Guests at this 'hilarious' Hamilton wedding will meet couple for the 1st time

It might seem like your typical wedding, with the exchange of vows, a few speeches, cake and interruptions from a drunken relative. Hamilton residents are all invited but, in this case, none will know the loved-up couple. 

Next month, local theater company Emerson Arts is hosting The Wedding, which will see fictional characters DJ and Renata saying their I dos.

Organizers say 150 guests will witness the "hilariousness" of the dramatic experiences that can unfold when two families come together.

Emily Bolyea, Emerson Arts co-founder and artistic director, said just like a regular wedding, guests will arrive at the venue — the Cotton Factory — and will follow a seating chart to find their table.

Each table will seat eight people, and the show will start once people are seated and everyone is served their meal, Bolyea said.

"It is literally all of the traditional things that happen during your typical wedding reception," she told CBC Hamilton.

"It starts with speeches by, you know, the best man and the bridesmaids, and then the mother of the bride comes up, the boss — all of those things.

"Throughout the evening, other kinds of dramatic things happen unexpectedly. So, you know, there's some confrontation and some people may be getting a little drunk. And these are all actors who are immersed at the tables with the audience members," she said.

Cast from Hamilton, GTA and Niagara Region

According to Bolyea, The Wedding — which will be held on Feb. 9 and 10 at 6:30 p.m. —  will be "unique, hilarious and fun" but also "a romantic wedding during Valentine's weekend." 

It's also an opportunity for people to support local theatre and arts, she added.

Mason Micecski, Emerson Arts co-founder and creative director, who wrote The Wedding and plays the best man, says the production will run for about an hour. 

The cast includes "some of Hamilton's most fabulous local talent, as well as some imports from St. Catharines, Mississauga and Burlington," Emerson Arts said in a news release.

Hamilton actor Erin Bree Pierces says she knows Bolyea and Micecski personally and had high praise for the duo, which is why she's planning to attend.

"The creative juices are always flowing when you are in their company. I can't wait to see [the performance] and be a guest," she told CBC Hamilton.

"I know this is going to be a blast for everyone... Emerson Arts has a way of bringing their audience into the show."

Bolyea and Micecski, both Hamilton residents and actors, founded Emerson Arts four years ago at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since then, they've performed around 13 full-length plays, musicals and murder mysteries. The duo were also the hosts and performers at the city's Canada Day celebrations this year.

Micecski, who was born and raised on the Mountain, is currently completing his masters degree in community music at Laurier University in Waterloo. He is also a dance teacher and vocal teacher. Bolyea, who is from a small farming community called Coldwater, Ont., north of Barrie, is the business development manager at a company in Toronto. 

Local arts scene thriving but challenges remain

Bolyea said the local arts community is thriving after doors were shut for so long by COVID-19, but financial pressures continue.

"Thousands of youth and adults are seeking an outlet for their creative juices. At Emerson Arts, we provide original content and opportunities for performers to make a few bucks and have a great time," she said. 

But, she added, "the struggle is real. The cost of renting a facility for anything from a lesson to a show is astronomical. Unless support is provided, it is nearly impossible for many companies to make it work." 

People are also "watching their dollars and cents" which can lead to low ticket sales, she said.

Still, she's hopeful there will be community support as the city "continues to grow and needs a place for affordable, relatable, live entertainment," she said.

Tickets for The Wedding cost $75 and includes all the amenities of your typical wedding, including dinner, dancing and of course, wedding cake.