Arts Touring Alliance of Alberta
Dedicated to the maintenance, development and growth of a strong touring arts industry in Alberta
MAC DADDY – The Fleetwood Mac Experience is proud to be performing at the Arden Theatre in St. Albert on June 22, 2019.
Join us to hear all your favorite Fleetwood Mac hits spanning the 60’s to the 80’s as well as a few special surprises. Have a Fleetwood Mac Experience like no other.
Tickets available on Ticketmaster of at the Arden Theatre box office.
By Jessica Ryan
Attendees at the Jeanne and Peter Lougheed Performing Arts Centre launch will not only be the first to find out what exciting events are coming to Camrose next season, but will also be treated to a free performance by Edmonton-based Strictly Business Theatre, the cabaret pairing of musical theatre adepts Kelsey Visscher and Kayla Nickel.
Visscher took some time to describe what Strictly Business is all about and hint at what is in store for theatregoers on June 20 (answers have been edited for length):
What does a Strictly Business performance entail?
For us, cabaret is a series of songs, sometimes some dancing, and we tie it together with stories, jokes and fun facts about us. We like to share as much as we can with the audience about us as people and performers. It’s a fun, casual night. We really like to get people out who don’t usually go to live performances.
How did it all come about?
(Five or six years ago) we had just graduated from Grant MacEwan university’s theatre arts program, and we wanted to further our studies in New York. So we decided, since New York is so stinking expensive, that we should put on a cabaret as a fundraiser. People kept asking when our next one was, so we decided to do some more, and here we are!
Are there things you learned while studying in New York that you incorporate into your shows?
For sure. General acting tips, our different voice teachers would help us with performing different styles and people there recommended songs that made it into shows. Seeing different shows definitely inspired us to do a few different little bits or different songs. We did get the chance to see a more cabaret-style show at a really famous cabaret venue there, so that was cool, just to see how that happens in a big city like New York and how we can bring that back here.
What do you hope your audiences experience at your shows?
We hope they get to know us a little bit. And a lot of times theatre is seen as a very hoity-toity type thing, so we want to make it more casual again, make it fun. If we can make them feel things — whether it be happy, sad, make them maybe learn something new about a situation — and just have a good time, go home and enjoy the people they were with, enjoy what they saw, enjoy what they drank and ate, then we’re happy.
What do you have planned for the performance in Camrose?
We’re hoping to make people laugh. A really big thing we have learned at our Christmas shows is people tell us that’s what gets them in the Christmas spirit, so I think that’s definitely started to inform the songs we choose to do and how we decide to do them. I guess our No. 1 goal is to entertain people, No. 2: get people in the Christmas spirit and just have a good time.
What are some of your all-time favourite songs to sing?
We always, at Christmas, like to do an Elvis tribute. We have a couple classic Christmas songs; The Christmas Song is one of our favourites. We’re really big fans of the Andrews Sisters and that era, so we have a couple of those that are some of our favourites to perform. They’re hard work, but they’re so worth it once you get them.
See Strictly Business showcase their cabaret at the Lougheed Centre’s Season Launch on Thursday, June 20th. This is a free event and no tickets are needed to attend. Come early (6pm) if you would like a facility tour. For more information, call the box office at 780.608.2922
The Johnny Summers Little Big Band is on tour this year throughout Alberta! Join us for a crazy fun and humorous night with singer/songwriter Johnny Summers exploring a HUGE range of music including Jazz, Soul, New Orleans Music, Originals, Funk, Standards, Pop, Rock, and so much more.
The Johnny Summers Little Big Band is on tour this year throughout Alberta! Join us for a crazy fun and humorous night with singer/songwriter Johnny Summers exploring a HUGE range of music including Jazz, Soul, New Orleans Music, Originals, Funk, Standards, Pop, Rock, and so much more.
Jake’s Gift is a surprisingly funny, multi award-winning drama about a Canadian WW2 veteran’s reluctant return to Normandy, France for the 60th Anniversary of D-Day. While roaming the shores of Juno Beach, Jake encounters Isabelle, a precocious 10 year old from the local village whose inquisitive nature and charm challenge the old soldier to confront some long-ignored ghosts. At its heart, Jake’s Gift is about the legacy of remembrance and personalizes the story behind one soldier’s grave.
Bonus: If you purchase tickets to Jake’s Gift and The Wardens together, you will receive get 25% off.
Forestburg Concert Series presents: Tim Isberg: Singer, Songwriter, Soldier
Tim Isberg’s humour, heart-felt stories and authentic music captivates with meaningful lyrics performed in delightful harmonies. From Rwanda to Afghanistan, this veteran soldier experienced real-life challenges working among diverse cultures and global conflict zones amid the best and worst humanity has to offer. A Nominee for ACMA Male Artist of the Year, Tim brings well crafted Americana songs to the stage and a unique and endearing array of experiences he shares in a way that makes each listener feel connected.
Tix and Info: email forestburgconcertseries.ca
Alberta Presenters,
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Thank you for your time. Your feedback is very important.
Shannon Jones
Arts Touring Alliance of Alberta
Some interesting statistics from last year’s survey that were included in the 2017 AGM report:
