In the late 80s and 90s, the Cape Breton Summertime Revue entertained audiences in the Maritimes and beyond. Now, the hugely popular music and comedy production is back, but with a twist.

The Summertime Revue first debuted in 1986, featuring comedy sketches and original music based on themes exploring life in Cape Breton. The show also hit the road, touring across the Maritimes and Canada, performing for sold-out crowds.

Now, the iconic show is back with a new cast, a talented troop that show creators are calling the ‘next generation.’

“I'm excited to be known as someone who was in the Summertime Revue, because that's never going to be taken away from me. I will be Margaret MacPherson who was in the Cape Breton Summertime Revue,” says performer Margaret MacPherson.

Maynard Morrison is a familiar face to many in the audience. He played a number of characters in the show during the 80s and 90s.

Now, he's stepping off stage and sitting in the director’s chair.

Morrison says the show’s fan base has always been strong enough to make a return to the stage, but coordinating a schedule with the original cast was just too difficult.

“We’re getting older. I just turned 106 two weeks ago, so it's really time for someone else to do it and I'm so glad to be involved, because it enables me to hopefully bring some originality to this cast and help them get launched,” says Morrison.

Many of the islands most successful musicians and actors have been part of the Cape Breton Summertime Revue – Maynard Morrison, Bette MacDonald, the Rankin Family, Rita MacNeil, and Natalie MacMaster, to name just a few.

“I drop my jaw every time I hear these people perform,” says MacPherson. “These are the same people that every Christmas when I'm decorating the tree I have their CDs in. That's who I'm listening to all the time and that's the type of performer I want to become.”

Performers will take the stage in Glace Bay’s Savoy Theatre, with additional shows planned for Pictou and Mabou.

“We've had so many requests on the show to take it to Halifax, but we had to turn it down because I didn't expect that to happen the first year,” says Pam Leader, Savoy Theatre manager.

The demand has been so high, additional dates have been added at the Savoy for the summer months.

Organizers say if the renewed show is well received, they hope to bring it to more Maritime stages next year.

With files from CTV Atlantic's Kyle Moore