Tanya Laing Gahr is so enamoured with the production she sheds a tear every time she watches the magic unfold on stage.

And that害羞草研究所檚 saying a lot considering Laing Gahr has been hard at work in the director害羞草研究所檚 chair for four months to bring Calendar Girls to the Powerhouse Theatre May 2-12.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a very funny script but it害羞草研究所檚 also incredibly touching,害羞草研究所� Laing Gahr said. 害羞草研究所淚t still makes me cry every time. These actors make me cry every time. It害羞草研究所檚 a play that this audience will give themselves over to.害羞草研究所�

Calendar Girls, written by playwright Tim Firth, originally hit the silver screen in 2003 and starred Helen Mirren and Julie Walters.

Following the true story of a group of Yorkshire gals and their monthly meetings at the local chapter of the Women害羞草研究所檚 Institute, Annie 害羞草研究所� played on screen by Walters and Powerhouse stage by Bev Steeves 害羞草研究所� and her close friend Chris 害羞草研究所� Mirren, Jennifer Goodsell 害羞草研究所� go above and beyond to spice up the institute害羞草研究所檚 annual calendar.

It was meant to be a banal calendar full of bridges that litter the English countryside, but when Annie害羞草研究所檚 husband passes after a battle with leukemia, Chris and Annie rally the institute to put together a nude calendar and raise money for leukemia research.

害羞草研究所淭his is such a wonderfully funny, poignant and powerful script,害羞草研究所� Laing Gahr said.

While she stands firmly behind the power of the script, Laing Gahr opted not to watch the film.

害羞草研究所淚 wanted to make sure the story was not a retelling of another director害羞草研究所檚 vision,害羞草研究所� Laing Gahr said. 害羞草研究所淲e wanted to be as authentic in our telling as possible. They (audience) can expect to see some more authentic communication between actors, between each other and between the moments they developed. We害羞草研究所檝e really been digging into the emotional aspect of live theatre.害羞草研究所�

Unlike many community theatre performances, Laing Gahr said, Calendar Girls revolves around a women-centric cast.

害羞草研究所淚 love women害羞草研究所檚 stories,害羞草研究所� Laing Gahr said. 害羞草研究所淭here tends to be a lot of men with women in supporting roles. (In Calendar Girls) women are the driving force. Their stories are so real, they害羞草研究所檙e so authentic.害羞草研究所�

Laing Gahr, who has more than two decades experience in the industry, including a stint running a theatre company in Cranbrook and working as a director for hire, leads a cast comprised of four relatively new actors and nine veterans.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a really interesting blend of personality, experience and background,害羞草研究所� Laing Gahr said. 害羞草研究所淭he thing that truly unites them is they love this play so much. They害羞草研究所檙e just bringing it.害羞草研究所�

And, like the story itself, the cast and crew of Calendar Girls is putting together their own calendar, which will be available on performance nights and around town soon. Proceeds from the calendar support the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada.

害羞草研究所淚 think it害羞草研究所檚 an important story because of those relationships and the struggle of those characters to reach their fullest potential,害羞草研究所� Laing Gahr said. 害羞草研究所淭he removal of clothing is very good, very funny, but it害羞草研究所檚 also a great metaphor.害羞草研究所�

At the root of it, Laing Gahr said it害羞草研究所檚 an inspiring story made possible by the dedication of cast and crew.

害羞草研究所淲hat I really love is watching the culmination of so many people害羞草研究所檚 efforts. It害羞草研究所檚 this incredible effort of so many people to put two hours of story telling on stage,害羞草研究所� Laing Gahr said. 害羞草研究所淚 just think this is going to be one of the best plays we害羞草研究所檙e going to see here.害羞草研究所�

Calendar Girls runs at Powerhouse Theatre May 2-15 and 8-12 at 7:30 p.m., with matinees May 6 and 12 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $28 adult and $22 student and are available through the Ticket Seller, 250-549-7469, . Following a new partnership with Little Tex restaurant, ticket holders are eligible for specials on performance nights.