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

And that91裸聊视频檚 saying a lot considering Laing Gahr has been hard at work in the director91裸聊视频檚 chair for four months to bring Calendar Girls to the Powerhouse Theatre May 2-12.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 a very funny script but it91裸聊视频檚 also incredibly touching,91裸聊视频� Laing Gahr said. 91裸聊视频淚t still makes me cry every time. These actors make me cry every time. It91裸聊视频檚 a play that this audience will give themselves over to.91裸聊视频�

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 Women91裸聊视频檚 Institute, Annie 91裸聊视频� played on screen by Walters and Powerhouse stage by Bev Steeves 91裸聊视频� and her close friend Chris 91裸聊视频� Mirren, Jennifer Goodsell 91裸聊视频� go above and beyond to spice up the institute91裸聊视频檚 annual calendar.

It was meant to be a banal calendar full of bridges that litter the English countryside, but when Annie91裸聊视频檚 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.

91裸聊视频淭his is such a wonderfully funny, poignant and powerful script,91裸聊视频� Laing Gahr said.

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

91裸聊视频淚 wanted to make sure the story was not a retelling of another director91裸聊视频檚 vision,91裸聊视频� Laing Gahr said. 91裸聊视频淲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. We91裸聊视频檝e really been digging into the emotional aspect of live theatre.91裸聊视频�

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

91裸聊视频淚 love women91裸聊视频檚 stories,91裸聊视频� Laing Gahr said. 91裸聊视频淭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, they91裸聊视频檙e so authentic.91裸聊视频�

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.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 a really interesting blend of personality, experience and background,91裸聊视频� Laing Gahr said. 91裸聊视频淭he thing that truly unites them is they love this play so much. They91裸聊视频檙e just bringing it.91裸聊视频�

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.

91裸聊视频淚 think it91裸聊视频檚 an important story because of those relationships and the struggle of those characters to reach their fullest potential,91裸聊视频� Laing Gahr said. 91裸聊视频淭he removal of clothing is very good, very funny, but it91裸聊视频檚 also a great metaphor.91裸聊视频�

At the root of it, Laing Gahr said it91裸聊视频檚 an inspiring story made possible by the dedication of cast and crew.

91裸聊视频淲hat I really love is watching the culmination of so many people91裸聊视频檚 efforts. It91裸聊视频檚 this incredible effort of so many people to put two hours of story telling on stage,91裸聊视频� Laing Gahr said. 91裸聊视频淚 just think this is going to be one of the best plays we91裸聊视频檙e going to see here.91裸聊视频�

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.