With a history dating back to 1953, the Scarborough Choral Society, which is now in the midst of its spring production of Brigadoon (wrapping up April 5), counts itself as one of the oldest art groups in the city.

In fact, it’s been around so long that the venerable musical Brigadoon is back for the third time, having previously been performed in 1984 and 1967.

The group used to mount its productions in Scarborough at Cedarbrae Collegiate but in the past few years has moved around, and is staging this year’s production just outside Scarborough at the Bayview Glen Upper School Theatre, 85 Moatfield Rd., near Don Mills and York Mills roads.

The group’s home base and practice venue, however, continues to remain in Scarborough at Agincourt Collegiate.

“We’ve been there forever,” said Barbara Back, co-producer of Brigadoon with Teresa Turner.

The group has two components.

The aptly named Onstage Productions mounts the elaborate musicals like Brigadoon (which even has its own 12-piece orchestra), while the other component is strictly a choir or choral format used for its annual popular ‘Sounds of Christmas’ show.

“When we sing as a choir there’s more people,” said Back. “But there’s a lot of people who do (both) the choir singing and do the musical. We have a core of people who are really committed and we always have new people coming in.”

Recent musicals like High School Musical have re-ignited interest in musicals among young people, and the society’s elaborate musicals are a great place to learn the ropes, she said.

“We had one guy came out for Kismet (1997), and he got the part as the prince. Six years later, (he) was in Lord of the Rings. And his first performance in musical theatre was on our stage.”

One slight headache is that a lot of the newer musicals have not yet released performing rights.

“Community groups can’t get those rights. We want to do ‘Les Mis’ and all these but they’re not out yet.

“So that will be the next generation, I guess.”

While the annual spring musical and Holiday concert are the annual major productions, they are by no means the only one.

For instance, the group is preparing a choral concert for a senior’s extravaganza in October.

“It’s going to be a sort of retrospective of all of our shows since 1953, bits and pieces from different eras.”

Past special events have included a tribute to the music of the war years “that was really well received” two years ago.

Check out the society on their website at www.actco.ca/scarboroughchoral.