summer Performance Camp, attended by about 200 students. The camp had programs for children in grades 3-6 and grades 7-12.

The cast members of “Shippin’ Out” were chosen through auditions in May and are between the ages of 13 and 18.

The annual youth camp performances have always been a highlight of the Civic’s summer, but “Shippin’ Out” has taken on an even higher profile this year. For the first time, this will be the Civic’s sole summer Main Stage show. It has been expanded from one weekend to two.

Hardie said that all 28 members of the cast have featured roles.

“There are no stars; it’s a true ensemble piece,” she said.

Hardie had plenty of help choreographing the show. The assistant choreographers were Katie-Sarah Phillips and Jeremy Trigsted, and the guest choreographers were Kathie Doyle-Lipe and Greg Pschirrer.