Horizon Stage Adds an Incredible Baroque Ensemble to its 2009 Lineup

Les Boréades de Montréal will perform magnificent music on period instruments January 19th

Early music ensemble Les Boréades de Montréal keeps the spirit and sound of the 17th and18th centuries alive by adhering to the rules of performance practices of the past and by playing on period instruments. Critics and audiences in Canada and abroad have been unanimous in hailing the group’s energy and spontaneity as well as their theatrical, expressive and elegant playing and their unique flair for Baroque aesthetics. Now Horizon Stage is thrilled to add Les Boréades to its 2009 season of artists on Monday, January 19th at 7:30 p.m.

Founded in 1991, Les Boréades have toured extensively in Canada. They have taken part in many renowned festivals and have performed abroad in New York, Amsterdam, Paris and Germany. The ensemble boasts fifteen recordings on the Atma Classique label featuring such renowned artists Hervé Niquet, Skip Sempé, Manfredo Kraemer, Alex Weimann, Eric Milnes and Karina Gauvin.

The members of Les Boréades performing in Spruce Grove will be Francis Colpron on traverso and recorders, Hélène Plouffe on violin, Erin Milnes on harpsichord and Mélisande Corriveau on cello and viola da gamba. Their concert will showcase the music of Jean-Fery Rebel (1666-1747), François Couperin (1668-1733), Henry Purcell (1659-1695), Arcangelo Corelli (1653-1713), Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) and six other Baroque era composers.

Take a step back in time and get Up Close and Personal with Les Boréades de Montréal at Horizon Stage on Monday January 19th. Tickets to this extraordinary concert are just $20 for adults and $15 for students and seniors and can be purchased in person at the Horizon Stage Box Office in Spruce Grove’s City Hall at 315 Jespersen Avenue, by calling 780-962-8995, or at any Ticketmaster location.

“Les Boréades quartet (is) simply ravishing… the splendid improvisatory virtuosity of Francis Colpron on recorders, his rapid-fire staccato notes, his roulades and embellishments as free and as fascinating as the flames in a fireplace, made the heart leap in unbuttoned endorsement.”
Halifax Herald

“They would be irresistible even if they were not top-notch instrumental virtuosi. But they are. And more. Together they play with the kind of freedom with the style you would expect from a soloist. They are effortless, relaxed and cultivated to such a degree of perfection each is a flowering branch on the same tree.”
The Vancouver Sun

“The concert was a musical high from the beginning to end.”
Toronto Star

http://www.boreades.com/

The Horizon Players Present: The Three Musketeers

By Willis Hall
Directed by Jon Shields

Production Design by Apocalypse Arts (Scott Cooke, Jason Howatson, Mike Young)
Fight Director Patrick Howarth
Assistant Fight Director Richard Lee
Stage Managed by Kjersten Saude
Props and Assistant Stage Managed by Elinor Tofin
Production Managed by Anne Marie Szucs

All for one and one for all!
Spruce Grove- It is all for one and one for all as the Horizon Players present this swashbuckling production, chock-full of suspense, action, adventure and of course, sword fighting.

Young D’Artagnan sets out for Paris where he meets the notorious Musketeers, Athos, Porthos and Aramis. The four become inseparable friends, but will D’Artagnan become a true Musketeer? This classic and heroic coming-of-age story is based on the 1844 novel by Alexandre Dumas.

The Three Musketeers features the onstage talents of volunteer Spruce Grove and Edmonton actors including Scott Arnott ; Joe Baruta; Dave Beesley; Ian Corrie; Justin Deveau;
Kathryn Evans; John Evans; Nik Gauthier; Jonathan Gonyou; Athena Gordon; Stuart Hoye; Kevin Majeau; Dean McQuay; Elizabeth Marsh; Gerald Mason; David Newton;
Hannah Spear; Norm Usiskin; Lindsay Walker.

The Three Musketeers runs November 27, 28, 29 at the Horizon Stage in Spruce Grove, 1001 Calahoo Road, only 20 minutes from Edmonton. Performances begin at 7:30 p.m. nightly. For tickets please call the Horizon Stage Box Office at 962.8995.

Renovations - Week 18

The new seats are in - yay!

So is the new concession - another yay!

There is floor that still needs to go it but it's looking great!

Renovations - Week 17

All of the wood in the theatre has been stained a beautiful rich brown.

Soon they will be putting the concession counter together in the lobby.

The stair railings have gone in and the sound booth is taking shape.

FREE Tickets to The Banff Centre 75th Anniversary Concert

Be the first to email kgibson at sprucegrove dot org to win 2 FREE tickets to The Banff Centre's 75th Anniversay Alberta Tour this Saturday, September 27 at 7:30 p.m. at St Augustine's Parkland Anglican Church (131 Church Road, Spruce Grove).
Be the second or third to email Kerri and recieve a 2 for 1 ticket deal the the same concert. ($20 Adults, $15 Student's & Seniors)

Renovations - Week 15

The concrete has been poured in the seating area.


The view from under the seats.

Don and David finally have a (mostly) usable office.

Stagelighters will be thrilled to see the new shelves in the concession area.

And look, space for a double sink!

Renovations - Week 14

Stagelighters will be happy to see that the concession cooler in its new location.

The newly painted lobby.

Looking down from the catwalk at the theatre seating area.

The lighting booth.

Banff Centre Concert Program - September 27th

ANTONIO VIVALDI (1678-1741)
Le quattro stagioni (The Four Seasons):

Concerto in E, Op. 8 No. 1, La primavera (Spring)
Allegro
Largo e pianissimo sempre
Danza pastorale

Concerto in F minor, Op. 8 No. 4, L’inverno (Winter)
Allegro non molto
Largo
Allegro
Serena McKinney, violin

BÉLA BARTÓK (1881-1945) Arr. Arthur Willner
Romanian Folkdances
Jocul cu bâtă (stick dance)
Brâul (sash dance)
Pe loc (in one spot))
Buciumeana (horn dance)
Poarga românescă (Romanian polka)
Mărunţel (fast dance)

EDWARD ELGAR (1857-1934)
Serenade for Strings, Op. 20
Allegro piacevole
Larghetto
Allegretto

~INTERMISSION~

FRYDERYK CHOPIN (1810-1849), arr. Nurhan Arman
Piano Concerto No. 1, in E minor, Op. 11
Allegro maestoso
Romanze: Larghetto
Rondo: Vivace
Yuval Fichman, piano

The Banff Centre's 75th Anniversary Alberta Tour

Saturday, September 27 – 7:30 p.m.
String Orchestra and Piano
Touring communities throughout Alberta, The Banff Centre's 75th Anniversary Alberta Tour brings the best of a new generation of concert artists to perform and inspire audience members of all ages. This full-length concert will feature the much-loved Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and a stunning arrangement of the Chopin Piano Concerto No.1, with soloist Yuval Fichman. One of Canada's most celebrated artists, Fichman's beautiful tone and emotional connection to the piano has captured the imagination of audiences and critics around the globe.
Because Horizon Stage is undergoing exciting renovations, we are pleased to present this exquisite concert in a Special Venue: St. Augustine’s-Parkland Anglican Church, 131 Church Road in Spruce Grove. We thank St. Augustine’s for the offer of their sanctuary on this occasion.

Tickets: $20 Adults, $15 Students & Seniors
Horizon Stage Box Office: 780-962-8995.

Renovations - Week 12

Our pretty new lobby floor!

The entire lobby is starting to take shape.

The ladies dressing room just needs elecrical work and a few more little things done.

The theatre.
And that's what we look like right now!

Renovation Weeks 10 & 11

The metal for under the seats gets put in - week 10.

Looking down from the catwalk.

The interior of the tech office.

The theatre - week 11.

The ladies dressing room.

Looking at the tech office from up on the catwalk.

Horizon Stage Renos - Weeks 8 & 9

The theatre...

...our pretty new catwalks...

...the lobby ceiling...

...and the women's dressing room.

Nylons Ticket Update

We are down to just single tickets for the Nylon's concert on February 26, 2008.

Horizon Stage Renovations - Week 6 & 7

The lobby ceiling.

Looking into the theatre

The ladies dressing room

Horizon Stage Renovations - Week 5

The new reinforced concrete pad has been poured under the seats, and the framing of the new, larger office, has begun. This new office will allow both technicians to work in the office at the same time.

Our old marquee sign out front has been removed, and will be replaced with a brand new LED sign. This sign will allow us to have more information, and add updates more frequently.

This is a photo of the ceiling in the lobby. The heating units need to be moved to allow this area of the ceiling to be higher than before. Also, the new piping is a brand new sprinkler system for the lobby.

Horizon Stage Renovations - Week 4

For week 4, demolition has been completed, and major construction begins.

Now that the floor has been demolished and cleaned out, the ground has been leveled, and new conduit run so that the reinforced concrete base can be poured.

In this photo, the welders are welding new beams into the ceiling so that the catwalks can be suspended from the grid. These catwalks will speed up the lighting hang and focus aspects of the show mounting process.

The dressing rooms have begun to be rewired, for new lighting fixtures, and outlets.

Horizon Stage’s 2008/2009 Season Goes on Sale August 18th

The Theatre’s 26th Season includes lots of great shows for a variety of tastes.

Once again, Horizon Stage has programmed a diverse and exciting season of artists. From the comedy of Lorne Elliott, to the legendary Ian Tyson, to classic children’s entertainers Sharon and Bram, the Spruce Grove theatre always has something for everyone.

Because the theatre will still be under construction, Horizon Stage will present The Banff Centre’s 75th Anniversary Alberta Tour on September 27th at St Augustine’s Parkland Anglican Church. Classical music lovers will enjoy Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and the Chopin Piano Concerto No. 1 performed by one of the Banff Centre’s grand pianos and a selection of string instruments.

Comedian Lorne Elliott will be the first artist to perform on the newly renovated stage on November 1st, followed by acoustic guitarists Brian Gore, Andy Sheppard, Dale Kavanagh and Cecilia Zabala in International Guitar Night, The Original Caste, who are best known for their song One Tin Soldier, and The Horizon Players production of The Three Musketeers.

Celtic and Christmas music enthusiasts will enjoy La Nef’s A Celtic Christmas in December. Horizon Stage’s Family Matinee Series also opens that month with Bouge de là’s Like the Five Fingers on Your Hand, a remarkable movement piece all about the five senses.

2009 starts off right with Alberta favourite Ian Tyson performing 5 concerts in January, followed by DuffleBag Theatre’s Robin Hood and country music duet Ennis.

February is jam-packed with blues legend Jim Byrnes; gypsy jazz musicians, The Marc Atkinson Trio; Ballet Jörgen Canada’s Romeo and Juliet on Valentine’s Day; Green Thumb Theatre’s Cranked; Canadian a cappella super-group The Nylons; and The Mud Bay Jugglers.

Eagles fans will be thrilled to see cover band Hotel California in March, while historical theatre lovers and anyone interested in the Great Depression will enjoy the incredibly moving 10 Lost Years by Barry Broadfoot. The Horizon Players will present the family friendly musical Disney’s 101 Dalmatians at the end of March.

In April, Jazz aficionados will clamor to see the great Oliver Jones, and waltz and polka devotees will enjoy the always popular Emeralds. Closing the season will be the much-loved children’s musicians Sharon and Bram performing two matinee concerts on April 18th.

Horizon Stage ticket prices range from $10 to $40, depending on the show. Patrons can build their own season packages and receive discounts of 10 – 20%. Family Matinee Packages are also available. All Horizon Stage evening performances start at 7:30 p.m. Visit horizonstage.com for more detailed information, Family Matinee show times, and links to all of our artists’ web sites. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. on Monday, August 18th through the Horizon Stage Box Office and Ticketmaster. Call 780-962-8995 or visit the Box Office in person at 315 Jespersen Avenue.

Canada Day & Horizon Stage Photo Albums

Click here to see photos from our June 9 Volunteer Apreciation BBQ.

Click here to see photos from June 30.

Click here to see photos from July 1.

Click here to see photos from our July Drama Workshops.

Horizon Stage Renovations - Week 3

The demolition phase continues on through week 3:

As we are replacing the previous collapsible seating, the old concrete base needed to be ripped up in order to replace it with a reinforced concrete floor appropriate for the weight of the new permanent fixed concrete risers.

As a bonus, removing the floor in this area also gave us the chance to replace some of the conduit and wiring running through the area.

The lobby has been completely gutted, right down to the concrete floor, and the exposed structure and mechanical in the ceiling.

Horizon Stage Renovations - Week 2

I have heard from a lot of people that have seen photos of the current Horizon Stage Renovation that it is a lot more extensive than they thought it would be. Our motto right now: 'there's no turning back now,' as these photos go to show. The three major areas of renovation include:



The Stage
Here the seating is gone, the risers they were seating on nothing but a pile of rubble on the thrust of the stage. The flooring has also begun to be ripped up.




The Lobby
The first thing patrons see when they enter our facility is the lobby. Suffering from years of high traffic and an aged appearance, our beloved lobby is getting a much needed facelift.



The Dressing Rooms
Though most patrons have never seen our dressing rooms, they too have suffered from years of use. Being a joint space, used by both our renters and the SGCHS drama department, the dressing rooms were in dire need of a little renovation.

As you can see in these photos, there is no turning back now. We look forward to the exciting future that these new renovations will bring us.

Horizon Stage Renovations - Week 1

The last show of the 07/08 season started at 7:30PM on June 21, and renovations to the stage began at 8:00AM on June 22.


A ten person crew including Don Waddle and myself moved every light, curtain, cable, and piece of electronics out of the building.

A group of Stagelighters also worked in the lobby, getting it ready for the demolition phase.

On June 23, the contractors moved in and began the demolition phase. In the first week we saw everyone's favorite seating leave the building.

This site will continue to be updated with photos and commentary about the progress of the on-going Horizon Stage Renovation.

Spend Canada Day with the City of Spruce Grove

Fill your July 1st with Street Performers, Fabulous Free Concerts and More!

After kicking off on June 30th, Spruce Grove’s Canada Day and Street Performers Festival will shift into high gear on Tuesday, July 1st. Bright and early at 8 a.m. the Sea Cadets will start flipping flapjacks for hungry festival goers on the Composite High School’s Sports Field. Purchase a delicious pancake breakfast for just a toonie.

Children of all ages should plan to be on site between 10:30 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. to decorate themselves for the Canada Day Kids Parade. This year the city is replacing the bike parade with a walking parade. Participants will be encouraged to dress in this year’s theme, My Canada Today! and to decorate themselves with the help of our Summer in the City staff and volunteers. The parade will begin at 11:30 a.m. and wind itself around the festival site.

At noon a colour party and pipe band will escort our nation’s flag and Festival dignitaries to the mainstage where Spruce Grove Mayor, Stuart Houston, will lead an official Canada Day ceremony. Watch the raising of the flag while enjoying the sweet sounds of O Canada as performed by Samantha and Emily Schultz. Then, help yourself to a piece of birthday cake.

Street Performers from around the world will take over the festival field at 12:30 p.m. Be prepared to be amazed and astounded by the likes of Magic Brian, The English Gents, The Yo-Yo People, hip-hop dancers Freshly Squeezed, and ukulele rock-and-roll super-group The Be Arthurs. Rovers on site will include Edmonton’s Andrea House and Darrin Hagen and Calgary’s Green Fools. Also starting at 12:30, the REMAX KidZone will feature free play in the sandpit, performances, workshops, face painters, and crafts.

The Street Performers will wrap their shows up between 5 and 5:30 p.m. but don’t plan on heading home just yet. Food vendors will be on site serving hamburgers, hot dogs and other yummy treats to take care of your dinner needs while other vendors will offer beautiful clothing and other items for sale. Grown-ups can enjoy a cold beer in the Kinsmen Beverage tent after 5 p.m. and children will be able to enjoy the bouncy tents in the REMAX KidZone until 6 o’clock. Young Edmontonian Samantha Schultz will grace the Festival mainstage again at 6:30 p.m. for an hour-long concert, followed by the City’s annual Awards of Excellence presentation at 7:30 p.m.

Calgary-based bluegrass band Widow Maker will take to the stage at 8 p.m. Widow Maker’s potent music is rooted deep in old-school bluegrass, country, blues, rockabilly, and gospel of the '40s, '50s & '60s. Craig Korth, also of Jerusalem Ridge, will drive the band hard as they sing about lovin', leavin', cheatin', and hurtin'.

Then, dressed in their trademark tailored black suits and ties, Festival headliners, Paper Lions (formerly The Chucky Danger Band), will put on an energetic pop/rock show from 9:30 – 11 p.m. Often compared to The Beatles in their prime, these four young East Coast musicians fantastic tunes and loads of charisma have earned them both critical acclaim and numerous awards.

Ending July 1st with a bang will be the spectacular RONA fireworks at 11 o’clock.

Because parking will be very limited this year, a free ETS Park and Ride will bring festival patrons to and from the site between 9 a.m. and 11:30 p.m. Park and Ride stops will include Greystone Centennial Middle School and Living Waters Christian Academy and downtown Spruce Grove, across from Central Park. Although the City highly recommends biking to the Festival, bikes are not permitted on site for safety reasons. Bike racks will be provided for everyone who rides to the event. Pets are not permitted on site, so please leave your furry friends at home. But, bring yourself and all of your human pals to the Spruce Grove Canada Day and Street Performers Festival at Spruce Grove Composite High School on Tuesday, July 1st, we guarantee that you’ll have a great time!

Visit www.sprucegrove.org for more details on the entire Spruce Grove Canada Day and Street Performers Festival

Start your Canada Day Party Early

Party in the Park with a BBQ, Street Performers and the Buccaneers on Monday, June 30th

The Eighth Annual Spruce Grove Canada Day and Street Performers Festival will kick off on Monday, June 30th at 5 p.m. Party-goers should plan to come down to the festival site between 5 and 7 for a wonderful Community BBQ. For just $5 you will feast on Beef on a Bun in a large crusty roll, homemade baked beans, a choice of two salads, pickles, deli-style condiments, and a drink. All food will be cooked and served in a tent at the north end of Spruce Grove Composite High School’s Sports Field.

At 7 p.m., this year’s gang of Street Performers will gather on stage for their annual Vaudeville Variety Show. Popular artists from the Edmonton and Spruce Grove Street Performers Festivals will pool their talents and create a fun and family-friendly show. There will be clowns, jugglers, musicians and more as the audience gets a sneak preview of Tuesday’s Street Performers Festival with the whole cast in one place, at one time. This show is guaranteed to include lots of surprises and plenty of laughs. Bring your loonies, toonies and bills for a generous pass the hat.

Calgary band, The Buccaneers, will then take the stage at 9:30 p.m. for an all-out Dance in The Park. Thrilled to be visiting Spruce Grove again, the Buccaneers were last seen at the Street Performers Festival in 2004 and at Horizon Stage in 2005, they have also performed at local schools. Prairie pirates to the core, The Buccaneers perform Aggressive Canadian Folk Music with a Celtic flair. Full of energy, vigour, and spirit, they play everything from their own original compositions, to traditional east coast shanties, to covers of 80s and 90s tunes. If you like Stan Rogers, The Irish Rovers, Great Big Sea or Captain Tractor, you’ll love The Buccaneers

Vendors will be on site all evening to satisfy your post-BBQ snacking and shopping needs, and rovers and face painters will be busy keeping everyone entertained before the mainstage shows. So bring your friends and family down to the Spruce Grove Composite High School Sports Field at 1000 Calahoo Road after work on Monday, June 30th and start celebrating your love of Canada early!

Visit www.sprucegrove.org for details on the entire Spruce Grove Canada Day and Street Performers Festival

The Little Mermaid

Third Perfomance Added & Audition Information
1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Family Matinees Sold Out on April 26
7 p.m. Show Added

Due to popular demand, Horizon Stage has added a third public performance of Missoula Children’s Theatre’s The Little Mermaid at 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 26. The production, which will star 50 to 60 local children, is based on a new adaptation of the classic fairy tale.

Suitable for all ages, this Little Mermaid is the story of Celia who lives deep in the waters of the Sassafras Sea. She and her three sisters are allowed to visit the World Above and learn the secrets of dry land on their sixteenth birthdays. The production is full of wonderful music, exciting plot surprises, and plenty of humour. There is even a handsome Prince Charming.

Auditions for The Little Mermaid will be held on Monday, April 21 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Horizon Stage. They are open to youth aged 5 to 18 years and no previous acting experience is necessary. Auditioners should arrive precisely at 4 p.m. and wear clothing that is easy to move in. No preparation in advance is required and no appointments are necessary. Rehearsals will begin immediately after the auditions on April 21 and will run from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Additional rehearsals will then be held Tuesday, April 22 to Friday, April 25 from 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Saturday, April 26 from 10 a.m. until noon. Not all cast members will be called for all rehearsals; a final schedule will be announced immediately after the show is cast. Backstage jobs such as Assistant Director and Assistant Stage Manager are also available.

Limited tickets for the 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Little Mermaid shows have been held for purchase by the families of the children who are cast. Any remaining seats will be made available to the general public on Thursday, April 24th. However, tickets for the 7 p.m. show are now on sale for just $12 per person regardless of age. Talk about affordable family-friendly entertainment! Call the Horizon Stage Box Office at 962-8995 to order or for more information.

“I’ve not seen a better program to develop a sense of pride so quickly.”
Fargo, ND

“This is an outstanding experience for our children to enjoy. It includes fun, hard work, educational endeavors, memorization, discipline, routines, scheduling, interpersonal relations, sense of community and guaranteed success. Hooray!"
Las Vegas, NV

Be sure to visit www.mctinc.org and www.horizonstage.com

Special thanks to the sponsors of this event: The Alberta Foundation For The Arts, Canadian Heritage and Grove Pontiac GMC

The Horizon Players Present: Man of La Mancha

A Musical Play by Dale Wasserman
Music by Mitch Leigh Lyrics by Joe Darion
Originally Directed on Broadway by Albert Marre

Directed by Richard Winnick
Music Directed by Sally Hunt
Choreography by Joshua Semchuk

April 3 - 5 & 10 - 12, 2008
Horizon Stage, Spruce Grove
1001 Calahoo Road

"To dream the Impossible Dream!"

Spruce Grove- The Horizon Players presents the classic musical Man of La Mancha starting April 3 at Horizon Stage in Spruce Grove. This unique modern musical features the acting, directing and design talents of amateur theatre artists from Spruce, Edmonton and many places in between.

Called before the Spanish Inquisition, the poet, Miguel de Cervantes, finds himself pleading his case before a band of thieves and murderers. He uses the members of this "court" to tell the tale of an old country gentleman who insists on seeing the world, not as it really is, but as it should be. And so is born one of the great heroes of world literature: Don Quixote. This Tony Award-winning musical will sweep you into a world where anyone can be chivalrous and noble as long as they truly believe.

Man of La Mancha runs April 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, at the Horizon Stage in Spruce Grove, 1001 Calahoo Road, only 20 minutes from Edmonton. Performances begin at 7:30 p.m. nightly. For tickets please call the Horizon Stage Box Office at 962.8995.

Audience Feedback - March 2008

Did you see Connie Kaldor on March 1, The Dust Poets on March 8, or Sean Watson on March 29? Please tell us your thoughts, good or bad, regarding any or all of these artists and/or the theatre.

Horizon Stage - 25th Anniversary Gala

Selected Photos from Horizon Stage's 25th Anniversary Gala Reception on Saturday, March 1, 2008...